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tales_of_monika's reviews
175 reviews
Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo
4.0
Does anybody else think that everything happens a too quickly at times?
Nikolai is the life of the party in this book. He brings humour to the dark and dull world. The Darkling still remains my favourite character though. I don't think anything can change that at the moment. Yes I know he's cruel and that breaks my heart but I can't get enough of him.
Thank the book gods for the last 100 pages of this book. I was having a difficult time getting through it and at some stages reading felt like a chore. But the last part of the book really peaked my interest and things started to feel exciting again.
Nikolai is the life of the party in this book. He brings humour to the dark and dull world. The Darkling still remains my favourite character though. I don't think anything can change that at the moment. Yes I know he's cruel and that breaks my heart but I can't get enough of him.
Thank the book gods for the last 100 pages of this book. I was having a difficult time getting through it and at some stages reading felt like a chore. But the last part of the book really peaked my interest and things started to feel exciting again.
Candidate by Rachel E. Carter
5.0
This was such a good book! My favourite in the series so far.
If you think that the rivalry between Darren and Ryiah is over, you're wrong. They compete against each other yet again, despite the fact that they're finally together now.
Ryiah is still the brave and powerful girl that she has been ever since the first book. Though she does get VERY selfish at one stage, thinking that she is better than everyone else and that she deserves all the best things. It really got on my nerves.
The plot twists in Candidate are amazing and they show you that you can't trust anyone. I was certain Blayne was up to something cruel but I did not expect that what happened would make me cry.
Yep, I cried. Which is a sign that the book was good. I also finished the book in one sitting. Definitely one of my favourites this month.
If you think that the rivalry between Darren and Ryiah is over, you're wrong. They compete against each other yet again, despite the fact that they're finally together now.
Ryiah is still the brave and powerful girl that she has been ever since the first book. Though she does get VERY selfish at one stage, thinking that she is better than everyone else and that she deserves all the best things. It really got on my nerves.
The plot twists in Candidate are amazing and they show you that you can't trust anyone. I was certain Blayne was up to something cruel but I did not expect that what happened would make me cry.
Yep, I cried. Which is a sign that the book was good. I also finished the book in one sitting. Definitely one of my favourites this month.
The Woods by Harlan Coben
5.0
The book was not what I expected at all. Despite that it was brilliant. It keeps the reader focused from the very beginning, slowly uncovering the missing puzzle pieces. Everything remains a mystery until the very end, though.
One thing that shows up a few times throughout the book is the fact that a parent will do anything to protect their child. You can see that in a few different situations.
It keeps you on edge until yhe very end. Even after finding the culprit new shocking facts are revealed and they seem to change everything.
The ending itself is very mysterious. I'd love to know what happened next.
One thing that shows up a few times throughout the book is the fact that a parent will do anything to protect their child. You can see that in a few different situations.
It keeps you on edge until yhe very end. Even after finding the culprit new shocking facts are revealed and they seem to change everything.
The ending itself is very mysterious. I'd love to know what happened next.
Reflection by Elizabeth Lim
4.0
Every time I read one of the books from the series I feel like I'm watching a Disney movie. This one was no different.
Mulan sets off into the Underworld to bring Shang's spirit back before he dies in the morning. The story is attention grabbing from the very beginning. We get to meet a few new characters - such as ShiShi, who has to be one of my favourites. We also see some familiar faces such as Mushu.
Though I enjoyed it, I felt like it got a little boring at times. Mulan keeps having to prove that she's a hero over and over again. We get it. You can defeat anything that stands in your way in order to save China and your loved ones.
I was also missing the romantic side of Mulan and Shang. I feel like there could have been a little more of it added into the book.
Mulan sets off into the Underworld to bring Shang's spirit back before he dies in the morning. The story is attention grabbing from the very beginning. We get to meet a few new characters - such as ShiShi, who has to be one of my favourites. We also see some familiar faces such as Mushu.
Though I enjoyed it, I felt like it got a little boring at times. Mulan keeps having to prove that she's a hero over and over again. We get it. You can defeat anything that stands in your way in order to save China and your loved ones.
I was also missing the romantic side of Mulan and Shang. I feel like there could have been a little more of it added into the book.
Ruin and Rising by Leigh Bardugo
4.0
If I had to choose my favourite book from the trilogy, this would be it.
In comparison to the other books I think this one had a better pace. There was so much going on.
I never liked Apparat. He seemed really suspicious to me. I think he deserved a different ending than the one he gets.
Despite the fact that I never really saw Mal and Alina as a power couple, I didn't want anything bad to happen to Mal. The ending that they get is quite cute and especially so when their later life is described in the epilogue.
Out of all the characters I think Nikolai deserved a much better ending. I loved him and I kept worrying about what might happen to him throughout the book.
Now for the most important part. The Darkling. His ending actually brought me to tears. He's one of those villains that you can't help but love. Either that or I'm attracted to toxic men. I loved the additional story that showed us a bit of his childhood. It helped me understand him a little better.
In comparison to the other books I think this one had a better pace. There was so much going on.
I never liked Apparat. He seemed really suspicious to me. I think he deserved a different ending than the one he gets.
Despite the fact that I never really saw Mal and Alina as a power couple, I didn't want anything bad to happen to Mal. The ending that they get is quite cute and especially so when their later life is described in the epilogue.
