❝ If looks could kill, she would have been dead on the floor, and I would have been on trial for murder. ❞
♫ vigilante shhh by taylor swift s꒰ 4.5 ✧₊⁺ ꒱
❝ If looks could kill, she would have been dead on the floor, and I would have been on trial for murder. ❞
♫ vigilante shhh by taylor swift someone told his white collar crimes to the fbi
for a 2013 contemporary with a love triangle and heaps of teenage angst, this was amazing.
it hooks you from the beginning, with very little filler or drag. You’re immediately curious at how the story will unfold— but let me tell you, you will probably never guess what is going to happen next. My advice is, don’t even try to guess, because you’ll probably just end up looking stupid like me.
this is just one of those books— where every single character is smarter than you, and you’re just doing your best to keep up.
the characters themselves are cute! very found family, I-don’t-like-you-I-love-you kind of vibes. Like every single other series with a love triangle, I got spoiled for who the main character ends up with (from a no-spoiler review for the first book, AFTER I read the first book… *sob*) but before I found out who is endgame, I was team dean, and I’m staying that way. That’s all I’ll say ...more
❝ you make the stars envious, because one day –far from now– you will be up there beside them, outshining every single one. ❞
➸ in the stars b꒰ 4.5☆ ꒱
❝ you make the stars envious, because one day –far from now– you will be up there beside them, outshining every single one. ❞
➸ in the stars by benson boone you took the best of my heart, and left the rest in pieces
there’s an adenamak-sized hole in my chest. I’m not sure if I’ll ever be truly okay again.
my expectations for this book were honestly quite low after the mess (sorry <3) that was powerless, but I had some hope that it would be better– and of course, I wanted to have my heart broken. But I regret that decision deeply, as this book didn’t just break my heart. It stomped on it and tossed it in a blender.
despite my mournful state after reading powerful, I still loved it more than I ever thought I would. It was, as Mak would say, a little piece of perfection (yes, he did say that about Adena. No, I'm not crying as I write this). Seriously, this book was so pure and sweet and beautiful. adenamak are simply the most adorable couple. Mak spent his whole life believing he didn’t deserve happiness, or to smile. but Adena comes along, and being with her gives him more joy than he ever thought was possible. I just… I can’t. I cannot.
The quality of writing here has much improved since powerless. I didn’t cringe at all, which makes me even more excited for the second book's release in July. I’m both excited and terrified to see where the plot goes and how Mak will play into Paedyn’s story.
If you enjoyed powerless even a little bit, I highly recommend this little novella. Just make sure to have tissues next to you.
₊ ⊹❀ fav quotes:
➸ ❝ run to me. always run to me. ❞
➸ ❝ I had never known happiness before her. But if there is to be an after in which she doesn’t exist, I know I never will again. ❞
➸ ❝ If darkness is the absence of light, then that is what I am when she’s not around. And I wonder how I’ve stumbled this long without her to guide me. ❞
➸ ❝ He is my fantasy. This is my reality. ❞
➸ ❝ you’re the embodiment of everything I am not. And yet, here I am, crawling back to you as though I’ve left a piece of myself behind. ❞
➸ paedyn “huffs out a laugh,” “huffs in response,” just “huffs,” etc. ➸ a character’s “lips twitch into a smile” ➸ a character “snorts” ➸ the characters start laughing for no reason ➸ it mentions the color of paedyn, kai, or kitt’s eyes ➸ it mentions the color of paedyn’s hair ➸ kai randomly touches paedyn even though they’re not a couple yet ➸ paedyn thinks about how the king killed her father ➸ kai inwardly calls himself a “murderer,” “killing machine,” “beast,” etc. ➸ kai and paedyn have excessive inner monologues about how they “can’t be near each other” then proceed to, in fact, be near each other and hang out ➸ the characters, plot, or even dialogue seems to be copy/pasted from another dystopian or fantasy series
congratulations! You now have alcohol poisoning <3
‧₊˚❀ the tropes ༉‧₊˚.
➸ enemies to lovers (to enemies) ➸ instant attraction ➸ knife to the throat ➸ who did this to you ➸ touch her and I’ll kill you ➸ cleaning each others wounds ➸ she comforts him after his nightmare ➸ simp (so.much.simping.)
‧₊˚❀ the characters ༉‧₊˚.
➸ paedyn gray: I could not with this kid. bestie really thought she was katniss ...more
I don’t even know what to say. The ending destroyed me but also revived my soul. Frannie's story took me to my seventh fathom and I don't want to comeI don’t even know what to say. The ending destroyed me but also revived my soul. Frannie's story took me to my seventh fathom and I don't want to come out of it.
