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aldoregan's reviews
389 reviews
Sabriel by Garth Nix
2.0
hmm was i not paying enough attention or was the magic system and worldbuilding just really confusing ?????
The Well of Ascension by Brandon Sanderson
5.0
second read: april 29, 2020
BIIIITCH I STILL GOT CHILLS.
in my previous review, i said this was a slower book compared to tfe and i still stand by that. however i enjoyed this much more the second time around since i actually did pay attention to the political intrigue this time. also i did pay closer attention to the foreshadowings and though i did pick up on some,, i know there were still a lot that i probably hadn’t noticed because welp im Dumb. lol anyway what i wanted to say is this book was still so fucking GOOD like i literally still have goosebumps while im writing this messy “review”!
first read: april 11, 2017
"That's the point, isn't it? We have to live on, no matter how hard it gets. We'll win in the end."
One thing's for sure, Brandon Sanderson will never leave you disappointed with his books. I am blown away by another one of his masterpiece. But, I still think The Final Empire was better than The Well of Ascension. Half of this book had a slower pace than the first book, and there were a few parts that kinda bored me (only a little tho). The rest paid for it though. Everything was intense, mysterious, and thrilling. The fight scenes were deadass the bomb, and all the mysterious happenings were so engaging. There were so many twists and turns. So many things that kept me on edge. It's another amazing book from the Master of Fantasy himself.
* The magical elements and world were fantastic, as usual. Sanderson's brilliancy still jumps up at me and surprises me every. single. time. Apparently, there are still so much we don't know. There's so much to be uncovered. So much to wonder about and be discovered. Even though some questions were answered, new ones are formed. It's so engaging and captivating. I am enchanted with every edges and every corners this world has to offer.
* I love all the main characters. Even the new ones were absolutely great. I think what's mostly great about Sanderson's characters is that they feel so real. Each character is just excellently well written, from the protagonists to the antagonists. Plus, we never only focus on one specific character. Other characters get their point of views which enables us to understand their thoughts and mindset.
* The plot was intensifying and brilliant. It's a rollercoaster ride with a ton of surprises. Although there were a few parts that were somewhat boring, the rest was a whirlwind of action, mystery, and thrill. The storyline was a perfect one for the second book, and it sets up a lot for the final installment.
Overall, it's a fantastic second book to a fantastic trilogy!
"It's easy to believe in something when you win all the time... The losses are what defines a man's faith."
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
- is it just me or were y'all expecting that Kelsier was suddenly just going to make a grand entrance??? yes, i am still holding on to that sliver of hope that kelsier will come back somehow (alive or in spirit form, idc). he didn't appear in this book, which made me sad. but he might return in the last book *fingers crossed*.
- the whole thing with the hero of ages and kwaan, and alendi, and rashek (literally all of what sazed and tindwyl studied) was the most sjfnejkwmdnns thing in this book. TURNS OUT THE HERO OF AGES WAS ALL A LIE. I AM STILL SHOOK. and tbh the mist spirit creeped me out, no kidding. the hairs on my arms would stand up whenever that thing would appear. the last part when elend and vin were on their way to the well of ascension and sazed was in a hurry to stop them was really top notch. i was gripping the book while reading that part !!!!!!
- the best action scene was that part when the koloss attacked Luthadel !!! It was terrifying, yes, but it was also the best !! Plus, who knew Sazed could be a badass???
- i was so glad when i found out that sazed, breeze, and ham were alive. but i was sad when clubs, dockson, and especially tindwyl died !!! i know dockson was kind of an a-hole in this book, but he was kelsier's right-hand man, he was still a part of the crew, he just felt envious and sad and i could understand why he acted that way. that's why i still felt sad when he died.
- my favorite new character has to be the puppy version of oresuer or tensoon or whatever. my heart literally broke during that fight scene with vin against zane when we found out that oreseur/tensoon was the impostor!! i felt so betrayed and it hurt my heart!! but vin killed zane so there's no contract between the two anymore. i know tensoon left but i'm pretty sure he's going to come back in the last book. i hope he'll come back wearing a dog's body again amdnms,z.
- maybe the inquisitors are controlled by that evil thing in the well????
- i kinda think elend is going to be the hero of ages, i know he's just a new mistborn but he might be the one who'll be able to defeat the real enemy. or it might be sazed ????? idk, who knows, i know i don't.
- w h a t h a p p e n e d t o m a r s h ? ? ?
- WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN IN THE LAST BOOK I HAVE NO IDEA ONLY ONE WAY TO FIND OUT THEN
BIIIITCH I STILL GOT CHILLS.
in my previous review, i said this was a slower book compared to tfe and i still stand by that. however i enjoyed this much more the second time around since i actually did pay attention to the political intrigue this time. also i did pay closer attention to the foreshadowings and though i did pick up on some,, i know there were still a lot that i probably hadn’t noticed because welp im Dumb. lol anyway what i wanted to say is this book was still so fucking GOOD like i literally still have goosebumps while im writing this messy “review”!
first read: april 11, 2017
"That's the point, isn't it? We have to live on, no matter how hard it gets. We'll win in the end."
One thing's for sure, Brandon Sanderson will never leave you disappointed with his books. I am blown away by another one of his masterpiece. But, I still think The Final Empire was better than The Well of Ascension. Half of this book had a slower pace than the first book, and there were a few parts that kinda bored me (only a little tho). The rest paid for it though. Everything was intense, mysterious, and thrilling. The fight scenes were deadass the bomb, and all the mysterious happenings were so engaging. There were so many twists and turns. So many things that kept me on edge. It's another amazing book from the Master of Fantasy himself.
* The magical elements and world were fantastic, as usual. Sanderson's brilliancy still jumps up at me and surprises me every. single. time. Apparently, there are still so much we don't know. There's so much to be uncovered. So much to wonder about and be discovered. Even though some questions were answered, new ones are formed. It's so engaging and captivating. I am enchanted with every edges and every corners this world has to offer.
* I love all the main characters. Even the new ones were absolutely great. I think what's mostly great about Sanderson's characters is that they feel so real. Each character is just excellently well written, from the protagonists to the antagonists. Plus, we never only focus on one specific character. Other characters get their point of views which enables us to understand their thoughts and mindset.
* The plot was intensifying and brilliant. It's a rollercoaster ride with a ton of surprises. Although there were a few parts that were somewhat boring, the rest was a whirlwind of action, mystery, and thrill. The storyline was a perfect one for the second book, and it sets up a lot for the final installment.
Overall, it's a fantastic second book to a fantastic trilogy!
"It's easy to believe in something when you win all the time... The losses are what defines a man's faith."
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
- is it just me or were y'all expecting that Kelsier was suddenly just going to make a grand entrance??? yes, i am still holding on to that sliver of hope that kelsier will come back somehow (alive or in spirit form, idc). he didn't appear in this book, which made me sad. but he might return in the last book *fingers crossed*.
- the whole thing with the hero of ages and kwaan, and alendi, and rashek (literally all of what sazed and tindwyl studied) was the most sjfnejkwmdnns thing in this book. TURNS OUT THE HERO OF AGES WAS ALL A LIE. I AM STILL SHOOK. and tbh the mist spirit creeped me out, no kidding. the hairs on my arms would stand up whenever that thing would appear. the last part when elend and vin were on their way to the well of ascension and sazed was in a hurry to stop them was really top notch. i was gripping the book while reading that part !!!!!!
- the best action scene was that part when the koloss attacked Luthadel !!! It was terrifying, yes, but it was also the best !! Plus, who knew Sazed could be a badass???
- i was so glad when i found out that sazed, breeze, and ham were alive. but i was sad when clubs, dockson, and especially tindwyl died !!! i know dockson was kind of an a-hole in this book, but he was kelsier's right-hand man, he was still a part of the crew, he just felt envious and sad and i could understand why he acted that way. that's why i still felt sad when he died.
- my favorite new character has to be the puppy version of oresuer or tensoon or whatever. my heart literally broke during that fight scene with vin against zane when we found out that oreseur/tensoon was the impostor!! i felt so betrayed and it hurt my heart!! but vin killed zane so there's no contract between the two anymore. i know tensoon left but i'm pretty sure he's going to come back in the last book. i hope he'll come back wearing a dog's body again amdnms,z.
- maybe the inquisitors are controlled by that evil thing in the well????
- i kinda think elend is going to be the hero of ages, i know he's just a new mistborn but he might be the one who'll be able to defeat the real enemy. or it might be sazed ????? idk, who knows, i know i don't.
- w h a t h a p p e n e d t o m a r s h ? ? ?
- WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN IN THE LAST BOOK I HAVE NO IDEA ONLY ONE WAY TO FIND OUT THEN
The Hero of Ages by Brandon Sanderson
5.0
second read: may 8, 2020
IM SO TIRED EMOTIONALLY EXHAUSTED THIS BOOK DRAINED THE FUCK OUTTA ME
first read: may 1, 2017
"Faith means that it doesn't matter what happens. You can trust that somebody is watching. Trust that somebody will make it all right."
