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bayleyreadsbooks's Reviews (530)
I found this book massively adorable.
It is completely bursting with childlike whimsy, magic that plays with reality in a very fun way, and (as is par for the course with a Tahereh Mafi book) gorgeous prose. And in addition to all this fairytale esque writing the plot and themes of the book managed to be quite mature at times. The main character, Alice, is a little girl whose favorite food is tulips and whose body completely lacks color, which is very concerning to her when color is what drives magic in this world, but the book manages to touch on wealth inequality and persecuted migrants and those who are ostracized for being different.
I half read the book and half listened to the audiobook and both experiences were wonderful. The illustrations are very occasional but also very cute. This whole book is beautifully constructed. And the audiobook narration feels very much like the kind of bedtime story that makes you never want to go to sleep.
It did take me a while to get into this book, it is a bit confusing at first (when you are trying to put everything into rigid lines before you accept that this is a world of whimsy and you just need to remember the way things here function) but the world is cohesive and once you are in the world it is no longer confusing.
I loved the animosity between Alice and Oliver, it is an adorable enemies to friends tale that I completely found precious. And funny. Alice is full to the brink with snark and it was fantastic. Both characters are vulnerable and dealing with big emotions and difficult situations and it is a lovely journey to watch them learn how to deal with each other and their world.
Being that this is a middle-grade novel about a girl named Alice who enters another land we must talk about the other Alice. I felt this book was the perfect amount Alice in Wonderland without feeling like a direct retelling. The prose is experimental in a similar way and the world is full of nonsense but in a way that does not feel like a Wonderland rip off. Both have song and poetry in the plot and prose that is full of rhyme and a little girl who needs to learn about her world at home by venturing in another world. But again the stories felt very different to me.
If you are looking to give a book full of magic to a young person you know I think this would be a great choice. Also if you just like children’s stories this is a wonderful magical tale.
It is completely bursting with childlike whimsy, magic that plays with reality in a very fun way, and (as is par for the course with a Tahereh Mafi book) gorgeous prose. And in addition to all this fairytale esque writing the plot and themes of the book managed to be quite mature at times. The main character, Alice, is a little girl whose favorite food is tulips and whose body completely lacks color, which is very concerning to her when color is what drives magic in this world, but the book manages to touch on wealth inequality and persecuted migrants and those who are ostracized for being different.
I half read the book and half listened to the audiobook and both experiences were wonderful. The illustrations are very occasional but also very cute. This whole book is beautifully constructed. And the audiobook narration feels very much like the kind of bedtime story that makes you never want to go to sleep.
It did take me a while to get into this book, it is a bit confusing at first (when you are trying to put everything into rigid lines before you accept that this is a world of whimsy and you just need to remember the way things here function) but the world is cohesive and once you are in the world it is no longer confusing.
I loved the animosity between Alice and Oliver, it is an adorable enemies to friends tale that I completely found precious. And funny. Alice is full to the brink with snark and it was fantastic. Both characters are vulnerable and dealing with big emotions and difficult situations and it is a lovely journey to watch them learn how to deal with each other and their world.
Being that this is a middle-grade novel about a girl named Alice who enters another land we must talk about the other Alice. I felt this book was the perfect amount Alice in Wonderland without feeling like a direct retelling. The prose is experimental in a similar way and the world is full of nonsense but in a way that does not feel like a Wonderland rip off. Both have song and poetry in the plot and prose that is full of rhyme and a little girl who needs to learn about her world at home by venturing in another world. But again the stories felt very different to me.
If you are looking to give a book full of magic to a young person you know I think this would be a great choice. Also if you just like children’s stories this is a wonderful magical tale.
I read this book in one sitting. Basically. I moved from couch to bed but walked and read. It has been MONTHS since this has happened. It took 5 hours and destroyed my bedtime. Also, it is 3:30 am and I am tired now.
This book made me laugh out loud multiple times, I teared up because if sad parts, and cried cause I was that happy. We all know I love love love a good friendship that is central to the story and has emotional impact. Also, all the parents of these teens were involved, and supportive of their children’s lives.
