waxingmepoetic
Waxing Me Poetic
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Book # 14 A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab
Hey guys, it’s been a hot minute since I’ve touched this blog, but I’ve returned with yet another book review! This time, it’s the magically magnetic “A Darker Shade of Magic”. Buckle up, buttercups-- you’re in for one hell of a ride!
Summary: In this reality, there are four parallel worlds and four different Londons located therein: Grey, Red, White, and Black. Grey London exists in a non-magical world much like ours, Red London exists in a world where magic and humanity live in harmony, White London exists in a magic-starved and cut-throat reality where only the strongest gain power, and Black London is supposedly little more than the carcass left behind by the unnatural magical plague that consumed it, but no one has seen the city in 300 years, so its true fate is unknown.
Kell is a magician and adopted prince of Red London who has the rare ability to step between worlds. Because he has this talent, he acts as an ambassador for the Red Crown. During one of his excursions to White London, he stumbles upon a deadly trinket which draws him into a conspiracy that is just as deadly. With the help of an unlikely Gray London ally, Delilah Bard, can Kell save Grey, White, and Red London before they meet the same fate as Black London?
SPOILERS BELOW.
Review: Okay, firstly, I have to preface this review by saying; if you love Harry Potter, Anything by Diana Wynne Jones, and Avatar, the Last Airbender, A Darker Shade of Magic is a great book for you!
Honestly, it’s a great book anyway.
Most of the book’s first half is spent delving into the parallel Londons, the second half is when the plot begins picking up momentum. That’s certainly not to say that you should tune out the worldbuilding, in fact- I really advise against it. Understanding the worlds Schwab has created is literally the key to understanding the plot.
Speaking of the plot, it’s tight, guys. Like, Lunar Chronicles level tight. This is not a compliment I give lightly. The narrative bounces from person to person to show different scenes and perspectives without giving away the plot too early. By doing this, Schwab not only makes her worlds feel lived in, but she also creates dramatic irony which in turn creates the amazing tension found throughout the story.
Another thing I absolutely love about A Darker Shade of Magic is that every word, detail, and exchange is intentional and drives the plot. Though economical stylistically, there is so much heart, personality, and intricately beautiful detail in her writing. No matter whose point of view she’s capturing, she somehow makes you care about nearly every single character.
Unless you’re supposed to hate them with every fiber of your being, that is. Astrid and Athos Dane are both equally horrible in their own unique ways. I knew I wanted them both dead from the first moment they were introduced into the narrative.
The most startling character experience for me, though, was Holland, Astrid and Athos’s court magician. Like Kell, he has the ability to travel between worlds. Holland is essentially the Dane’s puppet as he does their bidding abroad in the other Londons.
I wanted to hate him, guys. I really, really did-- but goddamn it, Victoria Schwab made me want to see him redeemed. I cheered for him even after he murdered a lovely character that I really cared about! I wanted him to break his affliction and become the bloody King of White London!
Holland was a character steeped in tragedy. Though morally grey at his core, he was a man in constant torment because of the magical soul-binding brand engraved on his chest by Athos Dane. He is given no choice but to do everything that is ordered of him, no matter how vile. His character arc left me broken-hearted and wishing that there was some way for him to defy his fate.
Next is Lila, a street-hardened thief, a wanted man, and a woman of ambition. She wants out of the life she’s been dealt, and she’ll do just about anything to break free. I loved how clever and cutthroat Lila was. Sometimes, all a conflict needs is a little metal and a little blood to be resolved, and this is definitely something Lila had been forced to understand from a young age.
However, it’s utterly heartbreaking that she had to grow up that way at all.
When Kell literally staggers into her life, she sees him as a way out. A way to seek adventure and she becomes an initially reluctant Kell’s accomplice, confidant, and friend.
Lila was such a breath of fresh air against the stuffy, stressful plot. Don’t get me wrong, I LOVED the stuffy stressful plot, but my soul needed Delilah "Five-finger Discount” Bard, and Schwab DELIVERED! She was always there to be the voice of reason when emotions made it difficult for Kell to see situations for what they really were. She was a constant reminder to him that he did not have to shoulder the responsibility of saving the world on his own.
Finally, I want to talk about Kell.
Kell Maresh, ladies and gentlemen, is a man among men. He’s a kind prince with a serious streak that makes him cynical and overly critical of himself and others. He puts so much pressure on himself to be perfect, and he feels isolated even though the King, Queen, and Prince of Red London love him very much. He’s adopted and he knows it, and it’s this knowledge that makes him believe that he’s nothing but a possession of the Crown.
It hurts him because he loves his adoptive family, but I think he believes that if he allows them into his heart, that they might be torn from him like his birth parents had been. He doesn’t want to let himself hope for that.
This shattered me to pieces.
Kell has this beautiful layer of emotionality and compassion for others that made me fall head over heels in love with him.
This brings me to a huge theme: breaking free of imprisonment. The three central characters mirror various kinds of imprisonment fairly well:
1.) Imprisonment caused by the situation you were born into (Lila)
2.) Imprisonment imposed upon you by others (Holland)
3.) Imprisonment imposed upon you by yourself (Kell)
Kell and Lila seemed to resolve their various brands of imprisonment... but Holland’s arc... was not satisfyingly wrapped up for me. I know that not everything is going to be tied up with a pretty bow, but... I just can’t help feeling sad about it.
