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bayleyreadsbooks's Reviews (530)
At about 3:30 pm yesterday I picked this book up on a whim! The movie tie-in was not super expensive and I had been meaning to read this book since it came out. Then I got home around 6. And I read this book (with a few interruptions for dinner and friends on the phone). And I really really liked this book.
Willowdean is an awesome main character. I love the southern sass, the confidence, the contradiction, the confusion, just all of her personality was amazing and dynamic. I really believed Willowdean was there. She was written excellently.
A lot of this book deals with body image in various forms, mostly with Willowdean learning how to feel confident and happy with her body in new situations. Willowdean begins the book telling you she is fat and confident and gtfo if you want to be rude to her about it, but as the novel goes on Willowdean's life brings her into situations that warp her confidence. I really loved the way Julie Murphy talked about Will's body. We read her describing her own body at times, but the really interesting part is when Will is talking about the bodies of those around her. We learn a lot about their appearances, Will's appearance, and the way Will currently feels about her own body by the way she thinks and talks about the bodies of those around her. This was brilliant of Julie Murphy. Everyone looks at others through the frame of their own bodies, and Murphy nails the way those thoughts can turn toxic.
The romance in this book is all sorts of cute. It is also interesting and nuanced and I loved it. I would like three books of just banter please and thank you. Bo is an excellent romantic interest. Dreamy and (once he gets his shit together) attentive and good at communication.
Also, I love Mitch. Mitch is like the sweetest boy ever and I really enjoyed that Murphy didn't write him to be evil and clearly a failure of a person next to Bo. Mitch genuinely cares about the women in his life, he is smart and nice and I love that.
The FRIENDSHIPS in this book. Ellen and Willowdean's friendship felt so real. I have a best friend since we were children and I really felt that that dynamic was written very well.
And the new group of friends. They were so much fun. And the work friends. And drag friends. I love a strong focus on friendship.
The family relationships were also interesting and dynamic and sweet and sad. Lucy's relationship with her sister and to Will was such a wonderful addition to the story. Will and her mom were the exact kind of at each others throat parent-child relationship that you totally believe.
Not it is 2 am and I must sleep. But I liked this book so much. Thanks world for pushing me to this book today.
Willowdean is an awesome main character. I love the southern sass, the confidence, the contradiction, the confusion, just all of her personality was amazing and dynamic. I really believed Willowdean was there. She was written excellently.
A lot of this book deals with body image in various forms, mostly with Willowdean learning how to feel confident and happy with her body in new situations. Willowdean begins the book telling you she is fat and confident and gtfo if you want to be rude to her about it, but as the novel goes on Willowdean's life brings her into situations that warp her confidence. I really loved the way Julie Murphy talked about Will's body. We read her describing her own body at times, but the really interesting part is when Will is talking about the bodies of those around her. We learn a lot about their appearances, Will's appearance, and the way Will currently feels about her own body by the way she thinks and talks about the bodies of those around her. This was brilliant of Julie Murphy. Everyone looks at others through the frame of their own bodies, and Murphy nails the way those thoughts can turn toxic.
The romance in this book is all sorts of cute. It is also interesting and nuanced and I loved it. I would like three books of just banter please and thank you. Bo is an excellent romantic interest. Dreamy and (once he gets his shit together) attentive and good at communication.
Also, I love Mitch. Mitch is like the sweetest boy ever and I really enjoyed that Murphy didn't write him to be evil and clearly a failure of a person next to Bo. Mitch genuinely cares about the women in his life, he is smart and nice and I love that.
The FRIENDSHIPS in this book. Ellen and Willowdean's friendship felt so real. I have a best friend since we were children and I really felt that that dynamic was written very well.
And the new group of friends. They were so much fun. And the work friends. And drag friends. I love a strong focus on friendship.
The family relationships were also interesting and dynamic and sweet and sad. Lucy's relationship with her sister and to Will was such a wonderful addition to the story. Will and her mom were the exact kind of at each others throat parent-child relationship that you totally believe.
Not it is 2 am and I must sleep. But I liked this book so much. Thanks world for pushing me to this book today.
Not sure what to rate this as a whole? Do I do majority: 5 stars or average: 4 stars? No idea. My heart wants 5 but better math says 4?
Snow and Mistletoe by Kasie West
Soooo cuteeeee.
I love a road trip. I love airports. I love friends. I love the popular boy plus semi shy girl trope. This was right up my alley. If someone was going to write me a boyfriend I might pick Kasie West.
Five stars.
Working in a Winter Wonderland by Aimee Friedman
This was also quite sweet! It obviously has a romance but it is a little more about the main characters relationship to consumerism and Hanukah and Christmas and realizing that she wants to like someone who likes her. And who isn’t vapid and useless. So I did quite like this one. The end was super adorable. Like super adorable. Super. Adorable. But the build up obviously couldn’t be that long with the page count and the other focuses of the plot.
Also I always love a story about a non-religiously and/or culturally Christian person dealing with the abundance of Christmas stuff. I love Christmas stuff but I am sure that seems a little lonely?
Four stars.
The Magi’s Gifts by Melissa de la Cruz
Conflicted feelings!
First off I cried. But I always cry in Gift of the Magi things. Like I can just be told the story and I will cry. So when I see Gift of the Magi inspired thing I don’t really feel like my emotional reaction was earned. It might have been. But like no part of the story surprised me really.
I read one book by de la Cruz wayyyy back in the day. And I did not enjoy that book. I thought I never finished it but I rated it on goodreads so I must have finished it. It’s totally fine for Melissa de la Cruz to write books that aren’t for me. They are for other people and that’s totally fine.