The Hero of Ages is the best conclusion to a series that I've read in a long, long time and probably is the best conclusion to a series that I've ever read so far. I can't think of a better way to end this trilogy than the way Brandon Sanderson did it. By the end of this book, I was bawling my eyes out out of sadness and joy. I was in a glass case of emotion, I still am right now!
The Hero of Ages is certainly my favorite book of the trilogy. Everything was set into motion, and all the questions were answered. Secrets that we were dying to discover were finally unveiled, and Sanderson couldn't have done it any better. Sanderson does not only meet my expectations when it comes to his books, he continues to exceed them. Every aspect and detail of the story and the world was crafted brilliantly. His writing style, characters, storyline, and worldbuilding, especially, make all the other fantasy books I've read look like losers. He is, truly, the best fantasy author of our generation.
"Somehow we'll find it. The balance between whom we wish to be and whom we need to be. But for now, we simply have to be satisfied with who we are."
Eventhough Sanderson excels in each and every aspect of his books, it is a known fact that worldbuilding is his main forte. But in The Hero of Ages, the characters's developments were the ones that really shined. Take Spook for example. I've known him as this young boy who really didn't do much for the crew. Never have I ever thought that he'd become somehow like Kelsier. There were a ton of character developments in this book. Vin, Elend, Sazed, and the rest, and I was so glad that we were able to see these characters overcome their fears, insecurities, and uncertainties. I was so glad that in the end, though not all of them survived, they all remained as strong characters and I am honestly so so proud of them as if they were my real children.
This is truly an astounding finale to an excellent trilogy!
"You hate change. I hate it too. But things can't stay the same- and that's well, for when nothing changes in your life, it's as good as being dead."
Here are just a few things I'd like to talk about:
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
1. I feel the need to mention this because I've always been waiting for this particular scene to happen, yet it never did. When TenSoon broke out of his homeland, I was so excited for his reunion with Vin. But 80 percent of the book later, and they still didn't meet. I was so devastated knowing they didn't see each other again before they both died (or in TenSoon's case, turn back into a mistwraith). These two had such a good friendship in The Well of Ascension, it makes me very sad that they never reunited, not even for a little while.
2. I initially thought that Elend was the Hero of Ages. But then, later on, I realized that maybe the Hero of Ages is Sazed. All throughout the book, eventhough there were little hints given that goes back to Vin being the Hero of Ages, I never once believed it. So Sazed becoming the Hero of Ages wasn't really a shock to me, and I believe him being the hero makes a lot of sense.
3. Vin and Elend dying was the most heartbreaking part of this book! But I am so proud of them! They might not have survived, but they have done so much for their world, and they've become heroes of their own. Hence, they will be remembered.
4. The epilogue was so beautifully written. It was both sad and happy. It took such a great hold on my emotions. I was a crying mess because of it. Up until right now, whenever I think about it I could feel so many emotions flooding. A fantastic, and beautiful ending, truly.
"For now, I only wish to make a simple acknowledgement of the woman who held the power just before me. Of all of us who touched it, I feel she was the most worthy."
04/30/2017
THIS FINALE DESERVES A 10/5 STARS
PS I AM A MESS RIGHT NOW
FULL REVIEW TO COME
IM SO TIRED EMOTIONALLY EXHAUSTED THIS BOOK DRAINED THE FUCK OUTTA ME
first read: may 1, 2017
"Faith means that it doesn't matter what happens. You can trust that somebody is watching. Trust that somebody will make it all right."
The Hero of Ages is the best conclusion to a series that I've read in a long, long time and probably is the best conclusion to a series that I've ever read so far. I can't think of a better way to end this trilogy than the way Brandon Sanderson did it. By the end of this book, I was bawling my eyes out out of sadness and joy. I was in a glass case of emotion, I still am right now!
The Hero of Ages is certainly my favorite book of the trilogy. Everything was set into motion, and all the questions were answered. Secrets that we were dying to discover were finally unveiled, and Sanderson couldn't have done it any better. Sanderson does not only meet my expectations when it comes to his books, he continues to exceed them. Every aspect and detail of the story and the world was crafted brilliantly. His writing style, characters, storyline, and worldbuilding, especially, make all the other fantasy books I've read look like losers. He is, truly, the best fantasy author of our generation.
