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nourarchive's reviews
227 reviews
One For My Enemy by Olivie Blake
4.0
This was my introduction to Olivie Blake's writing, and I can say for sure that I will be checking more of her works, since I found her writing to be exquisite and managed to capture the appeal of this story.
I've read my fair share of retellings and It's not always I find books that follow the original pattern while managing to have their own flair. But this one does that, and more. It is a Romeo & Juliet retelling, so expect family feuds (this time between two witch families, which I found to be cool) and tragic forbidden relationships. My favorite aspect though, was the way the author crafted her characters, I felt they were realistic and made sense to me even when they weren't at their best. The romance was balanced between the family politics and its own angsty, melodramatic themes like I expected it to be but I was pleasantly surprised with one specific pairing and ended up emotionally invested in their doomed love story.
It's an engaging and gripping story, with elements that shouldn't work but somehow did. as far as retellings go, this one was a wonderfully-written, atmospheric retelling. Quite dark too, which raised the bar for me.
I've read my fair share of retellings and It's not always I find books that follow the original pattern while managing to have their own flair. But this one does that, and more. It is a Romeo & Juliet retelling, so expect family feuds (this time between two witch families, which I found to be cool) and tragic forbidden relationships. My favorite aspect though, was the way the author crafted her characters, I felt they were realistic and made sense to me even when they weren't at their best. The romance was balanced between the family politics and its own angsty, melodramatic themes like I expected it to be but I was pleasantly surprised with one specific pairing and ended up emotionally invested in their doomed love story.
"Why didn't you let me choose you? I would have gone to you, Masha, if you'd asked. You would've only had to ask, and i would have chosen you over everything."
It's an engaging and gripping story, with elements that shouldn't work but somehow did. as far as retellings go, this one was a wonderfully-written, atmospheric retelling. Quite dark too, which raised the bar for me.
Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid
4.0
Be still my heart. I didn't know I would be devastated over the downfall of a fictional band but Daisy and the band broke my heart to pieces.
I Understand that the interview dialogue writing might not be everyone's cup of tea. There were times were I felt detached to the characters but the overall of the story and the final events were quite emotional and i was too invested.
I Understand that the interview dialogue writing might not be everyone's cup of tea. There were times were I felt detached to the characters but the overall of the story and the final events were quite emotional and i was too invested.
Lord of Shadows by Cassandra Clare
I think The Dark Artifices is Cassandra Clare's best series when it comes to the plot and its complexity. But I also think there were a lot of parts that sucked some of my enjoyment and the goodness that made Lady Midnight my favorite is absent in here.
Like most of CC's books, this one was easy to fly through despite the density of its length. However, a whole lot of this book feels like a set-up and there were a lot of pages containing only idle conversations, planning, and angsty teeny romances that spiraled through the book to the point I lost track of them. And unlike The Infernal Devices (which I enjoyed despite having a quite weak plot but great, memorable characters) this book had a huge assembled cast, and the other characters' perceptives and side stories played a huge role in furthering the plot. Though, I couldn't bring myself to care about any of them except for Julian and Emma. The entire time I was reading the parts concerning Mark/Cristina/Kieran and Kit/Livvy/Ty storylines I was fighting the urge not to skim their chapters. Because they were so boring.
The final chapter was intense though, and one of the few parts that I was actually paying full attention to.
My favorite things about this book are Emma, Julian, and their relationship to some extent. Both of them are quite different from other Shadowhunters protagonists and it's hard not to root for them given their circumstances.
I will still continue because I do think -objectively- that this is the best trilogy in the shadowhunters universe. I also want to know how things will end with Emma and Julian. but my expectations for the final book are quite low and I believe the trilogy peaked at Lady Midnight.
3.0
“Sometimes the most ruthless heart speaks the most truth”
I think The Dark Artifices is Cassandra Clare's best series when it comes to the plot and its complexity. But I also think there were a lot of parts that sucked some of my enjoyment and the goodness that made Lady Midnight my favorite is absent in here.
Like most of CC's books, this one was easy to fly through despite the density of its length. However, a whole lot of this book feels like a set-up and there were a lot of pages containing only idle conversations, planning, and angsty teeny romances that spiraled through the book to the point I lost track of them. And unlike The Infernal Devices (which I enjoyed despite having a quite weak plot but great, memorable characters) this book had a huge assembled cast, and the other characters' perceptives and side stories played a huge role in furthering the plot. Though, I couldn't bring myself to care about any of them except for Julian and Emma. The entire time I was reading the parts concerning Mark/Cristina/Kieran and Kit/Livvy/Ty storylines I was fighting the urge not to skim their chapters. Because they were so boring.
