Block is one of my most favourite authors ever and I couldn't miss out on the opportunity of picking up this book. I mean, just look at that cover, thBlock is one of my most favourite authors ever and I couldn't miss out on the opportunity of picking up this book. I mean, just look at that cover, that title. It's just begging to be read.
Unlike Block's other books, such as Ecstasia and Primavera and even the Weetzie Bat books, this one is less whimsical and has less flowery prose, which isn't a bad thing because I enjoy both styles of her writing, however this one feels more mature, more suitable for the topic which she chooses to address in the book.
Personally, I think this one can appeal to about anyone as long as they have an open mind. It's a very gripping, heart-warming and tear-jerking story that will really move you and make you sit and ponder the meaning even after the last page has long been turned. I enjoyed the whole queereness theme that appeared throughout the novel and that, while it did appear and was talked about, it wasn't a whole in-your-face-and-down-your-throat kind of way. Yes, the characters here are queer and one of them I hadn't really expected that from at all, but it makes them so vulnerable and real that once you find out about that aspect of them and see just they go through, it will make you root for them even more.
It was a great read. Not my favourite from Block, I will admit, but I still really loved this one, for different reasons than what made me love her other books. There is a message of warning throughout the book, room for thought and self-reflection. Pen is quite the amazing character that I think was so intriguing from start to finish, facing everything that she had and still coming out on top in the end. The three characters she meets on her travels are just as strongly willed as her and I'm so pleased with the ending because it wasn't a solid, concrete one but rather could easily be interpreted and elaborated on in the reader's mind. It's these kinds of endings that I love.
It's impossible not to love this book, or at least find something that will touch you on a personal level. Block doesn't fail her fans with yet another moving, beautiful, and gripping book that still has that touch of magic in her words that made people fall in love with her writing in the first place. ...more
How refreshing it is to come across a retelling of a traditional fairytale that goes beyond taking the plot of the original story and simply tweaking How refreshing it is to come across a retelling of a traditional fairytale that goes beyond taking the plot of the original story and simply tweaking it a little to suit the alternate, new version. "of Beast and Beauty" does much more than that, and adds a new dimension to the story of Beauty and the Beast while maintaining the original emotional center.
I loved that Isra could also be looked at as the beast figure in the beginning, the way she was acting towards Gem and her opinion of the Monstrous. In the same way Gem could also be a sort of beauty in an emotional sense. It was this duality of the emotional and physical state of both characters that I think I enjoyed most in this book, the fact that the reader could explore and transcend beyond the originally established boundaries. Even despite the slight frustration I felt with Isra and Gem, how they were constantly questioning themselves and their emotions, it is this complexity that made them feel real and vulnerable, the way characters should feel. I think they desire for a perfect fictional character is what has been a let down in the YA genre lately, so to come across a cast of characters that isn't afraid to show the reader just what they feel and fear is wonderful.
I wish the cultural background was clarified a bit better. The character names like Junjie and Bo, even the city name of Yuan itself, gave off an eastern vibe, although it wasn't specifically specified where the settlers came from, from which countries or nationalities. I think it would've strengthened the story a little bit. If the city was given a little more colour, the way the desert clans were, it would've made it easier to connect with them in a way other than feeling like the majority was ignorant and selfish with no desire to see past the lie they knew about the covenant.
That aside, I enjoyed "Of Beast and Beauty", more than I expected, to be honest. The fairy tale beginning and closing make for very tidy bookends for the story, opening and closing it in such a way that all questions are answered and ambiguity as at a minimum. You have your intrigue, romance, and conflicting feelings nicely sprinkled in the middle of these two, with two main characters that make it difficult not to root for them and their success. A well re-imagined story with a new twist, and a darker layer that I think will be appreciated by all....more
I haven’t had the best of experiences when it comes to short story anthologies, mostly because I was always forcing myself to get through it. As much I haven’t had the best of experiences when it comes to short story anthologies, mostly because I was always forcing myself to get through it. As much as I couldn’t wait to read “Rags and Bones” a part of me was afraid at the same time of what kind of reading experience I would have. I am very happy to say that I enjoyed “Rags and Bones” more than I thought I would, and felt I learned something new while revisiting several very talented writers.
I didn’t love every single story in the collection – “Without Faith, Without Law, Without Joy” was my least favourite, while a couple others like “Sirocco” and “Uncaged” I just wasn’t huge fans of – but that’s always to be expected from a collection, I think. If I had to choose a favourite it would be “When First We Were Gods”, which was the longest story in the anthology, but in my opinion the most powerful as after finishing it I felt truly moved. But in the others I could find something just as interesting that made me enjoy the story, such as the very memorable “Losing Her Divinity”, where the unique narrative was a delight in itself and made the story interesting to read and the words rolled off the page effortlessly. Others, like “Awakened”, though exploring a very familiar territory, added a nice twist by showing a different side to the story, a logic to what one would consider to be the villain, the one who is trapping the heroine.
