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apalershadeofwhite's reviews
252 reviews
Finale by Stephanie Garber
5.0
I don't think I've ever been more in love with a book series than this one. Reading the last page I was both crying and laughing, the biggest smile across my lips. I somehow seemed to love each book more than the last, which I didn't think was possible giving my overwhelming attachment to the first book, but here we are!
This book's structure was actually a lot different from the previous one and I loved it. It made the book seem more important in a way, as if there was more emphasis on this story as opposed to Caraval or Legendary. As much as I loved the first two books, I adore this one with my whole heart.
I never thought I could love or even like the character of Legend after the events of the first book, but here he is with my full-fledged adoration.
This book's structure was actually a lot different from the previous one and I loved it. It made the book seem more important in a way, as if there was more emphasis on this story as opposed to Caraval or Legendary. As much as I loved the first two books, I adore this one with my whole heart.
I never thought I could love or even like the character of Legend after the events of the first book, but here he is with my full-fledged adoration.
Legendary by Stephanie Garber
5.0
As I guessed, I really enjoyed this book! It was so interesting to focus on and hear from Donatella instead of Scarlet like the first book did. It really helped me understand Tella's character better and come to love her so much.
I won't spoil it here for anyone wanting to read this book, but the revelation of who Legend was actually made me gasp out loud
I won't spoil it here for anyone wanting to read this book, but the revelation of who Legend was actually made me gasp out loud
Behind Closed Doors by B.A. Paris
5.0
I was immediately hooked from the first page! Despite it being easy for me to follow along with the hints and subtleties because I had read this book before, I think a first time reader may struggle with figuring some subtle things out before it is explicitly revealed if they read the book over a long period of time. It's definitely a book you wouldn't want to drag out the reading process of in case you miss some details.
One thing I don't usually like about books but I think was used very well in this one was the concept of time. The chapters flit between past and present and this really helped to set the pace and mood of the book as well as build tension.
One thing I don't usually like about books but I think was used very well in this one was the concept of time. The chapters flit between past and present and this really helped to set the pace and mood of the book as well as build tension.
The Duchess of Malfi by John Webster
3.0
I love theatre, but I'm not the biggest fan of medieval plays such as these purely because it find it quite difficult to decipher the language. Despite this, however, I really enjoyed this text! The plot was interesting and there were some really beautiful sentences throughout.
The Bloody Chamber and Other Stories by Angela Carter
4.0
I really enjoyed this book, as expected! Below I will give my thoughts on each individual story.
Despite it being terribly slow to begin with, I devoured this book in one sitting! I really enjoyed enjoyed the symbolism and repetition throughout the book. The majority of this symbolic repetition was through the colour white; specifically, white poiret and white roses.
Carter's story contain themes and content of: torture, murder, infidelity, exhibitionism, beastiality, necrophilia, human exchange (possible trafficking), and puberty. Not for the faint of heart!
〰️❌〰️
The Bloody Chamber: Definitely a slow-going story with an egregiously long beginning, but 25 or so pages in, I became really interested in the plot. The revelation of her husbands secret room and the dare to defy him and his orders had me reading line after line with no stopping me. It's just such a shame that the first approximately 25 pages were so, for lack of a better word, boring.
The Courtship of Mr Lyon: naturally, I was quite excited for this story as I am very fond of similar ones about Beauty and the Beast. This story, being much short than the previous, and therefore not possessing an agregiously slow beginning, was much easier to read and be dive into. I was very interested in the notion that Beauty chose to stay at the Beast's house not because he ordered her to like the previous tales (as Mr Lyon, in his beast form, simply suggested the idea). This, in my opinion, was an interesting take on female agency in medieval literature and contrasted greatly will the previously story.
The Tiger's Bride: again, a story I thought I would enjoy because of its resemblance to the age-old Beauty and the Beast tale. This one surprised me, as with the last one, at the interesting take on female agency. However there is little to no female agency in this tale; contrastingly with the previous one. Also, the metamorphosis at the end was really startling and not something I expected at all.