The final chapter was intense though, and one of the few parts that I was actually paying full attention to.
“Break my heart, he said. "Break it in pieces. I give you my permission.”
My favorite things about this book are Emma, Julian, and their relationship to some extent. Both of them are quite different from other Shadowhunters protagonists and it's hard not to root for them given their circumstances.
I will still continue because I do think -objectively- that this is the best trilogy in the shadowhunters universe. I also want to know how things will end with Emma and Julian. but my expectations for the final book are quite low and I believe the trilogy peaked at Lady Midnight.
Tess of the D'Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy
4.0
“A strong woman who recklessly throws away her strength, she is worse than a weak woman who has never had any strength to throw away.”
Kudos to Thomas Hardy for writing a book that depicts valid criticism of society's hypocrisy and injustice toward women in his time. Although, there are some things I couldn't wrap my head around, especially some of the heroine's choices. However, it is a melodramatic story where tragedy is destined to strike the heroine's life no matter her choices and I couldn't help but be drawn to her story.
"Why have you treated me so monstrously, Angel! I do not deserve it. I have thought it all over carefully, and I can never, never forgive you!”
It is quite depressing which was hard to get through at times, and the ending left me hollow. but i found beauty in this book somehow.
Kudos to Thomas Hardy for writing a book that depicts valid criticism of society's hypocrisy and injustice toward women in his time. Although, there are some things I couldn't wrap my head around, especially some of the heroine's choices. However, it is a melodramatic story where tragedy is destined to strike the heroine's life no matter her choices and I couldn't help but be drawn to her story.
"Why have you treated me so monstrously, Angel! I do not deserve it. I have thought it all over carefully, and I can never, never forgive you!”
It is quite depressing which was hard to get through at times, and the ending left me hollow. but i found beauty in this book somehow.
Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare
I thought I was prepared for this but obviously, I was not. this book is simply beautiful. bittersweet, but still beautiful. it's been a long time since I was attached to many characters as I was to the London Institute group and especially Will, Tessa and Jem. Their story was memorable, one I will definitely be thinking about for a while.
the plotline was engaging but I would be lying if I said I wasn't here for the romantic storyline between our main trio. I was worried about how everything will be resolved, but the outcome was very special and I have no complaints.
There's so much to say about this book but my feelings are all over the place. I will just end this by saying that this book has my favorite epilogue of all time.
4.0
“Life is a book and there are a thousand pages I have not yet read.”
I thought I was prepared for this but obviously, I was not. this book is simply beautiful. bittersweet, but still beautiful. it's been a long time since I was attached to many characters as I was to the London Institute group and especially Will, Tessa and Jem. Their story was memorable, one I will definitely be thinking about for a while.
the plotline was engaging but I would be lying if I said I wasn't here for the romantic storyline between our main trio. I was worried about how everything will be resolved, but the outcome was very special and I have no complaints.
“At last, the wheel comes full circle”
There's so much to say about this book but my feelings are all over the place. I will just end this by saying that this book has my favorite epilogue of all time.
Chain of Gold by Cassandra Clare
I don't want to jinx it but the beginning of this trilogy is so good. I adore Cordelia as the main heroine, I enjoyed the new generation cohort, and the plot -despite being slow at times- is quite engaging. My favorite out of these characters is definitely Matthew but i enjoyed everyone equally, especially reading about Will, Tessa, and Jem again.
4.0
“You decide the truth about yourself. No one else. And the choice about what kind of person you will be is yours alone.”
I don't want to jinx it but the beginning of this trilogy is so good. I adore Cordelia as the main heroine, I enjoyed the new generation cohort, and the plot -despite being slow at times- is quite engaging. My favorite out of these characters is definitely Matthew but i enjoyed everyone equally, especially reading about Will, Tessa, and Jem again.
Juniper & Thorn by Ava Reid
This book was so dark and twisted but surprisingly addictive. The prose emanates pure beauty and I immensely enjoyed this gothic, atmospheric fairytale. If you love unique retellings, horror, and witchy themes then you'll enjoy this. However, I can't stress enough how dark this book was, not your standard NA fantasy.
4.0
“My eldest sister was right; I would smile blithely if someone tried to saw off my leg. But no one ever told me I was allowed to scream”
This book was so dark and twisted but surprisingly addictive. The prose emanates pure beauty and I immensely enjoyed this gothic, atmospheric fairytale. If you love unique retellings, horror, and witchy themes then you'll enjoy this. However, I can't stress enough how dark this book was, not your standard NA fantasy.