Carry On - Rainbow Rowell

Goodreads summary:

Simon Snow just wants to relax and savor his last year at the Watford School of Magicks, but no one will let him. His girlfriend broke up with him, his best friend is a pest, and his mentor keeps trying to hide him away in the mountains where maybe he’ll be safe. Simon can’t even enjoy the fact that his roommate and longtime nemesis is missing, because he can’t stop worrying about the evil git. Plus there are ghosts. And vampires. And actual evil things trying to shut Simon down. When you’re the most powerful magician the world has ever known, you never get to relax and savor anything.

Carry On is a ghost story, a love story, a mystery and a melodrama. It has just as much kissing and talking as you’d expect from a Rainbow Rowell story — but far, far more monsters.


My review:

4.5/5

I'm usually not the biggest Fantasy fan. I do love some classics, but it's not my favourite genre. However, I knew I had to read this, because it's from Rainbow Rowell (my queen). I'm so glad I did, because the second I opened this book, I could not stop reading. 

It's written in the amazing way Rainbow Rowell creates stories, so it's very realistic and full of complex characters. I loved how every single one of them is special and interesting, but then again, it shouldn't be a surprise. I didn't know this book was written in different points of vue, but I'm so glad it is. It made me discover the main characters much more than I would've otherwise and I actually discovered the big mystery early in the story because of those different perspectives. I fell in love with Simon, Baz, and Penny from the beginning. They're all quirky and loveable, even though Baz is considered as an enemy for most of the book. I wish I could have Simon and Penny's friendship, because they're such adorable friends that I found myself wishing I could be a part of it. 

I know some people complain about this book's resemblance to the Harry Potter series. Obviously, the link between those two is there, but once you get into the story, you discover that it's a much different universe. I do wish that this would be a series, since a single book isn't much to create a complex world of magic, but I did get an idea of what it looked like and it's quite a lot different from Harry Potter. As Rainbow Rowell says, this book is more about being the "Chosen One" (which must suck, to be honest), and I think that this, with the fact that it's set at a wizarding school, explains how similar it can be to Harry Potter. 

The main point that I am not too keen on is the mystery of this story. As I said before, I found out quite early what it was, which disappointed me a little. I thought it was so obvious and I'm not even the kind of person who guesses easily what's about to happen. I couldn't believe it when I read one of the hints in the story, because I don't think it could've been more obvious. I still loved this book, so it wasn't too big of a deal for me. 

I really liked the romance in this book, even though I think Simon wasn't too invested in it. I get that it's just him going with the flow, but I wish there had been more realization of it on his part. Nonetheless, it was adorable and it fit really well with the story. It's different from most love stories in Fantasy for many reasons and I loved it. 

Overall, I think this is a fantastic book. I haven't enjoyed one this much in a long while, so I had a great time reading it. I'd absolutely recommend it, no matter what part of it interests you the most. It's the kind of book that can please many types of readers, in my opinion.
Thank you NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. 

Somewhere in Between - Katie Li

Goodreads summary:

Two friends find a portal to another dimension and use this “in-between place” to avoid the stress of their everyday lives. What they don’t realize is that every time they enter, they alter reality. 

Pseudo-punk Magnolia and underachieving gamer-geek Rom are two unlikely friends who only hang out during their walks home together after school. When they find the a portal that leads to different worlds, they use the “in-between place” as an escape from their lives in high school, then later, after college. 

Their visits through the portal bring them teetering along a tight-rope of fantasy and reality, where they don't always believe what is in front of them, not even their feelings for each other. 

The book is about changes—the ones that you can control, and the ones that you can’t. It’s about commitment and friendship. It’s about the stages in between where you have nothing but the unknown ahead of you.

Inspired by the work of Haruki Murakami and films like Eternal Sunshine of A Spotless Mind, Somewhere In Between is metaphysical coming-of-age story about defining love and finding yourself.

My review:

3/5

There were parts that I loved, but I'm not sure I understood much of the story, which isn't that good.

