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eloracookauthor's Reviews (211)
These books were my everything as an elementary school kid and sparked my passion for reading (even during math class when I was supposed to be listening!) and I'm feeling all nostalgic today. I remember being so sad when I finished this book, because I never wanted the Pony Pals stories to end...now I'm making it a point in my 2018 goals to read most if not all of these books again!
Gosh, this little book was just as beautiful and heart-tugging as it's movie adaptation. Even though it's written with simpler language for young children, there are so many thought-provoking lines and the topics explored of children with depression and giving forgiveness were explored in a wonderful, relatable way.
I love this story do much and I think it stems from my own feelings of wishing I could have known my grandmother better and the grandmother - granddaughter relationship isn't something I've seen explored in such a way much before. I really recommend this novel and to watch the film!!
I love this story do much and I think it stems from my own feelings of wishing I could have known my grandmother better and the grandmother - granddaughter relationship isn't something I've seen explored in such a way much before. I really recommend this novel and to watch the film!!
My first five star rating of the year - yay!
Okay so. Margaret was a born writer. I'm still swooning at how gorgeous her writing style is and cannot wait for her next book so I can continue being memorized by her words! The writing wasn't pretty just for the sake of it. Not at all. All of her sentences made sense in this lush, sensory way that I haven't seen before. ♡♡
Isobel and Rook were great characters. I loved them both in their own way and also together as the story wants you to feel. The one regret I do have about their relationship and the story overall is that there wasn't enough establishment of their love for each other before we were meant to believe it. I did believe they loved each other, but felt that build to it was passed over a bit.
I completely recommend this book with all my being for anyone who loves good storytelling skills and a sweet romance. Not to mention beautiful details of my favourite season - autumn!
Okay so. Margaret was a born writer. I'm still swooning at how gorgeous her writing style is and cannot wait for her next book so I can continue being memorized by her words! The writing wasn't pretty just for the sake of it. Not at all. All of her sentences made sense in this lush, sensory way that I haven't seen before. ♡♡
Isobel and Rook were great characters. I loved them both in their own way and also together as the story wants you to feel. The one regret I do have about their relationship and the story overall is that there wasn't enough establishment of their love for each other before we were meant to believe it. I did believe they loved each other, but felt that build to it was passed over a bit.
I completely recommend this book with all my being for anyone who loves good storytelling skills and a sweet romance. Not to mention beautiful details of my favourite season - autumn!
Oh my goodness. This was SO GOOD. I'm not surprised at all though. Queen Bardugo can write anything and have me mesmerized and forgetting what page I'm on. My favourite stories was "Ayama and the Thorn Wood" and "The Witch of Duva" by far. Those two left me speechless with the twists and beautifully written fairytale style. I had to read a lot of old fairytales and folklore last summer and she nailed it with an awesome feminist twist.
I wavered a bit with the nutcracker story. It didn't hold my interest as much as the others, but since all the stories were written in (mostly) different styles and about different characters, I'm not surprised they didn't all live up to the same equal love.
I truly recommend buying a copy of this book!! The illustrations make the experience of these stories 10000% better as you watch the borders weave into these glorious designs. What a great ride.
I wavered a bit with the nutcracker story. It didn't hold my interest as much as the others, but since all the stories were written in (mostly) different styles and about different characters, I'm not surprised they didn't all live up to the same equal love.
I truly recommend buying a copy of this book!! The illustrations make the experience of these stories 10000% better as you watch the borders weave into these glorious designs. What a great ride.
4.5 stars! Review to come.
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So on to the review. Beware minor spoilers! I was hooked right from the first chapter with this book and went back and forth throughout trying to guess who had done it. The characters were nicely fleshed out and I liked all four of them in their own ways with hints of possible suspicion always lingering in the back of my mind (though I will admit I didn't think) however I took a half star off for the reveal of what happened at the end. It all felt a bit....easy, gimmicky.
Overall though I was super intrigued throughout and loved the writing style! Definitely a book to pick up for a fast paced read that you'll want to finish in a day or two and a great final book for me to choose to end 2017 off on!
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So on to the review. Beware minor spoilers! I was hooked right from the first chapter with this book and went back and forth throughout trying to guess who had done it. The characters were nicely fleshed out and I liked all four of them in their own ways with hints of possible suspicion always lingering in the back of my mind (though I will admit I didn't think
Spoiler
Nick had done it because he was the obvious suspect and it's never that personSpoiler
I actually would have preferred for one of the four to have done it, since after I got to the third act it was obvious to me that none of them had because of the way McManus set them up for us readers to love them too much. In my opinion, I think it would have been far more interesting for one of the teens have killed Simon and given us readers more to think about then getting off easy with some new favourite characters.Overall though I was super intrigued throughout and loved the writing style! Definitely a book to pick up for a fast paced read that you'll want to finish in a day or two and a great final book for me to choose to end 2017 off on!
Second read through and it's just as amazing as the first time a year ago! I especially loved seeing all the clues I missed before and in general loved reuniting with this adorable group of teens ♡♡♡♡
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This is one of those books I could read again and again.
