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ruekeyronay's reviews
330 reviews
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
3.0
Though this book was definitely entertaining and interesting, I found it to be a bit underwhelming.
The topic of #blacklivesmatter and cop brutality is one that has been talked about many times yet it still persists as clear as day. Now, The Hate U Give talked about all these important things and did it in a way that was simple and understandable, but it didn't give us anything new.
When different people write a book about the same topic, you expect the difference to be in their opinion, their perspective, their point of view. But Angie Thomas had nothing new to say, nothing more to add. It was the same thing we talk about, tweet about and see in the news. So, even though this book was funny and painful and hit the spot a few times, it didn't stand out at all.
And that's why this wasn't a memorable read for me.
The topic of #blacklivesmatter and cop brutality is one that has been talked about many times yet it still persists as clear as day. Now, The Hate U Give talked about all these important things and did it in a way that was simple and understandable, but it didn't give us anything new.
When different people write a book about the same topic, you expect the difference to be in their opinion, their perspective, their point of view. But Angie Thomas had nothing new to say, nothing more to add. It was the same thing we talk about, tweet about and see in the news. So, even though this book was funny and painful and hit the spot a few times, it didn't stand out at all.
And that's why this wasn't a memorable read for me.
Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo
5.0
Okay, so I loved this story and I went ahead and got the rest in the series as well.
But I have to say my love reached its maximum somewhere around the middle. The author's writing style was addicting from the start but I could easily spot some cliches and similarities to one specific book, even though the other book was written years after this one. I coulf fit every character in to a trope. So while I enjoyed Bardugo's writing style much, much more, I was waiting for something to make it stand out for me.
And boy, did it do that.
Now, I've seen alot of people who don't like Mal and I did expect him to turn out like Kilorn from Red Queen but he showed character of his own in some places and even got an 'awe' out of me occasionally.
Many didn't care much for Alina either and it's kinda true, I didn't dislike her at all but I didn't care much for her. She was just there as everything happened around her, gave a snarky response here and there and then went off when it was required. So I hope that changes in the sequel. But I truly enjoyed this book and I looked forward to the TV series.
But I have to say my love reached its maximum somewhere around the middle. The author's writing style was addicting from the start but I could easily spot some cliches and similarities to one specific book, even though the other book was written years after this one. I coulf fit every character in to a trope. So while I enjoyed Bardugo's writing style much, much more, I was waiting for something to make it stand out for me.
And boy, did it do that.
Now, I've seen alot of people who don't like Mal and I did expect him to turn out like Kilorn from Red Queen but he showed character of his own in some places and even got an 'awe' out of me occasionally.
Many didn't care much for Alina either and it's kinda true, I didn't dislike her at all but I didn't care much for her. She was just there as everything happened around her, gave a snarky response here and there and then went off when it was required. So I hope that changes in the sequel. But I truly enjoyed this book and I looked forward to the TV series.
The Tailor by Leigh Bardugo
5.0
In the end she only wanted to stop suffering and I will never forgive the Darkling for what he did to her.
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling
4.0
Yes, I finally read Harry Potter!
I'm not quite sure how to review a book so popular which has been probably reviewed by everyone so I'll just talk about my thoughts.
I quite enjoyed it, I've seen the movies and I know them all by heart so reading about those scenes in detail and more made me feel so nostalgic. It was also as if I was fixing the plot holes in the movies like, what actually happened in certain scenes, what's going through the characters' heads, etc.
I also noted how we've been cheated, Neville wasn't included in the movies nearly as much as he was in the books (Also, what an adorable baby. He was my favourite.) He's in so many of the vital scenes and it finally makes more sense when he tries to stop the trio from going at night.
Draco and Snape, they annoyed me in the movies but I really disliked them in the book. Draco was a prat (I swear if he insulted Hufflepuff one more time...) but Snape (who I usually kind of like) was just the straight up example of teachers abusing their power. And there is nothing that angers me more than that. Everytime he wrongfully took points from Gryffindor, it made me wanna kick him.
Surprisingly, I was through more than half of the book when we finally got to Hogwarts and everything that happened after that was sort of rushed. Not an issue and it didn't put me off at all but it was something I noted.
I was a bit shocked when I read the scenes involving the Golden trio prior to them becoming friends. Ron, especially. In the movies he's more of the kind to go along with everything, says what the audience is thinking and is generally fun. He's one of the characters I fiercely defend but now I'm wondering if that's because of Rupert Grint's performance because in the book Ron comes off as rude and well, not very likable.
Overall, I really did enjoy the Philosopher's Stone and I'll be starting the next one soon.
I'm not quite sure how to review a book so popular which has been probably reviewed by everyone so I'll just talk about my thoughts.
