Uuuh was not expecting this author to write one of my favourite depictions of queer tenderness, defiance and perseverance in the face of traumatic horUuuh was not expecting this author to write one of my favourite depictions of queer tenderness, defiance and perseverance in the face of traumatic horror, but here we are. If the world asks us to hurt each other, fuck the world forreal....more
One thing I absolutely love about Riley Sager's books is how clearly you can see the author's love for horror and common themes within it. 3 1/2 stars
One thing I absolutely love about Riley Sager's books is how clearly you can see the author's love for horror and common themes within it. He uses these tropes to lure you in with familiar excitement, but then there's always a moment when he flips the story onto its head and makes it very much its own. With The Last Time I Lied, for me personally, that moment came in a little too late. The last third is where the novel really shines, when twist after twist happens, but the two thirds that come before felt slightly stagnant to me.
My favourite aspect of a Riley Sager novel is without a doubt setting and atmosphere. Sager creates so much history and backstory for these fictional places that they almost feel alive, like they are also characters within the book. But I have to say that Camp Nightingale is probably my least favourite so far because it felt a little underused. There was no underlying sense of unease or discomfort that the Bartholomew from Lock Every Door or Baneberry Hall from Home Before Dark triggered in me. This book was definitely more of a classic disappearance mystery and the most whodunnit out of the three books of Sager's I have read so far. Thus, it reminded me quite a bit of Truly Devious, which was definitely some welcome nostalgia (even though that trilogy isn't very old yet but you know what I mean). Still, it was a bit too much boy-crazy teenie drama for me. It made sense for the story, but I wasn't digging it exactly, which took a bit of the usual appeal of Riley Sager's tendency to play with perspective and structure within his storytelling. However, there were three sequences where narration switches to 2nd person, and I don't know what it is about that this year but I absolutely love it. Many people don't, but I wish authors would use it more.
As I said, the final third was where this book really excels. Some things I did see coming, but most I did not, and the book definitely tricked me into believing some stuff that was merely a distraction from what was really going on, which impressed me quite a bit. The ending was incredibly satisfying because every mystery was resolved adequately. So ultimately, I can still say that while this might be my least favourite Sager novel so far, he still has yet to let me down and has quickly become a go-to thriller author for me. I can't wait to pick up Final Girls and be all caught up on his work.
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Had a chat with the person who was responsible for my lack of reading (me) and we agreed that if Riley Sager isn't powerful enough to end this reading slump, then no one is....more
Gonna give rating this some thought, because while I liked the majority of it, I think I was expecting something a little more exciting an3 1/2 stars
Gonna give rating this some thought, because while I liked the majority of it, I think I was expecting something a little more exciting and fun. Like the story was nice and actually more profound than I expected, but I was also expecting a page turner mystery, and I felt it lacked the main focus to really be that. Still found myself impressed by athmosphere, characterisation and writing in general, though, and the ending was super satisfying. Definitely not my last Ruth Ware book, even if I didn't love it. ...more
"That is the way of being a woman, to carve away at herself, to fit herself to the task, but, also, to be able to carve herself in a different way, wh"That is the way of being a woman, to carve away at herself, to fit herself to the task, but, also, to be able to carve herself in a different way, when a different shape is needed."
I really don't understand why the ratings for this are so low.
At least I don't think it has to do with the book, necessarily? But I believe this was marketed as a "basic YA fantasy", if you know the type of book I mean by that, and released at a time when that was the new Thing that everyone was going crazy for. Well, Damsel is not that. In fact, it feels more like the gritty, gnarly flipside of those books. If anything, this novel holds up a cracked mirror to all those stories about male heros who save the day by slaying the dragon and saving the poor princess and asks: What if the princess didn't need saving in the first place? Why do we jump on this narrative just so we can have a man to worship?