This book is set during the American Revolution, but it never once explores the front lines of the war or the fighting itself. It takes readers to a small, dingy bar in New York that holds a young woman, who's soul itself is torn in two, who feels as if she has everything and nothing at all, as she tucks a folded piece of paper into her locket.
On the paper is her new identity.
355.
Her codename.
She is now a spy.
The idea of 355, one of George Washington's spies who was never identified, is so fascinating, and Veronica Rossi gives this spy a story for the ages. Frannie's internal torture as she is split between her two selves is extremely well done. Rossi did an excellent job of showing Frannie's fear and belief that she had lost her true self. This novel explores without sounding preachy at all how blurred the lines between good and evil really are. Frannie lied constantly and stole someone's very identity, but it may have given the Americans their victory, and it gave her a chance for a better life. Was it worth it?
This book just really leaves you thinking... and also reeling from the talent from which it was written. Highly recommended!
**trigger and content warnings** Frannie's stepfather is abusive; he injures her and gropes her. This leaves her traumatized over being in a relationship where a man has power over her, and she internally addresses this often. Minor violence and language....more
✎₊˚⊹♡ ❝I am coming to love him, in two different ways. Face to face, and word to word.❞
Rebecca Ross has some of the most gorgeous prose I have ever re✎₊˚⊹♡ ❝I am coming to love him, in two different ways. Face to face, and word to word.❞
Rebecca Ross has some of the most gorgeous prose I have ever read. If you don't read this for the immaculate WWI vibes, the swoony romance, or simply to get rid of the fomo, read it for the writing.
Iris and Roman are the most adorable cinnamon buns ever, but what kept this from being a five star read was how rushed their romance was. I would have liked to see more banter and slow burn. But nevertheless, they have one of the most beautiful love stories I have ever read and the kind of lyrical love they have is something I would give anything to experience or at least be able to write with the skill Ross does.
My other favorite part of the book is the aesthetic. I just love WWI aesthetic, and this book is basically WWI but with an age-old war between gods. Ross does an excellent job of blending realistic aspects with subtle magical ones that almost makes you feel like the world you're currently living in could very well be hiding an enchanted typewriter or two in someone's dusty attic.
The plot was a bit slow-paced and mainly centered around the romance but I was definitely invested enough to never be bored, and the ending lowkey gave me a heart attack ...more
❝Stories are only half told until they've found a listener.❞
*taps mic* hi, is this on? Testing, one two three.... yes? It is? Great. Now, I know you h❝Stories are only half told until they've found a listener.❞
*taps mic* hi, is this on? Testing, one two three.... yes? It is? Great. Now, I know you have much better things to be doing with your life than listening to, er, reading this, so I'll make it quick. I just have one thing to say. *deep breath*
Marissa Meyer, I owe you an apology. I mean, I'm not taking back what I've said in the past. You are an evil conniving backstabbing wicked extremely talented storyteller. But you are also definitely capable of giving us, your children, what we want. After lots of bumps and scrapes and obstacles in the road, you have delivered us what we asked for, all wrapped up nicely with an only slightly torn and bloodstained bow. I mean, not all the time *looks pointedly at my tear-splattered copy of Heartless* but this time. You delivered. I am content.
*dead silence from the crowd*
*awkward laugh* um sorry that was cheesy but um I've gotten my point across so... bye! *falls down the stairs and runs out the door*
˚₊‧꒰ა ʚ ❝Instead of being afraid, I could become something to fear.❞ ɞ ໒꒱ ‧₊˚
*crosses legs* *uncrosses them* so, yes. I, uh… *checks notes* I definitel˚₊‧꒰ა ʚ ❝Instead of being afraid, I could become something to fear.❞ ɞ ໒꒱ ‧₊˚
*crosses legs* *uncrosses them* so, yes. I, uh… *checks notes* I definitely, um, understand the hype. And I, um, also advise that… *visibly sweating* you guys don’t make the same… mistake I did and refuse to read it and suffer from, uh… fomo for years just because you, um, well, for no reason, I guess, other than you’re really stup- uh, stubborn. *laughs awkwardly*
‧͙⁺˚*･༓･*˚⁺‧͙ ༓･*˚⁺˚*･༓･*˚⁺‧͙⁺˚*･*˚⁺
There’s not much I can say that lots of people haven’t said already, and better. Only, this book is so beautiful.
