Scan barcode
aldoregan's reviews
389 reviews
Always and Forever, Lara Jean by Jenny Han
I really did want to love this entire trilogy because I really liked the first book and I fell in love with the movie. However, the trilogy as an entirety didn’t stick with me as much as I wanted it to. I did enjoy reading it and I thought it was cute, but really, that’s all there is to it. This book was just not for me, sadly.
3.0
I really did want to love this entire trilogy because I really liked the first book and I fell in love with the movie. However, the trilogy as an entirety didn’t stick with me as much as I wanted it to. I did enjoy reading it and I thought it was cute, but really, that’s all there is to it. This book was just not for me, sadly.
My Lady Jane by Jodi Meadows, Brodi Ashton, Cynthia Hand
3.0
3.5 STARS
THIS BOOK WAS FUCKING HILARIOUS I COULDNT STOP LAUGHING
THIS BOOK WAS FUCKING HILARIOUS I COULDNT STOP LAUGHING
And I Darken by Kiersten White
3.0
second read: june 14, 2019
3.5 stars
i really liked it but im not crazy abt it
first read: october 2, 2016
And I Darken is a story based on Vlad the Impaler. The difference being Vlad the Impaler is a girl. Our antiheroine is Lada, and this isn't really a story about Lada impaling people. It's like an origin story, how she becomes the Impaler.
I didn't think I'd enjoy it as much as I did. I've never read a historical fiction before (at least, I don't remember reading one), so reading something like And I Darken was very refreshing and different. I'd have to say that this was absolutely vicious. But I mean it in the best possible way. It has a dark vibe with characters whom you want to trust but cannot do so. A gripping tale about a brother and a sister, Radu and Lada, who have lived a life full of pain and struggles.
I love how the story starts off from the very beginning of their life. We get to see Lada and Radu grow up. I think that was a very wise way of beginning the story because it makes us understand their choices, their actions, their intentions better.
I love how each of the characters were far from lovable, even the protagonist, Lada. Except for Radu though, he's an exception.
Lada, despite being fierce and brutal, was one of my favorite characters. She despised being told to sit down and do what a woman does (back then they were unequally treated. They were only expected to marry and give their husband an heir). But Lada was so strong. She despised staying in the castle while soldiers were fighting. She despised being belittled by men. She is not a character we can easily love. Her decisions are also sometimes maddening but, in my opinion, it's what makes up her character. I know that behind all that solid armor shielding her heart, she has compassion especially for her brother, Radu.
Radu is the complete opposite of his sister. While he might seem utterly useless in the beginning, he grows to become someone we'd never thought of him to be. I love Radu so much. He is that precious little puppy you see on the road that you just want to take care of. Radu has won the title of my favorite character in this book.
Mehmed was someone I really wanted to trust, but I couldn't find myself to completely trust. I love how he isn't this cliche prince (or in this case, sultan) in shining armor who'll swoon us all. He has his own intentions. What those are, I have no idea. Still, I really like Mehmed's character.
The side-characters were absolutely great as well. Each one carries such a mystery within them that leaves me intrigued and again, dubious (just like how I am with Mehmed).
AND I learned a ton of things about the Ottoman Empire (which I had no idea about going into this book)! That was a huge bonus that we get from the book!
Overall, I REALLY enjoyed this book and cannot wait to read what goes down in the second installment!
3.5 stars
i really liked it but im not crazy abt it
first read: october 2, 2016
And I Darken is a story based on Vlad the Impaler. The difference being Vlad the Impaler is a girl. Our antiheroine is Lada, and this isn't really a story about Lada impaling people. It's like an origin story, how she becomes the Impaler.
I didn't think I'd enjoy it as much as I did. I've never read a historical fiction before (at least, I don't remember reading one), so reading something like And I Darken was very refreshing and different. I'd have to say that this was absolutely vicious. But I mean it in the best possible way. It has a dark vibe with characters whom you want to trust but cannot do so. A gripping tale about a brother and a sister, Radu and Lada, who have lived a life full of pain and struggles.
I love how the story starts off from the very beginning of their life. We get to see Lada and Radu grow up. I think that was a very wise way of beginning the story because it makes us understand their choices, their actions, their intentions better.