I do not enjoy the “this is exactly what my boyfriend looks like, listen as I describe 85% of his body, now I shall tell you exactly what I look like” thing this story does. It is like contemporary info dump done without deftness. Short stories have limited word count so maybe I don’t need eight words to describe the main characters hair color. Again de la Cruz is not for me I don’t think.
I don’t know much about de la Cruz but I didn’t find the way she talked about wealth inequality to be very deep. I know limited space but I just felt sort of icky.
I felt that the main characters arc was not done exceptionally well. Like it’s nice that she decided not to mind what the mean kids say about her and her boyfriend but I just didn’t feel it.
Two stars.
Grounded by Nic Stone
Well it’s been confirmed that I MUST read all of Nic Stone. Her books shall be atop my Christmas/birthday wishlist!
This story was freaking cute. First off: I love the Atlanta airport. I have only really been there for a significant amount of time once (and I was semi taking care of my airsick mother) but I loved it. I always want a layover in Atlanta. And this story was a scavenger hunt through the airport. Now I have to more properly explore the airport. But this was such a cute idea.
Also queer black girl romance. I loved that a big part of this story was about Leigh feeling seen in all facets of herself. That is such a lovely message very expertly put into this book. This story was perfectly ambitious without being overfull. Clearly I loved it.
Adorable romance will get me every time. Also teared up. And laughed I’m pretty sure.
Five stars.
Snow and Mistletoe by Kasie West
Soooo cuteeeee.
I love a road trip. I love airports. I love friends. I love the popular boy plus semi shy girl trope. This was right up my alley. If someone was going to write me a boyfriend I might pick Kasie West.
Five stars.
Working in a Winter Wonderland by Aimee Friedman
This was also quite sweet! It obviously has a romance but it is a little more about the main characters relationship to consumerism and Hanukah and Christmas and realizing that she wants to like someone who likes her. And who isn’t vapid and useless. So I did quite like this one. The end was super adorable. Like super adorable. Super. Adorable. But the build up obviously couldn’t be that long with the page count and the other focuses of the plot.
Also I always love a story about a non-religiously and/or culturally Christian person dealing with the abundance of Christmas stuff. I love Christmas stuff but I am sure that seems a little lonely?
Four stars.
The Magi’s Gifts by Melissa de la Cruz
Conflicted feelings!
First off I cried. But I always cry in Gift of the Magi things. Like I can just be told the story and I will cry. So when I see Gift of the Magi inspired thing I don’t really feel like my emotional reaction was earned. It might have been. But like no part of the story surprised me really.
I read one book by de la Cruz wayyyy back in the day. And I did not enjoy that book. I thought I never finished it but I rated it on goodreads so I must have finished it. It’s totally fine for Melissa de la Cruz to write books that aren’t for me. They are for other people and that’s totally fine.
I do not enjoy the “this is exactly what my boyfriend looks like, listen as I describe 85% of his body, now I shall tell you exactly what I look like” thing this story does. It is like contemporary info dump done without deftness. Short stories have limited word count so maybe I don’t need eight words to describe the main characters hair color. Again de la Cruz is not for me I don’t think.
I don’t know much about de la Cruz but I didn’t find the way she talked about wealth inequality to be very deep. I know limited space but I just felt sort of icky.
I felt that the main characters arc was not done exceptionally well. Like it’s nice that she decided not to mind what the mean kids say about her and her boyfriend but I just didn’t feel it.
Two stars.
Grounded by Nic Stone
Well it’s been confirmed that I MUST read all of Nic Stone. Her books shall be atop my Christmas/birthday wishlist!
This story was freaking cute. First off: I love the Atlanta airport. I have only really been there for a significant amount of time once (and I was semi taking care of my airsick mother) but I loved it. I always want a layover in Atlanta. And this story was a scavenger hunt through the airport. Now I have to more properly explore the airport. But this was such a cute idea.
Also queer black girl romance. I loved that a big part of this story was about Leigh feeling seen in all facets of herself. That is such a lovely message very expertly put into this book. This story was perfectly ambitious without being overfull. Clearly I loved it.
Adorable romance will get me every time. Also teared up. And laughed I’m pretty sure.
Five stars.
This book picks up two weeks after the last moments of Unearthed, Mia and Jules are hiding in the walls of the spaceship that is now orbiting Earth and packed full of Undying. Our heroes must find out the plan of the Undying, get themselves to earth, convince people they aren’t crazy, and stop the Undying from taking over Earth.
I would recommend this series to anyone who likes ban together humanity to save Earth science fiction, other planet exploration, puzzles, and also to the person who likes a little romance in their SciFi.
With the way Unearthed ended I assumed that this book was going to feel more like the second half of a book than a sequel/end of a series. But I was wrong about that. This book definitely felt like it’s own story (that obviously depended on Unearthed because the nature of series but I think you are picking up what I’m putting down).
I absolutely flew through the first half of this book. I loved the way the relationships between Mia and Jules and Dex and Atlanta played off each other. I loved the addition of Neal, everyone loves a clever sarcastic supporting character. And everyone has a friend with a ton of followers because of thirst trap pictures.
I really really enjoyed parts of the gangs travels to Prague, it was often fraught and also managed to lean towards the theme of working together.
For a reason I’m not sure about, the last 1/3-1/4 of the book I had a really hard time keeping focus. I cried a tear or two at the sad bit (though with these authors I never really believe they will actually kill someone. I really really want them to surprise me with that though) but having already have read Starbound, Hunted, Unearthed, and the Illuminae Files I tend to expect the ending to pull a couple punches. I am getting over my interest in authors ‘killing’ characters. If you want the emotional impact of killing a character, maybe actually kill them.
This is not to say I hated the ending, I found the ending sweet and lovely. I liked the message of trust and that we should make every attempt to work together to overcome massive global problems currently facing us. I appreciated the small nod to the people who aren’t down with that goal, and I like the optimistic note on which the book ended.