In a twisted and dark and bloodthirsty and evil way, yes, but still beautiful. I love Jude and, after lots of conflicted emotions, Cardan, so much, and I swear, I read the last half of the book with a queasy and nervous feeling just because it had me attached so strongly to the characters. This magical story holds my heart in its bloodstained hands and I am terrified that it will break it.
also, I have a lot of money bet on the theory that one day this book will be a classic and kids will have to read it in high school. My great great great great great grandchildren better not let me down
˚₊‧꒰ა ʚ ❝ “If you hurt me, I wouldn't cry. I would hurt you back.❞ ɞ ໒꒱ ‧₊˚
❦ pre-review ❦
cause of death: the last 40% or so of The Cruel Prince
here lies Lydia. So young and unassuming and naive to the terrors the alternate universes of books thrust upon us readers. She was not prepared, and if you fail to plan, you plan to fail.
Rest in peace.
RTC.
❦ tbr review ❦
yes, I'm adding it to my tbr and therefore losing the internal battle I've been having with myself.
I've missed the feeling that Marissa Meyer always gives me. The feeling of being so emotionally attached to her c4.5⭐️
●*~ "There is no I in hero." ~*●
I've missed the feeling that Marissa Meyer always gives me. The feeling of being so emotionally attached to her characters that you scream and cry and giggle and gasp and grow right alongside them as the story progresses. The feeling that you're going to cry when it ends, no matter what, because the characters have become your best friends and you never want to let them go. The feeling of not even knowing how much you love them until when she tortures them in the worst way possible you throw your book across the room and wail in agony.
This kind of feeling is what I look for in every book, whether I realize it or not, yet I don't always find it. But with Marissa, I know I will.
In Renegades, she introduced and developed these amazing characters. But in this book, she takes advantage of sneakily emotionally attaching you to them and absolutely destroys your heart with the angst and pain and loneliness and complications that they go through.
And because of the pain and suffering, I loved this book even better than the first ...more
”Servants hear everything…. Haven’t you figured that out yet?”
This was fun! It was so interesting to see who was really pulling the strings in the ric”Servants hear everything…. Haven’t you figured that out yet?”
This was fun! It was so interesting to see who was really pulling the strings in the rich side of society and all that went on in the servants’ world. Julie Klassen filled the book with her trademark character development, intriguing plot, and sweet romance.
The one problem I had with it was the ending was super rushed and poorly done. Half the plot lines were never wrapped up, and the few that were actually finished weren’t satisfying in their finishing at all. It was like Klassen had a 410 page limit, and she spent so long with the plot and climax and angst that she only had a short chapter left to end it with. She at least could’ve had an epilogue.
Aside from that, I do recommend this unique, atmospheric Christian historical fiction that takes a peek into the below stairs of the 19th-century society and all that the rich took for granted.
I've been thinking about this book a lot and I'm changing my rating from 3 to 3.5, but still rounding down to 3. This was defi3.5 stars
~edit~ 04/14/23
I've been thinking about this book a lot and I'm changing my rating from 3 to 3.5, but still rounding down to 3. This was definitely a super interesting book, but a lot of things in it weren't my proverbial cup of tea (i.e. the writing, overall plot, tropes, and some of the characters). Again, there were great themes and messages and if the premise interests you I definitely recommend checking it out! And I recommend reading Nadine's fantasy novels over this one because I enjoyed them sm more!
~Lydia has officially decided that she is not a dystopian kind of gal.~
happy reading m'dears (and don't mind how dramatic and emotional my original review is, I was in a mood).
~original review~ 04/10/23
Pain. Death. Sadness.
This book is made up of these things. It’s a horrifying, knife-wielding story. It’s a broken Clock ticking furiously even though every number is a bloody red zero.
Broken shalom.
The world is full of it. Since the Garden, when Adam and Eve defied their God, the perfect shalom He created broke.
This book paints that in a terrifyingly bright color.
This books testifies to how, in this sinful world of broken shalom, Christians are Radicals, transformed by God, fighting to the end of their invisible Numbers to bring the perfect shalom back, to bring everything to the way God meant it to be.
Invisible Numbers.
We don’t know the days we die. We don’t know how long we have. But in this book, we do. Before Jesus returns, we might.
If we lived in the USE, in the world this book brings to life, and we knew exactly when we’d die, would our lives be different then they are now? Would we be more motivated, more God-fearing, and more prepared?
The answer is probably yes.
It should be no.
We should be living like there’s no tomorrow and be spending every waking minute of our lives radically transforming others through the Giver of shalom.
This book shows that, and so much more.
It was not a perfect book (see my 3-star rating) but underneath its flaws it's a powerful story of fear, pain, absence of hope, and broken shalom.