I digress, I could literally write an essay about this theme, so I’m going to stop before I end up writing you guys a book.
TL;DR: This fascinating, magical gem of a book feels like it was written by a protegee of Diana Wynne Jones herself. The terrible and beautiful worlds in A Darker Shade of Magic are intricately detailed with an innately imperfect cast of unforgettable characters that’ll leave you cheering, crying, and begging them not to succumb to their fatal flaws. As Kell and Lila race against the clock with formidable adversaries at their heels (and under their skin), can they destroy a great evil that threatens their worlds before it can rob them of everything they love forever?
GUESS YOU’LL HAVE TO READ THE BOOK TO FIND OUT, HUH?
Review: ★★★★★ out of 5. EASY.
P.S. I’m so sorry that this is a mess, the next one will be better.
#a darker shade of magic#v.e. schwab#kell maresh#lila bard#delilah bard#book review#a darker shade of magic book review#holland vosijk
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Book # 13 Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell
Star Rating Out of Five: ★★1/2
Summary: Cath is a Simon Snow fan.
Okay, the whole world is a Simon Snow fan...
But for Cath, being a fan is her life—and she’s really good at it. She and her twin sister, Wren, ensconced themselves in the Simon Snow series when they were just kids; it’s what got them through their mother leaving. Reading. Rereading. Hanging out in Simon Snow forums, writing Simon Snow fan fiction, dressing up like the characters for every movie premiere.
Cath’s sister has mostly grown away from fandom, but Cath can’t let go. She doesn’t want to.
Now that they’re going to college, Wren has told Cath she doesn’t want to be roommates. Cath is on her own, completely outside of her comfort zone. She’s got a surly roommate with a charming, always-around boyfriend, a fiction-writing professor who thinks fan fiction is the end of the civilized world, a handsome classmate who only wants to talk about words... And she can’t stop worrying about her dad, who’s loving and fragile and has never really been alone.
For Cath, the question is: Can she do this? Can she make it without Wren holding her hand? Is she ready to start living her own life? Writing her own stories?
And does she even want to move on if it means leaving Simon Snow behind?
Possible spoilers to follow...
Review: I am surprised that I didn’t love this book. I really am,
but the reasons why I hated it are blatantly clear to me. It was written like it was trying to be unique for the sake of being “quirky”, but that’s not the only cop-out you’re getting with this book.
The main character was incredibly irritating and I always felt like she was aloof, antisocial, whiny and just plain pathetic. You can be aloof and other things and still be a palatable character by my opinion, but there is something about that mix of characteristics that really makes my stomach churn. In other words, instead of feeling like I could connect to Cath, I felt like I wanted to strangle her.
In some way, I felt like Cath was this grotesque of a fangirl and conversely, I felt as if I was being made fun of- as I’m a fangirl myself. (I mean, obviously. I just shared my Star Wars fiction on this blog not too long ago.) I did not appreciate the homage. At all.
Another thing I felt was weird was the romance facet of this story. I like to classify myself as a hopeless romantic, and where I usually cheer on any love story that an author presents given a few key factors (which I’ll make a blog post about later so that you can reference it for future reviews), I didn’t connect to it at all. I didn’t root for Cath because I simply hated her character, and I think Levi could have definitely done better.
HOWEVER, I don’t like being a negative Nancy, and this isn’t going to be the only bad review you’ll get from me, but I wanted to include the good aspects of this book into the mix.
The things I did like about this book were as follows;
-Regan is my hero. I honestly read this book for her epic Cath dragging sessions.
-Wren and their Dad. Excellent and realistic family dynamic here- I honestly felt myself caring far more about them than I did about Cath.
-I did agree with Cath about not wanting to have a relationship with her mother. I would have felt the same way about it.
-Her epic diss of library-boyfriend at the end.
-When she meets a fan of Carry On in the school library- 100% did love. Super fluffy- made me smile (finally)
-The excerpts of the fanfictions inserted throughout. They were well written and more interesting than the actual book. That might have been the point, but I digress. Again.
All of these things are all accumulate to give the 2.5 star rating.
Sorry folks, I am not a fangirl for Fangirl.
I am, however, planning on reading Eleanor & Park, so stay tuned for that!
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Book # 12 Wires and Nerve Written By: Marissa Meyer Art By: Doug Holgate
Star Rating (out of five): ★★★★★
Summary: In her first graphic novel, #1 New York Times and USA Today bestseller Marissa Meyer follows Iko, the beloved android from the Lunar Chronicles, on a dangerous and romantic new adventure -- with a little help from Cinder and the Lunar team.
In her first graphic novel, bestselling author Marissa Meyer extends the world of the Lunar Chronicles with a brand-new, action-packed story about Iko, the android with a heart of (mechanized) gold. When rogue packs of wolf-hybrid soldiers threaten the tenuous peace alliance between Earth and Luna, Iko takes it upon herself to hunt down the soldiers' leader. She is soon working with a handsome royal guard who forces her to question everything she knows about love, loyalty, and her own humanity. With appearances by Cinder and the rest of the Rampion crew, this is a must-have for fans of the bestselling series.