Out of all the characters I think Nikolai deserved a much better ending. I loved him and I kept worrying about what might happen to him throughout the book.
Now for the most important part. The Darkling. His ending actually brought me to tears. He's one of those villains that you can't help but love. Either that or I'm attracted to toxic men. I loved the additional story that showed us a bit of his childhood. It helped me understand him a little better.
Last Stand by Rachel E. Carter
5.0
I was completely blown away. Last Stand by Rachel E. Carter was an amazing finish to The Black Mage series.
I have grown emotionally attached to this series and this final book was just fantastic. There were moments when I felt so much tension and anxiety I couldn't put the book down no matter how tired I was.
The journey that Ryiah, Darren and the others have gone through has shaped them into completely new characters, but deep down they are still the same group of students that we meet in the first book.
There were times when I cried and times when I wanted to rip my hair out and tell a character that they were being an idiot.
The epilogue was so heartwarming. It brought a happy tear to my eye and I couldn't be happier with how things ended.
Definitely one of my favourite reads this year.
I have grown emotionally attached to this series and this final book was just fantastic. There were moments when I felt so much tension and anxiety I couldn't put the book down no matter how tired I was.
The journey that Ryiah, Darren and the others have gone through has shaped them into completely new characters, but deep down they are still the same group of students that we meet in the first book.
There were times when I cried and times when I wanted to rip my hair out and tell a character that they were being an idiot.
The epilogue was so heartwarming. It brought a happy tear to my eye and I couldn't be happier with how things ended.
Definitely one of my favourite reads this year.
Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare
5.0
I forgot how much I love Cassandra Clare's books. It's been way too long since I read something from the Shadowhunters universe.
I've never read any of The Infernal Devices. Whenever I would go to the local library it would be out of stock so I was really excited when I managed to buy the whole trilogy a little while back!
It was so nice to see the what ancestors of the characters from The Mortal Instruments were up to. The story itself is so captivating I just couldn't stop reading. I love Will, despite the fact that he can be rude to everyone and I think Jem is an interesting character. I hope the next books tell me something more about him.
One thing I noticed and I absolutely love is that authors often praise other books or have their characters love reading.
I've never read any of The Infernal Devices. Whenever I would go to the local library it would be out of stock so I was really excited when I managed to buy the whole trilogy a little while back!
It was so nice to see the what ancestors of the characters from The Mortal Instruments were up to. The story itself is so captivating I just couldn't stop reading. I love Will, despite the fact that he can be rude to everyone and I think Jem is an interesting character. I hope the next books tell me something more about him.
One thing I noticed and I absolutely love is that authors often praise other books or have their characters love reading.
Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare
5.0
I am torn.
On one hand I adore Jem because he's so sweet and precious. And I'm happy for him, I really am. But on the other hand Will has been my favourite throughout these books so far and he deserves love and happiness too.
Damn you Cassandra Clare for giving me so many emotions to deal with.
The book is yet again amazing and draws you in from the very beginning. It's action packed and full of mysteries.
Another great read.
On one hand I adore Jem because he's so sweet and precious. And I'm happy for him, I really am. But on the other hand Will has been my favourite throughout these books so far and he deserves love and happiness too.
Damn you Cassandra Clare for giving me so many emotions to deal with.
The book is yet again amazing and draws you in from the very beginning. It's action packed and full of mysteries.
Another great read.
Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare
5.0
I was prepared for heartbreak, not having my heart ripped out piece by piece and fed to the ducks.
This trilogy was such an emotional rollercoaster for me. And I loved every moment of it (let's pretend that epilogue never happened).
I loved the humour, the suspense, the action. Just everything. And these characters have been added to my list of favourites. This last book was mainly just stab after stab to my little weak heart but I couldn't put it down.
So I'd like to personally thank Cassandra Clare for breaking my heart.
This trilogy was such an emotional rollercoaster for me. And I loved every moment of it (let's pretend that epilogue never happened).
I loved the humour, the suspense, the action. Just everything. And these characters have been added to my list of favourites. This last book was mainly just stab after stab to my little weak heart but I couldn't put it down.
So I'd like to personally thank Cassandra Clare for breaking my heart.
The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and Other Tales of Terror by Robert Louis Stevenson
4.0
This was the first classic I read (school reads don't count). I have always been intrigued by the story of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde but I never actually read the book. Until today.
Despite it only being around 100 pages the story is well built. The author doesn't uncover everything at once. He does it bit by bit and it keeps the reader interested.
The mystery is solved at the very, very end so you're kept on edge at all times. Though I didn't really like what Dr Jekyll was doing, I did feel empathy for him in the end when all is revealed.
I'm glad I started off easy with the classics. It was pretty difficult to get used to the writing style but once I got past it it was a nice read.
Despite it only being around 100 pages the story is well built. The author doesn't uncover everything at once. He does it bit by bit and it keeps the reader interested.
The mystery is solved at the very, very end so you're kept on edge at all times. Though I didn't really like what Dr Jekyll was doing, I did feel empathy for him in the end when all is revealed.
I'm glad I started off easy with the classics. It was pretty difficult to get used to the writing style but once I got past it it was a nice read.