Saturday, July 30, 2016

The Raven King by Maggie Stiefvater (Book 4 in the Raven Cycle)

The Raven King (The Raven Cycle, #4)

Title: The Raven King
Author: Maggie Stiefvater
Page Count: 439
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy, Paranormal, Indescribable.
Rating: 4 Stars
Source: Library <3
Links: Goodreads IndieBound Amazon Barnes & Noble The Book Depository
Synopsis: Nothing living is safe. Nothing dead is to be trusted.

For years, Gansey has been on a quest to find a lost king. One by one, he’s drawn others into this quest: Ronan, who steals from dreams; Adam, whose life is no longer his own; Noah, whose life is no longer a lie; and Blue, who loves Gansey… and is certain she is destined to kill him.

Now the endgame has begun. Dreams and nightmares are converging. Love and loss are inseparable. And the quest refuses to be pinned to a path.



My initial review on Goodreads: Read this damn book now. (well, read the other three first, but do itttttt.)

I absolutely adore this novel with all of my heart. Like seriously. It's really, really good.

And I love all of these characters. And I love this world. And I have a love/hate relationship with the emotional turmoil it put me through....

But I think I was expecting something else from the conclusion. Something was disconnected. I can't really find the words to describe why it felt this way to me, it just did.

This is not to say that I didn't adore this novel... and it may very well be my favorite of the series...Because I loved it. And I really think this series is worth reading. I truly do.


Full Review:  PROBABLY DEFINITELY SPOILERS SOMEWHERE FOR SOMETHING.

Me always with this series:
confused lee pace ugh frustrated sigh

I actually don't even know where to begin with this review, if it even ends up being a review.

I don't actually have words to say. Because there is something about this series that had a complete disconnect from my heart, from my emotions, from everything... Okay not a complete disconnect because I do adore these characters...

Depending on where you began the story it was about Richard Gansey III... and boy is Gansey something. He is the central figure to this entire story because his death is fated. He had been brought back to life because somebody died who shouldn't have... and he had been seen on the ley line in book one by a Blue Sargeant... and he was dead. Except this is what I have put in my mind and I'm not sure how entirely accurate it is! Yay!

Truth be told, I didn't love this series in it's entirety. I love the characters, but I am not head over heels in love with Stiefvater's writing style.. (but it is addicting...)

Back to my review... A lot of this sounds bitter... oops. xD This is not intentional, I promise. I actually really love this book.

This book is pure
americasgottalent  magic relatable agt howie mandel

Like seriously, it's insane. It's an addicting story. This book is crack. I swear.

Okay. Depending on where you began the story it was about Adam Parrish. Who is my favorite. Along with Ronan and Noah... anyways... Adam is a freaking broken soul, in my opinion. His backstory is the most heartbreaking to me. Okay, maybe not the most heartbreaking but it's very difficult for me. It killed me. Everything about him. But I also love him. Because he is such a real character. He is tied to Cabeswater, and the reality of Cabeswater as it is revealed in this installment is INSANE. I freaked out.

Depending on where you began the story it was about Ronan Lynch. And Adam Parrish. PYNCH PYNCH PYNCH PYNCH PYNCH PYNCH. I love them together infinitely <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3

When I began this book there was a few characters that I didn't remember at all. But I ended up adoring them all. I still love Maura.

And I've realized I am never going to properly review this. Maybe once I eventually reread the series and everything is clarified for me. Because I remember practically nothing from the first three books. Very few details.

I do believe this series is definitely worth reading. It is one of the most intricately planned series I have ever read.

What's your favorite Stiefvater book?

Thursday, July 28, 2016

Monsters In The Light by Cody Roecker (A play!)

Well, I asked on twitter and you guys asked me to post this play all at once...

So without further ado...

I present my pride and joy...

A script entitled "Monsters in the Light"

I really hope you all enjoy and that you leave some thoughts in the comments! :)

Love y'all!

