Katerina's Guide to Surviving the Apocalypse (or Pestilence and All His Friends)
➸ DO not, I repeat do not, let mind-blowingly beautiful covers seduce yKaterina's Guide to Surviving the Apocalypse (or Pestilence and All His Friends)
➸ DO not, I repeat do not, let mind-blowingly beautiful covers seduce you. This is the first step towards your doom.
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➸ IF you were weak like me and gave in to the temptress called Cover, you must be prepared to shut your moral compass. That is necessary if you do not wish to spend your entire reading experience hearing the voices in your head screaming error.404.this.is.not.right.
➸ ACCEPT that you WILL NOT dive into a dark, paranormal, heart-pounding adventure. That your eyes will feast on apocalypse smut, that the world will literally burn but the heroine will be busy gawking at the sculpted abs of the human incubator of plague and judging the people who try to kill him in order to save their families and, you know, MANKIND.
➸ TRY not to cringe every time Sara calls Pestilence well, Pestilence, even in their, ehem, intimate moments. (wait, scratch that, it cannot be implemented)
➸ SIT back and try to enjoy the ride.
*sigh*
This is wrong on so many levels.
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If you follow my reviews, you must have known by now that I don't do 2 stars. I've always stood for the idea that authors expose themselves when they publish a book, because willingly or not they pour a part of their souls into their works, so 3 stars has been my lowest rating, out of (maybe misguided, maybe not) respect. But this time, I couldn't help myself. It's not because Laura Thalassa is a bad writer; on the contrary, I enjoyed her prose in general, and liked the sarcasm that laced her narration, so this is by no means an attack to her talent, or the author herself. I also know, taking into consideration the average rating of this book, that I express a highly unpopular opinion, without intending to offend all those readers that enjoyed Pestilence. The truth is, I envy them. The blame for not liking Pestilence is all mine, since I knew it was about the unlikely romance between a human and the first of the Four Horsemen, thus being aware that the line between right and wrong would be blurry. But guys, the way the main heroine, Sara, perceives things is all messed up.
Let me give you an example: the last time Sara (who was taken captive by Pestilence) and Pestilence entered a big city, riding his undead stallion, the citizens had set up an ambush, resulting to Pestilence being gravely injured (note that he cannot be killed). So, the next time they approach a big city, Sara wants to get off the main road, because:
a) she wants to spare the people that didn't evacuate from a horrible, painful death b) she's afraid she might be killed in the ambush c) she doesn't want undying Pestilence to get hurt
And yes, Sara goes for option c). I suspect she wanted them to throw Pestilence a welcome party as a thank you for, you know, exterminating human race.
Don't get me wrong, along the way they encountered some really nasty people who committed atrocities against them, and I do not condone that. However, Sara was present when children and sweet elderly people died because of Pestilence, when children lost mothers to plague and parents lost their children when Pestilence commandeered their homes in order for Sara to eat their food (!) and rest (!), something Sara gradually came to accept. I am sorry, but this is beyond disturbing.
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One could say that the whole point of this book is to show that Pestilence came to understand humanity and found compassion through the power of luuve, to depict Sara's inner battle etc. I beg to differ. I don't blame Pestilence for his nature (even though, to be honest, he was able to spare people but he did so only for the hot chick he encountered), I blame Sara for her tolerance. Pestilence tortured her, abused her, made her suffer again and again, and she stood by his side when he spread death and mourning, getting angry at the people who tried to stop him.
Sadly, this f!cked up relationship was not my only issue. The entire book consists of the same routine: Pestilence and Sara travel on horseback, they find some poor fellow's house to rest, and once in a while they encounter desperate people trying to stop them. It eventually got really tedious, it felt like I witnessed the same events again and again.
“Welcome to Cessation, Serendipity Jones. The last place on the continent where you can do whatever the hell you want.”
I didn't know Gunslinger Girl existed before the day it arrived on my doorstep. I didn't know what to expect, only what the cover and the blurb suggested: an explosive blend of futuristic dystopia and Wild West laced with danger, conspiracies and intrigue. It is with great pleasure, ladies and gentlemen, to declare that Lyndsay Ely's debut stayed true to its promise!
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“The sun has set, and the moon begins to rise. Now is the early black. Now is the time of magic and mysteries, of darkness and devilry. I welcome all of you, new friends and old, to the greatest show on the continent, to the theatre to end all theatre! Welcome to the Theatre Vespertine!”
After a devastating Civil War that left the country in ruins, the Confederation of North America arose, trying to stabilize its rule using raw brutality against the Patriots and a mix of propaganda and strict rules towards its supporters. Serendipity 'Pity' Jones, in a desperate need to escape from her cruel father, fled from her commune taking with her only her mother's six-shooters. An unfortunate occurence led her to Cessation, the City of Evil, where no laws apply and the greatest show on Earth, Halcyon Singh's Theatre Vespertine, gives mesmerizing and deadly performances. Death here becomes a spectacle. Pity finds a home in this peculiar city, but living in Cessation, performing in the Theatre, has a terrible cost. Between ambitious politicians and cunning bounty hunters, Pity faces the dilemma whether Cessation is worth saving or it should be left to crumble.
“Welcome, all of you, Serendipity Jones - deadliest shot in the west!”
While you read Gunslinger Girl, you realise one thing: Theatre Vespertine is more than a show. It's a challenge to all sensations, a vibrant spectacle that feeds the masses and gives them blood to quell their thirst. But when the spectacle is over, when the curtains fall and the blood is mopped up, it doesn't mean that the performance is. For even a lawless and vile city that deals in political favors, secrets and desires, that offers lust, freedom and wild abandon, needs a semblance of order and authority, before the gangs take control or the victims of freedom start piling up. Lyndsay Ely's world is vivid and ferocious; she doesn't elaborate much on the world-building, and this is one of the rare occasions that it's fine by me because she manages to impart the essence, the danger of her world without fanfares and boring details, but her story is still engrossing, especially once you turn the first pages.
In Cessation, and Pity's world in general, there is no black and white, bad guys versus good guys. All of them are morally grey, using any means necessary to achieve their goals and exploiting weaknesses of their enemies' and allies' alike to their own gain. In this parade of dubious, intriguing characters, of prostitutes and performers and artists and politicians, Pity Jones is the leading star. For the sake of honesty, I have to admit that I didn't feel connected to her character, but this detachment didn't prevent me from enjoying her story. Other characters, like Max and Selene and Beau provoked stronger reactions (whether good or bad you have to read Gunslinger Girl in order to understand), and they were colourful and a great addition to the plot. The combination of diverse characters, thick suspense, mind games, plots and action, revelries, debauchery resulted in a sinful ambience, and along with the sweet and slightly angsty romance they created a page-turner and a remarkable debut! Judging by the way this book ended, I'm fairly positive there will be a sequel, one I am looking forward to reading!