One thing I missed in this book that I normally get from Kaufman and Spooner books was a real sense of place. I was confused about our location a few times and I really expected a more immersive feel to being in Prague. Normally I really understand the locations of the characters in their books, but I was a bit underwhelmed with the setting.
I am very of two minds about the Undying aren’t aliens revelation. I feel like I would have liked it better if we hadn’t been misdirected at the beginning of the novel with the blue blood thing. If we had been given a clue in Undying that could have let the reader figure out that it’s fake (obviously we know about the trip 60 years earlier but I would have appreciated something about the blue). I didn’t find the fact that the first books ended with “whatttt they aren’t aliens?!??” and then this book did the same thing again. Why have Unearthed end on that revelation if you were just going to undo it immediately in Undying?
Back to positives! I found this book pretty funny. I really enjoyed the multiple attempts of the teenagers to let the adults save the world, I thought that was a very funny play on the teens save the world thing that always happens in YA. The way the characters interacted with each other was often quite funny, especially when we add Neal into the picture. He was also an excellent way to prevent kissing and keep the romantic tension going.
I do wish I liked this book a little more than I did, but I still did enjoy myself. Haven’t decided on a rating, probably four because I would have given the first half a five and the second a three.
I am very excited to read whatever these two have put next! Together and separately of course. The Other Side of the Sky comes out in 2020. Meagan Spooners Sherwood (a gender-bent Robin Hood retelling) comes out in March, along with Amie Kaufman’s sequel to her middle grade I haven’t read yet (but will get on very soon). Kaufman’s new series with Jay Kristoff, Aurora Rising, kicks off in May. So much from these two to be excited about.
I would recommend this series to anyone who likes ban together humanity to save Earth science fiction, other planet exploration, puzzles, and also to the person who likes a little romance in their SciFi.
With the way Unearthed ended I assumed that this book was going to feel more like the second half of a book than a sequel/end of a series. But I was wrong about that. This book definitely felt like it’s own story (that obviously depended on Unearthed because the nature of series but I think you are picking up what I’m putting down).
I absolutely flew through the first half of this book. I loved the way the relationships between Mia and Jules and Dex and Atlanta played off each other. I loved the addition of Neal, everyone loves a clever sarcastic supporting character. And everyone has a friend with a ton of followers because of thirst trap pictures.
I really really enjoyed parts of the gangs travels to Prague, it was often fraught and also managed to lean towards the theme of working together.
For a reason I’m not sure about, the last 1/3-1/4 of the book I had a really hard time keeping focus. I cried a tear or two at the sad bit (though with these authors I never really believe they will actually kill someone. I really really want them to surprise me with that though) but having already have read Starbound, Hunted, Unearthed, and the Illuminae Files I tend to expect the ending to pull a couple punches. I am getting over my interest in authors ‘killing’ characters. If you want the emotional impact of killing a character, maybe actually kill them.
This is not to say I hated the ending, I found the ending sweet and lovely. I liked the message of trust and that we should make every attempt to work together to overcome massive global problems currently facing us. I appreciated the small nod to the people who aren’t down with that goal, and I like the optimistic note on which the book ended.
One thing I missed in this book that I normally get from Kaufman and Spooner books was a real sense of place. I was confused about our location a few times and I really expected a more immersive feel to being in Prague. Normally I really understand the locations of the characters in their books, but I was a bit underwhelmed with the setting.
I am very of two minds about the Undying aren’t aliens revelation. I feel like I would have liked it better if we hadn’t been misdirected at the beginning of the novel with the blue blood thing. If we had been given a clue in Undying that could have let the reader figure out that it’s fake (obviously we know about the trip 60 years earlier but I would have appreciated something about the blue). I didn’t find the fact that the first books ended with “whatttt they aren’t aliens?!??” and then this book did the same thing again. Why have Unearthed end on that revelation if you were just going to undo it immediately in Undying?
Back to positives! I found this book pretty funny. I really enjoyed the multiple attempts of the teenagers to let the adults save the world, I thought that was a very funny play on the teens save the world thing that always happens in YA. The way the characters interacted with each other was often quite funny, especially when we add Neal into the picture. He was also an excellent way to prevent kissing and keep the romantic tension going.
I do wish I liked this book a little more than I did, but I still did enjoy myself. Haven’t decided on a rating, probably four because I would have given the first half a five and the second a three.
I am very excited to read whatever these two have put next! Together and separately of course. The Other Side of the Sky comes out in 2020. Meagan Spooners Sherwood (a gender-bent Robin Hood retelling) comes out in March, along with Amie Kaufman’s sequel to her middle grade I haven’t read yet (but will get on very soon). Kaufman’s new series with Jay Kristoff, Aurora Rising, kicks off in May. So much from these two to be excited about.
This book takes MAYBE 20 minutes to read. There is also the TED talk version of this book which also isn’t very long.
I kind of want like 30 of these to just had to people when they say something so basically dumb about feminism. This essay is a great tiny primer on feminism.
It is also baffling that feminism at its most mild can still cause people to spin into rage. Or just to shake their head condescendingly and think you a silly person.
I kind of want like 30 of these to just had to people when they say something so basically dumb about feminism. This essay is a great tiny primer on feminism.
It is also baffling that feminism at its most mild can still cause people to spin into rage. Or just to shake their head condescendingly and think you a silly person.
Normally I write these so anyone could read at least most of it and not be spoiled. But I am currently BURSTING with emotions and I feel like maybe my emotional ranting might be a spoiler. Even though I do not plan to outright spoil anything.
