Hey, everyone, and welcome to this week’s Book Review Tuesday!
This post concludes my reviews of the Grishaverse (See 7/3/18 and 7/24/18 for books 1 & 2). And boy, this was a spectacular end to an incredible series. I was, for lack of better words, shook. S H O O K. (Or, as some of my classmates might say, “severely shooketh”.)
So, prepare yourself for feels aplently, and enjoy this week’s review!
Ruin and Rising
The nation of Ravka is in greater danger than ever before. The Darkling’s shadowy fist has clenched ever harder onto the kingdom, and the Shadow Fold grows larger with every day that passes. And the future lies in the hands of Sankta Alina, the Sun Summoner.
Beaten, bruised, and in hiding, Alina must now find the Firebird, the last amplifier, in order to defeat the Darkling. Alongside the tracker Mal and the remains of the Second Army, she must find a way to slip through the grasp of the Darkling, and find the amplifier in time. But as they embark on their quest, Alina and her newfound band soon realize that what appeared to be obvious is anything but what they thought it was. Time is running out, and every second that the Darkling retains power is a second closer to the end of their country as they know it…
OH. MY. GOD. BEST BOOK IN THE WHOLE TRILOGY. ELEVEN OUT OF TEN. JEEEEEEEEESUS. THE FEELS…
I feel ya, Walter.
The beautiful writing, the astounding world-building, the oh-so-lovable characters, and everything else in between were back with the volume on full blast. This final installment packed a real punch, and truly ended the series with an earth-shattering bang. Right. In. The. Feels.
Overall, the Grisha Trilogy is like no other, and is an essential for all YA fantasy fans-and just fantasy fans, period. I gurantee that you will not be disappointed.
I hope you have a wonderful rest of your day, and keep on reading! If you want, let me know what you think of this book in the comments! 🙂
Hi, everyone, and welcome to the first Book Review Tuesday of August 2018!
It’s the last day of summer for me, so I might as well end the summer BRTs with a bang. And by a bang, I mean a really, really, good book.
The book I’m reviewing today is exceptionally good. Astounding. Honestly, it might be my favorite book. (Yep…with all of the new series I’ve got into this summer, it seems The Search for WondLa series has been dethroned. Still pretty great, though.) I nearly bought it at Barnes and Noble a few months after it came out, but it was $22, so that was kind of ridiculous (despite the quality of the book). So I was delighted when I found out that it was only $7 on the Kindle store. I promptly bought it, started it on the plane ride to Chicago, and finished it in the hotel room. And I was hooked from page one.
Heart of Iron is a retelling of Anastasia, but set in, well, for lack of a better phrase, a galaxy far, far away. (*cue Star Wars opening crawl*) And it truly captured my heart.
Enjoy the review, everyone!
Heart of Iron
Ana barely has a clue about her past life. She doesn’t remember parents, siblings, or anything else close to a human family. All she knows is that she was found out in the darkest reaches of space, drifting in a spaceship with her Metal companion, D09. She was later discovered by Captain Siege and her crew of pirates and outlaws aboard the Dossier, and soon found a family to call her own.
Years later, D09 is becoming battered by all of the adventures in the galaxy; his glitches are more frequent, and it is only a matter of time before he shorts out completely. But Ana is dead set on fixing her first friend, and will do anything to save him. For that, she needs a new memory core; and in her desperation, leads the crew of the Dossier to the wreck of a long-lost ship. But upon arriving, she and the crew begin to discover that Ana might not be the orphan that she think she is…
OH. MY. GOD.
YOUR LIFE WILL BE BETTER IF YOU READ THIS BOOK.
I loved virtually everything about it. World building? Super fun to visualize, and not to mention amazingly crafted. Characters? I LOVE YOU ALL. I WILL PROTECT YOU ALL AT ANY COST. Plot twists? AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
Basically my brain cells during/after reading this book. AAAAAAAAAAA
So please, sci-fi fan or not, READ. THIS. BOOK. I gurantee your life will improve after doing so. Thank you, Ashley Poston, for this true gem of a book.