Gunslinger Girl is an intense adventure, and I highly recommend it!
*An early copy was generously provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review*
I was lucky enough to get an ARC, but after I read Society of Wishes back in January I couldn't find the will to I didn't intend to write this review.
I was lucky enough to get an ARC, but after I read Society of Wishes back in January I couldn't find the will to write something about it, because I realized that as soon as I finished the last page, I wasn't overwhelmed with emotions like all the other times I finished a book written by Elise Kova. Instead, I felt nothing, and it was devastating because no words can express how much I loved Elise's Air Awakens. Society of Wishes was by no means a bad book. It was simply average, and saying that about Elise breaks my heart. Then why now?, you may wonder. Well, the turning point was Elise's newsletter, where she publicly admitted that she could do better, and that all those reviews already written helped her realize the things she should have done differently. It takes a tremendous amount of courage to do something like that, and it gave me the power to proceed, three months later, with this review.
“Ven pa aca, mijita. I have a story for you.”
And the authors did tell us a story, a truly unique and innovative one, a story made of wishes and magic and stardust.
“Step one: Cast the circle.”
December 2057, Lonestar Republic, Texas. Josephine 'Jo' Espinosa is a hacker on a mission to breach the system of the most powerful credit bank worldwide. But things don't follow the plan, and her best friend ends up dead in a pool of his own blood. Trapped and awaiting her end, she remembers her grandmother's tales about generations of witches and wish-granters.
“Step two: Say the invocation.”
Now a whole new world unravels before Jo, and she finds herself among the ranks of the Society of Wishes, a team living outside time, bending and reshaping the world and its endless possibilities according to the wishes casted. Between alternate realities and newfound magic, Jo tries to unravel her potential and prove her value, while the enigmatic leader of the team shuts her down. But when Jo made her wish, no one warned her of the price.
“Step three: Make your wish.”
The price is steep: Jo's existence was erased. And when the same friend she sacrificed her life for steps on the same path that lead to his death, Jo decides to bend the rules in order to save him, without realising the consequences of her actions.
Since it is no secret that my adoration towards Elise Kova and her Air Awakens series knows no limits, I was curious for her new project together with Lynn Larsh. First, I'd like to commend her for the variety of her works, The Society of Wishes didn't remind me at all of Air Awakens. While the latter was character driven, with heavy romance element (how I miss you my dearest Aldrik), this one was mainly plot-driven. The world the authors crafted was groundbreaking; while reading Jo's story, the occasional confusion, instead of being a setback, it was a motivation to continue, to dive into wishes and secret societies and unravel mysteries. The problem is that all those questions that fueled my need to keep reading were not solved by the end of the book. I can feel that the authors tried to tell us something, but they failed in some respects. I still have major gaps, for example who grants the hours and sets the rules of the Society, and it prevented me from fully grasping their intricate world.
As for the characters, while I admire their diversity and their backround stories, I found them rather superficial. The relationships portayed were devoid of depth, I knew they existed only because I was told so, and not because I felt them. I guess the foundations were there, but they needed further development. As for Jo, the main character, she was sadly indifferent, and at times annoying because she couldn't shake that trait of recklessness that heroines nowadays are so fond of.
To sum up, Society of Wishes was an enjoyable and fast read with an intriguing and imaginative concept, but there were some execution fails that could have been avoided.
Heart-pounding battles? Jaw-dropping showdowns? Mind-boggling alliance shifts? Devastating losses? I What do you expect from a book called War Storm?
Heart-pounding battles? Jaw-dropping showdowns? Mind-boggling alliance shifts? Devastating losses? I know I expected all those things, and some more. Sadly, that was not the case with the last instalment of the Red Queen series.
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“I will not be a red queen.”
The kingdom of Norta is divided, surrounded by vultures ready to devour her dying body. The forces of the coalition, the unlikely united front of Silver nobles, Red rebels and Newbloods are considering their next move, Maven tries to maintain his feeble grip on the throne and the Lakelands, his temporary allies, plot their revenge. There are many decisions to be made; the next conquest, the next battle plan, but never, never a change in the status quo. Cal chose his crown, and he is not willing to give it up. Mare chose a better future for the oppressed, and she is not willing to give it up, even if it means betraying the boy she loves. The boy who betrayed her. Even though her heart bleeds and her chest hurts, Mare Barrow is destined
“To rise. And rise alone.”
And lightning has no mercy.
“My only fear now is losing the throne, the crown, the reason for all this misery and torment. I won't destroy myself in vain. I won't let this all be for nothing.”
I reall wanted to love this book. Red Queen has been an explosive (albeit occasionally frustrating) series, and even though most of the characters tended to turn me indignant, I always enjoyed the plot, with its intensity and vivacity. However, there was something off with War Storm. Simply put, it was bland. There was no flavor to stimulate my taste buds. No sound of frantic heartbeat to make my ears explode. I did not smell the blood and the smoke, nor felt the salty sea water on my skin. The battle sequences were too long, colorless and dull. The endless scheming and discussions about battle plans laced with veiled threats and innuendos made me huff in frustration. I found myself skimming the pages, waiting for the sparkle that would turn my world ablaze, that would made me cheer and scream and clap and live in the story, fight next to the coalition, ravage and burn and destroy, eager for the final confrontation that would steal my breath, but everything, even the ending, was underwhelming. It was a case of quantity over quality, and I can't help but think that perhaps a forth book was not that necessary.
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“I am different from what my world demands I be. And I am not worse for it.”
A strange thing happened regarding the characters; I didn't hate Mare. I didn't want to murder Maven. I didn't worship Cal. I was simply indifferent towards them all. Mare finally became a decent person I could root for, her development was apparent, a pleasant surprise, but she never stopped being a special snowflake (and if I drank a shot every time someone said "lightning girl" I would suffer from cirrhosis of liver by now). Cal was always my favorite, and even though I forgave him for his (many) mistakes, my connection with him somehow faltered. Maven shed his cloak of wickedness and became just a petulant child who threw tantrums because he didn't get what he wanted. Iris, whose PoV was rather tedious, could vanish into thin air and I wouldn't give a darn. The only silver lining was Evangeline, I loved her sarcasm, her spirit and the reluctant camaraderie, if not friendship, that bloomed between her and Mare. The girl power was truly something to behold!
“Love can be exploited, I guess, used to manipulate. It's leverage. But I would never call loving someone else a weakness. I think living without love at all, any kind of love, is weakness. And the worst kind of darkness.”