There were moments when I felt that Damsel almost didn't read like a novel at all, but rather like a novelised critique piece on fairy tales and those narratives that include women only as the puzzle piece of the plot necessary to give a man an adventure. It is the story of a woman who wakes up in the arms of her alleged saviour and suddenly finds herself no longer the protagonist of her own life, but a side character to his, with no regard for her own wishes. Set in a deeply misogynistic, sexist fantasy world, we follow protagonist Ama as she tries her hardest to fit into this tiny, airless box of who she is supposed to be, even though in the back of her mind she can tell that this is not what she wants.
And this is where one of the book's strongest factors comes into play: The atmosphere. It lulls you in (and keeps you captivated) with this gorgeous prose, these delectable sentences, while slowly, you begin to feel discomfort. Much of the dialogue has an unsettling undertone, and as the reader you immediately feel that something is very, very wrong, even while the protagonist still tries to justify other people's words and actions to convince herself of their good intent. It felt hauntingly realistic and, to me, like a rather accurate portrayal of what it still means to be a woman today, when you have to simultaneously be 30 things in one but also, most importantly, not a burden. Ama's reasoning from the outsider's perspective often felt flawed, but it was a product of the world she was living in, a world that was constantly telling her to be this and not that and please be quiet. The terrifying thing about her situation is such a real one, being that there is no way out of this idea people have of you when society thinks this idea is a desirable, good one.
The setup of the book was not too extensive, but rather concise with regard to what the author wanted to accomplish, and so it still offers an adequate amount for the following exploration of gender roles and sexism on surface level/within the story, and through it in real life and other popular tales of heroism. I thought it was done brilliantly and incredibly effectively. My emotions were constantly running wild, and I. Was. So. Angry. Almost all the time. But it felt empowering to have that reaction in this setting, because while exaggerated, it rang true with the anger I have long been feeling at the majority of the so-called stronger sex, and I know it's an anger that others are feeling as well, probably even more intensely. And I don't want to spoil anything, but don't worry. While the whole world isn't burning at the end of the novel, you will get a very, very satisyfing final act.
The only real criticism I have with the book is that I felt in the middle, not quite enough was being said. It's a short book, and I think this length works perfectly for the scope of the tale, since, had it been any longer, the reader would have required some more groundwork to justify it, but like this, the main focus could be on the criticism and the characters. But there were some instances where I felt the author could have potentially pushed a bit further. Additionally, and this is not a negative point so much as an observation, given the structure and setup of Damsel, I don't think it is meant to be a book that offers the reader a lot of material to create a deep sense of connection with the characters. Granted, most of them are assholes, yes, but while I liked Ama, it read pretty much like a fairy tale, and you don't read Hansel and Gretel and think "Oh my god, Gretel is so me!" At least that's something I was thinking about. Just as a heads up for when you get into this, so you know what to expect.
At the end of the day, Damsel feels like a proper accomplishment. I think Elana K. Arnold really wrote something special here, and not just because her writing is splendid, but because of the atmosphere it creates and the feminism that is woven into it. I will always and forever commend authors on taking risks, and this definitely feels like a risky book, which is sadly reflected in the average rating as well. Personally, I think it will linger with me for a while, not just because of the lovely full-circle moment the story had within itself, but also in the way it comments on other stories and womanhood and sexism as well. I am thoroughly impressed.
Lastly, if you're thinking of giving Damsel a chance, I want to point out some content warnings that the book would have profited from, had they been pointed out beforehand. This is probably not a complete list, but I still want to make it clear that this book has heavy themes of sexual assault, rape, emotional manipulation and animal cruelty/death. I would say that this very much feels more like an adult book than a YA novel and is probably more "enjoyable" consuming it as such. ...more
R. F. Kuang really said: Let me give y'all a book that reads like a whole entire trilogy, but it's only book one and it's gonna be so painf4 1/2 stars
R. F. Kuang really said: Let me give y'all a book that reads like a whole entire trilogy, but it's only book one and it's gonna be so painful! :)
When I say that this was a journey and a half. Looking back after finishing the book, it almost felt like I'd been reading it for months, because it ended somewhere so far away from where it started. And while I was reading, there was this constant nagging in the back of my mind telling me: This is something special. You need to soak up every moment. This is gonna be a life-changing series.