Puss in Boots: this one was quite fun to read as it was very comedic and absurd; there was even rhyme in some places. This was definitely not my favourite story, but it was really fun and comical to read.
The Erl-King: this story is definitely my favourite of the bunch. The imagery was so rife with colour and substance that I couldn't get enough! Also, as a side note, I really enjoyed the reference to Christina Rossetti's 'Goblin Market'.
The Snow Child: good use of repetition and imagery, but the ending was shocking and not in a good way.
The Lady of the House of Love: so beautifully melancholic and dreadfully macabre.
The Werewolf: short and sweet. Well, less sweet and more gruesome. Fast-paced, action-like heroine, amazing retelling.
The Company of Wolves: Definitely another odd one. However, I was very fond of the heroine / protagonist and her female agency. The piece was littered with beautiful imagery and symbolism.
Wolf-Alice: another odd story, but a good one to end with. This story was so odd that it was amazingly interesting. The plot was winding and confusing but ultimately quite entertaining.
Despite it being terribly slow to begin with, I devoured this book in one sitting! I really enjoyed enjoyed the symbolism and repetition throughout the book. The majority of this symbolic repetition was through the colour white; specifically, white poiret and white roses.
Carter's story contain themes and content of: torture, murder, infidelity, exhibitionism, beastiality, necrophilia, human exchange (possible trafficking), and puberty. Not for the faint of heart!
〰️❌〰️
The Bloody Chamber: Definitely a slow-going story with an egregiously long beginning, but 25 or so pages in, I became really interested in the plot. The revelation of her husbands secret room and the dare to defy him and his orders had me reading line after line with no stopping me. It's just such a shame that the first approximately 25 pages were so, for lack of a better word, boring.
The Courtship of Mr Lyon: naturally, I was quite excited for this story as I am very fond of similar ones about Beauty and the Beast. This story, being much short than the previous, and therefore not possessing an agregiously slow beginning, was much easier to read and be dive into. I was very interested in the notion that Beauty chose to stay at the Beast's house not because he ordered her to like the previous tales (as Mr Lyon, in his beast form, simply suggested the idea). This, in my opinion, was an interesting take on female agency in medieval literature and contrasted greatly will the previously story.
The Tiger's Bride: again, a story I thought I would enjoy because of its resemblance to the age-old Beauty and the Beast tale. This one surprised me, as with the last one, at the interesting take on female agency. However there is little to no female agency in this tale; contrastingly with the previous one. Also, the metamorphosis at the end was really startling and not something I expected at all.
Puss in Boots: this one was quite fun to read as it was very comedic and absurd; there was even rhyme in some places. This was definitely not my favourite story, but it was really fun and comical to read.
The Erl-King: this story is definitely my favourite of the bunch. The imagery was so rife with colour and substance that I couldn't get enough! Also, as a side note, I really enjoyed the reference to Christina Rossetti's 'Goblin Market'.
The Snow Child: good use of repetition and imagery, but the ending was shocking and not in a good way.
The Lady of the House of Love: so beautifully melancholic and dreadfully macabre.
The Werewolf: short and sweet. Well, less sweet and more gruesome. Fast-paced, action-like heroine, amazing retelling.
The Company of Wolves: Definitely another odd one. However, I was very fond of the heroine / protagonist and her female agency. The piece was littered with beautiful imagery and symbolism.
Wolf-Alice: another odd story, but a good one to end with. This story was so odd that it was amazingly interesting. The plot was winding and confusing but ultimately quite entertaining.
The Signalman by Charles Dickens
3.0
The Signalman is a really interesting story, but I definitely thought it was a bit too long (at least for my tastes). I thought in some areas it felt like unnecessary padding when the narrative could've just carried on.
I loved the uncanny use of repetition and deja vu throughout the story! Especially the spectre and supernatural elements. This is definitely one of those stories to read if you like when lots of little things all connect at the end.
I loved the uncanny use of repetition and deja vu throughout the story! Especially the spectre and supernatural elements. This is definitely one of those stories to read if you like when lots of little things all connect at the end.