Title: Caitlin and the Mirror Witch Author: Mari Ann Caudill Rating Out of 5: 2.5 (Readable, but not worth reading again) My Bookshelves:Fantasy, Medieval fantasy Pace: Slow, Format: eBook, Novella Year: 2021
This was a pretty easy read. One that I enjoyed, but wouldn’t necessarily dive into again. Enjoyable, but not loveable is what I’d classify this as. Mostly because it was kind of predictable, and didn’t have anything that made me fall madly in love with it. It wasn’t deplorable, and it was well written though.
The very premise of this story, that a bad witch in a mirror tricks a girl into a spell, and she needs true love’s kiss to break it… I don’t know, I read a lot, so this felt entirely over done. Most of the time when I read a story with this kind of premise, there’s a bit of character growth. Or some kind of twist. Or a great world built around a fairly common fairy tale story line. I’m not sure if it was my mood when reading this, or the length of the story, but there was none of this.
All in all, this was a nice happily ever after story and a quick read. One that I wouldn’t suggest people don’t read, but I definitely have far more engaging stories on my shelves.
I wanted to like this a whole lot more than I did. I mean, I’ve loved all of this series. But, something about the bulk of this and the convoluted nature of the story meant that I found it kind of a hard slog. It might have been a bit more palatable if the story was split into a few different novels if I’m being honest. Part of it is just the sheer size of this damn novel. I could probably knock someone unconscious with it if I’m being honest. In fact, once I got about halfway through, I found that I was just skim reading this – I wanted to know how it ended, but wasn’t invested enough to read every single word.
I think one of the aspects that I found so difficult about this was that there are SO many loose ends and convoluted story lines that need to be tied up. I mean, Maas has done a great job of world building in this, but it felt a little like there was a little bit too much going on. As much as I’ve loved this series, I didn’t really consider it an epic fantasy. Yet, that is how Kingdom of Ash reads – as though it is an epic with epic final battles. None of which were actually… well, epic.
I knew that everyone would get their happily ever after. Which, personally I do like – although I’ve enjoyed some books that don’t have a happily ever after, I did like that this one had that. I can imagine the loving cast riding off into the sunset with their partners, having children and just being… well, happy. I think that it could’ve been accomplished in a lot less pages though…
All in all, while I did enjoy this and I’m glad that the series got a nice ending. I did find that there was a lot of filler. I think I just found that Maas was trying a little bit too hard. I can imagine how difficult it would’ve been to finish out a number of character arcs, but I still wish that they were tidied up a little more succinctly.
This novel was extremely fucking brilliant. It took me a few chapters to truly want to know what was going to happen next, but then it felt like Girls of Paper and Fire was in my head constantly. Ngan did a fantastic job of world building from the first moment, and her attention to the character’s growth made this a completely irreplaceable book in my opinion. I get why people rave about this so much.
Lei’s journey is seriously heartbreaking. I love how she finds her strength. She is ripped from her home, placed into a horrifying world, and finds her first love. One that’s very existence could get her killed. I strongly suspect that her family has, in fact, been killed though. Which is just something I think will come up later in the series. But is heartbreaking, nonetheless. Part of the reason it took me quite a while to read this was because of how much my heart hurt with every challenge Lei faced.
Lei fits the fairly typical YA heroine mould in that she’s from a poor background, thrust into an unfortunate circumstance and finds a way to triumph when no one expects her to. Her very normalcy is highlighted, but then she’s also special. However, where she is different stands out the most for me. The use of a Chinese sounding (to me) cultural backdrop for starters was a nice departure. Actually, the entire world building was seriously unique and fun. But then there’s the love interest – Wren. Straight up, the fact that this is a F/F couple deviates. But also, the way they are able to create this relationship and how Lei is able to find her own strength in it.
I can’t wait to see how this phenomenal series evolves and where it goes. Likewise, if this is how Ngan wants to start her writing career, then I can’t wait to see what more I will get to sink my teeth into over the coming years. This was a completely unforgettable book that I will definitely read again in the future. And I can’t wait to get the rest of this series for my shelves!
