If someone asks me what my favourite types of books are, I will 100% always say it's the books that make me feel something. I love a good character driven story and my favourite books are life affirming stories about people and life and relationships. I love books that make me think about life and how beautiful and ugly it can be and how there are many flaws and imperfections, yet life is unimaginably precious and that we must live life, rather than just exist in it.
I've put together a list of seven books that I think fit this scenario perfectly. I got something from each of these books when reading them, some are funnier than others and some will break your heart - but that's just life, isn't it?
A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman
This is a book I read well over a year ago now but it's a book that I still think about often. We follow Ove, who is a cranky old man who likes to point fingers at people he doesn't like and is a bit of an all-round miserable grump. After his newly-moved-in neighbours hits his mailbox with their car, an unlikely friendship starts to form and we see the many, many layers of Ove and how he became the grumpy and bitter old man we are first introduced to.
I feel like everyone knows an Ove. A grumpy, witty, to-the-point person who comes across a bit blunt and a bit rude. But you might not really know them, and that's what this book explores, but it does so in such a beautiful and entertaining way that you never get bored of reading about the grumpy old man. I found that after I had finished a chapter I needed to read another one straight away because I couldn't get enough of Ove's story and everything that led him to where he is and how he is today. This is truely a story of friendship, love, loss, grief and the hardships of life. Ove and his story is one that will stay with me for a very long time and it's a story I recommend to everyone.
Love After Love by Ingrid Persaud
This is one my most recent reads but one that fits into this list of life-affirming list of books perfectly. In this story, we follow three people; Betty, her son Solo, and Betty's colleague and friend, Chetan. After Betty's husband dies, she invites Chetan to move in with her and Solo and the three form a tight knit friendship, with Solo and Chetan becoming more like father and son, but after one drunken night, Solo overhears a conversion between Betty and Chetan that will change their lives forever and which results in Solo fleeing Trinidad for New York and the close family unit that they all came to rely upon, is suddenly shattered and broken.
It's a bold and vivid story about acceptance and family and friendships and it's a story so elegantly told with such power and such anguish that it's a story you feel rather than read. Persaud did an incredible job at bringing each character to life and I loved reading about the Trinidad culture.
Tuesdays With Morrie by Mitch Albom
This is an oldie but a goodie and one that I feel like is a true OG in the world of books about life. We follow Mitch, who reconnects with his old college professor, Morrie, after over 20 years of no contact. But Morrie is now dying of motor neurone disease and Mitch decides to visit Morrie every Tuesday and their rekindled relationship turns into one final 'class': lessons in how to live.
Tuesdays With Morrie by Mitch Albom
This is an oldie but a goodie and one that I feel like is a true OG in the world of books about life. We follow Mitch, who reconnects with his old college professor, Morrie, after over 20 years of no contact. But Morrie is now dying of motor neurone disease and Mitch decides to visit Morrie every Tuesday and their rekindled relationship turns into one final 'class': lessons in how to live.
This is a work of non-fiction and so I find the message hits home harder than any work of fiction as it actually happened. Yes, it a bit cliche in places, but if you want a story that will pull on your heartstrings, then this is definitely the one to turn to.
Half A World Away by Mike Gayle
Half A World Away by Mike Gayle
Again, this is a book I read over a year ago but it's one that immediately came to mind when compiling this list. We follow Kerry, who is single mum living on a tough south London estate. She provides for her son by cleaning houses she could never hope to afford. Taken into care as a child, Kerry cannot forget her past. Noah is a successful barrister with a beautiful wife, daughter and home in fashionable Primrose Hill. He was adopted as a child and Noah always looks forward, never back. When Kerry reaches out to the sibling she lost on the day they were torn apart as children, she sets in motion a chain of events that will have life-changing consequences for them both.
This story deals with so many important topics; family, friendships, race, terminal illnesses, social class differences & childcare system pitfalls. But it handles them all in such a sensitive manner despite being tough subjects to cover and it does so without putting the reader on a downer, which is incredibly hard to do, but Gayle manages to pull it off perfectly.
Away With The Penguins by Hazel Prior
Don't be fooled by the Christmassy looking cover and title of this one, as I personally feel like it's a book that can be read at any time of year. We follow eighty-five-year-old Veronica, who is estranged from her family and wants to find a worthwhile cause to leave her fortune to. When she sees a documentary about penguins being studied in Antarctica, she tells the scientists she’s coming to visit—and won’t take no for an answer. Shortly after arriving, she convinces the reluctant team to rescue an orphaned baby penguin. He becomes part of life at the base, and Veronica's closed heart starts to open. Her grandson, Patrick, comes to Antarctica to make one last attempt to get to know his grandmother. Together, Veronica, Patrick, and even the scientists learn what family, love, and connection are all about.
Away With The Penguins by Hazel Prior
Don't be fooled by the Christmassy looking cover and title of this one, as I personally feel like it's a book that can be read at any time of year. We follow eighty-five-year-old Veronica, who is estranged from her family and wants to find a worthwhile cause to leave her fortune to. When she sees a documentary about penguins being studied in Antarctica, she tells the scientists she’s coming to visit—and won’t take no for an answer. Shortly after arriving, she convinces the reluctant team to rescue an orphaned baby penguin. He becomes part of life at the base, and Veronica's closed heart starts to open. Her grandson, Patrick, comes to Antarctica to make one last attempt to get to know his grandmother. Together, Veronica, Patrick, and even the scientists learn what family, love, and connection are all about.
I loved this one; it was funny in parts and the whole old-grumpy-person that Veronica is portrayed as reminds me of Ove in many ways.
A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara
I don't think I could write a post about life-affirming books and NOT mention this one. Take note though, this is one that comes with a LOT of trigger warnings and it's a very heavy book that deals with a lot of traumatic events. We follow four classmate who move to New York to make their way in life; there's JB, Malcolm, Willem & finally Jude, who serves as their centre of gravity. Over the decades, their relationships deepen and darken, tinged by addiction, success, and pride. Yet their greatest challenge, each comes to realize, is Jude himself, who by midlife, is a terrifyingly talented litigator yet an increasingly broken man, his mind and body scarred by an unspeakable childhood, and haunted by what he fears is a degree of trauma that he’ll not only be unable to overcome—but that will define his life forever.
A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara
I don't think I could write a post about life-affirming books and NOT mention this one. Take note though, this is one that comes with a LOT of trigger warnings and it's a very heavy book that deals with a lot of traumatic events. We follow four classmate who move to New York to make their way in life; there's JB, Malcolm, Willem & finally Jude, who serves as their centre of gravity. Over the decades, their relationships deepen and darken, tinged by addiction, success, and pride. Yet their greatest challenge, each comes to realize, is Jude himself, who by midlife, is a terrifyingly talented litigator yet an increasingly broken man, his mind and body scarred by an unspeakable childhood, and haunted by what he fears is a degree of trauma that he’ll not only be unable to overcome—but that will define his life forever.
It's a story that shows you that no matter what life throws your way and no matter how damaged you become, there will always be people who will try to lift you up, who give you their all and no matter how beaten down you are, there are people that will always try to be a flicker of light in a dark world. It was more beautiful and heartbreaking than I could have ever imagined and these characters will stay with me for a very, very, very long time.
Me Before You by Jojo Moyes
I read this book almost 2 years ago but it's one that I think fits perfectly into this category. Lou is an ordinary girl living an exceedingly ordinary life - steady boyfriend, close family, and has barely been farther afield than her tiny village. She takes a badly needed job working for Will Traynor, who is wheelchair bound after an accident. Will has always lived a huge life - big deals, extreme sports and worldwide travel, but now he’s pretty sure he cannot live the way he is. Will is acerbic, moody and bossy - but Lou refuses to treat him with kid gloves, and soon his happiness means more to her than she expected. When she learns that Will has shocking plans of his own, she sets out to show him that life is still worth living.
Me Before You by Jojo Moyes
I read this book almost 2 years ago but it's one that I think fits perfectly into this category. Lou is an ordinary girl living an exceedingly ordinary life - steady boyfriend, close family, and has barely been farther afield than her tiny village. She takes a badly needed job working for Will Traynor, who is wheelchair bound after an accident. Will has always lived a huge life - big deals, extreme sports and worldwide travel, but now he’s pretty sure he cannot live the way he is. Will is acerbic, moody and bossy - but Lou refuses to treat him with kid gloves, and soon his happiness means more to her than she expected. When she learns that Will has shocking plans of his own, she sets out to show him that life is still worth living.
I absolutely loved this book and it's filled with so many emotions; it's funny, it's sad and it's about trying to prove that life is worth living even in the most desperate times.
Those are my top picks for books that give you all the feels. I love books that are about life and the rollercoaster that comes with simply being alive.
Those are my top picks for books that give you all the feels. I love books that are about life and the rollercoaster that comes with simply being alive.
Title: The Road Trip
Author: Beth O'LearyPages: 411
Publication date: April 29th 2021
Publisher: Quercus
Genre: fiction, contemporary, romance
Trigger warnings: stalking, drug abuse, alcohol abuse, sexual assault, attempted rape
About the book
Addie and her sister are about to embark on an epic road trip to a friend's wedding in the north of Scotland. The playlist is all planned and the snacks are packed.
But, not long after setting off, a car slams into the back of theirs. The driver is none other than Addie's ex, Dylan, who she's avoided since their traumatic break-up two years earlier.
Dylan and his best mate are heading to the wedding too, and they've totalled their car, so Addie has no choice but to offer them a ride. The car is soon jam-packed full of luggage and secrets, and with three hundred miles ahead of them, Dylan and Addie can't avoid confronting the very messy history of their relationship...
Will they make it to the wedding on time? And, more importantly... is this really the end of the road for Addie and Dylan?
Review
This was a highly anticipated release from Beth O'Leary and I eagerly awaited publication day after absolutely loving The Switch and The Flatshare, and it makes my heart so happy to say that O'Leary definitely did not disappoint with The Road Trip.
I love the fact that O'Leary made this book a bit darker than her previous two, and whilst, yes, The Flatshare and The Switch did also touch upon some important subjects, The Road Trip delved even father into tackling difficult topics, but once again, O'Leary did an amazing job at doing so and handled those subjects with honesty and integrity and it was definitely the most vulnerable book out of the three she has written. She touched upon very toxic and broken relationships and knowing when to walk away from them, be it friendship, family or romantic and reading about these character's struggles really hit a chord with me.