"Somehow we'll find it. The balance between whom we wish to be and whom we need to be. But for now, we simply have to be satisfied with who we are."
Eventhough Sanderson excels in each and every aspect of his books, it is a known fact that worldbuilding is his main forte. But in The Hero of Ages, the characters's developments were the ones that really shined. Take Spook for example. I've known him as this young boy who really didn't do much for the crew. Never have I ever thought that he'd become somehow like Kelsier. There were a ton of character developments in this book. Vin, Elend, Sazed, and the rest, and I was so glad that we were able to see these characters overcome their fears, insecurities, and uncertainties. I was so glad that in the end, though not all of them survived, they all remained as strong characters and I am honestly so so proud of them as if they were my real children.
This is truly an astounding finale to an excellent trilogy!
"You hate change. I hate it too. But things can't stay the same- and that's well, for when nothing changes in your life, it's as good as being dead."
Here are just a few things I'd like to talk about:
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
1. I feel the need to mention this because I've always been waiting for this particular scene to happen, yet it never did. When TenSoon broke out of his homeland, I was so excited for his reunion with Vin. But 80 percent of the book later, and they still didn't meet. I was so devastated knowing they didn't see each other again before they both died (or in TenSoon's case, turn back into a mistwraith). These two had such a good friendship in The Well of Ascension, it makes me very sad that they never reunited, not even for a little while.
2. I initially thought that Elend was the Hero of Ages. But then, later on, I realized that maybe the Hero of Ages is Sazed. All throughout the book, eventhough there were little hints given that goes back to Vin being the Hero of Ages, I never once believed it. So Sazed becoming the Hero of Ages wasn't really a shock to me, and I believe him being the hero makes a lot of sense.
3. Vin and Elend dying was the most heartbreaking part of this book! But I am so proud of them! They might not have survived, but they have done so much for their world, and they've become heroes of their own. Hence, they will be remembered.
4. The epilogue was so beautifully written. It was both sad and happy. It took such a great hold on my emotions. I was a crying mess because of it. Up until right now, whenever I think about it I could feel so many emotions flooding. A fantastic, and beautiful ending, truly.
"For now, I only wish to make a simple acknowledgement of the woman who held the power just before me. Of all of us who touched it, I feel she was the most worthy."
04/30/2017
THIS FINALE DESERVES A 10/5 STARS
PS I AM A MESS RIGHT NOW
FULL REVIEW TO COME
Secret History by Brandon Sanderson
4.0
three years ago,, i was too lazy to read this novella and i didn’t think it was that important. but hey look at me now, crying over this book and reliving all the trauma. but this time, in kelsier’s perspective <3
A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab
5.0
fourth read: 06-10-2020
this series has become a comfort read for me tbh <3 i love revisiting the world again and again. it never gets old !
third read: 07-26-2018
I’m SO obviously trash for this series that I’ve read it and let it destroy me three times already and would gladly do it again a million times more.
second read: 06-10-2017
Second time reading this book and I am still so madly enchanted and in love with each and every aspect of it!
first read: 08-28-2016
A Darker Shade of Magic was completely enthralling. From the imaginative world-building to the magical elements this book had. The story was so intriguing and gripping. The setting was wonderful. The characters were interesting, unique, witty, and badass. And the writing style was absolute perfection.
I am so in love with the world Schwab has created, even though it has its dark and creepy sides. It reminds me so much of why I've fallen deeply in love with fantasy! I can't wait to get my hands on the second installment!
this series has become a comfort read for me tbh <3 i love revisiting the world again and again. it never gets old !
third read: 07-26-2018
I’m SO obviously trash for this series that I’ve read it and let it destroy me three times already and would gladly do it again a million times more.
second read: 06-10-2017
Second time reading this book and I am still so madly enchanted and in love with each and every aspect of it!
first read: 08-28-2016
A Darker Shade of Magic was completely enthralling. From the imaginative world-building to the magical elements this book had. The story was so intriguing and gripping. The setting was wonderful. The characters were interesting, unique, witty, and badass. And the writing style was absolute perfection.
I am so in love with the world Schwab has created, even though it has its dark and creepy sides. It reminds me so much of why I've fallen deeply in love with fantasy! I can't wait to get my hands on the second installment!