I quite enjoyed it, I've seen the movies and I know them all by heart so reading about those scenes in detail and more made me feel so nostalgic. It was also as if I was fixing the plot holes in the movies like, what actually happened in certain scenes, what's going through the characters' heads, etc.
I also noted how we've been cheated, Neville wasn't included in the movies nearly as much as he was in the books (Also, what an adorable baby. He was my favourite.) He's in so many of the vital scenes and it finally makes more sense when he tries to stop the trio from going at night.
Draco and Snape, they annoyed me in the movies but I really disliked them in the book. Draco was a prat (I swear if he insulted Hufflepuff one more time...) but Snape (who I usually kind of like) was just the straight up example of teachers abusing their power. And there is nothing that angers me more than that. Everytime he wrongfully took points from Gryffindor, it made me wanna kick him.
Surprisingly, I was through more than half of the book when we finally got to Hogwarts and everything that happened after that was sort of rushed. Not an issue and it didn't put me off at all but it was something I noted.
I was a bit shocked when I read the scenes involving the Golden trio prior to them becoming friends. Ron, especially. In the movies he's more of the kind to go along with everything, says what the audience is thinking and is generally fun. He's one of the characters I fiercely defend but now I'm wondering if that's because of Rupert Grint's performance because in the book Ron comes off as rude and well, not very likable.
Overall, I really did enjoy the Philosopher's Stone and I'll be starting the next one soon.
An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir
5.0
Another review I'm not sure how to write because I want to talk about so much yet my mind goes blank as soon as I start writing.
Frist of all, as a Pakistani, it fills me with absolute joy to see such an amazing book by a Pakistani-American woman.
As you can tell by my rating, I loved this book like I knew I would. From the first page I was gasping and giggling, especially at the horrific scenes because I panic easily. The writing was so incredible, it's right up there with my favourite authors like Rainbow Rowell and Leigh Bardugo.
The characters were amazing, you couldn't stay mad at them for longer than a second. My personal favourites were Helene and (this may be weird) Izzi? The latter was just adorable and she deserves so much better, I hope she appears later in the series but I don't think that'll happen. Helene, on the other hand, made me so mad sometimes because of her views about the Scholars and slaves etc but it was hard to not like her. She's strong and an utter badass.
Of course, I loved Laia as well. It was so easy to relate to her feeling cowardly and like she couldn't own up to her mother's legacy but she goes through so much and proves herself and everyone else wrong. Elias, I liked most of the time but sometimes I did not. This boy legit fell in love with every woman he saw.
The mythical elements in this story were incredible to read about, maybe it was because they were from my culture, things I actually heard about in my own life or because Sabaa Tahir wrote about them so beautifully.
I'll admit, the romantic elements made me a bit uncomfortable but that may be because I'm a prude when reading and it was written in a way that went perfectly with the book but had poor me dying from a heart attack.
The trials and the action scenes in general were so fantastic. I absolutely adored reading them and that scene in the Trial Of Strength just killed me over and over until I was nothing but my pain.
This book was a masterpiece, I loved every second of it. I never understood what a book hangover was until the next day where I couldn't read anything else and had a killer headache.
Frist of all, as a Pakistani, it fills me with absolute joy to see such an amazing book by a Pakistani-American woman.
As you can tell by my rating, I loved this book like I knew I would. From the first page I was gasping and giggling, especially at the horrific scenes because I panic easily. The writing was so incredible, it's right up there with my favourite authors like Rainbow Rowell and Leigh Bardugo.
The characters were amazing, you couldn't stay mad at them for longer than a second. My personal favourites were Helene and (this may be weird) Izzi? The latter was just adorable and she deserves so much better, I hope she appears later in the series but I don't think that'll happen. Helene, on the other hand, made me so mad sometimes because of her views about the Scholars and slaves etc but it was hard to not like her. She's strong and an utter badass.
Of course, I loved Laia as well. It was so easy to relate to her feeling cowardly and like she couldn't own up to her mother's legacy but she goes through so much and proves herself and everyone else wrong. Elias, I liked most of the time but sometimes I did not. This boy legit fell in love with every woman he saw.
The mythical elements in this story were incredible to read about, maybe it was because they were from my culture, things I actually heard about in my own life or because Sabaa Tahir wrote about them so beautifully.
I'll admit, the romantic elements made me a bit uncomfortable but that may be because I'm a prude when reading and it was written in a way that went perfectly with the book but had poor me dying from a heart attack.
The trials and the action scenes in general were so fantastic. I absolutely adored reading them and that scene in the Trial Of Strength just killed me over and over until I was nothing but my pain.
This book was a masterpiece, I loved every second of it. I never understood what a book hangover was until the next day where I couldn't read anything else and had a killer headache.