Category: Reviews

Archenemies (Renegades, #2) – Marissa Meyer

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35425827Rating: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Synopsis:

The Renegades Trilogy continues, in this fiercely awaited second installment after the New York Times-bestselling Renegades by Marissa Meyer, author of the Lunar Chronicles.

Time is running out.
Together, they can save the world.
But they each other’s worst nightmare.

Nova’s double life is about to get a lot more complicated:

As Insomnia, she is a full-fledged member of the Renegades, a syndicate of powerful and beloved superheroes. She works with Adrian’s patrol unit to protect the weak and maintain order in Gatlon City.

As Nightmare, she is an Anarchist – a group of of villains who are determined to destroy the Renegades. Nova wants vengeance against the so-called heroes who once failed her when she needed them most.

But as Nova, her feelings for Adrian are deepening, despite the fact that he is the son of her sworn enemies and, unbeknownst to Nova, he has some dangerous secrets of his own.

In this second installment of the Renegades trilogy, Nova, Adrian, and the rest of their crew – Ruby, Oscar, and Danna — are faced with escalating crime in Gatlon City, while covert weapons and conflicting missions have Nova and Adrian questioning not only their beliefs about justice, but also the feelings they have for each other.

The line between good and evil has been blurred, but what’s clear to them both is that too much power could mean the end of their city – and the world – as they know it.

Review: 

This review will contain spoilers for Renegades. 

I loved being back in this world of prodigies, heroes, and villains! I have been anxiously awaiting Archenemies since finishing Renegades last year. I have been dying to know what’s next for Nova and Adrian . . . and of course Ace Anarchy! Marissa Meyer ended Renegades with a huge reveal and cliffhanger so I jumped right into Archenemies to find out what happens next.

The vast majority of this book focuses on Nova and Adrian dealing with their respective secret identities. Adrian’s role as the Sentinel has not gone to plan at all. He isn’t seen as the hero he was hoping for. It’s a constant debate within him to keep going or let the Sentinel die. Don’t get me wrong, I absolutely adore Adrian and I love the concept of the Sentinel’s tattoos, but the whole Sentinel conundrum got a little bit annoying. I just wanted him to tell his friends and family that it was him! As for Nova, she is struggling with her feelings throughout the entire book. She is an Anarchist and believes in revenge against the Renegades, but she starts to see that not all Renegades are bad. She is so conflicted by her feelings for Adrian and her developing friendships with Oscar, Ruby, and Max. I honestly went back and forth with my feelings for Nova. Part of me is like – Nova you have a good thing going here! You have friends and a boy that cares about you. The Renegade organization is corrupt, but there is some good. You can work to change it with Adrian’s help! But, the other part of me is – the Renegades are so horribly corrupt! How come they get to decide everything without input from the public! Bring them down, Nova! Nova makes a lot of good points regarding what’s wrong with the Renegade organization. . .

  • The Renegades made themselves judge, jury, lawmakers, and executioners.
  • None of the Council’s laws or code was ever voted on or officially accepted by the public.
  • The Renegades force their code and rules onto everyone. If you don’t follow everything = you’re a villain.

I definitely agree with her about how screwed up the Renegade organization is, BUT Nova’s solution (aka what Ace has told her) needs work. She wants to bring down the organization, but doesn’t have a real plan for what to do after. It seems like Ace just wants to create chaos. There needs to be a middle ground between the Renegades and the Anarchists.

Minor spoiler . . . . . . .

One of the biggest conflicts in Archenemies is the introduction of Agent N. The Renegade scientists have created an antidote to permanently neutralize a prodigy’s power. The Council plans to equip all Renegade patrol units with Agent N to use in the field. “Anyone with extraordinary abilities who chooses to conduct themselves in an unlawful manner will no longer be tolerated. They will forfeit the privilege of being a prodigy.” It’s all kinds of messed up. Nova is rightfully furious. Agent N is a violation of prodigy rights (which Ace fought for during the Age of Anarchy). The Renegades are deciding who is allowed to be a prodigy. There is no fair trial or due process. To show how Agent N works, the council demonstrates it on Winston (aka the Puppeteer). Obviously, I find Winston horrible and absolutely terrifying, but this scene was brutal to read! It was devastating to watch him realize that his power was gone. His entire being had been changed.

I totally agree with Nova about Agent N. “This is a clear corruption of power. They can’t just send patrol units out on the streets with this stuff and expect that mistakes won’t be made. That people won’t let their emotions get away from them. What about a fair trial? Evidence? What if someone makes a living using their ability, and then it gets taken away, without a second thought? Or what if someone were to turn their life around and start using their power to help people? Agent N would take that choice away from them. You know, the Renegades talk an awful lot about human rights, but this is a violation of prodigy rights.” Now, I don’t know what Marissa Meyer’s beliefs are, but this part can easily be applied to gun violence in our society. I don’t know if that’s what she intended, but I totally got that.

I was all on board with Nova at this part, but then she takes the Agent N to Ace who wants to weaponize it against the Renegades. Nova thinks that doing so would make them no different than the Renegades, but she still agrees. I hope that her blind allegiance to Ace is dealt with in the next book.

A couple of quick points before I wrap this up. . .

