2020 So I Suddenly Come Into a Lot of Reading Time

3/5

I picked up this 2002 duology because I was looking for a enemies-to-lovers story that was more or less similar to The Cruel Prince. It was pretty much what I expected, starting off with a pair of capable siblings defending their land from the tyrant king. But as the novel progressed, the protagonist grew more and more stupid. She was aware of her ignorance and stupidity and yet did nothing to improve it. She would feel ashamed of her ignorant actions, but then be too afraid to apologize and confront them, so instead we spend the novel burdened by her incompetence. Other than that, the plot and characters are interesting, and I was moved enough by our underdogs to be sympathetic to their plight. 

1/5

I was drawn in from the very first page with McLemore's beautiful writing. She captured the magical atmosphere perfectly, similar to the way Erin Morgenstern captured the magic of her Night Circus. The novel is also gender identity conscious, which would be a big plus for those looking for more representation in YA novels. But the biggest drawback and the reason why I didn't finish is because the novel was boring. The plot didn't move fast enough, which may have been in part due to the beautiful writing slowing the author down. 

3.5/5

This 2005 novel is another that I found in my search for something similar to The Cruel Prince. The high-stakes, poison-happy plot of the book and enemies-to-lover relationship make it a closer match to Cruel Prince than Crown Duel. The main character is very smart and the multiple twists in the plot both make this a strong read, but the aspect that truly stood out to me was Snyder's handling of past trauma. Snyder's slow reveal of our protagonist's trauma gives it the weight it deserves. She truly shows us the emotional impact of past events, rather than blandly using them to add motives or false stakes. A small downside of the novel would be that it also contains the trope of a protagonist finding out that she actually has magical powers, but that took a small role in this novel and actually played well into the rest of the plot. Overall, I would recommend.

2020 Beginnings

3/5

An enemies-to-lovers story. I finished it a little confused, because I had expected more in terms of plot and also in terms of developing the love interests' relationship. I would have preferred more scenes furthering their relationship because they fell in love a little too easily, and more scenes focusing on the actual plot. But overall, both the characters and world were well-written and interesting. Also, I believe this novel falls under "New Adult" rather than "Young Adult," in case that influences your decision to read it.

3/5

An original world, but not original enough, especially toward the end. But still enjoyable throughout. 

1/5

I couldn't finish this. By the length and simplicity of the sentences, you'd think Dealing in Dreams was written for a first-grader. I read some reviews which encouraged readers to stick through the boring beginning because the action would eventually pick up, but I just couldn't make it through.

1.5/5

I picked up this modernized version of Beauty and the Beast because I was in the mood for a quick and light feel-good story. Turns out, all of the characters were trite (I know it's a retelling but that doesn't make freshness impossible) and the way each of Jaya's, the protagonist, relationships ended was predictable and handled so poorly that the endings felt absurdly unrealistic. If this had been released ~15 years ago, I think the old-fashioned, mild feminism and cliches might be more understandable, but this was released this year! Somehow the book managed to make me feel almost foolish for expecting better. 

2019, The End of a Decade

Fall'19, things I read while I was abroad. I chose to reread a lot of Leigh Bardugo, devoured Holly Black's Queen of Nothing, started and enjoyed The Great Library series, and ended with a sweet chick lit.

4.5/5                                     4/5

The Great Library series has wonderful world-building, complex characters, and a badass protagonist. I love Jess, the protagonist, for his background, family, and drive; I am always rooting for him. The series has a total of five heavy novels, but don't let that scare you off. Even if you only read the first one, it's still well worth your time.

4/5 

The Folk of the Air has made it to my list of all time favorites, and it's a been while since I've added anything to that list. The closing book wasn't as strong as the first two but it wasn't a letdown either. Though I felt that it could have been longer, I was satisfied that it didn't break my heart. It felt so good to see Jude and Cardan and Madoc again. The series isn't for the faint of heart-- it's cruel, power hungry, and lonely. But it's also an extremely well-written tale about carving your own place in the world of your choosing. 