Story Review: Holy bad-ass android, Batman. Meyer. Is. Back.
This story takes place after Winter, and before the epilogue in Stars Above. However, I wouldn’t suggest reading Wires and Nerve first as there is going to be a second installment (Thank you Jesus- it’s set to release in 2018). I love the story- it’s so great to dive back into the world of the Lunar Chronicles and see Iko be a little bad-ass.
The bad guy in this story (the leader of the hybrid soldiers) rides far more of a gray line than Levana did. He believes his reason for hating Cinder is completely sound- even though he’s misinformed about the reason why she is bringing all of the hybrids back to Luna in the first place.
As the hybrid soldiers have been experimented on and altered genetically against their will by the Lunar government, their distrust of it is completely understandable. These men were torn from their families when they were children, and they were turned into monsters to solidify their tyrant queen’s power.
There is also an aspect of coming to terms with the fact that things on Luna are changing at a rapid rate. So rapid in fact that the soldiers are no longer needed on Earth... and no longer needed on Luna. It’s a difficult thing to conceptualize when a long standing military tradition is gutted, and those involved have been so irrevocably ruined by said tradition that they have nearly no hope to integrate back into normal society.
It’s blatant social commentary with a psychological twist, and it’s excellently executed.
I have always loved the stakes in the Lunar Chronicles. They’re heavy and highly political. Questions of morality and decrying oppression ring out so often that you sometimes forget that this story is a melting pot of fairy-tales. I know I do on occasion.
The idea of what it means to be human comes into question as well in Iko’s tumultuous relationship with Kinney that boarders on something that feels a lot like racism. You see this come up a lot in films like I Robot, Alien, Ex Machina, and TV series like Ghost in the Shell. When done properly, this theme works very well, and provides a philosophical lens to what it really means to be human.
I think that there is something in Kinney that wants Iko so much to be human, but pushes her away because of the fact that she isn’t. It feels like he’s trying his best not to fail a Turing Test. It’s hard to say if he will or not. This is entirely speculation, but I think that he may keep it in mind that she’s a robot, but he may care less and less about it as the series goes on. Beyond the fake skin, the metallic exoskeleton, and the wires, Iko has heart and nerve- just like everyone else.
Let’s just hope the world gets over itself enough to see it.
Art Review: I don’t think I’m the first one to say this, but I feel like the art could have been done far differently. I don’t feel like it truly captures the mood of the plot.
Meyer has created a very detailed and politically tumultuous world and I feel like the artwork needs to encapsulate that... which it doesn’t. Some of the drawings look like something you might see in a Peanuts comic in the Sunday paper.
Personally, I really think they should have gone with an art style similar to Ghost in the Shell, or Fullmetal Alchemist as these art style allow you to follow detailed combat scenes closely so that you don’t get confused during the reading experience, and the level of detail fits the world more closely in my opinion.
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Book # 11: Stars Above by Marissa Meyer
Star Rating (out of five): ★★★★1/2
Summary: The universe of the Lunar Chronicles holds stories—and secrets—that are wondrous, vicious, and romantic. How did Cinder first arrive in New Beijing? How did the brooding soldier Wolf transform from young man to killer? When did Princess Winter and the palace guard Jacin realize their destinies?
With nine stories—five of which have never before been published—and an exclusive never-before-seen excerpt from Marissa Meyer’s upcoming novel, Heartless, about the Queen of Hearts from Alice in Wonderland, Stars Above is essential for fans of the bestselling and beloved Lunar Chronicles.
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The Little Android: A retelling of Hans Christian Andersen’s “The Little Mermaid,” set in the world of The Lunar Chronicles.
Rating (out of five): ★★★★★
Short ‘N Sweet: I loved this rendition of The Little Mermaid, and adored how Meyer incorporated Cinder into the story as well as details from the original fairy tale. When the Little Mermaid walked on the new legs the sea witch had given her, she was confronted with stabbing pain that felt as if she were walking on knives. Constantly. In the story, the escort droid body the android is given is an old model that shorts out often. The vocal chords on this model do not work, either. In the end, attaining her dream is not in the best interest of the man she loves- as he loves another. It’s an excellent homage and I enjoyed the story... even if the end of these Little Mermaid reiterations always make me cry.
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Glitches: In this prequel to Cinder, we see the results of the plague play out, and the emotional toll it takes on Cinder. Something that may, or may not, be a glitch….
Rating (out of five): ★★★
Short ‘N Sweet: The reason for the low rating on this one was not due to the fact that it was a bad story- I just feel like it could have been included in Cinder rather than as a short story in an anthology as it does not reveal any plot points. It only makes you miss Garan and Peony... a lot and helps the reader understand why Cinder started dabbling in mechanics in the first place.
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The Queen’s Army: In this prequel to Scarlet, we’re introduced to the army Queen Levana is building, and one soldier in particular who will do anything to keep from becoming the monster they want him to be.
