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erin0999's reviews
188 reviews
Nevernight by Jay Kristoff
4.0
This book starts SLOW, really interesting, but slow. But once it picks up (about 100~ pages in), it REALLY PICKS UP. This book was an exciting read with a world that I find really fascinating (I love the Roman Empire and this really has a cool take on it). This book was brutal, unexpected, dark, and so cool. I will definitely pick up the next book when I get around to it, but I might need a couple lighter reads in between.
Also I thought Jay Kristoff wrote beautifully, he had some stellar descriptions. BUT he also had some descriptions he used a LOT. Like how some authors have crutch words? He had some crutch descriptions. That’s not a bad thing. I just noticed them a lot haha. Like every time we go back into Mia’s flashbacks as a child he always starts with “the smell of offal in the air” haha. Overall, a good read!
Also I thought Jay Kristoff wrote beautifully, he had some stellar descriptions. BUT he also had some descriptions he used a LOT. Like how some authors have crutch words? He had some crutch descriptions. That’s not a bad thing. I just noticed them a lot haha. Like every time we go back into Mia’s flashbacks as a child he always starts with “the smell of offal in the air” haha. Overall, a good read!
Stars Above by Marissa Meyer
5.0
Such a good way to get closure for these characters. I feel good leaving them behind for now. I really liked the stories in this collection, especially the ones in the second half of the book once you got out of the backstories of the Rampion crew (although I enjoyed those a lot too). If you like The Lunar Chronicles, there’s really no reason you wouldn’t like this book too.
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
3.0
Probably a 3.5, but not enough to be rounded up to 4.
I have mixed feelings about this book, and they are *muddled* so I apologize in advance for this review.
First off, if there's one thing Erin Morgenstern can do, it's *write*! She has a beautiful way with words, and her descriptions are really awesome, if occasionally overdone. I thought that worked really well in this story where the circus itself has several layers of importance beyond simply setting.
If there's one thing I'm not sure Erin Morgenstern can do, it's write a coherent and engaging plot :/
I would say I wasn't totally into this book until well after 50% through it, and I think a large reason for that is because Morgenstern chooses to keep integral information to the plot hidden from the reader. I usually like that trope and I think it can be done well, but I think this plot went too far and kept the engaging parts of the story hidden for the LONGEST TIME. I read the second half of the book much faster than the first, but I feel like part of it was just me trying to power through it quickly (which is also what I did with The Starless Sea).
The story in The Night Circus, however, is much better than The Starless Sea in my opinion because I understood a lot more (which still didn't feel like very much lmao).
The nonlinear story line was a bit confusing, but I got around to it eventually. If there was one choice I really liked that Morgenstern made, it was the short little interludes where she described the different tents and attractions at The Night Circus. I loved reading those and really looked forward to them! They were so creative and awesome.
I think the biggest disappointment for me was probably the relationship between the two main characters, Celia and Marco. The blurb for this story feels extremely misleading because it makes it seem like there's a lot more action in the story than there actually is. There is no "duel" and not very much romance either. I think the thing that bugged me the most is that I didn't find Marco or Celia as very well rounded out characters, they are talented in their magic and stuff, but I still found them flat. I wouldn't really kn0w how to describe their personalities which was weird because almost every other character felt 3-D and interesting to me. I also felt the tinges of insta-love in this relationship which caught me off guard because both Celia and Marco seem so interested in being strong and mature. I felt like Morgenstern made them "fall in love" and then had to spend the rest of the book convincing me that their relationship was inevitable and something that was years in the making. I was never fully convinced of that in the end.
Most of all, the blurb of this book needs to be changed, I think it is attracting maybe the wrong readers.
But this book was still beautifully written, and I'm glad I gave it a try. Just don't think I'll read it again.
I have mixed feelings about this book, and they are *muddled* so I apologize in advance for this review.
First off, if there's one thing Erin Morgenstern can do, it's *write*! She has a beautiful way with words, and her descriptions are really awesome, if occasionally overdone. I thought that worked really well in this story where the circus itself has several layers of importance beyond simply setting.
If there's one thing I'm not sure Erin Morgenstern can do, it's write a coherent and engaging plot :/
I would say I wasn't totally into this book until well after 50% through it, and I think a large reason for that is because Morgenstern chooses to keep integral information to the plot hidden from the reader. I usually like that trope and I think it can be done well, but I think this plot went too far and kept the engaging parts of the story hidden for the LONGEST TIME. I read the second half of the book much faster than the first, but I feel like part of it was just me trying to power through it quickly (which is also what I did with The Starless Sea).
The story in The Night Circus, however, is much better than The Starless Sea in my opinion because I understood a lot more (which still didn't feel like very much lmao).