War Storm was by far the weakest instalment of the series. It left me empty, with the tang of bitterness and disappointment heavy on my tongue. The climax I so desperately wanted never came, the feelings didn't drown me. In the end, Mare rose with the dawn, but her story did not.
And Elena May became the author of a remarkable debut!
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I hadn't read a book focusing sol
“She had become the author of her own fate.”
And Elena May became the author of a remarkable debut!
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I hadn't read a book focusing solely on vampires for a very long time. I went through my vampire phase in high school, meaning I attended every single Twilight premiere and hung Edward posters on my bedroom walls and fought Damon Salvatore's fans online (Stefan girl here) and dressed up as a vamprire on Halloween etc. Later, I decided that I grew up and was too old for this drama. So, when Elena May asked me if I would be interested in reading an advanced copy of Kingdom of Ashes, it took me by surprise how eager I was to give it a try. And I am very glad I did. Let's start with the plot, shall we?
“He didn't conquer the world. He destroyed it. He rules over an empty world of ashes and death.”
The human world had progressed. The scientists created a device, the WeatherWizard, that could control the weather. But it turned out that this device was a fatal mistake, since a vampire named Vladimir organized what would later become the Nightfall; he hid the sun, and the vampires left their secret, dark hideouts and came to the surface, determined to make the world theirs by soaking it in blood. There were two types of humans they didn't kill; the most beautiful ones that were turned, and and the ones who were taken to the Farms, bred and raised in captivity as food supplies. But there was also a third group. The Resistance. The Resistance that suffered terrible losses and decided to launch an impossible mission, the assassination of Prince Vladimir. When Myra volunteered for the task, she thought they would decline. She thought she would die fighting of return a victor. But when she was captured, and kept alive for reasons she could not understand, she realized that the vampires were not the faceless enemies anymore, but beings with their own feelings, ambitions and desires. Surrounded by bloodsuckers that wanted to be her friends, torn between the need for revenge and the thirst for knowledge and culture, the urge to finish the mission and the unholy wish to stay in the Palace and enjoy what she was offered, Myra eventually became the author of her own story, and the impact of her decisions would alter the fate of the world. For better or for worse, it remains to be seen.
“This is war. The right way is the way that works. Your pseudo-conscience will one day doom mankind.”
I can't possibly deny that there were many clichés used in Kingdom of Ashes. A plain girl suddenly thrown into a court full of schemes and power games she doesnt' know how to play, an enemy with a tormented past and a depth she didn't expect to find, a world swallowed by darkness and fear in a dystopian environment, we've seen all these things before. But somehow, Elena May made them work. Mixing the post-apocalyptic with the medieval, describing with vivid (and sometimes morbid) details a blood culture that creeped you out but also fascinated you, she managed to capture your attention, to drive you insane with the desire to sink your teeth into this disturbingly delicious book that was not coloured in black and white, but in every shade of grey you can imagine. Yes the vampires are evil, and we witnessed their atrocities and cruelty many times. But they still can love, suffer and dream, they are the victims in their own story, the ones hunted like animals until they stood up and claimed the world for themselves. And precisely, this grey area, where you can understand the ways of the most dangerous creatures of the night, is Elena's greatest achievement in my opinion.
“Why does everything I learn about vampires involve either blood-drinking or orgies?” “It is not either one or the other. The blood-drinking is a part of the orgies.”
Myra's character was refreshing. She wasn't someone who played the hero or was certain that her decisions were the best, she was just a girl that loved reading and writing stories and found herself in a precarious situation, trying to survive. What made her special was her ability to create, not her fighting skills or her snarky remarks, even though there were plenty of them. I understood her inner battles, I could justify her confusion and her reluctance to kill Vladimir, I could relate to her, even though I recognise some of her choices were stupid. The vampires, they were all spellbiding in their own way. Vladimir was a riddle I could not solve, cunning and always one step ahead, enchanted by the human culture and fixed on preserving it, even though he was the one that drove it to the brink of extinction. I could never guess his thoughts and his motives, and despite his wickedness (or because of it), I was transfixed by him. Tristan was also an intriguing character I came to love, but I haven't made up my mind about Armida. If you are worried there might be a love triangle, I can assure you romance is not in the spotlight of this novel, it is barely there, but I can see the connection forming between Vladimir and Myra and I am curious about the possible consequences!
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Kingdom of Ashes was a pleasant surprise, and I highly recommend it to paranormal lovers who are looking for a promising new author!
*ARC generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review*
Except the girl-who-read-too-much, aka Katerina, since she cried her eyes out, sniffled, hiccupped and then cAnd they lived happily ever after.
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Except the girl-who-read-too-much, aka Katerina, since she cried her eyes out, sniffled, hiccupped and then cried some more.
“The first time, he had wondered why she liked books so much, and if it had anything to do with why he liked spaceships. Because they could take you somewhere far, far away.”
But mind that they were happy tears (mostly). The tears you shed when your babies that went through pain and difficulties find love, happiness, joy and friendship.
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“That mechanic was going to change everything.”
Thank the stars above that Marissa Meyer decided to write these novellas and gave us more precious moments with the characters we came to cherish, before the closure and the aforementioned tears happened. With Stars Above my heart, the heart that was bruised and beaten and bet rapidly and sighed with contentment while reading The Lunar Chronicles, was so full of love that my chest nearly exploded! I experienced pain with The Little Andoid and The Queen's Army, because the first one was really touching and the second narrated how Wolf tried to not become the monster everyone expected him to, and I wanted so badly to hug him and tell him about the red-haired girl that would become his alpha and his home. I laughed with 13-years-old Thorne that charmed everyone with his good looks and flirtatious ways and was dedicated to his goals. I devoured every single story about the past of Rampion's crew that made me understand better my heroes and share their sorrows and misfortunes and admire the strong people they became! But let's be honest, the last story, the fairytale wedding, was what left me giggling while wiping away my tears!
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“You are the most beautiful sight I have ever laid eyes on.”
A full circle that came to an end. There is no need for hot make-out sessions and sexual innuendos to create a romance that will make your chest burst. Just the connection between two souls, the acceptance and the efforts to overcome every obstacle. And Marissa Meyer, with her stardust and beautiful soul, created not one, not two but four great love stories that restored my faith in magic and happily ever afters.
