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sagek's reviews
1006 reviews
This Savage Song by V.E. Schwab
5.0
4.7
With darkness in every corner, how do you fight your demons?
This Savage Song is a brilliant, creatively dark and deceptive book filled with dancing shadows and thrilling darkness. I breezed through this book and already I can't wait for the next one! Monsters that are actually bred from violence? Count me in! This is a dark and thrilling adventure, and I loved every minute of it!
The writing really made this book work for me. I was easily dragged in and I didn't want out. I flipped through pages easily and devoured the story as quickly as I could. My favourite part however, had to be the whole monster aspect. Violence breeds monsters; Actual monsters. You have Corsai, Malchai, and Sunai, all dangerous and dark and deadly. They are all horrifying in their greed and power and strength, but we also get to see a better side of the Sunai via August Flynn, and I really enjoyed that.
Being one of the most deadly monsters in the city, August should be cold, dark, and unforgiving like every other monster in Verity City, but instead he fights to be human, to act and feel like them, look like them. This is what eventually changes Kate's views on monsters, and what helps her character develop the way it does. It's a brilliant transformation, and it was very enjoyable to read, especially their interactions!
*Read my full review here
With darkness in every corner, how do you fight your demons?
This Savage Song is a brilliant, creatively dark and deceptive book filled with dancing shadows and thrilling darkness. I breezed through this book and already I can't wait for the next one! Monsters that are actually bred from violence? Count me in! This is a dark and thrilling adventure, and I loved every minute of it!
The writing really made this book work for me. I was easily dragged in and I didn't want out. I flipped through pages easily and devoured the story as quickly as I could. My favourite part however, had to be the whole monster aspect. Violence breeds monsters; Actual monsters. You have Corsai, Malchai, and Sunai, all dangerous and dark and deadly. They are all horrifying in their greed and power and strength, but we also get to see a better side of the Sunai via August Flynn, and I really enjoyed that.
Being one of the most deadly monsters in the city, August should be cold, dark, and unforgiving like every other monster in Verity City, but instead he fights to be human, to act and feel like them, look like them. This is what eventually changes Kate's views on monsters, and what helps her character develop the way it does. It's a brilliant transformation, and it was very enjoyable to read, especially their interactions!
*Read my full review here
Out of My Mind by Lauren Sabel
3.5/5
Lies I Live By is a quick, intriguing read about psychics and a deadly plot they must uncover. The first half is full of hints and adventure and mystery, while the second half is full of action, adrenaline, and discoveries. It’s easy to get lost in, and seems predictable until you’re proven wrong. It’s a great read that I devoured in a few hours!
I was intrigued by the whole psychics-working-for-the-government aspect, especially since our MC, Callie, had to lie because of it. She could only be honest with those she worked with because they already know and understand about psychics since they are psychics too. And even then, she kept a few secrets to herself. This helped move the pace and made for some very interesting situations. She struggled through hope, love, loss, and pain. Even when faced with a deep and painful betrayal, you can’t help but hope it all works out. This book is a play on emotions, and it’s a trickster. What you think will happen won’t always happen. Twists come out of seemingly no where but make so much sense you wonder why you didn’t see it coning! It’s fairly fast paced, has great flow, and the writing sucked me in easily.
*Read my full review here
*Thanks to FFBC for providing me with a free ebook in order to participate in this tour.:)
4.0
3.5/5
Lies I Live By is a quick, intriguing read about psychics and a deadly plot they must uncover. The first half is full of hints and adventure and mystery, while the second half is full of action, adrenaline, and discoveries. It’s easy to get lost in, and seems predictable until you’re proven wrong. It’s a great read that I devoured in a few hours!
I was intrigued by the whole psychics-working-for-the-government aspect, especially since our MC, Callie, had to lie because of it. She could only be honest with those she worked with because they already know and understand about psychics since they are psychics too. And even then, she kept a few secrets to herself. This helped move the pace and made for some very interesting situations. She struggled through hope, love, loss, and pain. Even when faced with a deep and painful betrayal, you can’t help but hope it all works out. This book is a play on emotions, and it’s a trickster. What you think will happen won’t always happen. Twists come out of seemingly no where but make so much sense you wonder why you didn’t see it coning! It’s fairly fast paced, has great flow, and the writing sucked me in easily.
*Read my full review here
*Thanks to FFBC for providing me with a free ebook in order to participate in this tour.:)
Withering Rose by Kaitlyn Davis
Withering Rose is an enchanting, compelling, fantastical tale about acceptance and belonging.
The beginning is a bit slow moving, and you know who she is right away, or at least you can assume based on how the first book ended. While it was interesting enough to get the plot moving, it started off with that famous outcast-in-high-school vibe, and then it shifts off into how the outcast gets invited to a party by a pretty guy and is then bullied and he doesn’t stand up for her so she realizes just how lonely she really is. Then it gets really interesting. I found that the book really started in the party scene, where a set of events kick into place and settle a destiny of sorts.