I thought overall the stories all worked very well together and added some lovely new material to the fairytale genre. The only downside was a personal one, the fact that I didn’t know many of the stories. I think though that the authors might’ve been going for that, choosing stories that, unlike Neil Gaiman’s choice to reimagine Sleeping Beauty, would make the reader go looking for the original after they finished reader, which in itself is a very admirable goal and one I agree with. So it worked both ways in that regard. The stories were dark but they were also emotional and did offer some light and some kind of sympathy, albeit in some unusual and rather twisted ways. I’m glad I ended up giving this one a chance....more
Another wonderful series that has come to an end. I must praise Meadows for maintaining such consistency throughout all three books when it comes to cAnother wonderful series that has come to an end. I must praise Meadows for maintaining such consistency throughout all three books when it comes to character development, writing style, and most importantly the way in which she returns back to her original message of the entire story. There's nothing better for me than to see a writer maintaining that with every new book and not get lost in the crazy popularity their series receives.
Mind you it did feel a tad slow at times, I would say for even a quarter of the book. I kept wanting for something to happen and for just a little bit more action between Ana and Sam. On the other hand however their relationship is allowed to blossom on a new level and their fighting goes to show that there really isn't such a thing as a "perfect" couple, although there can be an amazing one even with the fighting and disagreements.
It felt a little anti-climactic at times as well, although I'll overlook that because I felt like the conclusion of the book definitely sums everything up beautifully. I'm still not sure what the phoenix song was or what Sam's importance was or what exactly Janan was going for with his entire reincarnation gig. Being a lover of sad endings I couldn't help but wish that there wasn't that 'happy' end, although it was very much deserved. I was just very happy with the resolution during Soul Night, that's all I know for sure. I couldn't have asked for a more thoughtful and emotional way of resolving the entire situation, and I'm glad it ends with the cliffhanger-style ending that it does, because it leaves room to imagine what kind of life the people of Heart would live and how their mentalities have changes.
This was one emotional and praise-worthy series, and those who are hesitant to pick this up I urge you to reconsider. This series has more good differences than similarities with other series. It offers a much more emotional cast of characters and more thoughts that will stay with you after the last page, and if you don't believe me try it out for yourself. As for me, I can't wait to one day go back to the beginning and journey through Heart with Ana once more. ...more
I really loved this book, more than the previous one, although I gave it the same rating. In some sense it stayed the same, mostly, but in some sense I really loved this book, more than the previous one, although I gave it the same rating. In some sense it stayed the same, mostly, but in some sense there was more confidence and depth to the story, I felt.
Sam and Ana have the rare kind of relationship in YA that I actually feel is sincere and not forced. Sure, they kiss a lot. Yes, they fight. But it all fell together well, especially Ana's thoughts and realizations about Sam's past, his actions, it showed her growth as a character as well as her natural reactions and thoughts.
I'm happy with the plot twist and the new advancements in the story compared to the first, specifically in terms of Stef and Cris, especially Cris. I feel his connection to Sam could've been elaborated further but I'm not too picky. Sef needed that sharp edge to her that she received, so I was satisfied. She seemed a bit too soft in the first book and I had a feeling there would be some hidden datrk layer to her. Meuric and Deborl, as well as Janan - boy oh boy I was not expecting that. I hope it's explained further in the next book because, while the basic foundation for the resolution is there and is already promising, it needs to be expands more. The temple, what they found inside, ah I was just so good!
What I enjoyed most about the book though was the attitude of protection towards the new souls that Ana starts pushing. It really made me emotional and that doesn't always happen when I read YA. I feel like it's one of those books, another one being the Hunger Games series, that can be seen as a reflection of our modern society, the wsy we isolate people or hurt them or hate them for being different and lacking something that a majority of people have. I don't know if this was necessarily done on purpose or not but it's so pleasant to see. The whole new soul situation is probably my most favourite part of the entre series so far, the way it is written so well and touched upon in a way that isn't too light but isn't too serious either. It's a book with a deeper layer to it that I feel people would appreciate if it's given a chance.
It was an emotional book, with several episodes, that I won't name, which moved me, and that won me over. The whole series just won me. It's so much better than what I first expected when I picked the previous book up, and this one didn't disappoint. I look forward to the next and last part of the series with hope that it not only upholds the same high level that Meadows showed in these two books but that it also answers the questions which are still left hanging and wraps it all up with a satisfying conclusion. As of right now however I loved this book, I was moved, I was smiling and tearing up and chuckling and it was exactly what I've been needing to read in the YA genre. ...more
Aah, what a satisfying end to this series. I loved it, I really did. When I originally picked the book up and saw it was slightly over 600 pages I wasAah, what a satisfying end to this series. I loved it, I really did. When I originally picked the book up and saw it was slightly over 600 pages I was slightly suspicious that perhaps Ms. Taylor had slightly stretched out the tale this time and might've exaggerated it. To my delight, however, I was proven wrong.