My favourite aspect of the book was probably the structure, and how R. F. Kuang continuously used well-known tropes and flipped them to create a wildly unpredictable plot. Normally, going into a new high fantasy, I have a bit of a hard time and get through the opening chapters rather slowly due to the flood of information regarding setting, politics and (usually) large cast of characters, but the author spread the informative bits and pieces out brilliantly, and I think that because of this, it would be a very good starting point for less experienced fantasy readers. I got a grip on the mechanics of the world really quickly and am still super impressed how smartly it was constructed.
Plot-wise, I had close to no idea what to expect, because I like to go into books relatively blind, and holy hell, did that make for an intense ride. Though the book starts out as an academy story aimed to train the main character to be a soldier, the author is absolutely not afraid to suddenly go down a completely different path. Though this could be perceived as jarring, I always thought that this courage to turn the story on its head totally paid off, and especially in retrospective there are so many threads that all come together without the reader even fully realising it. It made the scope of the tale feel incredibly large and worked out so well because like this, the author was able to create the desired contrast within the novel and actually show off the horrors of a reality that was previously only explored in theory.
And oh, what horrors this book has. I would say that I'm pretty capable of handling my gruesome, violent, disturbing content, but this book really kicked me in the fucking stomach. Some chapters especially messed me up so much that I had to read them faster to "get out of them", which I believe is exactly what they are supposed to do. Kuang is not afraid to provide an unflinching portrayal of war and death, and this backdrop opened the floor for impeccably handled discussions on humanity, morals and the justification of violence that comes oh too easy when fighting for what you believe you deserve.
As for the characters, it took me a little bit to really feel connected to protagonist Rin, especially in the beginning, since the book is written (like probably most adult fantasy novels) in 3rd person, and particularly in part one the pacing is incredibly fast to get the main plot going, but as it became clearer where it was heading, I couldn't help but root for her through all her good and bad decisions. The world Rin lives in is not a kind one, and the overarching theme of power is explored so well through her eyes. Rin does not come from much and suddenly gets to fight for a lot, and her every move is fueled by her longing for independence and influence. Her story is such an arresting portrayal of the moral depths someone is willing to dive into simply to fight for their personal beliefs. But somehow, even when she was making radical choices, I could often understand her reasoning given who she is, and though sometimes selfish, she mostly tries to protect those she cares about (even if that means destroying everyone in her path, but that's beside the point... or is it?). She went through so much in this first book alone, and I'm both excited and also scared to see where her decisions lead her next.
As for the side characters, I loved so many of them so much, especially Kitay and Jiang, my favourite eccentric, "no one can judge me" Lore master. (view spoiler)[Also, it is a crime if Nezha is really dead. He had such a lovely redemption arc going on and I WANT MORE of that. Please. I somehow really like him. Even though I hated him with a passion at first. But please please please let him somehow be alive. (hide spoiler)]
I do feel that towards the end, the pacing got a little wonky in some chapters. While I normally liked how each chapter had a very clear beginning and end, it felt to me like some of the events in those final 100 pages maybe happened just a tad bit too fast, and I would have maybe liked another 20 or 30 pages here and there. But then the ending comes around with such a simple and cold brutality that, like Rin, you don't even fully graps the scale of the destruction. So I absolutely cannot wait to see the consequences in book 2.
All in all, this was a fantastic book, and a brilliant fantasy. Stellar worldbuilding and complex, complicated characters propel this tale of power and death forward with a force that often nearly broke my neck. I love R. F. Kuang for the risks she took and the courage with which she told this story, and the fact that this is only her debut novel quite honestly makes me spiral. I will be starting the sequel immediately. ...more
Going into this series, I feel like I wasn't perfectly sure what I was getting myself into. Hitsorical fiction is by far not my go-to genre, but sometGoing into this series, I feel like I wasn't perfectly sure what I was getting myself into. Hitsorical fiction is by far not my go-to genre, but something about the premise of a dark and brutal fight for power with a twist of a historical setting made me want to take a leap of faith. And oh, am I glad that I did.
