Review: A Reaper at the Gates by Sabaa Tahir

4.5 stars. There are few series that get progressively better with each book. Usually sequels stumble along the way, at least a little. That is not the case with this series - from Ember to Reaper, each book has outshone the last by jaw-dropping proportions. And that’s not to say that An Ember in the Ashes was a bad first book. The world was unique, the characters well-constructed, and I knew I wanted to continue on with the story. But I was taken aback by how much I loved A Torch Against the Night, and now...A Reaper at the Gates. A Reaper at the Gates is a masterpiece, and to call it anything short of that would be an insult.

Each of the four perspectives were fully engaging (though I had my favorites), and we get so much plot and character growth. The reveals left me shell-shocked and the writing. Sabaa Tahir is a born writer. She puts you in every scene. You feel every emotion, witnessing every event as if you’re there with the characters. I cannot praise this book highly enough. If I wasn’t so stingy with my 5-star ratings, Reaper would be first in line to get one. Just wow.

If you’re iffy about picking up or continuing on with this series, please do it. I promise you won't regret your choice.

P.S. - I know he’s the “villain”, but I absolutely love the Nightbringer.

Goodreads

Review: Illusions of Fate by Kiersten White

4 stars. This book is so severely underrated that it makes me want to toss copies down from rooftops. Illusions of Fate is possibly the best standalone fantasy I have ever read. It has a Howl's Moving Castle vibe, complete with quirky magic and warring wizards. The story follows a girl named Jessa, who is studying in a foreign country somewhat reminiscent to England. She sticks out due to the fact that she's from an island country and has darker skin. The prejudice and racial stereotyping she faces was handled so well, I thought, and realistically. Along with "fate", the theme of stereotypes actually plays a prominent role in the main plot, which was refreshing to read in a fantasy. 

The story kicks off when Jessa runs into a magician and gets tangled up in magical and political warfare. First off, I loved Jessa as a protagonist. She's witty and level-headed, and I immediately grew attached to her. The magician she encounters is charming and mysterious, and I just love him to death. There's also a magical blackbird, who Jessa names Sir Bird and who completely stole my heart. He is the purest soul. 

The only qualm I had with Illusions of Fate was with the villain, who was interesting but lacking in cohesiveness. He is dang scary though - let's just say there's a scene involving fingers and a hammer that scarred me a bit. In comparison to Kiersten White's other books, I thought this novel was leagues above her Paranormalcy trilogy, which I enjoyed enough when I was younger but did not love. I was especially impressed with her writing and characterization this time around.

To wrap up, Illusions of Fate is now an instant favorite that I'll be revisiting for sure. Though the story felt complete, I almost wish there were a sequel.

Goodreads

Quick Review: Love & Luck by Jenna Evans Welch

A ballpark three stars. Jenna Welch's writing is as humorous, clever, and insightful as ever in this follow-up. Love & Luck follows Addie, the best friend of Lina from Love & Gelato, as she's on vacation in Ireland after undergoing a heartbreak back home. She's fighting with her brother, Ian, and decides to follow the instructions of an Irish guidebook on how to heal a broken heart. The author's descriptions of Ireland are vivid and beautiful, and I ended up enjoying Addie's character a lot more than I thought I would. 

The story is a road-trip adventure of sorts, which I always have fun reading. I will say, though, that I didn't enjoy this book as much as the first one. The plot wasn't as solid, and some things that happened felt rushed and were beyond my bandwidth of belief. We do get to hear from Lina and Ren again, which I loved, but even their appearances felt a little shoved in. Overall, I'm still glad I read Love & Luck, even if it didn't quite live up to its predecessor.

Goodreads

Rapid Fire Book Tag

Hi guys! To switch things up, I thought I'd try a book tag. (No one's tagged me...but I've seen people tag "whoever's watching" on Youtube, so I'm running with that. 🤷) This is called the Rapid Fire Book Tag. The speed element is obviously a tad difficult to translate into writing, so I'm just going to be as concise with my answers as possible. Hopefully you'll get to know my reading tastes better this way, and you can see how much we have in common! But enough with all the chatter, let's get to the questions.

1. E-book or physical book?

Physical book all the way. I'm a tangible reader - I need to hold the story in my hands.

2. Paperback or hardback?

I'm a sentimental creature, so whichever copy I read first. But I prefer hardcovers.

3. Online or in-store book shopping?

Gah. I prefer the in-store shopping experience, but pre-order incentives have really pushed me toward online shopping lately. (Sorry, B&N.)

4. Trilogies or series?

BOTH. But I like the neatness of trilogies, as it keeps the story from running off-pace. I would say trilogies, because they leave room for the author to continue with a prequel/spin-off series, that's maybe set in the same world but following different characters.

5. Heroes or villains?

Look, I'm both Team Peeta (from THG) and Team Darkling (from S&B), so I'm split halfway. If I were to conduct a poll, though, I think more villains have stolen my heart. I'm one of those suckers for the antagonist with a tragic backstory, who has the potential to be redeemed. Kylo Ren/Ben Solo owns my entire soul. And as a kid, I rooted for the predator in every wildlife documentary (Yes, I know, I'm horrible).