Go buy this book. Read it when you have six hours where you can finish the whole book. Some of that is for reading, an hour is for the break you will need because surely your brain has overheated, and some of it is so you can put the book down and say "whattttttttttt" for 45 seconds before you continue reading.
Go read the book then come back and read my raving.
Unless you don't want to do that. I don't think I will be spoiling anything explicitly.
This was a MIND FUCK.
My mind was so fucked that I was sure basically everyone in this book had done something approaching murder at at least one point in the book. There was a point where I thought maybe a five-year-old was straight up evil.
And by the time I finished the book, I felt legitimate fear. I am literally a little shakey because I am so freaked out.
Something not freaky: I loved the way Hoover talked about authors and their relationships to their readers, their publishing people, and the people they know in real life. I particularly enjoyed the stuff about how authors are not their characters. Also, I have been so mind fucked. Just so we all remember.
This book made me feel fear many many times, but it was also sort of hilarious. Hoover builds tension incredibly well, and she lets you chill the fuck out by making you straight up cackle regularly. Also, I liked the romantic bits, particularly one part I was legit swooning. Of course on the next page, I was sure we were going to find out he had killed everyone ever, so back to the fact that this book was a mind fuck.
Hoover clearly could anticipate the reader's expectations because she was constantly able to subvert them. She had me second guessing stuff so hard. And the genius part was I was second guessing different things than the narrator was. At one point I was at the "maybe the whole book is a lie and nothing is real and this is a crazy fever dream" state. That is how hard I was mind fucked.
This book is a masterclass in manipulation. On like seven layers.
Please go read this book. Then join in with me as we all scream "JDNDJIDIOJWBDKOWIQISHWBDGGUD" while we try to figure out what to do with our limbs. What is real. Who. What. AJDNWIWIKSOHDUODWP.
Go buy this book. Read it when you have six hours where you can finish the whole book. Some of that is for reading, an hour is for the break you will need because surely your brain has overheated, and some of it is so you can put the book down and say "whattttttttttt" for 45 seconds before you continue reading.
Go read the book then come back and read my raving.
Unless you don't want to do that. I don't think I will be spoiling anything explicitly.
This was a MIND FUCK.
My mind was so fucked that I was sure basically everyone in this book had done something approaching murder at at least one point in the book. There was a point where I thought maybe a five-year-old was straight up evil.
And by the time I finished the book, I felt legitimate fear. I am literally a little shakey because I am so freaked out.
Something not freaky: I loved the way Hoover talked about authors and their relationships to their readers, their publishing people, and the people they know in real life. I particularly enjoyed the stuff about how authors are not their characters. Also, I have been so mind fucked. Just so we all remember.
This book made me feel fear many many times, but it was also sort of hilarious. Hoover builds tension incredibly well, and she lets you chill the fuck out by making you straight up cackle regularly. Also, I liked the romantic bits, particularly one part I was legit swooning. Of course on the next page, I was sure we were going to find out he had killed everyone ever, so back to the fact that this book was a mind fuck.
Hoover clearly could anticipate the reader's expectations because she was constantly able to subvert them. She had me second guessing stuff so hard. And the genius part was I was second guessing different things than the narrator was. At one point I was at the "maybe the whole book is a lie and nothing is real and this is a crazy fever dream" state. That is how hard I was mind fucked.
This book is a masterclass in manipulation. On like seven layers.
Please go read this book. Then join in with me as we all scream "JDNDJIDIOJWBDKOWIQISHWBDGGUD" while we try to figure out what to do with our limbs. What is real. Who. What. AJDNWIWIKSOHDUODWP.
I have been on a streak of reading awesome books. I was very happy to continue that with this book.
First off, I cried five times. New thing I like to try to keep track of.
This book is both incredibly easy to read (a credit to Nic Stone’s ability and creativity as a writer), and hard to read (a credit to Nic Stone’s ability to tap into the injustice that affects the life of Black men specifically).
You must go read this book. It took me between 2 and 3 hours to read and the formatting of the novel really causes the reader to absolutely fly through the novel.
This book really made me want to go out and but Nic Stone's other books!
First off, I cried five times. New thing I like to try to keep track of.
This book is both incredibly easy to read (a credit to Nic Stone’s ability and creativity as a writer), and hard to read (a credit to Nic Stone’s ability to tap into the injustice that affects the life of Black men specifically).
You must go read this book. It took me between 2 and 3 hours to read and the formatting of the novel really causes the reader to absolutely fly through the novel.
This book really made me want to go out and but Nic Stone's other books!
Again I don't quite know how to catalog my thoughts on this book.
I like a lot about this book! I liked Nikolai, I am now crazy excited to get to King of Scars. David all day every day. I like the character arc Alina has gone through so far, I appreciate her growth as a character and find it to be well done. I like that a lot of Alina and Mal's relationship problems are so normal, not having enough time for each other, keeping small secrets until they snowball into an unwieldy thing, wanting the other to just know what you need without having to put the emotional labor in. I like the pokemonesque collecting of the special animals (with the decidedly non-pokemon murder that follows).
I don't really love a few things about it. I still find the world a bit underdeveloped, the magic isn't used on the page often enough to really understand its limits and it's costs really don't seem to be actual in any circumstance except what happens to Alina at the end of the novel. I did appreciate the deeper look into Grisha and normal people being able to combine their strengths, I would have found this a little more compelling if I had a better understanding of the magic that non-Alina characters possess. Also, I know why I should find Alina's powers crazy cool but for some reason my brain just kind of puts her into the category of human lamp.
I still don't like the Darkling. Villians gonna villain obviously but I just don't see why this villain is presented in such a way that a seemingly large number of people are seduced by the sexy fascist thing. I feel like the theme of concentrated power is corrupting isn't hammered home quite as much as I would prefer. Though I was also annoyed at the foreshadowing for some events that I had already guessed what was coming for so I guess I am sort of being a hypocrite.
