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My October in Book Reviews

1. Anything But Easy



Synopsis:

Kira Murphy is a liability: always has been. She might be small but her personality and heart are not: a sexual health doctor with a foul mouth, pink streaks in her hair, a bizarre world view, a reputation for being ‘pathologically social’, and a huge crush on the current Minister of State for Business, Energy and Clean Growth . . . she’s weird and lovable in equal measure.

The last thing Barclay Lucas needs is a liability. He’s made it into the cabinet with single-minded determination, sheer grit, and serious conservatism. But then a crazy, pink-haired, tiny dynamo turns his life upside-down and serious for Barclay is a thing of the past.

But he’s never liked feeling out of control – something he experiences with Kira on a daily basis. So he pushes her away when she needs him the most, and unfortunately for him she retreats at head-spinning speed. It’s only then he realizes that although being with Kira is anything but easy, the grey, boring alternative is far worse. He’ll have to use all his hard-earned political negotiating and maneuvering skills to get her back. Because after being dragged from black and white into full Technicolor with Kira, Barclay knows that, however serious and worthy his life is, he can’t live it without her.

Review:

I don't know, but I definitely didn't love it. Maybe not even liked it.

This was anything but an easy read.

I found this so problematic somehow?!?!? Barclay was pretty stalkerish, and constantly throwing his weight around. I didn't like the way he didn't even seem to realise he was insulting Kira, and believing the first person who said anything bad about her.

I also didn't love Kira.....what grown woman living alone lives in a house where the door doesn't lock, and is constantly burgled?!?!?! And her being weird to a certain degree is okay....I felt her weirdness and quirkiness were overdone in this book.

I also didn't like the constant nothing-but-sex-on-these-two's-minds thing. seriously, do you think of nothing but sex?!?!??And I didn't like that their relationship was almost completely based on nothing but sex?!?! Like, do you even know things that you should about each other!?!?

Barcley's overprotective alphahole behaviour was seriously making me start hating him, and remember that pushing away talked about in the synopsis?? That happens in the last 50 pages. Which is around 200 pages after when I wanted it.

Beyond all of that, this was a typical rom-com, but dialed up a bit with the enthusiasm....I was exhausted after I read this.

The parts about Sex Education and its importance were pretty good, and I liked how Kira didn't mind promoting it, but in some places I found it a bit inappropriate?

It was okay, and I recommend it to anyone looking for a light and funny read, and does not mind the slightly overprotective trope done too well.



2. The Turn Of The Key



Synopsis:

When she stumbles across the ad, she’s looking for something else completely. But it seems like too good an opportunity to miss—a live-in nannying post, with a staggeringly generous salary. And when Rowan Caine arrives at Heatherbrae House, she is smitten—by the luxurious “smart” home fitted out with all modern conveniences, by the beautiful Scottish Highlands, and by this picture-perfect family.

What she doesn’t know is that she’s stepping into a nightmare—one that will end with a child dead and herself in prison awaiting trial for murder.

Writing to her lawyer from prison, she struggles to explain the unravelling events that led to her incarceration. It wasn’t just the constant surveillance from the cameras installed around the house, or the malfunctioning technology that woke the household with booming music, or turned the lights off at the worst possible time. It wasn’t just the girls, who turned out to be a far cry from the immaculately behaved model children she met at her interview. It wasn’t even the way she was left alone for weeks at a time, with no adults around apart from the enigmatic handyman, Jack Grant.

It was everything.

She knows she’s made mistakes. She admits that she lied to obtain the post, and that her behavior toward the children wasn’t always ideal. She’s not innocent, by any means. But, she maintains, she’s not guilty—at least not of murder. Which means someone else is.

Review:

OH MY GOD I DON'T KNOW WHAT I FELT!??!?!

It was just, I don't know, I can't even express the depths to which this book has shaken me.

I hated this book for the way it made me jump at every little sound, and completely creeping me out within the first 50 pages or so.

I also love this book for that.

I expected a mystery book. I expected a murder mystery book. I expected a book where they would solve the murder, where the woman would be found innocent, and justice would be served.

This was so far from that I don't even know what to call it. On its GR page, it says thriller, and some describe this as psychological thriller, and I think that's the best way to describe this.

I'm not sure justice was served, I'm not even sure they actually found the culprit. Be advised, this is a complete book, where mostly everything was explained, and we do find the culprit, but just, I DON'T KNOW View Spoiler

The secrets revealed? And the way they were revealed? Never, in my life, would I have seen that coming. All of it, View Spoiler , was completely unexpected, in a good way.

I liked it, I think, and I recommend it to anyone who likes mystery, psychological thrillers, characters with secrets.....lots of them, and creepy stories.



3. The Shadows Between Us



Synopsis:

Alessandra is tired of being overlooked, but she has a plan to gain power:

1) Woo the Shadow King.
2) Marry him.
3) Kill him and take his kingdom for herself.

No one knows the extent of the freshly crowned Shadow King’s power. Some say he can command the shadows that swirl around him to do his bidding. Others say they speak to him, whispering the thoughts of his enemies. Regardless, Alessandra knows what she deserves, and she’s going to do everything within her power to get it.

But Alessandra’s not the only one trying to kill the king. As attempts on his life are made, she finds herself trying to keep him alive long enough for him to make her his queen—all while struggling not to lose her heart. After all, who better for a Shadow King than a cunning, villainous queen?

Review:

I JUST LOVED IT!!!!!

First things first, do not read this book if you can't handle black characters......not grey....or morally grey....but BLACK.....black as the blackest thing you can think of.

I hadn't expected a lot of romance from this, but it seriously delivered on that front. Yes, there's a bit of unnecessary angst, yes, they are keeping secrets (at least one of them is), but boy oh boy, it has been a while since I read such a good romance book, that is also a fantasy. (I loved Six Of Crows, and Crooked Kingdom, but I liked them more for their heistiness)

The plot in this was pretty good! Aside from View Spoiler . This was very well written, with the plot keeping you hooked. You start having doubts about everyone, except maybe the person actually responsible. Though I should tell you, I guessed it probably a chapter before it was revealed. So not that much of an achievement, when you think about it. View Spoiler

The characters were really well written, especially Alessandra, and her scrambling to keep her secrets secret. That reminds me View Spoiler

The ending was just perfect. View Spoiler

I just loved it, and will most likely reread this one (highest honour I can award you, book). I recommend this to anyone who likes romance, fantasy, romance with fantasy, bloodthirsty heroines and heroes, morally BLACK characters, and badass female characters who go about killing people (I seriously need a word for this).



4. A Darker Shade Of Magic



Synopsis:

Kell is one of the last Antari—magicians with a rare, coveted ability to travel between parallel Londons; Red, Grey, White, and, once upon a time, Black.

Kell was raised in Arnes—Red London—and officially serves the Maresh Empire as an ambassador, traveling between the frequent bloody regime changes in White London and the court of George III in the dullest of Londons, the one without any magic left to see.

Unofficially, Kell is a smuggler, servicing people willing to pay for even the smallest glimpses of a world they'll never see. It's a defiant hobby with dangerous consequences, which Kell is now seeing firsthand.

After an exchange goes awry, Kell escapes to Grey London and runs into Delilah Bard, a cut-purse with lofty aspirations. She first robs him, then saves him from a deadly enemy, and finally forces Kell to spirit her to another world for a proper adventure.

Now perilous magic is afoot, and treachery lurks at every turn. To save all of the worlds, they'll first need to stay alive.

Review:

I JUST LOVED IT!!!!

I first heard of this one in a jessethereader video, and I was intrigued; 4 Londons? Walker between worlds? Magicians? It had it all.

The world building in this is just so vivid, I have a map in my head, and I could almost smell the scents, and see the colours.....it was amazing!

I really loved the characters, Kell and Lila were awesome!! Lila might have been my favourite, but I loved Kell equally. Rhy was really interesting, View Spoiler I'm not sure how I feel about Holland.... View Spoiler I hated the twins, which was to be expected...

I really liked the concept of blood being tied to magic. The fact that you need to expend a lot of yourself to have abilities has always appealed to me (probably one of the reasons I liked PJO more than HP). The Antari were really interesting, but View Spoiler

For the sequel, I have a lot of feelings and expectations View Spoiler

This book was pretty long....and had a good pace. I did feel that the content was probably enough for two books, but I did end up liking that.

I really liked it, and I recommend it for anyone who likes magic, awesome world-building, badass female characters, and fantasy.