I love how each of the characters were far from lovable, even the protagonist, Lada. Except for Radu though, he's an exception.
Lada, despite being fierce and brutal, was one of my favorite characters. She despised being told to sit down and do what a woman does (back then they were unequally treated. They were only expected to marry and give their husband an heir). But Lada was so strong. She despised staying in the castle while soldiers were fighting. She despised being belittled by men. She is not a character we can easily love. Her decisions are also sometimes maddening but, in my opinion, it's what makes up her character. I know that behind all that solid armor shielding her heart, she has compassion especially for her brother, Radu.
Radu is the complete opposite of his sister. While he might seem utterly useless in the beginning, he grows to become someone we'd never thought of him to be. I love Radu so much. He is that precious little puppy you see on the road that you just want to take care of. Radu has won the title of my favorite character in this book.
Mehmed was someone I really wanted to trust, but I couldn't find myself to completely trust. I love how he isn't this cliche prince (or in this case, sultan) in shining armor who'll swoon us all. He has his own intentions. What those are, I have no idea. Still, I really like Mehmed's character.
The side-characters were absolutely great as well. Each one carries such a mystery within them that leaves me intrigued and again, dubious (just like how I am with Mehmed).
AND I learned a ton of things about the Ottoman Empire (which I had no idea about going into this book)! That was a huge bonus that we get from the book!
Overall, I REALLY enjoyed this book and cannot wait to read what goes down in the second installment!
The Winner's Curse by Marie Rutkoski
3.0
second read: july 25, 2019
3.5 STARS
basically felt the same thing i did the first time i read it. still love kestrel and arin, but i need a little bit more from the secondary characters. also,, i wish the political intrigue was more developed. the pacing didn’t really bother me anymore as much as it did the first time. overall i really enjoyed it for what it is. but i know the second book is gonna fuck me up.
first read: nov. 7, 2015
The first half was slow paced but the second half was just REALLY GOOD!!! *SOBS*
3.5 STARS
basically felt the same thing i did the first time i read it. still love kestrel and arin, but i need a little bit more from the secondary characters. also,, i wish the political intrigue was more developed. the pacing didn’t really bother me anymore as much as it did the first time. overall i really enjoyed it for what it is. but i know the second book is gonna fuck me up.
first read: nov. 7, 2015
The first half was slow paced but the second half was just REALLY GOOD!!! *SOBS*
The Winner's Crime by Marie Rutkoski
4.0
second read: july 28, 2019
4.5 STARS
I AM SO UPSET WTF I DONT DESERVE THIS
first read: nov. 9, 2015
I ENJOYED THIS MORE THAN THE FIRST BOOK BUT AAAAAHHHHH TORTURE. THIS BOOK WAS SO FRUSTRATING UGHHH NOT BECAUSE IT WASNT GOOD BECAUSE BELIEVE ME IT WAS REALLY GOOD BUT BECAUSE OF THE THINGS THAT WERE HAPPENING *SOBS* KESTREL AND ARIN NEED TO END UP TOGETHER IN THE THIRD BOOK
4.5 STARS
I AM SO UPSET WTF I DONT DESERVE THIS
first read: nov. 9, 2015
I ENJOYED THIS MORE THAN THE FIRST BOOK BUT AAAAAHHHHH TORTURE. THIS BOOK WAS SO FRUSTRATING UGHHH NOT BECAUSE IT WASNT GOOD BECAUSE BELIEVE ME IT WAS REALLY GOOD BUT BECAUSE OF THE THINGS THAT WERE HAPPENING *SOBS* KESTREL AND ARIN NEED TO END UP TOGETHER IN THE THIRD BOOK
Our Dark Duet by V.E. Schwab
5.0
second read: aug. 8, 2019
im a literal clown for thinking this book wouldnt hurt me as much as it did the first time around. at some point, i actually had to put down the book to get my shit together bc i couldnt stop sobbing. every line and paragraph in the elegy made me fucking cry like a baby. P A I N LIT RALLY PAIN. i hate this So Much im still crying bye
first read: nov. 23, 2017
“I know it hurts,” she said. “So make it worth the pain.”
I take back what I said. You can go wrong with a VE SCHWAB book. But not in the way that you’re thinking.