4.5/5

I read this in a lovely, bookish cafe in Vienna. I'd been craving a chick lit reminiscent of Morgan Matson's Since You Been Gone, and Ashley Elston delivered. 

2019 "Haul" Part II

4/5

Cutthroat women, a high stakes plot, and a strong protagonist. The heist style kept me on my toes as did the complex relationships between all of the characters. It had similarities to To Kill a Kingdom in that they had a similar brutal tone and were both set on the ocean-- it's a good thing and I would recommend both novels. Will be reading the sequel.

3.5/5

Different from the YA fantasy that I usually read, probably because this is not in the YA genre. The sarcasm and humor were fun and could be found in YA, but Beat the Reaper definitely had more explicit violence and sex scenes. I enjoyed the medical talk; at times it felt a bit like an anatomy lesson but I didn't mind. This novel is gory and dark, but also fun and engaging. I would recommend it to older audiences (18+) who aren't squeamish and like danger.

4/5

It's been a while since I read To Best the Boys. I don't remember the details but the impression it left on me was that it wasn't a bad read. The labyrinth added some intensity and the novel had the feminist themes that I adored, but the novel as a whole was not particularly original. The plot of a woman pretending to be a man is one that I enjoy, but can also be found in Spin the Dawn and We Hunt the Flame (both are also in this post) and AC Gaughen's Scarlet (a good read).

3.5/5

Figured it was about time I finally read one of the biggest YA novels of our time. It was as good as the hype, and I would highly recommend fans of YA science to fiction to read Ready Player One if they haven't already. It's the OG. The ending was not unsuspected, but the intense journey was incredibly fun. Ernest Cline's voice as Wade Watts is candid and clear. I loved the world's design and Wade's determination to face the great challenge both of finding the eggs and protecting the OASIS. 

3.5/5

Unlike any other YA sci-fi I've read before. Dayton chooses a vignette style displaying politics and technology at different points in time. I loved being able to see the larger story through different stories and people; each one was unique but also tied by a common theme. I would recommend fans of sci-fi and those interested in the ethical line between science and playing god to check out Stronger, Faster, and More Beautiful. 

3/5

A pretty standard chick lit. Made for younger audiences (maybe ages 12+?). Daphne's behavior is beyond inappropriate in how she oversteps her boundaries. I liked the little twist when the novel reveals how different one person's interpretation of events/identity can be so different from other people's interpretation. There were also some sweet moments. I'd recommend this for those looking for a fun, light read that doesn't take too much thought.

2.5/5

As I mentioned earlier, I'm a bit of a sucker for plot lines where a woman pretends to be a man. That, along with the promise of a competition between two strong protagonists, made me want to read We Hunt the Flame. Also, the cover is gorgeous. While the novel isn't absolutely horrible, it was disappointing. My biggest problem was that most of the reveals and characterizations are common throughout YA fantasy novels; neither the characters or plot had originality or depth. Towards the end, the plot became sloppy and poorly done. I would suggest We Hunt the Flame if you have nothing else to read and to first properly adjust your expectations.

3.5/5

A good, fun coming-of-age novel. It lacks a cohesive plot and Scarlett can be a immature, but ultimately she has a bright voice that kept the read engaging. I appreciated Ruth's character and Scarlett's relationship with her, although Ruth's story definitely felt trite.

3/5

Another novel where the female protagonist disguises herself as a man to participate in a contest. I gave Spin the Dawn a lower rating than I probably would have otherwise because the novel was different from how it was sold. I was under the impression that it would be a competition to become the king's tailor; that competition ended maybe a fourth of the way into the novel, and then Maia is sent with the king's mysterious magician/jester/advisor (?) on a completely separate mission that takes up the remainder of the novel. The entire story has a much more romantic tone that I had expected it would, and overall I felt that Elizabeth Lim couldn't decide what she wanted her story to be. A tailor's competition, a magical trial, or a djinn story? She tried to shift between all three, and it made for a weak YA fantasy. The only cohesive thread throughout would probably be the romantic atmosphere, so if you enter the novel only looking for that then I think it will be more enjoyable. Overall, an enjoyable but not a strong read.