Lila's dystopian America is dark and gloomy. After a disastrous, merciless civil war, her town is on the losing side and as a result, she fa3.5 stars
Lila's dystopian America is dark and gloomy. After a disastrous, merciless civil war, her town is on the losing side and as a result, she faces the fear of rape and abuse as a form of retaliation. With the recruiting ceremony approaching, a ceremony that will define whether she'll become a sex slave by force and during which the possibilities of heinous crimes are extremely high, Lila desides to lose her virginity. To stop being the V Girl. But nothing goes as planned, and instead of seducing her best friend she meets the mysterious Aleksey, a gorgeous man that scares and fascinates her. Will Lila manage to survive unscathed in a world where violence is the law? What if she loses not only her innocence, but also her heart?
“You usually can’t recall all the people you’ve shared laughs with. But you rarely forget the people you’ve shared your tears with.”
The V Girl is not for the faint-hearted. Through raw brutality, and acts of depravity, it imparts some powerful messages about sexual freedom, the objectification of women and their treatment as vessels of pleasure, rape and the meaning of consent. You are the only person entitled to your body. No means no. There are no alibis, no excuses, and it is never the victim's fault when someone takes advantage of his strength and muscular superiority to commit abominable crimes. The content may be hard to stomach. There were graphic scenes that affected me both emotionally and physically; I had to swallow the bile rising in my throat, and struggle to breathe. Mya Robarts managed to provoke strong emotions, to capture the cruelty of human race by creating a rape culture where sexual assault is legal but consensual sex is treated as something punishable, and I can't help but commend her for choosing such a delicate subject and treating it with the respect if deserves. The V Girl was thought-provoking to say the least. Setting this aside, though, it could definitely use some polishing.
The world-building was weak and muddy. We are told about a civil war that has divided America, and the sex slavery as its outcome, but that's it. I would have expected the author to elaborate further on the causes of such war, to explain the customs and mindset of the people of Starville and the rest of the country, to delve into this civilization. The information was scarce and not particularly well-presented, and I kept feeling disoriented. I suspect that this lack of detail concerning the world-building is probably on purpose since this book is not intended to deliver action or politics, but I think a little more expansion to this regard would be beneficial. Further to the above, my feelings towards Lila were lukewarm at most. I admire and respect the fighter in her, and her need for self-preservation, but that's all. I found her way of dealing with her mother's fate a little perverted, and I cringed whenever she returned to this habit. And unfortunately, she was solely focused on sex. I can justify it to a point, when there are major chances you'll get raped at any time or get recruited and spend the rest of your life as sex slave it's only natural to frequently contemplate it, but in Lila's case it never left her mind. I would have liked more depth in her relationship with her family, the tragic experience of her past, but instead I got raging hormones and repeated attempts at seduction. I didn't feel the coming of age vibe much, with the exception of the last chapters.
Mya Robarts's goal is to raise her voice against rape and slut-shaming, to support gender equality and I think that she partially achieved it. After all, I finished The V Girl rather quickly because I was curious to find out what would happen next, and I was invested to characters like Aleksey and Lila's siblings. But in the end, I was left a little unsatisfied and underwhelmed. Nonetheless, The V Girl is a book that will stay with me for a while.
*A complimentary copy was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review*
Pierce Brown is a freaking mastermind. Red Rising is a blend of science-fiction and dystopia with reference to History'Darn this book is GOOD!
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Pierce Brown is a freaking mastermind. Red Rising is a blend of science-fiction and dystopia with reference to History's greatest conquerors and Greek mythology, and the result is savage.
“I would have lived in peace. But my enemies brought me war.”
Darrow is a Red, working in the mines below the surface of Mars in order to make Mars inhabitable and secure the future of mankind. Reds are mostly slaves, but he has accepted his fate, thinking he's making sacrifices for the next generations, only to discover that everything he's been told by the Gold caste, the ruthless leading caste, is a lie. After a tragic event that leaves him craving revenge, he is approached by the rebels and given a mission; to infiltrate the ranks of the Gold and destroy them. But to do so he must become one of them. He is admitted to the Institute, the school that prepares the most promising Gold for positions of power, but life in the Institute is a constant war. It's a road paved with betrayal, massacres and monstrocities. Darrow is determined to excel, to rise as a Gold only to bring them down as a Red. For his people. For his family. For her.
“I am the Reaper and death is my shadow.”
The first thing you need to know about Red Rising is that it is ranked among YA books due to the age of the main characters, but it's not a typical YA book. It is brutal, with explicit moments of violence and blood that make your stomach protest, but such brutality does not deter you from loving it. It is part of the evolution of Darrow, of being a good person doing ugly things to achieve a higher purpose, of sacrificing your soul to save many, to rebuilt a society that kills her own children.
The second thing you need to know about Red Rising is that the blurbs compare it to the Hunger Games, which, to be candid, is a poor comparison. Both books have in common the fight-to-death-in-a-secluded-area trope, but Red Rising is the one nailing it; it features politics, intrigue, sieges, genious strategies, feeble and strong alliances, it shows the path to forging a leader that earns the respect of his followers. It is all-engrossing, masterly crafted war games, a race to outmaneuver the enemy and step on him to reach the top. Kill or be killed. Deceive or be deceived. It is conquest in its most glorious form. It is uprising, in its subtlest form. It is addiction.
“You do not follow me because I am the strongest. Pax is. You do not follow me because I am the brightest. Mustang is. You follow me because you do not know where you are going. I do.”
For the sake of honesty, I have to admit that sometimes the terms used were confusing, and I struggled to keep up with the hierarchy and the ranks of the Society. But after Darrow's admission to the Institute, it didn't matter. I was swept off my feet and dived into an intricate and vivid world, I howled in the woods, I wore a wolf's skin and carved scythes in the dark, I stole horses and food, I lost friends to death and treason, I feared the Jackal and shouted “Pax au Telemanus!” until my throat went hoarse. And I was left thirsty for more.
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“Break the chains, my love.”
One of the many things I admired in Pierce Brown's writing is that he blurred the lines between right and wrong, necessity and volition. There were bad Golds, those arrogant, spoiled bastards who lusted for power in its most abominable forms, like rape, but there were also good, loyal Golds, who won your heart. Sevro is the greatest example, and so is Roque, and everything was fine until you realised that they're the enemy. That Darrow must eventually betray them in order to deliver justice and free his people. And while Darrow is an impulsive character, flawed, guided by his rage, he is burning bright and consuming everything in his path, his narrative is captivating to the point you can't separate his thoughts from yours. He views those people as his friends, his family, and you can't miss the irony that there will be a moment when he shall have to choose which one matters the most.
“My son, my son Remember the chains When gold ruled with iron reins We roared and roared And twisted and screamed For ours, a vale of better dreams”
Red Rising is an enthralling novel, with its ferocity and radiant world and devious characters, and therefore I kneel and pledge my loyalty to Pierce Brown.