The ending of the book really sold it for me. I thought the plotting for this book was very well executed. The cascade of events of the finale and the parts just proceeding it made me want to sprint my way to the end. In the awesome devouring a book way. I love the third person closing of the novel, I love where the plot is headed, I am genuinely interested to find out where the next book leads.
I feel both like I am way too harsh on this series and that I am going easy on it. This is a series I very much wish I had read when I was younger, or just when I had read less secondary world fantasy, I think I might have had a significantly different reading experience with the first book and the first third of this book. But I am enjoying a lot about this series and I am determined to be caught up on Leigh Bardugo's books asap.
I am landing on more positive than balanced. I am optimistic about my continued enjoyment of Leigh Bardugo.
I like a lot about this book! I liked Nikolai, I am now crazy excited to get to King of Scars. David all day every day. I like the character arc Alina has gone through so far, I appreciate her growth as a character and find it to be well done. I like that a lot of Alina and Mal's relationship problems are so normal, not having enough time for each other, keeping small secrets until they snowball into an unwieldy thing, wanting the other to just know what you need without having to put the emotional labor in. I like the pokemonesque collecting of the special animals (with the decidedly non-pokemon murder that follows).
I don't really love a few things about it. I still find the world a bit underdeveloped, the magic isn't used on the page often enough to really understand its limits and it's costs really don't seem to be actual in any circumstance except what happens to Alina at the end of the novel. I did appreciate the deeper look into Grisha and normal people being able to combine their strengths, I would have found this a little more compelling if I had a better understanding of the magic that non-Alina characters possess. Also, I know why I should find Alina's powers crazy cool but for some reason my brain just kind of puts her into the category of human lamp.
I still don't like the Darkling. Villians gonna villain obviously but I just don't see why this villain is presented in such a way that a seemingly large number of people are seduced by the sexy fascist thing. I feel like the theme of concentrated power is corrupting isn't hammered home quite as much as I would prefer. Though I was also annoyed at the foreshadowing for some events that I had already guessed what was coming for so I guess I am sort of being a hypocrite.
The ending of the book really sold it for me. I thought the plotting for this book was very well executed. The cascade of events of the finale and the parts just proceeding it made me want to sprint my way to the end. In the awesome devouring a book way. I love the third person closing of the novel, I love where the plot is headed, I am genuinely interested to find out where the next book leads.
I feel both like I am way too harsh on this series and that I am going easy on it. This is a series I very much wish I had read when I was younger, or just when I had read less secondary world fantasy, I think I might have had a significantly different reading experience with the first book and the first third of this book. But I am enjoying a lot about this series and I am determined to be caught up on Leigh Bardugo's books asap.
I am landing on more positive than balanced. I am optimistic about my continued enjoyment of Leigh Bardugo.
I really enjoyed myself reading this conclusion to the series!
I super love the theme of concentrated power is inherently corrupting. Do I think this was perfectly executed throughout the whole series? No. Might that be because of the people I was exposed to before I read the series? Maybe at least in part. I don't think the balance of sympathetic villain with ensuring the reader is shown that tyranny/fascism/manipulation is not cool was done perfectly. But I did like the way the series ended with it. So, I guess I don't think the series as a whole nailed that perfectly but I really think this book did. Which is why I think this book is divisive in the circles I run in on the internet.
This book did add a lot to the world, I felt more depth that I was missing in earlier books. I still think the cost of both Grisha powers and merzost most of the time didn't feel like they really had a cost. Or just that I didn't grasp their depth and use very well. But this book did convince me that Alina was more than just a human lamp (who can also cut people in half). I love the little sprinkles of irl science explaining Alina's magic usage. That was excellent. Also, I feel a bit bad about the human lamp comment and want to clarify that that is a bit tongue-in-cheek.
As always, Leigh Bardugo writes very well. It is so impressive to be able to write a book that is so easy and enjoyable to read, and from what I have heard she only gets better over time. I am completely pulled through each novel with abandon and I love that.
I love the characters of this series! I am so excited to be able to see at least some of them again in the future. I like that I have been introduced to people I could dislike then grown to be very fond of as their connections to each other grow. I tend to be a little heard hearted with betrayal but I liked that this book made me forgive and understand a lot of the characters.
I also love grumpy old women. Baghra is a fascinating character that I am obsessed with. She is like the chief example of the way people can overlook and enable others faults, and how you can excuse the inexcusable if you try hard enough. She did terrible things, had terrible things done to her, was a fabulous teacher, and was the most grumpy human ever. I love her.
I liked the plot of this book so much! Again, I did think some of the foreshadowing was a little heavyhanded (as SOON as you hear the story about Baghra's sister you KNOW Mal is related) but aside from that, I had a pretty great time. I liked the romance, I liked the friendship, I LOVE a good cult formation, and I love a quest.
Basically, I liked this book a lot. No one really needs to be told that Leigh Bardugo is someone they should read, because they already know it, but, I shall be added to the hoard of people who adore her.
And I cried three times. Love it when books make me cry.
I am so excited to continue to live in this world. Six of Crows here I come!
I super love the theme of concentrated power is inherently corrupting. Do I think this was perfectly executed throughout the whole series? No. Might that be because of the people I was exposed to before I read the series? Maybe at least in part. I don't think the balance of sympathetic villain with ensuring the reader is shown that tyranny/fascism/manipulation is not cool was done perfectly. But I did like the way the series ended with it. So, I guess I don't think the series as a whole nailed that perfectly but I really think this book did. Which is why I think this book is divisive in the circles I run in on the internet.