I'm not usually a fan of a 'then' and 'now' narrative split, but in this case it worked quite well. The lead up to finding out exactly why Dylan and Addie split up was written really well, although, personally, I did prefer the 'now' chapters a lot more than the 'then' chapters, but that's all just personal preference. I just much preferred the awkwardness of the present storyline chapters, not to mention Deb, Addies older sister, who I simply found hilarious and was definitely my favourite character in the whole of the book. In fact, the characters are what sold this book; they are the types of characters who are flawed and imperfect, but ones you equally root for which, for me, makes the story and the characters that bit more believable, especially in the romance genre.
I've been going backwards and forwards as to what to rate this book, but ultimately I've settled on 4 stars. For me, there were certain aspects of the book that felt a bit unfinished, such as the whole Rodney storyline, which was a bit off from the very start and didn't bring much to the overall story. I also felt that the redemption towards the end of the book was a bit lacklustre and I wanted more from it... if you've read it, you'll perhaps know what I'm talking about, but ultimately, there were too many loose ends left unresolved.
Overall though, O'Leary did a fantastic job with this second-chance romance novel and she wrote it full of wit, humour, sadness and angst. I already cannot wait to read her next book.
Verdict: ★★★★
Title: Love After Love
Author: Ingrid Persaud
Pages: 416
Publication date: August 4th 2020
Publisher: Faber & Faber
Genre: fiction, contemporary, cultural
Trigger warnings: homophobia, murder, self harm
About the book
After Betty Ramdin's husband dies, she invites a colleague, Mr. Chetan, to move in with her and her son, Solo. Over time, the three become a family, loving each other deeply and depending upon one another. Then, one fateful night, Solo overhears Betty confiding in Mr. Chetan and learns a secret that plunges him into torment.
Solo flees Trinidad for New York to carve out a lonely existence as an undocumented immigrant, and Mr. Chetan remains the singular thread holding mother and son together. But soon, Mr. Chetan's own burdensome secret is revealed, with heartbreaking consequences.
Review
I went into this book knowing literally nothing about it. I picked it up on a whim because I was in a rush and because it was the closest thing to grab, and boy oh boy, I'm so glad I did because this story is truely beautiful in ways I didn't think was possible.
Persaud's writing captivated me from the start and her story-telling is just breathtaking. This is a story about love in all its forms; as a lover, as a mother, as a son and as a friend. She manages to capture everything that is chaotic, heavy and painful about this love that exists yet also manages to reiterate the beauty and the delicacy that goes along side it and we are forever reminded that one side of love rarely exists without the other.
I feel like the author also nailed the setting of Trinidad and despite the fact that I've never been to Trinidad, I feel like the author somehow managed to capture the beauty and the liveliness of the country as well as its culture and the rhythm that I imagine it to be through vivid descriptions of the day-to-day lives of those we follow throughout this story - not to mention that the colourful and rich descriptions of the food had my mouth watering. The contrast between Trinidad and New York in this book is also one that is done really well and I loved how the author managed to create a distinctive divide between the two places.
I'm not usually the biggest fan of dialogue without quotation marks in books but actually, I think this one worked really well as it was written in an easy format and so it didn't put me off at all. I also really loved the use of Trinidadian dialect which I thought made the book and the characters just seem that much more authentic.
Out of the three main characters we follow, it's Chetan's story that I warmed to the most and I think the author used Chetan as a tool to tell a much bigger story. I've come to learn a lot from this book about how the level of homophobia in Trinidad is brutal beyond means. The fact that Chetan (as well as actual Trinidadians) feel they have to hide their sexuality for fear of their lives saddens me beyond means and I glad Persaud used this book as an opportunity to raise awareness of this very serious issue.
My one and only criticism is that the pacing was a little bit off for my liking. The middle section of the book could have been shaved down slightly and I'd have preferred to have spent a little bit more time with these characters at the end of the book for a more resolute outcome.
It's a bold and vivid story about acceptance and family and friendships and it's a story to elegantly told that with such power and such anguish that it's a story you feel rather than read. I highly recommended.
About the book
After Betty Ramdin's husband dies, she invites a colleague, Mr. Chetan, to move in with her and her son, Solo. Over time, the three become a family, loving each other deeply and depending upon one another. Then, one fateful night, Solo overhears Betty confiding in Mr. Chetan and learns a secret that plunges him into torment.
Solo flees Trinidad for New York to carve out a lonely existence as an undocumented immigrant, and Mr. Chetan remains the singular thread holding mother and son together. But soon, Mr. Chetan's own burdensome secret is revealed, with heartbreaking consequences.
Review
I went into this book knowing literally nothing about it. I picked it up on a whim because I was in a rush and because it was the closest thing to grab, and boy oh boy, I'm so glad I did because this story is truely beautiful in ways I didn't think was possible.
Persaud's writing captivated me from the start and her story-telling is just breathtaking. This is a story about love in all its forms; as a lover, as a mother, as a son and as a friend. She manages to capture everything that is chaotic, heavy and painful about this love that exists yet also manages to reiterate the beauty and the delicacy that goes along side it and we are forever reminded that one side of love rarely exists without the other.
I feel like the author also nailed the setting of Trinidad and despite the fact that I've never been to Trinidad, I feel like the author somehow managed to capture the beauty and the liveliness of the country as well as its culture and the rhythm that I imagine it to be through vivid descriptions of the day-to-day lives of those we follow throughout this story - not to mention that the colourful and rich descriptions of the food had my mouth watering. The contrast between Trinidad and New York in this book is also one that is done really well and I loved how the author managed to create a distinctive divide between the two places.
I'm not usually the biggest fan of dialogue without quotation marks in books but actually, I think this one worked really well as it was written in an easy format and so it didn't put me off at all. I also really loved the use of Trinidadian dialect which I thought made the book and the characters just seem that much more authentic.
Out of the three main characters we follow, it's Chetan's story that I warmed to the most and I think the author used Chetan as a tool to tell a much bigger story. I've come to learn a lot from this book about how the level of homophobia in Trinidad is brutal beyond means. The fact that Chetan (as well as actual Trinidadians) feel they have to hide their sexuality for fear of their lives saddens me beyond means and I glad Persaud used this book as an opportunity to raise awareness of this very serious issue.
My one and only criticism is that the pacing was a little bit off for my liking. The middle section of the book could have been shaved down slightly and I'd have preferred to have spent a little bit more time with these characters at the end of the book for a more resolute outcome.
It's a bold and vivid story about acceptance and family and friendships and it's a story to elegantly told that with such power and such anguish that it's a story you feel rather than read. I highly recommended.
Verdict: ★★★★
Title: Verity
Author: Colleen HooverPages: 314
Publication date: 7th December 2018
Publisher: Hoover Ink (self published)
Genre: fiction, romance, thriller, thriller-romance
Trigger warnings: see end of review so not to contain spoilers
About the book
Lowen Ashleigh is a struggling writer on the brink of financial ruin when she accepts the job offer of a lifetime. Jeremy Crawford, husband of bestselling author Verity Crawford, has hired Lowen to complete the remaining books in a successful series his injured wife is unable to finish.
Lowen arrives at the Crawford home, ready to sort through years of Verity's notes and outlines, hoping to find enough material to get her started. What Lowen doesn't expect to uncover in the chaotic office is an unfinished autobiography Verity never intended for anyone to read. Page after page of bone-chilling admissions, including Verity's recollection of what really happened the day her daughter died.
Lowen decides to keep the manuscript hidden from Jeremy, knowing its contents would devastate the already grieving father. But as Lowen's feelings for Jeremy begin to intensify, she recognizes all the ways she could benefit if he were to read his wife's words. After all, no matter how devoted Jeremy is to his injured wife, a truth this horrifying would make it impossible for him to continue to love her.
Review
My god. My god. MY GOD. Okay, so bear with me because this isn't my typical preferred genre but lord almighty do I have some thoughts.
This book was disturbing in a such a way that I'm at a slight loss for words on how to even go about starting this review. Although, uncomfortable as it was to read, it was equally enthralling and gripping and it made me WANT to continue reading, despite it being so sinister.
Verity is pitched as a thriller-come-romance and whilst that does perfectly sum up the book, the book should also come with a warning that it is a complete mind f**k. It's by no means an easy read - it's as creepy as everyone says it is and has you questioning everyone and everything you're reading about, and just when you think you have it nailed... NOPE. As the story drew deeper and deeper, I was left wondering who was the bad guy (or gal) in all of this? Was Lowen seeing and imagining things? Was SHE the crazy one? And Verity's chapters. Jesus. There were times when I was so outraged and disgusted by these sections but also I was so engrossed in them. I wanted to read more of the bad stuff in the hopes of figuring out what happened but each time a new Verity chapter came along, it's fair to say I took a deep breath and braced myself for what was to come.
The book had me hooked from the very beginning and the first chapter alone lets you know you're in for a wild ride. I was very drawn to Lowen, and even though there was nothing overly special about her, I still really liked her and as the chapters went on, I was equally as invested as she was to get to the bottom of whatever was going on. The atmosphere throughout the entire story is realistically creepy and this is by far one of those books that makes you doubt yourself and what you believe to be true.
And THAT ending. I think my jaw actually dropped open as I mouthed the words "what in the actual f**k'. I've heard people say the ending is mind-blowing, but I was still not prepared for THAT. That was, by far, one of the best plot twists I have ever come across in a book.
Verdict: ★★★★★
This book was disturbing in a such a way that I'm at a slight loss for words on how to even go about starting this review. Although, uncomfortable as it was to read, it was equally enthralling and gripping and it made me WANT to continue reading, despite it being so sinister.
Verity is pitched as a thriller-come-romance and whilst that does perfectly sum up the book, the book should also come with a warning that it is a complete mind f**k. It's by no means an easy read - it's as creepy as everyone says it is and has you questioning everyone and everything you're reading about, and just when you think you have it nailed... NOPE. As the story drew deeper and deeper, I was left wondering who was the bad guy (or gal) in all of this? Was Lowen seeing and imagining things? Was SHE the crazy one? And Verity's chapters. Jesus. There were times when I was so outraged and disgusted by these sections but also I was so engrossed in them. I wanted to read more of the bad stuff in the hopes of figuring out what happened but each time a new Verity chapter came along, it's fair to say I took a deep breath and braced myself for what was to come.
The book had me hooked from the very beginning and the first chapter alone lets you know you're in for a wild ride. I was very drawn to Lowen, and even though there was nothing overly special about her, I still really liked her and as the chapters went on, I was equally as invested as she was to get to the bottom of whatever was going on. The atmosphere throughout the entire story is realistically creepy and this is by far one of those books that makes you doubt yourself and what you believe to be true.