Upon finishing this, one of my first thoughts (after wiping a few tears away) was: I have to read more Kiersten White. Followed by uncertainty, because even though these three books are so far the only ones of hers I have read, they feel like career-defining books to me, for sure. It just... everything works. From the writing to the tone to the characters to the setting to the humor to the terror to the tenderness. And this was the kind of conclusion that reminded me of how bittersweet an ending to a well-loved series can be, because I don't want to leave Lada and Radu and Mehmed behind. (Especially not Radu, whom, if I were to be given the opportunity, I would never stop hugging.) It reminded me of the power that books can have when they follow you over the course of three years, of how neither you, nor the characters end up in the same spot as before. And I am so thankful to once more get to call a set of books a new favorite.
Because they prove that girls get to be brutal. That boys get to be soft. That after turmoil and doubt, queer people are granted a happy ending. That people are more important than power. That the family we choose is enough. And that we each deserve whatever happiness it is we may seek.
But also that it's okay to stand the fuck up for what we want....more
Well yes, hello, I am still alive, or maybe not after quietly, secretly reading and finishing this book. Honestly, I don't really know what to say, buWell yes, hello, I am still alive, or maybe not after quietly, secretly reading and finishing this book. Honestly, I don't really know what to say, but this was everything I could have hoped for and more. The pacing was brilliant, the new characters were some of the most exciting and cutthroat ones to have ever seen the light of literary day, and seeing both Victor and Eli again was a bloody delight. The voice with which V.E. Schwab narrates their storylines is so focused and sharp while at the same time allowing each characters their weaknesses and I am in total awe of what this has culminated in. ...more
"They hated me like I hated them. But they'd won. And they knew it."
3 1/2 stars
Initially, I hadn't even really planned on reading Sky in the Deep, but"They hated me like I hated them. But they'd won. And they knew it."
3 1/2 stars
Initially, I hadn't even really planned on reading Sky in the Deep, but, and this happens quite often and is very detrimental to my financial responsibilities, I randomly was really in the mood for it and none of the other books I already own. I don't question that anymore. So I just went ahead, got it and dove right in.
The first chapter opens with this massive action sequence, and if I tell you that I was here for it. I love me some badass girls wielding axes and swords, and the viking influences made for such a refreshing, unique touch that presented itself very early on. Still, I wasn't quite sure what to expect from the overall story arc, and I knew very little going into it besides the fact that the main character, Eelyn, would shockingly discover her brother to be alive - and fighting for the enemy.
This happens very early on, and it immediately pulled me in, because not only was the entire previous fight super action-packed and hectic, but the emotional turmoil this discovery awakens in Eelyn was written so beautifully and made you feel for her right away. And all in all, this remained one of the biggest strengths of the novel up until the end: The emotions are conveyed extremely raw, real and heartbreaking. This was probably what surprised me the most. This books is sad. Not in a "My eyes are liquifying and I can't see the words anymore"-type of way, but rather it hits you in subtle, yet very piercing blows every now and then. For example when the weight of the truth - that Eelyn's brother is not in fact dead and joined the rival clan - gets too heavy and makes Eelyn say things like this:
"What are you thinking now?" The weight of it fell from my head, down into the rest of my body. The words were small but they were true. "I'm thinking that I wish you'd died that day."
This books lives off of its characters. It shows more internal struggles than it does external ones, which thankfully works out Pretty well because 1. I really liked Eelyn, whom you might consider your regular "I kill everyone"-heroine, but a bit softer around the edges 2. the love interest tries to kill Eelyn on the battlefield, puts an arrow in her shoulder and does not fall for her 20 pages later (looking at you, Children of Blood and Bone), and 3. Halvard is my precious, small child and if any harm ever comes close to him I will murder both clans to the point of extinction.
I don't want to give too much away, but I also enjoyed the conflict that weaves its way throughout the plot, namely how Eelyn, after spending quite some time with the enemy, that they might just be trapped in a vicious circle - family members getting killed, thirst for revenge, killing someone else's family in return… it didn't reinvent the wheel, but it was crafted with such careful wording that I couldn't help but approve.