Why did I even think that this book wouldn’t hurt? Wouldn’t leave me in a crumpled state? Why did I even think that after reading this book, I’ll immediately be on the road to recovery? I’m stuck on a fucking detour. This is like The Hero of Ages all over again, but SADDER.
“Mourning was its own kind of music— the sound of so many hearts, of so many breaths, of so many standing together.”
Before I lose my shit, let me just talk about how beautiful this book is.
This Savage Song and Our Dark Duet are completely different from each other. It’s astonishing to know that they’re even in the same duology. It’s like flipping the coin and seeing an utterly different side to it. ODD is darker, more brutal, and more gruesome— both in the storyline aspect and the emotional toll that it takes on the readers. IT IS SO GOOD! I don’t even know how to start. There’s just too much to say. There were a lot of things that happened and it was fast-paced. There’s a creepier vibe to the book compared to TSS. The storyline was so gripping, I couldn’t stop reading. And when I did have to stop reading, I constantly thought about it. (I couldn’t concentrate in my classes because I kept thinking about going home and reading ODD). The writing was so good, and so engrossing. The characters, THE CHARACTERS, they were phenomenal!!!!! I just love each of their developments so much! And the fact that Victoria managed to do this in just a span of two books is amazing! Characterization was incredible in this book and it was everything I never knew I needed. I do understand that the story completely focuses on our two main characters, that’s why it was a bit difficult to feel attached to the other characters. But the development of August and Kate’s characters is something that I really really appreciate. It’s one of the best character developments that I’ve ever read about.
This was such a perfect conclusion to August and Kate’s story (eventhough it ended that way). But I do hope that Victoria is going to create a spin-off series or even just a book set in this world because I know there’s a lot more to it. We only got to see Verity and a little bit of Prosperity and the Wastes. That’s only the tip of the iceberg so I hope we’ll get to dive in deeper to some more.
That ending hurt, A LOT, but I can’t see it going any other way. Somehow, I knew it was going to happen one way or another. But that doesn’t make it any less sadder :(
“I didn't stop fighting," he said, the words so low he worried Kate wouldn't hear them, but she did. "I just got tired of losing. It's easier this way."
"Of course it's easier," said Kate. "that doesn't mean it's right.”
Now let me lose my shit.
SPOILERS AHEAD!!
He didn’t want it— didn’t want anything except to give it back, to hold her together the way she’d held him. But he couldn’t. He didn’t know how. He closed his eyes as the light of Kate’s soul flowed through him, strong and bright.
“I don’t know,” he whispered. “I don’t know if the souls stay with me. But I hope they do.”
There was no answer.
August opened his eyes. “Kate?”
But the room was dark and quiet, and she was gone.
— i’m crying as i’m typing this...
What the fuck. What the fuck. *nonstop sobbing*
After some time —> What a beautiful and perfect death scene. That’s such a weird thing to say but when it comes to main character deaths, sometimes it’s too messy or confusing, sometimes it doesn’t make sense, or sometimes it doesn’t give justice to what the character has done. My point is main character deaths can be shown or written poorly, but this one wasn’t.
This is the saddest book I’ve read this year, next to The Hero of Ages (but ODD is definitely sadder). Kate’s death killed me and I honestly don’t know how I’ll be able to move on. Every (sad) song that I’d listen to would remind me of August and Kate even though the lyrics don’t have any correlation to their story. I still get teary-eyed whenever I think about THAT scene. Send help, mates!!!!
I’m actually more scared to read A Conjuring of Light now that I know that Victoria is willing to end a story like that ajsdmsjdjsjsjss.
Our Dark Duet is such an impressive finale to a two-book series. It was so sad but it also left me with a sense of hope. The Monsters of Verity duology has definitely made it’s way easily to my top favorites list. I’m still crying, btw.
“I’m willing to walk in darkness if it keeps humans in the light.”
11/23/2017
WHAT THE FUCK THIS IS NOT WHAT I SIGNED UP FOR AMSJAJSJSJSNSNSNNS
im a literal clown for thinking this book wouldnt hurt me as much as it did the first time around. at some point, i actually had to put down the book to get my shit together bc i couldnt stop sobbing. every line and paragraph in the elegy made me fucking cry like a baby. P A I N LIT RALLY PAIN. i hate this So Much im still crying bye
first read: nov. 23, 2017
“I know it hurts,” she said. “So make it worth the pain.”