5. The Stranger



Synopsis:

A dark and handsome stranger opens a shop in the quiet village of Woodend. Anna begins to wonder about the visitors who come to Dave Slatin's shop. What do they buy and what exactly is behind the door marked Special Orders Only? At first, Anna finds Dave exciting and attractive but soon she becomes very frightened.

Review:

Well, I have to say, this was mounds better than the Vampire's Tear.

A slightly creepy story, with a mysterious stranger who comes to town, opens a shop, hires an assistant, gets mysterious customers who have mysteriously good fortunes days after they come see him; this was a really good story!!

Yeah, this was a middle grade level story, but I found it like Ruskin Bond's mysterious stories, most of which I have read in [b:Dust on the mountain|475187|Dust on the mountain|Ruskin Bond|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1405004956l/475187._SY75_.jpg|463429].

What I didn't like: Like with most mysterious short stories, the story doesn't seem quite complete..... View Spoiler

A good short story, wonderful for people wanting to improve vocabulary. In general, one of the good mystery short stories I've come across.



6. Catching Fire



Synopsis:

Sparks are igniting.
Flames are spreading.
And the Capitol wants revenge.

Against all odds, Katniss Everdeen has won the Hunger Games. She and fellow District 12 tribute Peeta Mellark are miraculously still alive. Katniss should be relieved, happy even. After all, she has returned to her family and her longtime friend, Gale. Yet nothing is the way Katniss wishes it to be. Gale holds her at an icy distance. Peeta has turned his back on her completely. And there are whispers of a rebellion against the Capitol—a rebellion that Katniss and Peeta may have helped create.

Much to her shock, Katniss has fueled an unrest that she's afraid she cannot stop. And what scares her even more is that she's not entirely convinced she should try. As time draws near for Katniss and Peeta to visit the districts on the Capitol's cruel Victory Tour, the stakes are higher than ever. If they can't prove, without a shadow of a doubt, that they are lost in their love for each other, the consequences will be horrifying.

Review:

I DON'T KNOW WHETHER I LOVED IT OR HATED IT?!?!?!

I am just shocked, mostly......that ending left me a bit......let's say eager for the next book (that's a great understatement).

I loved the book. And there's not much I can say about it without giving away spoilers, so: View Spoiler

I really liked it (I think), and I can't wait to start the next one!!



7. The Canterville Ghost



Synopsis:

This is Oscar Wilde's tale of the American family moved into a British mansion, Canterville Chase, much to the annoyance of its tired ghost. The family -- which refuses to believe in him -- is in Wilde's way a commentary on the British nobility of the day -- and on the Americans, too. The tale, like many of Wilde's, is rich with allusion, but ends as sentimental romance..

Review:

I loved it!!

I've enjoyed all of Oscar Wilde's stories that I've read till date, and this one didn't disappoint. Though advertised as primarily a comedy/humourous story, this one is emotional too.

The way the Americans didn't believe in the ghost despite his laborious efforts, was very funny, and I was snorting every few minutes.

What I didn't completely get, was, that aren't ghosts supposed to be non-corporeal? He was tripping and getting wet, and in general falling prey to all of the kids' pranks, which, I have to admit, seems pretty out of character for a ghost.

The way Victoria is the only one who doesn't prank him, and then becomes his greatest confidant, was very emotional. We see that the ghost is really tired of being subjected to three centuries of playing pranks on people, and now the only thing he wishes for is the peace that comes with death.

Another one of Oscar Wilde's great stories, this has made me want to read all the ones I've heard of but never read till now for some reason.



8. Mockingjay



Synopsis:

Against all odds, Katniss Everdeen has survived the Hunger Games twice. But now that she's made it out of the bloody arena alive, she's still not safe. The Capitol is angry. The Capitol wants revenge. Who do they think should pay for the unrest? Katniss. And what's worse, President Snow has made it clear that no one else is safe either. Not Katniss's family, not her friends, not the people of District 12.

Review:

God.

I don't know what to say.

This was amazing. And depressing. And so not enjoyable, till you come to the conclusion that it's realistic.

So, knowing this was the last past of this series, I expected some bloodshed. Some of my favourite characters to go. But I most certainly did not expect anything close to this book.

This book. *shakes head**starts wailing and sobbing again*

This cannot be discussed without spoilers, so: View Spoiler
Now, why this book was a little depressing: it was realistic. This is a good thing, but I don't love realistic when it's to this degree. So happy with the realisticness, but really sad with the degree.

I think almost all last books of series are depressing when you think about it. Everyone's dying, people are realising a lot of stuff...everything is ending, in one way or another.

What I probably loved most in this series, is the realisticness. (I know that sounds contradictory, but that's the way it is). The way media is portrayed, scenes are choreographed, how people seem to be something, but might be something else entirely, how dictatorships and democracies work, how all governments work, how politics works, how the human mind works.......this series provides an insight into all of that, and makes you question some of your heartfelt beliefs; Gale's and Katniss' arguments in this book portray that very accurately.

I...... think I loved it and I recommend it to anyone who likes fantasy, read the first two books, and wants a bit of realisticness.



9. Shadow and Bone



Synopsis:

Surrounded by enemies, the once-great nation of Ravka has been torn in two by the Shadow Fold, a swath of near impenetrable darkness crawling with monsters who feast on human flesh. Now its fate may rest on the shoulders of one lonely refugee.

Alina Starkov has never been good at anything. But when her regiment is attacked on the Fold and her best friend is brutally injured, Alina reveals a dormant power that saves his life—a power that could be the key to setting her war-ravaged country free. Wrenched from everything she knows, Alina is whisked away to the royal court to be trained as a member of the Grisha, the magical elite led by the mysterious Darkling.

Yet nothing in this lavish world is what it seems. With darkness looming and an entire kingdom depending on her untamed power, Alina will have to confront the secrets of the Grisha . . . and the secrets of her heart.

Review:

I have no idea what I just read, but I think I loved it.

So, having read Six of Crows, I expected something similiar. This was very, very different. It actually felt like it was written by a different author.....but I don't mean that in a bad way.

This book was heavy on the romance, and while I usually love romance, I was kinda confused by the love triangle (it was a love triangle, right?). View Spoiler

Someone told me that this book had an atmosphere, and now I know exactly what they meant. This book can paint pictures in your head. You can hear the sounds, smell the smells, taste the tastes, feel the textures; it's just so real, and it feels as if it's on your fingertips!

While this was a really good fantasy book on its own, compared to the Six Of Crows, I think I enjoyed the latter more. Maybe because I really like heists, maybe something was different. Whatever the case, I loved that more.

Despite all of that, I really loved it, and I recommend it to anyone who likes fantasy, romance and has read Leigh Bardugo's other books( namely the Six of Crows duology). I will also be adding more of Leigh Bardugo's books to my shelves.



10. Would Like to Meet



Synopsis:

After seven years as an assistant, 29-year-old Evie Summers is ready to finally get the promotion she deserves. But now the TV and film agency she's been running behind the scenes is in trouble, and Evie will lose her job unless she can convince the agency's biggest and most arrogant client, Ezra Chester, to finish writing the script for a Hollywood romantic comedy.

The catch? Ezra is suffering from writer's block--and he'll only put pen to paper if singleton Evie can prove to him that you can fall in love like they do in the movies. With the future of the agency in jeopardy, Evie embarks on a mission to meet a man the way Sally met Harry or Hugh Grant met Julia Roberts.

But in the course of testing out the meet-cute scenes from classic romantic comedies IRL, not only will Evie encounter one humiliating situation after another, but she'll have to confront the romantic past that soured her on love. In a novel as hilarious as it is heartwarming, debut author Rachel Winters proves that sometimes real life is better than the movies--and that the best kind of meet-cutes happen when you least expect them.

Review:

I really loved it!!!

The first thing I'd like to say, is that the synopsis is misleading. That's all I can say without giving away spoilers. Now, spoilers: View Spoiler

The romance in this was like a side plot, since most of the book is focused on her reenacting meet-cutes (which are seriously entertaining). But it was not lacking. Aside from a few snags, it was mostly smooth sailing.

My favourite character, aside from the main couple, was Anette....she was just so adorable, and mature, and the only one with common-sense so much of the time!!!

What I really loved was the insight into the writing (especially screenwriting) industry. You see discrimination here, which I really didn't know was this much of an issue (I thought it didn't matter these days?) We also see plagiarism, and blackmail, and secret agendas, and...... I don't know, a lot of other stuff I can't say without spoiling. View Spoiler

I really loved it, and I recommend it to anyone who likes romance, meet-cutes, books with insight into the writing (specifically screenwriting) industry, and sweet, feel-good novels.