Rating (out of five): ★★★★1/2
Short ‘N Sweet: This story provides the backdrop for Ze’ev’s beginnings as one of the Queen’s hybrid soldiers. It’s incredibly awful when you think about the fact that Ze’ev was only a kid when they took him. A defenseless child whose parents had neither notoriety, power, or fortune enough to save him from the primal unnatural fate to which Queen Levana subscribed him. The systematic nature of how the Lunar government worked under Levana severed children from their parents and from their own dreams and turned them into science experiments at the pleasure of the Queen (in the case of the hybrid soldiers and the shells). This is an unspeakable atrocity.
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Carswell’s Guide to Being Lucky: Thirteen-year-old Carswell Thorne has big plans involving a Rampion spaceship and a no-return trip out of Los Angeles.
Rating (out of five): ★★★★
Short ‘N Sweet: This peek into Carswell’s past is interesting- especially when compared to the other stories in the anthology. You begin to see a bit of a theme at this point- Carswell’s dreams of getting out of LA with the ship of his dreams are dashed by the fact that his methods for making money are underhanded, and because his parents so blatantly disapprove of his dreams. Another interesting little detail about this particular story is how similar Kate is to Cress- smart, bookish, shy, and sweet. It sort of seems like Carswell has a bit of a type.
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The Keeper: A prequel to the Lunar Chronicles, showing a young Scarlet and how Princess Selene came into the care of Michelle Benoit.
Rating (out of five): ★★★★
Short ‘N Sweet: Scarlet’s childhood is very much a tough one- with a usually absent father figure and no other relatives other than a grandmother with a big, dangerous secret. We see Michelle Benoit’s past come back to haunt her- and how she attempts to keep Scarlet out of the danger it poses and the toll this takes on their relationship.
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After Sunshine Passes By: In this prequel to Cress, we see how a nine-year-old Cress ended up alone on a satellite, spying on Earth for Luna.
Rating (out of five): ★★★★1/2
Short ‘N Sweet: This story is sort of like Ze’ev’s, though shell children were treated a little better than the children selected to by hybrid soldiers. Their bodies are still used as a political power-play between Luna and Earth. Their blood used in both the leumetosis virus and for the cure Levana has manufactured in secret. Cress’s ingenuity and service to the crown do not earn her freedom, but a taunting type of imprisonment- where she is doomed to look down on Earth almost every day- the only place where someone like her would truly be free.
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The Princess and the Guard: In this prequel to Winter, we see the beginnings of Winter's and Jacin’s relationship, and how Winter decided to relinquish her Lunar powers.
Rating (out of five): ★★★★★
Short ‘N Sweet: This story was probably one of my favorites in the collection. The detail that makes Winter’s sacrifice of her powers more jaw dropping is that she was actually good at using them before she decided to give them up. There is a plot point that is suggested as a motive for a minor character that really sinks a shiv in pretty deeply and, in the end, ultimately helps Winter decide never to use her powers again- if she could avoid it. I was shocked and disgusted at the revelation, and your heart really hurts both for the servant and for Winter. This story is absolutely incredible. It also tells you how Winter got her scars.
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The Mechanic: In this prequel to Cinder, we see Kai and Cinder’s first meeting from Kai’s perspective.
Rating (out of five): ★★★★
Short ‘N Sweet: I appreciated that the story was in here as it added an extra facet to a scene we’ve already seen before as readers of the Lunar Chronicles. Because Cinder was written with a focus on Cinder’s perspective, there leaves no room for anyone else’s interpretation of events. Frankly, it’s really cute how hard Kai tries to impress her in this scene. Four stars for the cuteness factor!
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Something Old, Something New: In this epilogue to Winter, friends gather for the wedding of the century...
Rating (out of five): ★★★★★
Short ‘N Sweet: The long-awaited epilogue- at last! The wedding is not what you expect, but it’s incredibly humorous and a very touching story which ties up the loose ends left at the end of Winter fairly well insofar as the relationship aspects go. I love the fact that Meyer didn’t shoot for the obvious resolution, but at the same time, managed to wrap it up in a very satisfying conclusion.
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Book # 10: Winter- The Lunar Chronicles, Marissa Meyer
Star Review (out of 5): ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Summary: Princess Winter is admired by the Lunar people for her grace and kindness, and despite the scars that mark her face, her beauty is said to be even more breathtaking than that of her stepmother, Queen Levana.
Winter despises her stepmother, and knows Levana won't approve of her feelings for her childhood friend--the handsome palace guard, Jacin. But Winter isn't as weak as Levana believes her to be and she's been undermining her stepmother's wishes for years. Together with the cyborg mechanic, Cinder, and her allies, Winter might even have the power to launch a revolution and win a war that's been raging for far too long.
Can Cinder, Scarlet, Cress, and Winter defeat Levana and find their happily ever afters? Fans will not want to miss this thrilling conclusion to Marissa Meyer's national bestselling Lunar Chronicles series.
SPOILERS TO FOLLOW
Review: In this stunning conclusion of the Lunar Chronicles, we meet Queen Levana’s step-daughter Winter.
