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hmgauthier's Reviews (244)
3.5 stars. “And for the second time that night, a shadow passed between him and death.”
Clare’s character-driven sequel had a lot of exciting elements to work with: the expanding cast of characters, her amazing ability to sow foreshadowing through the text, glorious descriptions, and the mounting pressure of war.
The introduction of the Seelie Court and the chapters spent there were my absolute favorite of the whole book. Clary discovering more about her abilities and her growing friendship with Izzy were definite highlights for me.
What I’m excited for going forward: Alec and Magnus’ growing relationship, learning more about Maia, and Sebastian Verlac.
What I didn't love: the pacing was rather slow, the lack of Alec/Izzy/Magnus from the story, and the story felt light on plot.
Clare’s character-driven sequel had a lot of exciting elements to work with: the expanding cast of characters, her amazing ability to sow foreshadowing through the text, glorious descriptions, and the mounting pressure of war.
The introduction of the Seelie Court and the chapters spent there were my absolute favorite of the whole book. Clary discovering more about her abilities and her growing friendship with Izzy were definite highlights for me.
What I’m excited for going forward: Alec and Magnus’ growing relationship, learning more about Maia, and Sebastian Verlac.
What I didn't love: the pacing was rather slow, the lack of Alec/Izzy/Magnus from the story, and the story felt light on plot.
"Not a moment later her laugh broke through the silent cemetery."
I was really excited about this book. It's my first author/arc copy and the stunning art at the beginning of each chapter really got me excited for this. To be DNF'ing 53% of the way through is a huge disappointment.
What I liked: tone of the first chapter and the suspense it set up and Spiris (the only reason I kept reading after a while).
What I didn't like: it had a real lack of characterization (even half way through I know very little about the characters), the exposition was incredibly short (I didn't know much about Vien before being thrown into literally a different world), the story is told in a passive voice, and I felt like I was being told what was happening instead of reading along.
I won't comment on the grammar/structure issues because (I believe) this is still an ARC.
This book has good bones and the tone of the first chapter was incredibly compelling.
Big thank you to Elle Mae who sent me a physical copy!
I was really excited about this book. It's my first author/arc copy and the stunning art at the beginning of each chapter really got me excited for this. To be DNF'ing 53% of the way through is a huge disappointment.
What I liked: tone of the first chapter and the suspense it set up and Spiris (the only reason I kept reading after a while).
What I didn't like: it had a real lack of characterization (even half way through I know very little about the characters), the exposition was incredibly short (I didn't know much about Vien before being thrown into literally a different world), the story is told in a passive voice, and I felt like I was being told what was happening instead of reading along.
I won't comment on the grammar/structure issues because (I believe) this is still an ARC.
This book has good bones and the tone of the first chapter was incredibly compelling.
Big thank you to Elle Mae who sent me a physical copy!
“Did you want to drink my arterial blood after that slash, or just roll around it?”
After processing the ending for four hours I am finally able to articulate words regarding this masterpiece.
This book feels like reading a piece of Maggie Stiefvater’s soul. It is succeeds in being beautiful and haunting, fantastical and incredibly real.
Declan has surprised me greatly, understanding what motivates him has been a huge joy of this series.
I absolutely loved the different imagery used to describe Ronan and Hennessy’s dream “magic.”
After processing the ending for four hours I am finally able to articulate words regarding this masterpiece.
This book feels like reading a piece of Maggie Stiefvater’s soul. It is succeeds in being beautiful and haunting, fantastical and incredibly real.
Declan has surprised me greatly, understanding what motivates him has been a huge joy of this series.
I absolutely loved the different imagery used to describe Ronan and Hennessy’s dream “magic.”
4.5 “It feels good to think about. It feels like-shit, I’m crying. It feels awful, but it feels clean.”
“I’d open up a vein. I’d tie our hearts together chamber by chamber.”
Reading this book was such a frustrating joy. Simon and Baz, dear god they were killing me.
I really love how the “Wayward Son” son reference really applies to both of them, both lost in different ways and looking to find themselves after graduating. An all too familiar thing.
I felt like the big fight was over just a little too fast. I also think Simon is going to get his magic back based on a comment in the story. Call it a hopeful prediction/guess.
I appreciate Simons story in this book and how he is struggling to find himself. His struggles with trying to figure out his sexual orientation and his life path were all too relatable and touching.
“I’d open up a vein. I’d tie our hearts together chamber by chamber.”
Reading this book was such a frustrating joy. Simon and Baz, dear god they were killing me.
I really love how the “Wayward Son” son reference really applies to both of them, both lost in different ways and looking to find themselves after graduating. An all too familiar thing.
I felt like the big fight was over just a little too fast. I also think Simon is going to get his magic back based on a comment in the story. Call it a hopeful prediction/guess.
I appreciate Simons story in this book and how he is struggling to find himself. His struggles with trying to figure out his sexual orientation and his life path were all too relatable and touching.
3.5 “It is sometimes your duty to understand that what makes another person happy is not what makes you happy…”
“This is a terrible idea…. I’ll help.”