~ Cody Roecker @ Roecker Reviews <3






Monsters In The Light
By Cody Roecker








Dramatis Personae

ATLAS is a fifth grader, who goes to church every Sunday and is completely content in life.
VIOLET is a fifth grader whose mother is on her deathbed and has been for years, her childhood has been shattered.
MRS. BEAUSOLIEL is a forty year old woman who gives the children an assignment to draw a monster.

lights up on the teacher's side of the classroom
MRS B: (narrating) One day I told my class that we would all be drawing monsters. I told them I wanted them to draw whatever came to mind when they heard the word 'monster'. I told them that I didn't want them talking to their neighbors because I didn't want others to influence their drawings. I was very curious to see what the students had drawn and come up with. I had done this for many years now and I always enjoyed seeing what these kids could think up. Some could draw so some of the monsters were actually scary! Some couldn't, but that kept it interesting. After everything I had seen, and after all my years of teaching, nothing could have ever prepared me for this.
lights up on kids side of classroom
ATLAS: I drew a monster with three eyes, four arms, and furry purple hair! He's scary, don't you think?
VIOLET: He looks like Randall and Sully from Monsters Inc! He's not scary he's cute!
ATLAS: No he's not! He's terrifying! monster noise
VIOLET: Whatever you say. To me he looks huggable and lovable. If I saw him one day, I would talk to him and ask him to be my friend. Sully was nice, so why can't this guy be kind too?
ATLAS: Well.. He eats kids like us! He could never become our friend. He's so scary because he eats kids!
VIOLET: Sully always scared kids until  he realized that they had hearts and lives to. He was a nice monster because he changed his ways, so your monster can too!
ATLAS: My monster’s name is Rhysanderous! He's also part dinosaur. They cannot be tamed, they are all evil carnivorous beasts. Would you trust him?
VIOLET: No.. but he can be better. Not everyone who looks evil is actually evil.. They may look horrible but could be super kind if treated right. You should always give everyone a chance, at least one chance.
ATLAS: Whatever you say.. I don't agree but there is no point arguing with you. If you aren't scared of Rhysanderous, then what did you draw?
VIOLET: I drew... I don't want to say... You'll think it's stupid.
ATLAS: No I won't, I'm sure it's not stupid.
VIOLET: Promise?
ATLAS: Pinky Swear.
The Kids link pinkies
VIOLET: shows the other kid her drawing of a beautiful angel.
ATLAS: snickers That is NOT scary.
VIOLET: You promised you wouldn't say it was stupid!
ATLAS: I'm sorry. I didn't meant to laugh...but why would you think an angel is scary? Angels are the kindest beings ever! My Dad is my angel. He always takes care of me when I am sick. He is the best angel of them all! We learned about angels in my church service. That's how I know my Dad is an angel. I learned about Gabriel and all of the other wonderful angels that help God perform miracles! There is nothing scary about angels!
VIOLET: That's where you are wrong! Angels are the scariest of them all!
ATLAS: Why would you say that? Don't you go to church?
VIOLET: I used to, with my mom, but then we stopped going because she got sick and sicker and now she is too sick to go. I even prayed to God to send angels down to heal my mom. But the angels were never sent. My mom is still sick, and she continues to get sicker. Why won't God send the angels down for my mom? Is she not as good as Mary was?
ATLAS: I was always told that things happen for a reason. God may disguise a good thing with something that looks bad. Your mom may be sick, but maybe it's saving her from something worse. She will get better if you continue to pray!
VIOLET: How can you say that?!? My mom is dying! She has been like this for over a year now! How can you say that there is something worse than death? Why would you say that? (begins to sniffle)
ATLAS: I am so sorry. I didn't mean to make you upset, I was trying to encourage you. Our bible verse last week said  "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11. He has the plans for your life, and for your moms, and it will all be okay in the end.
VIOLET: But what if she dies? I will never be okay if she dies. I love her so much and I don't think I could live without her. She is my favorite person.
ATLAS: If she dies, then that is what God had intended to happen. Even if it doesn't seem okay now, it will be. At least, that is what our pastor always tells us.