AND, the sequel is scheduled for some time in 2019!
YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH
Also, I have some fan arts underway; one is done, and I’ll probably do a few more.
Well, I hope you have a great rest of your day and week, and PLEASE READ HEART OF IRON. RIGHT THIS INSTANT.
Hi, fellow bibliophiles, and welcome to this week’s Book Review Tuesday!
Alright, I have two important announcements before I get to this week’s review.
1-Happee Birthdae to Harry Potter, the Boy Who Lived, and the great Queen J.K. Rowling! I had a chocolate frog today, and we’ve got some great HP decor all over the house (Moaning Myrtle in the toilet, Death Eater wanted posters, assorted chocolate frog cards, etc.).
WOOO!
2-Now for the bad news. I won’t be able to do a Book Review Tuesday next week (August 7), as I will be on vacation in Chicago. I’ll definitely post about that once I get home. I’m pretty excited to go!
Now, let’s get back on topic. This book was recommended to me by EpicReads, and they gave it LOADS of hype, so I figured it would be worth a try. I later borrowed it at the library (I’m returning it today), and though it didn’t *quite* live up to every inch of the hype, it was definitely a noteworthy novel.
Enjoy the review!
The Loneliest Girl in the Universe
The year is 2067, and humanity has sent ships to the far reaches of the galaxy in search of a habitable planet. Romy Silvers has spent her whole life on the starship Infinity with her astronaut parents. But after her parents die in a mysterious accident, Romy is completely alone, adrift in space. Now the commanderof the Infinity, she now has to wait for years to find a planet, without any human contact, save for messages from NASA and her therapist back on Earth. Just when she thought that her situation could get no better, she receives a message: another ship, the Eternity, is on the lookout for a planet as well, and they may cross paths. Romy is overjoyed by the promise of being with other people after such a long time in complete isolation. She begins communication with the Eternity’s commander, who will only refer to himself as J. But beneath the gentle, casual banter of their emails lie dark secrets best kept hidden…
On my rating scale, I think that The Loneliest Girl in the Universe would probably be about a 7 to a 7.5 (a 3.5 by most people’s 5-star standards). Very well thought-out and crafted. The writing was gripping, unpredictable, and suspenseful, and I’ll totally admit that at some points, I’d just finish reading a paragraph and stare at it like:
MY GOD, SOME OF THOSE PLOT TWISTS, THOUGH…
So, in conclusion, not like, the best book in the universe, but still a really interesting and original novel. It makes me wonder what I would do in a situation akin to Romy’s-completely isolated, with hardly any human contact. I mean, I treasure my alone time, but years and years of almost total isolation…JESUS CHRIST. It’s hard to think about.
Have a great rest of your day, and keep on reading! I’ll be back with a review and more soonish! 😉
Hey there, everyone, and welcome to this week’s Book Review Tuesday!
My review for today is the sequel to Shadow and Bone (See 7/3/18). As soon as I finished it, I just knew that I had to borrow it from the library. And I’m excited to say that it’s just as good as Shadow and Bone, if not better.
Enjoy the review, everyone!
Siege and Storm (Grishaverse, #2)
Alina is now on the run from the Darkling and her own past. Now the Sun Summoner, she and her old friend Mal must lay low to keep her new powers a secret. Her mission now is to find the second Amplifier before the Darkling. But the Darkling’s dark magic is growing more wicked than ever before, and she’ll need more than herself and Mal to defeat him and destroy the Shadow Fold. With the help of unexpected allies at sea, Alina must decide between the friends and country she loves and the magic that’s tearing her apart.
OH MY GOD. YOU GUYS SERIOUSLY NEED TO READ THIS SERIES. PLEASE.
I assure you that you won’t regret it.
Siege and Storm was everything that was good about Shadow and Bone, and then some. Alina, the Darkling, and all of the original characters were just as wonderful (okay, “wonderful” probably isn’t the best word to describe the Darkling, but I still love him). And now, we’ve got a bunch of new characters, who are lovable in almost every way. The writing, world building, and everything else in between had me speechless. YESSSSSSSS! YES YES YES YES YES!!!