The amazing thing about Winter is that she’s absolutely gorgeous, but she’s got her feet firmly on the ground... when her Lunar sickness isn’t driving her crazy. Lunar sickness, of course, is the illness Lunars contract when they do not use their powers of manipulation for long periods of time. Winter’s reasoning for not using it is completely noble, and I absolutely loved her straightaway for it.
Winter’s subjects love her because she does not have to manipulate people with her powers to get them to do so, and because she is so kind-hearted. Winter is everything Levana is not.
The wonderful thing about Winter is that she uses some old-fashioned manipulation a la Hamlet to undermine Levana, and it is great. She uses her “insane and naive” public face in order to disrupt many of her step-mother’s executions- especially where our heroes are involved. She is a smart and strategic risk-taker who has captured the love of her people by her own merit, and is exactly what Cinder’s uprising needs to take root on Luna. And exactly what Levana fears the most.
Jacin shows many of the same qualities as Winter does, but he’s kind of an ass and has a history for being a double agent, so I wasn’t sure how much I could trust him. His loyalty to Winter did wear on me, though... until I actually found myself sympathizing with his struggle. Jacin fulfills the role of both huntsman and prince in this tale.
Cinder realizes that her dream to overthrow Levana may come at a price she does not want to pay, and really reminded me of Harry Potter’s dilemma in Deathly Hallows. He did not want people to die for him, but what Cinder and Harry both fail to realize at first is that this is so much bigger than them.
Again, Meyer manages to intertwine fairy tale and science fiction elements in a broader political tapestry that feels so real-world and believable. This is something I aspire to as a writer myself, so of course, I enjoyed it thoroughly. The end is satisfying, but rather than ending on a cliched happily ever after note, it was left open ended. The story will go on- if only in our imaginations.
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Book #9: Cress- The Lunar Chronicles, Marissa Meyer
Star Review (out of 5): ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Spoilers below
Summary: In the thrilling third installment of the Lunar Chronicles, Cinder and Captain Thorne are fugitives on the run, now with Scarlet and Wolf in tow aboard a stolen American Republic vessel. Together, they haplessly plot to overthrow the ruthless Queen Levana.
Their best hope lies with Cress, a girl imprisoned on a satellite since childhood who’s only ever had her netscreens as company. Queen Levana knows that Cress’s skill as a hacker is unrivaled, and utilizes the girl to spy on Earthen political leaders. Fortunately for our heroes, all of that exposure to Earthen culture and politics has made Cress sympathetic to their cause… but unfortunately, she’s just received orders from Levana to track down Cinder and her motley crew.
When a daring rescue of Cress goes awry, the group is separated. Cress finally has her freedom, but at what cost? Meanwhile, Queen Levana will stop at nothing to ensure that her marriage to Emperor Kai takes place. Cress, Scarlet, Wolf, Thorne, and Cinder may not have signed up to save the world, but they may be the only hope it has left. - Goodreads, Edited by me (it needed some serious tlc)
Review: I am biased going into this book because Tangled is my absolute favorite princess film, so let’s get the flippity do into the thick of it!
First, let’s talk technicalities.
Meyer actually used shifting POV to create situational irony and suspense AT THE SAME TIME. Let me explain how incredible this is.
Situational Irony: Thorne goes to the satellite via escape pod to jailbreak Cress. Sybil Mira (one of the Queen’s top thurmatuges and Cress’s shitty guardian) ejects the satellite from space- setting the untested satellite for a disastrous crash-landing on Earth. Cinder DOESN’T know they survived the crash. The audience does, however, and are comforted by the 50/50 ratio of Cinder/Wolf to Cress/Thorne (squeal) narratives.
Suspense: In a scuffle aboard the Rampion, Scarlet is taken prisoner by the wretchedly awful Sybil Mira. The POV does not shift back to Scarlet until near the very end of the book. Even when it does, they are cliffhangers of the worst kind. In this case, the audience and the protagonists have no idea if she’s dead or alive by the end of each scene. It’s terrible and made me want to scream. (In a good way but I’m so mad about it. Still. I am a salt mine, my dudes.)
Plot time. (There is cursing. I’m sorry, I was excited. )
Now this one made me fall head over heels in L-O-V-E with Carswell Thorne. The moment he went all survival army guy, I was gone… Holy shit. Even though he might have seemed like a narcissistic thief and talk-himself-out-of-most-things extraordinaire in Scarlet, but woooooo Jesus. Unfortunately, the cost of survival was that Cress and Thorne got stranded. In the middle of the Sahara desert and their portscreens don’t work. Oh, joy.
And Thorne gets a concussion that severs the optical nerves in his eyes. In other words, my poor child is blind. BLIND. LIKE IN THE ACTUAL RAPUNZEL FAIRY TALE. SUPER PROPS TO YOU, MEYER- BUT ALSO ALL THE TEARS FOR THE REST OF TIME FOR THORNE. He took it in such stride with such fucking grace that I was like “fuck, I love you and hereby give you permission to marry my sweet baby, Cress. Immediately.”
