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looseleafellie's reviews
251 reviews
A Song of Wraiths and Ruin by Roseanne A. Brown
5.0
This book might be one of the best-executed fantasy novels I’ve ever read! The world of Ziran felt so lush and real, but the rollercoaster of a plot kept me turning pages like lightning. I find that a lot of books tend to lean a little too far toward description or plot, but ASOWAR is beautiful balanced perfection.
One thing that TOTALLY blew my mind was how delicious the character motivations and stakes were. Karina and Malik have such well-defined goals, and it just so happens that Malik’s goal involves killing Karina, and Karina’s goal might involve killing Malik. Nothing personal, you understand. (or is it...?)
Oh, allow me to hype up Malik for a second. SOMEBODY GIVE THIS BOY A HUG! He’s such a pure sweet bean who never asked for any of this <3 If the second book is just 400 pages of Malik getting a goshdarn break for once, I will be so here for it.
In short, if you’re a YA fantasy lover and you want something that brings the full package of awesomeness, you gotta pick up this book!
One thing that TOTALLY blew my mind was how delicious the character motivations and stakes were. Karina and Malik have such well-defined goals, and it just so happens that Malik’s goal involves killing Karina, and Karina’s goal might involve killing Malik. Nothing personal, you understand. (or is it...?)
Oh, allow me to hype up Malik for a second. SOMEBODY GIVE THIS BOY A HUG! He’s such a pure sweet bean who never asked for any of this <3 If the second book is just 400 pages of Malik getting a goshdarn break for once, I will be so here for it.
In short, if you’re a YA fantasy lover and you want something that brings the full package of awesomeness, you gotta pick up this book!
All Your Twisted Secrets by Diana Urban
5.0
I've gotten into YA thrillers semi-recently, and one of my favorites from last year was the blockbuster One of Us Is Lying by Karen M. McManus. I've also been a fan of classic Agatha Christie mysteries since I was very young. So when I heard that this book was pitched as One of Us Is Lying meets Agatha Christie, I knew I had to give it a go!
One of the reasons I knew One of Us Is Lying was a winner for me was that I stayed up till 1 a.m. to finish reading it. Well, the exact same thing happened with this book! The plot just keeps gaining momentum as it goes, turning into a crazy rollercoaster ride that I absolutely adored every second of.
I especially liked the character of Sasha, who seemed to get more and more unhinged as the book went on. She's my favorite kind of antagonist character -- utterly unlikeable, but you can understand her perspective and can't wait to see what she'll do next!
I'm not going to spoil anything about the ending, but I will say that it involves a surprise that I think could be a little hit-or-miss. I chewed it over for a bit before deciding I liked it, but I could see other readers being turned off by it. Still, I think even if you don't totally buy the ending, the rest of the book is so tightly-plotted that you'll likely enjoy it nonetheless.
I know most YA thrillers these days get compared to One of Us Is Lying, but I think this book is the most accurate comparison I've seen yet. If you're looking for an awesome read that will take you on a rollercoaster ride with Breakfast Club vibes and a dash of classic mystery, All Your Twisted Secrets is for you!
One of the reasons I knew One of Us Is Lying was a winner for me was that I stayed up till 1 a.m. to finish reading it. Well, the exact same thing happened with this book! The plot just keeps gaining momentum as it goes, turning into a crazy rollercoaster ride that I absolutely adored every second of.
I especially liked the character of Sasha, who seemed to get more and more unhinged as the book went on. She's my favorite kind of antagonist character -- utterly unlikeable, but you can understand her perspective and can't wait to see what she'll do next!
I'm not going to spoil anything about the ending, but I will say that it involves a surprise that I think could be a little hit-or-miss. I chewed it over for a bit before deciding I liked it, but I could see other readers being turned off by it. Still, I think even if you don't totally buy the ending, the rest of the book is so tightly-plotted that you'll likely enjoy it nonetheless.
I know most YA thrillers these days get compared to One of Us Is Lying, but I think this book is the most accurate comparison I've seen yet. If you're looking for an awesome read that will take you on a rollercoaster ride with Breakfast Club vibes and a dash of classic mystery, All Your Twisted Secrets is for you!
