"I'd like to draw you. Just like this, with your face kissing the stars...I think it's the most beautiful thing I've ever seen." "Are you calling me
"I'd like to draw you. Just like this, with your face kissing the stars...I think it's the most beautiful thing I've ever seen." "Are you calling me beautiful?" "I'm saying you could drive a man insane. Make him raze the world just to see you smile."
Listen.
No one is more surprised by my own ratings of this book, than me. I'm actually sitting here, wrapped up in my blanket, like a miserable bookish burrito, rethinking my life choices and wondering what went wrong with this book. Is it the book's fault? Is it me? Is it a bird? A plane? Batman with a spandex suit kink? Who knows. I just know this didn't end up well and I'm sad and I crave chocolate and possibly a tooth-rotting spicy rom-com to cheer me up.
I suddenly, desperately want this winter never to end, want spring never to come, want to stay with her here forever. But there is no forever. Not f
I suddenly, desperately want this winter never to end, want spring never to come, want to stay with her here forever. But there is no forever. Not for us.
"You resurrected my heart when I thought it was gone forever, so its fate is yours. Rip it out and burn it to ash if that makes you happy. But know
"You resurrected my heart when I thought it was gone forever, so its fate is yours. Rip it out and burn it to ash if that makes you happy. But know this: no matter how long you allow me to keep it, I will cherish this gift and use it to protect you."
Not gonna lie, I've obsessed over this book since when I found out it existed, and that pretty cover surely did nothing to help tame my obsession. The Wizard of Oz and Return to Oz were two of my favorite movies when I was a kid, the second in particular, and finding out there was a retelling out there that not only featured fae but that was pretty grimy and exceptionally spicy, too...well, it definitely felt like a dream come true. Tin is an incredibly detailed and pretty dark retelling, where both the hot, broody and murderous metallic Rowan Whitethorn version of Tin Man and no other than Miss The Dorothy Gale have a POV (bless!!!) and are on a quest through the devastation and deathly calamity that hit the once golden land that was Oz. I didn't expect it to be so dark and gruesome and creepy, to be honest, and I can't say it's a bad thing because I like these aspects in my fae stories; the Wheelers, for example, are just as freaking creepy as they are in the movie and I remember having nightmares about them when I was little. Yes, I'm praying that they stay out of my dreams, this time around.
Anyway... I loved every single bit of this story - the dynamics between the main characters and the secondary ones was probably the thing I liked the most -, and it only took me almost a week to finish it because I wanted to savor it slowly. There was so much going on, and even if I didn't always like the characters' decisions, I was pretty hooked most of the time. I would have loved to know more about what happened to Oz once Dorothy left, instead of having only hinted bits and short info, but I overall think this is just as great as retellings can be. I also thought that maybe the relationship between Tin and Dorothy could have been explored differently; I'm, in fact, not really a fan of how they went from enemies, to attraction, to real love trademark, and it's got nothing to do with the lenght of the book. It just was too slow at the start and too rushed, all of a sudden. I've got to say, though, that the book in its entirety was an awesome read, with the coolest story and amazingly crafted characters, so I'll go with my mood and overlook some technicalities in favor of rating this based on how this made me feel. And, in case you're wondering, I'm feeling pretty good, right now. ...more
Not rating this because I have no idea what I just read. I mean...I'm speechless, but not in a positive way. And the funny thing is that I don't even hNot rating this because I have no idea what I just read. I mean...I'm speechless, but not in a positive way. And the funny thing is that I don't even have bad things to say about it, either. I just...read it? Mechanically, with no expectations, but I finished it and I found myself as clueless about it as the moment I started it. Trust me when I say its heavy content has nothing to do about this. I'm not exactly picky when it comes to trigger warnings, but this book really doesn't have anything that interests me and at the same time I don't think it's fair of me to judge or rate it considering I don't feel anything -either good or bad- for it.
"Give it to me." "I don't have anything to give." "Then give me all your nothing."
the sappy 13-year-old me who thirsted over jeremy sumpter's sweet
"Give it to me." "I don't have anything to give." "Then give me all your nothing."
the sappy 13-year-old me who thirsted over jeremy sumpter's sweet peter pan walked so 32-year-old me who inevitably ended up falling for the hot crazy un-mustached villain with a breathplay kink could run
“I want you to know that some journeys have ends, but not this one. This one will change you. Irrevocably." "Don't all journeys change you?" "It isn'
“I want you to know that some journeys have ends, but not this one. This one will change you. Irrevocably." "Don't all journeys change you?" "It isn't the same." He leaned forward. "I, too, once journeyed beyond the stars." "What did you find?" His voice turned lethally soft. "That it's just the beginning.”