This book did add a lot to the world, I felt more depth that I was missing in earlier books. I still think the cost of both Grisha powers and merzost most of the time didn't feel like they really had a cost. Or just that I didn't grasp their depth and use very well. But this book did convince me that Alina was more than just a human lamp (who can also cut people in half). I love the little sprinkles of irl science explaining Alina's magic usage. That was excellent. Also, I feel a bit bad about the human lamp comment and want to clarify that that is a bit tongue-in-cheek.
As always, Leigh Bardugo writes very well. It is so impressive to be able to write a book that is so easy and enjoyable to read, and from what I have heard she only gets better over time. I am completely pulled through each novel with abandon and I love that.
I love the characters of this series! I am so excited to be able to see at least some of them again in the future. I like that I have been introduced to people I could dislike then grown to be very fond of as their connections to each other grow. I tend to be a little heard hearted with betrayal but I liked that this book made me forgive and understand a lot of the characters.
I also love grumpy old women. Baghra is a fascinating character that I am obsessed with. She is like the chief example of the way people can overlook and enable others faults, and how you can excuse the inexcusable if you try hard enough. She did terrible things, had terrible things done to her, was a fabulous teacher, and was the most grumpy human ever. I love her.
I liked the plot of this book so much! Again, I did think some of the foreshadowing was a little heavyhanded (as SOON as you hear the story about Baghra's sister you KNOW Mal is related) but aside from that, I had a pretty great time. I liked the romance, I liked the friendship, I LOVE a good cult formation, and I love a quest.
Basically, I liked this book a lot. No one really needs to be told that Leigh Bardugo is someone they should read, because they already know it, but, I shall be added to the hoard of people who adore her.
And I cried three times. Love it when books make me cry.
I am so excited to continue to live in this world. Six of Crows here I come!
Part of me wants to enumerate all of the parts I found fantastic. But I don’t think that would be useful because I’m sure they are the parts you found fantastic. And the same with all of the parts I found heartbreaking, earth-shattering, or just too intense for words. This book had intense everything. The schemes just kept becoming higher stakes. Our criminals kept digging themselves deeper into hero territory. Until their actions would become delightfully criminal and again. There was a greater good and there was deep personal vengeance.
The absolute genius of this book is that every time it becomes bigger it also becomes more personal. And that is why so many people care so deeply about these books. And why I am kicking myself for taking such a long time to actually begin to read them.
This book was a straight up roller coaster. That is an overused metaphor but oh my god it is true here. In a span of fifty pages near the end of the novel I single teared, sobbed, 2 pages later laughed hysterically, was overcome with adorable romance, then sobbed again. The whole book is full of very high highs and low lows, you feel all the emotions and are absolutely compelled to turn the next page.
I love every character. I will riot if I never get to see any of them again. But I also feel like these two books so perfectly work together that I also kind of would be happy if they never got more play. But if rumors of a potential book three end up being actualized I will, of course, take off work and spend all day reading it and crying. And I can hope at least some people pop into King of Scars.
The absolute genius of this book is that every time it becomes bigger it also becomes more personal. And that is why so many people care so deeply about these books. And why I am kicking myself for taking such a long time to actually begin to read them.
This book was a straight up roller coaster. That is an overused metaphor but oh my god it is true here. In a span of fifty pages near the end of the novel I single teared, sobbed, 2 pages later laughed hysterically, was overcome with adorable romance, then sobbed again. The whole book is full of very high highs and low lows, you feel all the emotions and are absolutely compelled to turn the next page.
I love every character. I will riot if I never get to see any of them again. But I also feel like these two books so perfectly work together that I also kind of would be happy if they never got more play. But if rumors of a potential book three end up being actualized I will, of course, take off work and spend all day reading it and crying. And I can hope at least some people pop into King of Scars.
Gosh, I just don't know what to say about this book.
I have FLOWN through the Grishaverse books. And being caught up is wonderful and terrible. Now I have to wait like everyone else. And that ending. THAT ENDING.
We will get there soon.
First, I really liked the pacing for this book! I have seen some reviews from people who did not but I really felt pulled into the story in the same way I have with the rest of the Grishaverse books. Even when I am not enjoying something in the series I have never had an issue with the pacing. And I really loved the flashbacks. I felt they added a lot to the characters and progressed the plot. I was interested and invested the whole way through.
The characters! We all know Nikolai, Nina, and Zoya have been very dear to me throughout the series. They are massive fan favorites for a reason. I was ELATED to see these characters being POV characters, and I found Isaak to be absolutely precious. His genuine want to help, lack of knowledge that was needed, and desire for connection really endeared me to him.
Nina. My love. My wonderful heartbroken waffle loving warrior. Who is now demonstrably bisexual. By that I mean now it is certainly on the page that she is bisexual, and not that you have to prove bisexuality. I loved her journey. When I think about Fjerda I think about all the Grisha who are also Fjerdian and how historically in the places with the most oppression there is also the strongest networks of people fighting it there in the place it happens. And I think Nina is drawn to both trying to understand people different from herself and to being a part of protection. I loved watching her be equal parts fascinated by Fjerdia and repulsed by it. Witnessing her wrestle with these complicated concepts was so wonderful. Seeing the ways she was shaped by other characters we know, and watching her point herself down the path I assume the next book will take has been top notch. Watching her dive more fully into her power, and seeing her so invested in the women who had been so deeply wroged was so wonderful and heartbeaking. I cannot wait for more Nina. Also, I certainly did the most sobbing in Nina chapters. Though everyone got me to cry at least once.