“If I am a sword, I am a sword made of glass, and I feel myself beginning to shatter.”
I would be more than willing to be the one who shat
“If I am a sword, I am a sword made of glass, and I feel myself beginning to shatter.”
I would be more than willing to be the one who shatters you and stomps on your pieces, insufferable lightning girl!
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I swear I have no idea how I managed to finish Glass Sword. I'm not saying this because I found the plot slow like I read on many reviews, or because it suffered from second-book-syndrome, but because for the first time in my life I wanted to physically hurt the heroine with such a seething passion. It's like Mare's face was calling for my fist.
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Mare is a horrible, horrible person.
I gave up every effort to understand her and instead I started imagining which death is more appropriate for her. She kept acting like a martyr and God's greatest creation and gift to all those unfortunate souls who were not powerful and amazing like her. Hey your Superiorness, I have news for you! Power doesn't come from the random ability to manipulate the elements around you, power can be found in sharp minds and kind hearts. Your lack of brain and heart makes you a weak and pathetic brat that only cares about herself and the other newbloods and ignores everyone else. There was actually a point where she wondered how Kilorn managed to survive since he was no one, just a simple fisher boy! I am not a fan of Kilorn (I found him annoying most of the times but he surprisingly grew on me towards the end) but I wanted to cut my arm and throw it at her! Always thinking her decisions are the best, always ignoring the voice of reason, always so self-righteous and self-involved, eager to manipulate and control, to sacrifice others for her own purposes. The way she kept judging and blaming Cal made my blood boil. She accused him of fearing to act when he wanted to show mercy, a concept unknown to her, she judged him for not trying to make things better for the poor when she was the one who stole from the poor to satisfy her selfish needs, and I keep wondering how did she know that he wouldn't change things when he never had the chance. She turned his world upside down, she betrayed him and took everything from him, she was his downfall. I hate her.
“Kneel or bleed.”
And I also hate Maven. I can't find any redeeming quality in him, I knew from the very start how rotten and corrupted he was. He's not a misguided soul that started off as good and lost his way, he didn't exprerience an upleasant childhood or a trauma that made him this monster, he is just evil. He craves power, he's full of jealousy and hatred, he.murdered.babies. for heaven's sake to make a point! But I can't help but admit he's one of the reasons that made this book so gripping, while he had very few scenes, he was always present, making you shiver.
“I am your rightful king, Silver-born for centuries. The only reason you're still breathing is because I can't burn the oxygen from this room.”
I love Cal. He's the victim of the worst betrayal, he has no one, he is no one, he clings to Mare and tries to salvage the humanity that's left in her but he rarely succeeds. He doesn't belong anywhere, he's broken and scarred but he's still noble, he endures the mistrust and the insults and he starts to realize the awfully wrong way the world works. He is smart and kind and by far the best character in this book. I just want to hug him and tell him everything's going to be alright.
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As for the plot, I loved the idea of recruiting newbloods, it reminded me of Professor X and Magneto in X-Men First Class (only they did not force anyone to join them) and Hunger Games at the same time, with the revolution brewing. There were times I wished Victoria Aveyard didn't elaborate so much in some scenes, but in general I found Glass Swordaction-packed and I was constantly afraid of what was about to happen next, I was fully invested to the story with its schemes and beautifully crafted fight scenes and plot-twists! And of course, the world-building was utterly intriguing, the blend of modern technology and dystopia and high fantasy is what won me over in the first place!
“I am a weapon made of flesh, a sword covered in skin. I was born to kill a king, to end a reign of terror before it can truly begin.”
(well you gave this reign of terror the chance to begin but there's no point repeating that, right?) Victoria Aveyard is without a doubt a very talented author, and the fact that she created so many flawed and three dimensional characters and inflicted so many emotions (albeit the most dominant ones were wrath and terror) is proof enough! The cliffhanger though shattered any resolve I had left, which means [image]
Hello Goodreads, I'm back, already suffering from King's Cage withdrawal syndrome and more heartbroken than I care to admit.
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King's Cage was theHello Goodreads, I'm back, already suffering from King's Cage withdrawal syndrome and more heartbroken than I care to admit.
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King's Cage was the most powerful, deep and contradictory installment of Red Queen so far. The first half nearly drove me to give it three stars, it was unbearably slow and made me question my decision to continue this series many times. I felt like I was drowning in a swamp, trying to move yet stuck in the same place for so long I lost the concept of time. But in the end it seemed that the countless pages where nothing happened were necessary to understand the characters and set the foundations for the second half, which was undeniably mindblowing, full of epic fight sequences and moments to elate you only to shatter you minutes later.
“We're not a god's chosen, but a god's cursed.”
Mare spends six months imprisoned, tortured, living at the mercy of a wicked boy-king who keeps her in a cage because that is the only way she'll stay with him, who uses her to serve his own ends and each day steals a piece of her and replaces it with hopelessnes and anger, while the Scarlet Guard makes new allies and strives to end his reign of lies. With threats of civil war, rebelling houses claiming power and newbloods who shift the balance between Reds and Silvers, the kingdom of Norta will either be reformed or engulf in flames. For there is only one throne and two Calore sons, divided by betrayal, ambission, and a stubborn lightning girl.
“I am Mare Barrow. Not Mareena, not the lightning girl. Mare.”
Who is Mare Barrow? A self-centered hypocrite. A murderer. A traitor. That's what I would have told you in the beginning of King's Cage. It is no secret that I am not particularly fond of Mare. In fact, a sadictic and rather cruel part of me enjoyed her tortures and her despair, all those moments when she finally felt the weight of her mistakes and rush decisions. Who are you to judge Cal ? I wanted to shout. How can you possibly blame him for not taking a stand after all the horror and injustice he has witnessed when the path you follow is paved with more blood and reverse discriminations in the name of common good? I wanted to peel off my skin every time she claimed she knew Maven so well, Maven of all people, an evil and broken boy who kept up with his atrocities even when his puppeteer was gone, while she never tried to see things from Cal's perspective. I still hate this self-righeous Mare. But thankfully, in King's Cage, she proved that she is more. And she somehow taught me that not a single character in this series is purely evil or purely good, the same way she learned it. I want you to remember this day, folks. The day I admitted that Mare Barrow became a tolerable and relatable heroine. I can't say the same about Maven, though. It is true that he wasn't born a monster, that his madness is the result of his horrible mother, and after his confessions he gained my understandment, but not my sympathy. Some choices were his. The slaughtered babies, the court manipulation, the power games, they were his. What he feels for Mare is not love, just a sick obsession. And I'm looking forward to his downfall.
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“Red. Red as blood, red as fire. Red as the anger eating us both alive.”