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You know that feeling you get when you start a book and immediately know it's going to be one of those books you're going to absolutely adore? Spin the Dawn was it for me from the very beginning and I'm not sure there's a particular reason for it, because I loved every aspect of this book.
Spin the Dawn tells us the story of Maia Tamarin who, after a devastating war, pretends to be one of her brothers in a pretty sexist competition to become royal tailor and help her family recover financially. Between challenges, sabotages and the constant fear of her true identity being exposed, Maia does her best to survive and bring her family honor. Helped by her talent, a pair of enchanted scissors and the charming magicial Edan, she finds out that being the court tailor doesn't mean she only gets to pack beautiful dresses for the emperor and his betrothed and spend time with the ones she loves, but that her journey is much more complicated and dangerous than she'd ever imagined. And that it's only just begun.
As I mentioned before, there isn't one thing I didn't love about this book, so let me start by listing the things I loved a tiny little more than the others. Lim's writing, for one, is exquisite and I hands down can say the same about the plot. The story flows so well there's not enough time to feel bored, because something's always happening with every turn of the page. I shamefully admit I'm pretty ignorant when it comes to Asian's culture and myths, so I can't say whether the stories and legends mentioned in this book are actually part of the Chinese folklore or if the author made them up, but they definitely were the perfect addition to the story because they surrounded the whole thing with an additional fairytale-esque halo. I especially loved the one about the Moon and the Sun being able to just be together on a particular date and for a short period of time. (view spoiler)[Loved how it sort of reflected Maia and Edan's situation, in which he turns into a hawk during the night. (hide spoiler)] It reminded me a little of one of my mom's favorite movies, Ladyhawke, and it broke my heart the very same way the movie did.
Maia is an incredible main character and for once I didn't mind the first-person narration, because being in her head wasn't exhausting or monotonous. I adored the dynamics between her and the rest of her family and was really intrigued by her interactions with other secondary characters. Another proof Maia is a fantastic protagonist is how malleable yet coherent she is. Take her relationship with Edan, for example, I was pleased to see their chemistry worked both when they were flirting and when they sealed the proverbial deal. Speaking of Edan, I hope I'll get to see more of him in the sequel. Behind the sarcasm and the wisdom, he's a gentle soul with a dorky side. Definitely far from the broody type I usually go for in books, but I'm not complaining because he was a breath of fresh air in the fantasy book boyfriends scenario.
Now, I made my point and this book is nearly perfect. I say nearly because, despite the super well deserved five stars up there, there's just this quibble that will have me rounding this down half a star. The romance. Ughhhhh, I can't help but feel ungrateful because Maia and Edan are extremely cute and their almost entirely angst-free romance came as a gift out of nowhere. At the same time, though, I think it's precisely because I'm used to working harder for my ships when it comes to books while their romance was written in the stars right from the start and went from 2 to lets-do-the-do in the matter of a couple pages. Don't get me wrong, they were sexy af and I'd give a non-necessary organ to read their sweetest interactions for the first time again, but I just wished it hadn't been so...quick.
Anywho... I'm gonna hide the rounded-down ratings at the bottom of this review and keep shouting out loud how much I've loved this. I'm so glad I picked this up at the bookstore instead of deciding for a cheaper hardback. It's not only beautifully illustrated, but it also has a double dust jacket and lilac tinted pages. I mean...how could I ever resist when this book is the proof books love their readers as much as readers love them?
"I want to be known for what I do, not how I look. I want to be praised for my achievements. But in this village, I feel like all I am is pretty an
"I want to be known for what I do, not how I look. I want to be praised for my achievements. But in this village, I feel like all I am is pretty and full of flaws. I just...I just want something more, I guess." "You will have it, " he whispered, and I could tell his strenght was failing him. He needed sleep. "You were meant for great things, Finley. Things this kingdom cannot provide you. One day you will see a crack in your cage, and you will fly."
How could Death be anything else but utterly seductive?
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River of Shadows was extremely good and insanely hot. A bit weird and very very v
How could Death be anything else but utterly seductive?
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River of Shadows was extremely good and insanely hot. A bit weird and very very very fast-paced, but unique and enjoyable, nonetheless. Karina Halle is an underrated and gifted author who needs more praise. I've read the little review she left for this book and I felt it in my soul. The way she processed Hanna's grief for the loss of her father really touched me in a very personal way because I lost my beloved grandma in February and I felt how genuine the feelings were. I was incredibly surprised by this book. When I first started it I expected it to be dark and heavy on the smut, and while it was indeed dark and exceptionally steamy, I was pleased to realize it had more depth, many more nuances that catapulted me into a world full of myths, scary creatures and a God of Death who's basically the fictional version of Jason Momoa. Can't say I was complaining.