VIOLET: I can't believe you would say such a thing! My mom will not die! Not because of God and his angels! I refuse to be told that if my mom dies it's because  he WANTED my mother to die.
ATLAS: That's not what I said.. I was just...
VIOLET: STOP TALKING!
ATLAS: I'm sorry.
VIOLET: *beat* So am I, I didn't mean to yell. I just love my mom and I don't want to think about her dying.
ATLAS: Would you like to change the topic?
VIOLET: Yes please. Thank you.  
ATLAS: Can you tell me why you chose to draw an angel, so I can try to understand?
VIOLET: Yeah! Where do I even begin? Give me a second.. Hmm.. Okay. The angel. This is going back to when I went to church. One day in Sunday School I learned about Satan and how he became who he was. And well, I learned about how he has another name, Lucifer, and how he used to be God's most trusted angel, but then he started doing horrible things. He wanted to be above God and rule on his throne. Because of this he was brought down to the realm of the dead. He used to be the most TRUSTED angel of all, and he betrayed that trust so quickly.
beat
Anyone can betray anyone. What's worse is now he can disguise himself as anybody or anything he wants to. He can look like the nicest person and ruin our lives by persuading us to do horrible and bad things.
sighs
That is why I drew an angel, because nobody would expect a monster to hide in the light.
ATLAS: I... I don't know what to say. My Dad would never be like that... (beat) I know that story but I never thought about it that way. I knew all of that, but not under that light. I guess, I just believe that I will never give in to that temptation.
VIOLET: That's what you don't understand! He can trick you! He's smart! He deceives! He will disguise himself as an angel, one not yet fallen, and he will ruin your life!
ATLAS: I will never believe that! Never! God is too strong to allow Satan to win. He will never win as long as God is on my side. His love never fails, never gives up, never runs out on me!
VIOLET: You just aren't listening... (raises hand) Mrs. B? Can I be moved to a new seat? He was making fun of my drawing!
ATLAS: I was not!
VIOLET: He was! He laughed!
ATLAS: No I didn't!
VIOLET: Yes you did!
ATLAS: No!
VIOLET: Yes!
This turns into a fight, where they begin to get physical when the teacher finally gets up and hurries over
MRS B: ENOUGH! Calm down you two! Why are you fighting? You know you shouldn't hit anyone!
simultaneously speaking
VIOLET: He laughed at my monster and then told me that God wanted my Mother to die!
ATLAS: She said that my drawing wasn't scary and that Satan was going to ruin my life!
MRS B: ONE AT A TIME.. please. Ladies first.
VIOLET: Thank you. The drawing wasn't scary..
TEACHER: Now, that is not okay. (picks up the paper) Now that is plenty scary! Tell Atlas you're sorry.
VIOLET:  I'm sorry...
ATLAS: I forgive you.... I guess.
*Mrs B shifts her attention to Violet*
VIOLET: Anyways, I was afraid to show him my drawing, because I knew he would laugh at me, and then he pinky swore and then I told him and he laughed! And then we started talking about angels and why I drew one and he told me that things happen for a reason and blah blah blah.. He said that if my mother died, it was because she was supposed to die! I don't want my mommy to die! (sobs)
MRS B: It's okay sweetheart, everything will be okay. (shifts to Kid 1) You should not have said that mister! Just because you go to church does not give you the right to tell her what God is going to do! You should never tell someone that their mother is going to die! No matter what you believe that is NOT okay! Apologize!
ATLAS humphs
MRS B: NOW!
ATLAS: I am sorry that I said your Mom was going to die because of God thinking it was the right time!... Can I tell my side of the story now?
MRS B: resigned Yes, go ahead.
ATLAS:  She told me that Satan was a fallen angel, which I already knew, but that there was no escaping him because he disguises himself as a perfect nightmare. We would never know that he was there because he looks so perfect, as perfect as an angel. Because of that, she said I couldn't escape him. She said that Satan was going to ruin my life and make me do bad things!
MRS B: Violet, did you say that?
VIOLET: Yes, Mrs B
MRS B: That is unacceptable! You need to apologize to him immediately! That kind of talk is unacceptable in this classroom.
VIOLET: BUT..
MRS B: Don't argue with me, Violet, or I will have to send you to the principal’s office for disruption of class.
VIOLET: FINE! I am sorry.
ATLAS: I accept your apology
MRS B: Is everything good now?
the Kids shake their heads yes
MRS B: Okay. I'm trusting you guys to get along for the rest of class. I have papers to grade, and I would very much appreciate it if I didn’t have to get up again, okay?
