Imagine a world where humanity has conquered death. There is no way to naturally die, and you could theoretically live forever. In this world, there is no crime, no racism, no government, no religion, just life. It's a perfect utopia... right? Ruled over by the all-knowing Thunderhead, anything that can go wrong is prevented before it can even be thought of. People are free to live their life, or a million different lives. They have forever to do it. 
The only thing that can end life is a scythe. Scythes are a group of "honorable" people tasked with the burden of killing (or gleaning, as they call it). They are subject to no law but their own, but Scythes are supposed to be fair, unbiased and honorable. The top qualification to become a Scythe is that you can't want to. 
Scythe is a fantastic novel. I went into it feeling a little hesitant, after all, I've been burned by five hundred too many hyped up books before. But trust me, the hype is well worth it for this one. I'll admit, the beginning does feel a bit slow, but as you're forcing yourself to read it, you'll suddenly be sucked into the novel and not realize it until after the even has occurred. That's the only way to describe how the book grew on me. I was just eh and then I was SUPER INTO IT without really realizing the switch until far into the SUPER INTO IT stage. 
It's everything you want in a novel, compelling characters with an even more compelling plot with an even more compelling and intriguing world. 
Not only does Scythe provide an interesting story to read, but it also brings up interesting thoughts and conversations, if you're reading it with others, in regards to life and death. 
The story follows two teenagers, Citra and Rowan, and while the story may fall under "YA" because it follows two young adults, Scythe is anything but your typical YA novel. In fact, it's one of the most unique novels I've read in recent times. These two are individually chosen to apprentice for an honorable Scythe, possibly the most honorable Scythe there is-- Scythe Faraday... And well, let's just say that things get twisted because I don't want to spoil anything! 
I can't say much on this novel other then you're really going to have to trust me. It starts off boring, I know, but please, just trust me. It gets really good. I'd give the book 7-8/10 stars. I loved it. And also the second book is even better so you'll never get to experience that if you don't read this one first! 

Synopsis: 
​
Thou shalt kill.

A world with no hunger, no disease, no war, 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 apprentice to a scythe—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.

anyway, thanks for reading! 
​-Anj

I always try to write my reviews close(ish) to the time after I read them, because the longer the time between the review and actually reading the book, the less detail you can give. Here are three books that I read last year (2017) and never got around to actually fleshing out a full review. I know I use this excuse every time but I'm really sorry, it's a really busy year. I know these are all excuses but I'll give them to y'all anyway to ease my guilt. It's my junior year, and I'm taking all the hardest classes accessible to me = lots of work. Aside from that I also for some reason decided to take on a ton of extra work on the side including tutoring several students, being a producer for our school's play and musical plus I also do stats for the wrestling & lacrosse team plus I also do Cappies and I also like to enjoy just hanging out with my friends while also getting around to read occasionally. So yeah, lots of excuses but now you know why I don't write reviews quite as often. I actually haven't been having time to read quite as often, either, so sorry. 
Alright, now that you all are tired of hearing my excuses and about my busy life, here are some mini reviews to give you a feel for these three books. 

Rhapsodic by Laura Thalassa
What attracted me to this book? While scrolling through Tumblr on my occasional need to look for ACOMAF material (my favorite book), I heard this book had a similar set up of characters and story to A Court of Mist and Fury, and it had a good review. Obviously I had to get it immediately. Unfortunately, this book was just that. A rip off of A Court of Mist and Fury. Instead of using the good bits of ACOMAF and twisting them into a new and enterprising book, this just took the tropes and tried to rush into a story that readers will swoon over. Spoiler, I did not swoon. In fact, I spent most of this book rolling my eyes. I really wanted to like it, I did, but I just couldn't. 
Other than the characters' amazing journey and the well thought out plot in A Court Of Mist and Fury, that book worked so well because we were already attached to the characters and story and  knew the world from our experience with the first book. Also the writing in A Court of Mist in Fury was just beautiful. I've never fallen in love with a story and its characters more than my experience with A Court of Mist and Fury. I know, y'all might be thinking I might've enjoyed the book if I quit comparing it to my favorite book. It was impossible not to compare, though. In fact, Rhapsodic basically was A Court of Mist and Fury with just changed names, and instead of beautifully setting up a story to connect with like A Court of Thorns and Roses did, this book just rushed right into the part of the story everyone loved, as if trying to just get to the money//fans. There was no journey to get attached to the characters. They were just there already, as was their relationship. 
All together, I found this book to just be a mess. The characters were just meh, I didn't care for any of them. I was actually more annoyed with the choices they made more than I actually found myself connecting with them. There were scenes where I knew I was supposed to care and that were pivotal moments, but I just didn't because I didn't care enough about the characters (or at all, really). I think that's all due to the lack of set up for the story. Would A Court of Mist and Fury have done as well as it did without its first book? Who knows. 
I just couldn't fall in love, or even in like with this book. Sorry. 4/10 stars. I'm not all that interested in trying the next one. Might as well leave that to fans who actually enjoyed the book and leave out the low rating for it. 