And THAT ending. I think my jaw actually dropped open as I mouthed the words "what in the actual f**k'. I've heard people say the ending is mind-blowing, but I was still not prepared for THAT. That was, by far, one of the best plot twists I have ever come across in a book.
Verdict: ★★★★★
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Trigger warnings: child abuse, child neglect, attempted home abortion, murder, graphic road traffic collision involving a pedestrian
Additional thoughts on the ending (spoilers)
So, Lowen has secretly set up a video baby monitor to prove that Verity is lying about her injuries. She sees Verity move on camera and goes to confront her but Jeremy doesn't believe Lowen and asks her to leave his house. It's only after Lowen finally shows Jeremy the autobiographical manuscript that Verity wrote, detailing how she killed Harper, that Jeremy loses his shit and tells Verity that if she doesn't fess up he's going to the police. Verity then confesses that she's been faking her injuries all along and in a fit of rage - and with Lowen's help - they both kill her and make her death look like she choked on her own vomit in her sleep and died. We then skip seven months into the future and Jeremy and Lowen are still together and Lowen is heavily pregnant with Jeremy's child. They go back to Jeremy and Verity's old house to clear some stuff out ahead of its pending sale. Lowen then comes across a handwritten letter from Verity, written to Jeremy, in which she states that Jeremy has previously read the manuscript and was the one driving the car that crashed into the tree which caused Verity's 'injuries'. Verity denies everything that was written in her autobiographical manuscript and claims it was a writing exercise which helps her understands her character's better, especially given that her books are written from the villain's POV.
Okay, so. I feel like the line "where did you find this?" from Jeremy when Lowen finally hands the manuscript over to him is hyped up way too much. I've read a lot of debates since finishing this book and a lot of people are confused by this line from Jeremy as it makes him appear as if he had previous knowledge of the manuscript. That to me is just someone asking an off-the-bat question. His reaction after reading the manuscript seemed far too raw and emotional for it to not be the first time he had read it. Why would he act that way if he had previously read the manuscript? Verity even mentioned in her letter that Jeremy was a good husband and father, so would he really put on an act of being so traumatised about apparently reading the manuscript for the first time? I think not.
There are just some things that don't add up if Verity had made everything up in the manuscript. The fact that she did say to Crew "hold your breath, Crew" as the canoe tipped over. The fact that Crew was so traumatised when Lowen was asking him questions about the day Harper died that he cut his own mouth open with a knife surely proves how petrified he is of his own mother, who, according to Crew himself, told him not to talk about the day his sister died with Lowen.
And if Jeremy did have previous knowledge of the manuscript, why didn't Verity bring this up when he and Lowen confronted her? Surely she would have said something then? Asked Jeremy why he was acting the way he was if he already knew the manuscript was a writing exercise?
The same night Verity wrote the letter was the same night that Lowen called Verity out and said something along the lines of "I hope you die the same way you tried to kill your infant daughter, choking on your own vomit". I think Verity panicked and realised that someone was on to her. I think she wrote the letter fully intending for Lowen to find it and not Jeremy. I think Verity got to a point where she realised she had taken things too far and was probably going to die at the hands of Jeremy and wrote that letter to mess with with Lowen one last time.
Title: My Name is Monster
Author: Katie Hale
Pages: 311
Publication date: 6th June 2019
Publisher: Canongate Books Ltd
Genre: fiction, dystopian
About the book
After the Sickness has killed off her parents, and the bombs have fallen on the last safe cities, Monster emerges from the arctic vault which has kept her alive. When she washes up on the coast of Scotland, everyone she knows is dead, and she believes she is alone in an empty world.
Monster begins the long walk south, scavenging and learning the contours of this familiar land made new. Slowly, piece by piece, she begins to rebuild a life. Until, one day, she finds a girl: feral, and ready to be taught all that Monster knows. Changing her own name to Mother, Monster names the child after herself. As young Monster learns from Mother, she also discovers her own desires, realising that she wants very different things to the woman who made, but did not create, her.
Review
This is one of those books I've had sitting on my bookshelf for what feels like forever and I decided I fancied something different to my typical read and so finally I picked this up and was excited for a story outside of my comfort zone.
The premise might sound really confusing, and I guess it is if you haven't read it. Essentially, we are first introduced to Monster, which is the nickname that was given to her by her father and it kinda just stuck. Monster emerges from the arctic vault and ends up in Scotland after bombs have fallen and the Sickness has killed off all of humanity, or so Monster thinks. Whilst searching the City one day, she comes across a small child and decides to take her under her wing and teach her all she know. Monster then renames herself to Mother (meaning 'creator') and she gives the child the name Monster (meaning 'survivor'). So not to make this review too confusing, I'll simply be calling them Monster and Monster Jnr.
I enjoyed the first 25% of this book, and then I think it's fair to say that it was a struggle from there on out to even want to pick it up. I'm not a DNF-er by nature and I did want to see how the story played out for Monster and Monster Jnr, but I found myself enjoying the book less and less the more I read it. The narrative started to feel very repetitive, which you can argue that this reflects the reality of the situation they find themselves in - chop wood, feed the chickens, keep the fire going, go to the City and look for food, plant vegetables etc - the need to do the same things everyday just to survive. However, there's only so many chapters and passages documenting this that you want to read.
The back-story was extremely vague too, which I didn’t love. The cause of the apocalypse is only referenced to the Sickness and the war, but the full story of what happened is never told. In some cases, this can highlight that the point of the story is that we are focusing on now not then, but in this case it felt more like the author just hadn’t really thought that much about that part of the story. It was all very vague and there wasn't enough scraps of information to connect the dots together.
I did enjoy reading Monster's opening chapters. They were short and a bit emotionless but I think that reflected Monster perfectly as a person. She is deliberately shut off from her own emotions and she firmly believes that the less you rely on other people, the better off you are. She is in survival mode, and doesn't let her own thoughts and feelings get to her too much and this is definitely reflected in the her chapters. Having said that, although I liked Monster and sympathised with her situation and her need to carry on no matter what, I would have perhaps appreciated just a bit more insight into her. My favourite chapters in this whole book were the ones in which she reflected on her upbringing but I don't think there were quite enough of them, personally.
The thing that I really cannot grasp though, is how we were led to believe that Monster Jnr could barely speak or remember her own upbringing except for a couple of vague memories and when Monster finds her, we discover that she is in fact older than she first appears and it's suggested that she's at least 10 years old. At least. The war ended 2 years previously, so that would make her at least 8 years old at that point, yet Monster Jnr is alarmed by snow and doesn't know basic words like "food", "chickens" and "bed" but is old enough to menstruate - really! I also really disliked how the reader was very much kept in the dark when Monster Jnr just suddenly knew how to do some things. It all felt very convenient and we never got an explanation as to how and why she knew how to do the things she did, we were expected to believe "she just knew!" Maybe it was purposefully vague, but it just didn't work. Some of the things Monster Jnr did is not common knowledge for a girl of her age and this ultimately led to one of the most disappointing endings I've ever read, which was extremely far fetched, especially considering the knowledge base of Monster Jnr.
Ultimately, what this books explores is motherhood and the identity and imprints that a mother-daughter relationship can leave on us, but I just couldn't get on board with the story that was trying to convey this message. Three quarters of the book were frustrating, especially Monster Jnr's part of the story and I was conclusively left wondering what the point of it all was. There were far too many convenient plot holes regarding Monster Jnr's knowledge and it was a rather bleak reading experience for me personally and I perhaps would have enjoyed this more if it were a short story.
Verdict: ★★
Title: The Summer Job
Author: Lizzy Dent
Pages: 330
Publication date: 15th April 2021
Publisher: Viking
Genre: fiction, contemporary, romance
Trigger warnings: alcoholism, gaslighting a child (mentioned)
About the book
Have you ever imagined running away from your life?
Well Birdy Finch didn't just imagine it. She did it. Which might've been an error. And the life she's run into? Her best friend, Heather's.
The only problem is, she hasn't told Heather. Actually there are a few other problems...
Can Birdy carry off a summer at a luxury Scottish hotel pretending to be her best friend (who incidentally is a world-class wine expert)?
And can she stop herself from falling for the first man she's ever actually liked (but who thinks she's someone else)?
Review
You know when you're in the mood for a really cosy, easy read that you can fly through and not think too much about? Well, this is the perfect book for exactly that. The premise is absolutely crazy and a tad bit bonkers, but don't let that put you off, for it's the perfect uplifting, funny and enjoyable story.
I was hooked on this book from the first few pages and I instantly fell in love with Birdy; she's a bit of a mess who doesn't really know what she wants from life and has no interest in trying to find out what that something might be. But above everything else, she was hilarious. I'm talking actually laugh out loud funny. Her one liners are on another level and it certainly made for an entertaining read. Birdy is just one of those characters that you can't help but root for. She's doing a wrong thing but for all the right reasons and it's easy to see how things spiralled out of control for her. One teeny (okay, not so teeny) lie suddenly snowballed and she found herself in an impossible situation, abliet, through her own fault, but never once did she not acknowledge that the situation she found herself in wasn't her own doing. The concept of the story was wild and a bit nuts, but I actually found Birdy a very realistic person who was very easy to warm to and as the story unfolded, we saw many different layers to her character and how she came to be the unmotivated and unambitious person she was at the beginning of the book. I also loved all of the other characters too. None of them felt like 'filler' characters and each of them had their own personality and added something to the story.
I also loved the setting of Loch Dorn in Scotland and Dent did an amazing job at bringing the setting to life with vivid descriptions and somehow capturing that cosy, rural countryside setting.
About the book
Have you ever imagined running away from your life?
Well Birdy Finch didn't just imagine it. She did it. Which might've been an error. And the life she's run into? Her best friend, Heather's.
The only problem is, she hasn't told Heather. Actually there are a few other problems...
Can Birdy carry off a summer at a luxury Scottish hotel pretending to be her best friend (who incidentally is a world-class wine expert)?
And can she stop herself from falling for the first man she's ever actually liked (but who thinks she's someone else)?
Review
You know when you're in the mood for a really cosy, easy read that you can fly through and not think too much about? Well, this is the perfect book for exactly that. The premise is absolutely crazy and a tad bit bonkers, but don't let that put you off, for it's the perfect uplifting, funny and enjoyable story.
