Quick Review: Stay Sweet by Siobhan Vivian

3 stars. I've never read anything by Siobhan Vivian before, but I thought this was really cute. The story really pulled me in, and it was cool how ice cream was almost like its own character in the book. I also enjoyed the flashback diary entries written by the shop's original owner, Molly. Some may see the main character, Amelia, as a "weak" character, but I actually related to her in a lot of ways (not sure what that says about me). She was more job-focused and understanding of others than Cate, her fun-loving best friend, and I identified with her struggle to balance her drive to be a good worker and her desire to have fun with her friends. 

Overall, this was a perfect contemporary to pick up for the summer - especially for us fantasy lovers who occasionally need to dip back into the real world.

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Quick Review: Seafire by Natalie C. Parker

3.5 stars. As a general rule, I'm not a fan of pirate stories. I've never watched the Pirates of the Caribbean movies (gasp!), and I usually lose interest whenever I see a book pitched as anything "pirate"-esque. It's just not a sub-genre that calls to me. Seafire, however, totally caught me off guard. I started it late at night and found, to my dawning horror, that I could not put it down. Natalie C. Parker's writing is vivid and absolutely captivating, without being flowery. The main character, Caledonia, is flawed, and frustrated me at numerous points, but not in a way that put me off. She was level-headed and her prejudice toward the Bullets was grounded, which only left me more eager to see her perspective grow.

Female friendship and girl power was a crucial element in this book, but it was done in a way I really appreciated. Instead of feeling preachy, or just consisting of "rah-rah" lines with little substance, Seafire actually introduced me to girls who stood by each other and showed strength, instead of just telling me they were strong. I feel like the girl who charges into situations with a tough-girl attitude and no regret is an often mis-construed character trope. Caledonia is certainly tough, but this book doesn't gloss over or idealize the less admirable sides of her personality. I cannot tell you how much I appreciated this, because it made her moments of vulnerability even more powerful.

Plot-wise, I could picture everything that was happening in my mind. The world and the "sailor talk" was well-constructed, and the relationship in this book. I am so here for it. It was subtle and angst-ridden and I'm just 100% on-board. So congratulations to Natalie for writing the pirate book that hooked my attention and finally changed my mind!

Goodreads Description
Release Date: August 28, 2018

Combo Review: The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern & Caraval by Stephanie Garber

Magical circuses. On paper, they sound right up my alley - who doesn't like mysterious magicians, mind-twisting games, and beautiful settings? Sadly, me. And here's why:

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

2.25 stars

Look, the writing is gorgeous. But I was just so...bored? The Night Circus is like an exquisitely wrapped present with nothing inside. If you love beautiful imagery and lush descriptions - just for the sake of their beauty and lushness - then you'll probably like this book. The writing is certainly a work of art, but I found the actual story itself to be incredibly lacking. The characters are like people you watch through a window - flat and always kept at a distance. I never truly cared about them. 

It also didn't help that the plot was mind-numbingly slow. While reading, I would pick up this book, only to set it down 20 minutes later after I realized that nothing really was happening. The story was all description. Don't get me wrong - I love slower-paced books. In fact, it's one of my buzzwords that actually gets me interested in a novel. But there's a difference between "slower-paced" and "literally nothing of note is happening". Usually, slow-paced books concentrate on character development. In the case of The Night Circus, slow-paced means: 10 pages of sensory description -> characters go on walk/eat dinner -> 10 more pages of sensory description. Which may be some readers' cup of tea, but it ain't mine.

If this book hadn't been so hyped, I may not feel as let-down as I do. And I certainly recognize that, objectively, The Night Circus is a masterful piece of work. It just wasn't the type of novel that worked for me.

Caraval by Stephanie Garber

2.25 stars

Caraval also suffers from a lack of character depth. Our protagonist, Scarlet, comes off as whiny a lot of the time, not to mention the fact that she develops a serious case of insta-love. She and the love-interest spend way too much time making eyes at one another, and their set-up is so obvious and sickly sweet it almost made me sick. Maybe I've become jaded, and only want angst and tension in my couples, but this book just didn't deliver for me romance-wise. I might've been able to forgive Scarlet's sudden infatuation if it was with an interesting character with a layered personality. Julian, however, has about as many layers as a British pancake. I found the world-building also lacking, with empty filler descriptions that seemed intended to just sound flowery. The only intriguing element of the novel was Caraval's secret master, Legend. Unfortunately, even he could not salvage my enjoyment of the story.

