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hmgauthier's Reviews (244)
3.5. “… angles so sharp Hazel felt the urge to run her finger along the edges of his skin, to print his profile on a coin.”
Don’t mind me, gonna go cry in a corner after that ending.
I liked so much of this story I’ll start with what I didn’t care for: pacing was off (the first 50 pages were rather slow and the rest very quick), the numerous loopholes, the ridiculous turn into alchemy and immortality out of left field, and that end. Not only did it break my heart but it felt thin? Like such a weak argument to keep them apart.
I loved: the time period, the gothic atmosphere, “my love,” ballsy scientist Hazel and her rejection of the trappings of femininity, the peak into the world of resurrection-men, Jack of course, and so much more.
Don’t mind me, gonna go cry in a corner after that ending.
I liked so much of this story I’ll start with what I didn’t care for: pacing was off (the first 50 pages were rather slow and the rest very quick), the numerous loopholes, the ridiculous turn into alchemy and immortality out of left field, and that end. Not only did it break my heart but it felt thin? Like such a weak argument to keep them apart.
I loved: the time period, the gothic atmosphere, “my love,” ballsy scientist Hazel and her rejection of the trappings of femininity, the peak into the world of resurrection-men, Jack of course, and so much more.
"Broken people, broken by the way the world works."
"What I felt was a desperation to be powerful in a world that doesn't let girls be. Especially girls like me."
The comparison to "Get Out" and "Gossip Girl" is so perfect. I love the touch of dark academia this book has.
So twisted, such an awesome read.
"What I felt was a desperation to be powerful in a world that doesn't let girls be. Especially girls like me."
The comparison to "Get Out" and "Gossip Girl" is so perfect. I love the touch of dark academia this book has.
So twisted, such an awesome read.
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
“Nothing gets a lady going like a bit of late-night weeping.”
“Thomas is not a man to shy away from something simply because it is difficult.”
I was so excited to read this Mean Girls meets Jane Austen tale of poorly behaved Regency socialites and wow did it deliver.
This book has an incredible amount of heart and humor. It has a few surprisingly dark moments that are still all too relevant.
I absolutely adored Cecily, Jonathan, and Thomas. I wish we got to know more about Jane and maybe more about Georgiana herself who seemed slightly flat at times.
“Thomas is not a man to shy away from something simply because it is difficult.”
I was so excited to read this Mean Girls meets Jane Austen tale of poorly behaved Regency socialites and wow did it deliver.
This book has an incredible amount of heart and humor. It has a few surprisingly dark moments that are still all too relevant.
I absolutely adored Cecily, Jonathan, and Thomas. I wish we got to know more about Jane and maybe more about Georgiana herself who seemed slightly flat at times.
“I was playing a game, but it’d stopped being fun a long time ago.”
I loved so much about this: POV chapters from Fear Test targets, the dark academia feel, so many horror movie references, the Scream plot outline, and so much more.
Some things felt predictable, but I had a few jaw drop moments. I wish some of the characters were fuller, especially Felicity. The end was super fitting.
I loved so much about this: POV chapters from Fear Test targets, the dark academia feel, so many horror movie references, the Scream plot outline, and so much more.
Some things felt predictable, but I had a few jaw drop moments. I wish some of the characters were fuller, especially Felicity. The end was super fitting.
2.5 stars.
Read again to annotate S&B for a friend and lord it was just as painful the second time. This book is by far the weakest of the three. Weak on plot and solid leads.
———-
“There is nothing wrong with being a mapmaker.”
“Of course not. And there’s nothing wrong with being a lizard either. Unless you were born to be a hawk.”
I have a lot of mixed feelings about this read. I really struggled with the leads, Alina was incredibly flat and Mal was just the worst.
I love the world Bardugo created, reading about how the different Grisha orders interact is so terribly interesting. I wish I had a clearer description of how Grisha use their powers? Baghra and Genya are beyond my favorites.
Six of Crows is a far stronger book and I’m pleased I read that first. The map is awesome and I love the art at the start of each chapter.