11. Batman Begins



Synopsis:

It's a fantastic story of the most popular superhero Batman. Bruce Wayne was born in a rich and famous family in Gotham City in the USA. He hated the bats after he had fallen into the well where they attacked him. When he was a little boy, his parents were killed by the robber in front of him. A big suffering and a mental trauma were added to his phobia. Everything left a great scar on his soul. He blamed himself in his parents' death. He had been travelling the world looking for the answers. Desire for revenge and justice tormented him. Fate led him to Ducard from the League of Shadows. Ducard taught him the martial arts and helped to overcome his phobia of bats. Bruce Wayne came back to Gotham with the aim to restore order in his hometown. Now he knows how to use his fears in his favour.

Review:

This was awful, and that is the tea.

Let me make some things clear: First, I loved Batman Begins, even though I don't a lot of it. It was a Christopher Nolan movie, and it was awesome.

Second, I expected a script-to-story kind of thing with this; this was not that. This was awful. This is actually contesting The Vampire's Tear.

Now, what was awful: There was nothing in this. No emotion, no suspense, no delivery of dialogue, no nothing. Let me include some excerpts to make you see what I mean:

Bruce couldn't sleep that night. He remembered his life after Joe Chill killed his parents. He was so unhappy and so angry. He went from school to school and university to university.
So this is the full extent of your feelings about your parents dying!??!?!

His old friend, Rachel, comes to the house. She is an Assistant District Attorney - an important lawyer in Gotham now.
'Wow!' he thinks when he sees her. 'She is so beautiful.' They drive to the prison.
Underwhelming gets a new definition with this book.

At the police station, Sergeant Gordon's boss was very angry.
'Who did this to Falcone?' he shouted. 'Find him fast! The police look stupid because of him.'
'I think he's trying to help us, sir,' Gordon said.
'We don't need his help!' shouted his boss.
'Well, I think we probably do,' thought Gordon. But he didn't say anything.
This book was written for 8-year olds.

Suddenly white smoke came out of his bag.
Falcone tried to shout but his nose and his mouth were on fire. Water came out of his eyes. He saw horrible things in front of his eyes. Crane quickly put the mask back in his bag and shut it.
I've read bad fanfiction that describes hallucinogens better than this.

Bruce looked around the room and saw that he didn't know some of the people there. They weren't his friends. They were Ninjas!
His guests were in danger. They had to get out fast. What could he do? He took a glass and shouted, 'Let's drink to my birthday! Let's drink to all my guests! You don't like me, do you? You're here because you like my money. You just want some free food and drink!'
The guests were very upset and angry. They left the house at once. They got in their cars and drove away.
'Upset and angry'.....'at once'....what beautiful writing, isn't it?

Wayne Manor was on fire.
'Have you come to kill me?' Bruce asked Ra's.
'No,' said Ra's. 'I've come to ask you a question. Will you join us?'
'Never!' said Bruce. 'I don't want to be part of this.'
'Then fight me,' said Ra's, 'and die with Gotham.'
He took out a sword.
They fought and fought until finally Bruce stood over Ra's with his sword above Ra's head.
'You taught me very well, Ra's,' he said.
Fought and fought.......

Rachel gave Gordon the antidote and he slowly started to feel better. The people from the asylum were shouting and coming nearer. They were feeling bad from the white cloud. Suddenly they started running towards Rachel and Gordon.
'Oh no!' thought Rachel. 'They're going to kill us.'
Well, yes, Rachel, of course they're trying to kill you.....have you only just realised!?!?

Soon all the bad guys were in prison or out of a job. The people of Gotham began to build their great city again. Everyone wanted to work together now.
That's it?!?

And then, this copy of the book had the gall to tell me:
- THE END -
Hope you have enjoyed the reading!
No, no, I did not enjoy the reading.


I did not like it, the voices were awful.....the narrator was doing a botched-up job of Batman's deep voice, Gordon sounded weak and frail....it was just awful. I've read awful fanfiction (albeit of the MCU) that was better written than this.

I hate to say this, but in this case, the movie was tons better than the book. I have a feeling that the comics must have been much better, but this was just awful.

I can only recommend it to 8-10 year-olds. This book was not for me. Full-stop.



12. Ash Princess



Synopsis:

Theodosia was six when her country was invaded and her mother, the Fire Queen, was murdered before her eyes. On that day, the Kaiser took Theodosia's family, her land, and her name. Theo was crowned Ash Princess--a title of shame to bear in her new life as a prisoner.

For ten years Theo has been a captive in her own palace. She's endured the relentless abuse and ridicule of the Kaiser and his court. She is powerless, surviving in her new world only by burying the girl she was deep inside.

Then, one night, the Kaiser forces her to do the unthinkable. With blood on her hands and all hope of reclaiming her throne lost, she realizes that surviving is no longer enough. But she does have a weapon: her mind is sharper than any sword. And power isn't always won on the battlefield.

For ten years, the Ash Princess has seen her land pillaged and her people enslaved. That all ends here.

Review:

I really liked it!

This book was amazing, what with a main character who is more or less a slave, but then manipulates everyone around her to not only escape, but achieve many other agendas as well ;)

So, what I loved: View Spoiler

What I didn't love as much: View Spoiler

I liked the moral greyness in this book, it was done very well. I also didn't love Blaise as a character, I just didn't.

Also, is this a dystopia? Because most of this book was what I expect from a dystopia.....the near constant hopelessness, but there being a way out, the almost depressing storyline (in some places only), the slave like-life she lives, the constant torture and discrimination, the ash crown.......all of it made me feel this was a dystopia.

One more thing, I love the cover. I just had to say it.

All in all, I loved it, and I'll be reading the next parts ASAP! I recommend it to anyone who likes fantasy, romance, love triangles, strong female characters, magic(only a little), court politics, and twisting storylines where you can't really trust anyone.



13. The Kinder Poison



Synopsis:

Zahru has long dreamed of leaving the kingdom of Orkena and having the kinds of adventures she’s only ever heard about in stories. But as a lowly Whisperer, her power to commune with animals means that her place is serving in the royal stables until the day her magic runs dry.

All that changes when the ailing ruler invokes the Crossing: a death-defying race across the desert, in which the first of his heirs to finish—and take the life of a human sacrifice at the journey’s end—will ascend to the throne and be granted unparalleled abilities.

With all of the kingdom abuzz, Zahru leaps at the chance to change her fate if just for a night by sneaking into the palace for a taste of the revelry. But the minor indiscretion turns into a deadly mistake when she gets caught up in a feud between the heirs and is forced to become the Crossing’s human sacrifice. Zahru is left with only one hope for survival: somehow figuring out how to overcome the most dangerous people in the world.

Review:

I really liked it, but hated the romance.

Let me tell you, this would've been a solid 5-stars had it not been for the romance. And other people might have liked this book for that very reason, but I'm not other people.

Other people, are people who like love triangles. And like them between two brothers.

And let me tell you something about me: I hate love triangles, with very few books making the 5-star cut for me. And between brothers? Absolutely hate them. And if the girl keeps changing her mind every time she's away from one and near the other? (I don't think there's a superlative for hate)

All within a single week.

It's one thing to break someone's heart because you're actually in love with someone else, but it's a completely different thing if it's the brother of the guy you're in love with. And it is a really, really other-wordly thing, if it happens within the span of a single week. It's a big no-no for me, and I only make exceptions if I didn't actually know it was going to happen, or if I liked the other plot devices advertised to me more.

This book would be perfect without the romance. That's my opinion.

Now, other than the romance, this book was just awesome!! The was really good world-building, the plot was really interesting, you were constantly being forced to change your opinions of the characters depending on what new disaster came about, learning all kinds of secrets that made you doubt yourself so much; I just really loved it!

I'm really intrigued about what happens next, since that was one hell of a cliff-hanger we were left with, and I can't wait to get my hands on the next book!(when will you be here 2021?)

So, I really liked it overall, and I recommend it to people who like love triangles( between brothers), or can ignore the aforementioned love triangle; awesome world-building, characters with cool powers (even though they don't make sense sometimes), books set in deserts (I was really surprised by this revelation, but I actually have not read a lot of books set in deserts), and cases of mistaken identity.



14. The Night Circus



Synopsis:

The circus arrives without warning. No announcements precede it. It is simply there, when yesterday it was not. Within the black-and-white striped canvas tents is an utterly unique experience full of breathtaking amazements. It is called Le Cirque des Rêves, and it is only open at night.