I started this book loving the chemistry between the main characters. I loved their interactions and the moment when they found the "in-between" place was just perfect. It was a mixture of simple YA and fantasy that I loved and I was really excited to continue reading. It became fine when it was a few years later, but I found there weren't many details about their lives or their past, so the story was harder to understand. Then came the ending, which I'm still not sure about.

I think I would have loved this story a whole lot better if it had been longer. It's an incredibly short book, but since it lacked details, in my opinion, I think it could've used a couple more pages.

(Thank you NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.)

A Thousand Nights - E. K. Johnston

Goodreads summary:

Lo-Melkhiin killed three hundred girls before he came to her village, looking for a wife. When she sees the dust cloud on the horizon, she knows he has arrived. She knows he will want the loveliest girl: her sister. She vows she will not let her be next.

And so she is taken in her sister's place, and she believes death will soon follow. Lo-Melkhiin's court is a dangerous palace filled with pretty things: intricate statues with wretched eyes, exquisite threads to weave the most beautiful garments. She sees everything as if for the last time. But the first sun rises and sets, and she is not dead. Night after night, Lo-Melkhiin comes to her and listens to the stories she tells, and day after day she is awoken by the sunrise. Exploring the palace, she begins to unlock years of fear that have tormented and silenced a kingdom. Lo-Melkhiin was not always a cruel ruler. Something went wrong.

Far away, in their village, her sister is mourning. Through her pain, she calls upon the desert winds, conjuring a subtle unseen magic, and something besides death stirs the air.

Back at the palace, the words she speaks to Lo-Melkhiin every night are given a strange life of their own. Little things, at first: a dress from home, a vision of her sister. With each tale she spins, her power grows. Soon she dreams of bigger, more terrible magic: power enough to save a king, if she can put an end to the rule of a monster.


My review:

3/5

It was interesting... And I can't find much more to say about it. 

I liked the culture and how different it is from everything I've known. The way everyone talks, eats, prays and lives is well described and made me want to know more about such populations. It's kind of idyllic, sometimes, to think about living in the desert with nothing but your family. It's a simplistic way to live, but I was envious quite often. 

The story itself isn't all that interesting. It starts off as intriguing, but the fact that it's so slow-paced and all about descriptions instead of actions - don't get me wrong, I love descriptions, it's just that it's annoying to know more about the rooms than the story - makes it quite boring. I had to push myself to finish this, which isn't exactly good. Also, did I understand the ending? I couldn't say. 

I think that it has potential, but it wasn't fully used. 


(Thank you NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.)

Crown of Midnight (Throne of Glass #2) - Sarah J. Maas

Goodreads summary:

"A line that should never be crossed is about to be breached.

It puts this entire castle in jeopardy—and the life of your friend."

From the throne of glass rules a king with a fist of iron and a soul as black as pitch. Assassin Celaena Sardothien won a brutal contest to become his Champion. Yet Celaena is far from loyal to the crown. She hides her secret vigilantly; she knows that the man she serves is bent on evil.

Keeping up the deadly charade becomes increasingly difficult when Celaena realizes she is not the only one seeking justice. As she tries to untangle the mysteries buried deep within the glass castle, her closest relationships suffer. It seems no one is above questioning her allegiances—not the Crown Prince Dorian; not Chaol, the Captain of the Guard; not even her best friend, Nehemia, a foreign princess with a rebel heart.

Then one terrible night, the secrets they have all been keeping lead to an unspeakable tragedy. As Celaena's world shatters, she will be forced to give up the very thing most precious to her and decide once and for all where her true loyalties lie... and whom she is ultimately willing to fight for.


My review:

5/5

Holy. Crap. 

You know when I read Throne of Glass and really liked it, but didn't understand how obsessed people got over this series? Well, that time is over. I am officially obsessed and crazy about this story. 

The very second I started this book, I knew there was no going back. I started discovering more and more details that intrigued me and made me want to know more about the story, which is why I ended up reading both the second and the third book in such a short time, especially considering I had to study and work during that time. This book has so much more secrets, plot twists and romance that I couldn't resist it. I felt every possible emotion and even more. I think that's what creates the addiction: the fact that you're feeling so much more than you should. Anyways, I'm not complaining (at least not until I get my grades for this term). 