It was a beautiful narrative made up of both description and telling, a lot of gap filling too with the whole "back story" to some of the elements, as well as action. It wasn't a book that I read in one or two days however, and that's because there really was a lot more showing and describing than just throwing the reader into the action, as opposed to "Days of Blood and Starlight", and for me personally that was more enjoyable, although I can't complain with the second book because that action was just breathtaking.
I loved the ending and the introduction of new characters that took place in this novel. There was one loose end left (one I won't mention though) that I wish was taken care of but who knows, maybe that'll be the subject of a separate novel or a separate series in the future. I also found myself shipping a new couple in this book as opposed to rooting crazily for Karou and Akiva, but those two got their own happy ending as well, one that was believable and sweet and resolved their ongoing "tension" throughout the book in a...'discreet' way haha. The new couple though, oh I wanna see a new series written about them, it was just so damn adorable and fitting that the two were paired together that now I wanna read more.
It was the perfect ending to such a refreshing and original trilogy that stayed true to the original 'flavor' of the first book. It had jokes between Karou and Zuzanna that made me laugh, heart-melting lines spoken by Akiva, tension and drama and moments of deceit where I just wanted to reach into the book and strangle the damn villain. I couldn't have asked for anything better. Bravo Ms. Taylor, take a deep bow. ...more
If there's one thing that always makes me incredibly happy, it is coming across a book series where every book feels consistent in how well-written anIf there's one thing that always makes me incredibly happy, it is coming across a book series where every book feels consistent in how well-written and interesting it is, and the Lunar Chronicles are a wonderful example of that. "Cress" does an already mouth-watering series great justice by building on the strong foundation established by its predecessors, and made for an enjoyable read.
I must say however that it did start out slower than the other two books, and I had some more difficulty getting into it. It was only about halfway through that I think I really truly started to get into the writing and ended up going through the second half of the book in one day. Perhaps that was just me, seeing as how the ratings for each book only increases in comparison to the previous in the series. I do however agree that this was one wonderful addition to the series.
The characters, as always, are lively and detailed and a pleasure to follow along. Scarlet has solidified her position as my favourite however. The romance in the story isn't the dominant force, as always, but when it is mentioned it is looked at and approached as a genuine, realistic thing without any excessive sugarcoating or drama that often taints other YA romantic relationships. For Cress especially, her and Thorne had such a nice edge to their emotions and the way their relationship developed that I enjoyed.
As always, the ending leaves you wishing the next book was already in your hands so that you could keep reading. Alas, the wait is until November when finally the conclusion will be revealed. The 'preview' of Winter at the end of "Cress" was wonderfully done and I could already see that it's easy to pair up Scarlet with Cinder and Cress with Winter in relation to the kind of personalities they have. It makes for an interesting dichotomy that isn't excessive while aiding in each of their character developments.
I can't wait to see where "Winter" will lead. The strength of each of the characters and Cinder's resolution to bring a Lunar revolution to end Levana's reign has remained strong in each book and I'm hoping for an equally energetic and memorable resolution. ...more
Hmmm...I don't remember the last time I read a manga that had such beautiful artwork but was paired with what felt like such a "plotless" story.
AlthoHmmm...I don't remember the last time I read a manga that had such beautiful artwork but was paired with what felt like such a "plotless" story.
Although no, that's not quite the case.
The plot is rather simple: Ganymede wants to get out of the garden Apollo has put him in (for whatever reason), and we're originally introduced to Heinz and mislead to think that he's the main character (although he isn't, and only sticks around for volume one as the second one isn't related to him at all and we never even find out what really happens to Heinz in the end). There's Artemis, who magically pops up out of no where are for some reason keeps sitting under a tree. There's Zeus, who for some reason makes an appearance in Apollo's garden in front of Ganymede yet never says a word, vanishing as fast as he appeared. For some reason some of the Greek gods exist and others don't - Apollo for example says that the goddesses Athena and Iris don't exist when the mortal girl Iris brings them up in a list of Greek deities that they worship, and the reader never finds out why they don't exist while gods like Apollo and Artemis are "perfectly legitimate".
There were some interesting points, for example how the gods don't care about protecting humans. Hades was the only character I actually liked, mostly due to his Chesire Cat-like cryptic personality with his never-ending spew of riddles and dark thoughts. Other than that this book felt a little too much like a slap-dash plot that had to accompany some pretty artwork. The author's note after the epilogue ticked me off, to be honest. The fact that the mangaka asks the reader to sort of go along with her work just because she drew/made what she felt like making doesn't merit much respect from me as a reader. I agree, the art is very pretty in these two volumes, but the plot is so thin and has to be twisted and played with to a large extent in order to sort of justify it's own existence. I feel like this is one of those mangakas who expects their work to be admired and accepted for what it is without being able to handle criticism, which in this case is the follows:
beautiful art, but very very very watered down, microscopic plot that had a lot of potential with some of the interesting thoughts being thrown out that sadly went no where.
If you're in the mood for eye candy, pick this one up. But I personally don't care much when a writer has such a slap-dash approach to their work, and on top of that tries to justify it and make the readers swallow that, "just because"....more
Loading...