A Gathering of Shadows by V.E. Schwab
5.0
third read: june 16, 2020
def feel like the more times i read this book the more i love it
second read: july 30, 2018
i know this is my second time reading this but GODDAMN I CANT BELIEVE THATS HOW IT ENDED HOW AM I STILL ALIVE AFTER ALL THAT IM GONNA ✈️ JUMP OFF A CLIFF
first read: june 12, 2017
“Magic is tangled, so you must be smooth.
Magic is wild, so you must be tame.
Magic is chaos, so you must be calm.
Are you calm, Kell?”
Reading the first and second books of the Shades of Magic trilogy, I've come to understand that Victoria Schwab's writing is the kind that I've, unknowingly, been searching for ever since I've entered this vast and fascinating world of the fantasy genre. Me and her writing style, we mesh perfectly together. Schwab forms her sentences in a crisp and clean way. No poetic and pretty words. No extensive usage of metaphors. Just vivid and straightforward writing. And yet, there is something about them that completely captivates me. It's the kind of writing that captures my attention from the first word to the very last. It's the kind of writing that oozes with so much enchantment. It's the kind of writing that makes me feel like the author casted a spell on me when I first opened the book. Perhaps Schwab's writing is magic itself! Which is why she has made a spot on my favorite authors list.
“She bent most of the rules. She broke the rest.”
A Gathering of Shadows is a lot more character-driven compared to the first book, and I think that the way it was executed was really well done. I love how Schwab put the Essen Tasch to weave the storyline of the characters perfectly. Because of the Essen Tasch, we get to discover so much about the world, the magic system, and the characters. We got to dive in deeper into the beautiful world of Red London and learn about the countries surrounding it. We got to discover the people's beliefs in magic and how each country's beliefs differentiate from each other. We got to know about the characters more and discover their complexities (i.e. their flaws, weaknesses, and strengths).
“The world is neither fair nor right, but it has a way of balancing itself.”
The characters were my favorite part of the book, despite the spectacular world that we get to read about. There's so much complexity and depth in each of the main characters. They are so different from each other yet they also complement one another. Kell is so loyal and so broken at the same time because of the power he holds and the family he once thought he had. Lila is reckless and stubborn but behind that facade she's actually such a fearless girl with so much behind her past. The cheerful and flirtatious Rhy that we once know of has become filled with guilt and regret. Because of the things that happened to these characters in this book, it gives them a lot of room to grow or to lead to a completely different road. I know there's just so many directions that these characters can go to and this makes their storyline very interesting and very nerve-wrecking to read about.
“A person chose their path. Or they made a new one.”
The storyline about the Black London King was also very creepy and twisted. I really like the way Schwab writes her villains because they absolutely terrify me and make me want to run so fast and hide!
The Shades of Magic trilogy has become one of my all time favorite series! I loved each and every aspect of A Gathering of Shadows and cannot wait to find out how the series wraps up!
"Perhaps it hasn't been possible for years, perhaps it's not even possible right now, but that doesn't mean it can't be. It doesn't mean it won't be. You say the magic guttered, the flame went out. But what if it simply needed to be stoked?”
06/12/2017
WTF WHY DID IT END LIKE THAT WHY
NEED TO CALM TF DOWN AND GATHER MY THOUGHTS BEFORE WRITING A REVIEW SHHDHEHSHHDMDJNJDJJ
def feel like the more times i read this book the more i love it
second read: july 30, 2018
i know this is my second time reading this but GODDAMN I CANT BELIEVE THATS HOW IT ENDED HOW AM I STILL ALIVE AFTER ALL THAT IM GONNA ✈️ JUMP OFF A CLIFF
first read: june 12, 2017
“Magic is tangled, so you must be smooth.
Magic is wild, so you must be tame.
Magic is chaos, so you must be calm.
Are you calm, Kell?”
Reading the first and second books of the Shades of Magic trilogy, I've come to understand that Victoria Schwab's writing is the kind that I've, unknowingly, been searching for ever since I've entered this vast and fascinating world of the fantasy genre. Me and her writing style, we mesh perfectly together. Schwab forms her sentences in a crisp and clean way. No poetic and pretty words. No extensive usage of metaphors. Just vivid and straightforward writing. And yet, there is something about them that completely captivates me. It's the kind of writing that captures my attention from the first word to the very last. It's the kind of writing that oozes with so much enchantment. It's the kind of writing that makes me feel like the author casted a spell on me when I first opened the book. Perhaps Schwab's writing is magic itself! Which is why she has made a spot on my favorite authors list.
“She bent most of the rules. She broke the rest.”