I’ve finished the final book in the trilogy, Ruin and Rising, and all I’ll say for now is…
ALL THE FEELS.
So I’ll get to reviewing that sometime in the near future.
Have a great rest of your day, keep on reading, and do not be ashamed if your book feels show!
Hi, everyone, and welcome to this week’s Book Review Tuesday!
I’ve been getting into a lot of Marie Lu’s works at the moment. I recently re-read Legend, and I’d forgotten how good it was. I read Warcross some time ago, and I’m dying for Wildcard to come out! And so, I figured I needed to satiate myself while waiting for Wildcard (and for Prodigy to be available at the Kindle library…), I decided to start The Young Elites. And I think it might just be my favorite of Marie Lu’s series now!
I LOVED The Young Elites! I found it to be a lot like X-Men, but set in a world like our own in the Middle Ages. And I’m pretty much a sucker for all things, mutant, so this book was an absolute blast for me. I’ve already bought and started the sequel, The Rose Society, and I’m enjoying it even more than book one.
Enjoy the review!
The Young Elites
Ten years ago, the deadly blood fever swept the world, leaving a trail of death in its wake. But for those who survived, it marked them with gifts that seemed to be given by the gods. Some of the marked are hunted down and burned at the stake; others still are worshipped like gods. Adelina Amouteru is one of the marked, and is still figuring out her powers. But after a run-in with the Inquisitorial Axis, the royal guard whose task is to kill all the marked they find, she meets Enzo, another boy marked by the blood fever who can control fire. He introduces her to the Dagger Society, a league of fellow people marked by the fever who seek to reform the cruel tyranny of the royals. But as Adelina starts to control her powers, she realizes that the world may not be as black and white as she previously thought. Whose side is she really on? And what will the consequences be?
As I mentioned earlier, this book is very reminiscient of X-Men, which I absolutely adored. Some of the characters reminded me a lot of some of the characters.
Take Enzo, for example. I was getting some serious Magneto vibes from him. But kind of in a good way.
Kind of.
I also found Adelina to be a lot like Jean Grey, in a way. Probably not so great for her, but they’re both incredibly awesome.
There were a few more near-parallels in The Young Elites, but those were the two that I felt worked best. As I’m reading The Rose Society, I’ve found that one of the newer characters is starting to look a little like Nightcrawler. OH YEAH.
MY FAVORITE OF THE X-MEN!!! Kinda freaking out here, guys…
That aside, The Young Elites is such a well-written, action packed, gem of a book.
Okay, that was sort of a pun, sorry. You’ll get it once you read it. But what I’m trying to say is that this is an exceptional series. Please read, it please…
Well, I hope you have a great rest of the day, and keep on reading awesome books!
Hello, fellow bibliophiles, and welcome to this week’s BRT!
Now, before I begin, I’m sorry that BRTs are pretty much all I’ve been posting lately. At some point, I’ll definitely post more fan arts once more have amassed, and a few other noteworthy-ish events should be coming up pretty soon. So, I apologize. I hope you like the book reviews.
Anyway, as I hinted to a few posts ago (see 6/26/18), this week’s review is One Dark Throne, the extraordinary sequel to Three Dark Crowns! I didn’t expect to enjoy this series as much as I did, but it exceeded all expectations. One Dark Throne was even better than book one, and it got me itching for even more! Unfortunately, the sequel won’t come out until early September, I believe…so in the meantime, have some fun, psych yourself up, and enjoy this review!
One Dark Throne
Katharine, Arsinoe, and Mirabella are now locked in a fierce clash for the crown of Fennbirn. The bets have been placed, and everything the people once thought of the three princesses has been shattered. Katharine, who was once the weakling of the triplets, has proved herself to be a deadly, formidable poisoner. Arsinoe’s Naturalist prowess has been revealed to be a sham; she is a poisoner, and will soon need to master her hidden power before times runs out. Mirabella struggles with her powers and protecting the lives of those around her. Alliances between the sisters break and reform, and it is uncertain who will rise victorious. Who will wear the crown of Fennbirn?