But behind the scenes, a fierce competition is underway—a duel between two young magicians, Celia and Marco, who have been trained since childhood expressly for this purpose by their mercurial instructors. Unbeknownst to them, this is a game in which only one can be left standing, and the circus is but the stage for a remarkable battle of imagination and will. Despite themselves, however, Celia and Marco tumble headfirst into love—a deep, magical love that makes the lights flicker and the room grow warm whenever they so much as brush hands.

True love or not, the game must play out, and the fates of everyone involved, from the cast of extraordinary circus performers to the patrons, hang in the balance, suspended as precariously as the daring acrobats overhead.

Review:

Well, I didn't hate it, but it was a close thing.

The main problem with this book is that it's f*cking long. It might not be the longest book I've read (hello Priory Of The Orange Tree which I preferred to this one), but it was just long.

The writing is beautiful. No doubt of it. But it requires you to be paying complete attention, which is not possible for me if I'm already bored by the nothing-makes-any-sense-right-now. You need to be reading between the lines, and then between the lines you've already read between, so it's just so complicated. Half of the time I was like, do I even know this character? Where did you come from? Aren't you supposed to be a teenager? Aren't you already born? Where are half the characters? Do I know you, or are you another one of the characters I've already confused with another? What does that mean? What does that mean? Is that character dead? Did I miss a few chapters or something?

It's like if you skip two words in a sentence, and you have to keep scratching your head trying to figure out whether you've heard of that word or not. I'm seriously glad I had the ebook, so I could search for a phrase that was supposed to be important.

After you get past all the confusion, this book is really good. Like some of the best fiction I've ever read. I liked the romance, but not as much as I should have. I mainly just loved Bailey's perspective, because that was making the most sense to me, probably because that was the only perspective where a single character was not present in multiple timelines.

I have this problem, I miss chapter titles. It's an unconscious habit, but I always skip chapter titles, since I'm really focused on the story. In this book, that habit came back to bite me. The problem, you see, is in the fact that years, are only mentioned in chapter titles. So, you miss the chapter title, you're fumbling around for quite a while, trying to figure out why something hasn't already happened.

The reason this got 3 stars instead of two, was that ending. Not the last chapter, that one was okay, but I loved the chapter before last. View Spoiler

Overall a nice book. Just not for me to love. I recommend it to people who have lots of patience, can keep track of multiple timelines, do not get confused easily, can read between the lines, can infer stuff not said, but understood, and who like beautiful writing that paints wonderful pictures in your head.



15. The Priory of The Orange Tree



Synopsis:

A world divided. A queendom without an heir. An ancient enemy awakens.

The House of Berethnet has ruled Inys for a thousand years. Still unwed, Queen Sabran the Ninth must conceive a daughter to protect her realm from destruction – but assassins are getting closer to her door.

Ead Duryan is an outsider at court. Though she has risen to the position of lady-in-waiting, she is loyal to a hidden society of mages. Ead keeps a watchful eye on Sabran, secretly protecting her with forbidden magic.

Across the dark sea, Tané has trained to be a dragonrider since she was a child, but is forced to make a choice that could see her life unravel.

Meanwhile, the divided East and West refuse to parley, and forces of chaos are rising from their sleep.

Review:

I really, really, wanted to give this 4 stars for the length......but my love for it won out!

This book should have been split into two, maybe three books, and I would have liked it even more. And maybe it should have had more than just one interesting perspective in the beginning, but in the end, I came to like all of them to some degree.

This book is amazing. It has two clashing cultures, East & West, similar to what you might think of Oriental and Western culture today, in the sense East had more dragons in the positive light, earthquakes, the dresses, the titles, etc.; I'm not sure if I was making this up in my mind, but this is what the feeling I had from the story. I'm also reasonably sure that Tane and others in the East, namely Susa, Onren, etc, also had Asian features (again, I'm not sure if I'm making this up, but after consulting tumblr, I think I'm right.). The West, on the other hand, was like more of the fantasies I've already read; in the sense there were things like dukes and duchesses, the dresses, the religion even- maybe I was drawing a lot of parallels from real Western culture, but again, I'm reasonably sure that was the case.

The way the two needed to reconcile or all would be lost was.....cliche, but a nicely done aspect of this book. More than the cultures, the way this portrayed religions, was something I really liked. We see people who have believed in something all their lives, finding evidences of their beliefs being not that well founded. And then we see them, not exactly changing their minds, but being open to the possibility that sometimes what we're told might not be the way it was, and it's best to have an open mind. Beliefs that were forged in a different time, might not be applicable, or even feasible for other times. We need to see this, and, if not change our minds, then at least be open to changes in these beliefs.

I know all that sounds really vague, but that was the only way to say what I wanted to without spoilers. Now, spoilers: View Spoiler

The characters: Ead was my favourite, Sabran after that, Tane after that, Loth after that, and Niclays last. I just didn't love Niclays. In the beginning, I wasn't even paying much attention to perspectives other than Ead's. Those were just the most interesting somehow.

Another thing I wanted to say, I found that this story reminded me a lot, of [b:Where the Mountain Meets the Moon|5983694|Where the Mountain Meets the Moon|Grace Lin|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1549333297l/5983694._SX50_.jpg|6157354], by Grace Lin. Not only because of the dragons, but the storytelling. The way so many stories were tied into what you were trying to achieve.

I really loved this, and I recommend it to anyone who likes dragons(not a main plot point, but close), different cultures, different religions, multiple perspectives, new takes, stories within stories, hidden secrets, and has a lot of patience. The patience is the most important.



16. By The Book



Synopsis:

As a devotee of classic novels, Mary Porter-Malcolm knows all about Mistakes That Have Been Made, especially by impressionable young women. So when a girl at her new high school nearly succumbs to the wiles of a notorious cad, Mary starts compiling the Scoundrel Survival Guide, a rundown of literary types to be avoided at all costs.

Unfortunately, Mary is better at dishing out advice than taking it—and the number one bad boy on her list is terribly debonair. As her best intentions go up in flames, Mary discovers life doesn’t follow the same rules as fiction. If she wants a happy ending IRL, she’ll have to write it herself.

Review:

I really, really, wanted to love it. I didn't.

This book had been on my radar for so long, I can't remember. Wait, I'll check.

This book, has been on my shelves, since June 24th. I want some kind of compensation for the expectations that this book dashed to pieces.

On the whole, it's not a bad book. It's just not what I wanted it to be.

Let's start off with the problems in this book. The first one, is that no one, you hear me, no one, draws as many parallels to real life from books as Mary does. NO ONE.

It's a fact of life every single reader knows, people are never like they are in books. And you don't mess with this fact. Yes, you'll find people that are similar, that's what the books are based on, but this?!?!?! This is something no sane reader does. (I feel that was the wrong word, but I can't find any others)

You don't label people from one interaction. You can't know someone like that from not actually knowing them. There is a reason people are called enigmas. They're not just one thing, they can't be.

And so, naming someone a Vronsky, or all the other literary figures which were named in this book, which, by the way, I had not heard of at all till I read this, is not okay. It's just not. It's what I understood in [b:How to Hack a Heartbreak|41887423|How to Hack a Heartbreak|Kristin Rockaway|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1540585330l/41887423._SY75_.jpg|65385899] by Kristin Rockaway, which, by the way, is a really good book. I loved that one much more than this, because the lesson was better done.

The other problem with this was most likely my fault. I, have actually not read any classics. You read that right. I don't think I've read a single classic. I've only read retellings, and that too only of some classics. So, out of the 40,000 references to classic literature and some modern pop culture there were in this, I got 3. Maybe 4, if you count the Notebook, which I have neither read nor watched, and I don't think I'm ever going to. I learnt some thing from The Fault In Our Stars which I'm not going to forget.

Then there was the problem of how she talks, and expects everyone to know what she's talking about. In my experience, being a reader, you almost never expect everyone you meet to get the literary references you're throwing about, unless you know that they have read the thing you're referencing, or that they might have at least heard of it. Also, I know, like I think every reader does, that what you read does have an effect on how you speak and infer stuff, but not like it was in this book. You don't think in Victorian English in a contemporary high school romance book, you just don't. It's weird, and jarring to see that happen, and I just didn't like it.