  • I said this in my review for Renegades (which is on GoodReads), but I’ll say it again. I love all the different prodigy abilities. Everything is so unique and interesting. There are standard superhero powers like flying and invincibility, but then there are super unique ones like Sketch’s drawing or Ruby’s blood crystals. I would definitely want Sketch’s power. How cool would it be to be able to draw anything into existence!?
  • Hawthorn was so creepy! The tentacles and the way she spider crawls! It was straight out of a horror movie! I was a little disappointed that she didn’t have a huge role in Archenemies. 
  • I thought the Artifacts Department was a super (pun intended) cool detail. I would totally be fascinated like Callum. And speaking of Callum, I loved him! He was such a nerd and I loved it. And his power!? It was beautiful!
  • Adrian creating the mural of Nova’s dream . . . absolutely stunning.
  • Adrian is so adorably awkward around Nova. I love it!
  • For some reason I just noticed Phobia on the cover and holy shit! He is terrifying!!

My one complaint for Archenemies is that it was very slow going. The majority of the book is devoted to Nova and Adrian’s inner conflict and their romance. I liked the book, but I wasn’t head over heels for it. BUT THEN. THAT ENDING. Marissa Meyer did it again. The entire book was building and leading up to the absolutely explosive ending. I was going to rate this book 3.5 stars, but the ending bumped it up to 4!! It was so good. I can’t believe I have to wait another year to find out what happens next!!!

Tarot – Marissa Kennerson (Advanced Reader Copy)

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40490866Rating: ⭐️💫

Synopsis:

Her fate is so much more than the cards she was dealt.

Born of a forbidden union between the Queen and the tyrannical King’s archnemesis, Anna is forced to live out her days isolated in the Tower, with only her mentors and friends the Hermit, the Fool, and the Magician to keep her company. To pass the time, Anna imagines unique worlds populated by creatives and dreamers–the exact opposite of the King’s land of fixed fates and rigid rules–and weaves them into four glorious tapestries.

But on the eve of her sixteenth birthday and her promised release from the Tower, Anna discovers her true lineage: She’s the daughter of Marco, a powerful magician, and the King is worried that his magical gifts are starting to surface in Anna. Fearing for her life, Anna flees the Tower and finds herself in Cups, a lush, tropical land full of all the adventure, free-spiritedness, and creativity she imagined while weaving.

Anna thinks she’s found paradise in this world of beachside parties, endless food and drink, and exhilarating romance. But when the fabric of Cups begins to unravel, Anna discovers that her tapestries are more than just forbidden expression. They’re the foundation for a new world that she is destined to create–as long as the terrors from the old world don’t catch up with her first.

Review (Spoiler Free):

I received this ARC of Tarot by Marissa Kennerson from Penguin Teen in exchange for my review. This ARC was a giveaway in exchange for reviewing the Four Dead Queens ARC I had received at Book Con 2018. I had not heard of Tarot so I was excited about discovering a new author.

  • My first pre-reading impressions. . .
    • I do not like the cover. The colors are vibrant and super pretty, but I despise when book covers feature real people. I feel like they can do so much better!
    • The premise sounds super interesting and unique! I’m looking forward to discovering a new world!

 I started reading Tarot and I was initially very intrigued. Anna has been imprisoned in a tower for her whole life. She was raised by three advisers. I wanted to know more about Anna, the King, and why he imprisoned her. Anna is an incredibly talented weaver. She creates beautiful tapestries of different worlds. . . Pentacles, Wands, Swords, and an unnamed Tropical land. The King is a tyrant. He believes that “People are born into their positions for a reason. Fates are a fixed thing, destiny preordained.” When a subject is born the King decides their craft and who they will marry. He dictates every aspect of his subjects lives. The King also outlawed magic. He seems to be terrified of Anna’s potential. After a series of events, the King decides that Anna needs to be executed. Anna’s three advisers (the Magician, the Fool, and the Hermit – it really bugs me that they don’t have actual names) help her escape. I really liked the Fool’s quote during this part . . . “Think of this as an adventure. Have faith in your abilities. You are moving forward, and that is never a bad thing.” It’s a good quote to live by. Anna takes scraps of her tapestries with her. While Anna is on the run she is about to be caught, but she takes out her tapestry fragments and wishes she could dive in. The next thing she knows a bridge appears and she crosses it into a new tropical jungle and beach land.

Now this is where the book lost me. The land that Anna discovers is known as “Cups” which is the dumbest name. Like why is it named that?! They literally never say!! However, I will say that the imagery in Cups is beautiful. It’s this gorgeous white villa with turquoise shutters on a stunning beach. Anna meets all these gorgeous people that she hardcore insta-loves. It’s actually ridiculous. And it’s not just romantic insta-love. It’s everything insta-love. James is Anna’s love interest. They know each other for like one week and are already in love and obsessed with each other. They literally never talk about anything . . . they just meet and are in love. At one point James says to Anna, “I don’t know how much time you need, but not talking to you is killing me.” I actually laughed out loud at this. YOU HAVE LITERALLY KNOWN THIS GIRL FOR A WEEK. Oh and Topper loves Anna after knowing her for five minutes and she feels connected to him even though she’s in love with James. Give me a break. This felt like a token love triangle. And don’t even get me started on the “villain” Ivy.  Ridiculous. She’s supposed to be the villain at the villa, but they barely interact. And then they make up and are instant besties! It was just unreal.