While Sky in the Deep certainly didn't hold back any emotions, it did, unexpectedly, not contain a lot of actions. Besides the first 20 pages and the final 40, it was rather… quiet. Which I didn't particularly mind, but at some point I couldn't help but feel like the plot was stuck and something was missing. It didn't bore me, but it also didn't fully captivate me throughout its 350 pages, which I know other readers might have an even bigger problem with. (view spoiler)[Lily don't read this. (hide spoiler)]
Additionally, it occasionally dipped its foot into fantasy-waters, but I'm not sure if maybe those were a bit too cold, because it never really went any further into it, leaving it at just a few drops here and there, which was disappointing to me because it left me feeling rather unsatisfied in terms of not only world building, but also this "mysterious common enemy" that is introduced to the storyline. It was just never really resolved who this enemy was (and why they didn't have any irises or pupils, like, I WANT TO KNOW).
In the end, Sky in the Deep is definitely story that lives off of its characters more than it does its action, which wasn't bad, but the latter and some more fantasy aspects, which I was expecting, were lacking in the long run, which surprised me quite a bit. Nonetheless, a beautifully written debut, which, tone-wise, reminds me quite a bit of The Wrath and the Dawn, minus some of that purple-ness. So if you liked that, you might want to check this one out.
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Spontaneously ordered this yesterday because I didn't feel like reading any of the 40 unread books I own, and I don't understand my weird moods in the least but they completely control my reading life. :))...more
This was so much fun! I think my favorite aspect was the dialogue, it was so smart and witty and punny. Sometimes I found myself reminded of Caraval, This was so much fun! I think my favorite aspect was the dialogue, it was so smart and witty and punny. Sometimes I found myself reminded of Caraval, particularly some of the descriptions evoked similar magical emotions in me. I think it was very successful at accomplishing what it was going for, and the execution of the promise was very well done, what with it being a stand-alone fantasy novel, which I feel is rather unusual. And it had a really great climax! So often I find final showdowns underwhelming, but this one was awesome. I will say that this felt very short though, kind of like an in-between read, and maybe my rating is more of a 3.5. However, if you're looking for a book to read during the remaining days of summer, I would totally recommend it!
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I honestly don't know why I haven't started freaking out about this sooner, because for some reason I couldn't stop thinking about it this past week? And let me tell you, Ariel was my SHIT when I was a kid. I would watch that instead of taking naps and would know all the words. So naturally, I now want to read the bloody, murderous version to spice up my childhood memories a bit....more
I finished this first thing this morning and was gonna write a review for it sometime throughout the day, but now I just ate two huge wraps and fell iI finished this first thing this morning and was gonna write a review for it sometime throughout the day, but now I just ate two huge wraps and fell into my bed so I guess it ain't happenin'. ...more
(Also I think this was the first book I've ever read that didn't have acknowledgements??)
