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!
Despite my lack of a Book Review Tuesday this week, I do have LOADS of fan arts for you guys! I’m so happy to share them all with you, and I hope you enjoy…as well as survive the tidal wave of nerdiness, of course.
Without further ado, behold…fan arts.
Sally Hawkins. I was inspired to draw this after a wonderful dream I had about meeting her in a bookstore.
Will Toledo. I apologize for my inability to draw guitars.
The Vision, my personal favorite Avenger. 😭 (Avengers: Infinity War)
Batgirl of Burnside.
Will Toledo(s?). The quote is a line from “Bodys”.
Enfys Nest (Solo: A Star Wars Story)
Courtney Crumrin. I almost cosplayed her at Comic Con last Friday, but I didn’t have time to throw together a good cosplay, much less dye my hair blonde.
David Bowie (from the 1973 “Life On Mars?” music video).
Toothless (How to Train Your Dragon)
Lindsey Jordan (Snail Mail).
Hermione Granger (Harry Potter)
Johann Krauss (B.P.R.D.). I barely managed to draw him from memory. He’s really fun to doodle.
Baz Grimm-Pitch (Carry On). I drew this last night after re-reading “Carry On”.
Well, that’s it for this batch of fan arts! This summer holds endless possibilities, and I hope to fill my sketchbook up with more and more art! Until next time!
I was re-reading “Carry On” by Rainbow Rowell and lost track of time. It’s easy to get lost amongst gay romance, magic, and vampires. If you’d like to read my review for that book, go check out 3/6/18.
But! Good news! I’ve just checked out a bunch of books at the library, and now two books I’ve had on hold for over a months (Simon vs the Homo Sapiens Agenda and Red Queen) are now available on my Kindle! Joy of joys! So, you can expect a review of a good book next week.
Again, I apologize. I hope you’re having a bookish 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. 😊
Hey, everyone, and welcome to the first BRT of June 2018! Also, happy summer!
My summer’s been pretty low key so far, but I’ve already gotten a lot of reading in. I just stopped by the library yesterday, so hopefully that will produce some more material for these reviews. This particular book was one I got at the library a few weeks ago. It was recommended to my by Goodreads, and I was instantly hooked. One of the first books that I’ve really LOVE loved (not counting sequels) since…wow, maybe since Daughter of the Pirate King or Caraval. And I read those in April. Christ.
I hope you enjoy the review!
Firebug
The humans had the Mafia. But what about the others, those with supernatural powers or magical lineage? For them, there’s the Coterie. Led by Venus, the Coterie is responsible for killing others in the magical community who they deem dangerous or that threaten them. One of their best hitmen is Ava, who has the ability to start and control fires with her mind. And she’s only seventeen. After the death of her mother, Venus took Ava under her dangerous wing, and since then, the Coterie is all she’s ever known. And she hates it.
So when she receives her latest assignment-to kill a man who’s been a family friend for years-Ava knows she must rebel. Together with Lock, a half-dryad, and Ezra, a were-fox, Ava sets off on a journey to evade the Coterie once and for all, and put Venus in her place if they can.
My first thoughts before I read this book were that, OH MY GOD, IT’S TEEN LIZ SHERMAN!!!!
Don’t call me babe.
And upon reading the book, I found a lot more similarities between her and Ava beyond their powers. They shared a fierce loyalty to their friends (Ezra and Lock reminded me a little of Hellboy and Abe Sapien), a bit of stubbornness, and a desperation to feel like they belonged somewhere.
Now, the book itself blew me out of the water! I haven’t read something as witty, funny, and action packed as this book in a long time. I really enjoyed all of the characters (Besides Ava, Lock, and Ezra, I really enjoyed Cade and a few others), their clever banter, and the interesting set of powers many of them had. Also, the chapter names need some serious recognition, guys. These are, like, Rick Riordan-level chapter titles. (My personal favorite was “Ain’t no party like a Coterie party, ‘cause a Coterie party’s got a body count”.)
There is a sequel, which I will probably review later, but all I’ll say is that it was just as good as book 1.
I hope you have a wonderful day, and keep on reading!