Back in the Anna’s home world, the King is searching for her. He eventually finds out where she is and goes after her. I am keeping this review spoiler free so I won’t go any further into what happens. I’ll just say that the big reveal about Anna and her powers was not at all shocking.

I know I was pretty tough on Tarot in this review. I do feel bad about that, but I am so bummed with how Tarot turned out. It sounded super intriguing, but unfortunately fell flat. I only gave it an extra 1/2 star because the imagery was beautiful and the idea was good.

Vengeful (Villains, #2) – V.E. Schwab

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26856502

Rating: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️💫

Synopsis:

A super-powered collision of extraordinary minds and vengeful intentions―#1 New York Times bestselling author V. E. Schwab returns with the thrilling follow-up to Vicious.

Magneto and Professor X. Superman and Lex Luthor. Victor Vale and Eli Ever. Sydney and Serena Clarke. Great partnerships, now soured on the vine.

But Marcella Riggins needs no one. Flush from her brush with death, she’s finally gained the control she’s always sought―and will use her new-found power to bring the city of Merit to its knees. She’ll do whatever it takes, collecting her own sidekicks, and leveraging the two most infamous EOs, Victor Vale and Eli Ever, against each other.

With Marcella’s rise, new enmities create opportunity–and the stage of Merit City will once again be set for a final, terrible reckoning.

Review:

This review contains some spoilers.

What an epic sequel! Victoria Schwab once again delivered an incredibly creative and addictive story! Vengeful was a terrific follow-up to Vicious and I can’t wait to see what happens next. Vengeful was suspenseful, intense, and fun!

Like Vicious, Vengeful is told using flashbacks that vary in time range. This was one of my favorite parts of Vicious and I am so happy to say that it got even better in Vengeful. I love how the timeline is not told chronologically from start to finish. The story jumps back and forth in the timeline throughout the story. It is all leading to the present which is the last part of the book. It could be confusing, but I did not find it hard to follow at all.  I think it’s a super cool way to tell the story and to provide insight and history into the characters’ actions.

Vengeful follows Eli, Victor, Sydney, Mitch, Dominic, and Detective Stell, but also adds some new characters into the mix. Marcella Riggins, June, and Jonathan are all EOs. Marcella is crazy!! I started out the book rooting for her. I was like yes girl you go and kick that scum husband’s ass! But, wow, Marcella took it a bit far! She went absolutely crazy. She actually seemed unbeatable because she was so powerful. I will say that I did love several of Marcella’s quotes. She’s all about the girl power. . .

  • “But glass is only brittle until it breaks. Then it’s sharp.”
  • “How many men would she have to turn to dust before one took her seriously?”
  • “Men are always so impatient. Perhaps it comes from a lifetime of being given what you want, when you want it.” 

She is a badass, but she took it way too far. She became extremely violent and power-hungry. Her POV was super fun to read though!

June is another new character in Vengeful. WHO IS SHE!?! I have so many questions. Who is she? What is her real name? What was her near death experience? Why doesn’t she want to look like her true “self”? What happened to her to cause her to have a kill list? Why is she obsessed with Sydney? June is a huge mystery and Schwab ended Vengeful without any answers. I need the next book! Sydney and June become friends in Vengeful. Sydney is in an interesting place. She is struggling with her grief for her sister, Serena, but she is fiercely loyal to Victor and Mitch. Sydney’s presence was definitely lesser in this book, but one of my favorite parts of her story was seeing her experiment with her power. It was so interesting and super creepy! Schwab’s writing is so good that I was picturing a small blonde girl reviving dead birds in my head for days! Again, I want to know why Sydney is so important to June! I can’t wait to find out more.

In my review for Vicious I talked about how despite some of his actions, I loved rooting for Victor. He was the perfect anti-hero. However, in Vengeful, I had a much harder time rooting for him. Victor has become even more violent and ruthless. I understand his thought process, but his actions were excessive. I am very curious about what is next for Victor. At the end of Vengeful, Eli is dead (is he really?) and Victor has set off on his own. Victor’s plan and focus was Eli for the past 15 years. What’s next for Victor?

In Vengeful, we get to learn more about Eli and his past. It was implied in Vicious that Eli was abused during his childhood, but we did not get to hear about his history. Vengeful dives right in and shows Eli’s past and why he is the way he is. I truly feel for him because of his father’s abuse, but Eli is 100% a psychopath. In all of the chapters focused on Eli’s childhood, Eli constantly points out that he is shaping himself to present what is considered normal. He is constantly altering his persona and presenting an act to his peers. He doesn’t seem to have any real feelings or remorse. He is very superficial and charming. Maybe I’ve been listening to too much “My Favorite Murder” podcast episodes, but reading Eli’s history reminded me of hearing Karen and Georgia talk about serial killer’s childhoods and personalities. As we saw in Vicious, Eli obviously becomes a serial killer. He is totally a psychopath. I can totally imagine the episode of “My Favorite Murder” where Karen or Georgia tells the story of Eli. He fits the “mold” of a serial killer so well. It was fascinating to read! Also. . . is Eli REALLY permanently dead? I know he had the power suppressant in his system so he actually died, but I just don’t buy it!! I have a feeling that this is not the last time we see Eli. One quick side note about Eli. . .HOLY SHIT WITH THE DISSECTING SCENES! Absolutely terrifying!!