KIDS: Yes, Mrs B.
MRS B: Thank you.
TEACHER walks back her desk
ATLAS: I am sorry I got so mad at you.
VIOLET: So am I. You are allowed to believe what you want. I'm sorry that it is different than what I believe.
ATLAS: That's alright, we all have different opinions and that's okay. As long as we don't rub our opinions in others faces, it doesn't matter. That's what my Dad always says.
VIOLET: Sorry about that...
ATLAS: It's alright.
VIOLET: Can we still be friends?
ATLAS: Yeah! Of course! Can you tell me more about your angel?
VIOLET: Well, I drew him so he looks completely nice and pretty. He has flawless wings, and a yellow halo around his head. His face is completely perfect. I want him to look as perfect as possible. I drew him at my house and my Mom said he put up a nice facade. I'm not sure what that word means exactly, but I think it means a fake smile type thing.
ATLAS: That's super interesting. Can you draw me a copy so I can show my mom?
VIOLET: Of course! I love sharing my artwork with other people! I hope your mom likes it!
Kids walk out as Lights down on the children's part of the classroom
MRS B: narrating By the end of the class the girl had drawn the boy a copy of the angel. When he walked into his house he saw his favorite person in the world, his father. He had always looked up to his father and admired him immensely. He was a strong man, and the boy always wanted to be like him when he grew up. What he saw his father do was a different story. He walked in on his father screaming and yelling at his mother unspeakable words and slurs. His Father turned when he heard the boy close the door. He apologized to his son, but it was too late, the angelic facade the boy had once believed, had shattered. It revealed the flawed, broken man underneath. The boy ran to his room in tears. His perfect angel was no longer. It broke the boy's heart into a million little pieces.
Lights up on the children's part of the classroom
Kids walk back in
MRS B: Good afternoon children! We are working on poetry today just like we have been for the past few days. If you have any questions you can ask me, but you are free to work on your own otherwise. Teacher sits at her desk
VIOLET: Hey Atlas, What did your mom think?
ATLAS: I don't want to talk about it.
VIOLET: Did something bad happen?
ATLAS: I said I didn't want to talk about it!
MRS B: narrating Being a teacher I overheard this conversation. I wasn't sure what had happened, and the students weren't likely to share the details with me, but I could tell that something had changed in that little boy.
VIOLET: Fine. I just wanted to know what she thought of my angel!
ATLAS: I know. I didn't get to show it to her, I'll show it to her tonight. I apologize for snapping at you.
MRS B: narrating The boy went home and had quickly forgotten the mistake his father had made. He was eager to show his parents the angel that the girl had drawn. When he walked in the door, he witnessed his father yelling at his mother once again. The facade, by now, was fully lifted. The boy thought he could forgive his father like God tells him to, but after two times, he knew that the people that act the best in the light, can actually be the worst when behind closed doors.
beat
MRS B: narrating Each night he went home the yelling got worse, and louder, and soon enough they didn't even stop when he walked in. He would walk to his room and shut the door and weep.
beat
MRS B: So now that you guys have your monsters all finished, I want you to write me something that expresses why you drew what you did. As we have been practicing poetry lately, I would prefer a poem.
KIDS: Okay!
MRS B: Get writing! I believe in you all, and I cannot wait to see what you come up with! I will collect it at the end of class.
VIOLET: Hi, Atlas, did you ever get to show your mom my--
ATLAS: No. Here it is. She wouldn’t want to see it anyways.
VIOLET: But- I-
ATLAS: TAKE IT
VIOLET: Why, Atlas? What did I do?
ATLAS: You did nothing, Violet, you did nothing.
VIOLET: What happened?
ATLAS: I don’t want to talk about it, V. Please drop it.
VIOLET: But Atlas…
ATLAS: Please drop it. forcefully
VIOLET: Fine.
MRS B: narrating  I asked the children to write poems, and what I received from them the next day I never expected. I knew that Violet’s poem would be sad, but I would have never thought Atlas’s poem would be what it was. The poem was titled Monster.
ATLAS comes out to read his poem
ATLAS:
Yesterday, When I was younger
We were asked to draw a monster
So I drew a creature
With three eyes, four arms, and furry hair
My friend next to me
She drew an angel
I didn't understand