The writing made up for it. The beginning was slow, but the flow of the writing and the way it was written allowed us to be immersed in the world without complaint. You could just feel the anticipation, the knowledge that it definitely gets better, and so you continue on and disappointment remains unable to be felt. You hope along with the main character, you feel her pain (especially during the party scene), and you root for her. She was a princess turned wallflower turned strong princess again. She learned how to pick herself up off the ground and stay standing tall through all the hurtles and hills along her path. She is not the only character who had to open up and grow, however.
*Read my full review here
*A huge thanks to YABBT for providing me with a free eARC in order to participate in this Tour
4.0
Withering Rose is an enchanting, compelling, fantastical tale about acceptance and belonging.
The beginning is a bit slow moving, and you know who she is right away, or at least you can assume based on how the first book ended. While it was interesting enough to get the plot moving, it started off with that famous outcast-in-high-school vibe, and then it shifts off into how the outcast gets invited to a party by a pretty guy and is then bullied and he doesn’t stand up for her so she realizes just how lonely she really is. Then it gets really interesting. I found that the book really started in the party scene, where a set of events kick into place and settle a destiny of sorts.
The writing made up for it. The beginning was slow, but the flow of the writing and the way it was written allowed us to be immersed in the world without complaint. You could just feel the anticipation, the knowledge that it definitely gets better, and so you continue on and disappointment remains unable to be felt. You hope along with the main character, you feel her pain (especially during the party scene), and you root for her. She was a princess turned wallflower turned strong princess again. She learned how to pick herself up off the ground and stay standing tall through all the hurtles and hills along her path. She is not the only character who had to open up and grow, however.
*Read my full review here
*A huge thanks to YABBT for providing me with a free eARC in order to participate in this Tour
Gathering Frost by Kaitlyn Davis
3.0
3.5/5
Gathering Frost is an engaging, quick read that will leave you admiring the author’s writing.
Jade is cold-hearted, stuck under the Queen’s thrall, and she can’t feel anything other than fear and dread (how else would they stay loyal to the Queen?). She has a distinct voice, disconnected and yet not quite completely lost. The writing gives off this mood, where Jade feels nothing, but knows she should and knows she used to. She doesn’t have room for love, but she admires. She doesn’t hate, but she can’t stand the Queen. She doesn’t get angry, and her cool, calm composer makes her a better fighter. The way it’s all written really gives you the feeling that she has nothing, but knows she used to have everything. It made this book hard to put down, the pages just kept turning and I couldn’t protest because I didn’t want to.
That didn’t change even though I eventually realized that this book is fast paced, because hardly anything happens until the end. It began with a peak at Jade’s life, the Queen, the other’s under her thrall, their missions and what is expected of them. And then she meets a boy who saved her even though he shouldn’t have, and things start changing. She sets out to find him, gets captured and brought back to their home base, and that’s where she’s kept in a room underground. The time passes as she plays games, reads books, and talks to two people, feeling more and more everyday. Fairly quickly, she feels again, and the kiss seals it. But then things are changing again, and the Queen must be stopped. That is where the real action begins, what the entirety of this book was truly leading up to. And it doesn’t disappoint. Magic and murder and betrayal fall into place as the Queen proves to be as evil and cold as she says, but Jade knows hope is everyone’s enemy, and even evil can’t fight it.
*Read my full reviewhere
*Thank you YABBT for providing me with a free ebook.
Gathering Frost is an engaging, quick read that will leave you admiring the author’s writing.
Jade is cold-hearted, stuck under the Queen’s thrall, and she can’t feel anything other than fear and dread (how else would they stay loyal to the Queen?). She has a distinct voice, disconnected and yet not quite completely lost. The writing gives off this mood, where Jade feels nothing, but knows she should and knows she used to. She doesn’t have room for love, but she admires. She doesn’t hate, but she can’t stand the Queen. She doesn’t get angry, and her cool, calm composer makes her a better fighter. The way it’s all written really gives you the feeling that she has nothing, but knows she used to have everything. It made this book hard to put down, the pages just kept turning and I couldn’t protest because I didn’t want to.
That didn’t change even though I eventually realized that this book is fast paced, because hardly anything happens until the end. It began with a peak at Jade’s life, the Queen, the other’s under her thrall, their missions and what is expected of them. And then she meets a boy who saved her even though he shouldn’t have, and things start changing. She sets out to find him, gets captured and brought back to their home base, and that’s where she’s kept in a room underground. The time passes as she plays games, reads books, and talks to two people, feeling more and more everyday. Fairly quickly, she feels again, and the kiss seals it. But then things are changing again, and the Queen must be stopped. That is where the real action begins, what the entirety of this book was truly leading up to. And it doesn’t disappoint. Magic and murder and betrayal fall into place as the Queen proves to be as evil and cold as she says, but Jade knows hope is everyone’s enemy, and even evil can’t fight it.
*Read my full reviewhere
*Thank you YABBT for providing me with a free ebook.
The Inquisition by Taran Matharu
3.5/5
The Inquisition is so much better than the first book! The author's writing has definitely improved.
The first 30% was about the trial and the evidence and that tension and intrigue of whether anyone will die or not. It was entertaining, but also introduced some feelings for the characters. That's right. While in The Novice I couldn't care less about them, The Inquisition has made me feel sad for them. Among other things.