I take back what I said. You can go wrong with a VE SCHWAB book. But not in the way that you’re thinking.
Why did I even think that this book wouldn’t hurt? Wouldn’t leave me in a crumpled state? Why did I even think that after reading this book, I’ll immediately be on the road to recovery? I’m stuck on a fucking detour. This is like The Hero of Ages all over again, but SADDER.
“Mourning was its own kind of music— the sound of so many hearts, of so many breaths, of so many standing together.”
Before I lose my shit, let me just talk about how beautiful this book is.
This Savage Song and Our Dark Duet are completely different from each other. It’s astonishing to know that they’re even in the same duology. It’s like flipping the coin and seeing an utterly different side to it. ODD is darker, more brutal, and more gruesome— both in the storyline aspect and the emotional toll that it takes on the readers. IT IS SO GOOD! I don’t even know how to start. There’s just too much to say. There were a lot of things that happened and it was fast-paced. There’s a creepier vibe to the book compared to TSS. The storyline was so gripping, I couldn’t stop reading. And when I did have to stop reading, I constantly thought about it. (I couldn’t concentrate in my classes because I kept thinking about going home and reading ODD). The writing was so good, and so engrossing. The characters, THE CHARACTERS, they were phenomenal!!!!! I just love each of their developments so much! And the fact that Victoria managed to do this in just a span of two books is amazing! Characterization was incredible in this book and it was everything I never knew I needed. I do understand that the story completely focuses on our two main characters, that’s why it was a bit difficult to feel attached to the other characters. But the development of August and Kate’s characters is something that I really really appreciate. It’s one of the best character developments that I’ve ever read about.
This was such a perfect conclusion to August and Kate’s story (eventhough it ended that way). But I do hope that Victoria is going to create a spin-off series or even just a book set in this world because I know there’s a lot more to it. We only got to see Verity and a little bit of Prosperity and the Wastes. That’s only the tip of the iceberg so I hope we’ll get to dive in deeper to some more.
That ending hurt, A LOT, but I can’t see it going any other way. Somehow, I knew it was going to happen one way or another. But that doesn’t make it any less sadder :(
“I didn't stop fighting," he said, the words so low he worried Kate wouldn't hear them, but she did. "I just got tired of losing. It's easier this way."
"Of course it's easier," said Kate. "that doesn't mean it's right.”
Now let me lose my shit.
SPOILERS AHEAD!!
He didn’t want it— didn’t want anything except to give it back, to hold her together the way she’d held him. But he couldn’t. He didn’t know how. He closed his eyes as the light of Kate’s soul flowed through him, strong and bright.
“I don’t know,” he whispered. “I don’t know if the souls stay with me. But I hope they do.”
There was no answer.
August opened his eyes. “Kate?”
But the room was dark and quiet, and she was gone.
— i’m crying as i’m typing this...
What the fuck. What the fuck. *nonstop sobbing*
After some time —> What a beautiful and perfect death scene. That’s such a weird thing to say but when it comes to main character deaths, sometimes it’s too messy or confusing, sometimes it doesn’t make sense, or sometimes it doesn’t give justice to what the character has done. My point is main character deaths can be shown or written poorly, but this one wasn’t.
This is the saddest book I’ve read this year, next to The Hero of Ages (but ODD is definitely sadder). Kate’s death killed me and I honestly don’t know how I’ll be able to move on. Every (sad) song that I’d listen to would remind me of August and Kate even though the lyrics don’t have any correlation to their story. I still get teary-eyed whenever I think about THAT scene. Send help, mates!!!!
I’m actually more scared to read A Conjuring of Light now that I know that Victoria is willing to end a story like that ajsdmsjdjsjsjss.
Our Dark Duet is such an impressive finale to a two-book series. It was so sad but it also left me with a sense of hope. The Monsters of Verity duology has definitely made it’s way easily to my top favorites list. I’m still crying, btw.
“I’m willing to walk in darkness if it keeps humans in the light.”
11/23/2017
WHAT THE FUCK THIS IS NOT WHAT I SIGNED UP FOR AMSJAJSJSJSNSNSNNS
All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
4.0
open your eyes, and see what you can with them before they close forever.