OH MY GOD. OH. MY. GOD.
*HEAVY BREATHING*
One Dark Throne was a truly mind blowing and wonderful sequel. Three Dark Crowns was action-packed and full of intrigue, but One Dark Throne took everything that was good about it and RAN with it. The entire book was filled with incredible twists and turns, and the ending had me absolutely speechless. SPEECHLESS.
Like, THE GOOD KIND OF MARVEL POST-CREDITS-SPEECHLESS. GAH.
Yes, Marvel Post-Credits-Scene. You heard me right. It really did feel like that.
I hope you enjoyed this week’s review! Have a great rest of your day, and don’t turn into a steaming puddle like I have! (THE HIGH IS ALMOST 90 DEGREES…*sweats profusely*)
Hello, fellow bookworms, and welcome to the first BRT of July 2018!
*static* We interrupt the promised review of One Dark Throne (I’ll do it soon, I promise) with a review of something even better.
I heard about the Shadow and Bone series via EpicReads (super fun site for all you YA book nerds out there 😊), and decided to give it a try. My expectations were for it to be a typical, YA fantasy novel-cliched and annoying at worst, fun and captivating at best. When I actually read it, however, I knew I had discovered something truly wonderful.
Shadow and Bone isn’t just magical fun and romance. It’s an intricately crafted gem of a novel, and an absolute must-read for all diehard YA fantasy fans.
Now for the review. Enjoy!
Shadow and Bone
In the nation of Ravka, there is more than one kind of sea. There is the True Sea, which is like any other you’ll see in your lifetime. And then there is the Shadow Fold, or the UnSea, an ever expanding sea of darkness, crawling with foul creatures that will swallow you whole. Normal humans are virtually powerless against it. Until now, that’s how Alina Starkov, an orphan mapmaker, thought of herself. But after a tragic accident, she reveals that she has unimaginable abilities. Soon, she is sought after by the Grisha, a group of humans with all sorts of magical powers. Leading the Grisha is the Darkling, a secretive man with unimaginable power. The Darkling has taken a special interest in Alina, hoping that their powers combined could destroy the Shadow Fold forever. But are his intentions really what they seem?
WOOOOOOOOOO! I’M OBSESSED WITH THIS SERIES NOW!!!
Leigh Bardugo has done an excellent job crafting this novel. Even the smallest details are given a wonderful, creative spin, making for a world like no other. Such an intricate, compelling book in every way. Alina, the Darkling (GOD, I LOVE HIM), Genya…everyone! Awesome! YAAAAAH!
I’ve been looking for a good excuse to put an X-Men gif somewhere…Thanks, Eric. And thank you, Leigh Bardugo, for making a series that is very nearly…perfection.
I’ve just finished the sequel, Siege and Storm, which I will MOST DEFINITELY review later on!
Have a great rest of your day, everyone! See you soon!
Hey there, everyone, and welcome to the last BRT of June 2018!
I first heard about this book a few months ago. Something like that. It was recommended to me on Goodreads a while back, and all of the hype convinced me to borrow it at the library last week. After reading a ridiculously horrible book (Red Queen. Please, guys, for your sanity and mine, avoid it at all costs), I was pleased to discover how wonderful this book was! A must-read for all fans of the YA fantasy genre!
Enjoy this review!
Three Dark Crowns
On the island of Fennbirn, there is a good chance you will be born with magical powers. There are the Naturalists, who can control flora and fauna, the Poisoners, who can survive ingesting the most potent of toxins, the Elementals, who can command fire, water, and wind alike, the Warriors, who can control weaponry with their minds, and Oracles, who can see into the future. Ruling over the island is one Queen. Each Queen gives birth to triplets, and only one can be the next heir to the throne of Fennbirn. To determine the winner, the triplets battle to the death.