Characters: They're still very similar (unfortunately), but they've grown. They don't lash out at every little thing. They don't go red in the face at every little jab or disrespectful comment. They don't let their emotions control them as strongly as they did in The Novice. To be fair, it's probably because they didn't really have any time to react in those ways. Still though, I was very happy that those behaviors were mostly gone as they bothered me the most in the first book. They act more like their age. Their manipulations and childish behavior have turned more cruel and foreboding. They aren't formidable opponents, but they're getting there.
*Read my full review here
*I received a free digital ARC from FFBC to take part in a Blog Tour.
4.0
3.5/5
The Inquisition is so much better than the first book! The author's writing has definitely improved.
The first 30% was about the trial and the evidence and that tension and intrigue of whether anyone will die or not. It was entertaining, but also introduced some feelings for the characters. That's right. While in The Novice I couldn't care less about them, The Inquisition has made me feel sad for them. Among other things.
Characters: They're still very similar (unfortunately), but they've grown. They don't lash out at every little thing. They don't go red in the face at every little jab or disrespectful comment. They don't let their emotions control them as strongly as they did in The Novice. To be fair, it's probably because they didn't really have any time to react in those ways. Still though, I was very happy that those behaviors were mostly gone as they bothered me the most in the first book. They act more like their age. Their manipulations and childish behavior have turned more cruel and foreboding. They aren't formidable opponents, but they're getting there.
*Read my full review here
*I received a free digital ARC from FFBC to take part in a Blog Tour.
Ivory and Bone by Julie Eshbaugh
4.0
4.5/5
Ivory and Bone is a compelling read about a boy and a girl as he tells her his side of their story. Through tough times, life and death, and battle, they survive and bonds grow stronger than ever. Happiness was distant in the beginning, but by the end it's everywhere, even through the tragedy.
This tale starts with Kol as he tells his side of the story, meeting Mya, hunting and almost dying, meeting Lo, Pek and his affections, Shava and her obsessions, and the war. His family is struggling, with food getting scarcer each year and no girls, meaning no reproduction to keep their line alive. But then three visitors come from a neighboring people, and there she is, Mya. We're pulled in right from the beginning, and it's easy to lose yourself in the tale since it almost seems as if Kol is speaking to you, the reader. It's easier to visualize what he recounts, and it makes it seem like a quick read. It's a compelling, rich prehistoric world that you can't help but love.
*I received a free eARC from FFBC in exchange for an honest review so I could participate in a Blog Tour.
*Read my full review here: https://libraryofbooksblog.wordpress.com/2016/06/02/blog-tour-ivory-and-bone-by-julie-eshbaugh-review-giveaway/
Ivory and Bone is a compelling read about a boy and a girl as he tells her his side of their story. Through tough times, life and death, and battle, they survive and bonds grow stronger than ever. Happiness was distant in the beginning, but by the end it's everywhere, even through the tragedy.
This tale starts with Kol as he tells his side of the story, meeting Mya, hunting and almost dying, meeting Lo, Pek and his affections, Shava and her obsessions, and the war. His family is struggling, with food getting scarcer each year and no girls, meaning no reproduction to keep their line alive. But then three visitors come from a neighboring people, and there she is, Mya. We're pulled in right from the beginning, and it's easy to lose yourself in the tale since it almost seems as if Kol is speaking to you, the reader. It's easier to visualize what he recounts, and it makes it seem like a quick read. It's a compelling, rich prehistoric world that you can't help but love.
*I received a free eARC from FFBC in exchange for an honest review so I could participate in a Blog Tour.
*Read my full review here: https://libraryofbooksblog.wordpress.com/2016/06/02/blog-tour-ivory-and-bone-by-julie-eshbaugh-review-giveaway/
The Neverland Wars by Audrey Greathouse
2.0
The Neverland Wars has an interesting concept, and there was a lot of promise, but unfortunately it fell flat. Actually, it barely had any buildup, let alone some epic war you assume will happen from the title.
We start off with Gwen going to school, which is merely done to introduce us to her crush, Jay, and the idea of this party of his that she really wants to go to. Then her sister goes missing and she finds out about magic and the evil Peter Pan who steals children. She follows Peter back to Neverland the next night despite knowing it’s a bad idea, and from there we get filler chapters and information about Neverland (how mermaids can read the skies and are greedy for mirrors, how Neverlanders can eat stars but they each have a specific effect such as blowing up like a balloon in your mouth, how a deer’s hooves are a magical tracking device ect).
Neverland is a beautiful forest -or is it a jungle, Gwen isn’t sure- filled with peaceful animals, mermaids, noisy children, and magic. There’s a threat of a war, at least that’s what the synopsis says, so I was definitely let down when we got two short warnings about the upcoming battle, and had one scene with bombing (which didn’t quite fit the tone of the story, as if it were thrown in suddenly merely to prove war is imminent), and yes men who have living shadows do search for them in reality, but there’s no epic action; where is the war we were promised?