The ONLY reason I gave Vengeful four and a half stars instead of five is because it was a little slow to start for me. Also I want answers!! It was a great ending to the story, but it is killing me not knowing more about June, Eli, Victor! Victoria Schwab has done it again!

Muse of Nightmares (Strange the Dreamer, #2) – Laini Taylor

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25446343Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Synopsis:

Sarai has lived and breathed nightmares since she was six years old.
She believed she knew every horror, and was beyond surprise.
She was wrong.
In the wake of tragedy, neither Lazlo nor Sarai are who they were before. One a god, the other a ghost, they struggle to grasp the new boundaries of their selves as dark-minded Minya holds them hostage, intent on vengeance against Weep.
Lazlo faces an unthinkable choice–save the woman he loves, or everyone else?–while Sarai feels more helpless than ever. But is she? Sometimes, only the direst need can teach us our own depths, and Sarai, the muse of nightmares, has not yet discovered what she’s capable of.
As humans and godspawn reel in the aftermath of the citadel’s near fall, a new foe shatters their fragile hopes, and the mysteries of the Mesarthim are resurrected: Where did the gods come from, and why? What was done with thousands of children born in the citadel nursery? And most important of all, as forgotten doors are opened and new worlds revealed: Must heroes always slay monsters, or is it possible to save them instead?
Love and hate, revenge and redemption, destruction and salvation all clash in this gorgeous sequel to the New York Times bestseller, Strange the Dreamer.

Review:

This review will contain some minor spoilers.

I’ve said it a million times before and I’ll say it again and again. . . Laini Taylor is an exceptional storyteller. She writes the most beautiful words and creates stunning and imaginative worlds. Laini’s writing is literally magic. All of her books are so lyrical and full of unique characters and worlds. Muse of Nightmares was no exception. Strange the Dreamer is one of my all time favorite books and I was thrilled to be back in this world. I had no idea what to except from Muse of Nightmares, but I was blown away. Laini has outdone herself. Muse was better than I could have ever imagined.

Muse picks up immediately after Strange ended. Sarai has just died and Minya saved her soul using her power. Minya tries to use Sarai against Lazlo. She wants Lazlo to take her and her ghost army down to Weep to attack Eril-Fane and the humans. I had forgotten how dang creepy Minya is! Laini writes her creepiness so well! “The girl was so small in her unnatural body, still dressed in the fifteen-year tatters of her nursery clothes. Her face was round and soft, a child’s face, and her big dark eyes blazed with vicious triumph. With nothing but the burn of those eyes to contradict the rest of her–her tininess, her grubiness–she managed to radiate power, and worse than power: a malignant zealotry that was its own law and covenant.” I can see Minya perfectly in my mind and she terrifies me…especially whenever the other characters comment on her childish voice. Despite being such a good villain, I definitely feel for Minya. She has experienced such trauma in her life and been forced to be the adult for Sarai, Ruby, Sparrow, and Feral. Her childhood was ripped away and all that was left was hate. “Death had made her who she was: this unnatural child who never grew up, who never forgot, and would never forgive.” This does not excuse Minya’s behavior, but it shows that she is a very complex character. This is something Laini does so well…she is able to create complex villains who the audience can understand. Throughout Muse we learn more about Minya, her history, and why she is so hateful. I gained so much perspective and by the end of the book I was so happy with Minya’s story arc and ending.

One of the biggest plot points in Muse is Skathis’s history and discovering what happened to the other godspawn children from the citadel nursery. I had absolutely no ideas or theories. It was a slow build up to the reveal, but I liked watching the characters put the clues together (especially with the addition of Nova and her POV). I was shocked by the reveal! Both because I wasn’t expecting it and it shows how terrible Skathis was!! I won’t go into details to keep spoilers minimal, but I am still thinking about what happened to the other godspawn children.

The world of Strange the Dreamer and Muse of Nightmares expanded massively in this book. We learn that long ago the Seraphim discovered that there were thousands of parallel worlds in addition to their own (Meliz). The used their magic to cut through the barriers and create portals to and from each world. Zeru (the world in which Strange and Muse take place) is just one of thousands of worlds. This means that the world and universe that Laini has created is HUGE! This brings me to my absolute favorite part of Muse. . . the EPIC callback to the Daughter of Smoke and Bone trilogy. When learning about the Seraphim and what happened to them, the narrator states that the Seraph world of Meliz was lost so they escaped into the neighboring world of ERETZ!!! It then states. . . “A bold young queen in that distant world was even now training a legion of angels and chimaera to battle the darkness and hopefully destroy it. But that’s another story.” I actually screamed when I read this! I just love Laini and her writing so much! I love how it’s all connected!!! The best part…this means that the stories in this universe are infinite. Laini can create as many worlds as she wants and it will all be connected. I hope that one day Lazlo, Sarai, and co. will meet Karou and Akiva! A girl can dream, right?!