Katharine, a Poisoner, Arsinoe, a Naturalist, and Mirabella, an Elemental, are next in line for the throne. Once they turn sixteen, they will be pitted against on another in an epic battle for the crown. Katharine appears to be weak, and seems to be destined for death. Arsinoe may be the cleverest of the three, but her Naturalist powers aren’t arriving in the way they should be. Mirabella has already proven herself to be a formidable Elemental, and the odds are turning out in her favor. But who is truly destined for the throne of Fennbirn?
WOW.
This might just be some of the best fantasy I’ve read all year.
Not only is it a creative and well-written book, it is nothing short of thrilling. Action-packed, fast-paced, and gripping, with twists and turns around every corner. No spoilers, but I’ll just say that the ending basically had me staring at the book like:
I just finished the sequel, One Dark Throne, so I’ll probably be reviewing it in the next few weeks or so. And now I have to wait until September for Book 3…
Welp…*sighs* I hope you have a great rest of your day!
Hey, everyone, and welcome to this week’s Book Review Tuesday!
I discovered this book (and a few other noteworthy ones which I might review later) on an article about YA book to read after watching Solo: A Star Wars Story. I later picked it up at the library, and…
MAN, THIS HAS TO BE THE BEST BOOK I’VE READ SINCE THUNDERHEAD. THUNDERHEAD. (If you want to see my review for that wonderful book, check out 2/20/18). Nearly solid 5 star rating. I rated it at about a 4.75 on Goodreads, which would probably end up at a 9.5 on my personal book-rating scale. Such a wonderful, clever, and original sci-fi book. *sniffles and further regrets getting this book at the library* Okay, here’s your review!
Honor Among Thieves
Over 100 years in the future, mankind has discovered that it is not alone in the universe. Many have come face to face with the Leviathan, but Zara Cole never thought she would. After her latest misconduct, Zara, a runaway and a criminal, thinks she has landed in rehab for the last time. But unexpectedly, she is chosen to become an Honor-a human chosen by the Leviathan to join them on their expeditions to travel to the farthest corners of the known universe. Glorified and glossed over by the media, Zara is initially supsicious of the program. She joins up with Beatriz, her fellow Honor, and Nadim, their partner Leviathan. But once their journey begins, they discover secrets about the Honor program that are best kept hidden…
OH MY GOD.
I absolutely adored Honor Among Thieves. I can completely understand why this was picked for the Solo article-not only is this partially reminiscent of Star Wars, but Zara Cole is very Han Solo-ish herself. Her development, along with that of the other main characters, was what I most enjoyed about this book. On top of that, the intricate world-building, the banter and connection between the three main characters, and much more (including a BEAUTIFUL illustration at the front of the book *swoons*) made for a spectacular book.
On Goodreads it says that this is #1 in a series, but I’ve found no information about the sequel and when it comes out. This book came out in February 2018, so that means I’ll have to wait a year or two for the next installment to come out…
That, and the sequel to Defy the Worlds, the next Arc of a Scythe book…
Ah, such is the tragic life of a bibliophile.
Well, I hope you enjoyed the review! Have a wonderful rest of your day!
I don’t think I’ve mentioned my new obsession with Snail Mail.
I initially got into them in April, when I saw an article about them on Pitchfork. After listening to Habit on iTunes, I decided to buy it (along with “Pristine”). And I LOVED it. Snail Mail has now earned their place in my top three favorite bands: in no particular order, David Bowie, Car Seat Headrest, and SNAIL MAIL.
Slowly, more songs were pre-released for Lush, and I got more and more excited. Two days ago, it finally came out.
I’m going to do what I’ve done for my other two album reviews (Masseduction and Twin Fantasy): my thoughts for each track, then my overall thoughts afterwards. Enjoy the review!
TRACK 1: “Intro”: 8.5/10
The first track of the album feels like a dream; a strange fantasy mixed with nighttime worries that keep you staring at your ceiling. It also provides a little foreshadowing for the last song. “Intro” is something of a smooth transition from the fuzzy, angsty musings of Habit to the raw lyrics of Lush. It’s only a little over one minute long, but I love it!
TRACK 2: “Pristine”: 9/10
“It just feels like the same party every weekend, doesn’t it?”