*Read my full review here
*Thank you NetGalley for the free eARC
We start off with Gwen going to school, which is merely done to introduce us to her crush, Jay, and the idea of this party of his that she really wants to go to. Then her sister goes missing and she finds out about magic and the evil Peter Pan who steals children. She follows Peter back to Neverland the next night despite knowing it’s a bad idea, and from there we get filler chapters and information about Neverland (how mermaids can read the skies and are greedy for mirrors, how Neverlanders can eat stars but they each have a specific effect such as blowing up like a balloon in your mouth, how a deer’s hooves are a magical tracking device ect).
Neverland is a beautiful forest -or is it a jungle, Gwen isn’t sure- filled with peaceful animals, mermaids, noisy children, and magic. There’s a threat of a war, at least that’s what the synopsis says, so I was definitely let down when we got two short warnings about the upcoming battle, and had one scene with bombing (which didn’t quite fit the tone of the story, as if it were thrown in suddenly merely to prove war is imminent), and yes men who have living shadows do search for them in reality, but there’s no epic action; where is the war we were promised?
*Read my full review here
*Thank you NetGalley for the free eARC
The Automation by B. L. a., G. B. Gabbler
3.0
The Automation is a strange, gods-rich novel with equally strange characters and a world built with webs of deceit and secrecy. It was interesting to read, but the book also had it’s fair share of disturbing qualities.
Odys witnesses a suicide, and doing so let him be entered into a world he didn’t know existed, a world with Automations (Automata?). Not only is he dragged into a plot to take down a rogue Master who has assumed evil intentions, his sister gets involved and danger takes a whole new meaning. Secrets, plots, and strange happenings are just the beginning.
"...Had it-had the head-exploded?“ -Page 11
CHARACTERS
Odys (Otis). He is the main character, at least he is until the last 50 or so pages where Odissa takes his place. He was only a pawn on the board, another game piece to be played. The suicide he witnessed was his initiation (that’s how I like to see it, anyway) and he got his first Atomation (they’re the other half of someone’s soul. As soon as you touch their inanimate form [paperclip, compass etc] they begin to drain your soul and they become you, your soul. The same person, two bodies.), Maud. However, Odys is a special case. Why? Well, he didn’t sync with Maud right away (meaning she was draining him, but he didn’t want to face everything he hid from himself [because it all went to her, she’s the part of the soul he doesn’t want to face], so he couldn’t accept his soul [her]). That should’ve killed him, because we need our souls to live, and the energy it took out of Odys and Maude was basically draining their life-force. But it didn’t.
Anyway. Odys is bitter, angry, has OCD, and his addictions are coffee (can’t blame him for that), and cigarettes. He was raised by his father who wasn’t a good father, and his relationship with his sister stems from that. Oh, did I mention Odys and Odissa (Odessa) are twins? And that they love each other? Either way, I quite enjoyed his character. His bleak outlook on life and his tendency to reject anything he didn’t want to face made this book all the more interesting.
Odissa on the other hand, we don’t really know much about. She’s strong, has a bad past, doesn’t trust easily, and she likes to argue. She’s intelligent. A great female character. I would love to see more of her in the next book!
Dorian + Fletcher; Mother + Anslem; Bob + Cestus. All Master and Automation relations. They love each other, and their relationships are practically unbreakable since they’re the same person. Who cares if they have sex? It’s like doing yourself, only you have two bodies. Yeah. This was odd for me to read about, only because they’re the same person. It was hard to think of them as separate people, especially since most of the characters seemed to have similar voices, but it didn’t bother me once I got used to it (they’re basically soul mates because they’re two halves of the same soul, literally).
"He was like a genie to me. Just some slave and external facet bound to me, not my own soul.” -Page 154
Some Automations had inanimate forms that perfectly fit with their “human” forms however, and I thought this was pretty funny since my favourite definitely makes sense with the crazy Automation who potentially has a messed up psyche.
"On concrete as bent nail -the kind that had been hammered and struck off-aim, the head warped…” -Page 255
WRITING
The footnotes were humorous, though sometimes I only skimmed them because they began to drag the story itself. Overall though, they gave a better insight to the story. And they also had meaning. I have a theory as to why the author decided to put two names on this book and have a “Narrator”and “Editor” (one person, different label/name), and it has everything to do with the story this book contains. I won’t bother you with my thoughts though (a picture of my GR updates are below if you want to know).
"Word vomit, on the other hand, is why BLA needed an editor.” -Page 15 [footnote]
This book had humorous, dramatic, and slightly disturbing moments in it. The perfect combination for this story. The strangeness of it all did make it feel like the author was experimenting, though. It also dragged. We got history lessons (basically), and multiple info-dumps in the first half.
"Since Odys (and you) got a shit-ton of backstory from Mother just now, why not a little more?” -Page 170
I was interested enough to keep reading, and I definitely am glad that I did because I enjoyed my time learning about the characters and plots, but I will admit to skimming parts.
PLOT
You think you can predict what will happen, but you can’t. I tried and failed miserably. It was refreshing to have twists that I don’t see coming, especially since they were well done.
The plot itself is actually very slow moving, and not much happens at all, but with so much going on (getting an Automation, meeting the other Automations and their Masters, finding Odissa, meeting a god, unraveling plots) it doesn’t feel slow other than the parts with the info-dumps. It definitely builds the pace for the next book, where I expect great things!