A few quick points…

  • The dream sequences were pure beauty, imagination, and creativity. I love watching Lazlo and Sarai live in their fantasies and be truly happy and safe. I think the way they can change the dreamscape is one of the coolest and most inventive parts of the story. I want to go the Dreamer’s Weep!
  • Lazlo and Sarai’s love is so pure and beautiful. They care and love one another so deeply. Lazlo shows Sarai that she doesn’t have to be “The Muse of Nightmares,” but instead can be “The Goddess of Dreams.” Sarai shows Lazlo what it’s like to be loved and to have a family.
  • I loved Thyon Nero’s story arc! He was redeemed and began to change into a good person. I loved seeing him make friends and actually want to belong! I was so happy that he joined the expedition crew at the end.

The ending was perfect. PERFECT. Laini Taylor is a queen and she joins J.K. Rowling and Sarah J. Maas as my favorite authors.

I have a ridiculous number of favorite quotes marked, but I tried to narrow it down. . .

  • “There’s been so much pain. This is a chance for a new beginning. We aren’t our parents. We don’t have to be monsters. Don’t make us monsters.”
  • He was strange the dreamer, after all. He wasn’t your ordinary dreamer, prey to all the vagaries of the unconscious. He moved through his mind with the assuredness of an explorer and the grace of a poet.
  • “There must be things that are impossible. But I don’t believe we’ve gotten there yet. Look at us. We’ve barely begin. Sarai, we’re magic.”
  • “Just because the power is mine, it doesn’t follow that all choices are.”
  • But Sarai knew what she knew–what only she knew–and the greatest feat of strength she had ever witnessed was the one he performed every day: continuing to live for the sake of others, when it would be so much easier to stop.
  • “Can we leave the past behind us?” she asked. Could they? The question was everything. “That’s an excellent place for the past,” said Suheyla. “If you don’t leave it there, it clutters up and you just keep tripping over it.”
  • “You can’t save everyone, Sarai. You know that, don’t you?” “I know,” she said. “But we can try. And…maybe that’s how we save ourselves.”
  • “People,” she said. “People are our safe places. I have one: a person who’s a home and a world to me.”
  • Once upon a time there was a silence that dreamed of becoming a song, and then I found you, and now everything is music.
  • Out of hundreds of worlds?” said Thyon. “It would be stranger if there weren’t dragons.”
  • Wishes don’t just come true. They’re only the target you paint around what you want. You still have to hit the bull’s eye yourself.
  • Men have decided between them that this is what my body and labor are worth for life.
    • I included this quote because I found it so powerful and relevant to today’s society. I am tired of old men in our government telling women what we can and can’t do with our bodies. This is my PSA to GO VOTE!

Vicious (Villains, #1) – V. E. Schwab

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Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Synopsis:

Victor and Eli started out as college roommates―brilliant, arrogant, lonely boys who recognized the same sharpness and ambition in each other. In their senior year, a shared research interest in adrenaline, near-death experiences, and seemingly supernatural events reveals an intriguing possibility: that under the right conditions, someone could develop extraordinary abilities. But when their thesis moves from the academic to the experimental, things go horribly wrong.

Ten years later, Victor breaks out of prison, determined to catch up to his old friend (now foe), aided by a young girl whose reserved nature obscures a stunning ability. Meanwhile, Eli is on a mission to eradicate every other super-powered person that he can find―aside from his sidekick, an enigmatic woman with an unbreakable will. Armed with terrible power on both sides, driven by the memory of betrayal and loss, the archnemeses have set a course for revenge―but who will be left alive at the end?

In Vicious, V. E. Schwab brings to life a gritty comic-book-style world in vivid prose: a world where gaining superpowers doesn’t automatically lead to heroism, and a time when allegiances are called into question.

Review:

Victoria Schwab is an ExtraOrdinary and her power is storytelling.

I don’t know why it took me so long to discover Vicious. I am a big fan of Victoria Schwab. I absolutely loved the Shades of Magic series. I first heard about Vicious because of all the hype for the upcoming release of Vengeful. I looked into the series and I instantly knew I had to read Vicious. I am so glad that I did! I didn’t know much going into Vicious besides that it was about extraordinary abilities and revenge. Vicious was that and so much more! It was as addictive and suspenseful as everyone said!

Vicious is a story about power, revenge, friendship, and what it means to be a hero or a villain. The story focuses on Victor and Eli, who were once college roommates. (Quick sidebar. . . the cafeteria at their college sounds amazing.) Eli and Victor were fascinated by ExtraOrdinary people (or EOs), aka people who have powers. The two research and discover that EOs develop their powers after a near death experience. They decide to put their research to the test. Eli is the first to be successful and he instantly changes. Victor is jealous and doesn’t want to be a sidekick, so he tries again and is successful at becoming an EO. Eli’s power is healing/regenerating flesh and Victor’s power is the ability to take or give pain. Through a series of events, Eli and Victor become enemies. The once friends are set on two very different paths. Eli’s mission is to rid the world of all EOs because they are unnatural and against God. Victor’s mission is to bring down Eli.

