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Queen of Air and Darkness by Cassandra Clare

6/26/2019

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I'm just going to jump right into the review as I am feeling too lazy to really think out an intro, sorry. I have some mixed feelings about this book-- it's definitely my least favorite of Cassie's conclusion novels. Usually she's a goddess at writing the most satisfying and glorious conclusions, but here I found the finale somewhat lacking. The main reason for this is due to the fact that Cassie spent so much time setting up for her Wicked Powers series with the younger characters that there were way too many new issues opened and way too many loose ends created in this book. Like Cassie spent A LOT of time with Ty, Dru and Kit (lol I forgot what his nickname was and was like Chris? That doesn't sound right...) and creating tensions, plot lines and dramas there that are clear set ups for a series that is not this one. Usually Cassie's set ups or hints to other things are more subtle, and flow better with the story, yet this time it just made this book feel like another book in a series instead of a satisfying finale. 
A lot of people had issues with Clary and Jace's involvement in this book, but I would actually argue their parts were some of the best-- though, I may be completely biased seeing as I live for Jace and Clary. Like wow, wait... maybe I should save that comment for the spoilers section lol, but let it be out there that I have absolutely no issue with my TMI characters being involved in these or future books. 
So my biggest issue was with all the set up for another series, but the other thing that irked me was something that was supposed to irk me: Horace Dearborn and his biggoted followers. It's not at all subtle what Cassie is alluding to, and while I applaud her for adding her own social commentary, I found the big presence of Dearborn and his followers and what they were working for all together extremely depressing and irritating. Like I get it-- I KNOW that the political situation sucks in America, I couldn't agree with Cassie more on that, but I kinda read books to escape the real world, so reading a situation paralleling with what we're already dealing with just was depressing and irritating (as I already stated many times). This whole thing with the Cohort was also irritating because HOW DID NO ONE COMPARE HIM TO VALENTINE WHO WAS EVIL AND EVERYONE ABSOLUTELY HATES? Like they're the exact same, they even both hated downworlders?? Ugh. 
People were also making a shit ton of hasty, dumb decisions that got them into bad situations, which irked me as well. Actually, a lot of things just felt rushed in general, it was strange. There was also a LOT of drama in this book, and not the normal of level that felt actually enjoyable-- like a little too much. It just pushed certain things, which made the whole thing feel extremely melodramatic, especially the Julian-Emma situation. 
Okay, these are all my issues with it, but let me just remind y'all it's a Cassandra Clare novel-- obviously it's good! 8/10 stars, just there were some issues that stood out to me. OF course, it still had all the classic Cassandra Clare blending of action, relationships and characters that made a fantastic novel. It's just that I hold Cassie to on another level for ratings, which isn't exactly fair, but she's proven time and time again that she is a stellar author. 
Anyway, here's the synopsis: 

Dark secrets and forbidden love threaten the very survival of the Shadowhunters in Cassandra Clare’s Queen of Air and Darkness, the final novel in The Dark Artifices trilogy. 

What if damnation is the price of true love?

Innocent blood has been spilled on the steps of the Council Hall, the sacred stronghold of the Shadowhunters. In the wake of the tragic death of Livia Blackthorn, the Clave teeters on the brink of civil war. One fragment of the Blackthorn family flees to Los Angeles, seeking to discover the source of the disease that is destroying the race of warlocks. Meanwhile, Julian and Emma take desperate measures to put their forbidden love aside and undertake a perilous mission to Faerie to retrieve the Black Volume of the Dead. What they find in the Courts is a secret that may tear the Shadow World asunder and open a dark path into a future they could never have imagined. Caught in a race against time, Emma and Julian must save the world of Shadowhunters before the deadly power of the parabatai curse destroys them and everyone they love.


And here's the spoiler section of my thoughts on the novel: 

Okay, so I feel like the conflict all came down to Emma and Julian turning into nephilim, and it was epic how they utterly DESTROYEd everything but...I feel like they got off wayy to easy. Like the whole forbidden love has been pushed on us since page 1, but there were no consequences from anyone after the big fight and I felt like it was all too easy. 
Maybe this is just because I'm biased, but the whole Thule situation where the TDA crew fought felt blasphemous. Like uhhh ONLY the TMI crew can kill Sebastian. And also the fact that it said Julian was fighting toe-to-toe with Jace felt like a joke to me. Like Jace normally is already one of the best warriors there is, but since he has angel blood he is legit like the best fighter. Julian wouldn't stand a chance. 
Also blasphemous-- Zara using Cortana. Like, no, sweetie fuck off. 
Oh yeah, and the ending with everyone leaving Alicante was just annoying and an extremely obvious set up for more to come. Like this book would've been SO much better had it not been marketed as a conclusion. Kind of a similar situation to ACOWAR, actually. 
Basically my all time favorite parts of this novel were with all the old cast, which is bad, I know, but I'm just so partial to those characters. Like Alec proposing gave me the will to live ahh. And then when Clary cries and Jace wonders what he did wrong this time for the proposal! I LOVE THEM. OH MY GOD. lIKE AH. And then Thule Jace showed up and wanted Clary and... excussee me? leave my Jace ALONE. Lol, but seriously, my biggest investment in the next series is still about Jace and Clary... whoops. 
Thanks for reading, 
​Anji
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Kingdom of Ash by Sarah J. Maas