OVERALL
The Automation is an enjoyable read despite the few issues mentioned above. The author wasn’t scared to get down and dirty, or just full out strange. I am definitely thinking about picking up the next book!
*Review originally posted here
*Thanks to SOBpublishing for providing me with a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
Odys witnesses a suicide, and doing so let him be entered into a world he didn’t know existed, a world with Automations (Automata?). Not only is he dragged into a plot to take down a rogue Master who has assumed evil intentions, his sister gets involved and danger takes a whole new meaning. Secrets, plots, and strange happenings are just the beginning.
"...Had it-had the head-exploded?“ -Page 11
CHARACTERS
Odys (Otis). He is the main character, at least he is until the last 50 or so pages where Odissa takes his place. He was only a pawn on the board, another game piece to be played. The suicide he witnessed was his initiation (that’s how I like to see it, anyway) and he got his first Atomation (they’re the other half of someone’s soul. As soon as you touch their inanimate form [paperclip, compass etc] they begin to drain your soul and they become you, your soul. The same person, two bodies.), Maud. However, Odys is a special case. Why? Well, he didn’t sync with Maud right away (meaning she was draining him, but he didn’t want to face everything he hid from himself [because it all went to her, she’s the part of the soul he doesn’t want to face], so he couldn’t accept his soul [her]). That should’ve killed him, because we need our souls to live, and the energy it took out of Odys and Maude was basically draining their life-force. But it didn’t.
Anyway. Odys is bitter, angry, has OCD, and his addictions are coffee (can’t blame him for that), and cigarettes. He was raised by his father who wasn’t a good father, and his relationship with his sister stems from that. Oh, did I mention Odys and Odissa (Odessa) are twins? And that they love each other? Either way, I quite enjoyed his character. His bleak outlook on life and his tendency to reject anything he didn’t want to face made this book all the more interesting.
Odissa on the other hand, we don’t really know much about. She’s strong, has a bad past, doesn’t trust easily, and she likes to argue. She’s intelligent. A great female character. I would love to see more of her in the next book!
Dorian + Fletcher; Mother + Anslem; Bob + Cestus. All Master and Automation relations. They love each other, and their relationships are practically unbreakable since they’re the same person. Who cares if they have sex? It’s like doing yourself, only you have two bodies. Yeah. This was odd for me to read about, only because they’re the same person. It was hard to think of them as separate people, especially since most of the characters seemed to have similar voices, but it didn’t bother me once I got used to it (they’re basically soul mates because they’re two halves of the same soul, literally).
"He was like a genie to me. Just some slave and external facet bound to me, not my own soul.” -Page 154
Some Automations had inanimate forms that perfectly fit with their “human” forms however, and I thought this was pretty funny since my favourite definitely makes sense with the crazy Automation who potentially has a messed up psyche.
"On concrete as bent nail -the kind that had been hammered and struck off-aim, the head warped…” -Page 255
WRITING
The footnotes were humorous, though sometimes I only skimmed them because they began to drag the story itself. Overall though, they gave a better insight to the story. And they also had meaning. I have a theory as to why the author decided to put two names on this book and have a “Narrator”and “Editor” (one person, different label/name), and it has everything to do with the story this book contains. I won’t bother you with my thoughts though (a picture of my GR updates are below if you want to know).
"Word vomit, on the other hand, is why BLA needed an editor.” -Page 15 [footnote]
This book had humorous, dramatic, and slightly disturbing moments in it. The perfect combination for this story. The strangeness of it all did make it feel like the author was experimenting, though. It also dragged. We got history lessons (basically), and multiple info-dumps in the first half.
"Since Odys (and you) got a shit-ton of backstory from Mother just now, why not a little more?” -Page 170
I was interested enough to keep reading, and I definitely am glad that I did because I enjoyed my time learning about the characters and plots, but I will admit to skimming parts.
PLOT
You think you can predict what will happen, but you can’t. I tried and failed miserably. It was refreshing to have twists that I don’t see coming, especially since they were well done.
The plot itself is actually very slow moving, and not much happens at all, but with so much going on (getting an Automation, meeting the other Automations and their Masters, finding Odissa, meeting a god, unraveling plots) it doesn’t feel slow other than the parts with the info-dumps. It definitely builds the pace for the next book, where I expect great things!
OVERALL
The Automation is an enjoyable read despite the few issues mentioned above. The author wasn’t scared to get down and dirty, or just full out strange. I am definitely thinking about picking up the next book!
*Review originally posted here
*Thanks to SOBpublishing for providing me with a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
And I Darken by Kiersten White
Lada and Radu are siblings, and while Lada lacks beauty she makes up for it in her wild and vicious persona, while Radu gets all the looks but is weak and subjected to bullying from everyone, even Lada. Life is good. Lada worships the ground her father walks on and tries to gain his love, until she realizes what kind of person he really is when he sacrifices them to the Sultan so he could maintain his little bit of power. There, Lada is miserable and Radu thrives (he even switches his religion), and then they meet Mehmed, the son of the Sultan. Things happen, love blossoms, chaos and assassination attempts are assumed, and through it all sacrifices are made.