The story is told using a lot of flashbacks. This was one of my favorite parts of Vicious. The timeline was fascinating and it was a perfect way to learn about the characters histories. The flashbacks range from ten years ago to one year ago to the last couple days. I’ve read a lot of books that use flashbacks to tell the story, but usually it’s just one time period. I actually really liked that the flashbacks ranged in time.

One of the major themes of Vicious is good vs. evil and what is truly right or wrong. Victor and Eli are both antagonists. Neither one is the “good” guy. To me Eli is a clear cut bad guy. Eli is a fanatic and super messed up. He believes that EOs are not the people they were before they died. . .they are shadows of their former selves. He thinks that EOs no longer have a soul and that something is missing after their experience with death. The kicker is that Eli is an EO himself, but he believes he is the exception. He believes that God wants him to kill the EOs. It was incredibly frustrating to read Eli’s point of view. He truly believes what he’s doing is right and necessary. I understand that he is most definitely mentally ill. I just really hated his character. He was so self-righteous and entitled. Schwab did a spectacular job of creating a character to hate.

Now, as for Victor. . . he is definitely an anti-hero. I was rooting for him the whole book, but I do not deny that he is not a good person. Victor’s whole life is focused on revenge. He wants to destroy Eli and he doesn’t care what or who gets in the way. Victor’s power is very interesting because it can be used for good or evil. For example, Victor takes Sydney’s pain away which is a good act, but he also uses pain to torture one of the detectives. Victor has traits of both good and evil. This brings me back to the theme of what is means to be good or evil. What makes someone a hero or a villain? While I think that Eli is a clear cut villain, I can see the argument that his mental illness is the reason for his evil acts. Therefore, is he really a villain or just someone who is very sick? Victor is definitely a hero and a villain. He is a hero when he saves Sydney and takes her in, but he is a villain when he makes her revive the detective just to kill him again. Victor is a very complex character. I think that this is Schwab’s point. Good and evil is not black and white. There is always a gray area. Despite doing some very terrible things, I liked rooting for Victor.

A couple of side notes about the other characters. Serena was terrifying! I kept thinking about her power and its ramifications. She could literally control the world! Mitch was like a giant teddy bear. I loved how much he cared about Sydney. As for Sydney, I think she’s the only truly good person in the story. She’s been through a lot of trauma and just wants to feel safe. I hope that Victor doesn’t ruin her goodness.

I absolutely loved the ending of Vicious! I especially liked how the story started and ended in a graveyard. It came full circle! Vicious ends on a cliffhanger, but it could be read as a standalone. You don’t have to read the sequel. However, I am super excited to see where Schwab takes the story in Vengeful!

To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before (To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before, #1) – Jenny Han

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15749186RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (AKA 3.5 stars)

SYNOPSIS:

What if all the crushes you ever had found out how you felt about them…all at once?

Sixteen-year-old Lara Jean Song keeps her love letters in a hatbox her mother gave her. They aren’t love letters that anyone else wrote for her; these are ones she’s written. One for every boy she’s ever loved—five in all. When she writes, she pours out her heart and soul and says all the things she would never say in real life, because her letters are for her eyes only. Until the day her secret letters are mailed, and suddenly, Lara Jean’s love life goes from imaginary to out of control.

REVIEW (Spoiler Free):

Like a lot of people I found my way to To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before because of the Netflix movie. I had heard about this book for a while, but it wasn’t high on my TBR. I like contemporary, but I don’t like to read it all the time like I do with fantasy. I absolutely LOVED the TATBILB movie and I am now obsessed with it. Like most who’ve watched it, I am head over heels in love with Peter Kavinsky and the actor that plays him (Noah Centineo). I knew after finishing the movie that I had to read the series. I almost never do this. I am a firm believer in reading the book first because the book is (almost) always better (The Notebook is the exception to that rule). I will say that I loved the TATBILB movie so much and the book was good, but wasn’t as great as the movie. This most likely has to do with Noah Centineo and Lana Condor being exceptional actors. Despite loving the movie more, I still adored the book! Throughout the entire book, I could picture movie Peter and it made my heart so happy. There were some small differences between the book and movie, but nothing major.

As for the actual book, I don’t have too much to say other than I really enjoyed it. It was a light, quick, and easy read which was just what I needed. The story itself is adorable and I love the concept. It’s so dang cute. I’m a sucker for these romantic contemporary stories.

Some random thoughts. . .

  • Book Margot is a huge bitch and I was not a fan.
  • There’s a hot tub scene 😍in the book too.
  • I think Peter K. is sweeter in the movie, but he was still adorable in the book.
  • I like that the movie added more bonding time between Lara Jean and her Dad.
  • Josh plays a bigger role in the book than he did in the movie. I actually liked that he was more present in the book. This is because I felt like I actually got to see why he was so important to Lara Jean and her family.