I was hooked on this book from the first few pages and I instantly fell in love with Birdy; she's a bit of a mess who doesn't really know what she wants from life and has no interest in trying to find out what that something might be. But above everything else, she was hilarious. I'm talking actually laugh out loud funny. Her one liners are on another level and it certainly made for an entertaining read. Birdy is just one of those characters that you can't help but root for. She's doing a wrong thing but for all the right reasons and it's easy to see how things spiralled out of control for her. One teeny (okay, not so teeny) lie suddenly snowballed and she found herself in an impossible situation, abliet, through her own fault, but never once did she not acknowledge that the situation she found herself in wasn't her own doing. The concept of the story was wild and a bit nuts, but I actually found Birdy a very realistic person who was very easy to warm to and as the story unfolded, we saw many different layers to her character and how she came to be the unmotivated and unambitious person she was at the beginning of the book. I also loved all of the other characters too. None of them felt like 'filler' characters and each of them had their own personality and added something to the story.
I also loved the setting of Loch Dorn in Scotland and Dent did an amazing job at bringing the setting to life with vivid descriptions and somehow capturing that cosy, rural countryside setting.
This whole book was very well written and Dent writes with the ease and storytelling of an author who appears to have written for years. If I had read this book and didn't know it was a debut novel, I would have guessed that the author was already well established. The story flows so well and there's always something happening to keep the reader engaged. The story was neither too boring nor too cheesy, which I think for the contemporary romance genre is very hard to pull off, but Dent did so perfectly.
There is an underlying message within this story and one I feel like a lot of people will relate to. It's a story about finding yourself and understanding what you want in life. There are definitely some deeper themes running throughout this book that touch upon some difficult subjects, which for me, elevates this story and gives even more depth to these characters.
I loved this story and the whole predicament that Birdy got herself into. I loved the romance aspect too - it felt very natural and Birdy and James were a great match for each other. It was romantic without being TOO cheesy and I was so invested in these two characters. I would highly recommend it if you're looking for something fun, easy and heartwarming.
Verdict: ★★★★★
*This book was sent to me by the publisher, but all thoughts and opinions are my own.
There is an underlying message within this story and one I feel like a lot of people will relate to. It's a story about finding yourself and understanding what you want in life. There are definitely some deeper themes running throughout this book that touch upon some difficult subjects, which for me, elevates this story and gives even more depth to these characters.
I loved this story and the whole predicament that Birdy got herself into. I loved the romance aspect too - it felt very natural and Birdy and James were a great match for each other. It was romantic without being TOO cheesy and I was so invested in these two characters. I would highly recommend it if you're looking for something fun, easy and heartwarming.
Verdict: ★★★★★
*This book was sent to me by the publisher, but all thoughts and opinions are my own.
Author: Matt Haig
Pages: 288
Publisher: Viking
Publication date: 29th September 2020
Genre: fiction
Pages: 288
Publisher: Viking
Publication date: 29th September 2020
Genre: fiction
Trigger warnings: suicide, overdose, death of a pet, drug abuse, alcohol abuse, death of a friend, death of a parent, spousal abuse, depression, mental health struggles.
About the book
Between life and death there is a library, and within that library, the shelves go on forever. Every book provides a chance to try another life you could have lived. To see how things would be if you had made other choices . . . Would you have done anything different, if you had the chance to undo your regrets?
Review
This is one of those books which I've seen everywheeeere and truth be told I just wanted to see what all the fuss was about because I literally cannot log onto Instagram and not see a picture of this book. I also just really like Matt Haig as a person. I think he does a great job at campaigning and creating awareness of mental health issues and I'd heard this book tackles some major plot lines within that subject.
Okay, so, I didn't LOVE this book, but I also didn't hate it but I can see why a lot of people do love it - it's very relatable if you've previously, or are currently, suffering from mental health issues. I can see why people relate to this book so much; a normal, ordinary & generally average girl - Nora - decides to kill herself when life throws her obstacle after obstacle and in between life and death, she finds herself in the Midnight Library in which she gets to explore all her other parallel lives. Sounds kinds intriguing, right?
My main issue here is that we didn't get to spend an awful lot of time with Nora before she decides to kill herself and she therefore lacked a lot of depth. Nora felt more like a tool that needed to be used in order to convey a message, rather than a person we are supposed to care about. This is quite a short book coming in at just under 300 pages and I'd have preferred it if we got to spend another 50 pages with her in the beginning so we could really root for her as a character. Instead, it feels as if Haig has gone "here's Nora. Nora's a bit sad. BAM. She decides to kill herself. On with the story, shall we?". We know very little about Nora as a human before she decides to kill herself except the bare minumum we need to know as to why she has decided to end her life.
Whilst the book is centred around some pretty serious and deep mental health topics, it's also fairly simplistic and, for me, that hinders the message this book is trying to convey. Haig basically spells the message out for the readers and because of this, the message falls a bit flat when it had the potential to be really powerful. It feels like Haig doesn't trust us, the reader, enough for us to 'get it' and instead over simplifies everything to the point of it being too obvious. He gives no space to draw our own conclusions and interpretations and feels as though he doesn't trust us enough to connect the dots.
That's not to say that the message isn't a nice one, because it is. The theory about parallel lives does make you stop and think about life and possibilities and the decisions we make and the outcomes those decisions can have - how one small decision can lead a completely different path in life. It did make me wonder a lot about my own life and what I might be doing if things had taken a different path and I really enjoyed that aspect of it, however, if you're not into parallel lives then this book probably isn't for you. Don't be fooled by the title either, the library in the book is more of a metaphor rather than an actual library.
I'm glad this book was under 300 pages (with the exception of wanting/needing to spend more time with Nora in the beginning of the book, then I might have cared about her a bit more than I actually did) as if it was any longer than it might have verged on the boring and repetitive side. It was a quick read for me and not a bad book at all, it just didn't blow me away either. It wasn't quite as remarkable as I'd have hoped for, but I do recommend it if you're after a book about life that will make you think.
Verdict: ★★★
Pages: 391
Publication date: 17th February 2010
Publisher: Penguin
Genre: fiction
About the book
Rebecca, Daniel, Alex and Isabel have been best friends since university. Rebecca married Daniel, Alex married Isabel and, for twenty years, they have been inseparable. But all that is about to change...
When Alex walks out on Isabel, Rebecca thinks things can't get any worse. But then she finds out the reason why and she's left harbouring a secret she'd rather forget...
And there’s more upheaval to come in Rebecca’s life as her emaciated, neurotic, self-obsessed colleague, Lorna – her arch nemesis at work – suddenly becomes a regular feature in her social life. Rebecca’s once-happy foursome is now a distant memory and with hearts broken and friendships fractured, it seems that change is never a good thing. Or is it?
Review
It's been a few days since I read this book and usually I write the review the same day so all my thoughts are as fresh as they possibly can be, however, this is a book I've had to think over for the past few days as I can't decide if I liked or disliked it and I - think- I have come to a conclusion.
This is one of those books that is really well written, but actually, not much happens and the whole thing was just a bit slow. I was waiting for the 'big moment' and it kinda just never came. On reflection, I'm not too sure what the point of this story is. There was a nice underlying message of women supporting women at the very end of the book, but 85% of this book is about two 40-something women bickering and making each other's lives as miserable as possible.
It's written in Rebecca's POV and she came across quite childish and immature for a 40-something woman living and working in London with two kids and a husband in tow. It reads like it was written by an 18 year old in places and the bickering throughout the book between Rebecca and Lorna is actually quite petty. I'm not saying that the stuff that Rebecca got annoyed about was unrealistic, but the way in which Rebecca dealt with it was a bit shallow - and the same can be said for Lorna. I think Rebecca was supposed to be portrayed as a strong female lead, but she got to the point of being intolerable.
There were also far too many filler characters for my liking. Simon and Rose, for example, added absolutely nothing to the story and I honestly could not have cared less about them. I found Isabel had next to no personality and Dan was the most boring character out of them all. I had no sympathy for any of the characters and I felt pretty much all of them were a bit dull and a bit bland.
Overall I wouldn't recommend this book and I know for certain that I'll have forgotten the character's names in a couple of months.
Verdict: ★★
When Alex walks out on Isabel, Rebecca thinks things can't get any worse. But then she finds out the reason why and she's left harbouring a secret she'd rather forget...
And there’s more upheaval to come in Rebecca’s life as her emaciated, neurotic, self-obsessed colleague, Lorna – her arch nemesis at work – suddenly becomes a regular feature in her social life. Rebecca’s once-happy foursome is now a distant memory and with hearts broken and friendships fractured, it seems that change is never a good thing. Or is it?
Review
It's been a few days since I read this book and usually I write the review the same day so all my thoughts are as fresh as they possibly can be, however, this is a book I've had to think over for the past few days as I can't decide if I liked or disliked it and I - think- I have come to a conclusion.
This is one of those books that is really well written, but actually, not much happens and the whole thing was just a bit slow. I was waiting for the 'big moment' and it kinda just never came. On reflection, I'm not too sure what the point of this story is. There was a nice underlying message of women supporting women at the very end of the book, but 85% of this book is about two 40-something women bickering and making each other's lives as miserable as possible.
It's written in Rebecca's POV and she came across quite childish and immature for a 40-something woman living and working in London with two kids and a husband in tow. It reads like it was written by an 18 year old in places and the bickering throughout the book between Rebecca and Lorna is actually quite petty. I'm not saying that the stuff that Rebecca got annoyed about was unrealistic, but the way in which Rebecca dealt with it was a bit shallow - and the same can be said for Lorna. I think Rebecca was supposed to be portrayed as a strong female lead, but she got to the point of being intolerable.
There were also far too many filler characters for my liking. Simon and Rose, for example, added absolutely nothing to the story and I honestly could not have cared less about them. I found Isabel had next to no personality and Dan was the most boring character out of them all. I had no sympathy for any of the characters and I felt pretty much all of them were a bit dull and a bit bland.
Overall I wouldn't recommend this book and I know for certain that I'll have forgotten the character's names in a couple of months.
Verdict: ★★
Title: A Court of Silver Flames
Author: Sarah J. Maas
Pages: 757
Publication date: 16th February 2021
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Genre: fiction, fantasy
Trigger warnings; PTSD, blood, violence, murder, death, grief, abuse, sexual assault (mentioned), rape (mentioned), alcohol consumption, slut shaming, childbirth complications, depression, suicidal thoughts
About the book
Nesta Archeron has always been prickly-proud, swift to anger, and slow to forgive. And ever since being forced into the Cauldron and becoming High Fae against her will, she's struggled to find a place for herself within the strange, deadly world she inhabits. Worse, she can't seem to move past the horrors of the war with Hybern and all she lost in it.