We talked about class and race and sexuality. Mostly through microaggressions and carelessness. There was also a scene that was wonderfully written after Arthur and Ben are harassed for super light PDA where Ben doesn’t want to touch Arthur that was awful to read but was written so well.
I loved the characters in this book. They felt so well developed and distinct. The character voices really made me quite happy.
This is not to say I didn’t love the plot. I loved this plot. It is adorable. The universe was talked about exactly how I talk about the universe but the message was the people make their world, not mysterious universe forces. I love a good grab hold of your destiny and try to influence what parts of it you can story.
I also love a Hamilton reference. And a Harry Potter one. And a Levine’s cookie shout out. Really any giant chocolate chip cookie (shout out Gideons Bakehouse in Orlando).
This was an adorable fun fast nerdy hopeful love story that I enjoyed reading so much.
I’m sure I would have criticism or more nuance but it’s 3:45 now and my whole body wants me to so to sleep.
Omg. And Obama.
This book made me laugh out loud multiple times, I teared up because if sad parts, and cried cause I was that happy. We all know I love love love a good friendship that is central to the story and has emotional impact. Also, all the parents of these teens were involved, and supportive of their children’s lives.
We talked about class and race and sexuality. Mostly through microaggressions and carelessness. There was also a scene that was wonderfully written after Arthur and Ben are harassed for super light PDA where Ben doesn’t want to touch Arthur that was awful to read but was written so well.
I loved the characters in this book. They felt so well developed and distinct. The character voices really made me quite happy.
This is not to say I didn’t love the plot. I loved this plot. It is adorable. The universe was talked about exactly how I talk about the universe but the message was the people make their world, not mysterious universe forces. I love a good grab hold of your destiny and try to influence what parts of it you can story.
I also love a Hamilton reference. And a Harry Potter one. And a Levine’s cookie shout out. Really any giant chocolate chip cookie (shout out Gideons Bakehouse in Orlando).
This was an adorable fun fast nerdy hopeful love story that I enjoyed reading so much.
I’m sure I would have criticism or more nuance but it’s 3:45 now and my whole body wants me to so to sleep.
Omg. And Obama.
I really enjoyed this book. It really is the kind of break your heart open as you watch this girl’s heart be broken by the world over and over.
The book starts out very insular. We almost never interact with another character because Shirin almost never interacts with her world. Other people’s voices are only shown on the page when they crack into her world on accident or because sheer force of will. Not even her family have an entrance to her interior world at first. And later in the book when Shirin is being attacked by the world she has started to open up to the prose begins to revert back into her head. At least that is what I think happens. If so it is done masterfully. And if you have read any of Tahereh Mafi’s previous books you know she likes to play with form.
The character development of Shirin was amazing. Mafi truly is a master. She was angry, and snarky, and full of love, and just felt so real. It was heartbreaking being introduced to this girl that was wearing so much figurative armor at all times that no one could reach her. And it was even more heartbreaking that she really did need that armor at times. But the book follows Shirin as she goes on a journey to letting parts of the world into her heart.
I do think that at the beginning I wasn’t feeling the romance quite as hard as I should have, but I got on board completely before Shirin did.
There was so much of this book I related to so hard. I was ecstatic when Shirin was watching Matlock. I loved Matlock as a child, I really should watch more Matlock. Also on a less adorable note, I have sort of been the white kid telling my middle eastern friend that I liked hummus. My hummus incident didn't happen quite the way Ocean's did. But I did bring an Israeli owned hummus brand to study with my Palestinian friend (hey Nabeha, sure you aren’t reading my review because law school). I have also asked tons of questions about religious practice and history, I do think these questions were welcomed and encouraged from my buddies but I also see how having to explain things can take a lot out of someone. Also, white people tip, ask if someone is in the mood to be asked a question and don't ask dumb stuff (think if you would feel weird if people asked you an equivalent, it's not that hard to not ask dumb stuff if you think before you speak) and don't ask something that could be easily googled. Or things that are massively emotionally taxing or time draining to ask, unless I guess your person is very ready for that.
This is just to say I loved this book. I am fairly certain that I will read this book again and again. I now need to stop writing because I believe I have a headache from eye strain.