We were taught that monsters
Were just fictional stories
Used to spark fear
Into the hearts of little children
An angel just didn't match that description

If I was asked to draw a monster today
I would not draw what I did back then
I would draw anxiety, depression
and all the real monsters of the world

I would draw an angel
Because the worst of monsters
Disguise themselves as
Everything we could ever wish for

The real monsters are right in front of us
They hide in plain sight
Because nobody would expect a monster
To hide in the light
ATLAS returns to his seat
MRS B: narrating His poem broke my heart. The girl showed him the cruelties of the world that he had once been oblivious of. He went from thinking of a monster as something furry and angry, to an angel, something of perfection. The girl was to blame.
beat
MRS B: narrating  It took me many months to realize that it was not the girl's fault that this  facade of a perfect life had fallen. We got a phone call a little while after I received the poem. I swear I could hear that little boys heart shatter from a million miles away. He had admired his father so much because to him, his father was perfect, someone he strived to be like. But he learned his father was deeply flawed and he grew up because of it. I learned from this young boy that the real monsters... the real monsters hide in the light.
Fade to black

Wednesday, July 27, 2016

Waiting on Wednesday #10


Labyrinth Lost (Brooklyn Brujas, #1)

September 6th, 2016

This week I have chosen Labyrinth Lost by Zoraida Cordova

I'm SO excited for this novel! And here's a synopsis as to why:

Nothing says Happy Birthday like summoning the spirits of your dead relatives.

I fall to my knees. Shattered glass, melted candles and the outline of scorched feathers are all that surround me. Every single person who was in my house – my entire family — is gone.

Alex is a bruja, the most powerful witch in a generation…and she hates magic. At her Deathday celebration, Alex performs a spell to rid herself of her power. But it backfires. Her whole family vanishes into thin air, leaving her alone with Nova, a brujo boy she can’t trust. A boy whose intentions are as dark as the strange markings on his skin.

The only way to get her family back is to travel with Nova to Los Lagos, a land in-between, as dark as Limbo and as strange as Wonderland…

Beautiful Creatures meets Daughter of Smoke and Bone with an infusion of Latin American tradition in this highly original fantasy adventure

1. Those comp. titles! I haven't read beautiful creatures... and I don't really care but... DAUGHTER OF SMOKE AND BONE HOLY MOLY YES PLEASE.

2. I already like the little sample that the synopsis gives.

3. Witches WOOT WOOT

4. I want to got to Los Lagos. It sounds dark and mysterious and intriguing.

5. I want to see the spirits of my dead relatives.

6 This book has intriguing written all over it and I am ready for it!
A weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine where we post our most anticipated releases!


Tuesday, July 26, 2016

Plans for ARC August 2016

http://www.readsleeprepeat.org/2016-arc-august/
ARC August is an annual feature held over at Read.Sleep.Repeat where the challenge is to read any and all ARCs. You can read them in any form. Whether it be ecopy or physical, old or new.... The challenge is to READ. Catch up on all these ARCs! Get your NetGalley percentage up! Clear your reviewing shelves and commitments!

Without further ado... I present my list of books I am behind on (because lets face it almost all of these books have come out FOREVER ago! I'm a slacker!)

(I will also be bolding my priority books!)