“Together, we are madness. And there is music in madness, and madness in love.”
master of salt and bones more like master of sass and boners
this bo
“Together, we are madness. And there is music in madness, and madness in love.”
master of salt and bones more like master of sass and boners
this book and the thousand trigger warnings it comes with, is in equal parts disturbing and hot and keri lake made me convince myself i have a questionable amount of kinks i never thought i'd have in a single lifetime. i absolutely loved the gothic vibes and was gripped by the unaplogetic wrongness that is the entirety of this book. in case you're having doubts about my mental sanity, i'll invite you to check out the warning sign i put right below the first paragraph of my review. repeat after me: unless you show proper and actual signs of specific psychopaties, enjoying problematic fictional content doesn't make a monster of you. go and be wild, darling.
the writing feels weirdly modern for the story and I keep getting confused because the two main characters are calDnfing this at around 15%
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the writing feels weirdly modern for the story and I keep getting confused because the two main characters are called Xander and Xavier. *high-fives shakespeare's ghost* the gayer the better tho, amirite?...more
The hype and the cover brought me to this book, and then, of course, I stayed for the retelling part. Anything even remotely concerning Romeo & Juliet just can't excape my book-dar. Unfortunately for me and for my radar, this wasn't the R&J retelling of my dreams but it was a good read nonetheless.
Roma and Juliette, share a past and possible lingering feelings, which is probably not the best thing when you're both heirs to most important rival gangster families in Shanghai. Between bloody fights, monsters, political intrigues and a virus that's filling Shanghai with terror, the Scarlet Gang and the White Flowers, and consequently Roma and Juliet, too, will have to put aside their reciprocal hatred to overcome a bigger enemy and try to save their city and loved ones.
I don't know why I can't write a properly articulated review for this book, but I think it's because there are so many points I'd want to touch on and I've got a few gifts, but synthesis isn't one of them when it comes to essays. So yeah, have my thoughts on this book in all their bulleted list-like glory. *tips fedora*
things I liked: -setting -the whole 'madness' plot -description of places and clothes -'horror' scenes -beginning and ending
just okay things: -general plot -the retelling aspect -kathleen -action scenes -world building
could have done without: -too much political info-dumping -plain characters -writing too repetitive and a little stiffy -romance (felt like there wasn't much chemistry between r&j) -super slow pace...more
i really need to stop adding books to my tbr just because there's a blond, bearded, muscular hottie on the cover
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jokes asDNFing this at 24%
i really need to stop adding books to my tbr just because there's a blond, bearded, muscular hottie on the cover
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jokes aside, there's something about this book that doesn't really convince me. I mean, it's not even actually that bad and I don't really mind the plot (I don't know if I read this wrong, but this is some sort of Beauty and the Beast retelling, which are my absolute favorites?), but I'm not a fan of the writing (the format is a tad confusing, too) and the build-up is sort of underwhelming. The main character is also incredibly annoying, and in my book, an hateful main character weights more than a thousand bearded hotties.
Seriously, though. If that's not enough of an explanation as for why I'm abandoning this after only 60 pages, just think that, when I first started this, I was incredibly pumped because from the very beginning it seemed great and I was totally getting into it. I then noticed the names of the characters were not the ones I read on the books blurb so I went back to the menu and, surprise! I accidentally started reading the whole thing from a random point in the book that also turned out to be one of those bonus prologues of the author's other works they sometimes put at the end of a book. ...more
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
I must confess this book was exactly what I expI received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
I must confess this book was exactly what I expected it to be. Definitely not a literary masterpiece, but not that bad either. I'm maybe a bit too influenced in my judgement by the fact that this seems part of a very popular and prolific series that I haven't had the chance to read before, but I couldn't connect with the story nor the characters in the deep way that I usually like. I didn't expect the romance aspect to be so prominent, even though it's pretty obvious it takes a huge part of the plot. Yet, I expected maybe less of it or perhaps I would have liked it if it wasn't so thrown in my face all the time. I also found some scenes to be way too fast and some definitely too dull, which caused me to be bored or confused more than I'd want to admit. Said this, I think The Peasant's Dream is overall a decent book, one that you wouldn't regret reading as it's short and pleasant enough to not make it feel like a chore. I also didn't mind the writing and I'd probably would have become a fan of Melanie Dickerson if this was the first book in the series instead of the last.
astarion's bhaal babe (wingspan matters)
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