I don’t read a lot of historical fic so this was kinda new territory for me. Other than that, I wasn’t really sure what I was gonna make of this since it does not only deal with a serious topic, but there’s also the possibility that it might romanticize said topic. A lot of controversy comes along when it comes to N*zis being portrayed in the media, and rightfully so. The genocide in general should never be romanticized because these are real events that ended up in so many lives loss and ruined. Long story short, I was doubtful about this book. But the reviews seemed to tell me otherwise so I went ahead and read it anyway.
so how, children, does the brain, which lives without a spark of light, build for us a world full of light?
What surprised me the most was the execution. The setting and the events that happened aren’t easy to write. Yet it was compelling and realistic. The characters are the standout. We follow through the different lives of a French girl and a N*zi. The latter is where I had my doubts, but yall know why I thought he was well written? It was because we read about his life from when he was just a kid. We learn about his interests, his upbringing, his beliefs, his relationship with the people around him. There’s much more to his character than just being a N*zi. Also reading about him growing up makes it more realistic when he constantly questions what /they’re/ doing and what /their/ beliefs are. His character is compelling because he’s complex. And the same can be said for Marie-Laure, the French girl. We read about how she grew up as well. What I appreciate about her character so much is that she’s smart and brave. She lost her sight at a young age, but she doesn’t let that stop her and instead she relies on her other senses, as taught by her father. They were both very well written main characters, and as we walk through their life, we get to feel emotionally closer to them. The secondary characters also stood out as they all had distinct characterization and developments through the story , and they all had purposes to the story. Overall, I think characterization was the strongest element of this book.
time is a slippery thing: lose hold of it once, and its string might sail out of your hands forever
The writing was exquisite as well. It was vivid and poetic. The prose was so beautiful. I would even say it’s one of the best writing styles I’ve ever read. However, this book totally fell short in pace. I don’t know if it’s because I’m new to the genre, but I found the pacing to be really slow, lackluster, and boring at times. There are even chapters that I don’t think would’ve been necessary to be included. But that’s just me, and it might also be because I’m not used to the historical fiction genre.
All in all, this was a really emotional and meaningful read, and I loved it!
I don’t read a lot of historical fic so this was kinda new territory for me. Other than that, I wasn’t really sure what I was gonna make of this since it does not only deal with a serious topic, but there’s also the possibility that it might romanticize said topic. A lot of controversy comes along when it comes to N*zis being portrayed in the media, and rightfully so. The genocide in general should never be romanticized because these are real events that ended up in so many lives loss and ruined. Long story short, I was doubtful about this book. But the reviews seemed to tell me otherwise so I went ahead and read it anyway.
so how, children, does the brain, which lives without a spark of light, build for us a world full of light?
What surprised me the most was the execution. The setting and the events that happened aren’t easy to write. Yet it was compelling and realistic. The characters are the standout. We follow through the different lives of a French girl and a N*zi. The latter is where I had my doubts, but yall know why I thought he was well written? It was because we read about his life from when he was just a kid. We learn about his interests, his upbringing, his beliefs, his relationship with the people around him. There’s much more to his character than just being a N*zi. Also reading about him growing up makes it more realistic when he constantly questions what /they’re/ doing and what /their/ beliefs are. His character is compelling because he’s complex. And the same can be said for Marie-Laure, the French girl. We read about how she grew up as well. What I appreciate about her character so much is that she’s smart and brave. She lost her sight at a young age, but she doesn’t let that stop her and instead she relies on her other senses, as taught by her father. They were both very well written main characters, and as we walk through their life, we get to feel emotionally closer to them. The secondary characters also stood out as they all had distinct characterization and developments through the story , and they all had purposes to the story. Overall, I think characterization was the strongest element of this book.
time is a slippery thing: lose hold of it once, and its string might sail out of your hands forever
The writing was exquisite as well. It was vivid and poetic. The prose was so beautiful. I would even say it’s one of the best writing styles I’ve ever read. However, this book totally fell short in pace. I don’t know if it’s because I’m new to the genre, but I found the pacing to be really slow, lackluster, and boring at times. There are even chapters that I don’t think would’ve been necessary to be included. But that’s just me, and it might also be because I’m not used to the historical fiction genre.
All in all, this was a really emotional and meaningful read, and I loved it!