This book starts off as romantic, light and adorable, but it gets darker and darker, until all you want to do is curl up and sob for hours. The whole process was too quick for me to understand it and when it was over, all I could think was "WHAT?!" for hours and hours. It's a lot more heartbreaking and dramatic than the first book, which is why I started loving the characters so much. At this point, I'd kill anyone who touches them. 

I cannot wait to see what this series has to offer (although I'll have to, because the entire series isn't out yet... Sigh.) and I would recommend to anyone, even to those who couldn't see its spark from the first book.

Dream a Little Dream (Silber #1) - Kerstin Gier

Goodreads summary:

Mysterious doors with lizard-head knobs. Talking stone statues. A crazy girl with a hatchet. Yes, Liv's dreams have been pretty weird lately. Especially the one where she's in a graveyard at night, watching four boys conduct dark magic rituals.

The strangest part is that Liv recognizes the boys in her dream. They're classmates from her new school in London, the school where she's starting over because her mom has moved them to a new country (again). But what's really scaring Liv is that the dream boys seem to know things about her in real life, things they couldn't possibly know--unless they actually are in her dreams? Luckily, Liv never could resist a good mystery, and all four of those boys are pretty cute....

My review:

4/5

Oh, I can't wait to read more of this series! 

While I didn't know that it was about such a young character, especially since I wanted to read this book because of Ruby Red, I really enjoyed my time reading. I wouldn't say it's as good as the Precious Stones trilogy (because this one is incredible and one of my all-time favourites), but it had potential, so I'm really excited to know what happens next. 

I was surprised by the theme of this book, because I only expected something magical or fantastic, not demoniac. It was really interesting and different from what I usually read, so that was a nice surprise. I liked the doors in people's dreams and all the story created within them, because it's such an awesome idea. 

I do wish the characters were older, because it's a bit hard for me to relate. Also, sometimes, they feel mature to me, but then they do something that reminds me of their age, so that's really confusing. It was a bit hard for me to see them as they really are and it had an impact on my reading experience, as much as I wanted to ignore their age. I don't know if it's simply because of that, but I also couldn't understand the main characters really well and like them as I normally would, because I wasn't always sure of their motives. I spent most of my time trying to get past everyone's barriers and it annoyed me quite a bit. 

Overall, the plot interests me enough to make me want to continue reading this series, especially since I love this author, but this book didn't quite reach my expectations.

A Court of Thorns and Roses - Sarah J. Maas

Goodreads summary:

A thrilling, seductive new series from New York Times bestselling author Sarah J. Maas, blending Beauty and the Beast with faerie lore.

When nineteen-year-old huntress Feyre kills a wolf in the woods, a beast-like creature arrives to demand retribution for it. Dragged to a treacherous magical land she only knows about from legends, Feyre discovers that her captor is not an animal, but Tamlin—one of the lethal, immortal faeries who once ruled their world.

As she dwells on his estate, her feelings for Tamlin transform from icy hostility into a fiery passion that burns through every lie and warning she's been told about the beautiful, dangerous world of the Fae. But an ancient, wicked shadow grows over the faerie lands, and Feyre must find a way to stop it... or doom Tamlin—and his world—forever.

Perfect for fans of Kristin Cashore and George R. R. Martin, this first book in a sexy and action-packed new series is impossible to put down!


My review:

5/5

IT WAS SO SO SO SO GOOD!!! I'm incredibly happy to have finally read this book. I totally get the hype, so if you're one of the only ones who haven't read this novel yet, please do.

I love Sarah J. Maas, but I can't pretend I'm her most loyal fan. In fact, even though I have watched and read many of her interviews and I know many things about her, I hadn't read anything else from her than Throne of Glass. I do plan on reading the rest of the series, especially after finishing this novel, but as much as I enjoyed reading TOG, I didn't get addicted to it or anything. I've heard that this series keeps getting better, so I'm really excited, but the difference with ACOTAR is that I was hooked from the very first page. There's something about retellings that's very addicting and exciting, so I loved the story from the beginning and I kept marvelling at how amazing it is.