The one person who ignites her temper more than any other is Cassian, the battle-scarred warrior whose position in Rhysand and Feyre's Night Court keeps him constantly in Nesta's orbit. But her temper isn't the only thing Cassian ignites. The fire between them is undeniable, and only burns hotter as they are forced into close quarters with each other.
Meanwhile, the treacherous human queens who returned to the Continent during the last war have forged a dangerous new alliance, threatening the fragile peace that has settled over the realms. And the key to halting them might very well rely on Cassian and Nesta facing their haunting pasts.
Against the sweeping backdrop of a world seared by war and plagued with uncertainty, Nesta and Cassian battle monsters from within and without as they search for acceptance-and healing-in each other's arms.
Review - SPOILERS
If you're reading this review then I am 100% assuming that you have already read ACOSF and are just looking up other people's opinions. If you haven't read it yet but are wanting or planning too, please be aware that this review contains major spoilers. I really don't like writing reviews that contain spoilers, but talking about and reviewing this book in detail is near impossible without mentioning major plot twists so I'M SORRY - read this at your own risk but I needed to make it known that this review will talk about major plot points.
It's fair to say that I've absolutely devoured this series and have even downloaded the audiobooks for when I'm off out on a little walk and that's saying something because I really, really struggle to get on with audiobooks but I just need to hear this story again from beginning to end. I was so ready for ACOSF despite the fact that Nesta was never my favourite character. In fact, I mentioned in my previous reviews for this series that she annoyed me and grated on me and only at the end of ACOWAR did she slightly redeem herself, but then I really disliked her again in ACOFAS.
SO WHERE DOES THAT LEAVE US NOW?
Right, well, I've actually come to really love Nesta and I'm going to make a really bold statement here, but I think I like her even more than Feyre (and I bloody love Feyre) but Nesta just has that edge and a bit more depth to her character that makes me really, really root for her. At the beginning of the book, we see Nesta at her absolute rock bottom - she's drinking herself into oblivion and puts the bill on the Night Court's tab, refuses to spend any time with her sisters, she takes strange men back to her grotty apartment on a nightly basis and she's also fallen out with Amren - the one and only person she was close enough with to classify as a friend. But, and this is a big but, we get to see inside Netsa's head and we come to see that she isn't doing this to be spiteful, but to punish herself because she thinks she doesn't deserve better. She's suffering quite severe PTSD from the war and hasn't yet come to terms with (or even tried to come to terms with - or even KNOWS how to come to terms with) everything that went down in the first three ACOTAR books; she was forced into the Cauldron and made High Fae against her will and had to watch her beloved sister Elain suffer the same thing. Then there was the war, in which Nesta, Feyre & Elain's father was killed by the King of Hybern. Not to mention that she took something from the Cauldron when she was forced into it - nor she, or anyone else, knows the full extent of her powers and she has no interest in learning to master them, either.
What a shit show.
You have to give credit where credit is due - Maas wrote these scenes so phenomenally. Nesta's struggles and the way she behaves is so hateful but yet so powerful that it's hard to imagine that people won't relate to Nesta in one way or another. Her trauma is extremely realistic and thought-provoking and I think Maas did an incredible job at capturing Nesta's suffering and anguish in a way that we go from disliking her, to actually feeling empathy for her, which is something I didn't think I'd be saying anytime soon after the way she behaved in ACOFAS.
So we go from seeing Nesta at absolute rock bottom, to then being given an ultimatum from Feyre; train with Cassian each morning at the House of Wind and work in the library on the afternoons, or be dumped back in the human lands where she will be unwelcome and alone. She of course takes the first option and from there we see Nesta and Cassian's combat training that they practice everyday. Again, this is something that Maas wrote incredibly well. The whole book is basically Nesta going from a raging bitch to someone who is content with where her life has taken her. I loved seeing Nesta's growth because it was beautiful and ugly at the same time and you can easily notice the shifting points in her healing. Mental health recovery is far from a straight line and Maas managed to convey that message loud and strong. We see Nesta start to train and slowly get better, then she'll spiral downwards, then she'll get better again, then something else will happen that will set her off again. It's a very rocky, up and down journey that we see Nesta go on, but one that is hugely important and I think a lot of people will resonate with that.
Talking of Cassian, let's just dive right into discussing this Jason-Mamoa-hunk-of-muscle, shall we? I loved Cassian in this book, but then again, I loved him in all of the books. Is he Rhysand? No. It's impossible to compare the two because they're two completely different characters with two completely different personalities. Cassian is more rugged and rough whereas Rhysand is a bit of a pretty boy in comparison. Rhysand is grounded and composed whereas Cassian has a bit more of an edge to him. He's funny and witty and his voice comes through loud and clear. He's full of character and sass which works really well against Nesta's own brutal personality. I love Nesta's sharp tongue and how harsh she can be with her words. She knows her biggest weapon is her own mouth and she uses it to offend and push people away, which I strangely like about her. She's not doing it unaware, she knows exactly what she's saying and uses it to her advantage. Cassian though, despite his tougher exterior, is actually a very thoughtful person and we come to see throughout the book how far he will go in order to protect those he loves from hurt and suffering.
I also absolutely loved the female friendships between Nesta, Gwyn and Emerie, who Nesta befriends and eventually begins to train with. Female friendships seem to be a running theme throughout this series (Feyre with Mor and Amren, for example). I haven't read any other books from Maas so I'm not sure if this is an occurring theme in all of her books, but I'm here for it nonetheless. Gwyn and Emerie were essential to Nesta's recovery and I love the fact the Maas put emphasis on this. Okay, yes, Cassian was there for a lot of it too, but I loved that the emphasis wasn't SOLELY on a woman needing a man to fix her.
One thing that I think is important to note, is that this book is a very character driven book in the sense that there really isn't much plot. The characters and their personal journeys are very much at the forefront of the book, and the plot is on the back burner. I'm not entirely mad at it because I looooove me a good character led narrative (and Nesta and Cassian certainly give us that), but I CAN see why it might put people off, especially for the genre. If you haven't read this book yet (then what on earth are you reading this review for?!) just go into it knowing that it's 70% character led and 30% plot - at most. The whole Brillyan and Koschei storyline was running in the background, but I feel like Maas could have upped the ante just a little bit as the whole plot ultimately amounted to nothing spectacular.
That's not to say there weren't edge-of-your-seat moments though, because we did get a few action packed scenes. The bog scene with the Kelpie was AMAZING and can we PLEASE talk about Nesta, Gwyn and Emerie talking part in the Blood Rite?! I wish that whole section of the book was padded out more because I freaking loved every single bit of it. After what is a predominantly character driven book, these scenes kept me on edge and I loved every single minute of it.
And the SMUT. Let's just talk about this smut, shall we? So ACOSF is now officially an adult book and trust me when I say it is very, very apparent in the smut. If you think the other books in this series are smut heavy, then you might want to brace yourself for a whole new level of smut-ness. She no longer uses her infamous “velvet wrapped steel” innuendos - nope, we go straight in with “cock” and even the word “cunt” now. There is a LOT. Like every other chapter, or so it feels. I'm not complaining because I'm absolutely here for it, but we really get down and dirty in ACOSF - literally.
Let's just briefly bullet point some other things I loved that I won't bore you to death about:
- The House of Wind now has a conscience and befriends Nesta (yes, really)
- I loved Azriel-the-chaperone!
- THAT scene at the end of the Blood Rite when Briallyn has Cassian captured and under her control and Nesta gets her power back and she just goes to town and lets her power fully unleash itself
- I loved how chonky this beast of a book is
- I loved the I Will Slay My Enemies moments
- I loved learning about Nesta's past, long before Feyre went into the woods and killed a wolf
However, I do hate to point out the negatives but there were some issues with this book that are hard to overlook. The first being the whole reveal about Nesta and Cassian being Mates. I feel like the whole book was kinda a big lead up to the moment when they both admitted it out loud and acknowledged it (and these scenes didn't disappoint), HOWEVER, it kind of just doesn't make sense. There was a scene in which Nesta was dancing with Eris - before the whole 'Mate' situation came up - and Cassian became so insanely jealous that he stormed over and took over dancing with Nesta instead, despite the fact he knew the only reason she was dancing with Eris was to keep him sweet because they needed him as an ally. Now, don't get me wrong, I hate Eris, but Cassian not being able to handle seeing Nesta dance with him - but seemed perfectly content to turn a blind eye to Nesta sleeping with strangers in the beginning of the book - seems so ridiculously unrealistic. In the opening chapters of the book, Cassian enters Nesta's grotty apartment and even makes a sly dig at her that he's picked up the scent of multiple males. But doesn't bat an eyelid at it. And then then later on admits that he's known since he first clapped eyes on her that Nesta was his Mate. IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE. There is a lot of emphasis throughout this whole series that being Mates is the absolute top dog in terms of having an emotional (and physical) connection between two lovers. Fae have gone to war over their Mates. And yet Cassian knew but turned a blind eye to the fact that Nesta was sleeping with goodness knows how many strangers but can't hack seeing her having a little bit of a politic driven dancey-woo with Eris. I really do hate to say it, but it just seems like sloppy writing from Maas and this whole 'jealous Cassian' situ could have been written so much better than what we were given.
Let's talk about how Rhysand pissed me off, shall we? Rhysand kept the news that Feyre going into labour would kill her. Yes, if you haven't read the book yet and are reading this review (again, WHY) then Feyre announces her pregnancy in at the beginning of ACOSF but Rhysand learns that due to the fact that the baby has wings and Feyre isn't a born and bred Illyrian, she and their baby will more than likely die during childbirth. Rhysand not telling Feyre the full extent of the complications of her pregnancy just doesn't sit right with me. It goes against everything Rhysand stands for and everything we have come to know and love about him. Tamlin was the one who kept Feyre out of the loop and Rhysand was the one who gave her a choice in EVERYTHING. The fact that he keeps this from her, and tells the rest of the Inner Circle to keep it from her, really, really does not fit in well with his character whatsoever and I'm kinda mad at it.
I'm also really sad that Nesta gave up her powers in the end. I LOVED powerful Nesta. Why did she have to give her powers up to save Feyre? The ending felt very much like a Feyre and Rhysand book and whilst I'm a big Feysand fan, I'm here for Nesta and Cassian. I love that Nesta is practically rewriting Pythian history by simply existing with the powers that she took from the Cauldron, yet this book felt *cough cough hijacked cough* by the ending simply not being about Nesta anymore.