Throne of Glass SERIES – Sarah J. Maas

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Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

So this post is going to be different from my previous reviews. I have recently been in a major reading slump. I decided to reread the Throne of Glass Series by Sarah J. Maas because it is my favorite series (besides Harry Potter…obviously) and I knew it would get me out of my slump. I also wanted to reread this series because the finale, Kingdom of Ash, is coming out in October. So instead of posting a review for each book in the series as I read them, I am going to do one post on the entire Throne of Glass Series up to Kingdom of Ash. Warning…my reviews get progressively longer with each book. The last two books’ sections also have a lot more recap in them. I really need to rein in my thoughts, but I just love this series so much. And I included an absurd amount of favorite quotes for each book…but I blame Sarah J. Maas and her incredible writing for that :). Also, I really need to come up with a different word than love, but I can’t help it because I love it all so much!!

This review will also contain spoilers. Please do not read further if you want to avoid spoilers!!

First, and perhaps most important…I would like to say that Sarah J. Maas is a queen and she is a gift to all of us. SJM is an exceptional writer with a gift of creating fantastic and beautiful worlds. She is at the top of my list of favorite authors.

Now onto the books!!

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The City of Brass (The Daevabad Trilogy, #1) – S.A. Chakraborty

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RATING:⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

SYNOPSIS:

Nahri has never believed in magic. Certainly, she has power; on the streets of eighteenth-century Cairo, she’s a con woman of unsurpassed talent. But she knows better than anyone that the trades she uses to get by—palm readings, zars, and a mysterious gift for healing—are all tricks, both the means to the delightful end of swindling Ottoman nobles and a reliable way to survive.

But when Nahri accidentally summons Dara, an equally sly, darkly mysterious djinn warrior, to her side during one of her cons, she’s forced to reconsider her beliefs. For Dara tells Nahri an extraordinary tale: across hot, windswept sands teeming with creatures of fire and rivers where the mythical marid sleep, past ruins of once-magnificent human metropolises and mountains where the circling birds of prey are more than what they seem, lies Daevabad, the legendary city of brass—a city to which Nahri is irrevocably bound.

In Daevabad, within gilded brass walls laced with enchantments and behind the six gates of the six djinn tribes, old resentments run deep. And when Nahri decides to enter this world, her arrival threatens to ignite a war that has been simmering for centuries.

Spurning Dara’s warning of the treachery surrounding her, she embarks on a hesitant friendship with Alizayd, an idealistic prince who dreams of revolutionizing his father’s corrupt regime. All too soon, Nahri learns that true power is fierce and brutal. That magic cannot shield her from the dangerous web of court politics. That even the cleverest of schemes can have deadly consequences.

After all, there is a reason they say to be careful what you wish for . . .

REVIEW (Spoiler Free:)

The City of Brass was one of my favorite reads of 2018! The story is original, the world-building is excellent and detailed, and the characters are well done and have good development. I was blown away by The City of Brass!

Many authors are able to build epic worlds, but not a lot are able to not only build the world, but also construct a whole culture…and do it phenomenally well. Chakraborty creates an entire culture, complete with tribes, history, and magic. I will say that there is A LOT of information and detail in The City of Brass. I had a hard time digesting all of the info and differentiating between a lot of the terms. I actually had to start taking notes while reading, which is something I normally don’t do. However, I did not mind it! I have a four page document on my computer that contains lists of terms, defining characteristics, history, characters, and tribes. This might sound overwhelming, but it wasn’t to me. It was helpful to have a reference while I was reading. There is also a glossary in the book which defines a lot of the terms Chakraborty uses. The City of Brass was definitely a slower read for me, but it didn’t bother me because I was able to savor the story more!

The imagery is vivid and the setting is vibrant and colorful. The city of Daevabad, otherwise known as the City of Brass, is the cultural hub of Chakraborty’s world. There are six sections of the city–each devoted to one of the six different tribes. I loved learning about each different tribe…the characteristics, specific cultures and traits, and values. It is extremely interesting because we learn that the tribes started out as one, united people. But because of a curse, the were separated into six different tribes. One of the biggest plot points is the rivalry between the tribes, especially against the Daeva. Another important plot point is the divide between the Djinn (pureblood, first class, privileged) and the Shafit (mixed blood, second class). The Shafit are seen as second-rate citizens and are treated horribly…they have no access to education, healthcare, or work. This connects to our “real-life” society and shows how we can not treat those who are different, especially minorities, as lesser. I think Chakraborty does a great job of blending this powerful message into the story. I love when authors create a high fantasy world and story, but also include powerful messages that relate to my world and help readers (including myself) learn something.

I hadn’t really read many books based in Middle Eastern culture so it was very interesting to learn a little about Middle Eastern mythology. I found the Djinn, Ifrit, and magic system fascinating. The setting was also gorgeous and so unique compared to a lot of other fantasy books I’ve read. It is also different from other fantasy books because the action isn’t as fight focused…it’s more political and society based action. There are plenty of epic fight scenes, just not as much as some other fantasy books. Despite this, I still found the story very exciting.

The story is told from two points of view: Nahri and Prince Alizayd. The two POVs start out separate, but the characters eventually meet and their stories converge. The two are dealing with their own conflicts. Nahri is on the run from Ghouls, but also learning about herself, her magical identity, and her role in the Daevabad society. Prince Alizayd is struggling to choose between loyalty to family and doing something about the unfair treatment of many of Daevabad’s people. I do actually wish that there was a third POV by Dara. He is also very conflicted in the story, but we don’t know the full extent. I think it would be really cool to see the world and events from his perspective. He also has a very complicated and somewhat troubling history. I really want to learn more about that as well.