Zoya. She is terrifying, mean, ruthless, and focused. Which is why she is also crazy attractive. I don't really care when a book says a character is hot, like it adds information to who they are and how they interact but it doesn't affect how I think about them because I cannot see them. But just reading about Zoya is attractive. Her character absolutely draws you in. I think her backstory was one of the highlights of King of Scars. I was floored by her. I am so glad to see the progression of this character. She was totally a beautiful romantic rival caricature at some points in the Grisha Trilogy and getting to know her much deeper has been a major joy of this book. She is so competent. But she still totally had flaws! Her inability to look past her shame and anger and really see Yuri is part of the reason the ending could happen. And the Juris part. That was badass and heartbreaking. I love how smart she is. Come back later for my TED talk on why I am obsessed with Zoya. Last thing. She deserves to be Queen. We need a Grisha Queen. She loved Ravka and I love her.
Nikolai! The King of Scars himself. Obviously, the majority of this story was about him. The emotional thrust of the novel was him battling his inner demons. Literal and physical. I loved reading about the ways all the characters were handling their myriad of trauma that life had heaped upon them. I really felt the roiling emotions and the difficulty in processing them while still being crushed by the weight of the new world they are dealing with. He is also obviously flawed! The ending would not have been possible if he was not so sure that Yuri would behave in the manner Nikolai wanted. He can be self-centered which leads to underestimating others. How did they not put together that Zoya was brought for Juris to teach, Nikolai was brought for Darkling reasons, and Yuri was there why? I was SCREAMING this at my book for like 200 pages. We finally get a vegetarian and he is terrible.
Back to Nikolai. I just love this character. Obviously, everyone loves an underdog. And Leigh Bardugo has done an excellent job crafting a character so full of privilege but also so incredibly aware of how close he is to being utterly unimportant, unloved, and unrespected. I am so excited for the conclusion of his journey.
Leoni is wonderful and I want the whole world to nurture her amazing self. I love her relentlessly happy self. And I loved the Jesper connection.
Adrik is so grumpy. I loved this human embodiment of a storm cloud. I am going to be so sad if we don't get more Adrik and Leoni in the next book.
Hanne was fascinating. I knew how her father was IMMEDIATELY upon a mention of her family, but I still enjoyed the build-up to that reveal. It was only a little frustrating that it took Nina so long to find out. She was such an amazing portrait of someone grappling with who they are. We got to see her wrestle with how the world is, how she wants it to be, and how to square loving people with hating what they hold dear. I was particularly impressed with the way she dealt with gender politics, I thought that was so well done by Bardugo.
The Well Mother. Loved that ending for her. My vengeful ass was so down.
Tolya. I want a whole book of Tolya just being the wonderful human he is while the rest of the world realizes this and vociferously adores his every action. I would also be down for a Tamar and Nadia romcom.
I am also obviously interested in the storyline going forward with Princess Ehri. I don't think she will actually end up Queen of Ravka, but I don't think I would be angry if I was wrong here. I have long wanted more on the page interaction with Shu Han and its people, and this is the perfect opportunity! I love Tolya and Tamar, but we totally needed more Shu! And the fighting instructor was Shu. I cannot remember his name at the moment. I also am interested to see what this horrifying situation does to Mayu.
I hate you Yuri. I am rallying the vegetarians to officially sanction you. I am just so not into the appeal of fascism. It is obviously important to show the allure of this world view, and to demonstrate why it is not righteous and how truly self-serving it is to such a small number of people. Especially now. But I am still so disgusted by it. I also low key think he might have been throwing shade at parts of the fandom. Maybe.
Couple critiques of this book. First, it mostly seems like the Nina storyline could have almost been its own book. I didn't mind this, and I assume they will become more integrated in the next book somehow but this book only seemed to set that up. Obviously, Nina is going to be more fully involved because of the man claiming to be the real heir to the throne. Second, I still think Bardugo foreshadows a little too heavy-handed. I do want to feel like a genius and figure it out before the character does, but I don't want to know 200 pages before they do. Unless she is doing that on purpose and she wants me to feel that frustration? But I don't think that is the case in the things that rub me the wrong way. Third, and this is more of the series as a whole, are their any people of color who are main characters (or even secondary characters) who don’t end up with a white person? Seems like all the POC are in relationships with white people. And obviously interracial relationships are wonderful, and I have really been so down with all the couples of this world, but maybe one person of color could also be into another person of color? And I am open to having massively overlooked someone. But that thought kept popping into my head while reading.
Now the end. WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK.
I am not really a fan of bringing back the previous big bad. It is a trope I do not tend to enjoy. I MUCH prefer an approach that shows the way different people can embody the same corruption. I think essentially bringing back the Darkling potentially cheapens Ruin and Rising, and puts the audience in a space where nothing is final but also where evil is pinpointed onto just one person. But I also super cannot pass judgment on this until I read the next book. And I am going to choose to trust Leigh Bardugo until a point where I am proven wrong. I would just be disappointed if something in the next book were to retcon the epilogue of Ruin and Rising. Like how could Alina know about this and it not be given a line "everything was fantastic and magical and wonderful being awesome people who run an orphanage except for that little blip where the Darkling came back despite all the bullshit I had dealt with before. But everyone else fixed it this time so no worries!"
I feel both like I have gone on too long and that I have not even touched upon all my feelings. But I am going to leave it here! So invested in this world, so ready for more.
I have FLOWN through the Grishaverse books. And being caught up is wonderful and terrible. Now I have to wait like everyone else. And that ending. THAT ENDING.
We will get there soon.
First, I really liked the pacing for this book! I have seen some reviews from people who did not but I really felt pulled into the story in the same way I have with the rest of the Grishaverse books. Even when I am not enjoying something in the series I have never had an issue with the pacing. And I really loved the flashbacks. I felt they added a lot to the characters and progressed the plot. I was interested and invested the whole way through.
The characters! We all know Nikolai, Nina, and Zoya have been very dear to me throughout the series. They are massive fan favorites for a reason. I was ELATED to see these characters being POV characters, and I found Isaak to be absolutely precious. His genuine want to help, lack of knowledge that was needed, and desire for connection really endeared me to him.