Their relationship is developed so painfully and it’s heart-breakingly sweet. Cress is shy and book smart, but naive- and Thorne… well, he’s a womanizing thieving pretty boy, and he comes to realize what it might be like for someone to truly love him for who he is and for what he’s done. Even when he tells Cress that he is not the honorable man she believes him to be. Where she does take him off the pedestal she placed him on before she met him, she finds that she does not hate him. In fact, she loves him in spite of everything. At the same time, Thorne realizes that he doesn’t deserve Cress… even if he likes her. A little A lot. I will fight a very large man or muscular woman for this ship. COME AT ME. I DARE YOU.
(Literally everyone: no one wants to fight you for this ship. Literally, no one.)
Thankfully, there are zero plot holes to talk about. JOYOUS DAY! And we finally get to meet up with Dr. Erland, where there is a reveal that knocked me for a loop. Oh… the heart break. It hurts. I’d like to cry now.
I could go on forever about this book, but I have to go to a company dinner, so I’ll leave you guys with this… fangirling mess. I’m so sorry.
UPDATED 4/28: Back again!
I did want the chance to talk about the plot device surrounding the Shells- or the Lunars that are not susceptible to manipulation or have any powers of manipulation of their own. Spoiler: Cress is one- which is part of the reason why she was imprisoned on the satellite. This is an extraordinary power play on Queen Levana’s part. Not only does it strengthen her power over the Lunars in the form of uncontested control, but there is something deeper in her vendetta against the Shells. It is buried in her painful past, and for very good reason. I’m not justifying what she does to them, but I can understand why she does it.
As a credit to Meyer’s ability to manage plot and character complexity, I cannot even begin to tell you how incredible this tapestry is. This is, for me, JK Rowling level skill. That is not a compliment I serve lightly.
Cress’s backstory is reminiscent of the well-trodden special child/government experiment trope. There is a twist here that is absolutely disgusting and marvelous. We glean that the Lunar government is harvesting Shell blood, but that is all we really know at this point in the story. Obviously, I’ve already read Winter, so I know what the government is using them for already. (PLOT TWIST- Warning: it’s super fucked up, but wow is it a great plot twist.)
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Book #8 : Scarlet - The Lunar Chronicles, Marissa Meyer
Star Review (out of 5): ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Summary: Cinder, the cyborg mechanic, returns in the second thrilling installment of the bestselling Lunar Chronicles. She’s trying to break out of prison—even though if she succeeds, she’ll be the Commonwealth’s most wanted fugitive.
Halfway around the world, Scarlet Benoit’s grandmother is missing. When Scarlet encounters Wolf, a street fighter who may have information as to her grandmother’s whereabouts, she is loath to trust this stranger, but is inexplicably drawn to him, and he to her. As Scarlet and Wolf unravel one mystery, they encounter another when they meet Cinder. Now, all of them must stay one step ahead of the vicious Lunar Queen Levana, who will do anything for the handsome Prince Kai to become her husband, her king, her prisoner.
Review: Hop into the Bat Mobile and buckle up, Robin. This is one of the best sequel novels I’ve ever read.
Spoilers Below
Meyer makes use of a third person narrative style while shifting characters with every scene change, and she does it with such mastery. Nothing feels rushed or skimmed over, and you can always figure out which character is being zeroed in on. For the most part, this story focuses on, you guessed it, Scarlet. This changes as the series progresses, however. Stay tuned for Cress and Winter if you want know how this changes ever so slightly in order to build tension and fear in the narrative (especially in Cress).
I fell for Scarlet and Wolf like a ton of bricks. They were fascinating to read and had amazing chemistry- even though Scarlet didn’t trust him very much in the beginning. Scarlet is a just, headstrong, resourceful protagonist, and Wolf is a shy, heart-breakingly sweet-natured (when not enraged), quiet dude. Giving his conspicuous size, his personality is anything but. And he’s got those eyes.
Captain Thorne took me a hot minute to actually start to like. It happened about mid-way through the book. He’s so incredibly conceited, you start to wonder if it’s a guise. His dry, flippant sense of humor is what ultimately won me over. (Dammit).
Cinder, on the other hand, is our charismatic, self-conscious, and sarcastic lead whom I liked almost immediately, and last but not least Prince - ahem- Emperor Kai. Holy sweet mercies, this dude is smart, sarcastic, relateable, charismatic, and - where the hell are these guys in real life? WHERE ARE THEY?
Anyway, most of the story is spent with Scarlet and Wolf trying to find out what happened to Scarlet’s missing grandmother. The thing that annoyed me from a personal perspective is that the police just give up. After two months. Due to lack of evidence. Their excuses weren’t good enough to justify stopping the search. I understand I sound like Scarlet now, but this was a plot point meant to enrage the reader. It did it’s job- but it did nothing to curb my annoyance at the police.
I found virtually no plot holes throughout which helped my ultra critical mind rest easy after the first three quarters of the book- which is astonishing as two groups of characters are attempting to uncover a different mystery at the same time for completely different reasons. Regardless, all roads lead to finding Scarlet’s grandmother.
Dang.