Synopsis: 
​
Callypso Lillis is a siren with a very big problem, one that stretches up her arm and far into her past. For the last seven years she’s been collecting a bracelet of black beads up her wrist, magical IOUs for favors she’s received. Only death or repayment will fulfill the obligations. Only then will the beads disappear.

Everyone knows that if you need a favor, you go to the Bargainer to make it happen. He’s a man who can get you anything you want... at a price. And everyone knows that sooner or later he always collects.

But for one of his clients, he’s never asked for repayment. Not until now. When Callie finds the fae king of the night in her room, a grin on his lips and a twinkle in his eye, she knows things are about to change. At first it’s just a chaste kiss—a single bead’s worth—and a promise for more.

For the Bargainer, it’s more than just a matter of rekindling an old romance. Something is happening in the Otherworld. Fae warriors are going missing one by one. Only the women are returned, each in a glass casket, a child clutched to their breast. And then there are the whispers among the slaves, whispers of an evil that’s been awoken. 

If the Bargainer has any hope to save his people, he’ll need the help of the siren he spurned long ago. Only, his foe has a taste for exotic creatures, and Callie just happens to be one.

A Poison Dark and Drowning by Jessica Cluess
​As you may or might not recall, I was very enraptured with the first book in this series and was quite looking forward to book 2. Unfortunately, the second was not nearly as fun a read as the first. There was just so much about this book that felt rushed. Since I read it a long time ago, I don't recall the exact details of what irked me about this book, but I remember a lot of feeling irked and a lot of eye rolls. A lot of stuff happened in this book that I didn't particularly care about. There's a new character introduced that I could tell from the beginning was going to be a main, but I just didn't care for them. Still don't. 
Also, sorry, but Rook annoyed me even more in this book than he did in the first, so, yeah, I didn't feel all that bad for him and his plight. Yeah, it's been a long time so I don't want to start spouting off too much stuff because I can't accurately remember it all. 
Also the "plot-twists" were not so much as twists as they were just... there. The big reveals? Yeah, they were easily guessable from about five hundred miles away. 
I'm sorry for the rant. This is why I don't like to write reviews long after I read the book, it's easier to remember the negative, especially if there wasn't anything overwhelmingly positive. I'm sure there were good elements of the book, they just weren't great and they are forgotten in comparison to the negatives of the novel. All together, like the first book, I suppose you could call it a fun combination of classic tropes and cliches. (Which is part of what made it so predicable). 
If you enjoyed the first book, read this one. Why not? Don't let my short little rant stop you from reading it, because plenty people did enjoy this one. Don't take my word on this book too seriously since it's been too long for me to give an accurate review. All I can really accurately remember is being annoyed and liking this book less than the first. So if you didn't like the first all that much, maybe this isn't the book for you since the story doesn't actually get better... 
I can't decide what to give this book, I'm caught between 5-6/10 stars, so I'll leave it there. 
Synopsis: 
​
The magicians want her to lead. The sorcerers want her to lie. The demons want her blood. Henrietta wants to save the one she loves. But will his dark magic be her undoing?

Henrietta doesn’t need a prophecy to know that she’s in danger. She came to London to be named the chosen one, the first female sorcerer in centuries, the one who would defeat the bloodthirsty Ancients. Instead, she discovered a city ruled by secrets. And the biggest secret of all: Henrietta is not the chosen one.

Still, she must play the role in order to keep herself and Rook, her best friend and childhood love, safe. But can she truly save him? The poison in Rook’s system is transforming him into something monstrous as he begins to master dark powers of his own.

So when Henrietta finds a clue to the Ancients’ past that could turn the tide of the war, she persuades Blackwood, the mysterious Earl of Sorrow-Fell, to travel up the coast to seek out strange new weapons. And Magnus, the brave, reckless flirt who wants to win back her favor, is assigned to their mission. Together, they will face monsters, meet powerful new allies, and uncover the most devastating weapon of all: the truth.