1.Quicksand by Steve Toltz
2.Justice Buried by Hilary Thompson
3.Drowning is Inevitable by Shalanda Stanley
4.The Trouble With Destiny by Lauren Morill
5.The Dream Engine by Johnny B Truant & Sean Platt
6.The Golden Braid by Melanie Dickerson
7.The Lie Tree by Frances Hardinge
8.Devil and the Bluebird by Jennifer Mason-Black
9. The Assassins Game by Kirsty McKay
10. Nevernight by Jay Kristoff
11. Last Seen Leaving by Caleb Roehrig
12.Avian by Nicole Conway (received it from Month9Books a long time ago)
13. Traitor by Nicole Conway (Month9Books)
14. Fear My Mortality by Everly Frost (Month9Books)
15. The Requiem Red by Brynn Chapman (Month9Books)
16. Spells and Sorcery by S Usher Evans (Sush herself!)
17.The Unquiet by Mikaela Everett
18.A Madness So Discreet by Mindy McGinnis
19. Sky Key by James Frey
20. Sound by Alexandra Duncan
21. The Leaving Season by Cat Jordan
22. Take The Fall by Emily Hainsworth
23. Frannie and Tru by Karen Hattrup
24. Fate of Flames by Sarah Raughley
25. Of Fire and Stars by Audrey Coulthurst
26. Boy Robot by Simon Curtis
27. The Steep and Thorny Way by Cat Winters (Love you Rachel and just for you I'm making this a priority!)
28. History is All You Left Me by Adam Silvera (WHICH I'LL BE RECEIVING SOON!!!! Thanks Stacee!)

28 books! TWENTY EIGHT! If I'm being honest with myself I will get to maybe 5 of these. If that knowing the amount of travelling/getting ready for college I'm doing.

ME:
happy excited gravity falls joy overwhelmed

ALSO ME:
season 1 nickelodeon scared scream screaming

BECAUSE SO MANY BOOKS!

So, In all honesty those are just books I need to read eventually. Soon. But... I'm going to chose 7 of them to make my priority.

I'm going to try for some more NetGalley after I finish my physical copies because dragging those to college is going to be a lot harder!

I'm super excited to actually try and take on this challenge! I've also been trying to read Harry Potter but we all know that's not going to be happening by the time I leave for college... It just isn't. (But during college perhaps I will finally finish reading the series for the first time!)

Are YOU Participating in ARC August? What books are YOU planning on reading? See any on my forever long list that I should be bumping up on my list? Let me know in the comments below!


Monday, July 25, 2016

DNF Review: Firstlife by Gena Showalter

 
Firstlife (Everlife, #1)

Title: Firstlife (Everlife #1)
Author: Gena Showalter
Page Count: 467
Genre: YA Fantasy,
Rating: DNF'd at page 80
Source: Booknerd Babes Travelling Book
Links: Goodreads IndieBound Amazon Barnes & Noble The Book Depository
Synopsis: ONE CHOICE.
TWO REALMS.
NO SECOND CHANCE.

Tenley “Ten” Lockwood is an average seventeen-year-old girl…who has spent the past thirteen months locked inside the Prynne Asylum. The reason? Not her obsession with numbers, but her refusal to let her parents choose where she’ll live—after she dies.

There is an eternal truth most of the world has come to accept: Firstlife is merely a dress rehearsal, and real life begins after death.

In the Everlife, two realms are in power: Troika and Myriad, longtime enemies and deadly rivals. Both will do anything to recruit Ten, including sending their top Laborers to lure her to their side. Soon, Ten finds herself on the run, caught in a wild tug-of-war between the two realms who will do anything to win the right to her soul. Who can she trust? And what if the realm she’s drawn to isn’t home to the boy she’s falling for? She just has to stay alive long enough to make a decision…


REVIEW:

DNF'd at page 80.

As I go along in my reading journey, and I read more novels... I have been much more lenient on putting them aside. Most of the time, I will try to come back to them... but there are a few special books like this one that I will never be finishing because I just couldn't handle it.


TROPE ALERT TROPE ALERT TROPE ALERT TROPE ALERT ALL OF THE TROPES SPESHUL LOVE TRIANGLE SNOWFLAKES WITH SPESHUL POWERS AND IS GONNA PROBS OVERTHROW THE WAR BETWEEN THE TWO OPPOSING FORCES.