A Gathering of Shadows is a lot more character-driven compared to the first book, and I think that the way it was executed was really well done. I love how Schwab put the Essen Tasch to weave the storyline of the characters perfectly. Because of the Essen Tasch, we get to discover so much about the world, the magic system, and the characters. We got to dive in deeper into the beautiful world of Red London and learn about the countries surrounding it. We got to discover the people's beliefs in magic and how each country's beliefs differentiate from each other. We got to know about the characters more and discover their complexities (i.e. their flaws, weaknesses, and strengths).
“The world is neither fair nor right, but it has a way of balancing itself.”
The characters were my favorite part of the book, despite the spectacular world that we get to read about. There's so much complexity and depth in each of the main characters. They are so different from each other yet they also complement one another. Kell is so loyal and so broken at the same time because of the power he holds and the family he once thought he had. Lila is reckless and stubborn but behind that facade she's actually such a fearless girl with so much behind her past. The cheerful and flirtatious Rhy that we once know of has become filled with guilt and regret. Because of the things that happened to these characters in this book, it gives them a lot of room to grow or to lead to a completely different road. I know there's just so many directions that these characters can go to and this makes their storyline very interesting and very nerve-wrecking to read about.
“A person chose their path. Or they made a new one.”
The storyline about the Black London King was also very creepy and twisted. I really like the way Schwab writes her villains because they absolutely terrify me and make me want to run so fast and hide!
The Shades of Magic trilogy has become one of my all time favorite series! I loved each and every aspect of A Gathering of Shadows and cannot wait to find out how the series wraps up!
"Perhaps it hasn't been possible for years, perhaps it's not even possible right now, but that doesn't mean it can't be. It doesn't mean it won't be. You say the magic guttered, the flame went out. But what if it simply needed to be stoked?”
06/12/2017
WTF WHY DID IT END LIKE THAT WHY
NEED TO CALM TF DOWN AND GATHER MY THOUGHTS BEFORE WRITING A REVIEW SHHDHEHSHHDMDJNJDJJ
A Conjuring of Light by V.E. Schwab
5.0
second read: june 23, 2020
this series has become my comfort series and i will gladly shed a bucketful of tears for it over and over again
first read: august 03, 2020
“love and loss”, he said, “are like a ship and the sea. they rise together. the more we love, the more we have to lose. but the only way to avoid loss is to avoid love. and what a sad world that would be.”
[a:V.E. Schwab|7168230|V.E. Schwab|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1511218938p2/7168230.jpg]— murderer of characters and/or readers
greetings from hell. obviously i died after reading acol but that’s not going to stop me from writing a review.
i finished this book at two in the morning and i ended up crying myself to sleep. i forgot how painful and difficult it actually feels like to end a beloved series. as much as i hate this feeling, i also missed it. it’s been quite awhile since the last time i’ve felt this deeply for a book that it’s so hard to let it go.
[b:The Hero of Ages|2767793|The Hero of Ages (Mistborn, #3)|Brandon Sanderson|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1480717763l/2767793._SY75_.jpg|2793516] by [a:Brandon Sanderson|38550|Brandon Sanderson|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1394044556p2/38550.jpg] is still the best series finale i’ve ever read, but a [b:A Conjuring of Light|29939230|A Conjuring of Light (Shades of Magic, #3)|V.E. Schwab|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1464017758l/29939230._SY75_.jpg|44752519] definitely comes at a close second. they have the same bittersweet feel to it that hurts my heart So much but warms it as well. i feel like the best resolutions always leave an open door. because though the story may end, the lives of the characters will not as long as we keep them alive and remembered in our hearts.
victoria schwab is an amazing writer, hence why she’s one of my favorites. her writing style is enchanting, her worlds are fascinating, and her characters are so well written. you can never go wrong with any of her books because she excels in every aspect of the story. the reason why it took me so long to read this was because i knew, in a way, that this book was going to hit me so hard. and it did. i cried so much i still have tear stains on my pillow. i honestly cannot find flaws in this book. if i would, i’d just be nitpicking. this was a beautiful finale and it did everything it needed to do.