Then we have the romance, which was the main plot point. I guessed very early on in the book, what the cause for angst would be, as any reader would have done, given that it was just so obvious. Even if you would not outright guess, you already know in the back of your head, that this is what is gonna happen. And it was exactly as boring and underwhelming, as I thought it would be, even more so if possible.

I didn't really like it, and I would recommend it to people who have read classic literature, are looking for a short feel-good novel, and doesn't expect a lot of depth, neither to the story, nor to the characters.



17. Grave Mercy



Synopsis:

Katsa has been able to kill a man with her bare hands since she was eight—she’s a Graceling, one of the rare people in her land born with an extreme skill. As niece of the king, she should be able to live a life of privilege, but Graced as she is with killing, she is forced to work as the king’s thug.

She never expects to fall in love with beautiful Prince Po.

She never expects to learn the truth behind her Grace—or the terrible secret that lies hidden far away . . . a secret that could destroy all seven kingdoms with words alone.

With elegant, evocative prose and a cast of unforgettable characters, debut author Kristin Cashore creates a mesmerizing world, a death-defying adventure, and a heart-racing romance that will consume you, hold you captive, and leave you wanting more.

Review:

I don't know......it's not speaking to me, I might continue this one later. It's mostly my fault, I shouldn't have read too many books between reading this one, but for now it's going on my dnf.



18. Opium and Absinthe



Synopsis:

New York City, 1899. Tillie Pembroke’s sister lies dead, her body drained of blood and with two puncture wounds on her neck. Bram Stoker’s new novel, Dracula, has just been published, and Tillie’s imagination leaps to the impossible: the murderer is a vampire. But it can’t be—can it?

A ravenous reader and researcher, Tillie has something of an addiction to truth, and she won’t rest until she unravels the mystery of her sister’s death. Unfortunately, Tillie’s addicted to more than just truth; to ease the pain from a recent injury, she’s taking more and more laudanum…and some in her immediate circle are happy to keep her well supplied.

Tillie can’t bring herself to believe vampires exist. But with the hysteria surrounding her sister’s death, the continued vampiric slayings, and the opium swirling through her body, it’s becoming increasingly difficult for a girl who relies on facts and figures to know what’s real—or whether she can trust those closest to her.

Review:

I really wanted to rate this 5 stars, but I didn't love the ending as much as I wanted to, so....

This book is awesome!! I really don't like vampires, so this book had only the mystery part going for me.....but I really loved it?

I found this book in my GR feed, and I'd been seeing it a lot....but the cover was what made me shelve it....and the synopsis!

I have found a genre that I really like, and it's Historical Fiction set in Victorian London, or whereabouts. It's like the turning point, somehow, and most of the books I've read set in this time are romances, but still, this time really appeals to me! This book was a bit new, in the sense that everything else I've read set in this time has been set in London. So, the American setting was a pleasant surprise!

The best surprise that I got from this book was probably that I did not expect any romance from it, because no one on GR shelved it as Romance (Top shelves), and there was romance. In exactly the way I like it. It did not overshadow the plot, or the main theme, which was the mystery. And I'm getting a bit sick of books (which are not primarily romance books) where the romance overshadows everything, and makes you hate it. So, thank you Lydia Kang, for not doing that.

Since this is a mystery book, not much can be said about the plot without spoilers. So, spoilers: View Spoiler

The climax was a bit disappointing, but the rest of the book was really good. Like my friend Brinley said, the secondary female characters in this book were really disappointing, since Tillie was the only one who was actually having any kind of feminist thoughts, and a good female friend would have well appreciated. I liked the newsies and Ian, those were maybe the ones I trusted the most, even though I had doubts about the latter at times.

The best part about this book, after the mystery, or maybe at the same level, was the dealing with addiction. I've read a lot of fanfiction, and other fiction, in which addiction is described, but this was the best depiction I've seen of it yet. The despair, the want, the denial; all of it is done, and I felt done very well. The way you know she's getting addicted, the way the little doses aren't enough any more, the way no one's stopping her, the way every one is content to let her be, the way opium is then not enough because of the morphine, and then the heroin; it's scary. It's really scary. It's happening in front of you, and you can't do anything to stop it, and it honestly made me feel a little sick.

I really liked it, and I recommend it to anyone who likes mystery, side-plot romance, vampires, historical fiction, and books that deal with addiction.



19. Serpent & Dove



Synopsis:

Bound as one to love, honor, or burn.

Two years ago, Louise le Blanc fled her coven and took shelter in the city of Cesarine, forsaking all magic and living off whatever she could steal. There, witches like Lou are hunted. They are feared. And they are burned.

Sworn to the Church as a Chasseur, Reid Diggory has lived his life by one principle: thou shalt not suffer a witch to live. His path was never meant to cross with Lou's, but a wicked stunt forces them into an impossible union—holy matrimony.

The war between witches and Church is an ancient one, and Lou's most dangerous enemies bring a fate worse than fire. Unable to ignore her growing feelings, yet powerless to change what she is, a choice must be made.

And love makes fools of us all.

Review:

This was a really good book. But I must confess, I don't see the hype.

The is had one of my favourite tropes: enemies-to-lovers. And that combined with a forced marriage? This was perfect before it started.

This book is one of the very few that I've read that have witches, and it has made me want to read even more!

I really liked Lou and Reid, but I did think the romance was a tiny bit insta-love somehow....I don't know...I loved Coco, and Ansel, and Beau, and I'm looking forward to what happens in the next book.

The best thing about this, I felt, that like The Priory of the Orange Tree, it deals with religion, and how different people might see their religions differently....the important thing is to be open to other beliefs. This is seen in the way View Spoiler

Why this has four stars and not five: I didn't feel as if there was anything very new in this concept. I know there aren't a lot of books like this one out there, and definitely not that have as many of my favourite tropes rolled into one as this, this just wasn't as good as I wanted it to be. Also I had high expectations for the romance, which was amazing, but I would have liked a bit more angst. And pining. View Spoiler

I liked it overall, and I recommend it to anyone who likes witches, religion differences, the forced marriage kinda trope, the enemies-to-lovers trope, snarky characters, badass female characters who go about killing people (I need a word for this), and fantasy that's set in France (this might be my first ever one).



20. Warcross



Synopsis:

For the millions who log in every day, Warcross isn’t just a game—it’s a way of life. The obsession started ten years ago and its fan base now spans the globe, some eager to escape from reality and others hoping to make a profit. Struggling to make ends meet, teenage hacker Emika Chen works as a bounty hunter, tracking down players who bet on the game illegally. But the bounty hunting world is a competitive one, and survival has not been easy. Needing to make some quick cash, Emika takes a risk and hacks into the opening game of the international Warcross Championships—only to accidentally glitch herself into the action and become an overnight sensation.

Convinced she’s going to be arrested, Emika is shocked when instead she gets a call from the game’s creator, the elusive young billionaire Hideo Tanaka, with an irresistible offer. He needs a spy on the inside of this year’s tournament in order to uncover a security problem . . . and he wants Emika for the job. With no time to lose, Emika’s whisked off to Tokyo and thrust into a world of fame and fortune that she’s only dreamed of. But soon her investigation uncovers a sinister plot, with major consequences for the entire Warcross empire.

Review:

Why on earth did I not read this before!?!?!?

I postponed putting this on my tbr for a long, long time, becsaue I saw sci-fi, and video games, and I automatically stayed far away.

Bad, bad, decision that this was, I finally decided to read the synopsis. And you would not believe how fast it was shelved as Want To Read. Because it was not exactly only about video games. It was also shelved as romance. And had so many good reviews. and so I set a date to BR it.

My only regret is that I did not read this earlier.

This book is amazing. I can't remember the last time I read something that sucked me in so thoroughly with its world-building. And the writing. Oh my God, the writing.

It's beautiful. That's the only way I can describe this.

Moving on to the plot, I instantly liked Emika, a badass female character who hacks, and is also a bounty hunter? Is there any way that can go wrong? (Well, actually there are, but none of those happened in this, so, thank God). And Hideo? You will not believe the intensity of my shipping.

I liked that this book did not only focus on the romance in terms of relationships, and had some pretty good friendships as well! I loved Roshan the most (Yes, I'm biased because he's of Indian origin, and he has a non-generic Indian name (you would not believe the hate I have towards 'Rahul'. And other names I can't remember)). I also loved Hammie and Asher, and just so you know *smug* I actually guessed Ren a chapter before Emika did. See? I'm not that stupid.

That ending though *shakes head* Oh my God that ending?!?!?!

View Spoiler

I can't wait to read the next one, and I'll be checking out all other books by Marie Lu as well.