Scarlet’s distrust of Wolf escalates further when her estranged father shows up claiming that the same people that kidnapped Scarlet’s grandmother kidnapped and tortured him. In his frantic and possessed search of the farmhouse for the thing his mother was willing to sacrifice him for during questioning, he tells Scarlet that the people that took her grandmother had a tattoo made up of numbers and letters on their arm. A tattoo which is shared by none other than Wolf himself. This revelation brings the following questions: who is he, what does he have to do with the abduction of her grandmother, and why was she even taken to begin with?
This book is definitely the mystery novel of the series, and it reveals the core of this series’s struggle- what happened to Princess Selene? This reveal is done most poignantly in Cinder and Thorne’s plot- but sadly and apparently less important in Scarlet’s.
I won’t give away too much, but they do find the Princess.
It would have been so easy to flub a complicated mystery novel like this one, but Meyer has an undeniable mastery in managing plot complexity.
By the by, I loved the Sailor Moon influence. It was not lost on me- at the very least where plot is concerned. I really enjoyed the “find the lost Moon Princess” trope as a young girl, and I sure as hell love it now! More apparent than the Sailor Moon undercurrents are the fairy tale ones. It takes the best of all the iterations (Scarlet is arguably a mix between Little Red and Beauty and the Beast) and slaps them together between two slices of science fiction, served with a side of piping hot political complexity.
*Does the chef kissy thing* magnifique!
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Book # 7 : Seven Black Diamonds - Melissa Marr
Star Review (out of 5): ★★★
Summary: “Lilywhite Abernathy is a criminal. Her father’s “unconventional” business has meant a life of tightly held secrets, concealed weaponry, and a strict code. But Lily’s crime isn’t being the daughter of a powerful mob boss. Her guilt lies in the other half of her DNA—the part that can coax ancient rumors from stones and summon fire with a thought. Lily is part fae, which is a crime in her world.
From the time before she was born, a war has been raging between humanity and fae. The Queen of Blood and Rage, ruler of both the Seelie and Unseelie courts, wants to avenge the tragic death of her heir—a death that was the fault of reckless humans.
Lily’s father has shielded her from the repercussions of her ancestry…until she is sent to the prestigious St. Columba’s school, straight into the arms of the Black Diamonds.
Mysterious, glamorous, and bound together in their mission but constantly at odds, Zephyr, Creed, Will, Roan, Violet, and Alkamy are a Sleeper cell of fae, planted in the human world to help destroy it from within. With covers as rock stars and celebrity children, the Black Diamonds carry out the queen’s war against humanity. And unbeknownst to Lilywhite, she’s been chosen to join them.
Now more than ever, Lily’s heritage puts her in peril, and even the romantic attention of the fae singer Creed Morrison isn’t enough to keep Lily from wanting to run back to the safer world of organized crime.
Melissa Marr returns to faery in a dramatic story of the precarious space between two worlds and the people who must thrive there.” - Goodreads
Review: I want to preface this review with the following statement; I love Melissa Marr. Ink Exchange is one of my favorite books, so I don’t want anyone to think I’m a hater. Having read this book two weeks ago (this is how far behind I am), I’ve had some time to get my thoughts together.
Most of my disappointment comes from the fact that I didn’t really connect to the characters, and this is extremely important for me. Where it’s a very subjective critique, I think it gives way to a larger problem; the construction of the story itself. In my opinion, everything seemed to happen all at once and didn’t really give the characters a chance to breathe, or give me a chance to get to know them. Not to mention that there were so many characters thrown every which way in such a short amount of time.
To mitigate this, Marr uses the shifting POV tactic... which unfortunately still doesn’t work as it is done in a way that feels very jarring- almost like a poorly placed jump-cut in a film. The shifting POV style CAN work, it was not done effectively in this story, making its complex plot confusing.
Not only to the characters bank on the edge of two-dimensional, the story gets so lost in the plot that it only explores the settings it introduces on the surface level. Don’t get me wrong, they’re described beautifully, I just did not feel as if I were really there- and was instead just glancing at a postcard.
This is a small thing, but I felt that some of the dialogue exchanged between the main characters struck me as overly formal... at times that didn’t call for formality- especially given their backgrounds.
The style is, as a whole, very beautiful and reminiscent of Marr’s past works, but her usual style just does not meld very well with a high-action plot.
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Book #6 : The Reluctant God by Pamela F. Service
Star Rating Out of 5: ★ ★
Summary: Lorna Padgett, an archaeologist's daughter, has inherited her father's love for ancient Egypt. Ameni lived over four thousand years ago. The son of a Pharaoh, he loved adventure but had no idea what destiny the gods were holding for him. These two should never have met. But a walk in the hills near her father's dig leads Lorna into strange territory--and to an ancient discovery that brings timeless adventure, mystery, and danger....
Review: This book is one I read in my younger years (when I was about ten years old and still fairly rabidly on my Yu-Gi-Oh! kick), and I remembered being in absolute love with this book. I was excited to pick it up this year to re-live some of that childhood euphoria, but I was left largely disappointed.
The style in which this book is written is not the issue I take with it, nor are the characters (which are vastly likable themselves), nor is the excellently dry snark that makes the base if the humor for this work, but is in the plot itself. It felt very much like a childish fan fiction. I think the issue is that I’ve outgrown the plot. It proved a little predictable for me. Though the premise is quite interesting, I wish the story had been both executed a bit better and that it had had more supernatural leanings than it did, while simultaneously raising the stakes.