“a myth without a voice is like a dandelion without a breath of wind. no way to spread the seeds.”
kell has always been my favorite character of the series. one of the things that i was expecting from this book was his backstory. i always wanted to find out who he was, what K and L stands for, who his parents were, and what his life was before the royal family took him in. however, we didn’t get that at all and i thought i’d hate it, but i realized how vital that actually was for his character arc. he has always been curious about his past, but coming to terms with who he is today, accepting maxim and emira as his parents, accepting rhy as his brother, and accepting that he is a part of the royal family was the best character development for him. kell has finally stopped searching for his past and is finally living in his present.
lila is one of the funniest characters in this entire series. she’s a //stereotypical// badass girlie who loves knives instead of dresses, but we love her anyway. we’ve always known lila was an antari ever since her glass eye was mentioned in adsom. but owning her power— removing her glass eye, and changing it to an antari’s black— was the best thing ever. one of her fears throughout the series was caring because it hurt too much, so she pushes and runs away from anyone who makes her feel. so it made me so happy that she finally put her walls down, stayed, and stopped running away.
rhy was such a slutty cinnamon roll in book one and even in book two. but So much has really changed within him. he has grown to his full potential. he is such a compassionate person. him walking through the streets, knowing full well that it was dangerous, to help anyone who survived just shows how much of a good king he’d be. he is weak in magic, but his strength lies in his compassion, his empathy. this is what makes him brave.
holland was the character who really surprised me. i’ve always had a soft spot for him since adsom because i knew that if he had it his own way, he wouldn’t have done those horrible things. however, i was never attached to him. victoria really did his character justice, a conjuring of light was holland’s book. we got to find out a lot more about holland’s past before athos and astrid dane bounded him to them. his backstory was so heartbreaking, his life so full of tragedies. seeing all of that, i found it really hard to fault him for the wrongs he’s done. he’s definitely one of the best morally grey characters i’ve read about. how his story ends was beautifully written. i’ve said before that victoria schwab can write a really good death scene for a main character //i.e. our dark duet// and that scene with holland is just more proof of that. yes, he dies. but victoria did confirm that holland was the one who revived white london. when he took his last breath, white london breathed it in. he got what he always wanted after all.
that scene really broke my heart but i can’t think of a better way to end holland’s story. it was really an emotional and a beautiful scene.
alucard had the best dialogues in the book— “stop fucking with the ship!” and while there really wasn’t that much change in his character, i still really enjoyed it. i love his relationships with the other three. his love for rhy, his friendship with lila, and his banters with kell. i’m so glad that he can freely be with rhy now. this is what they deserve.
i also love that we got perspectives from the king and queen, it made me understand them a lot more. im so sad they had to die though. the sacrifices that they had to make, maxim especially, just to keep their people safe broke my heart.
“magic made everything feel so impermanent, it was easy to forget that some things, once changed, could never be undone. that not everything was either changeable, could never be undone. that not everything was either changeable or infinite. some roads kept going, and others had an end.”
there were so many character deaths in this book and the funny thing is, if most of those characters died earlier in the series, i probably wouldn’t have cared so much. the fact that my heart was so heavy when those characters died just says so much about the characterization in this book.
there were definitely some loose ends in acol, however this doesn’t really make the story unresolved. in fact, it actually opens a lot more possibilities. there’s still a wide world we’ve yet to explore. more magic we’ve yet to discover.
i’m really hoping that victoria continues to write stories within the shades of magic world because i would love to see it. see everything.
it’s so hard to let go of this series. i thought i was ready for it, but the tears in my eyes tell me otherwise. however, all good things must come to an end. so as they say in Arnesian,
Anoshe.
“anoshe brought solace. and hope. and the strength to let go.”
this series has become my comfort series and i will gladly shed a bucketful of tears for it over and over again
first read: august 03, 2020
“love and loss”, he said, “are like a ship and the sea. they rise together. the more we love, the more we have to lose. but the only way to avoid loss is to avoid love. and what a sad world that would be.”
[a:V.E. Schwab|7168230|V.E. Schwab|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1511218938p2/7168230.jpg]— murderer of characters and/or readers
greetings from hell. obviously i died after reading acol but that’s not going to stop me from writing a review.
i finished this book at two in the morning and i ended up crying myself to sleep. i forgot how painful and difficult it actually feels like to end a beloved series. as much as i hate this feeling, i also missed it. it’s been quite awhile since the last time i’ve felt this deeply for a book that it’s so hard to let it go.