I loved it and I recommend it to anyone who likes fantasy, science fiction, romance, awesome side characters, character development( looking at you Brinley)(I don't hate you as much anymore ;) ), badass female characters with awesome coding skills, and books with beautiful world building.



21. The Library of Lost Things



Synopsis:

From the moment she first learned to read, literary genius Darcy Wells has spent most of her time living in the worlds of her books. There, she can avoid the crushing reality of her mother’s hoarding and pretend her life is simply ordinary. But when a new property manager becomes more active in the upkeep of their apartment complex, the only home Darcy has ever known outside of her books suddenly hangs in the balance.

While Darcy is struggling to survive beneath the weight of her mother’s compulsive shopping, Asher Fleet, a former teen pilot with an unexpectedly shattered future, walks into the bookstore where she works…and straight into her heart. For the first time in her life, Darcy can’t seem to find the right words. Fairy tales are one thing, but real love makes her want to hide inside her carefully constructed ink-and-paper bomb shelter.

Still, after spending her whole life keeping people out, something about Asher makes Darcy want to open up. But securing her own happily-ever-after will mean she’ll need to stop hiding and start living her own truth—even if it’s messy.

Review:

I was going to give this 4 stars, but considering what I felt after By The Book, this was definitely 5 stars.

The best thing about this was the relationships. No, not the romance, though that was pretty good too, but the friendship with Marisol and her mother was just amazing! There actually wasn't an angsty romance part of this, it was more an angsty mother-daughter-relationship part, and an angsty best-friend relationship part, and there was a tiny angsty romance part.

That's not to say I didn't love the romance as well! I really liked Asher, and I really liked Darcy (Yes, I know, more on that later) with him.

You get an insight into post-concussive disorder in this book, and though I have read a bit about it, and seen it in Elementary(CBC), this gave me even more knowledge about it.

Another thing I loved, was that though this book too had literary references like By The Book, most of them were from Pride and Prejudice, which, having read a lot of retellings of, I mostly got. And there were not that many references. And she could talk properly.

The book really revolves around a Peter Pan book, which I have also not read, but having seen enough Tinker Bell and Neverland things on Disney, I didn't have that much of a problem with that as well.

A thing I didn't like: when you have two childhood best friends, who are like the bestest of friends, they don't talk like this:
Marisol looked me over. “Now for your outfit.”
I tugged my black tee and tan shorts. “I’m already wearing an outfit.”
“No,” Marisol said with a slow head shake. “There’s a big difference between wearing clothes and wearing an outfit.” She pointed at my closet. “Get that denim shirt I made you buy and layer it on top, opened, sleeves rolled. Your tee has a little rip.”
I glanced down. Grimaced.
“Then the necklace with the dangling blue stone that’s hanging in your jewelry caddy, by your black jacket. And swap the flip-flops for sandals. The black ones with silver buckles.”
“How in the—”
“After all this time, you’re actually questioning it?”

No, she should actually not be questioning it. It is quite obvious that these two are comfortable with each other, and that Marisol loves clothes, so I don't need this bit forced into my face.

Same with the scene before this, where they were taking about the boyfriend, this kind of familiarity? I know they have a bond. You don't need to regale me with anecdotes real people probably don't in real life. Those kind of things need to be inferred, or it feels artificial somehow.

I know it isn't that much of a problem, which is why I didn't change my rating because of it. Also, this was only in the beginning, and it doesn't happen a lot like that later, so all was forgiven.

One other thing that irked me; her name was Darcy. I thank God that this didn't turn out to be a retelling (I think), but the name was kinda putting me off in the beginning.

I really liked it, and I recommend it to anyone who likes romance, focus on relationships other than romance, slight insight in PCD, insights into hoarding, and books in books.



22. An Enchantment Of Ravens



Synopsis:

Every enchantment has a price.

With a flick of her paintbrush, Isobel creates stunning portraits for a dangerous set of clients: the fair folk. These immortal creatures cannot bake bread or put a pen to paper without crumbling to dust. They crave human Craft with a terrible thirst, and they trade valuable enchantments for Isobel’s paintings. But when she receives her first royal patron—Rook, the autumn prince—Isobel makes a deadly mistake. She paints mortal sorrow in his eyes, a weakness that could cost him his throne, and even his life.

Furious, Rook spirits Isobel away to his kingdom to stand trial for her crime. But something is seriously amiss in his world, and they are attacked from every side. With Isobel and Rook depending upon each other for survival, their alliance blossoms into trust, perhaps even love . . . a forbidden emotion that would violate the fair folks’ ruthless laws, rendering both their lives forfeit. What force could Isobel's paintings conjure that is powerful enough to defy the ancient malice of the fairy courts?

Isobel and Rook journey along a knife-edge in a lush world where beauty masks corruption and the cost of survival might be more frightening than death itself.

Review:

This book was amazing.

And I'm reading everything that Margaret Rogerson ever ends up writing. Everything. I loved Sorcery of Thorns, and I loved this.

While I did think this was a lot similar to ACOTAR in terms of concept and plot, I felt that this book did the ACOTAR part, of the trilogy better. The reason I picked up ACOTAR was that I wanted to read something that was a journey book. SJ Maas was an added bonus, but mainly for the journey.

And ACOTAR didn't have the f*cking journey. I think I forgot to mention it my review of that.....but other stuff happened in ACOTAR, which made me give it 5 stars anyway!

I also felt that this had more Cruel Prince vibes than it had ACOTAR, mainly because of the rules? And the way the fair folk do stuff somehow? The enchantments, and favours, and food (it still creeped me out with the maggots and rotting food and stuff), all of it. Another thing that kinda creeped me out was, View Spoiler

Another ACOTAR similarity: the painting, the art, etc., though Isobel is more portraits, and Feyre more anything-and-everything. And Isobel can read and write.

I loved the romance, like I did with SoT, but I did think Rook was pretty childish. Most of the time. But I found it more endearing than irritating, so that's good.

I found Gadfly to be the most surprising character, I truly did not expect him to be the puppeteer. I did like Lark, but not as much after the hare fiasco. I just loved March and May, they were so cute!! And Emma, I liked her a lot. Aster was amazing. Just amazing. That scene with the painting? It almost moved me to tears. There was definitely some wetness involved. In my eyes.

This book is beautiful. And I recommend it to anyone who likes romance, fantasy, fae, fair folk, and the kind; seasons, and who read Sorcery Of Thorns and liked it. There's a pretty good chance you'll like this too.



23. The Christmas Project



Synopsis:

Professional organiser Kate Stone has never – NEVER – been tempted to hit a client over the head with a snow shovel, but Michael O'Farrell is the most obnoxious – and heart-stoppingly gorgeous – man she has ever met. If he weren't her best friend’s brother, she would not have waited on his doorstep in the freezing cold for five minutes, let alone an hour.

Kate knows, however, that her job isn’t just about tidying up, sometimes she needs to be part therapist too, and Michael clearly needs her help to declutter his heart as well as his home.

But with the festive season just around the corner there isn’t much time to get Michael’s house ready for the O’Farrell family celebrations, but everyone knows that at Christmas anything can happen…

Review:

I just loved it!

I did not know that I had a Maxine Morrey book on my shelves that I hadn't read. And so, when I was sick of The Vine Witch, and stopped in between to peruse my shelves to find something, anything better than the romance in that, I started this.

And I loved it!

This was just perfect, what with the cold season, a kinda haters-to-enemies trope, seriously good friendships, a really to-die-for brother-sister relationship, angst done perfectly; I can't praise this enough.

I also liked the hoarding, and the organising aspect of this. I really liked [b:The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing|22318578|The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing|Marie Kondō|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1418767178l/22318578._SX50_.jpg|41711738] by Marie Kondo, and though this did the decluttering in a slightly different manner, I was inspired all the same.

This was an awesome feel-good book, and I will definitely be adding more of Maxine Moreey's books to my tbr.

I loved it, and I recommend it to anyone who likes Christmas romances, feel-good novels, slow burn View Spoiler , well-done angst, awesome relationships other than the romance, and has read any other books by Maxine Morrey.



24. The Vine Witch



Synopsis:

A young witch emerges from a curse to find her world upended in this gripping fantasy of betrayal, vengeance, and self-discovery set in turn-of-the-century France.

