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3.96 AVERAGE
3.96 AVERAGE
I don't know why I waited so long to ready this. I loved it and can't wait to read the next o e!
Re-read 2020: this is one of the most perfect books ever written. Thank you. Goodnight.
ALSO I don't mean to be rude but why on earth has this series not been made into a Netflix film/series???? The audacity
ALSO I don't mean to be rude but why on earth has this series not been made into a Netflix film/series???? The audacity
This book was quite lovely. I love how this series doesn't focus so much on the paranormal aspect of everything and more just the girls' lives with a dash of paranormal.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I'm so impressed with these books. They are fun, mysterious, magical, and enthralling. The characters are so well written - even the ones you're not supposed to like - and the world building keeps growing and getting more interesting. I did get a bit of a Harry Potter vibe from the name anagrams in this story, but it worked. They are "quick" reads, obviously written for a teen/young adult audience. but I couldn't put it down.
4.3/5 stars
And for a moment, I understand that I have friends on this lonely path; that sometimes your place is not something you find, but something you have when you need it.
Trigger Warnings: Mention of self harm, addiction, pedophilia and incest (I didn't expect these, please be very careful), forced placement in an institution, drug use
Something to listen to while reading this ♥ (picked this one because The Last Door gives me immense Gemma Doyle vibes and vice versa)
If I enjoyed the first book one time, I enjoyed this one ten more, and I expected this, as Libba Bray's books become progressively better the more you bond with the characters and follow their bond, their struggles and their adventures. For this reason exactly, although in the first book I felt quite disconnected from our main girls, in this one, I was eager to see what was going to happen, and started to have the first warm glimpses of a true friendship. This story picks up after the events of the first book and adds something more, a precious, chilly winter atmosphere.
The first book didn't manage to creep me out that much, but this actually did, as I constantly had a feeling that something was looking over my shoulder or coiling in the darkness, waiting for me to drop my guard. Libba Bray is, in my opinion, great in writing about gothic, bizzare and unnerving, and this book proved it once again. We followed a mystery, met new characters, learned more about the main four and unraveled the story in the snow and the cold, this time.
One thing I have to admit I love is that on the start of each book, there is a text by an author, and it is woven into the story in such a special and cleverly thought-out way that it never fails to surprise me. Furthermore, this book broadened out the theme of female sexuality and femininity we saw in the previous, and talked about being desired, choosing for yourself, being conscious of your beauty and growing to realize the patriarchy and stray away from the path it has set.
I also loved the theme of mental health that was infinitely more explored in this book than the first one, as well as the themes of family, friendship, duty, fate and choices. In general, this book was such a delight and writing this review, I feel nostalgic for the emotions I had when reading it, and want to go back to dancing with Gemma, Anne, Pippa and Felicity.
Overall, I wholeheartedly recommend this to fans of YA paranormal fiction, Victorian gothic, strong female characters and winter stories ♥ Until the next review, stay strong and wonderful ♥
~Mary ♥
And for a moment, I understand that I have friends on this lonely path; that sometimes your place is not something you find, but something you have when you need it.
Trigger Warnings: Mention of self harm, addiction, pedophilia and incest (I didn't expect these, please be very careful), forced placement in an institution, drug use
Something to listen to while reading this ♥ (picked this one because The Last Door gives me immense Gemma Doyle vibes and vice versa)
If I enjoyed the first book one time, I enjoyed this one ten more, and I expected this, as Libba Bray's books become progressively better the more you bond with the characters and follow their bond, their struggles and their adventures. For this reason exactly, although in the first book I felt quite disconnected from our main girls, in this one, I was eager to see what was going to happen, and started to have the first warm glimpses of a true friendship. This story picks up after the events of the first book and adds something more, a precious, chilly winter atmosphere.
The first book didn't manage to creep me out that much, but this actually did, as I constantly had a feeling that something was looking over my shoulder or coiling in the darkness, waiting for me to drop my guard. Libba Bray is, in my opinion, great in writing about gothic, bizzare and unnerving, and this book proved it once again. We followed a mystery, met new characters, learned more about the main four and unraveled the story in the snow and the cold, this time.
One thing I have to admit I love is that on the start of each book, there is a text by an author, and it is woven into the story in such a special and cleverly thought-out way that it never fails to surprise me. Furthermore, this book broadened out the theme of female sexuality and femininity we saw in the previous, and talked about being desired, choosing for yourself, being conscious of your beauty and growing to realize the patriarchy and stray away from the path it has set.