[b:The Hero of Ages|2767793|The Hero of Ages (Mistborn, #3)|Brandon Sanderson|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1480717763l/2767793._SY75_.jpg|2793516] by [a:Brandon Sanderson|38550|Brandon Sanderson|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1394044556p2/38550.jpg] is still the best series finale i’ve ever read, but a [b:A Conjuring of Light|29939230|A Conjuring of Light (Shades of Magic, #3)|V.E. Schwab|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1464017758l/29939230._SY75_.jpg|44752519] definitely comes at a close second. they have the same bittersweet feel to it that hurts my heart So much but warms it as well. i feel like the best resolutions always leave an open door. because though the story may end, the lives of the characters will not as long as we keep them alive and remembered in our hearts.
victoria schwab is an amazing writer, hence why she’s one of my favorites. her writing style is enchanting, her worlds are fascinating, and her characters are so well written. you can never go wrong with any of her books because she excels in every aspect of the story. the reason why it took me so long to read this was because i knew, in a way, that this book was going to hit me so hard. and it did. i cried so much i still have tear stains on my pillow. i honestly cannot find flaws in this book. if i would, i’d just be nitpicking. this was a beautiful finale and it did everything it needed to do.
“a myth without a voice is like a dandelion without a breath of wind. no way to spread the seeds.”
kell has always been my favorite character of the series. one of the things that i was expecting from this book was his backstory. i always wanted to find out who he was, what K and L stands for, who his parents were, and what his life was before the royal family took him in. however, we didn’t get that at all and i thought i’d hate it, but i realized how vital that actually was for his character arc. he has always been curious about his past, but coming to terms with who he is today, accepting maxim and emira as his parents, accepting rhy as his brother, and accepting that he is a part of the royal family was the best character development for him. kell has finally stopped searching for his past and is finally living in his present.
lila is one of the funniest characters in this entire series. she’s a //stereotypical// badass girlie who loves knives instead of dresses, but we love her anyway. we’ve always known lila was an antari ever since her glass eye was mentioned in adsom. but owning her power— removing her glass eye, and changing it to an antari’s black— was the best thing ever. one of her fears throughout the series was caring because it hurt too much, so she pushes and runs away from anyone who makes her feel. so it made me so happy that she finally put her walls down, stayed, and stopped running away.
rhy was such a slutty cinnamon roll in book one and even in book two. but So much has really changed within him. he has grown to his full potential. he is such a compassionate person. him walking through the streets, knowing full well that it was dangerous, to help anyone who survived just shows how much of a good king he’d be. he is weak in magic, but his strength lies in his compassion, his empathy. this is what makes him brave.
holland was the character who really surprised me. i’ve always had a soft spot for him since adsom because i knew that if he had it his own way, he wouldn’t have done those horrible things. however, i was never attached to him. victoria really did his character justice, a conjuring of light was holland’s book. we got to find out a lot more about holland’s past before athos and astrid dane bounded him to them. his backstory was so heartbreaking, his life so full of tragedies. seeing all of that, i found it really hard to fault him for the wrongs he’s done. he’s definitely one of the best morally grey characters i’ve read about. how his story ends was beautifully written. i’ve said before that victoria schwab can write a really good death scene for a main character //i.e. our dark duet// and that scene with holland is just more proof of that. yes, he dies. but victoria did confirm that holland was the one who revived white london. when he took his last breath, white london breathed it in. he got what he always wanted after all.
that scene really broke my heart but i can’t think of a better way to end holland’s story. it was really an emotional and a beautiful scene.
alucard had the best dialogues in the book— “stop fucking with the ship!” and while there really wasn’t that much change in his character, i still really enjoyed it. i love his relationships with the other three. his love for rhy, his friendship with lila, and his banters with kell. i’m so glad that he can freely be with rhy now. this is what they deserve.
i also love that we got perspectives from the king and queen, it made me understand them a lot more. im so sad they had to die though. the sacrifices that they had to make, maxim especially, just to keep their people safe broke my heart.
“magic made everything feel so impermanent, it was easy to forget that some things, once changed, could never be undone. that not everything was either changeable, could never be undone. that not everything was either changeable or infinite. some roads kept going, and others had an end.”
there were so many character deaths in this book and the funny thing is, if most of those characters died earlier in the series, i probably wouldn’t have cared so much. the fact that my heart was so heavy when those characters died just says so much about the characterization in this book.
there were definitely some loose ends in acol, however this doesn’t really make the story unresolved. in fact, it actually opens a lot more possibilities. there’s still a wide world we’ve yet to explore. more magic we’ve yet to discover.
i’m really hoping that victoria continues to write stories within the shades of magic world because i would love to see it. see everything.
it’s so hard to let go of this series. i thought i was ready for it, but the tears in my eyes tell me otherwise. however, all good things must come to an end. so as they say in Arnesian,
Anoshe.
“anoshe brought solace. and hope. and the strength to let go.”