Overall, I loved this book despite its issues. The romance is very much at the forefront of the book and I love the fact that Nesta is a completely different character in the end compared to what she was like on page one. We're taken on such a journey with her, both physically, mentally and emotionally and considering this was one of the lesser anticipated books for me in this series (purely because I'm a huge #Feysand fan and my previous lack of interest in Nesta) but actually I really loved it. Yes, sometimes (okay, a lot of the time) it feels like Maas takes the easy route out when it comes to the plot - people and things are always conveniently where they need to be in order for the characters to not have too much of a hard time, but she writes characters so well and the romance at the forefront of these books is like no other I've came across in this genre. I was very much toying with a four or five star rating, and on my scale, it's more of a 4.5, but I've rounded it down to a four, purely because of the issues I've talked about. Five stars for me is OMG THIS BOOK IS PERFECT IN EVERY SINGLE WAY and whilst it was almost there, it wasn't - just.
Verdict: ★★★★
Title: Three Women
Author: Lisa Taddeo
Pages: 386
Publication date: 9th July 2019
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Genre: non-fiction
About the book
In suburban Indiana we meet Lina, a homemaker and mother of two whose marriage, after a decade, has lost its passion. Starved for affection, Lina battles daily panic attacks and, after reconnecting with an old flame through social media, embarks on an affair that quickly becomes all-consuming.
In North Dakota we meet Maggie, a seventeen-year-old high school student who allegedly has a clandestine physical relationship with her handsome, married English teacher; the ensuing criminal trial will turn their quiet community upside down.
Finally, in an exclusive enclave of the Northeast, we meet Sloane—a gorgeous, successful, and refined restaurant owner—who is happily married to a man who likes to watch her have sex with other men and women.
Based on years of immersive reporting and told with astonishing frankness and immediacy, Three Women is both a feat of journalism and a triumph of storytelling, brimming with nuance and empathy.
Review
I've read reviews and heard opinions about this book that are at both ends of the spectrum and I think that this book needs to be recommended in the right way in order for the reader to fully enjoy it. Luckily for me and prior to reading this book, I had been told by various different people that this was more of a juicy-insight-into-the-sex-lives-of-three-different-women kinda book rather than a deep and insightful observation of female passion and desire. Taddeo definitely took this book down the narrative route rather than the analytical route and, for me, it worked really well and I was hooked from the first few pages.
Three Women is gloriously gossipy and the book you pick up knowing there's going to be heartbreak and scandal. At times, it did come across quite fiction-like and I had to keep reminding myself that this is a work of non-fiction and that the stories being told here are real stories from real woman, which for me, made it even more juicy and thrilling. One thing that really struck me, was how Taddeo managed to give each of the women a distinct voice. The writing is consistently amazing in the sense that each woman's story is told vividly and one story never outweighs the other. Each of the women's stories is captivating and intriguing and leaves you being drawn to these women's lives and wanting to know more.
I was quite concerned going into Three Women that it would be slightly trashy and a bit sleazy, but actually, it's not at all. This book focuses on the thoughts and feelings of these women - even more so than it does the sex. It's a book full of emotions and what these three women are thinking and feeling at these poignant times of their lives. Don't get me wrong, it's definitely detailed enough for you to paint a picture of their sex lives, but it's so, so much more than that. It's about three ordinary women who are trying to figure out what they want from a romantic aspect and because it's so beautifully written, it's not trashy or tacky at all.
If you pick this book up expecting to find a detailed analysis of the unexplained secrets of female desire, you've come to the wrong place and I hate to say that you'll probably be disappointed. What you will find, however, is the story of three women that will keep you both entertained and invested. There are incredibly sad moments, there are moments of adventure and fun, but most of all, there are three normal women who happen to all have different and chaotic sex lives. That's it. And yet Taddeo writes in such a way that will make you want to read on and whilst yes, it is very limited in its capacity and not at all representative of the vast majority of women (which is how it is marketed, which is slightly annoying), it's engaging and fun and a great read.
Pages: 386
Publication date: 9th July 2019
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Genre: non-fiction
About the book
In suburban Indiana we meet Lina, a homemaker and mother of two whose marriage, after a decade, has lost its passion. Starved for affection, Lina battles daily panic attacks and, after reconnecting with an old flame through social media, embarks on an affair that quickly becomes all-consuming.
In North Dakota we meet Maggie, a seventeen-year-old high school student who allegedly has a clandestine physical relationship with her handsome, married English teacher; the ensuing criminal trial will turn their quiet community upside down.
Finally, in an exclusive enclave of the Northeast, we meet Sloane—a gorgeous, successful, and refined restaurant owner—who is happily married to a man who likes to watch her have sex with other men and women.
Based on years of immersive reporting and told with astonishing frankness and immediacy, Three Women is both a feat of journalism and a triumph of storytelling, brimming with nuance and empathy.
Review
I've read reviews and heard opinions about this book that are at both ends of the spectrum and I think that this book needs to be recommended in the right way in order for the reader to fully enjoy it. Luckily for me and prior to reading this book, I had been told by various different people that this was more of a juicy-insight-into-the-sex-lives-of-three-different-women kinda book rather than a deep and insightful observation of female passion and desire. Taddeo definitely took this book down the narrative route rather than the analytical route and, for me, it worked really well and I was hooked from the first few pages.
Three Women is gloriously gossipy and the book you pick up knowing there's going to be heartbreak and scandal. At times, it did come across quite fiction-like and I had to keep reminding myself that this is a work of non-fiction and that the stories being told here are real stories from real woman, which for me, made it even more juicy and thrilling. One thing that really struck me, was how Taddeo managed to give each of the women a distinct voice. The writing is consistently amazing in the sense that each woman's story is told vividly and one story never outweighs the other. Each of the women's stories is captivating and intriguing and leaves you being drawn to these women's lives and wanting to know more.
I was quite concerned going into Three Women that it would be slightly trashy and a bit sleazy, but actually, it's not at all. This book focuses on the thoughts and feelings of these women - even more so than it does the sex. It's a book full of emotions and what these three women are thinking and feeling at these poignant times of their lives. Don't get me wrong, it's definitely detailed enough for you to paint a picture of their sex lives, but it's so, so much more than that. It's about three ordinary women who are trying to figure out what they want from a romantic aspect and because it's so beautifully written, it's not trashy or tacky at all.
If you pick this book up expecting to find a detailed analysis of the unexplained secrets of female desire, you've come to the wrong place and I hate to say that you'll probably be disappointed. What you will find, however, is the story of three women that will keep you both entertained and invested. There are incredibly sad moments, there are moments of adventure and fun, but most of all, there are three normal women who happen to all have different and chaotic sex lives. That's it. And yet Taddeo writes in such a way that will make you want to read on and whilst yes, it is very limited in its capacity and not at all representative of the vast majority of women (which is how it is marketed, which is slightly annoying), it's engaging and fun and a great read.
I do highly recommend this if you're looking for something laid back and full of scandal that reads more like a fiction novel than non-fiction.
Verdict: ★★★★
Title: A Court of Frost and Starlight
Author: Sarah J. Maas
Pages: 229
Publication date: 1st May 2018
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Genre: fiction, fantasy
About the book
Hope warms the coldest night.
Feyre, Rhys, and their close-knit circle of friends are still busy rebuilding the Night Court and the vastly-changed world beyond. But Winter Solstice is finally near, and with it, a hard-earned reprieve.
Yet even the festive atmosphere can't keep the shadows of the past from looming. As Feyre navigates her first Winter Solstice as High Lady, she finds that those dearest to her have more wounds than she anticipated--scars that will have far-reaching impact on the future of their Court.
Review
The ACOTAR series has fast become one of my all-time favourite series and if you've read my reviews on the first three full instalments, then you'll know that I absolutely loved each and every one, so when it came to picking up this 229 page novella, I really didn't know what to expect. This is a ~ c h o n k y ~ series and very action packed from the get go, and it left me wondering what, exactly, was Maas going to do with these characters with such a little book.
This is where this book was both a breathe of fresh air and a bit of a (and I HATE to say this) let down for me. I know, I know, but hear me out.
Nothing really happened in this book expect the lead up - and day of - Winter Solstice, which also happens to be Feyre's birthday. There's no major action scenes, there's no huge plot developments (well, there is the beginning of one but there's no spoilers here). This book is the most 'normal' we've seen these characters and I was kinda hoping that this little novella would end on a huge cliff hanger that would set up ACOSF, but we didn't get that, so that's where the disappointment lies for me. However, I feel like we just got to be with the characters in this book and I absolutely loved that. I loved that we got to spend just a little time with them when they're normal and happy and going about their daily lives. There were some really cute and domestic Feysand scenes and one of the highlights of this series for me, is the scenes with the Inner Circle, and the fact that this book has them all together again makes me so, so happy.
A Court of Wings and Ruin was so heavily action packed and so full-on, and so it was nice to just see these characters, that I've come to love so, so much, just be happy.
This book is more of a 3.5 star rating for me, but you can bet that I did not hesitate to round it up to 4 stars, because, despite there being no huge cliff-hanger that I was hoping for, it was a hug in a book and I got so spend a little bit more time with my favourite characters.
Verdict: ★★★★
Pages: 229
Publication date: 1st May 2018
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Genre: fiction, fantasy
About the book
Hope warms the coldest night.
Feyre, Rhys, and their close-knit circle of friends are still busy rebuilding the Night Court and the vastly-changed world beyond. But Winter Solstice is finally near, and with it, a hard-earned reprieve.
Yet even the festive atmosphere can't keep the shadows of the past from looming. As Feyre navigates her first Winter Solstice as High Lady, she finds that those dearest to her have more wounds than she anticipated--scars that will have far-reaching impact on the future of their Court.
Review
The ACOTAR series has fast become one of my all-time favourite series and if you've read my reviews on the first three full instalments, then you'll know that I absolutely loved each and every one, so when it came to picking up this 229 page novella, I really didn't know what to expect. This is a ~ c h o n k y ~ series and very action packed from the get go, and it left me wondering what, exactly, was Maas going to do with these characters with such a little book.
This is where this book was both a breathe of fresh air and a bit of a (and I HATE to say this) let down for me. I know, I know, but hear me out.