This was the first song that was pre-released off of the album, and the one that got me initially excited for Lush. It’s a song full of musings, longing, and unanswered questions. “Don’t you like me for me?” On some level, I feel like “Pristine” could speak to all of us. We make friends, we feel loved, but deep down, there’s that possibility that haunts us: are we really loved? So thank you, Lindsey. This is beautiful.
TRACK 3: “Speaking Terms”: 7/10
This song wasn’t my favorite on the album, but it still has that raw, melancholy quality. It almost feels a little restrained as far as the music goes, but if it were a little harder or louder, I might have liked it more.
Dang, I don’t think I ever would have imagined myself saying that.
TRACK 4: “Heat Wave”: 10/10
This. Is. The. Best. Video.
“Heat Wave” is, without a doubt, my favorite song on this album. Lindsey Jordan’s voice brings me so much joy, the guitar is spectacular, and plus, it’s the perfect song to blare out of the car with the windows down. (My mom and I did this once. It was REALLY fun.) Unlike “Speaking Terms”, this song feels like Lindsey Jordan truly poured her heart and soul into everything, and I enjoyed it immensely.
TRACK 5: “Stick”: 9/10
”Stick” was originally the final song off of Habit, a melancholy, heartfelt song. On Lush, it’s taken to the next level with the volume turned up all the way. We now have similar guitar to ”Heat Wave” and drums, making it more emotional and resonant. Needless to say, I loved Habit “Stick”, but Lush ”Stick” is truly memorable.
TRACK 6: “Let’s Find an Out”: 8/10
This was the last of the pre-releases for Lush. At first, I wasn’t really blown away, but it slowly grew on me. Like “Intro”, it’s a very dreamlike song, filled with longing. For some reason, it always brings to mind very peaceful images; people lying down in a field, dandelion seeds blowing in the wind, meadows, etc. Yellow flowers, too.
Why not?
TRACK 7: “Golden Dream”: 7/10
I have similar feelings about “Golden Dream” and “Speaking Terms” (see track three). Though I like how catchy it is while still having depth and emotion, it still didn’t blow it out of the water for me. I liked the last minute or so a lot, though.
TRACK 8: “Full Control”: 8.5/10
If you listen to this album back to back, it would be a little tricky to distinguish this song from its predecessor, “Golden Dream”. But once the chorus arrives, I assure you, the two are now two different songs. It’s like Lindsey Jordan took “Golden Dream”, pumped in more emotion, awesome guitar, and resonant, beautiful vocals. “Full Control” is a bit like the baby of “Golden Dream” and “Pristine”, and it’s one of my favorites on the album.
TRACK 9: “Deep Sea”: 8.5/10
At this point, the album begins its transition into a beautiful finale, bringing out the best, somber qualities from some of the material off of Habit. This song radiates images of darkness, but not necessarily negative ones. Starry skies, a descent to the bottom of the ocean, and a mind on the brink of sleep come to mind for me. This is, without a doubt, some of Lindsey Jordan’s best work.
TRACK 10: “Anytime”: 9.5/10
Out of the songs that weren’t pre-released, this has to be my favorite song on the album. If I include the pre-released songs, this is a close second to “Heat Wave”. This is what we’ve all been waiting for, hinted at by “Intro” and mimicked by “Deep Sea”. Like “Pristine”, it’s a song of raising questions, longing. The absence of almost all other instruments give it a more emotional quality, as though it was recorded in the dark, in a moment of intense emotion and secrecy. Beautiful finish to a beautiful album. Encore.
“They don’t love you, do they?”
Alright, I’ve averaged out all of my ratings for each song, and it’s a solid 8.5! That’s pretty great, in my book. Lush was, unfortunately one of those instances where they released some of the best songs first and left the others until last, but despite that, I loved this album overall. It’s so crazy how Lindsey Jordan just graduated HIGH SCHOOL, and released Lush soon after. So, in conclusion, bravo, Lindsey! Thank you for a remarkable first full-length album. 😊
![[SCREAMING].GIF](https://madelinetodd.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/screaming.gif?w=840)