The writing was quirky, original & fun!! Before I finished it I knew it was going to be a favourite and I immediately went out to buy #2 (also because I'm away from home right now and didn't have another book buuut not as important)
I kept yelling out loud when the plot twist got me, because some I didn't see coming!! The ending was like wtf am I in store for?? Can't wait!! Blue's family is the most adorable bunch and the best of all time! Sure, the whole overly rich boys & one scholarship student boy is a used trope and my brain MAY have floated into "this is like a Korean Drama" a lot, but I still LOVE IT.
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This is one of those books I could read again and again.
The writing was quirky, original & fun!! Before I finished it I knew it was going to be a favourite and I immediately went out to buy #2 (also because I'm away from home right now and didn't have another book buuut not as important)
I kept yelling out loud when the plot twist got me, because some I didn't see coming!! The ending was like wtf am I in store for?? Can't wait!! Blue's family is the most adorable bunch and the best of all time! Sure, the whole overly rich boys & one scholarship student boy is a used trope and my brain MAY have floated into "this is like a Korean Drama" a lot, but I still LOVE IT.
Second read Feb. 2018.
This book is just pure nostalgic and that is all right with me ♡
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I used to be OBSESSED with any horse book and the Thoroughbred books were a huge part of it. I loved this first one and the second, but fell away from the series a few more books in, because of it's sway away from the first main characters. Maybe if I was older reading them it wouldn't have mattered as much.
Either way, this first book really helped to let the 10-year-old Elora fantasize about her own farm & horse.
This book is just pure nostalgic and that is all right with me ♡
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I used to be OBSESSED with any horse book and the Thoroughbred books were a huge part of it. I loved this first one and the second, but fell away from the series a few more books in, because of it's sway away from the first main characters. Maybe if I was older reading them it wouldn't have mattered as much.
Either way, this first book really helped to let the 10-year-old Elora fantasize about her own farm & horse.
TW: Suicide
I will start off by saying I have seen some of the conversations surrounding the suicide that takes place in this novel and I do agree I thought it wasn't necessary and is in poor taste for just advancing the main character's arc and nothing more. If this could be harmful for you to read about, avoid or take caution where it happens:
So what can I say that coherently explains my bursting love for this novel? I'll admit before now, I've never read a Holly Black book before. Even when The Spiderwick Chronicles were all the rage when I was a kid! Now I see why she is such a renowned author, her writing is gorgeous and I was mesmerized by the world of Faerie she built.
Jude is by far one of my favourite heroine's in YA. She was relatable, had clear stakes and goals, and even when she made stupid choices she realized them and tried to make herself better to advance the plot and her character. Even though in the beginning I didn't think I would be capable of doing some of the choice she made, by the end I began to question that, since she's a great example of seeing how far we could all go to get what we most desire. I got a couple villain-esque vibes from her, but honestly I would never call her the villain in this book since everything she does makes total sense and is justified, but they can still be considered grey area actions. Really, Jude was such a well-rounded character.
Cardan took some time for me to warm up to. I LOOOOVED their hate-to-sort of love-but still hate relationship but I can't forgive him for still being an asshole even with his tragic past. (Honestly, what's with forgiving terrible qualities/actions of guys as long as there's a tragic past?Looking at you Rhys
Taryn can slink off into the muddy hole she belongs. That is all.
This book and author are so well received already, you don't need me to convince you to go read it! Just trust that Holly Black knows what she's doing with words and be ready to have a new favourite to gush over like me!
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Review to come! ♡♡
I will start off by saying I have seen some of the conversations surrounding the suicide that takes place in this novel and I do agree I thought it wasn't necessary and is in poor taste for just advancing the main character's arc and nothing more. If this could be harmful for you to read about, avoid or take caution where it happens:
Spoiler
Chapter 17So what can I say that coherently explains my bursting love for this novel? I'll admit before now, I've never read a Holly Black book before. Even when The Spiderwick Chronicles were all the rage when I was a kid! Now I see why she is such a renowned author, her writing is gorgeous and I was mesmerized by the world of Faerie she built.
Jude is by far one of my favourite heroine's in YA. She was relatable, had clear stakes and goals, and even when she made stupid choices she realized them and tried to make herself better to advance the plot and her character. Even though in the beginning I didn't think I would be capable of doing some of the choice she made, by the end I began to question that, since she's a great example of seeing how far we could all go to get what we most desire. I got a couple villain-esque vibes from her, but honestly I would never call her the villain in this book since everything she does makes total sense and is justified, but they can still be considered grey area actions. Really, Jude was such a well-rounded character.
Cardan took some time for me to warm up to. I LOOOOVED their hate-to-sort of love-but still hate relationship but I can't forgive him for still being an asshole even with his tragic past. (Honestly, what's with forgiving terrible qualities/actions of guys as long as there's a tragic past?
Taryn can slink off into the muddy hole she belongs. That is all.
Spoiler
Two-faced, gross bitch. Honestly, what kind of sister does that? Does she have no self-esteem whatsoever? Obviously. I call backstabbing to the next level in The Wicked King.This book and author are so well received already, you don't need me to convince you to go read it! Just trust that Holly Black knows what she's doing with words and be ready to have a new favourite to gush over like me!
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Review to come! ♡♡