This is book is just absolutely terrible.

Tenley is a cardboard cutout special snowflake that is absolutely whiny, bitchy, and overwhelmingly annoying as all hell.

I will admit this concept is intriguing as all hell yet the writing itself includes choppy, short sentences that are over descriptive and filled with proper nouns that make absolutely no sense until pages later when they are "explained" and even then you are still completely confused.

Ten has an interesting quirk... she likes to count and I enjoyed that aspect and the concept itself.... But a cool concept and one intriguing character (Bow) cannot make up for a love triangle that you can see from two thousand miles away and just plain bad writing....

I did, however, really enjoy the email conversations and wish more of the book had that style because I may have continued with it for a little longer. Because the snark and sass was amazing in that section.

I tried so hard to like this one and it's seriously a cool concept, yet sadly another case of great idea but a failed execution.

I cannot recommend this to anybody. Don't waste your time with this one.



Sunday, July 24, 2016

The Book GIF Tag

K so I found this tag while just browsing the internet, as one does, and I thought it would be super fun.  So basically someone gives you a list of 10 books and you match them with a GIF that represents the books and your feelings towards them.  I asked Cody to come up with a list (with some guidance from me), so let's do this thing.  Not sure who the creator of this tag is but creds to them!



1. And I Darken by Kiersten White

Me every time Lada enters the scene

reaction smile loki evil evil smile

Lada

disney meme memes come at me bro threat

And after she fucks said shit up

girl deal with it boss wheelie



2. Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

Me throughout the entire book
excited yay happiness joy fangirling

And then that ending...

Panic! At The Disco music video victorious panic at the disco




3. The Star-Touched Queen by Roshani Chokshi

Still haven't read it yet sooo...
sad shame hiding embarrassed embarassed

But I have listened to the first chapter on audio and...
beautiful happy endings elisha cuthbert




4. Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas

angry you suck i quit quitting waiting




5.  Cruel Beauty by Rosamund Hodge

yas rupauls drag race work drag race drag race season 6




6.  Vicious by V.E. Schwab

Victor Vale be like
evil mickey mouse jerk donald duck theme park

I be like

reaction smile kim kardashian evil smirk

That ending be like

explosion olivia munn the newsroom reaction television



7. Dreamology by Lucy Keating

cute aww aw awww awwww

And Oliver....

black and white slide swoon crushing attraction




8. A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab





9. Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz

new-girl  fox new girl nick emotions




10. The Young Elites by Marie Lu

Adelina
crazy insane nicolas cage


Me
david tennant uncomfortable shifty



Tbh this tag was actually pretty therapeutic, and half way through compiling all my GIFs it occurred to me how great it would've been if I used only Louise Belcher GIFs, because lets face it that girl is adorable, a role model for women everywhere, conniving, and completely terrifying all at the same time.  She's my hero.

If anyone wants to give this tag a go I will leave a list of books down below for y'all to get your feels on with

1. Allegiant by Veronica Roth
2. Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare
3. An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir
4. The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan
5. Champion by Marie Lu
6. The Wrath and the Dawn by Renee Adhieh
7. The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
8. Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell
9. The Outsiders by by S.E. Hinton
10. A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas




Saturday, July 23, 2016

ARC Review: A Torch Against The Night by Sabaa Tahir (Out August 2016)

A Torch Against the Night by Sabaa Tahir

Title: A Torch Against The Night (EMBER Book #2)
Author: Sabaa Tahir
Page Count:
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy
Rating: 4 Stars
Source: @rstolle who is the best <3
Links: Goodreads Amazon Barnes & Noble The Book Depository IndieBound
Synopsis: A Torch Against the Night takes readers into the heart of the Empire as Laia and Elias fight their way north to liberate Laia’s brother from the horrors of Kauf Prison. Hunted by Empire soldiers, manipulated by the Commandant, and haunted by their pasts, Laia and Elias must outfox their enemies and confront the treacherousness of their own hearts.

In the city of Serra, Helene Aquilla finds herself bound to the will of the Empire’s twisted new leader, Marcus. When her loyalty is questioned, Helene finds herself taking on a mission to prove herself—a mission that might destroy her, instead.