King of Scars / Leigh Bardugo

3.5/5

With the news of the Grishaverse Netflix adaptation, I decided to reread the Grisha trilogy and the Six of Crows duology, and took it as a perfect opportunity to get around to reading King of Scars. While this novel can be read without reading all of the Grisha trilogy and the Six of Crows duology first, I highly advise against that because King of Scars is more of an extension of these series rather than its own being.

While the cast of characters are each strong enough to hold his or her own, it still feels as if their main stories were already told. I felt as though Bardugo could not think of a new adversary or challenge, which is why in King of Scars the plot line is still focused on the aftermath of the previous novels. The entire novel is about Nikolai's recovery from the nichevo'ya bite. Nina's scenes felt completely unrelated from Nikolai's storyline and she was in the exact same mindset as the end of Crooked Kingdom, which made her chapters dull and static. It emphasized the feeling that this novel is more of a "Where are they now?" story than a strong tale that stands on its own.

I'd heard a lot of hype over a plot twist at the end of the King of Scars, and when I finally reached it I found it incredibly disappointing. As I stated earlier, the plot twist only reinforced Bardugo's lack of new ideas. She extends the challenges she created in earlier novels, and her move of bringing back an old adversary is a cheap trick. 

I'd recommend King of Scars to those who have read the Grisha novels (if you haven't, you should, because they are amazing stories dealing with themes of greed, power, and belonging) because you get to see your favorite characters again. Knowing their backstories makes it feel like you know a secret when you read King of Scars. But overall, this is nowhere near the strongest of Bardugo's work. 

The Coldest Girl in Coldtown / Holly Black

5/5

After reading Cruel Prince, I had major withdrawals and knew my best chance of filling the hole would be another Holly Black novel. The Coldest Girl in Coldtown did not disappoint. Every character was developed and unique; I loved how strong Tana is and how unorthodox of a male counterpart Gavriel is. I also loved the world Holly Black built. Her version of vampirism and how it infected the globe is different from any other vampire world I've read, and I found it very intriguing. The novel was dark and real (which may seem ironic given that it contains vampires), and Holly Black has no problem covering a wide variety of emotions which were expertly displayed in Tana and then felt by me.

When I reached the ending, the reveal made me see certain characters and scenes in a different light and I felt the need to turn back to the beginning and reread nearly the entire novel. It's almost similar to Yuri on Ice. The first time you watch Yuri, you see it through Yuri's perspective, but the second time you watch it, you see it through Viktor's perspective. This is similar; the first reading is Tana's perspective and the second is Gavriel's.

Overall, The Coldest Girl in Coldtown nails it in strong characterization and world building, and I definitely will be returning to it for a good read. I'd recommend it to both fantasy and science fiction lovers because Black has designed a world that blends the two. It's a gritty and interesting novel, and I highly recommend visiting it in Coldtown. 

The Cruel Prince / Holly Black

5/5

The Folk of the Air trilogy by Holly Black is my obsession of the year. It's been months since I first read The Cruel Prince and I still can't stop thinking about it. This series has me searching up fan art, and that is rare for me. I absolutely cannot wait until the third and final book is released this November, and I highly recommend fans of The Winner's Curse, Grave Mercy, and Throne of Glass to read up on these novels just in time for the third.

There are so many things that make The Folk of the Air worthy of my time and obsession. First, Holly Black is a very experienced writer both in her prose and in her tying of various plot lines. She has created multiple well-rounded characters. The relationship (notice I didn't call it a romance) between Jude and Cardan is unlike any other main relationship I've seen in a YA novel, but the originality of all of the relationships that Jude has cannot be overlooked. I especially love the dynamic between her and her father, Madoc. Holly Black has captured so many complexities and contradictions in the relationships of her characters.

Holly Black also does an amazing job with Jude's voice. The way she phrases thoughts is so particular. I adored the slightly unreliable narration, and the way Holly Black never has to explicitly state something in order to convey her meaning. 

I could go on forever. Do yourself a favor and check out The Cruel Prince. Like the title suggests, it's a cruel and brutal book, and I love it for that.