I also loved the theme of mental health that was infinitely more explored in this book than the first one, as well as the themes of family, friendship, duty, fate and choices. In general, this book was such a delight and writing this review, I feel nostalgic for the emotions I had when reading it, and want to go back to dancing with Gemma, Anne, Pippa and Felicity.
Overall, I wholeheartedly recommend this to fans of YA paranormal fiction, Victorian gothic, strong female characters and winter stories ♥ Until the next review, stay strong and wonderful ♥
~Mary ♥
Vacation read. Now where did I leave off when I last picked up this book two years ago....
Realized I was further into the book the first time around than I thought. Picked up steam about midway through the story. I didn't enjoy it as much as the first book but it did leave me wanting to read the third installment.
Realized I was further into the book the first time around than I thought. Picked up steam about midway through the story. I didn't enjoy it as much as the first book but it did leave me wanting to read the third installment.
I'm trying so hard to like this series more than I do after hearing rave reviews about it. This particular volume of the trilogy spends a lot more time in "The Realms", which feels far more fantastical than Gothic. It's not poorly written, the characters are well-developed. It's also a dark, creepy, YA Gothic novel set in turn of the century London, with a hint of romance with a dark and mysterious young man from India. I should LOVE this book.
I think one of the main criticisms I have of it is that the stakes are not clear. What, exactly, is Gemma preventing? Why? We spend so much time in this beautiful fantasy world, and all the rest of our time navigating the social norms of London balls, and I don't know why I should care. I also spend a significant portion of the novel not invested in Gemma, or even totally sure who she is and why I should root for her.
At 75% of the way through (I know because my audiobook told me I was exactly 75% of the way through) I feel like the story manages to come alive, and the conflict between the characters becomes far more interesting. Felicity and Gemma both reveal aspects of their characters that make way for further development. In fact, I should probably even mention a trigger warning because the content goes quite dark, and deals with matters of rape and incest. This small moment is, in my opinion, the most real and important part of the novel. But it's a long way getting there and it's quickly over. I hope Book 3 returns to this issue because it's important and it is also critical to the development of the characters.
The denouement is also disappointing. In fact, I am tempted to rate this 2 stars but I can't because it's not badly written, it's just poorly delivered. The last 25% is the only interesting section, but segments of it are damn good. I'll read Book 3 because I'm neurotic and can't leave a series unfinished, but I'll likely skim it, since Bray seems to deliver all the important content at the very beginning and very end of her novels.
I think one of the main criticisms I have of it is that the stakes are not clear. What, exactly, is Gemma preventing? Why? We spend so much time in this beautiful fantasy world, and all the rest of our time navigating the social norms of London balls, and I don't know why I should care. I also spend a significant portion of the novel not invested in Gemma, or even totally sure who she is and why I should root for her.
At 75% of the way through (I know because my audiobook told me I was exactly 75% of the way through) I feel like the story manages to come alive, and the conflict between the characters becomes far more interesting. Felicity and Gemma both reveal aspects of their characters that make way for further development. In fact, I should probably even mention a trigger warning because the content goes quite dark, and deals with matters of rape and incest. This small moment is, in my opinion, the most real and important part of the novel. But it's a long way getting there and it's quickly over. I hope Book 3 returns to this issue because it's important and it is also critical to the development of the characters.
The denouement is also disappointing. In fact, I am tempted to rate this 2 stars but I can't because it's not badly written, it's just poorly delivered. The last 25% is the only interesting section, but segments of it are damn good. I'll read Book 3 because I'm neurotic and can't leave a series unfinished, but I'll likely skim it, since Bray seems to deliver all the important content at the very beginning and very end of her novels.
4/5 stars
I'm still not 100% taken by the magical Realms in this series, but I absolutely love the victorian London setting and the creepy mysteries.
I think I loved this book more than the first. Probably because of how much of London's fancy society was depicted, which is totally up my alley.
Wonderfully written and definitely kept me on the edge of my seat. If I had more time to read I would have finished this in a couple of days for certain.
I'm still not 100% taken by the magical Realms in this series, but I absolutely love the victorian London setting and the creepy mysteries.
I think I loved this book more than the first. Probably because of how much of London's fancy society was depicted, which is totally up my alley.
Wonderfully written and definitely kept me on the edge of my seat. If I had more time to read I would have finished this in a couple of days for certain.