This story was absolutely nothing like what I was expecting. It was kind of dark and twisty, without all of the feel good that I’ve been reading a bit much of in some of my young adult books. Plus, this was actually and truly about misfits. There are way too many YA stories which feature a “misfit” who is actually seriously cool. These kids aren’t. For that, I love them.
I’m always diving into tales of the fae. Tales that are a little bit uncomfortable and sweep you away to some incredibly unexpected places. What I loved about this is that a whole variety of alternate lands are featured. There’s not one doorway to go through, but a whole range. A different land for a different kind of person to fit in. It was nice that each of the characters in this story found their own lands to fit into. Their own places to experience a happily ever after.
This is a great reminder that we all fear death. And fear makes people do stupid things. Nancy may have come from a land of the Dead. But that doesn’t mean she causes death, or even desires it. I love how she is immediately looked upon with suspicion amongst people who know, themselves, what it is like to be a misfit. It’s a reminder that human nature tends to ostracise others, regardless of how we may have been ostracised ourselves. Particularly in instances when there is a whole heap of fear running rampant.
I was completely not expecting the ending of this story. It had such a wonderful Frankenstein, Dracula, Wuthering Heights feel. I might kind of hate Wuthering Heights, but I loved the other two, so it was a good feeling. A good feeling in a bad way…
I found this whole Valdemar trilogy a bit of a hard whack. I just didn’t feel emotionally connected with the characters like the other books. And it was even harder with this novel, because it was about the children of the main characters.
In fact, I found this book almost impossible to get through. The leads were kind of whiney and annoying. I mean, I’ve read a lot of stories which feature the children of those famous, and often they complain about the exact same things. But for some reason I found these guys SO MUCH MORE irritating.
I always find it hard to write reviews about books that I didn’t thoroughly enjoy. And, like my enjoyment, they tend to be a bit shorter. Mostly because I still try to focus on what I liked. And whilst I didn’t hate this book, there’s much I can recall that I actually LIKED.
I really loved the island-life feel. It had this breezy, relaxed, surfer kind of vibe, that felt kind of familiar to my surfy cousins. There was such a lovely, breezy feeling to this story and I most definitely want to revisit this world. Aside from the vibe in this story, I loved that there was a lot of cultural information and aspects to the story that made me more and more fascinated by the Hawaiian life.
Then there was the fantastic language used throughout. Not just the language and tone of the story, but also the island slang throughout. Each chapter starts with the meaning of one piece of slang. Then, there’s bits and pieces that you have to put together yourself. I love this pidgeon form of English and Hawaiian that is used throughout. It may actually be the aspect of this story that I love the most – learning new slang that I will probably never use.
I loved how although this story is very much around a mythology and fantasy and powers, at it’s heart it is a coming of age story. One where a boy discovers who he is and that, like all of us, he has his own powers. It’s been a while since I’ve so thoroughly enjoyed a coming of age story. So it was nice to read this one. And, as I previously mentioned, definitely a world and journey that I will return to.
Zader is an incredibly fun lead. He is obviously kind of awkward and a fish out of water. Which, I always connect best to these types of characters – I’ve always felt like a bit of a fish out of water myself. I enjoyed how as his story unfolds, a bit more of his background and the secrets of his past. It made it incredibly difficult to put down this fantastic book.
This was enjoyable and easy to read. A nice book to flick through as I was waiting for my daughter to truly fall asleep. It was fun, light and very, very pretty. A perfect companion to the rest of the Spiderwick books.
I love that this has a feeling of legitimacy to it. Even if it is a fantasy story. Somehow, DiTerlizziand Blackmanage to make it feel realistic and like you could just reach through the veil and experience this delightful world. Toeing that line between real and fantasy can be incredibly difficult, and they’ve made it work. Seriously enjoyable.
It’s obvious that there is a lot of research which has gone into this book, and the lore of the Spiderwick Chronicles in general. After all, these are all fae creatures and beings that show up again and again in literature and entertainment. Although, some of them are pictured in ways that I never imagined. And seriously loved. Another testament to DiTerlizzi.