Overall 

For various reasons, neither of these books worked for me. While The Night Circus definitely deserves snaps for its writing and atmosphere, Caraval was a quicker read that didn't get as bogged down in description. Both novels seriously struggled in the character department, and sadly were not for me. However, I'm not writing off magical circuses completely! I'm holding out hope that one day I'll stumble across a circus-fantasy that satisfies my character-driven bookish needs.

Quick Review: Storm-Wake by Lucy Christopher

A tentative 3 stars. Lucy Christopher's Stolen is one of my favorite books of all time. It's incredible. You will not be the same after reading it. (If you don't believe me, it won the Prinz award!) However, her other books have been a bit hit-or-miss for me. None of them have lived up to Stolen. Flyaway was soft and beautiful and sad. The Killing Woods was intriguing and enjoyable enough, but ultimately nothing too special.

Her new book, Storm-Wake, is different from anything she's ever written, at least style-wise. It reflects the otherworldly nature of the novel's island setting. You could trace some similar themes that run throughout both Stolen and Storm-Wake, such as beauty, dreams, and magical places. This book, though, more than any of her others, felt like it fits into the magical realism genre.

Storm-Wake is about a girl named Moss who lives with her Pa on a magical island. They both believe the rest of the world has been swallowed by floods, and it's only when a few boys wash ashore that you start to figure out the truth. I have to say, it took me a little while to get into the unique style of this book, as you're just sort of thrown into Moss's world. But I ended up enjoying the story and the somewhat bizarre relationships Moss forms with the boys and the island. And honestly, I wanted to figure out the truth about the island.

I didn't enjoy Storm-Wake as much as Stolen, but the story was still unique and gripped me throughout. Lucy Christopher's style differs with each book, but her writing is consistently lyrical and immersive. Overall, a lovely dreamlike tale.

Goodreads Description
Release Date: July 31, 2018

Quick Review: Even the Darkest Stars by Heather Fawcett

A solid caught-me-off-guard 4 stars. Boy am I so glad I read this book! I had been on the fence for a while, but the story and characters ended up being so rich and compelling. I love River and Kamzin, and the plot itself was absolutely stellar. The pacing, the immersiveness of the wintery mountain setting, the shocking reveals - everything was a solid A+. As a reader, I was immediately grounded in both the story and the setting. 

I have no complaints about Even the Darkest Stars. And that ending?! Honestly, those were probably the most epic last few chapters I've ever read. I absolutely cannot wait for All the Wandering Light. If you love dangerous mountain adventures, characters that feel volatile and real, and a sprinkle of fantasy thrown in, then I highly recommend this book. (Honestly, I'd recommend Even the Darkest Stars to anyone.)

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Quick Review: An Enchantment of Ravens by Margaret Rogerson

A beautiful 4 - nearly 5! - stars. This book is not only stunningly beautiful, but it is by far one of the most unique fae stories I've ever read. Every single word captures your imagination, painting Isobel's story into your mind with such vivid detail and clarity that you can practically feel the crunch of leaves under your feet. 

Not only is the writing itself bewitching, but the characters all feel complex and strikingly real. This is no small feat. Oftentimes, as I found with Erin Morgenstern's The Night Circus, character depth is tossed aside in favor of elaborate lyrical descriptions. And sure, in the end, the stage looks exquisite - but the actors are all puppets. This was not the case with An Enchantment of Ravens. Rogerson managed to transport me into an autumnal forest filled with fae, while still giving me fully fleshed out travel companions. You can feel the weight of Rook and Isobel's personal histories, and this rings true even with the side characters (though perhaps to a lesser extent).

Overall, I would recommend this unique and beautiful book to everyone, but especially those who love the fae. An Enchantment of Ravens captures that rare magical feeling we all search for.

Release Date: September 26, 2017
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Quick Review: Invictus by Ryan Graudin

Invictus was a solid 3-star read. The story was well-thought-out, entertaining, and you can tell Ryan Graudin did her research when it came to the time-traveling aspect. Unfortunately, I just couldn't connect with the characters and the story as much as I did with her Wolf By Wolf duology. The time-traveling crew - comprised of Far and a cast of other ingenious teens - was fun, but ultimately lackluster to follow. 

Despite my lack of enthusiasm, Invictus as a whole was well-written and well-executed. The futuristic and historical aspects felt convincing, and were definitely my favorite part of the novel. I know from her previous books that Ryan is a phenomenal writer and can create engaging characters. I just think her characterization fell a little flat in this one. If you love stories that jump around in time, I'd definitely recommend giving this book a try - as long as you're not in it for the characters alone.

Goodreads
Release Date: September 26, 2017