Tiberias Calore is not the flawless prince I thought he was. And that revelation was not the result of Victoria Aveyard's efforts to twist his character to make readers love him less, like I believed at first. Don't get me wrong, he's still my favorite character, but I'm afraid I idolised him. The bitter truth is that he is not good at making decisions, like Maven, and Mare and Cameron and everyone else knew from the start. He is noble, and kind, and a great strategist, he loves Mare despite reason in a way that warms you up inside, but he has his weaknesses.
“Choose me.”
I believe that what Victoria Aveyard tries to say in every sentence and every page is that power is alluring. A siren whose call no one can resist, regardless the colour of their blood, their rank and social status. And once you embrace power, and give in to its seductive touch and whispers of greatness, it taints you. And inevitably you lose something. Your humanity. Your kindness. Your soul. Your ideals. Your loved ones. Some things you can never get back. And I can't help but commend Victoria Aveyard for the way she delivers it. In King's Cage she masterfully delved into her characters' depths, she gave them multiple dimensions and made the reader invested in them, besides the intricate plot with the intrigue, the politics and the battle scenes that were undoubtedly epic. While my loyalties are still the same, I finished it more open-minded. And that's probably the reason the ending hurt me this much. In a way, when I read this series only for the plot was better. My feelings varied from annoyed to angry, and as soon as I finished each book I didn't think about it twice. But this time, it will haunt me. Because it has torn me apart.
“Now I'm in a king's cage. But so is he. My chains are Silent Stone. His is the crown.”
On a brighter note, I cheered for Evangeline (who may or may not have been the biggest and scariest badass), I swooned over shirtless Cal and I experienced a rush of adrenaline each time a fight was described or a new conspiracy was set into motion. If it hadn't been for the first half, King's Cage would deserve all the stars in the sky!
“Break my heart. Break it a thousand times if you like. It was only ever yours to break anyway.”
A faitytale ending in a modern fairytale (or not?) A“Break my heart. Break it a thousand times if you like. It was only ever yours to break anyway.”
A faitytale ending in a modern fairytale (or not?) America Singer was a poor girl who planned to marry her also poor sweetheart when she was chosen to compete with 34 girls for the heart of the handsome prince.But America came a long way since then;her evolution was stunning,although she was impulsive,she always got into trouble and above all she made some really really bad choices,which almost cost her Maxon (I wanted to slap her to talk some sense into her!).But well,Maxon wasn't always prince charming (who am I kidding??He was,all the things he did for her ughh I wanted to hug him and hug him and kiss him and keep kim for myself!!).They were scared,they could not trust each other so that they would take a leap of faith and express their feelings but after all,Maxon was right,the heartbreaks and the ups-and-downs and the fights made them love each other so much!And oh God,they DID love each other so much! This book was a proof that even when the times are dark and the world disappoints us we can find our prince (that was the meaning of Selection,wasn't it?!) and by prince I mean a place where we belong in the face of one single person.Thank you America and Maxon for this wonderful journey <3...more
“Even in the Future the Story Begins with Once Upon a Time.”
Once Upon a Time,there was an avid reader (let's call her K) who thought she w
“Even in the Future the Story Begins with Once Upon a Time.”
Once Upon a Time,there was an avid reader (let's call her K) who thought she was very clever but she couldn't be more wrong.You see,she'd heard about a futuristic version of Cinderella in which Cinder is a cyborg mechanic that everyone seemed to love but she refused to read it,because she was skeptical and a little prejudiced.One day she read the first page but when she came to the part where Cinder takes off her foot she said "Ok I tried but it's not for me,end of story" and she continued her life.Until she decided to give it another shot,and then the skies opened and the stars above made her see the truth.That she was a [image] Oh my stars,she really was an idiot.Because there can be only one reaction towards a book that narrates a classic tale that takes place in the future after the Forth World War,when androids are a part of daily life and a plague kills thousands of people and the Earth is threatened by the cunning and inhumanly beautiful Queen of the Moon who has mind-controlling powers: [image]
“Soon, the whole world would be searching for her--Linh Cinder. A deformed cyborg with a missing foot. A Lunar with a stolen identity. A mechanic with no one to run to, nowhere to go. But they will be looking for a ghost.”
K was mesmerized by Cinder.Even though it was a fairytale retelling,there were twists and turns in the story she could not predict.As she was reading next to the fireplace,eating chocolate and drinking chocolate flavored cappuccino,she forgot about her responsibilities and instead she grew wings and she flied to the East.She visited labs and sick people while they were sleeping,she laughed with Iko's witty retorts,she heard Evil Queen Levana scheming,she smelled the fear towards the Lunars and their unholy abilities,she saw spacecrafts take off,she swooned over a prince who was not ready to rule and give up his freedom but deep down he knew he would sacrifice even himself for the sake of his people and finally,she landed on a basement,hiding in a corner,watching a stained with grease mechanic named Cinder working and dreaming that one day her life would be hers,that she would be considered a human and not an emotionless machine.
“Do your kind even know what love is? Can you feel anything at all, or is it just... programmed?”
K loved the multiple POVs because they gave her the chance to witness both Cinder's life and the politics of the Empire.She was aggravated by the social injustice,she was hurt by some characters' malice and hatred,she felt giddy when Kai tried to flirt with Cinder and frustrated with all the secrets and the hidden agendas.Even though she loved the romantic element,she was actually happy it wasn't overwhelming and many other themes were explored,like Cinder's journey to finally accept herself,Levana's reign and plots,Kai's struggles regarding his new role,the part androids and cyborgs played in the society and the attempts to find a cure.In the end,K couldn't help but admit that Marissa Meyer is more than capable of enchanting the reader,even in a technology dominated world. [image] There are two reasons she didn't give Cinder 5 stars though.First,she found Cinder's behaviour towards Kai extremely infuriating because how can you keep saying no to a sweet prince that practically begs you to go the ball with him?If she just stopped hiding the truth and acting like a child on a whim things would be so different!And second,K had a gut feeling that the next books would be even better so she decided to save the fifth star for them.
If you're one of the few people who haven't read Cinder yet,don't hesitate to try it.It's different,unique and extremely enjoyable!
P.S. I know it may be a little hard to see through the lines not,but K is me.Shocking,isn't it?...more
“Even in the Future the Story Begins with Once Upon a Time.”
Once Upon a Time, there was an avid reader (let's call her Teri) who lived and
“Even in the Future the Story Begins with Once Upon a Time.”