Super Fake Love Song by David Yoon
4.0
The mistaken identity trope is one of my favorites, so I was thrilled to read this book, and it really delivered! The heartfelt themes of first love, friendship, and family also hit the spot for me. Besides, who doesn't love a Dungeons and Dragons element?
I think the most unique thing about this book is the voice. The tone is quirky, offbeat, and a little surreal at times. To be honest, it took me a few chapters to get into, and there were a couple of spots early on that made my brain do a Kombucha Girl routine. As I got used to the story, though, I ended up going with the flow and really enjoying the narrative.
Which brings me to the "com" part of this rom-com -- this book is funny. There was one scene in particular where the glorious ridiculousness of the situation hit me all at once and I legitimately spent five minutes laughing in the middle of my living room. Yoon does an amazing job of capturing the awkwardness of high school, and I rooted for the characters hard despite the fact that all of them are complete messes.
Overall, if you're looking for a YA read with a unique style that will make you pause in the middle of reading to giggle hysterically, definitely give this one a try!
Thanks to Penguin Teen for the e-ARC!
I think the most unique thing about this book is the voice. The tone is quirky, offbeat, and a little surreal at times. To be honest, it took me a few chapters to get into, and there were a couple of spots early on that made my brain do a Kombucha Girl routine. As I got used to the story, though, I ended up going with the flow and really enjoying the narrative.
Which brings me to the "com" part of this rom-com -- this book is funny. There was one scene in particular where the glorious ridiculousness of the situation hit me all at once and I legitimately spent five minutes laughing in the middle of my living room. Yoon does an amazing job of capturing the awkwardness of high school, and I rooted for the characters hard despite the fact that all of them are complete messes.
Overall, if you're looking for a YA read with a unique style that will make you pause in the middle of reading to giggle hysterically, definitely give this one a try!
Thanks to Penguin Teen for the e-ARC!
These Violent Delights by Chloe Gong
5.0
Excuse me for one moment, I need to peel myself off the floor before I try to form any coherent thoughts about this book.
*Deep breath* Okay, this was my most anticipated book of 2020, and it might actually end up being my favorite read of 2020 as well! These Violent Delights hit the spot for me on almost every aspect of the story, from the cast to the plot to the themes. Not to mention the GORGEOUS writing!
I love retellings that feel reminiscent of the original, but are inspired by it rather than following most of the plot points. These Violent Delights did this perfectly -- the plot felt original in its own right, but there were still enough nods to the original Romeo and Juliet that my Shakespeare nerd heart rejoiced (the balcony scene! The duel! Paris!). Also, a monster terrorizing the city and a mystery about who's responsible?? Yes PLEASE!
The cast of characters might be my new favorite fictional #squad. From the whip-smart and deadly Juliette to the secretly soft Roma, from the wisecracking Marshall to the sweet yet cunning Kathleen, the Scarlets and the White Flowers totally drew me into their world. I would have perhaps liked to see a little more of the White Flowers, since Juliette's perspective is the most frequent one in the book, but they'll probably get more fleshed out in the sequel.
I also loved the themes of imperialism woven in throughout the story, especially in Juliette's POV. My favorite fantasy novels are the ones that also contain important social commentary, and this one is no exception! The different political factions and nationalities in the city made for some super interesting conflicts that brought up questions about national identity, ownership, and how "soft power" such as trade relations can still be insidious.
Overall, this was a truly stunning read, and I think I'm going to be dealing with this book hangover until the sequel arrives! Never mind -- it's a small price to pay for the brilliant rollercoaster Chloe Gong just took me on.
Thank to Simon and Schuster for the e-ARC!
*Deep breath* Okay, this was my most anticipated book of 2020, and it might actually end up being my favorite read of 2020 as well! These Violent Delights hit the spot for me on almost every aspect of the story, from the cast to the plot to the themes. Not to mention the GORGEOUS writing!