Read again to annotate S&B for a friend and lord it was just as painful the second time. This book is by far the weakest of the three. Weak on plot and solid leads.
———-
“There is nothing wrong with being a mapmaker.”
“Of course not. And there’s nothing wrong with being a lizard either. Unless you were born to be a hawk.”
I have a lot of mixed feelings about this read. I really struggled with the leads, Alina was incredibly flat and Mal was just the worst.
I love the world Bardugo created, reading about how the different Grisha orders interact is so terribly interesting. I wish I had a clearer description of how Grisha use their powers? Baghra and Genya are beyond my favorites.
Six of Crows is a far stronger book and I’m pleased I read that first. The map is awesome and I love the art at the start of each chapter.
“I don’t care if you think I’m a Saint or a fool or the Darkling’s whore. If you want to remain at the Little Palace you will follow me. And if you don’t like it, you will be gone by tonight, or I will have you in chains. I am a soldier. I am the Sun Summoner. And I’m the only chance you have.”
I went into this book with mild expectations after being tepid about Shadow and Bone. But this book was largely better than the first. It has far more plot and substance happening which I appreciated. I LOVE Nikolai and I think he is the main reason I liked this book so much.
Baghra and Genya broke my heart.
Mal is unbearable and Alina grew on me a bit especially towards the middle/end.
I’m really interested to see where the next book goes.
I went into this book with mild expectations after being tepid about Shadow and Bone. But this book was largely better than the first. It has far more plot and substance happening which I appreciated. I LOVE Nikolai and I think he is the main reason I liked this book so much.
Baghra and Genya broke my heart.
Mal is unbearable and Alina grew on me a bit especially towards the middle/end.
I’m really interested to see where the next book goes.
“I am not ruined. I am ruination.”
I have deeply mixed feeling about this book. What I loved: the side characters, confident/powerful Alina, any scene with Genya, when Alina & Co we’re going through the dresses, and of course Nikolai.
Didn’t like: Mal, I never got the appeal of the Darkling he felt very one dimensional, and what was that ending??
I really liked some of the surprises the book delivered but overall it was underwhelming.
I have deeply mixed feeling about this book. What I loved: the side characters, confident/powerful Alina, any scene with Genya, when Alina & Co we’re going through the dresses, and of course Nikolai.
Didn’t like: Mal, I never got the appeal of the Darkling he felt very one dimensional, and what was that ending??
I really liked some of the surprises the book delivered but overall it was underwhelming.
“Shame is a way of life here. It’s stocked in the vending machines, stuck like gum under the desks, spoken in the morning devotionals. She knows now that there’s a bit of it in her. It was an easy choice not to go back in the closet when she got here, but if she’d grown up here, she might never have come out at all. She might be a completely different person. There’s so much to it here, so much that nobody tells anyone about.”
I love this book and Shara and especially Smith Parker leagues more than I expected. I expected “Paper Towns” (BAD) and got a delightfully queer mystery/rom-com in return (excellent).
I love this book and Shara and especially Smith Parker leagues more than I expected. I expected “Paper Towns” (BAD) and got a delightfully queer mystery/rom-com in return (excellent).
4.5 “I now walk into the wild.”
“And I’m sure there are plenty of Alaskans who had a lot in common with McCandless when they first got here too…. Maybe McCandless reminds them a little too much of their former selves.”
I found the inclusion of Everett Ruess’ story to be particularly interesting and heartbreaking.
I very much agree with Krakauer’s read of McCandless.
“And I’m sure there are plenty of Alaskans who had a lot in common with McCandless when they first got here too…. Maybe McCandless reminds them a little too much of their former selves.”
I found the inclusion of Everett Ruess’ story to be particularly interesting and heartbreaking.
I very much agree with Krakauer’s read of McCandless.
“Because being American is more than a pride we inherit - It’s a past we step into, and how we repair it.”
“For while we have our eyes on the future, History has its eyes on us.”
Stunning to hear and beautiful to read.
“For while we have our eyes on the future, History has its eyes on us.”
Stunning to hear and beautiful to read.