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Buddy-read with el, so hopefully we can motivate each other to finish this in case it gets bad and so that in case it actually does, you don't get one, but two annoyed reviews coming your way. (I'm so optimistic.) (But for real, maybe I'll end up liking it, who knows??)...more
Yeah, there's no way I can rate this anything less than 5 stars. This has to be one of the most gut-wrenching, hard-hitting books I have ever read andYeah, there's no way I can rate this anything less than 5 stars. This has to be one of the most gut-wrenching, hard-hitting books I have ever read and I already know that I will be thinking about it for quite a few days to come. I didn't know very much going into it, and I think that was the right way to go about it and to let the story unfold on its own without any pre-set expectations, but if you do not deal well with the literal pitfalls of humanity and grief and loss, maybe this is not the perfect read for you. Aside from the content matter, I loved the pacing and the way the plot was communicated to the reader. The incorporation of the true crime podcast storyline was genius and so exciting that I could not stop reading. The way it interacted with Sadie's chapters was brilliant, and putting aside the dark, disturbing themes, this was just such a well thought-through book! It had so many things going for it, I flew through it in three days. Overall, I am beyond happy that I finally read my first Courtney Summers book, and she is definitely an author I will return to. ...more
While not being the breathtaking rollercoaster ride I was expecting, The Woman in the Window definitely convinced me with its suspenseful w3 1/2 stars
While not being the breathtaking rollercoaster ride I was expecting, The Woman in the Window definitely convinced me with its suspenseful writing and the morally gray characters. Particularly one scene conveyed the panic of the main character so well I felt like I was experiencing everything right by her side. Still, I found that even though the chapters were all very short, which made for a rather quick read (ironically, university work kept me from making basically any progress in the past few weeks), a lot of what happened felt very… irrelevant, if not to say boring. The intrigue was intriguing, but did not necessarily feel as new as I had hoped. Plus, the final reveal, despite being well constructed and suiting the overall tone of the story, still left me somewhat unsatisfied and too unbothered. Ultimately, the novel did not stand out very much from other good thrillers I have already read, which is a bit of a shame, but the author is definitely talented and I would love to see what he has in store with a new book. Plus, I have a feeling this is going to translate wonderfully into a movie. ...more
I sometimes wish I could make sense of my feelings and emotions, because I can't and I have no idea how to rate this.
rtc. (?) (I'm a mess.)
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For I sometimes wish I could make sense of my feelings and emotions, because I can't and I have no idea how to rate this.
rtc. (?) (I'm a mess.)
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For me, this one is a typical case of "I might read this some day", which over night turned into "I NEED THIS IN MY LIFE RIGHT NOW" and I'm so about that diversity that I won't even apologize for randomly buying this....more
Well, and here goes one of the best series I have ever read. I'm not even going to try to put my feelings for this one into words, I already tried (anWell, and here goes one of the best series I have ever read. I'm not even going to try to put my feelings for this one into words, I already tried (and somehow managed?) with Strange the Dreamer, so if you want to know more about my thoughts, enjoy the somewhat coherent ramblings I produced there. This duology was everything I love in fantasy, but also in writing in general. The emotion encapsulated in these words is so beyond anything I can remember ever reading, I still can't believe it exists in this world. I cannot wait to reread these two books in a few years and offer my tears to them again. My heart is full of witchlight....more
It doesn't happen too often that I actually, really dislike a book. And I still can't really express how sad I am about the fact that it had to happenIt doesn't happen too often that I actually, really dislike a book. And I still can't really express how sad I am about the fact that it had to happen with this one.
Initially, I was wary about Children of Blood and Bone. Apart from the West-African mythology aspect, it didn't sound like it was bringing anything new to the table, and as someone who primarily reads fantasy, it's pretty hard at this point to find a truly unique story. But when more and more over-the-moon, positive reviews came flooding in, I suddenly got immensely excited to pick it up myself and see what the hype is about, so excited that, in truth, I was expecting to have a new favorite on my hands. Well - I was wrong.
The book started out very promising, with certain elements that are probably the only redeeming qualities for me. For one, the whole concept of the magical system with its different clans and the horrific oppression of an entire group of people was, in itself, not necessarily new, but due to the mythology influences, everything had such a fresh glow, and ultimately, even though it fell flat for me, I cannot put into words how happy it makes me that this high fantasy novel full of POC exists and is loved by such a broad audience.
Apart from that, I also enjoyed some of the more complex questions that Zélie and her companions had to try to answer. For instance, even though she starts out being all for the restoration of magic, throughout the journey she comes across obstacles that make her resolve crumble a little, that make her doubt that there is any peace to ultimately come from it. Whereas the entire plan felt a bit one-dimensional in the beginning, it was suddenly not so easy to tell right from wrong, and if you know me, you also know that I love dubious morality and somewhat... gray areas in terms of good and bad.
To me, everything started going downhill somewhere around the 200 pages mark. I suddenly noticed that I felt pretty disconnected from the characters (who I initially liked) and their entire adventure, because everything was just way too fast-paced for me to actually develop an emotional connection to... well, anything, really. Something was constantly happening, but it was always over so fast that I could barely figure out how I felt about what characters did or what changed their attitude toward something.