For centuries, the vineyards at Château Renard have depended on the talent of their vine witches, whose spells help create the world-renowned wine of the Chanceaux Valley. Then the skill of divining harvests fell into ruin when sorcière Elena Boureanu was blindsided by a curse. Now, after breaking the spell that confined her to the shallows of a marshland and weakened her magic, Elena is struggling to return to her former life. And the vineyard she was destined to inherit is now in the possession of a handsome stranger.

Vigneron Jean-Paul Martel naively favors science over superstition, and he certainly doesn’t endorse the locals’ belief in witches. But Elena knows a hex when she sees one, and the vineyard is covered in them. To stay on and help the vines recover, she’ll have to hide her true identity, along with her plans for revenge against whoever stole seven winters of her life. And she won’t rest until she can defy the evil powers that are still a threat to herself, Jean-Paul, and the ancient vine-witch legacy in the rolling hills of the Chanceaux Valley.

Review:

This book was a severe disappointment.

Let me start out by saying there were a lot of things I liked. But some things that I seriously don't like were also there.

So, I love the cover. It's so beautiful!?!? And I was really interested by the synopsis. Witches? Check ( this is a new interest, so yeah I had low expectations, but it delivered) Wine witches? Even better. A witch plotting revenge? Is there any way this could go wrong? And unfortunately, there was.

I read a lot of reviews for this, and most of them mentioned insta-love. Stupid person that I am, I thought it wouldn't be that bad.

Heads up: It was that bad. And worse, if possible.

The problem was that around 5-7 chapters in, there's like a 2 month time skip. And if there's one thing I hate about a time skip, it's a time skip where the characters have magically developed feelings.

And I don't like that! I want some realisation of feelings, some pining; not sleeping together at the first chance.(They were also both injured at the time, so I was really against it)

What I did like: the magic and the science. In this book, we are introduced to a slightly different concept than most, that magic is a science. (It might not be new, but this is the first for me) We see her making drawing scientific conclusions, with chemistry being discussed, and a bit of physics and biology as well. What chemicals would help a soil, what wouldn't, what would help her potions, how the magic works, it was all science. And I liked her explanation to Jean-Paul, who is essentially a non-believer. That reminds me, I liked the non-believer trying and understanding (somewhat) part of this a lot.

I did like the bit with Yvette, but I felt all that should have been a different book? It seemed to deviate a lot from the main storyline I was sold.

For the ending and the answers: View Spoiler

I'm not sure if I want to read the next book, I was hoping it would get better in this one, but, seeing what happened, I don't have particularly high hopes that it will in the next one.

I liked it overall, and I would recommend it to people who like stories with witches, don't mind insta-love, wine-growing, and a new and interesting explanation for magic.



25. Blood Heir



Synopsis:

In the Cyrilian Empire, Affinites are reviled. Their varied gifts to control the world around them are deemed unnatural--even dangerous. And Anastacya Mikhailov, the crown princess, is one of the most terrifying Affinites.

Ana's ability to control blood has long been kept secret, but when her father, the emperor, is murdered, she is the only suspect. Now, to save her own life, Ana must find her father's killer. But the Cyrilia beyond the palace walls is one where corruption rules and a greater conspiracy is at work--one that threatens the very balance of Ana's world.

There is only one person corrupt enough to help Ana get to the conspiracy's core: Ramson Quicktongue. Ramson is a cunning crime lord with sinister plans--though he might have met his match in Ana. Because in this story, the princess might be the most dangerous player of all.

Review:

I JUST LOVED IT!!!

I read a bit about how this book was delayed because of having 'anti-black sentiments', and then published without changes....and I just,....I didn't see anything that was racist? This seemed to be a perfectly fine book?

It was supposed to about a black character who died, but seriously? She was such a big part of the story (in one perspective), that I felt she was given a lot of spotlight. She was the Rue of this book.

This book also gives us an insight into human trafficking, and how Ana's change in status reveals two very different views of 'legal employment'; one where it seems that there is nothing wrong- you're employing people and paying them; the other, where you see the reality of the situation, which is that the employment is not actually as dignified and salaried as it seems.

This book had an awesome plot! I didn't have Anastasia as one of movies I really watched and rewatched in my childhood since I think it wasn't a Disney movie then? But I saw it a couple of years back, and I really loved it! And I loved this retelling of it!

I have always loved the concept of having-powers-but-having-to-give-up-something-to-use-them (usually energy), and this book didn't disappoint! For Ana to use her powers, she has to focus a lot, and also gets exhausted quickly. I loved the give-and-take of it.

I loved that we had more than one perspective; we got to see the way Ramson was double-crossing her(kinda), but then came to his senses. The romance was something I felt was there, but I'm glad nothing happened in this book. The slow burn was the best!

I hated that we lost some characters I was liking View Spoiler Now that I think about it, there weren't that many deaths at all. *scratches head in confusion* I could swear that we lost other characters too. Or maybe the ones we lost were so influential, that it felt like losing more than one *bewildered*

I loved Linn, and I'm so happy we got her perspective too! I hope we'll see a lot more of her in the next book, and also of the guy she was fighting.

This book was amazing, and I recommend it to anyone who likes fantasy, insights into slavery and human trafficking, characters with powers that take as well as give, slow-burn romance where nothing definite happens, and the Anastasia movie and its retellings. I can't wait for the next one!



26. Red Queen



Synopsis:

This is a world divided by blood—red or silver. The Reds are commoners, ruled by a Silver elite in possession of god-like superpowers. And to Mare Barrow, a seventeen-year-old Red girl from the poverty-stricken Stilts, it seems like nothing will ever change. That is until she finds herself working in the Silver Palace. Here, surrounded by the people she hates the most, Mare discovers that, despite her red blood, she possesses a deadly power of her own. One that threatens to destroy the balance of power. Fearful of Mare's potential, the Silvers hide her in plain view, declaring her a long-lost Silver princess, now engaged to a Silver prince. Despite knowing that one misstep would mean her death, Mare works silently to help the Red Guard, a militant resistance group, and bring down the Silver regime. But this is a world of betrayal and lies, and Mare has entered a dangerous dance—Reds against Silvers, prince against prince, and Mare against her own heart.

Review:

I am having a very hard time rating this....it's more 3.5 than 4 right now.

Where do I even start?

*sighs*

The main problem in this book, for me, was that there was a love triangle. Or maybe it was a square, I'm not sure. The thing is, as I've explored in my review of [b:The Kinder Poison|42893340|The Kinder Poison (The Kinder Poison, #1)|Natalie Mae|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1587319334l/42893340._SY75_.jpg|66677747], I don't like love triangles. Especially if it's between brothers. I'm not going to dwell too much on that because otherwise the rating will go down further, and we don't want that, do we?

*stage whisper* Do we? Maybe we do, but not right now.

The other part of this I didn't like much was that this was so similar to a lot of other books I've already read. I'm looking at [b:Ash Princess|32505753|Ash Princess (Ash Princess Trilogy, #1)|Laura Sebastian|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1503181967l/32505753._SY75_.jpg|53100842], [b:The Hunger Games|2767052|The Hunger Games (The Hunger Games, #1)|Suzanne Collins|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1586722975l/2767052._SY75_.jpg|2792775], [b:The Selection|10507293|The Selection (The Selection, #1)|Kiera Cass|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1322103400l/10507293._SY75_.jpg|15413183], and others I can't remember right now. Or maybe haven't read, because this was a serious rip-off of a lot of books.....or maybe it just tried to include too many tropes.

Yet another part of this I didn't understand (I'm seriously starting to doubt my rating now) View Spoiler

The ending, well the ending was.....good. I think. I liked some aspects, and didn't others. View Spoiler So, I'll probably be happiest if the next book does not include romance. Which, is a bit of a long shot.

I will most likely continue with this series, and I'm hoping it gets better. I would recommend this to anyone who likes the aforementioned books and would not mind something similar to them, likes love polygons, likes a lot of typical YA tropes, and does not mind a bit of non sense-making plot.



27. Roomies



Synopsis:

Marriages of convenience are so...inconvenient.

For months Holland Bakker has invented excuses to descend into the subway station near her apartment, drawn to the captivating music performed by her street musician crush. Lacking the nerve to actually talk to the gorgeous stranger, fate steps in one night in the form of a drunken attacker. Calvin Mcloughlin rescues her, but quickly disappears when the police start asking questions.

Using the only resource she has to pay the brilliant musician back, Holland gets Calvin an audition with her uncle, Broadway’s hottest musical director. When the tryout goes better than even Holland could have imagined, Calvin is set for a great entry into Broadway—until his reason for disappearing earlier becomes clear: he’s in the country illegally, his student visa having expired years ago.