I love retellings that feel reminiscent of the original, but are inspired by it rather than following most of the plot points. These Violent Delights did this perfectly -- the plot felt original in its own right, but there were still enough nods to the original Romeo and Juliet that my Shakespeare nerd heart rejoiced (the balcony scene! The duel! Paris!). Also, a monster terrorizing the city and a mystery about who's responsible?? Yes PLEASE!
The cast of characters might be my new favorite fictional #squad. From the whip-smart and deadly Juliette to the secretly soft Roma, from the wisecracking Marshall to the sweet yet cunning Kathleen, the Scarlets and the White Flowers totally drew me into their world. I would have perhaps liked to see a little more of the White Flowers, since Juliette's perspective is the most frequent one in the book, but they'll probably get more fleshed out in the sequel.
I also loved the themes of imperialism woven in throughout the story, especially in Juliette's POV. My favorite fantasy novels are the ones that also contain important social commentary, and this one is no exception! The different political factions and nationalities in the city made for some super interesting conflicts that brought up questions about national identity, ownership, and how "soft power" such as trade relations can still be insidious.
Overall, this was a truly stunning read, and I think I'm going to be dealing with this book hangover until the sequel arrives! Never mind -- it's a small price to pay for the brilliant rollercoaster Chloe Gong just took me on.
Thank to Simon and Schuster for the e-ARC!
Twelve Dead Princesses by Eleanor M. Rasor
5.0
I’m a sucker for fairytale retellings, so obviously I had to pick this one up. The main inspiration of the story is, of course, The Twelve Dancing Princesses, but it also plays off the Hades and Persephone myth pretty heavily.
The basic premise is that the twelve princesses of Belmarros are saved from the brink of death by a powerful sorcerer, who calls in their debt to him by making them dance for him in his otherworldly kingdom. I can’t say much more without spoilers, but basically there’s a lot of mystery around the sorcerer and his circumstances that builds to a pretty gobsmacking conclusion
The basic premise is that the twelve princesses of Belmarros are saved from the brink of death by a powerful sorcerer, who calls in their debt to him by making them dance for him in his otherworldly kingdom. I can’t say much more without spoilers, but basically there’s a lot of mystery around the sorcerer and his circumstances that builds to a pretty gobsmacking conclusion
Legendborn by Tracy Deonn
5.0
I'm kind of a sucker for retellings of all stripes, but Arthurian legend retellings are one of my especial favorites. So when I heard about this book, I knew I had to read it.
To my mind, Legendborn is a MASTERCLASS in pacing. It's over 500 pages long (159,000 words according to Kobo), but I devoured it in the space of eight hours because every plot point was perfectly engineered to keep me turning pages. I can't say I've read many 500+ page YA fantasies that actually needed all those words, but Tracy Deonn used every inch of space on the page to STAB ME IN THE FEELS. Seriously, ma'am, well played!
The magic system in this book is super cool -- the Legendborn are a secret society who fight demon creatures to keep the world safe. They're led by the descendants of King Arthur and his knights, who are known as Scions. In times of especially bad trouble, each Scion in order of prestige gets "awakened," which means they get imbued with the spirit and powers of their ancestor knight. If things get bad enough that Arthur's Scion is awakened, then we get Camlann, which is basically the apocalypse.
There are several lesser-ranked members of the Legendborn, like Squires, which is the rank our main character Bree has to earn in order to get the information she needs. My point, though, is that the whole system is heavily based on people's ancestry -- which is pretty cool since you get to meet the descendants of characters from Arthurian legend.
However, since Bree is a Black person in America whose ancestors were enslaved, she can't trace her ancestry back very far before the records stop. This led to some really interesting themes about how history in America has a white western slant, and how a lot of prestigious institutions systemically exclude marginalized people.
Plus, it culminates in some MIND-BOGGLING twists toward the end, which I really can't talk about cause spoilers. Just go read it -- I promise you'll be gobsmacked.
If you love ensemble casts, then boy is this a book you should check out! Bree is a great protagonist and I loved rooting for her -- she's super tough and has a strong emotional arc that I couldn't help but get sucked into. I also loved Nick, the Scion of Arthur, who I would describe as a golden retriever boy because he's basically a lovable puppy in human form.