I have mixed feelings for this book. I loved the vicious, brutal character we found in Lada, and Radu gave us a nice break from her with his sweet, kind self. However, for them to develop, they both went through a stage of constant whining and repeating things we already knew (broken heart, unrequited love etc). Even with their development, there's still so much room for them to grow, with is great for the the rest of the series, but it frustrated me with how it was handled. Along with that, I loved the world and the time and how well it was done, but the history lessons that were crammed down our throat? I could go without those. Or at least have them toned down a bit.
CHARACTERS
Just thought you should know: I couldn't connect to any of the characters. At all.
Lada is violent, cold, and strategic. She cares about no one but herself, and has an odd sense of Radu belonging to her, as she often said "Mine" when someone or something happened to hurt him and she stepped in. She comes off as ruthless, and she is in the beginning. I loved her violent and aggressive nature, she entertained me with her bad manners. However, almost as soon as Mehmed was introduced, she softened. Not much, but she smiled, she grew to tolerate and then seek out his company. She sacrificed things for him, and fell head over heels. This ruthless, cold and calculating character, who can't even find it in herself to love her brother, somehow softens and gives her heart to the sultan's son? Sure, it took time and a lot of jealousy, but it happened. I wouldn't mind so much if I actually liked Mehmed.
Mehmed. He falls in love with Lada pretty quickly. And even so, he still has a Harem he pays a lot of attention to, enough to have knocked up two girls. If he loved Lada as much as he thinks he does, why would he hurt her as such? Oh yeah! Because she wouldn't put out. You go girl! But ugh. I found him cocky, obnoxious, naive, and oblivious. He would say one thing and then go and do something to contradict that when he thought no one was looking. I didn't care for him, and I certainly didn't understand the attraction, the love Radu and Lada have for him.
Radu I liked, but not enough. He started off weak, pathetic, and always in need of rescuing. He hated his father yet loved Lada unconditionally because she was the one to rescue him time and again, even if she bullied him relentlessly with Bogdon. He worshiped Lada like Lada worshiped their father. But Lada realized her Father's true character before Radu ever saw and got fed up with hers. And he only noticed it because Lada and Radu both love Mehmed, and Radu thought he might get a chance if Lada was gone. He was kind, compassionate, and he was always thinking ten steps ahead for infiltration, and that helped me like him instead of just pity him. But his constant pain and heartbreak began to annoy and bore me, because it was repetitive. I felt bad for him, and I really hoped he would find someone else, someone more worthy, but he didn't. So instead the story began to drag.
Nicolae I feel was just there to be a supporting character for Lada. He is easy going, a fighter, and he would follow Lada to the ends of the word if she asked. Not because he loves her romantically, but because he sees her as a sister, someone to bond with and connect to. I liked him. I would've liked to see more of his character though, so I'm hoping that happens in the next book.
WRITING
Other than an overload of information about this network of evil they must take down and fight against, religion, and history, I quite enjoyed the writing. Yes it dragged in some places (because of the info-dumps and repetitiveness), and this book honestly felt too long (like it could've been over long before it actually was), but it was still an enjoyable read. The author has brilliantly woven this world and time in history that I could visualize (it took a while for me to see it, but I got it eventually), and I loved the experience!
PLOT
It was predictable at times, but others it surprised me. It dragged quite a bit though, and I had been expecting more going in.
OVERALL
And I Darken is a brilliantly woven historical tale full of tragic sacrifices, faith, and brutal murder. When push comes to shove, will you do what needs to be done or try to find away out?
*Review originally posted here
4.0
"First, they needed to destroy the web. Then the spider would be powerless." -64%
Lada and Radu are siblings, and while Lada lacks beauty she makes up for it in her wild and vicious persona, while Radu gets all the looks but is weak and subjected to bullying from everyone, even Lada. Life is good. Lada worships the ground her father walks on and tries to gain his love, until she realizes what kind of person he really is when he sacrifices them to the Sultan so he could maintain his little bit of power. There, Lada is miserable and Radu thrives (he even switches his religion), and then they meet Mehmed, the son of the Sultan. Things happen, love blossoms, chaos and assassination attempts are assumed, and through it all sacrifices are made.
"What must be sacrificed to secure a future where no one can touch you?" -97%
I have mixed feelings for this book. I loved the vicious, brutal character we found in Lada, and Radu gave us a nice break from her with his sweet, kind self. However, for them to develop, they both went through a stage of constant whining and repeating things we already knew (broken heart, unrequited love etc). Even with their development, there's still so much room for them to grow, with is great for the the rest of the series, but it frustrated me with how it was handled. Along with that, I loved the world and the time and how well it was done, but the history lessons that were crammed down our throat? I could go without those. Or at least have them toned down a bit.
CHARACTERS
Just thought you should know: I couldn't connect to any of the characters. At all.