Nothing really happened in this book expect the lead up - and day of - Winter Solstice, which also happens to be Feyre's birthday. There's no major action scenes, there's no huge plot developments (well, there is the beginning of one but there's no spoilers here). This book is the most 'normal' we've seen these characters and I was kinda hoping that this little novella would end on a huge cliff hanger that would set up ACOSF, but we didn't get that, so that's where the disappointment lies for me. However, I feel like we just got to be with the characters in this book and I absolutely loved that. I loved that we got to spend just a little time with them when they're normal and happy and going about their daily lives. There were some really cute and domestic Feysand scenes and one of the highlights of this series for me, is the scenes with the Inner Circle, and the fact that this book has them all together again makes me so, so happy.
A Court of Wings and Ruin was so heavily action packed and so full-on, and so it was nice to just see these characters, that I've come to love so, so much, just be happy.
This book is more of a 3.5 star rating for me, but you can bet that I did not hesitate to round it up to 4 stars, because, despite there being no huge cliff-hanger that I was hoping for, it was a hug in a book and I got so spend a little bit more time with my favourite characters.
Verdict: ★★★★
Title: A Court of Wings and Ruin
Author: Sarah J. Maas
Pages: 705
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Publication date: May 2nd 2017
Genre: fiction
About the book
Feyre will bring vengeance.
She has left the Night Court - and her High Lord - and is playing a deadly game of deceit. In the Spring Court, Tamlin is making deals with the invading king threatening to bring Prythian to its knees, and Feyre is determined to uncover his plans. But to do so she must weave a web of lies, and one slip may spell doom not only for Feyre, but for her world as well.
As mighty armies grapple for power, Feyre must decide who to trust amongst the dazzling and lethal High Lords - and hunt for allies in unexpected places.
But while war rages, it is her heart that will face the greatest battle.
Review (Spoilers for books one & two!)
If you've read my other reviews on books one and two in the ACOTAR series, you'll know that I have instantly become immersed in the world of Prythian and it's kinda taken over my life (dramatic, but true) and A Court of Mist and Fury (book #2) especially, became one of my all time favourite books and I knew, just knew, that nothing could top that in this series for me. So whilst I still loved A Court of Wings and Ruin, it didn't quite top ACOMAF, but it was still very, very good, nonetheless.
The thing that stood out for me the most in this book was the complexity of the plot and how Maas created a story that is both engaging and highly entertaining with twists and turns along the way. I stopped trying to guess what would happen throughout this book as Maas has a tendency to completely rip away all expectations and assumptions and instead throws in unpredictable plot twists that completely flips the story on it's head, in the most wonderful way.
The majority of this book focuses on the build up towards the final battle against Hybern and the preparations the Night Court, along with all the other courts, are undertaking to ready for the war. Let me be clear, this is a very war heavy story, which is something we have been anticipating throughout the series, especially in the second book, and A Court of Wings and Ruin completely exceeded all my expectations. The TENSION, my god. I loved the dialogue and the interaction between all the Courts and their High Lords. Each High Lord brought something different to the table in terms of personality and temperament which made it very easy to differentiate between them all, which is something I feared I would struggle with but it wasn't an issue whatsoever. Having all seven High Lords present within this book really did open my eyes to the fictional world of Prythian and made me fall in love with it even more so than I already was - plus, there were a few High Lords I'd be very interested in reading more about in the future!
The actual battle scenes were great too and very well written and even heartbreaking at times. Maas proves time and time again what a wonderful writer she is and how diverse she can be. This portion of the book was fast-paced and full of drama, which is exactly what I expected and hoped for and I was not let down a single bit throughout these scenes. I also want to say, AMREN HOLY SH*T, you go girl.
The ONE thing I feel like was missing from this book, was the focus on Feyre and Rhysand and the general lack of anything relationship driven between the two of them. Yes, there are plenty of scenes with them together as High Lord and High Lady of the Night Court, but not in the same way that the previous books showed them. I feel like books #1 and #2 focused heavily on the romance aspect as much as they did the plot, but the #Feysand scenes were a bit lacklustre in ACOWAR and this was my main frustration with this book. Maybe it's because there was just so, so much going on in this book and given that it's just over 700 pages, that's a LOT of action. But I'd have happily have read another 50 or so pages if it meant we got a deeper insight into Feyre and Rhysand's relationship because goddamit they are just such a dynamic duo when they're together and they bounce off each other so well, which makes me a little bit sad that we didn't get as much of that as I would have liked. Or maybe it's because Feyre and Rhysand are together now, that tension and that build up wasn't considered necessary, but heaven only knows I missed it when reading this book and is ultimately why I didn't enjoy this book as much as the others.
One thing that really shocked me throughout this book - in a good way - was how much I now like Nesta. I mentioned in one of my previous reviews how much she irritated me, and if I think back to the first book, she still does to some extent, but she's changed and matured but still has that unreadable, no-nonsense-says-it-how-it-is attitude that is very much Nesta. Not only that, but she now has new, unidentified powers which makes me SO exited for A Court of Silver Flames that's due out next month. Whilst Feyre is completely immersed in her new role and new life as High Lady, Nesta is stuck in a battle of wanting to protect Elain, but also fighting an inner urge within herself and you can see the beginnings of said internal battles play out throughout this book.
This is the first book in this series that I've had a little moan about, but I don't want to take away from the fact that this is still a very, very good book. Would I read it again? Absolutely. I've seen a lot of people moan about the lack of deaths in this series and this book especially, but that doesn't bother me. I loved this installment, perhaps not as much as the others, but I still very much enjoyed it and I'm excited to see what comes next for these characters.
Verdict: ★★★★
This post might be a little late, but better late than never, right? Lately, I've been really, REALLY into series. There's just something about spending so much time with characters and stories and different worlds. I never was one for series and it I used to always take breaks inbetween books, but lately, I just want to devour a whole book series in one go. There are some series on my shelves that I've yet to start, or series in which I've read the first book and not finished the rest of the series, so this year, I'm going to make it my mission to read as many series as possible!
After by Anna Todd
I love me some smut (don't judge me) and this one came highly recommended by a friend. This story follows Tessa, who is a very well-behaved and ambitious to do well in life. She also has a sweet, reliable boyfriend and a mother who is intent to keep her good ways about her. Tessa moves away to college and it's there that she meets bad boy Hardin and his crowd of friends and we follow Tessa as she struggles to accept what she really wants in life. The first two books have been adapted into films and I've seen the first one and whilst it was 'okay', I wasn't blown away by it, however, I've heard the books are so much better and I'm excited to see what all the fuss is about.
Caraval by Stephanie Garber
I read the first book back in September 2019 and I really enjoyed it but never picked up the next two books for some unbeknownst reason to myself. We follow the story of Scarlett and Tella, who live on their tiny island with their abusive father. However, Scarlett dreams of seeing Caraval - the annual, magical performance where the audience participates in the show. The sisters run away to see Caraval, but it seems that this year, Caraval revolves around Tella, who is kidnapped as soon as they arrive and whoever finds her first is the winner. Scarlett has been warned that everything that happens during Caraval is only an elaborate perfomance but nevertheless, she becomes completely immersed in a game of love, heartbreak and magic. I'm probably going to re-read the first book, as I remember it was very adventure heavy and there's probably some major plot points that I've forgotten, but I'm excited to get through this series as I know I loved the first book.
ACOTAR by Sarah J. Maas
This is a series that I've completely fallen in love with. I read the first book at the end of December and have just started A Court of Frost and Starlight (book #3.5). A Court of Silver Flames is due out this month and I'm so excited to continue with this series. I'm listening to the audio book throughout the working day too because I just CANNOT. GET. ENOUGH. This story follows Feyre, as she is is brought into the immortal lands of Prythian after killing a fearie. Her life is forever changed and we follow her adventures as she navigates through her new life. This is a retelling of Beauty & the Beast as well as the lesser known fairytale "Tam Lin" and it's honestly just so, so good and I'm kicking myself for not having picked it up sooner.
Scythe (Arc of a Scythe) by Neal Shusterman
Again, this is a series I started and never finished. I've read books one and two but will 100% re-read these again as SO much happens and the books are so action packed. I remember exactly how the 2nd book ended and it was such a cliff hanger and I honestly do not have a single reason as to why I haven't picked up the 3rd book yet. Scythe is set in a world with no hunger, no disease, no war, and no misery. Humanity has conquered all those things, and has even conquered death. Now scythes are the only ones who can end life—and they are commanded to do so, in order to keep the size of the population under control. Citra and Rowan are chosen to train to become a scythe under an apprenticeship —a role that neither wants. These teens must master the “art” of taking life, knowing that the consequence of failure could mean losing their own.
Lies of Locke Lamora (Gentleman Bastard) by Scott Lynch
I honestly haven't read too much into this series, all I know is that it follows the tales and adventures of Lock Lamora, who is a talented and infamous thief - and that's basically the extent of my knowledge. Immediately it sounds right up my street and I'm kinda glad I'm going in basically blind to the narrative because I think this is a series that will be highly entertaining and full of action and adventure! It's been sitting on my shelf for a while now and I'm eager to complete this series this year!
Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella
I've read the first two books in this series and I recall enjoying them but not being blown away by them and so I'm just going to pick up the next instalment whenever it takes my fancy. This series follows Becky, who is comically bad with money, yet works as a financial advisor. It's your typical rom-com feel-good series that is entertaining and laugh-out-loud at times. If I'm blown away by a series, I will typically binge read them but this one is a 9 book series (which is a lot of books for one series!) and I don't feel the need to read them all in one go but instead take my time with them, so I'll be picking these books up throughout the year!
What series are you looking forward to reading this year?
Again, this is a series I started and never finished. I've read books one and two but will 100% re-read these again as SO much happens and the books are so action packed. I remember exactly how the 2nd book ended and it was such a cliff hanger and I honestly do not have a single reason as to why I haven't picked up the 3rd book yet. Scythe is set in a world with no hunger, no disease, no war, and no misery. Humanity has conquered all those things, and has even conquered death. Now scythes are the only ones who can end life—and they are commanded to do so, in order to keep the size of the population under control. Citra and Rowan are chosen to train to become a scythe under an apprenticeship —a role that neither wants. These teens must master the “art” of taking life, knowing that the consequence of failure could mean losing their own.
Lies of Locke Lamora (Gentleman Bastard) by Scott Lynch
I honestly haven't read too much into this series, all I know is that it follows the tales and adventures of Lock Lamora, who is a talented and infamous thief - and that's basically the extent of my knowledge. Immediately it sounds right up my street and I'm kinda glad I'm going in basically blind to the narrative because I think this is a series that will be highly entertaining and full of action and adventure! It's been sitting on my shelf for a while now and I'm eager to complete this series this year!
Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella
I've read the first two books in this series and I recall enjoying them but not being blown away by them and so I'm just going to pick up the next instalment whenever it takes my fancy. This series follows Becky, who is comically bad with money, yet works as a financial advisor. It's your typical rom-com feel-good series that is entertaining and laugh-out-loud at times. If I'm blown away by a series, I will typically binge read them but this one is a 9 book series (which is a lot of books for one series!) and I don't feel the need to read them all in one go but instead take my time with them, so I'll be picking these books up throughout the year!
What series are you looking forward to reading this year?
Title: A Court of Mist and Fury
Author: Sarah J. Maas
Pages: 626
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Publication date: May 3rd 2016
Genre: fiction
About the book
Feyre survived Amarantha's clutches to return to the Spring Court—but at a steep cost. Though she now has the powers of the High Fae, her heart remains human, and it can't forget the terrible deeds she performed to save Tamlin's people.
Nor has Feyre forgotten her bargain with Rhysand, High Lord of the feared Night Court. As Feyre navigates its dark web of politics, passion, and dazzling power, a greater evil looms—and she might be key to stopping it. But only if she can harness her harrowing gifts, heal her fractured soul, and decide how she wishes to shape her future—and the future of a world cleaved in two.
Review
I'm flying through the ACOTAR series (I'm already about 400 pages into the third book, which is fast for me!) and it's no surprising that I loved this installment just as much - if not more - than the first book given that A Court of Mist and Fury is so, so action packed and full of adventure despite the fact that there was also a tonne of character development and slow-burning romance (which we'll get onto later!)
Let's start with Feyre though, shall we? I mentioned in my ACOTAR review that I really liked Feyre as a character but I loved her in ACOMAF. Like, SO much. Is it weird to be kinda proud of a character? Maybe, but that's the best way I can describe how I felt about her in this book. Without giving out too many spoilers, I was really heartbroken for her at the beginning of the book and my heart went out to her, but by the end, she was a completely different person (in the most wonderful way) and I'm HERE FOR IT. The events that unfolded in the first book truely tore her apart, but she finds her true self in ACOMAF and she becomes a fierce, wild and daring - but also compassionate and merciful - character who can hold her own and knows her own mind and it's one of the best examples of character development I've read in a long, long time.
I don't want to say too much about the other characters because spoilers would then be extremely obvious but let's just say this; A Court of Mist and Fury is a reality check. Feyre isn't the only character who had character development like no other, and characters from the first book are completely flipped on their head in ACOMAF and I'm one hundred percent here for exactly that. If you read my review on the first book, I mentioned how Tamlin was a disappointment towards the end of the book and how he kinda just sat on the sidelines during Feyre's very, very brutal trails and didn't even TRY to intervene whilst Rhysand, who is apparently Tamlin's enemy, fights more and does more for Feyre than Tamlin did during their time Under the Mountain. Again - trying not to give spoilers - but I'm so, so satisfied with how things turned out for Tamlin, Feyre and Rhysand. I kinda had a teeny inkling of what might happen in this book but Maas blew me away with how it was executed.
I also mentioned in my last review how I was glad there wasn't a tonne of characters. We are introduced to a lot more characters in ACOMAF but I'm not entirely mad at it. The main bulk of the new characters comes from Rhysand's Inner Circle and the dynamic between them was incredible. We have the beautiful and fierce Morrigan, the strange and not-quite-of-this-earth Amren (who was my personal favourite out of the Inner Circle), cocky and arrogant Cassian and finally, the quiet and watchful Azriel. The four of them, plus Rhysand, made for entertaining dialogue and they ALL served a purpose to the story. They ALL has an important role to play and none of them felt like they were there for the sake of bulking out characters. There was a real sense of family between them and we get to know each of their tragic backgrounds, which makes it very easy to root for all of them. Then we're introduced to the King of Hybern, the mortal queens, Tarquin and Ianthe - again, all characters that gave something to the story. Alongside these new characters, we still see some old faces besides the main characters; Feyre's sisters Elain and Nesta along with Tamlin's emissary Lucien all make regular appearances throughout.
Okay, enough about the characters, let's get into what the book is REALLY talked about for; the romance, which seems to be make or break on people's opinions on these books. There's no denying that the romance is heavy and Maas focus's equally on the romance aspect as well as the adventure and action side of things. I thought the romance was really, really well done but I can absolutely see why it would be too much for some people. There's a lot of it, and when it gets heavy, it gets HEAVY. Having said that, Feyre is in complete control the whole time and the romance is a healthy and lively portrayal of a relationship and I was completely consumed by it. There was a real sense of mutual respect and honesty for each other; one did not outweigh the other in terms of power and status and they were equals in every right and it was downright empowering. The tension is hot as hell but the hilarious banter, spark and chemistry between them is what got me truely hooked. However, like I previously mentioned, this book is heavy on the steaminess, so if that's not your thing, them you might just want to skim read a few select chapters because this book goes ALL out. If you've read ACOTAR and thought that was raunchy, you're WRONG. This book is ten times more erotic than the first, hands down.
In terms of the world-building and the writing; Maas has somehow managed to expand the boarders of everything we knew about Prythian from the first book. There is so much more depth and history to this book that it seems we only got a very, very small glint of this crazy and monstrous world that we were introduced to in ACOTAR. We get to see so much more of the feared and mysterious Night Court and it's a completely different and vivid experience compared to the Spring Court that the first book focused on. Don't get me wrong, the two were never going to be the same, but they might as well have been on completely different continents. I was blown away by the Night Court. I expected something dark and eerie and unearthly frightening, and whilst there are certainly elements of all of those things, there was also so much light and life and grace and charm that emanates from within the boarders of the Night Court. We are introduced the city of Valaris in the Night Court, which is just so, so stunning and echos all that is good in a Court that has such a disheartening reputation; both of the Court itself and its High Lord.
The plot isn't anything super fast paced in terms of actual happenings and it's more focused on the build-up to the inevitable war that's raging in Hybern, but given that these are chunky books with small font, I feel like there was enough happening to keep me fully gripped whilst knowing there's much, much more to come in the next book. I honestly did not see the ending coming but I'm living for it. Maas has this tendency to completely flip things on their head in the most wonderful way and it leaves you instantly craving more. I was gripped at every single word and I'm already contemplating how long is an acceptable time to re-read this book (and the whole series!) again. Maas has absolutely outdone herself and I can honestly say, that this book might just be one of my all-time favorite books, ever.
Verdict: ★★★★★
Title: A Court of Thorns and Roses
Author: Sarah J. Maas
Pages: 419
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Publication date: May 5th 2015
Genre: fiction
About the book
Feyre's survival rests upon her ability to hunt and kill – the forest where she lives is a cold, bleak place in the long winter months. So when she spots a deer in the forest being pursued by a wolf, she cannot resist fighting it for the flesh. But to do so, she must kill the predator and killing something so precious comes at a price...
Dragged to a magical kingdom for the murder of a faerie, Feyre discovers that her captor, his face obscured by a jewelled mask, is hiding far more than his piercing green eyes would suggest. Feyre's presence at the court is closely guarded, and as she begins to learn why, her feelings for him turn from hostility to passion and the faerie lands become an even more dangerous place. Feyre must fight to break an ancient curse, or she will lose him forever.
Review
This is one of those books (and series) that I've put off reading for so, so long because JESUS these books are loved by a lot of people. Whenever a book (or a series of books) are this hyped, I always put off reading them and usually wait for the hype to settle down. Well, the hype for these books seems to never be settling down, and to be completely honest, I'm a tad bored with reading Christmas romance novels (don't judge me) and I wanted something completely different and I was itching to pick up something from the fantasy genre, which I haven't done in a long, long time.
Going into ACOTAR, I knew that, besides having a massive fan base, it was based on Beauty & the Beast, which (if I'm honest) isn't my favourite story of all time. Having said that, I really, really enjoyed this book and was kinda taken aback by how much I instantly got sucked into the story. The world-building is imaginative and thoroughly well thought out; from the different Courts in Prythian, to the mortal/immortal divide, to the lesser faeries and High Fea - everything was so detailed and so vivid which, for me, is hugely important for creating a dramatic and memorable world to become completely immersed into.
Sarah J. Maas's writing truely is fascinating and expressive and I loved that about this book, however, one tiny little niggle that I have is that the pacing was a little off for me. The beginning and the ending were fast paced, dramatic and had me wanting to read chapter after chapter. The middle section of the book however, was much slower and didn't give me that omg-I-need-to-know-what-happens-next feeling. That's not to say it was bad - because it certainly wasn't - it was just that I wanted more. You could argue that the author took her time building the relationship between Feyre and Tamlin, which is never a bad thing, but there was just that little element of something missing that I didn't get from the middle section of the book.
Aside from that, I really can't fault this story. I loved all of the side characters and even the characters I didn't like (Amarantha, I'm looking at you) I still loved to hate. It's a true testament to an author's writing when you can hate a character so much but LOVE that you hate them. There actually weren't as many characters as I was expecting, which I personally prefer as my confused little brain struggles to keep up with a tonne of characters, but each character had their own solid storylines and they never felt like 'filler' characters. Each added something to the story and I think because the story wasn't overloaded with too many characters, the characters that were included were well formed and meaningful to the plot.
The story follows Feyre, and is told from her perspective. I really liked Feyre as a character; she was strong and knew her own mind and was willing to do anything to save the ones she loved, both before and during her time in Prythian. She was constantly mistreated by her father and sisters, yet still risked going into the woods each day to hunt for food. And then whilst in Prythian, events eventually lead up to her facing the trails of Amarantha. It's difficult to say more without giving spoilers, but Feyre proves time and time again just how much she is willing to sacrifice in order to save others and I loved that about her. I have to say though, that Tamlin was a bit of a disappointment. Again, I don't want to say too much and give the story away, but towards the end, he put very little effort into anything and kinda just watched from the sidelines (if you know, you know) and I didn't like that about him. It seemed as if the side characters had more will to fight than Tamlin did and whilst he wasn't a bad character, he was... frustrating towards the end.
As a first time Maas reader, I have to give credit where credit is due. I was completely sucked into this story and flew through it. Was is perfect? No. Do I care? Also no. I have fallen in love with this story and her writing and I'm desperate to continue with this series and see what comes of Feyre and where her journey will take her next.
Verdict: ★★★★★
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