Seeing that her uncle needs Calvin as much as Calvin needs him, a wild idea takes hold of her. Impulsively, she marries the Irishman, her infatuation a secret only to him. As their relationship evolves and Calvin becomes the darling of Broadway—in the middle of the theatrics and the acting-not-acting—will Holland and Calvin to realize that they both stopped pretending a long time ago?

Review:

Another Christina Lauren book I loved!!

This one provided an insight into immigration in the US, which was well appreciated. Also, is it really that easy to get citizenship? I felt it might be a tiny bit exaggerated. View Spoiler

The romance was something I just loved. We have a sorta slow burn lots of pining and hurt feelings and misunderstandings and will they or won't they (because I was having serious doubts as to whether they would actually end up together by the end or just remain acquaintances) and awesome angst.

I loved the way Holland found her calling....I was thinking she would turn out to be a journalist who writes about music and I was mostly right! Calvin was amazing, but the book really made me seriously doubt him in some instances. Lulu was....Lulu....and I'm glad it ended View Spoiler Brian was an asshole, and that's all I have to say about him. The Uncles-niece relationship was probably one of the best relationships in this book! I loved their protectiveness, and her relationship with them was just something I really loved.

I really loved it, and I will continue to pick up more by Christina Lauren! I would recommend it to anyone who likes romance, fake/pretend relationship, kinda-forced marriage (completely consensual, by the way)



28. Burn Our Bodies Down



Synopsis:

Ever since Margot was born, it’s been just her and her mother. No answers to Margot’s questions about what came before. No history to hold on to. No relative to speak of. Just the two of them, stuck in their run-down apartment, struggling to get along.

But that’s not enough for Margot. She wants family. She wants a past. And she just found the key she needs to get it: A photograph, pointing her to a town called Phalene. Pointing her home. Only, when Margot gets there, it’s not what she bargained for.

Margot’s mother left for a reason. But was it to hide her past? Or was it to protect Margot from what’s still there?

The only thing Margot knows for sure is there’s poison in their family tree, and their roots are dug so deeply into Phalene that now that she’s there, she might never escape.

Review:

Well, this was a rollercoaster. Not exactly in the best way.

I usually don't read horror, it's not my favourite genre, but I try to pick something up from time to time. Why I don't usually read it: it's creepy and makes me jump and yes, I don't hate it, but I like to read it when I'm in a calm environment. This book is one of the few I have read, and I wouldn't say I didn't like it.

This book kept me on my toes for most of it; yes, it was a bit boring in the beginning, but soon it got pretty interesting. 'Thrilling' is probably the best way to describe it. I guessed some of the plot twists, but most remained out of my reach.

The one thing I didn't love, and which is probably the reason I didn't feel like giving this 5 stars, is the science of the explanation. I can't say anything without spoilers, so spoilers: View Spoiler

I also hated that View Spoiler I am glad that this book didn't leave any plotlines that were introduced, unexplored. I think everything was tied up nicely.

On the whole a very entertaining thriller, and I would recommend it to anyone who likes creepy towns, secrets, thrillers, strained relationships between mothers and daughters, and slightly implausible plotlines in an otherwise non-fantasy story.



29. No More Bad Dates



Synopsis:

Three friends form the No More Bad Dates Pact: stop dating the wrong guys and start dating the right ones - weirdos and jerks need not apply.

Twenty-five-year-old Sophie McCarthy's career is virtually nonexistent, her family expects her to "do something important" with her life, and she's totally sick of dating the wrong guys: the self-absorbed, the arrogant, the borderline criminally insane.

After she's unceremoniously dumped during the vows at her boss's wedding, she and her two equally disappointed-in-love best friends agree to help each other find decent guys to date. Together, they form the No More Bad Dates Pact: stop dating the wrong guys and start dating the right ones--weirdos and jerks need not apply.

When Sophie's roommate Jason Christie--a.k.a. doctor-in-training and serial nurse-dater--joins the pact, he vows to weed out the bad ones for her. But with his rejection of every guy Sophie meets, she begins to wonder if he's got an ulterior motive. And anyway, why does she always have so much more fun with Jason than with the guys she's actually trying to date?

While desperately seeking her "happy for now," could Sophie stumble into her "happily ever after?"

Review:

I liked it a lot!

This is not one of my favourites, when it comes to rom-coms, but it was pretty close. It was a pretty good feel-good book, that improved my mood heavily when I was reading [b:Blood & Honey|40550366|Blood & Honey (Serpent & Dove, #2)|Shelby Mahurin|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1580922495l/40550366._SY75_.jpg|62967372]. That book is depressing. Honestly. *shakes head*

Anyway, that book will be dealt with in it's own review, so let's get back to the book in question.

So, I loved the waitressing, barista-ing (I have no idea what the actual word for that will be), managing part of this. It shows you the struggles of keeping open a small business that has a lot of competition. It's not easy, and sometimes you have to make sacrifices. I'm glad everything worked out in the end though!

The roommate trope is one of my favourites (you might have guessed, I love BBC Sherlock fanfiction). The best book I've read in this trope is [b:The Flatshare|36478784|The Flatshare|Beth O'Leary|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1552471375l/36478784._SY75_.jpg|58189559] (I just loved that book). And this book didn't disappoint a lot on that front.

The friends-to-lovers transition doesn't happen till the very end, so it requires quite a bit of patience. Especially since Sophie is horrible at realising feelings. That part dragged on for a lot, and I was running out of patience with her.

The friends were awesome, but I don't think I'm interested enough to continue with their books. Or the prequels.

The dating pact was really good, and the constant bad dates reminded me a lot of [b:Would Like to Meet|44284639|Would Like to Meet|Rachel Winters|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1551814458l/44284639._SY75_.jpg|68800197], though that had had a lot more dates. There were like only 3? or maybe 4, in this book.

I liked it, and I recommend it to anyone who likes romance, pining, seemingly unrequited feelings, protagonists who don't know what feelings they're feeling, waitressing & barista-ing & managing, slight roommate trope, and stories with bad dates.



30. Blood & Honey



Synopsis:

After narrowly escaping death at the hands of the Dames Blanches, Lou, Reid, Coco, and Ansel are on the run from coven, kingdom, and church—fugitives with nowhere to hide.

To elude the scores of witches and throngs of chasseurs at their heels, Lou and Reid need allies. Strong ones. But protection comes at a price, and the group is forced to embark on separate quests to build their forces. As Lou and Reid try to close the widening rift between them, the dastardly Morgane baits them in a lethal game of cat and mouse that threatens to destroy something worth more than any coven.

Review:

I really, really wanted to like this.

I didn't exactly love [b:Serpent & Dove|40024139|Serpent & Dove (Serpent & Dove, #1)|Shelby Mahurin|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1549476128l/40024139._SY75_.jpg|61991324], but I definitely liked it more than this. The characters were just so.....happy? behaving in character? much more likable?

I don't know what exactly went wrong, but the depression and trauma and similar issues that the characters had to work through just don't belong in a second book. This kind of stuff is either explored way into a series, or it is ever-present. In either case, it is not supposed to be so heavy. You're not supposed to start feeling like I did, when this was the sequel to a very enjoyable and light-hearted book compared to this.

I actually needed to take a break some 20 percent into this to read a rom-com to improve my mood. And I really didn't like that.

I would not have minded the angst as much if a) I had signed up for something heavy on the angst, and b) the first book would have also had a bit of this angst. Or maybe, the angst could have been distributed between the two.

Aside from that, it was okay. I think. I'm not sure, because it was full of angst.

I was a bit disappointed since we didn't actually see a lot of the magic of the Blood Witches, which is what I really wanted from this. I was also disappointed that since there was so much angst, when things were finally seeming to look up, there was an unrequired sex-scene because they were finally on good enough terms to sleep together. It just felt forced, and seemed that since the first book had a lot of them, and the plot of this one didn't allow that many, some were just inserted anywhere the mood was slightly good.

Also, about the deaths View Spoiler

On the whole I was just really disappointed, and I'm hoping the next doesn't disappoint as much. I'd recommend it to anyone who read the first book, but to take this recommendation with a grain of salt as this might disappoint you too.



Remarks:

An amazing month, full of awesome books I loved - though there were a few disappointments. Still I read quite a lot, but then I fell sick for a while at the end of this month, and there were exams in November, so next month is only like 10 books.

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Hi! I'm Trisha, and this is my blog for saving my reviews, and maybe other things with the start of the new year! I hope you like it!

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