Lada is violent, cold, and strategic. She cares about no one but herself, and has an odd sense of Radu belonging to her, as she often said "Mine" when someone or something happened to hurt him and she stepped in. She comes off as ruthless, and she is in the beginning. I loved her violent and aggressive nature, she entertained me with her bad manners. However, almost as soon as Mehmed was introduced, she softened. Not much, but she smiled, she grew to tolerate and then seek out his company. She sacrificed things for him, and fell head over heels. This ruthless, cold and calculating character, who can't even find it in herself to love her brother, somehow softens and gives her heart to the sultan's son? Sure, it took time and a lot of jealousy, but it happened. I wouldn't mind so much if I actually liked Mehmed.
Mehmed. He falls in love with Lada pretty quickly. And even so, he still has a Harem he pays a lot of attention to, enough to have knocked up two girls. If he loved Lada as much as he thinks he does, why would he hurt her as such? Oh yeah! Because she wouldn't put out. You go girl! But ugh. I found him cocky, obnoxious, naive, and oblivious. He would say one thing and then go and do something to contradict that when he thought no one was looking. I didn't care for him, and I certainly didn't understand the attraction, the love Radu and Lada have for him.
Radu I liked, but not enough. He started off weak, pathetic, and always in need of rescuing. He hated his father yet loved Lada unconditionally because she was the one to rescue him time and again, even if she bullied him relentlessly with Bogdon. He worshiped Lada like Lada worshiped their father. But Lada realized her Father's true character before Radu ever saw and got fed up with hers. And he only noticed it because Lada and Radu both love Mehmed, and Radu thought he might get a chance if Lada was gone. He was kind, compassionate, and he was always thinking ten steps ahead for infiltration, and that helped me like him instead of just pity him. But his constant pain and heartbreak began to annoy and bore me, because it was repetitive. I felt bad for him, and I really hoped he would find someone else, someone more worthy, but he didn't. So instead the story began to drag.
Nicolae I feel was just there to be a supporting character for Lada. He is easy going, a fighter, and he would follow Lada to the ends of the word if she asked. Not because he loves her romantically, but because he sees her as a sister, someone to bond with and connect to. I liked him. I would've liked to see more of his character though, so I'm hoping that happens in the next book.
WRITING
Other than an overload of information about this network of evil they must take down and fight against, religion, and history, I quite enjoyed the writing. Yes it dragged in some places (because of the info-dumps and repetitiveness), and this book honestly felt too long (like it could've been over long before it actually was), but it was still an enjoyable read. The author has brilliantly woven this world and time in history that I could visualize (it took a while for me to see it, but I got it eventually), and I loved the experience!
PLOT
It was predictable at times, but others it surprised me. It dragged quite a bit though, and I had been expecting more going in.
OVERALL
And I Darken is a brilliantly woven historical tale full of tragic sacrifices, faith, and brutal murder. When push comes to shove, will you do what needs to be done or try to find away out?
*Review originally posted here
Replica by Lauren Oliver
Haven makes Replicas and uses them for testing. This is evident from the beginning as we read from Lyra's POV. Gemma, however, knows nothing about Haven other then the fact that her dad used to work with them before he pulled out, so she goes on an adventure to discover everything she possibly can about the institute and their research. Along the way, she gets the help of three friends (two unlikely people she never saw herself talking to before) and they run head first into danger. Haven doesn't like it when people know their secrets.
CHARACTERS
Lyra is a Replica, a clone and she's proof of how well Replica's are treated at Haven and what Haven does; full of scars from testing, so skinny that her eyes look sunken in and her spine shows through her shirt, uneducated, unloved, manipulated. They're not allowed to know stuff, they're not allowed personal possession or things that matter to them. She is strange in a way that she knows nothing about the world or life (like how to cook, buy clothes and food, showers with hot water are luxurious for her, new clothes that aren't her Haven outfit are something she's never had), and I loved seeing her character try to come to terms with the world. She's damaged, because being a lab rat dose that to people especially if they're not shown love or affection during their growing years, and that made her journey so much more... meaningful? I can't find the right word right now. Anyway, she's damaged and genuinely believes anything they tell her, which really broke my heart.
Gemma is very self conscious about her weight because she isn't a stick-thin barbie doll who is model gorgeous. She thinks she's fat when she's not because society has told her she needs to be tiny to be pretty. I don't know about you, but I like that the author added this, because while Gemma's character developed, so did those thoughts and that is a message girls these days should definitely hear (granted, the message isn't the main point of this book, it's more of a sub-plot for Gemma to accept herself). To add to that, Gemma has always felt like she doesn't belong, like she's different, so she's shy, insecure, a tad depressed, and she struggles to enjoy life especially since her mom loves popping sleeping pills and drinking wine while her dad loves to avoid her. This also makes her incredibly naive, especially since she doesn't leave the house much. I liked her character, and I really enjoyed reading her chapters!
ROMANCE
I won't say much on this because of spoilers,but I will say that I surprisingly enjoyed it. Well, half. One half was fairly quick and I didn't really like how fast the emotions took place. The other half was my bae. Broken and beaten, beauty (love) is still found in the darkness. I absolutely loved that half. I would read this book over and over again just to get more of that romance until the next book comes out. Because hopefully the next book has more of that romance! Although I will admit, I didn't like the romance until the end, oops.