Nina. My love. My wonderful heartbroken waffle loving warrior. Who is now demonstrably bisexual. By that I mean now it is certainly on the page that she is bisexual, and not that you have to prove bisexuality. I loved her journey. When I think about Fjerda I think about all the Grisha who are also Fjerdian and how historically in the places with the most oppression there is also the strongest networks of people fighting it there in the place it happens. And I think Nina is drawn to both trying to understand people different from herself and to being a part of protection. I loved watching her be equal parts fascinated by Fjerdia and repulsed by it. Witnessing her wrestle with these complicated concepts was so wonderful. Seeing the ways she was shaped by other characters we know, and watching her point herself down the path I assume the next book will take has been top notch. Watching her dive more fully into her power, and seeing her so invested in the women who had been so deeply wroged was so wonderful and heartbeaking. I cannot wait for more Nina. Also, I certainly did the most sobbing in Nina chapters. Though everyone got me to cry at least once.
Zoya. She is terrifying, mean, ruthless, and focused. Which is why she is also crazy attractive. I don't really care when a book says a character is hot, like it adds information to who they are and how they interact but it doesn't affect how I think about them because I cannot see them. But just reading about Zoya is attractive. Her character absolutely draws you in. I think her backstory was one of the highlights of King of Scars. I was floored by her. I am so glad to see the progression of this character. She was totally a beautiful romantic rival caricature at some points in the Grisha Trilogy and getting to know her much deeper has been a major joy of this book. She is so competent. But she still totally had flaws! Her inability to look past her shame and anger and really see Yuri is part of the reason the ending could happen. And the Juris part. That was badass and heartbreaking. I love how smart she is. Come back later for my TED talk on why I am obsessed with Zoya. Last thing. She deserves to be Queen. We need a Grisha Queen. She loved Ravka and I love her.
Nikolai! The King of Scars himself. Obviously, the majority of this story was about him. The emotional thrust of the novel was him battling his inner demons. Literal and physical. I loved reading about the ways all the characters were handling their myriad of trauma that life had heaped upon them. I really felt the roiling emotions and the difficulty in processing them while still being crushed by the weight of the new world they are dealing with. He is also obviously flawed! The ending would not have been possible if he was not so sure that Yuri would behave in the manner Nikolai wanted. He can be self-centered which leads to underestimating others. How did they not put together that Zoya was brought for Juris to teach, Nikolai was brought for Darkling reasons, and Yuri was there why? I was SCREAMING this at my book for like 200 pages. We finally get a vegetarian and he is terrible.
Back to Nikolai. I just love this character. Obviously, everyone loves an underdog. And Leigh Bardugo has done an excellent job crafting a character so full of privilege but also so incredibly aware of how close he is to being utterly unimportant, unloved, and unrespected. I am so excited for the conclusion of his journey.
Leoni is wonderful and I want the whole world to nurture her amazing self. I love her relentlessly happy self. And I loved the Jesper connection.
Adrik is so grumpy. I loved this human embodiment of a storm cloud. I am going to be so sad if we don't get more Adrik and Leoni in the next book.
Hanne was fascinating. I knew how her father was IMMEDIATELY upon a mention of her family, but I still enjoyed the build-up to that reveal. It was only a little frustrating that it took Nina so long to find out. She was such an amazing portrait of someone grappling with who they are. We got to see her wrestle with how the world is, how she wants it to be, and how to square loving people with hating what they hold dear. I was particularly impressed with the way she dealt with gender politics, I thought that was so well done by Bardugo.
The Well Mother. Loved that ending for her. My vengeful ass was so down.
Tolya. I want a whole book of Tolya just being the wonderful human he is while the rest of the world realizes this and vociferously adores his every action. I would also be down for a Tamar and Nadia romcom.
I am also obviously interested in the storyline going forward with Princess Ehri. I don't think she will actually end up Queen of Ravka, but I don't think I would be angry if I was wrong here. I have long wanted more on the page interaction with Shu Han and its people, and this is the perfect opportunity! I love Tolya and Tamar, but we totally needed more Shu! And the fighting instructor was Shu. I cannot remember his name at the moment. I also am interested to see what this horrifying situation does to Mayu.
I hate you Yuri. I am rallying the vegetarians to officially sanction you. I am just so not into the appeal of fascism. It is obviously important to show the allure of this world view, and to demonstrate why it is not righteous and how truly self-serving it is to such a small number of people. Especially now. But I am still so disgusted by it. I also low key think he might have been throwing shade at parts of the fandom. Maybe.
Couple critiques of this book. First, it mostly seems like the Nina storyline could have almost been its own book. I didn't mind this, and I assume they will become more integrated in the next book somehow but this book only seemed to set that up. Obviously, Nina is going to be more fully involved because of the man claiming to be the real heir to the throne. Second, I still think Bardugo foreshadows a little too heavy-handed. I do want to feel like a genius and figure it out before the character does, but I don't want to know 200 pages before they do. Unless she is doing that on purpose and she wants me to feel that frustration? But I don't think that is the case in the things that rub me the wrong way. Third, and this is more of the series as a whole, are their any people of color who are main characters (or even secondary characters) who don’t end up with a white person? Seems like all the POC are in relationships with white people. And obviously interracial relationships are wonderful, and I have really been so down with all the couples of this world, but maybe one person of color could also be into another person of color? And I am open to having massively overlooked someone. But that thought kept popping into my head while reading.
Now the end. WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK.
I am not really a fan of bringing back
I feel both like I have gone on too long and that I have not even touched upon all my feelings. But I am going to leave it here! So invested in this world, so ready for more.