The book starts out very insular. We almost never interact with another character because Shirin almost never interacts with her world. Other people’s voices are only shown on the page when they crack into her world on accident or because sheer force of will. Not even her family have an entrance to her interior world at first. And later in the book when Shirin is being attacked by the world she has started to open up to the prose begins to revert back into her head. At least that is what I think happens. If so it is done masterfully. And if you have read any of Tahereh Mafi’s previous books you know she likes to play with form.
The character development of Shirin was amazing. Mafi truly is a master. She was angry, and snarky, and full of love, and just felt so real. It was heartbreaking being introduced to this girl that was wearing so much figurative armor at all times that no one could reach her. And it was even more heartbreaking that she really did need that armor at times. But the book follows Shirin as she goes on a journey to letting parts of the world into her heart.
I do think that at the beginning I wasn’t feeling the romance quite as hard as I should have, but I got on board completely before Shirin did.
There was so much of this book I related to so hard. I was ecstatic when Shirin was watching Matlock. I loved Matlock as a child, I really should watch more Matlock. Also on a less adorable note, I have sort of been the white kid telling my middle eastern friend that I liked hummus. My hummus incident didn't happen quite the way Ocean's did. But I did bring an Israeli owned hummus brand to study with my Palestinian friend (hey Nabeha, sure you aren’t reading my review because law school). I have also asked tons of questions about religious practice and history, I do think these questions were welcomed and encouraged from my buddies but I also see how having to explain things can take a lot out of someone. Also, white people tip, ask if someone is in the mood to be asked a question and don't ask dumb stuff (think if you would feel weird if people asked you an equivalent, it's not that hard to not ask dumb stuff if you think before you speak) and don't ask something that could be easily googled. Or things that are massively emotionally taxing or time draining to ask, unless I guess your person is very ready for that.
This is just to say I loved this book. I am fairly certain that I will read this book again and again. I now need to stop writing because I believe I have a headache from eye strain.
Maybe more of a 4.5? Not quite sure.
This series is so great. It achieves exactly what it is trying to. It is fun and stressful and intense and has star crossed lovers on a war-torn planet on opposite sides. It's so much fun. It carries the plot from book one so well and builds the pieces in that wonderful way where you know more than the characters that is delightful and awful at the same time. I loved the new characters, and the setting was wonderful. These ladies know how to build a world. I will be less rambling later I am sick and not the best at concentration at the moment.
2021 reread: I have been listening to this series with my little sister while driving her places!
If I didn't feel strongly about not changing my Goodreads rating for rereads I would probably bump this one to four stars. Mostly just because some of the ways in which the dynamic between the rebels and the soldiers made me want more exploration from the narrative about those ideas than I received.
I still completely stand-by the idea that this story carried on the narrative from book one in such a wonderful way. I really like the element of the plot where the audience knows what's coming in a way that the characters do not. Then Kaufman and Spooner pull you into the story of Jubliee and Flynn in a way that makes you stop thinking about what is coming until you get to hints that remind you. I think that is very well done.
I am excited to finish the reread. I am having a good time rereading books I haven't in a very long time.
This series is so great. It achieves exactly what it is trying to. It is fun and stressful and intense and has star crossed lovers on a war-torn planet on opposite sides. It's so much fun. It carries the plot from book one so well and builds the pieces in that wonderful way where you know more than the characters that is delightful and awful at the same time. I loved the new characters, and the setting was wonderful. These ladies know how to build a world. I will be less rambling later I am sick and not the best at concentration at the moment.
2021 reread: I have been listening to this series with my little sister while driving her places!
If I didn't feel strongly about not changing my Goodreads rating for rereads I would probably bump this one to four stars. Mostly just because some of the ways in which the dynamic between the rebels and the soldiers made me want more exploration from the narrative about those ideas than I received.
I still completely stand-by the idea that this story carried on the narrative from book one in such a wonderful way. I really like the element of the plot where the audience knows what's coming in a way that the characters do not. Then Kaufman and Spooner pull you into the story of Jubliee and Flynn in a way that makes you stop thinking about what is coming until you get to hints that remind you. I think that is very well done.
I am excited to finish the reread. I am having a good time rereading books I haven't in a very long time.
This was a satisfying conclusion to this series! I don’t think I loved it as much as Warcross but I still found the book riveting.