6/23/2019

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The epic conclusion to Sarah J. Maas' 7 book high fantasy series, the book we've all been waiting for for years upon years upon YEARS. Anticipation often leads to high expectations, and especially since it's SARAH J. MAAS, my expectations were pretty freaking high... And Miss Maas managed to not only reach that bar, but jump over it with Kingdom of Ash. 
Overall, unsurprisingly, this was an amazing novel, the only issues I have with it are small and nitpicky, which I will mention quickly in the spoiler section, but otherwise this was a stellar novel. 10/10 stars, each and every one is 100% deserved. The pace, the plot and the characters are all perfect. My biggest complaint about this book is that it's the end... I never wanted my time with the Court of Terrasen to end, and yet here we are. :( Honestly this series has meant so much to me and I'm SO sad to say goodbye and see it end... Still, this is one spectacular way for these characters to say adieu. (Obviously) they're all so badass in this novel, dealing with every ordeal and tribulation thrown their way. There's really nothing else to say, the book is perfect. Read it. 

Synopsis: 

Aelin Galathynius has vowed to save her people―but at a tremendous cost. Locked within an iron coffin by the Queen of the Fae, Aelin must draw upon her fiery will as she endures months of torture. The knowledge that yielding to Maeve will doom those she loves keeps her from breaking, but her resolve is unraveling with each passing day…

With Aelin captured, friends and allies are scattered to different fates. Some bonds will grow even deeper, while others will be severed forever. As destinies weave together at last, all must fight if Erilea is to have any hope of salvation.

Years in the making, Sarah J. Maas's New York Times bestselling Throne of Glass series draws to an explosive conclusion as Aelin fights to save herself―and the promise of a better world.

SPOULERS: 
here are my few nitpicky things: 
I really wanted to see Aelin just absolutely DESTROY everything with her fire, but of course, it makes total sense why she didn't. It was never about her powers. 
I'd been really excitedly waiting for Nox to be a huge plot point for several books, but lol nope he's there for about half and page and then buh bye. 
Where is Vaughn? Lol. That barely even matters, see? I told y'all, this book was absolute perfection. 

Also weird little flex but I got to meet Sarah for like half a second and it honestly made my life lol. 
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Miniature Review Warning

6/23/2019

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So basically I have a TON of reviews to write. I've read many, many books and have neglected to write reviews for all of them. Some of that was purposeful, because I wanted to dedicate a full review to these books (Kingdom of Ash, Wicked King, Queen of Air and Darkness) and most of them were not written just because a. I'm lazy or b. I didn't have time. At first I was thinking of doing multiple posts full of mini reviews, but instead I'm just going to do multiple posts of mini reviews, so sorry if you're wanting a full, giant review, these next thirty or so books are going to have short reviews, for the sake of time and also just because some of them I read almost a year ago. Maybe this will be better anyway, after all, a review isn't supposed to be too long, right? Also if you're curious about my general impression of the books, check me out and friend me on Goodreads as I always rate books as soon as I finish them. (Link in ABOUT section)
Here's a list of the reviews that will be coming soon to a blog near you: 

Kingdom of Ash by Sarah J. Maas 
Queen of Air and Darkness by Cassandra Clare
The Wicked King by Holly Black 
Match Me If You Can by Tiana Smith 
Love & Gelato by Jenna Evans Welch 
The Faithful and the Fallen (Malice, Valor, Ruin & Wrath) by John Gwynne 
Blood Witch by Susan Dennard 
The Fork, the Witch & the Worm by Christopher Paolini 
Colleen Hoover Collection: Ugly Love, Hopeless, Slammed, Point of Retreat, This Girl, Confess & November 9
Love, Life and the List & Fame, Fate and the First Kiss by Kasie West 
Finale by Stephanie Garber
The Last Magician & the Devil's Thief by Lisa Maxwell 
Again, but Better by Christine Riccio 
To Best the Boys by Mary Weber
9 Days & 9 Nights by Katie Cotugno 
Sorcery of Thornsby Margaret Rogerson 
We Hunt the Flame by Hafsah Faizal 
Bloodleaf by Chrystal Smith 
Unhooked by Lisa Maxwell 
Stain by A.G. Howard
Circle of Shadows by Evelyn Skye
Undying by Amie Kaufman & Meagan Spooner

Keep checking in! Hopefully these reviews will be posting VERY SOON (meaning hopefully I'll write them VERY soon) 
​-Anji
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    Anji Cooper

    Sushi Obsessed. Internet Geek. Aspiring Author. Avid Reader. Occasional Blogger. 

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