*narrator voice* And then everything went up in flames.
Because, oh boy, the romance. THE ROMANCE. tHe RoMaNcE?? It doesn't even deserve to be called that.
You see, I think what disappoints me the most is that I see so much potential. SO much. This could have easily been one of the most epic novels I've ever read. The same thing goes for the romance. Because apart from Zélie and runaway princess Amari (who is like, the only character I genuinely like, she had such a pure character development and is just my favorite), we also follow Amari's brother Inan, who believes a lot more into his father's gruesome ways than Amari does. As the former two set out to restore magic, he decides to chase them in order to keep their plan from succeeding, which, to him, should be accomplished by killing Zélie. (Who also happens to know that Inan himself is starting to develop some magical abilities, which he's desperately trying to keep a secret, since his father would kill him on sight if he found out, so ya know, being daddy's boy and all, he really wants her dead.)
I was HERE FOR IT. Because if you know me even better, then you also know that I am head over heels for the enemies-to-lovers trope, if it's well done. And the emphasis here is definitely on that last part. Because whereas I was imagining their mutual hatred (Zélie wasn't too big a fan of Inan's plan to kill her and generally him being the son of the monster who killed an entire people, basically) to maybe slowly turn into something else in, I don't know, book 2, I did not get that by any means. Instead, it took about two days of them working together (to save Zélie's brother and Inan's sister) for both of them to suddenly say things like this:
"We only need each other."
"Two days without her. In her absence, the ocean air hangs heavy. Every breath whispers her name."
I had question marks all over my face. And it didn't stop there. No. Because a day later, they come up with this beautiful plan to be together forever and revolutionize Orïsha as a power couple. It was one of the worst cases of insta-love I've ever read, worse still due to the fact that they literally wanted to wear each other's guts as necklaces about ten pages before.
Over the next... 200 pages... I was (I'm coining this term) in eye-rolling-hell. I was hoping for the focus to slowly move away from their "relationship" once they were separated again (or for one to murder the other as a plot twist, I really just wanted them to die), but nope, all they could think about was each other for the rest of the book. (view spoiler)[At one point Zélie is captured and tortured to her breaking point, and after being rescued, the first thing she does is have dream-sex with Inan. I screamed. (Inan's ability is to manipulate thoughts and dreams, essentially.) (hide spoiler)]
It was suck a freaking trainwreck. I considered dnf'ing the book multiple times, and I've never just stopped reading a book before. It was such a struggle to pick it back up every single time. I really just wanted it to end.
To top everything off, the ending was - of course - kind of cool, and I feel so cheated by it getting interesting and surprising on the last two pages, especially because I will not do another 500 pages of annoyance to myself a second time. I know that Amari is just gonna keep getting cooler exponentially and that she'll save the entire land one day, but I won't stick around to find out.
Now that that's off my chest, I'd like to forget I ever read this so I can go back to it being all epic and breathtaking in my mind. I'm glad everyone loves this book so much, and I bet you're going to get a nice sequel, but personally, I'll just slowly leave this meeting and pretend like all this never happened....more
CW: depression, (view spoiler)[attempted suicide (hide spoiler)] (not really, but kind of, so tagging it for now)
"I wanted a clean break, a runaway lCW: depression, (view spoiler)[attempted suicide (hide spoiler)] (not really, but kind of, so tagging it for now)
"I wanted a clean break, a runaway lane, a tits-to-toes, all-in, no-chance-of-backing-out Jane Sinner Extreme Makeover. Starring Jane Sinner out of context. Out of years of uncomfortable context."
All the stars in the world, both on- and off-camera. I already want to read it again.
Writing this review will be hard, in the way that I always find it hard to talk about the things I love maybe too much to put it into words. I expected to love Nice Try, Jane Sinner, but I didn't expect it to leave me speechless. It's the kind of book that's settled so deeply in my heart that trying to put my emotions into words will feel like cutting open my chest and taking the entire muscle out for a couple minutes, which sounds super ironic and Jane would laugh at me for that analogy, but that's the truth.