6. A book you want everyone to read?

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. It's beautiful and tragic, and will change your life. But it's also pretty well-known, so I'll offer two more recommendations: Maus by Art Spiegelman, a nonfiction graphic memoir about the Holocaust, and 1984 by George Orwell, which is bleak but incredibly timely. Both offer important insights that I think everyone needs to reflect on.

7. Recommend an underrated book?

Going with a contemporary, which is not my preferred genre. Fracture by Megan Miranda. It's where I was first introduced to Les Miserables. The story follows a girl struggling with grief, death, meaning, and love, after she suffers a traumatic brain injury. Just, please look up the synopsis. You won't be sorry.

8. Last book you finished?

The Light Between Worlds by Laura E. Wemouth. It was beautiful and utterly destroyed my life. You can find my review here on my blog.

9. Last book you bought?

It's actually sitting next to me here on the couch as I'm typing, and it's Love & Gelato by Jenna Evans Welch. I was lucky enough to pick up an advance copy of the book's follow-up, Love & Luck, which was recently released, and I wanted to read the first one before diving into the sequel. I believe these books follow a girl and the adventures she has while traveling to different countries (AKA my dream AU life...).

10. Weirdest thing you've used as a bookmark?

Maybe a *clean* piece of laundry? Like a sock? I generally use receipts because they're thin, unobtrusive, and found in abundance.

11. Used books: yes or no?

Heck yes! Unless they're severely damaged/gross/unkempt. I tend to be choosier with my used copies, but I like that they have history.

12. Top three favorite genres?

Fantasy (YA and adult). Historical fiction. Literary fiction.

13. Borrow or buy?

Buy. 😬

14. Characters or plot?

Characters, 100%. If you don't have complex and well-developed characters, I don't care if the plot is as intricate as Pan's Labyrinth. I won't care. I need to be attached to the characters to be invested. Plus, it's my belief that if you have well-written characters, they'll produce good plots on their own.

15. Long or short books?

Uh...don't care? I guess long, assuming the book is good.

16. Long or short chapters?

Without any given context (are there different perspectives?), I would say short.

17. Name the first three books you think of. 

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. (<3) Uglies by Scott Westerfeld. The Cruel Prince by Holly Black.

18. Books that make you laugh or cry?

Cry. I live to suffer.

19. Our world or fictional worlds?

Fictional worlds. Escapism is my primary coping mechanism.

20. Audiobooks: yes or no?

As a kid, my family and I rented audiobooks from the library to listen to during road trips. (Anyone else grow up with Hank the Cowdog?) But we usually owned the physical copy as well. So, sadly, while I have nothing against audiobooks, I rarely ever listen to them. I'm such a visual person that my mind will wander if I just hear the story.

21. Do you ever judge a book by its cover?

Judge? Yes, unfortunately. But I do try to give the blurb a chance if the book is in my favorite genre.

Book-to-movie or book-to-tv adaptations?

I think this is a bit of an unpopular opinion, but...book-to-movie. I think the production costs force higher quality effects/writing/standards in a movie than in a tv show. And if a movie is bad, I can erase it from my mind and just write it off as an unfortunate flop. TV show adaptations, though, generally have lower budgets and can ping-pong around wildly in terms of quality. And I don't like being strung along for moments that look promising and moments of utter disappointment. Not sure if I'm conveying my thoughts effectively, but I just don't like the feeling of being dragged along with tv adaptations that stir up the online wasps and are not a one-occurrence thing. They zap the strength out of me.

Series or standalones?

Overall? Series.


And, that's it! If you made it this far, thanks! And please let me know your answers to these questions in the comments. <3

Credit: I believe the original tag was created by GirlReading on YouTube.

Review: The Light Between Worlds by Laura E. Weymouth

4.25 stars. I'm going to start right off by saying that this book broke my heart, and I am 100% not okay. The Light Between Worlds is about three siblings who cross over into another world called the Woodlands, and then are thrust back into our world a few years later. Specifically, we follow Evelyn, the youngest, and Phillipa, her older sister. This story in many ways feels like a darker Narnia, as it explores all the thoughts and feelings I've always believed I would feel, were I one of the Pevensie children. Laura nails the weight of loss and long-term grief, and how people grapple with those feelings in different ways and in varying degrees. 

While I grew attached to both sisters, I connected most with Evelyn, who takes her exile back to reality the hardest. If you're someone who hasn't experienced or witnessed long-term grief or loss, you may get irritated at how many times Evelyn relapses into depression - but her cycles of brief light and utter darkness struck deep for me. I saw myself in her character so many times. One trigger warning I feel I should mention (which I'll list at the end) is for self-harm. There are a few scenes and references to the fact that Evelyn goes through episodes where she intentionally hurts herself. None of these scenes are graphic, but I do think they could be potentially triggering if you're in a bad place. I think anyone who's suffered any kind of personal trauma will relate to the themes in this book.

One bump I will mention is that it took me a bit of time to feel connected to the story, as the characters and the world-building felt very surface-level at first. As I continued reading, though, I became more invested, and now I'm just left with the bittersweet heartache of witnessing something beautiful and painful, and something that mirrors a part of my own soul.