I would still recommend this book to younger readers- because it is a wonderful read at the right age.
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Three Reviews on the Way!
I’m super behind, I’m so sorry everyone! I’ve got three book reviews on the way for you- you can expect me to be updating through this week. I’ll also be starting on the 3rd installment in the Lunar Chronicles because holy smokes, Batman- *is swiftly dragged off the stage by a cane*
It’s pretty late and I have to work tomorrow, but I assure you, I’ll be back!
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Book #5 : The Novice by Taran Matharu
Star Rating: ✮✮✮ 1/2
Summary: When blacksmith apprentice Fletcher discovers that he has the ability to summon demons from another world, he travels to Adept Military Academy. There the gifted are trained in the art of summoning. Fletcher is put through grueling training as a battlemage to fight in the Hominum Empire’s war against orcs. He must tread carefully while training alongside children of powerful nobles. The power hungry, those seeking alliances, and the fear of betrayal surround him. Fletcher finds himself caught in the middle of powerful forces, with only his demon Ignatius for help.
As the pieces on the board maneuver for supremacy, Fletcher must decide where his loyalties lie. The fate of an empire is in his hands. The Novice is the first in a trilogy about Fletcher, his demon Ignatius, and the war against the Orcs.
Review: First, I’d like to say that this was a fairly good first novel. The characters were likable and Fletcher was competent and cool under pressure which is not something you see in YA novels very often. I felt like I was reading a Dungeons and Dragons Campaign to be completely honest with you. Ignatius is freaking adorable, Sylva rocks, and Othello is wicked awesome.
I hated the nobles pretty throughly which was likely the point, but it certainly wasn’t Delores Umbridge level hate (which is a difficult level to achieve to be fair).
I did feel that things fell into place a little too easily for Fletcher at times which is the only thing I took the most issue with, and why I gave it 3.5 out of five stars. I may continue with this series later on.
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Books #2-4, Noragami Vols. 1-3 by Adachitoka
Star Rating out of 5: ✮✮✮✮✮
Summary: Yato is a minor god whose dream is to have a lot of followers worshiping him and praying to him. Unfortunately, his dream is far from coming true since he doesn't even have a single shrine dedicated to him. To make things worse, the only partner he had to help him solve people's problems, had just quit the job.
His godly existence and luck just might change after he stumbles upon Iki Hiyori and saves her life—a feat which also leaves her in quite a predicament as she is stuck with him until her problem gets resolved. Together with Hiyori and his new partner/weapon Yukine, Yato will do everything he can to gain fame, recognition and just maybe, one shrine dedicated to him.
Review: Noragami is actually one of my favorite animes, but I hadn’t had the chance to read the comics yet, so I decided to go for it. There is, of course, a bit of bias going in because I’ve already established a favorable view of the anime, but the manga is extremely good, too. I’m pleased with how true the anime was to its original source.
Yato, Hyori, Kufuku, Yukine, and Daikoku have already firmly established themselves as individually likable and quirky characters by the end of volume 2, and I have big hopes for this series going forward. Rumor has it that they changed a few things in the anime, so I’m interested in seeing how the original’s plot and relationships between characters are developed.
The action sequences are cool and believable, the characters’s reactions to situations are very human. I feel that the storytelling is solid while the narrative slowly unearths bits and pieces of Yato’s past- sometimes by word of mouth or because the darkness from the stray god’s past comes inching back in to his life even though he tries in vain to leave it far behind him.
I look forward to reading the rest of the series soon!
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Book #1 The School for Good and Evil by Soman Chainani
Star Rating Out of 5: ✮✮✮
Summary: With her glass slippers and devotion to good deeds, Sophie knows she'll earn top marks at the School for Good and join the ranks of past students like Cinderella, Rapunzel, and Snow White. Meanwhile, Agatha, with her shapeless black frocks and wicked black cat, seems a natural fit for the villains in the School for Evil.The two girls soon find their fortunes reversed—Sophie's dumped in the School for Evil to take Uglification, Death Curses, and Henchmen Training, while Agatha finds herself in the School for Good, thrust among handsome princes and fair maidens for classes in Princess Etiquette and Animal Communication.But what if the mistake is actually the first clue to discovering who Sophie and Agatha really are?
Review: I'm actually rather picky when it comes to middle grade books, and I mostly go for high fantasy (like Potter) and sci-fi (like the Pendragon series). I wouldn't say that this book particularly stacks up to what I normally elect to read, but it did certainly have riveting plot twists and funny moments that I really enjoyed. The level of darkness and violence was also interesting to see in a princess-related middle grade book in this century. It was certainly not as terrifying or as bittersweet as a Grimm fairytale.
In criticism of this book, I'd say that it felt more like an attempted pastiche of a Grimm or Hans Christian Anderson fairytale, but it ended up in likeness to a parody instead. There were a few times in the narrative that also seemed a little spotty- sort of like someone put an unnecessarily confusing jump cut in a film.
Otherwise, I did enjoy it for what it was, and I'll be sure to check out the second installment as well.
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