I love the way Marie Lu writes people. Her characters are always so interesting and I genuinely cared about them! She did the morally gray thing this go around and I was shocked I actually managed to like that character. But I did. I like him.
I liked they ways in which you could see the real world in this future world. And the ways in which the future world is fantastical and full of wonder.
I don’t think I’m the best audience for mind control stuff still but I was more used to it in this book than the last one.
Also Marie Lu writes awesome action scenes. I am impressed every time. It’s like she can perfectly sync your breaths with the characters. Very impressive.
I still have two more Marie Lu books before I am 100% caught up. I am very excited to be caught up.
I love the way Marie Lu writes people. Her characters are always so interesting and I genuinely cared about them! She did the morally gray thing this go around and I was shocked I actually managed to like that character. But I did. I like him.
I liked they ways in which you could see the real world in this future world. And the ways in which the future world is fantastical and full of wonder.
I don’t think I’m the best audience for mind control stuff still but I was more used to it in this book than the last one.
Also Marie Lu writes awesome action scenes. I am impressed every time. It’s like she can perfectly sync your breaths with the characters. Very impressive.
I still have two more Marie Lu books before I am 100% caught up. I am very excited to be caught up.
Disclaimer: I think this would have been a 5 star book for me if I hadn’t 1. Waited like 3 years after book one to read this 2. Taken forever to read the book and 3. Listened to the audiobook.
I guess number two could be it just took me a while to get into the book, and I could have switched out of the audiobook (and I did at times) but I really do think this book was amazingly well written.
I love the characters in this book series. I had forgotten how deliciously awful people can be to each other in this series. How complicated each character is, and how deeply I sympathize with people who are taking objectively misguided actions. If you love an anti-hero, or love morally gray characters than this series is 100% for you. Lu can write a messed up character perfectly.
The first book follows Adelina escaping the many traumas of her childhood and clawing at the world to try to gain a family, she is mistrusting of people but also deeply craves connection. It is fascinating. This book Adelina is even more full of fury and craves revenge against the long list of people who have maligned her. You see her struggle with who to trust, we see her make the wrong decision but understand why she does it.
I loved the new characters. Especially Magiano. I obviously don’t see everything ending up happily for all of these character but I want him to be okay.
The relationship between Adelina and her sister, Violeta, was great to read. I loved the layers in it.
I will probably read one book in between this and The Midnight Sun, but I am so excited to finish out this series. After this is am completely caught up on all Marie Lu books!
I guess number two could be it just took me a while to get into the book, and I could have switched out of the audiobook (and I did at times) but I really do think this book was amazingly well written.
I love the characters in this book series. I had forgotten how deliciously awful people can be to each other in this series. How complicated each character is, and how deeply I sympathize with people who are taking objectively misguided actions. If you love an anti-hero, or love morally gray characters than this series is 100% for you. Lu can write a messed up character perfectly.
The first book follows Adelina escaping the many traumas of her childhood and clawing at the world to try to gain a family, she is mistrusting of people but also deeply craves connection. It is fascinating. This book Adelina is even more full of fury and craves revenge against the long list of people who have maligned her. You see her struggle with who to trust, we see her make the wrong decision but understand why she does it.
I loved the new characters. Especially Magiano. I obviously don’t see everything ending up happily for all of these character but I want him to be okay.
The relationship between Adelina and her sister, Violeta, was great to read. I loved the layers in it.
I will probably read one book in between this and The Midnight Sun, but I am so excited to finish out this series. After this is am completely caught up on all Marie Lu books!
Only draw back was it didn’t make my cry. But also it was like 50 pages and I spent a minute trying to place it exactly. But totally fun short story. Novella time soon.
I think I probably should have read this book and not listened to the audiobook. Which is odd because I really did like the narrators.
I think that the main thing that made me not give this book five stars is that the Gods stuff I couldn’t remember very well from the first novel. It might have been excellently set up (it was certainly set up in book 2) but I had such a long gap between reading book one and finishing the series. Also I don’t really like Violetta all that much. Don’t hate her. I just don’t know how to square her behavior as a child with Adelina’s forgiveness. I know the lesson of this book is not not let hate rot your soul or whatever but I think this should have been hashed out a little bit more. Adelina did wrong Violetta at the end of book two but Violetta seemed to get away with any of her own wrongs because of that and because she is sweet and innocent.