Once Upon a Time, there was an avid reader (let's call her Teri) who lived and breathed words. When she was sad, she bought a book to cheer her up. When she was happy or successful, she bought a book to celebrate. When she was worried, she bought a book to forget her problems. One cold winter's night, she found herself in a magical place known as the Bookstore. A place full of wonders and fairydust, a safe haven from a world so mundane and self-destructive. A place to be herself. She spent hours strolling in the corridors illuminated by the brilliance of Luna, and when she left she took a piece of Luna with her. She took Cress.
“I promise, I will not let you die without being kissed.”
[image] After Cinderella and Red Riding Hood, it was Rapunzel's time to contribute to the interplanetary efforts to ger rid of Evil Queen Levana and her bloodthirsty minions whose only life purpose was world domination and extermination of mankind. And Cress' story reminded Teri so much of Disney's Tangled that she kept trying-and failed-to supress the urge to squeal (she will get angry if she finds out I told you this but she's watched Tangled more than five ten times). When Cress crossed paths with the crew of Rampion and everything went to Hell, Teri wasn't sure whose story she wanted to follow the most: Kai's decent attempts to make peace with his painful but noble decision, Cress and Thorne's adventures in the desert, Scarlet's struggles to survive, or Cinder and Wolf's journey and their unlikely alliance with Jacin? Each chapter had magnetic powers with a hint of compulsion, and Teri's heart was ready to explode from the emotions that kept piling up. Every feeling was a star and together they shaped a constellation so bright that Marissa Meyer could see it from her house and admire the effect of her work. If she also rubbed her hands in a villain fashion, that I cannot tell.
“Maybe there isn’t such a thing as fate. Maybe it’s just the opportunities we’re given, and what we do with them. I’m beginning to think that maybe great, epic romances don’t just happen. We have to make them ourselves.”
Teri wasn't sure if she liked Cress. She was really naive, really childish and her fantasies were wilder than her hair. But Teri couldn't help but admit that Marissa Meyer's ability to paint so many different yet interesting characters was admirable. There were no similarities between Cinder, Scarlet and Cress besides the fact that their destinies were interwined, that the fate of Earth and Luna would be determined by their joint efforts and sacrifices. The diversity and complexity of the female characters, the smart humour, the sassiness, the suspense, the action and the unpredictable turns of the events made Cress such an addictive book. And the swoonworthy male leads. And the sweet, innocent and pure romance.
[image] Teri was in love with Thorne. His attempts to convince Cress that he was no hero or a good man but instead an opportunist thief that treated everything as a big joke failed when he showed compassion and kindness. He was lost, but he had a hero quality that no one can question. There was also Wolf. Shy and awkward and scary and savage Wolf that loved Scarlet so much that made Teri weak in the knees.
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And Kai who was torn between his hope that Cinder actually cared for him and his anger for everything that happened is one of the characters that hold your heart and you don't even realize it. And finally Jacin, who is cryptic and kind of an asshole but Teri is positive she'll fall for him in the next book. But even though Thorne is Teri's favorite male character, Scarlet her favorite female character, Scarlet/Wolf her favorite ship, the entire gang, their banters and their loyalty and friendship is after all the main reason the Lunar Chronicles is a series so special.
“Even in the Future the Story Begins with Once Upon a Time.”
Once Upon a Time, there was a little girl (let's call her Rina) who loved fai
“Even in the Future the Story Begins with Once Upon a Time.”
Once Upon a Time, there was a little girl (let's call her Rina) who loved fairytales. Her favorite was Red Riding Hood, and she knew this story by heart since she was 2-years-old (everyone thought that this was a sign of her intelligence but in my opinion it was a warning. A warning that she'd never shup up). The girl grew up and decided to become a lawyer (so that people would pay her to talk non-stop) and she came across a horrible, horrible dilemma: she had to choose between what she had to do and what she wanted to do. She had to study, she had to finish her incredibly boring/difficult essay and being a perfectionist she barely had enough time to sleep, let alone read. But she wanted to read, to get lost inside her books, to travel in faraway lands and witness the upcoming war between Earth and Luna. In a desperate effort to balance her life goals, she stayed up all night to finish Scarlet so that there wouldn't be any distractions from her studies.
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Pathetic excuse, I know. She read it because Marissa Meyer had the wondeful ability to make her forget her fears, her insecurities and worries and instead she introduced her to a world where Cinderella was a cyborg and a fugitive who tried to come to terms with the revelations that changed her life, where the Big Bad Wolf was a boy that tried to control his bloodlust and questioned the way he was raised, where Little Red was a feisty girl who would do anything to save her grandmother and smugglers were extremely hot.
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“She did not know that the wolf was a wicked sort of animal, and she was not afraid of him.”
Rina found Scarlet's story extremely addictive! She was not the heroine she expected her to be. She was brave, stubborn, hot-headed and always ready for a fight, she was the little sister Hulk never had! Rina followed her quest wide-eyed and eager for adventures, secrets and romance because stars above! Scarlet's dynamic with Wolf made her feel fuzzy and giddy and warm inside! It took her a while to trust Wolf, but she couldn't resist the urge to hug him and cuddle him and make him her personal teddy bear!
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“I think I realized that I would rather die because I betrayed them, than live because I betrayed you.”
See? Sweeter than milk chocolate! But his savage and wild side was also intriguing and kind of hot! Rina could not predict his secrets and the reasons he acted this way, he hurt her many times but she always forgave him! But Wolf wasn't the only adorable male character in Scarlet. There was also Kai and his difficult decisions that almost made her weep. And there was Thorne. Captain Thorne. A blend of Disney's Flynn Rider, Han Solo and Dean Winchester.
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Yummy! Such a hilarious character that could not stop talking (a sign from the Universe that he should marry Rina), self-centered and charming and loyal... just great! His interactions with Cinder? Brotp alert! Cinder was more likeable when she was next to him and wanted to smack his head!
“A captain always knows where his ship is. It's like a psychic bond.” “If only we had a captain here.”
When a book features an awesome gang, chaos, war, prison breaks, evil monarchs, bloodthirsty beasts, fights and psychic powers, it's impossible not to love it! And bleary-eyed, disoriented and sleepy Rina was no exception!
“Even in the Future the Story Begins with Once Upon a Time.”
Once Upon a Time, there was a lonely girl who dreamed too much. Her name was K
“Even in the Future the Story Begins with Once Upon a Time.”
Once Upon a Time, there was a lonely girl who dreamed too much. Her name was Katerina. She used to gaze at the sky and observe the faint light of the moon. One night, she watched a falling star and made a wish. She wished that she would belong. Escape. Travel. Feel. Little did she know that her heart's desire was about to be granted. For when the star landed on Earth, it took a woman's form. In some stories they call her the fairy god-mother. In this one, they call her Marissa Meyer.