WRITING
This is my first Lauren Oliver book, and I've heard good and bad things about her writing before in her other series (delirium?). So naturally I was a bit scared going in, but I found I really enjoyed the writing. It had a good flow, the descriptions and characters were great, and the atmosphere and tone really set the pace for me. It was quick, but also slow enough that you could savor the moment if you wanted to, and the author put meaning behind many, many lines and words and sayings. I adored it!
I will admit, however, that while I was interested in learning about the medical portion of Haven, I found there were two or so paragraphs that threw all this information at me. Thankfully, it was clear and I could understand it all, but the process itself of how they use the medicine still confuses me.
PLOT
Unfortunately, there's very little mystery because it's very predictable, and I saw most of the twists coming from the very beginning. This didn't take much away in terms of enjoyment because I loved reading this story, but I can't help but wonder if surprises I didn't see coming could've made this reading experience that much better. I definitely would've loved a bit of mystery, but then again that could've possibly changed the whole tone so I suppose I see why the author did what she did. Either way, this was an enjoyable read full of action and adventure. I love it!
OVERALL
Replica is a dangerous tale about discovering secrets from people doing everything they can to hide the truth, even kill. Self discovery is a bonus, even when it changed everything and nothing at all. I really enjoyed reading Replica and I definitely recommend it!:)
*Review originally posted here
*eARC via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review
4.0
"But that's what they were: bodies. Human and yet not people." -5.8%
Haven makes Replicas and uses them for testing. This is evident from the beginning as we read from Lyra's POV. Gemma, however, knows nothing about Haven other then the fact that her dad used to work with them before he pulled out, so she goes on an adventure to discover everything she possibly can about the institute and their research. Along the way, she gets the help of three friends (two unlikely people she never saw herself talking to before) and they run head first into danger. Haven doesn't like it when people know their secrets.
CHARACTERS
Lyra is a Replica, a clone and she's proof of how well Replica's are treated at Haven and what Haven does; full of scars from testing, so skinny that her eyes look sunken in and her spine shows through her shirt, uneducated, unloved, manipulated. They're not allowed to know stuff, they're not allowed personal possession or things that matter to them. She is strange in a way that she knows nothing about the world or life (like how to cook, buy clothes and food, showers with hot water are luxurious for her, new clothes that aren't her Haven outfit are something she's never had), and I loved seeing her character try to come to terms with the world. She's damaged, because being a lab rat dose that to people especially if they're not shown love or affection during their growing years, and that made her journey so much more... meaningful? I can't find the right word right now. Anyway, she's damaged and genuinely believes anything they tell her, which really broke my heart.
"Monsters, they call us. Demons.
Sometimes, on sleepless nights, we wonder if they're right." -4%
Gemma is very self conscious about her weight because she isn't a stick-thin barbie doll who is model gorgeous. She thinks she's fat when she's not because society has told her she needs to be tiny to be pretty. I don't know about you, but I like that the author added this, because while Gemma's character developed, so did those thoughts and that is a message girls these days should definitely hear (granted, the message isn't the main point of this book, it's more of a sub-plot for Gemma to accept herself). To add to that, Gemma has always felt like she doesn't belong, like she's different, so she's shy, insecure, a tad depressed, and she struggles to enjoy life especially since her mom loves popping sleeping pills and drinking wine while her dad loves to avoid her. This also makes her incredibly naive, especially since she doesn't leave the house much. I liked her character, and I really enjoyed reading her chapters!
"The evil ones are always ugly." -67%
ROMANCE
I won't say much on this because of spoilers,but I will say that I surprisingly enjoyed it. Well, half. One half was fairly quick and I didn't really like how fast the emotions took place. The other half was my bae. Broken and beaten, beauty (love) is still found in the darkness. I absolutely loved that half. I would read this book over and over again just to get more of that romance until the next book comes out. Because hopefully the next book has more of that romance! Although I will admit, I didn't like the romance until the end, oops.
WRITING
This is my first Lauren Oliver book, and I've heard good and bad things about her writing before in her other series (delirium?). So naturally I was a bit scared going in, but I found I really enjoyed the writing. It had a good flow, the descriptions and characters were great, and the atmosphere and tone really set the pace for me. It was quick, but also slow enough that you could savor the moment if you wanted to, and the author put meaning behind many, many lines and words and sayings. I adored it!
I will admit, however, that while I was interested in learning about the medical portion of Haven, I found there were two or so paragraphs that threw all this information at me. Thankfully, it was clear and I could understand it all, but the process itself of how they use the medicine still confuses me.
PLOT
Unfortunately, there's very little mystery because it's very predictable, and I saw most of the twists coming from the very beginning. This didn't take much away in terms of enjoyment because I loved reading this story, but I can't help but wonder if surprises I didn't see coming could've made this reading experience that much better. I definitely would've loved a bit of mystery, but then again that could've possibly changed the whole tone so I suppose I see why the author did what she did. Either way, this was an enjoyable read full of action and adventure. I love it!
OVERALL
Replica is a dangerous tale about discovering secrets from people doing everything they can to hide the truth, even kill. Self discovery is a bonus, even when it changed everything and nothing at all. I really enjoyed reading Replica and I definitely recommend it!:)
*Review originally posted here
*eARC via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review