But I suspect that a lot of people's fan favorite is Selwyn, a Depressive Demon Nightmare Boy(tm) who eventually learns to trust people and be more open. We stan a brooding king!
Long story short, if you love mythology and want something with a unique spin on well-loved tropes, this book is definitely for you! The characters rock, the magic system is awesome, and it's one of the best-paced books I've ever read in my life <3
To my mind, Legendborn is a MASTERCLASS in pacing. It's over 500 pages long (159,000 words according to Kobo), but I devoured it in the space of eight hours because every plot point was perfectly engineered to keep me turning pages. I can't say I've read many 500+ page YA fantasies that actually needed all those words, but Tracy Deonn used every inch of space on the page to STAB ME IN THE FEELS. Seriously, ma'am, well played!
The magic system in this book is super cool -- the Legendborn are a secret society who fight demon creatures to keep the world safe. They're led by the descendants of King Arthur and his knights, who are known as Scions. In times of especially bad trouble, each Scion in order of prestige gets "awakened," which means they get imbued with the spirit and powers of their ancestor knight. If things get bad enough that Arthur's Scion is awakened, then we get Camlann, which is basically the apocalypse.
There are several lesser-ranked members of the Legendborn, like Squires, which is the rank our main character Bree has to earn in order to get the information she needs. My point, though, is that the whole system is heavily based on people's ancestry -- which is pretty cool since you get to meet the descendants of characters from Arthurian legend.
However, since Bree is a Black person in America whose ancestors were enslaved, she can't trace her ancestry back very far before the records stop. This led to some really interesting themes about how history in America has a white western slant, and how a lot of prestigious institutions systemically exclude marginalized people.
Plus, it culminates in some MIND-BOGGLING twists toward the end, which I really can't talk about cause spoilers. Just go read it -- I promise you'll be gobsmacked.
If you love ensemble casts, then boy is this a book you should check out! Bree is a great protagonist and I loved rooting for her -- she's super tough and has a strong emotional arc that I couldn't help but get sucked into. I also loved Nick, the Scion of Arthur, who I would describe as a golden retriever boy because he's basically a lovable puppy in human form.
But I suspect that a lot of people's fan favorite is Selwyn, a Depressive Demon Nightmare Boy(tm) who eventually learns to trust people and be more open. We stan a brooding king!
Long story short, if you love mythology and want something with a unique spin on well-loved tropes, this book is definitely for you! The characters rock, the magic system is awesome, and it's one of the best-paced books I've ever read in my life <3
Crown of Bones by A.K. Wilder
4.0
This is a YA fantasy about a young heir, Marcus, who must journey to the island of Aku to master his Phantom and prove himself (a Phantom is like an entity that is bound to you and you can call it to help you fight and stuff. Idk I’m probably butchering that explanation lol)
But wait! The story is ALSO about Ash, a lowly scribe who travels with Marcus to Aku in order to record his adventures and feats. But Ash is about to have an adventure of her own ... and learn she’s not as ordinary as she thinks!
This book combines two of my random favorite things in fantasy books: magic power training sequences, and hunting through libraries for clues to solving an age-old mystery
But wait! The story is ALSO about Ash, a lowly scribe who travels with Marcus to Aku in order to record his adventures and feats. But Ash is about to have an adventure of her own ... and learn she’s not as ordinary as she thinks!
This book combines two of my random favorite things in fantasy books: magic power training sequences, and hunting through libraries for clues to solving an age-old mystery
Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo
3.0
I find that the Shadow and Bone trilogy can be a bit underwhelming to a modern-day YA reader, given that it’s a typical YA fantasy from 2012, and Siege and Storm is no exception. Bardugo’s writing has improved immensely since she wrote these books. But I went in with low expectations, and ended up being able to enjoy the story pretty well.
For me, Nikolai basically carried the plot of Siege and Storm. I really enjoyed his character — we always love an insufferable flirt, but I also liked how he’s complex, morally gray, and kind of an asshole
For me, Nikolai basically carried the plot of Siege and Storm. I really enjoyed his character — we always love an insufferable flirt, but I also liked how he’s complex, morally gray, and kind of an asshole