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“She's our princess. And she's coming home.”
Marissa Meyer searched for the best way to make wishes come true, but the answer was simple. Her words, her words would be a gift to mankind. She chose to narrate the classic tales everyone loved from a different angle, adding space and androids and plagues and monsters. Adding diverse heroes and heroines, characters of different color and weight and height and backround. Adding strong friendships, sweet romances, vivid adventuress, loathsome villains and a handful of stardust. And she created The Lunar Chronicles. She created Winter.
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“Invade Luna. Start a rebellion. End a war.”
Katerina found in Winter everything she ever wanted. She read about Snow White, who was beautiful and kind, crazy and delusional, who hallucinated and sang eerie songs, who was in love with her best friend and guard. She read about Cinder, who tried to be brave and make difficult desicions that would result in sacrifices and bloodbath in order to take her throne back. About Scarlet, fierce and bold and determined Scarlet, who felt that she didn't fit in until she found her home in the face of a predator, a killer. About Cress, who dreamed about happily ever afters and pretended she was a hero from a movie when she was afraid, and didn't realize how valuable she was. These four girls were different, but were bound together by a common goal and a friendship that didn't know planets and social status.
“Help me. Fight for me. And I will be the first ruler in the history of Luna who will also fight for you.”
She also read about Kai, who was smart and selfless and put the welfare of his people above his own happiness. About Wolf, who was savage and murderous but also a soft cupcake who fought for his humanity. About Thorne, who was funny and cocky and didn't believe he was a hero until a strange girl turned his world upside down with her faith in him. About Jacin, who was intimidating and cold, eager to do anything for his princess. Four boys, four girls and one android. Katerina loved them all, for their strangeness and their flaws, their loyalty and their hearts. Her own heart broke when they were seperated, when they were forced to do terrible things or went through terrible things. She shed tears of joy and tears of sadness. [image] She laughed until her stomach hurt.
“Thorne scoffed. “Careful is my middle name. Right after Suave and Daring.” “Do you even know what you're saying half the time?” asked Cinder.”
She followed them through riots and executions, battles and toe-curling kisses, powerful declarations and hilarious banters. She did find Winter a little long, but stars above! a part of her didn't want it to end. She hated goodbyes.
“They're the first crew I've ever had and most of them even call me Captain. I'm going to miss them.”
Once Upon a Time, Katerina finished Winter. She held the book against her heart and looked at the sky. There it was. A Rampion, whose passengers were a mechanic and an emperor, a farmer and a soldier, a hacker and a smuggler, a princess and a guard. They looked down and smiled at her. She smiled back. She was not alone.
I think I'm out of words.How can I describe my emotions when I'm in no position to untangle them myself?I want to scream out of rage and ecstacy and tI think I'm out of words.How can I describe my emotions when I'm in no position to untangle them myself?I want to scream out of rage and ecstacy and triumph for my villain radar and sorrow and frustration and so on...
A forgotten son.A vengeful mother.A brother with a long shadow.A strange mutation.The dramatis personae,the people whose passions and ambitions and weaknesses altered the future of a nation.I don't know what I expected of the Red Queen but I was certainly taken by surprise.I lost count of the betrayals and the backstabbings and the times someone's trust was shattered ;everyone has a secret agenda,everyone has two different faces and I can't help but think that I can sum up the entire story with the phrase anyone can betray anyone!
Before I start babbling,give me a moment to brag about my villain radar; I KNEW IT I KNEW IT I FREAKING KNEW IT!!There was something off with him from the start,the jealous little brother,always cast aside,always ignored,he could not possibly be that kind and brave and selfless,not with such jealousy and bitterness painting everything he said and did (I learned my lesson the hard way because of Darkling,I couldn't let it happen again!)!And Mare,stupid stupid lightning girl,fell straight into the trap.I tried to like her,I tried to understand her,but I just could not justify her actions.Ok I get it,she wanted to help her people,she suffered a lot,but that was not enough excuse for the lives she was willing to sacrifice for the "greater good".That sounds like Voldemort and all the villains in novels.She kept complaining about how perfect her sister was and everyone admired her and instead of actually trying to prove the others wrong,all she ever did was stealing and running away like a coward!And she kept judging Cal (my precious,broken,adorable Cal <3)and blaming him for every choice he made without considering the way he was raised and his duties.She used people for the so called greater good,I felt so sad about Lucas.And Julian,he was nothing but kind to her and she manipulated him,like everyone!And the love triangle ughh I HATE love triangles!!Especially between brothers ( but that didn't stop me from loving Cal,my chivalrous duty-bound prince <3).Yet Victoria Aveyard's writing was breathtaking and she had a way to combine all these things that naturally cause my anger with the dystopian surroundings and a hint of high fantasy in such a way that made the Red Queen a very strong,spectacular,flawless read that made me want more and bow to her brilliance!!It absolutely deserves 5 stars!!...more
THAT.WAS.A.CLIFFHANGER.Everything happened so fast,there wasn't enough time to comprehend what was going on!!
"Hope is a precious thing, isn’t it,” THAT.WAS.A.CLIFFHANGER.Everything happened so fast,there wasn't enough time to comprehend what was going on!!
"Hope is a precious thing, isn’t it,” she says. “And yet, we don’t really appreciate it until it’s gone." I can't explain why I am always drawn to characters who face a really uncertain future that most of the times it's not theirs,it just happens!In a city where the majority of the population lives under poverty lines and the royals attend balls,plot and betray each other,a poor girl's future is indeed uncertain.But when the royals force you to carry their child because they are sterile and you have magic that can determine the baby's features and virtues,well your life doesn't exactly belong to you.Although I didn't always agree with Violet's course of action,I liked her a lot,especially those little acts of defiance that showed there was more to her than a meek,obedient surrogate.The character that confused me though was the Duchess of the Lake.I know she was supposed to be one of the villains,I know I usually wanted to smack her head,but I hoped there was something more to her than this cruel,ambitious woman.She had some unexpected moments of humanity and I really wished they would take the upper hand,but I was sorely disappointed!I hope we will get more of her backround in the next book!And Garnet,well,I knew he wasn't just a drunk who embarrassed his family!And Ash...At first I didn't root for the romance so hard because everything happened way too fast,but Violet made it pretty clear;"you make me feel whole,too.In this place that takes little bits and pieces of us,you remind me of who I am.Of who I was."And then the shipper in me prevailed and the obsession began...
With the combination of dystopia,magic,social struggle and growing rebellion,with the characters that caused strong emotions to the reader (positive or negative),Amy Ewing created a fascinating world!I loved getting lost in the Lone City,and I'm more than excited for the White Rose!!...more