So, where do I start. There's so many words I want to write down, but be aware that even if I succeed to a certain extent, there will be so much more that won't make it out of my chest and just be stuck with me forever.
What makes this novel so unique, so "one of a kind"-fantastic and heartfelt, is the narration. It's told as if the reader is taking a look into Jane's diary, so everything feels extremely personal and close to the story. I was basically inside of Jane's head for the past three days, and while it can occasionally be a dark place, it's still one I never wanted to leave. Because, oh. My. Days. Jane Sinner is such a legend. And here it may be personal preference, but I don't think I have ever gotten to read from the perspective of a funnier character. I would need approximately three more sets of hands to be able to count how many times I full-on, explosively laughed out loud. I almost didn't even care what was gonna happen next, simply because I knew that due to Jane's voice, it would be the time of my life no matter what.
Still, the entire story unfolded so beautifully and was constructed with so much care and such a huge eye for details. There were so many iconic scenes, which will never not be iconic, because every word was placed so perfectly and lovingly that I couldn't help but fall in love with the good, the bad, and every small thing in between. It took this one book for me to say that I will read anything Leanne Oelke writes.
Jane is a difficult character, and that's precisely why she's so lovable and hilarious and "I want you to be my best friend"-able. I feel like me and her would get along splendidly. She's hardly ever serious, cares a bit too much about herself and a bit too little about everyone else, and she's stubborn as hell. But, as the book progresses, you get to see that a lot of that is her way of keeping herself going in times when she feels like she can't, and underneath the facade she deals with so much more than just college and being filmed 24/7. Making fun and, once or twice, taking a joke too far is her form of self-defense, and I guess some people would call that frustrating, but I could relate to it so much and, quite frankly, she's just very good at doing the humor-thing. Nonetheless, when her darker thoughts shone through and it became clear that she couldn't "joke her depression" away, each line felt so sensitive and real in the sense that Jane gets very frustrated with herself and can't always pinpoint where those thoughts come from, and is annoyed that they seem to cloud her mind so groundlessly, which I, again, found very comprehensible.
Aside from very much approaching more serious topics, though, the book is just plain FUN. The idea of the whole House of Orange reality show was so entertaining and addictive to read about, and Jane's way of strategizing was so smart and brilliant. All the contestants are so weird, although they might just be from Jane's perspective, and I had a great time because the concept sounded so fabulous on paper, and it was executed splendidly.
Other aspects I enjoyed a lot were how the book handled the conversation about religion and Jane's struggle to wrap her mind around it, which made up a bigger (but not too big) part than I had expected and normally, probably, would have liked, her friendship with Bonnie, who is bisexual (REPRESENTATION MATTERS), any scenes that had her sister Carol in them (the two of them are so wonderful together), Jane's existential angst regarding who she'll be when the show is over and when college is over and basically her fear of the future, because same, and the discussion on how, as soon as you're on TV, the public suddenly feels entitled to know everything about you and your personal life, and how Jane, as a simple girl, dealt with it.
Really, I could go on and on. But deep down, I only have one thing to say. Well, two things. 1. I love this book with all my heart, and while I love it for being a stand-alone, I also hate it for being one because I am no good at goodbyes and don't want to let everyone go already. My entire copy is full of post-its. I'm tempted to start it again right away. And 2. please, please read this book. It deserves so much more love than I can give. Which is a lot, but still - give it some more.
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I don't understand how there aren't more people talking about this?? It sounds like the perfect combination of serious (depression rep says Hi) and hilarious (reality tv shows in college = yes), but maybe that's just me....more
!MISSING! The answers to the endless amount of questions I have after finishing this book. They were last seen I have no idea where. Any help is greatly !MISSING! The answers to the endless amount of questions I have after finishing this book. They were last seen I have no idea where. Any help is greatly appreciated and of utmost importance.