I started by loving the characters. Feyre is extraordinarily kind, which usually annoys me because of how impossible some characters seem, but it seemed honest and real from her. She made me want to cry when she acted so selflessly and got absolutely nothing in return, which made me hope things would get better for her. I also loved all the little details we learn about her family, from the way they lost all their money to their passions and hopes. Every character is different and they're easy to imagine. Then came the hot guys. Seriously, I don't know if Maas has an incredible imagination or if she's been enough to have sexy, kind and funny men in her life, but there's something about her male characters that makes me wish I lived in a fictional world like hers. I thought Tamlin was a mysterious, complicated yet understandable character that I grew to love, while Lucien made me smile and laugh (and wish I had him for myself). There are also very hot scenes in this novel, which I can't say I didn't enjoy. I didn't know Maas could write such sexy and explicit scenes without actually going into many details, because it's something I had never seen before. I thought they were perfectly described, since they're not telling too much or too little.

This world is also a very interesting one. I do have difficulties imagining faeries, but it's always been like that for me, so it's not Maas's fault. I loved the descriptions about art, houses and landscapes, which made my artsy self very happy. Every historical detail intrigued me and kind of made me wish there could be a novel set during the War so that I could see it through different eyes and understand it even more. The fact that faeries are immortal is also very weird to think about, because I've always wondered what immortal people do with their lives and how weird it must be to age so slowly. I hope there will be more about that in the next books, because it's always nice to see one's opinion of immortality.

I found the storyline gripping. I couldn't wait for Feyre to stop thinking about ways to escape when she first got to Tamlin's place, because I wanted to see more of the place and the characters. The mystery about the world and the characters, especially Tamlin, made me want to read further and further, only to find more intriguing details. I was surprised by the way this book turned out, because until halfway through the book I was really not expecting something like that to happen. I love how it's getting more and more different from Beauty and the Beast, because it would be boring if everything was the same. I can find so many differences between the two stories that it's hardly a retelling, just a story inspired by another. Also, Beauty and the Beast is my favourite fairytale, so the fact that some parts of the story are inspired by it makes me really happy.

There's something about the writing and the general looks of the book that made me immediately get into the story and appreciate every second I spent reading it. Feyre's feelings are very well described throughout the entire story and I always felt like I understood where she came from and why she took her decisions. I analysed many actions, since I knew some of them might give me answers, and I loved getting back to them when I discovered the reasons behing them.

I'm very happy about this book. I would absolutely recommend it and I think that for once, I have found a novel that's worth the hype.

Magonia (Magonia #1) - Maria Dahvana Headley

Goodreads summary:

Aza Ray is drowning in thin air. 

Since she was a baby, Aza has suffered from a mysterious lung disease that makes it ever harder for her to breathe, to speak—to live. 

So when Aza catches a glimpse of a ship in the sky, her family chalks it up to a cruel side effect of her medication. But Aza doesn't think this is a hallucination. She can hear someone on the ship calling her name.

Only her best friend, Jason, listens. Jason, who’s always been there. Jason, for whom she might have more-than-friendly feelings. But before Aza can consider that thrilling idea, something goes terribly wrong. Aza is lost to our world—and found, by another. Magonia. 

Above the clouds, in a land of trading ships, Aza is not the weak and dying thing she was. In Magonia, she can breathe for the first time. Better, she has immense power—and as she navigates her new life, she discovers that war is coming. Magonia and Earth are on the cusp of a reckoning. And in Aza’s hands lies the fate of the whole of humanity—including the boy who loves her. Where do her loyalties lie?


My review:

3/5

It wasn't bad, but it really didn't live up to my expectations. I had heard great things about it, and while it was imaginative, I found it hard to keep up with.

I think the writing is really nice and I honestly loved the beginning of this book. The characters are interesting and I wanted to know more about them. However, at some point, the story got very complicated, very quickly, and I felt like I was always trying to catch up with it. After that, it fell back into a quiet moment, but I was simply not that interested in the story. It was too weird for me and since there was nothing more to catch my attention, I actually spent a long time trying to finish this novel. The ending was easier for me to follow, although I'm left wondering what's going to happen next, which I wasn't even interested in in the middle if the book. 

Other people might love it, but it simply wasn't for me.