Review:

Sabaa Tahir's writing is suspenseful as can be in this action-packed sequel to the blockbuster hit 'An Ember In The Ashes' which was one of my favorite books of 2015. Top 3 for sure. I loved that book with all of my heart and this was one of my most anticipated novels of 2016...

"Don't lock yourself away from those who care about you because you think you'll hurt them or - or they'll hurt you. What point is there in being human if you don't let yourself feel anything?"

And it for sure delivered. The writing was even better, the characters were fleshed out even more so, and the plot was even more suspenseful, if you can believe it. Practically everything about this book improved upon the first book. Yet for some reason I still find myself enjoying the first one more...

Was it because I didn't do a reread before I picked this up? Highly likely. I'm going to assume this is why and if I reread both, that I'll end up enjoying TORCH more than I already did. I mean I loved the addition of the new characters and the new mysteries this book held. I love the growth each and every character had and I LOVED watching it all play out.

I think the addition of Helene's POV not only added a different outlook on everything it was a very necessary change from EMBER. Helene offered a whole new perspective and watching her inner turmoil/monologue was heartbreaking and raw and so very real. And her perspective was by far the highlight of this sequel.

This book doesn't cease to amaze me, it continually moves at a rapid speed and doesn't let up for a moment. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time I was reading this book and I cannot say how successful this will be. TORCH is darker than EMBER, it is more suspenseful. It has better writing. TORCH is everything that was missing with EMBER. Sabaa took the criticisms one could have with EMBER and flipped them on their head and improved upon the flaws.

Sabaa's writing is just purely addicting.

"the stars are so different when you're free"

"I know what it is to lose those you love. I taught myself not to feel anything at all."

There are so many beautiful exchanges between the characters. We get to see Elias at his most vulnerable, we get to see Laia at hers, and Helene with hers as well. We get to see the Commadant be as badass and dangerous as can be, and we get to see bloodthirsty Marcus and his tyranny over the Empire.

I love the addition of the Forest. I love seeing Helene grow as Blood Shrike and make some of the most difficult decisions anyone could ever have to make. Helene broke my heart and watching her battle her own mind over her love for the most important people in her life tore me apart. I felt like a machete was cutting me open and sawing out my intestines slowly as I bled... but never would I die. It was gutwrenching, to say the least.

I loved Avitas Harper and I cannot wait to see more of him. (He may very well be one of my favorite characters.) I liked seeing Kauf and how that truly played into the story. The characters within hold promise. The Warden was frightening. The darkness was powerful. The Efrit, monstorous. The monsters richly imagined.. This book was haunting in the best of ways.

Laia was a lot stronger in this book and it made me very happy to see her grow.

I will always love Helene more than any other character because of who she is and what she stands for and the fact that she is actually more selfless than Elias and Laia combined. (Well, Elias is pretty selfless.) I just adore Helene.

I loved Afya and meeting Elias' mother. I felt the sequence in Nor (is that what it's called?) was extremely well written and a highlight.

I loved the scene with Laia in the marketplace and thought that was brilliant.

Helene's interactions with her family clenched my heart in it's boney fingers.

And while I love almost everything about this book... I don't like the ending very much. It is eerily similar to the first ending.... Yet it doesn't hold the amount of suspense and fear that the first one does. It feels like the series could end here and I would very much hate that. I'm not ready to say goodbye... yet it could be with the way it ended. I need to know more, and the ending just wasn't enough "pop" for me.

Consensus: A Torch Against The Night is a brilliant novel that improves upon the flaws in the first book, but also has flaws of it's own. The characters are dynamic, realistic, and heartbreaking and the plot moves at a rapid speed, yet their was a bit of disconnect in the ending chapters that left me feeling just slightly unsatisfied. I still adored this book, and think it may have been the mood I was in while finishing the book. I highly recommend and believe if you even liked EMBER you will LOVE TORCH. Haunting, elegant, and brilliant writing allow Tahir's characters to shine brightly in the midst of a dark world and terrifying circumstances.