This is such a cute story! I love how ethics are interwoven into the story and the quests. Newt was most definitely my favorite character and the art was awesome.
I found that the over inclusion of science terms bogged down the reading and made it hard to follow at times.
“This is a terrible idea…. I’ll help.”
This is such a cute story! I love how ethics are interwoven into the story and the quests. Newt was most definitely my favorite character and the art was awesome.
I found that the over inclusion of science terms bogged down the reading and made it hard to follow at times.
4.5. “Let no one think of me as humble or weak or passive; let them understand I am of a different kind: dangerous to my enemies, loyal to my friends. To such a life glory belongs.”
Medea, as always, is a fantastic read. This was my first time reading Hecabe and Electra and I absolutely loved both. Personally the inclusion of Hercules as the final play seemed be out of place with the first three (the morals of the stories are all similar but it didn’t feel like it belonged in this collection).
A fascinating read into the values of Ancient Greece and Euripides take on society was most illuminating.
Medea, as always, is a fantastic read. This was my first time reading Hecabe and Electra and I absolutely loved both. Personally the inclusion of Hercules as the final play seemed be out of place with the first three (the morals of the stories are all similar but it didn’t feel like it belonged in this collection).
A fascinating read into the values of Ancient Greece and Euripides take on society was most illuminating.
3.5 stars. "The truth is tricky. People want to know it, but when they do, sometimes they wish they didn't."
A sapphic, fairytale retelling? The diverse characters? Yes, please. I love the way the original tale was turned on its head and interwoven into the story. The scenes revolving around the seamstress were incredibly impactful and some of the strongest in the book. The first half is stunning.
I think its theme of forgiveness and whether people deserve it was compelling and all too important.
Reading this book felt a little flat at times like the story was being told to me rather than experiencing it as a reader. The MC also felt a little flat at times. Yes, she wants to overthrow the terrible, misogynistic government and society of course but beyond this, I feel like we know little about her. Few of the characters display any real growth.
I absolutely adored Luke and Amina was just so interesting.
A sapphic, fairytale retelling? The diverse characters? Yes, please. I love the way the original tale was turned on its head and interwoven into the story. The scenes revolving around the seamstress were incredibly impactful and some of the strongest in the book. The first half is stunning.
I think its theme of forgiveness and whether people deserve it was compelling and all too important.
Reading this book felt a little flat at times like the story was being told to me rather than experiencing it as a reader. The MC also felt a little flat at times. Yes, she wants to overthrow the terrible, misogynistic government and society of course but beyond this, I feel like we know little about her. Few of the characters display any real growth.
I absolutely adored Luke and Amina was just so interesting.
“You could have had anything else in the world, and you asked for me.” Far too many amazing lines in this book to just pick one.
I’ve always held City of Glass as one of my favorite Shadowhunter books and this holds true, it’s power is undeniable.
The foreshadowing in this book was just off the charts. Plot points set like dominos, gotta love it.
As always, I want more Alec and Magnus.
I’ve always held City of Glass as one of my favorite Shadowhunter books and this holds true, it’s power is undeniable.
The foreshadowing in this book was just off the charts. Plot points set like dominos, gotta love it.
As always, I want more Alec and Magnus.
“Because I’ve been looking for an excuse to talk to you for two days.”
I’ve been meaning to read this book for years and I grew incredibly wary of the hype around it but denying myself the absolute pleasure of reading this book was absurd.
I am obsessed with Bardugo’s dialogue and incredibly full, lifelike characters.
I felt like there were a few areas where it was particularly difficult to follow the movement of what was happening in scenes.
Even knowing vague things about this book, it was full of suspense, surprises, and so much heart.
I’ve been meaning to read this book for years and I grew incredibly wary of the hype around it but denying myself the absolute pleasure of reading this book was absurd.
I am obsessed with Bardugo’s dialogue and incredibly full, lifelike characters.
I felt like there were a few areas where it was particularly difficult to follow the movement of what was happening in scenes.
Even knowing vague things about this book, it was full of suspense, surprises, and so much heart.
3.5 stars.
“Because red handprints were once again being pressed into the world and I couldn’t escape the feeling that something awful was going to happen again.”
I really enjoyed elements of this book. It had some fantastic twists I didn’t expect and the slow creeping build of the book was excellent. I love how the the theme of guilt and how people take on/shrug off that guilt was woven into the story.
This book was never what I expected, from start to stop in both good and bad ways. The story was told rather passively and made me feel removed from the story. I still have a number of questions after the end. The end felt anticlimactic to me.
“Because red handprints were once again being pressed into the world and I couldn’t escape the feeling that something awful was going to happen again.”
I really enjoyed elements of this book. It had some fantastic twists I didn’t expect and the slow creeping build of the book was excellent. I love how the the theme of guilt and how people take on/shrug off that guilt was woven into the story.
This book was never what I expected, from start to stop in both good and bad ways. The story was told rather passively and made me feel removed from the story. I still have a number of questions after the end. The end felt anticlimactic to me.