This sounds like I hated the book. I very much liked the book.
Again, I love Magiano. He is a fantastic character.
I love Adelina. I loved the ending. I love Teran. I loved the plot. I found the plot very clever. For a moment I was getting Well of Ascension vibes but I don’t know why, it has been YEARS since I read that book so I can not justify this thing my brain drew a comparison too.
I think when you have an antihero story that is so strong and wonderful it can feel a little disappointing when the antihero becomes heroic. I really loved the bitter angry vengeful Adelina, and I enjoyed her deterioration (plot and character wise, obviously it was a massive bummer) but I kind of wanted her to still be clawing for power at all costs. I guess I wanted an extra dash of villainy.
Still this was a solid ending to this series. And I am all caught up with Marie Lu! And I can’t wait for more Marie Lu! I love Marie Lu. I believe we are getting Kingdom of Back next year, that book sounds like it is going to kick so much ass. Also more Legend fall of 2019.
I think that the main thing that made me not give this book five stars is that the Gods stuff I couldn’t remember very well from the first novel. It might have been excellently set up (it was certainly set up in book 2) but I had such a long gap between reading book one and finishing the series. Also I don’t really like Violetta all that much. Don’t hate her. I just don’t know how to square her behavior as a child with Adelina’s forgiveness. I know the lesson of this book is not not let hate rot your soul or whatever but I think this should have been hashed out a little bit more. Adelina did wrong Violetta at the end of book two but Violetta seemed to get away with any of her own wrongs because of that and because she is sweet and innocent.
This sounds like I hated the book. I very much liked the book.
Again, I love Magiano. He is a fantastic character.
I love Adelina. I loved the ending. I love Teran. I loved the plot. I found the plot very clever. For a moment I was getting Well of Ascension vibes but I don’t know why, it has been YEARS since I read that book so I can not justify this thing my brain drew a comparison too.
I think when you have an antihero story that is so strong and wonderful it can feel a little disappointing when the antihero becomes heroic. I really loved the bitter angry vengeful Adelina, and I enjoyed her deterioration (plot and character wise, obviously it was a massive bummer) but I kind of wanted her to still be clawing for power at all costs. I guess I wanted an extra dash of villainy.
Still this was a solid ending to this series. And I am all caught up with Marie Lu! And I can’t wait for more Marie Lu! I love Marie Lu. I believe we are getting Kingdom of Back next year, that book sounds like it is going to kick so much ass. Also more Legend fall of 2019.
I love this series.
It did take me over a year to read this book. I mostly blame my inability to cope with the inciting incident (I am a bundle of nerves apparently) and having misplaced to book.
But having read most of the book today I can safely say I still love this series. It is witty and whimsical and I cannot wait to see what exactly is going on with the plot. And to see how all these people interact with each other back in London.
It did take me over a year to read this book. I mostly blame my inability to cope with the inciting incident (I am a bundle of nerves apparently) and having misplaced to book.
But having read most of the book today I can safely say I still love this series. It is witty and whimsical and I cannot wait to see what exactly is going on with the plot. And to see how all these people interact with each other back in London.
Starting off it needs to be known that I need the next book. That ending floored me. It was a perfect sudden but inevitable. The Ymbrines needed to not have unlimited power over the Peculiars, though obviously, the American system is not a good one either.
Another very interesting thing in this book was the slow undercurrent of the new big bad introduction. I can't really say much about the new big bad, mostly because they are still in the shadows, but I am very interested in this new plot line.
Jacob and Emma. I will admit I rocket between 'I love them' and 'I love them but it is a bit odd'. But their relationship in this book was so nuanced and interesting. I cried once in this book and it was during the first half of that conversation. The second half was amazing and angry and perfectly executed. And the way the book ended with their relationship. I am very interested to see where these two characters go.