A wonderful read and a lovely companion to the rest of the Spiderwick Chronicles. I can’t wait to share this with my daughter one day.
It’s been an age since I read The Black Gryphon. Or really, any Valdemar book. And although this definitely isn’t as fantastic to me as the other Valdemar books, I’m glad I decided to dive back into this world. I love the world building and the action. The fact that there is always a focus on misfits and plenty of emotional tangles to unsnare.
Skan is still a hit of an overwhelming cocky character. A little less painful than in the first book, but still not my favourite of characters. His development did make me like him a whole lot more though. Having a pair of gryphlets alongside definitely helped me warm to him too.
I vaguely (hey, its been a while) remember thoroughly enjoying Amberdrake and Winterheart. There is something fantastically simple about this couple that, whilst it doesn’t inspire fireworks, gives a feeling of comfort and truth. I love the acceptance that shines between them and how it carries throughout this entire story. The fact that they’re the targets of a madman who will make you cringe… well, that makes it all better.
Probably one for the reasons I don’t get as into this as the other Valdemar books is the lore and world building. I get seriously lost I all of the terminologies for the different clans and groups. Not to mention I feel like I’m constantly missing things from the history of the wars… which just inspires me to want to read this all over again.
I really enjoyed this. It was fun and easy. Cute and quaint. Something that was just a fun diversion for a few moments. The pictures in and of themselves were glorious. And that’s not even taking into account the good writing.
My biggest complaint about this is that there isn’t more specific information on each of the sprites. I love the world that Black and DiTerlizzi have created. And I would have loved to read more about the particulars of the different species that appear in the pages.
This was incredibly short. But also good fun. Mostly I wish this was longer. But I still loved all of the imagery throughout.
<- A Grand Tour of the Enchanted World, Navigate by Thimbletack
Title: Tower of Dawn Author: Sarah J. Maas Series: Throne of Glass #6 Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again) My Bookshelves:Fantasy, Romance, Strong women Dates read: 2nd – 17th October 2021 Pace: Fast Format: Novel Publisher: Bloomsbury Year: 2017 5th sentence, 74th page: She straightened.
A GLORIOUS EMPIRE A DESPERATE QUEST AN ANCIENT SECRET
Chaol Westfall and Nesryn Faliq have arrived in the shining city of Antica to forge an alliance with the Khagan of the Southern Continent, whose vast armies are Erilea’s last hope. But they ahve also come to Antica for another purpose: to seek healing at the legendary Torre Cesme for the wounds that Chaol received in Rifthold.
After enduring unspeakable horrors as a child, Yrene Towers has no desire to help a young lord from Adarlan, let alone heal him. Yet she has sworn an oath to assist those in need – and will honour it. But Lord Westfall carries darkness from his own past, and Yrene soon comes to realise it could engulf them both.
And deep in the shadows of distant mountains, where warriors soar on might ruks, long-awaited answers slumber. Answers that might offer their world a chance at survival – or doom them all.
I did struggle with this book more than I had expected to. I’ve been putting off the last 2 books of the series. Partly because I know that it will destroy my heart (seems to be a talent of Maas). But, more so, because I just don’t want this series to be over! Sure, I can reread it… but it just won’t be the same. Having said that, I didn’t fall head first into this book like I have the others.
I think that the thing that takes me a while with this story is that Chaol spends the first part just being incredibly whiney. I get that he’s been dealt a hard hand, but my lordy, he’s just a bit too bitter and painful. For those who feel the same… Read on! Once I got to the second part, I started to fall head first into the storyline as expected.
Of all the characters in this, it was Yrene that I loved the most. The fact that she has an intertwined past (like many of the other characters) just makes her all that much better. I love how much of this story involves her fight to get over her horrible past and move forwards with her life. Her story, when Chaol’s was a bit painful made this book still a 5 star I my view.
Whilst I had a few moments of discomfort and “huh” throughout this, ultimately I loved this book. After the first 200 pages, the character development is so wonderful and intense that I couldn’t put it down. And, much of the whiney that was irritating made so much more sense.
Earth and Skye 