It really touched me in a far corner of my heart! I hope it would do the same for you.<3
:･*࿔ ೃ❝You have the prettiest eyes I’ve ever seen. Like sunlight on the sea.❞ೃ ࿔*:･
Kiva, Jaren, Tipp, and Naari could collectively step on my fa3.5 ⭐️
:･*࿔ ೃ❝You have the prettiest eyes I’ve ever seen. Like sunlight on the sea.❞ೃ ࿔*:･
Kiva, Jaren, Tipp, and Naari could collectively step on my face and I would thank them individually for it.
The setting never changes in this book. It’s all dark dreary prison, more dark dreary prison… ooh, what’s that? It’s dark, and dreary, and… it’s a prison! Yay! We explore different parts of said prison, but you had better familiarize yourself with the map in the front of the book because those four walls are all you’ll be seeing for over 400 pages.
The plot isn’t particularly riveting, either. I mean, it’s interesting, but could’ve used some more developing and less repetition and the Trials could’ve been more epic. But they weren’t.
*breathes in loudly through my nose* What I’m trying to say is, if you’re a plot-driven kind of gal/guy, if you need action and fight scenes and heart-in-your-throat reveals, then maybe find another read to occupy your time. Because this one is slow. And there’s not quite enough plot. But the characters are absolutely top-tier and that more than enough makes up for it.
I love each and every one of those little rats. From Kiva’s attempted hard-heartedness to Jaren’s genuine and gentle personality to Tipp’s altogether adorableness to Naari’s butt-kicking skills. Beautiful. Impeccable. I adore them.
And the romance-! Good golly *fans myself with hands* They’re just so pure and precious and sweet. There’s not actually a kiss but Lynette Noni delivered adorable scenes of plenty. Even with that absolutely jaw-dropping, bad, um, bad-donkey ending, which caused about a thousand more complications in this romance, I still cannot wait for more scenes of them in the rest of the series. I would like to aggressively thank Lynette for creating these adorable cinnamon buns.
Ignore me pointedly not mentioning the obvious flaws in this book. I enjoyed it to a completely acceptable level and, of course, absolutely fell in love with the romance and characters and Tipp, who is technically a character but deserves his own category. Idk if I would ✨glowingly✨ recommend it but you know what, if you wanna read it, I say GO FOR IT!
࿐❁ʚ ❝Entire not into the forest deep. Beyond the Bells, the dark fiends keep.❞ ɞ❁࿐
You can really see how much Erin Craig has matured in her writing th࿐❁ʚ ❝Entire not into the forest deep. Beyond the Bells, the dark fiends keep.❞ ɞ❁࿐
You can really see how much Erin Craig has matured in her writing through this novel. House of Salt and Sorrows was haunting and scary and the horror aspect was extremely well done, but it was noticeably lacking in other important traits, such as writing and dialogue and characterization.
Not this book. Not only was Small Favors spooky, but it was also rich in atmosphere and characters with dark masses lurking underneath the surfaces of placid expressions. Reading it was like drinking a cup of poisoned tea; sweet and thick and smooth as it slides over the tongue but turns your stomach into a writhing mess eventually crumbling into ashes.
I loved the heady atmosphere of Amity Falls, the small and sickly sweet town that keeps up the innocent charade even as the cracks grow wider and friendship and love and other important things begin falling through them. The author did an excellent job of drawing out the madness to the point of breaking until it does just that and turns absolutely feral. The cast of characters, also; evasive, secretive and sometimes bitterly oblivious, were fleshed out and each of them had something not quite right about them that is near impossible to figure out.
The climax was bloody and awful and although this book is much less blatantly spooky than I expected, there is a unique kind of horror in watching all these people you've spent the length of the novel getting to know turning on each other in terrifying flights of fancy.
Ellerie was a beautiful, convincing character and I was rooting for her throughout the entire story. She was so tangible and had amazing development. I loved the bond she had with her sweet sisters and family. She deserved a far better romance than she was given here. Whitaker's character for me was just very strange and I couldn't bring myself to buy into the love he claimed to have for Ellerie. The romance in and of itself almost felt like an afterthought, spinning around in the midst of the madness, painfully out of place among the family virtues and mystery and horror aspects.
Though, at the end of the day, this was an excellently done, provocative, subtly terrifying tale, and I will definitely be looking out for more from Erin Craig.
࿐❁ʚ ❝The rightness of a name was woven into the very essence of the thing itself.❞ ɞ❁࿐
εწз pre-review εწз
I have much stuff and probably nonsense to say, just not atm because I need to assemble my five brain cells together before I can write a full-length review.
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