Really the way this book ended with the relationships between Jacob and all of the children, and the children with each other were all interesting and all something that I am interested in the future of. This book continued to suffer a tiny bit from its larger cast, I am constantly being confused by which child is which child. Enoch is the grumpy necromancer ish dude? Who is apparently cute? Is he also the foodie? And Millard Nullings is the invisible boy. I could but putting the right last name for the invisible boy on the wrong child. But I don't think I am. The children all have different personalities and aren't one big mass but sometimes it is easier to lump them into one big mass plus Emma who is easy to separate. Because of the separation of the children in this book, it was easier to see them as individuals, but obviously, that only helped for the children that were with Jacob.
Despite my slight complaint that there are so many characters in this world one of my favorite parts of this book were the new characters. It does seem like I am trying to have my cake and eat it too with this juxtaposition, but the new characters are just so good. And because they are new I think the separation issue isn't there.
I specifically loved Paul. I am so bummed that we don't seem to be going to spend more time with Paul, but I would love to be wrong about this. Paul was an excellent character on his own, I am very interested in his peculiarity and his personality, but Paul was also the catalyst for Jacob to have to confront the legacy of racism in past and current America. I thought that direct connection to the past and present with Paul was a wonderful addition in a book series that has been quite white throughout. Not the whitest, but you can see Riggs adding more people in a manner that is maybe more thoughtful. Basically, I want a whole book of Paul. That is what I am saying.
Noor and Lilly are great as well! Loving more ladies, loving the disability rep, and we have an Indian American character. All this is wonderful. Love the flirtation that develops, hope we somehow get more of that but I have no idea how that would be possible. I ADORE that Noor takes no shit, she looks at the plot and says 'I see what you want me to do, but I am new and don't know you so politely fuck off' and I am so excited that we will 100% be seeing more of her. She is excellent.
The beginning was tense and upsetting and wonderful. Then I was a bit bored for a hot second. Then the mystery of this book begins to slowly unravel and really pull you through this action-packed last third.
I also loved the location hopping. Getting to see peculiar America was fantastic and I am so excited to get to experience more of this world.
If you liked the first trilogy then 100% jump into this, it seems like this ride is going to be awesome.
Another very interesting thing in this book was the slow undercurrent of the new big bad introduction. I can't really say much about the new big bad, mostly because they are still in the shadows, but I am very interested in this new plot line.
Jacob and Emma. I will admit I rocket between 'I love them' and 'I love them but it is a bit odd'. But their relationship in this book was so nuanced and interesting. I cried once in this book and it was during the first half of that conversation. The second half was amazing and angry and perfectly executed. And the way the book ended with their relationship. I am very interested to see where these two characters go.
Really the way this book ended with the relationships between Jacob and all of the children, and the children with each other were all interesting and all something that I am interested in the future of. This book continued to suffer a tiny bit from its larger cast, I am constantly being confused by which child is which child. Enoch is the grumpy necromancer ish dude? Who is apparently cute? Is he also the foodie? And Millard Nullings is the invisible boy. I could but putting the right last name for the invisible boy on the wrong child. But I don't think I am. The children all have different personalities and aren't one big mass but sometimes it is easier to lump them into one big mass plus Emma who is easy to separate. Because of the separation of the children in this book, it was easier to see them as individuals, but obviously, that only helped for the children that were with Jacob.
Despite my slight complaint that there are so many characters in this world one of my favorite parts of this book were the new characters. It does seem like I am trying to have my cake and eat it too with this juxtaposition, but the new characters are just so good. And because they are new I think the separation issue isn't there.
I specifically loved Paul.
Noor and Lilly are great as well! Loving more ladies, loving the disability rep, and we have an Indian American character. All this is wonderful. Love the flirtation that develops, hope we somehow get more of that but I have no idea how that would be possible. I ADORE that Noor takes no shit, she looks at the plot and says 'I see what you want me to do, but I am new and don't know you so politely fuck off' and I am so excited that we will 100% be seeing more of her. She is excellent.
The beginning was tense and upsetting and wonderful. Then I was a bit bored for a hot second. Then the mystery of this book begins to slowly unravel and really pull you through this action-packed last third.
I also loved the location hopping. Getting to see peculiar America was fantastic and I am so excited to get to experience more of this world.
If you liked the first trilogy then 100% jump into this, it seems like this ride is going to be awesome.