The nonlinear story line was a bit confusing, but I got around to it eventually. If there was one choice I really liked that Morgenstern made, it was the short little interludes where she described the different tents and attractions at The Night Circus. I loved reading those and really looked forward to them! They were so creative and awesome.
I think the biggest disappointment for me was probably the relationship between the two main characters, Celia and Marco. The blurb for this story feels extremely misleading because it makes it seem like there's a lot more action in the story than there actually is. There is no "duel" and not very much romance either. I think the thing that bugged me the most is that I didn't find Marco or Celia as very well rounded out characters, they are talented in their magic and stuff, but I still found them flat. I wouldn't really kn0w how to describe their personalities which was weird because almost every other character felt 3-D and interesting to me. I also felt the tinges of insta-love in this relationship which caught me off guard because both Celia and Marco seem so interested in being strong and mature. I felt like Morgenstern made them "fall in love" and then had to spend the rest of the book convincing me that their relationship was inevitable and something that was years in the making. I was never fully convinced of that in the end.
Most of all, the blurb of this book needs to be changed, I think it is attracting maybe the wrong readers.
But this book was still beautifully written, and I'm glad I gave it a try. Just don't think I'll read it again.
Truthwitch by Susan Dennard
4.0
I really enjoyed this book! I thought it was a really fun story with AMAZING, gush-able characters and I am definitely planning on continuing the series. I think if you enjoyed Avatar the Last Airbender and want to read something similar, you’d like this!
Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo
3.0
Leigh Bardugo KNOWS how to write fun, awesome scenes. Unfortunately, it didn’t feel like there were very many of them in this book :(
I think the biggest thing about the first book and this one is that they hit a bug lull in the middle where Alina gets into a routine and then you’re just... reading the routine for a couple chapters until there’s another awesome scene there to keep you hostage.
I still really love the world of the Grishaverse and I’m totally only reading this trilogy to read her other books which I *know* are some of the best YA books to come out in the past couple years and I want that for me.
I will say the first 100 or so pages were pretty freaking great for me, I had really high hopes that steadily died off until the last few chapters.
My ranty bit:
I don’t think Mal and Alina are a good couple and I was kind of glad to see them grow apart in this book! I think they’re better off as friends because when they’re together they’re just jealous messes and it’s not fun to read. The biggest thing that worries me is that I think Alina and Mal are supposed to end up together in the end which will tbh, ruin some of this for me if that’s the case. I just don’t think their relationship is healthy and it’s not fun to read about. They don’t have to have only good things happen to them and they’re allowed to fight and have ✨drama✨ but with them it feels uncomfier than that....
Also Nikolai is the best thing about this book. If it weren’t for him I don’t know what I would’ve done. God bless him.
I think the biggest thing about the first book and this one is that they hit a bug lull in the middle where Alina gets into a routine and then you’re just... reading the routine for a couple chapters until there’s another awesome scene there to keep you hostage.
I still really love the world of the Grishaverse and I’m totally only reading this trilogy to read her other books which I *know* are some of the best YA books to come out in the past couple years and I want that for me.
I will say the first 100 or so pages were pretty freaking great for me, I had really high hopes that steadily died off until the last few chapters.
My ranty bit:
I don’t think Mal and Alina are a good couple and I was kind of glad to see them grow apart in this book! I think they’re better off as friends because when they’re together they’re just jealous messes and it’s not fun to read. The biggest thing that worries me is that I think Alina and Mal are supposed to end up together in the end which will tbh, ruin some of this for me if that’s the case. I just don’t think their relationship is healthy and it’s not fun to read about. They don’t have to have only good things happen to them and they’re allowed to fight and have ✨drama✨ but with them it feels uncomfier than that....
Also Nikolai is the best thing about this book. If it weren’t for him I don’t know what I would’ve done. God bless him.
Pumpkinheads by Rainbow Rowell
5.0
This was randomly available on my library app so I decided to read it at 12:24 in the morning.
It was adorable as expected, with wonderful color and art that really conveys the charm of the pumpkin patch. The storyline was super cute and tbh some of Deja’s little pep talks are probably something I need someone in real life to shake and say to me haha.
This book really reminded me a lot of the pumpkin patch my high school marching band would go to for one night in October. It used to be so much fun.
Spring is my favorite season, but this book really made me wish for fall a little bit. I think I’ll try to go to a pumpkin patch this fall.
It was adorable as expected, with wonderful color and art that really conveys the charm of the pumpkin patch. The storyline was super cute and tbh some of Deja’s little pep talks are probably something I need someone in real life to shake and say to me haha.
This book really reminded me a lot of the pumpkin patch my high school marching band would go to for one night in October. It used to be so much fun.
Spring is my favorite season, but this book really made me wish for fall a little bit. I think I’ll try to go to a pumpkin patch this fall.