One last point that I have is that it’s unclear which side is the “right” side to be on. This story isn’t black and white. Every party involved (the royal family, the Daeva, the Shafit, etc.) has a good reason for their actions. Every party does very bad things. It’s a little frustrating to not have a clear cut “good guy” and “bad guy”, but I actually like it because it makes me, as the reader, think more. It’s a good lesson to remember that life is not purely black and white, and to always look at all sides of a story or disagreement.

FINAL THOUGHTS:

  • Excellent world building and culture building.
  • Huge amount of detail which can be overwhelming.
  • Powerful message about inequality and the treatment of minorities — able to relate to our society!
  • No clear cut good vs evil – every character is complex and makes both positive and negative choices.
  • Lots of twists and turns at the end of the story! I was shocked by one of the twists even though I totally should have seen it coming. The clues were all there, but for some reason I didn’t see it. I usually pick up on twists, but it was a pleasant surprise to not this time.
  • New and interesting setting which made for a unique and fresh read.
  • Get to learn a little about Middle Eastern mythology – especially the Djinn and Ifrit. The author did extensive research, but also put her own twist on it!
  • I have a lot of questions about the ending. It’s going to be a long wait to find out the answers!
  • Content warning – slavery, violence, war, and rape

Strange the Dreamer (Strange the Dreamer, #1) – Laini Taylor

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28449207RATING:⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

SYNOPSIS:

The dream chooses the dreamer, not the other way around–and Lazlo Strange, war orphan and junior librarian, has always feared that his dream chose poorly. Since he was five years old, he’s been obsessed with the mythic lost city of Weep, but it would take someone bolder than he to cross half the world in search of it. Then a stunning opportunity presents itself, in the form of a hero called the Godslayer and a band of legendary warriors, and he has to seize his chance or lose his dream forever.

What happened in Weep two hundred years ago to cut it off from the rest of the world? And who is the blue-skinned goddess who appears in Lazlo’s dreams?

In this sweeping and breathtaking novel by National Book Award finalist Laini Taylor, author of the New York Times bestselling Daughter of Smoke & Bone trilogy, the shadow of the past is as real as the ghosts who haunt the citadel of murdered gods. Fall into a mythical world of dread and wonder, moths and nightmares, love and carnage.

The answers await in Weep.

REVIEW (Spoiler Free):

Strange the Dreamer was absolute magic. I was speechless when I finished because it was so beautiful. Laini Taylor has the exceptional gifts of story telling and world building. Her writing is stunning. There is really nothing else like it. She literally writes magic! I really liked the Daughter of Smoke and Bone trilogy but Strange the Dreamer blew me away. I don’t know how I can possible write a review that adequately describes how spectacular it is.

I don’t know how she does it, but once again Laini Taylor has built a beautiful world. The Unseen City is so creative and original. I had never read anything like it. I was completely immersed in this world. The atmosphere is whimsical, lyrical, and at times bleak. I wanted to savor every single moment. The characters and plot were completely unique. Lazlo and Sarai are excellent leads. I especially adore Lazlo because he is so kind, dorky, and a book lover! I loved reading both of their POVs. I truly felt like I was there with them, especially in the dream sequences. And Minya!? What a creepy and well-done antagonist! I love to hate her!!

The story is filled with magic, dreams and nightmares, gods and goddesses, godslayers, ghosts, romance, friendship, and moths! There also is the strong theme and message about race and how wrong it is to judge someone based on the color of their skin. This book was not only a fantastical story, but also can relate to our society. I love when authors are able to do this with their books.

The mystery, the love, and the messages of Strange the Dreamer are all phenomenal. I was hooked from the first line. It is a love letter to reading and book lovers everywhere. There is a quote in the book that says, “On the occasions that he did look up from the page, he would seem as though he were awakening from a dream.” I absolutely felt like I was in a dream while reading Strange the Dreamer. It took my breath away and I will carry this story with me forever. I cannot wait to read what happens next in Muse of Nightmares.

Thank you, Laini Taylor. You are a queen.

Favorite Quotes:

  • “He read while he walked. He read while he ate. The other librarians suspected he somehow read while he slept, or perhaps didn’t sleep at all.”
  • “You’re a storyteller. Dream up something wild and improbable,” she pleaded. “Something beautiful and full of monsters.” “Beautiful and full of monsters?” “All the best stories are.”
  • “It was impossible, of course. But when did that ever stop any dreamer from dreaming.”
  • “I think you’re a fairy tale. I think you’re magical, and brave, and exquisite. And I hope you’ll let me be in your story.”
  • “Life won’t just happen to you boy, he said. You have to happen to it.”
  • “I turned my nightmares into fireflies and caught them in a jar.”
  • “He looked him right in the eyes and saw a man who was great and good and human, who had done extraordinary things and terrible things and been broken and reassembled as a shell, only then to do the bravest thing of all: He had kept on living, though there are easier paths to take.”
  • “And they gazed at themselves in it, side by side and hand in hand, and they beheld neither gods nor monsters. They were so nearly unchanged, and yet that one thing – the color of their skin – would, in the real world, change everything.”