TW: self-harm

Release Date: October 23, 2018

Goodreads

Quick Review: Smoke in the Sun by Renée Ahdieh

3.75 stars. Once again, Renée Ahdieh totally stole my heart with Smoke in the Sun. I love that we got to see more of Tsuneoki in this sequel, since he was one of my favorite characters in Flame in the Mist. I think I loved Okami even more in this installment (if that's even possible), and I was backing Mariko 100% throughout the entire novel. Her relationship with Prince Raiden in particular kept me on the edge of my seat, as my trust in him kept ping-ponging back and forth. This book also confirmed how seriously messed up Roku - the new boy emperor - is. He's beyond twisted, and the way Renee wrote him was so beautiful and eerie that he really gave me the creeps. I got chills multiple times while curled up in bed, reading. My only qualm with Smoke in the Sun is that the ending wrapped up a little too quickly. Honestly, I think this series could've easily been a trilogy. A third book would've allowed the plot to breathe a bit, and would've given us more time to explore the characters, who I feel like we were just getting attached to. If you enjoyed Flame in the Mist, you have nothing to fear - this sequel does the story justice and will leave you satisfied, if not a little wistful for more.

Goodreads

Underrated Fantasy Recommendations

Hi guys! Today I'll be recommending some fantasy books that stole my heart, but flew under the popular radar. I almost revel in these kinds of books - the ones that don't get too much attention - because I feel like I've stumbled across a hidden gem. However, I want the author to get all the snaps they deserve. So, if you're looking for amazing fantasies that you might've missed out on, here are my recommendations.

1. The Dark Days Club by Alison Goodman

I know this book got a lot of publicity when it first came out, but I feel like The Dark Days Club didn't get as much praise as it deserves. Being drawn to anything fantasy and anything Regency era, I decided to take a chance and pick up this new release that everyone had been hauling. And boy, am I glad I did. The Dark Days Club completely caught me off-guard with how much I loved it. If you like immersive world-building and character-driven narratives, I highly recommend you read this series. The romance is of the holy-crap-the-slow-burning-tension-will-kill-me variety, and the author includes actual events and people from the early 1800s that really ground the story. The magic element is interwoven seamlessly into the historical setting. If you enjoy any of Cassandra Clare's series, you'll like this book. Though the cast is smaller, in my opinion, the execution is on the same level. If you love complex characters and historical fantasies, please check out the synopsis here to see if you're interested!

2. A Shadow Bright and Burning by Jessica Cluess

Similar to the previous book, A Shadow Bright and Burning got a fair amount of exposure when it was first released. But soon-after, I feel like it fell into the theoretical "average fantasy" pile, and it took me more than a year to finally yield to my curiosity and give it a try. Like The Dark Days Club, I was immediately hooked and ran out to buy the sequel. Honestly, I was plagued by the thought that I almost missed out on this amazing book. This is a sorcerer story following a girl named Henrietta Howel, who has to battle otherworldly monsters in early Victorian England. The characters just took hold of me and didn't let go, and the plot is incredibly well-paced and filled with action. While not overly concerned with romance, the romantic threads that are in this series may actually be the end of me (*cough* Team Blackwood *cough*). A Shadow Bright and Burning deserves way more recognition than it gets, and I highly recommend you check it out if you like magic, compelling character relationships, and a flip on the whole "chosen-one" trope.

3. Web of Frost by Lindsay Smith

I'm still surprised this book flew under the radar, because it has so many amazing elements. Web of Frost is a Russian-inspired fantasy following a royal girl with magical gifts, a beautiful saint boy with questionable motives, and a foreign prince who begins interfering in the politics of Russalka, Katza's kingdom. If you enjoyed Leigh Bardugo's Shadow and Bone trilogy, then trust me, this book is for you. Particularly if you loved the Darkling. While Web of Frost didn't totally grip me, I definitely plan to continue on with the series. For a more in-depth synopsis, look here.

4. An Enchantment of Ravens by Margaret Rogerson

This book is difficult for me to talk about, because I loved it so much. In John Green's The Fault in Our Stars, Hazel ruminates on how some books are so special to you that advertising your affection feels like a betrayal. That's how I feel about An Enchantment of Ravens. If you love faeries, rich and complex characterization, and beautiful crisp writing, this book is for you. Margaret Rogerson is a born writer. Enough said. Read the full synopsis here.

5. Midnight Thief by Livia Blackburne

Last but not least. Not to be dramatic, but I will yell praises about this duology until the day I die. That's how under-appreciated I think Midnight Thief is. The story follows two protagonists: a thief named Kyra, who gets recruited by an assassin's guild, and a skilled knight named Tristam, who is bent on revenge for the death of his best friend. I'm not usually a fan of dual narrators, but Livia Blackburne did a great job of making me care about both characters. For once, I was actually excited for the two of them to meet! Aspects of this story reminded me a little of Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson, particularly the group dynamics of the guild. There are also giant panthers in the story. You heard me right. Giant. Panthers. I think fans of Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder will love this duology. If you like twisty loyalties and original-feeling fantasies, I highly recommend you pick up Midnight Thief.