One of Us Is Lying by Karen M. McManus
I often talk about how hype can completely ruin a book. This book was one that was severely overhyped. Sometime, I think it was over the summer ​everyone was talking about this book, you could barely turn a corner in the book world without hearing about One of Us Is Lying. Eventually, after a lot of resistance, I finally got sucked in and figured: screw it. I might as well try it out, I might be missing out. 
I wasn't. 
One of Us if Lying is advertised as a modern day "mystery" novel. The basic premise is that five students go into detention. The jock, the popular girl, the nerdy/good girl and the "bad boy" are all the classic cliches you need, and then the fifth is a student universally hated by everyone in his school. He runs a gossip blog and basically ruins everyone's lives. If you have a dark secret Simon posts about it. 
So when Simon is murdered in detention and it's discovered that he was about to make a post about everyone who was present in the detention room, they all instantly become suspects in his murder. 
Without spoiling on the mystery of the novel, I'd just like to say it was predictable and also poorly written/thought out. Why do I say that? Well, I predicted the murderer before I even opened the book. It's kind of hard to scrape by on calling the book a mystery if it's that predictable. 
By poorly written I mean the characters weren't written well enough for me to find them and their story compelling. There was not a single character in this book that had my sympathy/that I even remotely cared about. And the relationships? Don't even get me started. I know, I was suppose to majorly ship the bad boy and the good girl because that's a classic, right? I had to love it. I didn't, and it's not because that's a total cliche, because I love cliches. It's because the writing and the story, I just didn't particularly care for their relationship. At all, partially (mostly) due to the fact that I didn't actually care about any of them. They just weren't compelling, or written in a way that I could connect with them. 
And by poorly thought out? I mean this book caused a lot of controversy from a certain group of people, more on that in my spoiler section, but let me say I agree with this group 100%. 
Was it the hype that destroyed the book, or the book itself? I think a combination of both. I went into the book expecting great things, and was met with less than mediocre content, which made the let down even greater. All together, I was left unimpressed. 5/10 stars. 

Synopsis: 

The Breakfast Club meets Pretty Little Liars, One of Us Is Lying is the story of what happens when five strangers walk into detention and only four walk out alive. Everyone is a suspect, and everyone has something to hide. 

Pay close attention and you might solve this.

On Monday afternoon, five students at Bayview High walk into detention.
Bronwyn, the brain, is Yale-bound and never breaks a rule. 
Addy, the beauty, is the picture-perfect homecoming princess. 
Nate, the criminal, is already on probation for dealing.
Cooper, the athlete, is the all-star baseball pitcher.
And Simon, the outcast, is the creator of Bayview High's notorious gossip app.

Only, Simon never makes it out of that classroom. Before the end of detention, Simon's dead. And according to investigators, his death wasn't an accident. On Monday, he died. But on Tuesday, he'd planned to post juicy reveals about all four of his high-profile classmates, which makes all four of them suspects in his murder. Or are they the perfect patsies for a killer who's still on the loose? 
Everyone has secrets, right? What really matters is how far you would go to protect them."

SPOILERS 

Spoiler: ALL OF THEM WERE LYING, but not in the way that counted.
See, the author tried to make it a huge plot twist that none of them killed Simon. Except that wasn't plot twist, it was actually what I was expecting. What would be more of a plot twist and what I was hoping to occur (but not expecting) was that one of them actually did kill Simon, because that would've actually made the story interesting. Seeing inside the character's head the entire book and being fooled by them? And then seeing why, the motivation and how (they came up with the plan)? Yes. I would have absotlely loved that. In fact, if that had been the case it might have actually redeemed the novel somewhat in my eyes.
Instead, the novel took the predictable route and made Simon the culprit. Which is exactly what I had been expecting the entire time. 
And that group pissed off? It's the group saying that this book is mocking mental illness and using it as a get out of jail free card. I agree with that. As someone who's seen a lot of mental illness and is very close to it, I would say this was not a good way to represent it. At all. I could go on a whole rant on that topic, but I'll just leave it at I don't think this book handled the mental illness aspect well. 

Thanks for reading these rant-ish reviews. Sorry they were ranty. 
Love y'all! 
​Anj

The end is finally near and the stakes have never been higher. Magnus lies ready to rot in a box under the ground. Cleo has an inevitable battle to lose to a god attempting to overtake her body. Lucia has lost nearly all her magic, and nearly all her trust, while Jonas has discovered a well of magic inside him, yet still is unsure of his place in the world. 

This was one of my most anticipated releases of the year. The final book in the Falling Kingdoms Series, a book series that I've had a hate to love relationship with. I've never had such a 360 turn on my stance on a series. Going from disinterest to obsession. Especially with Magnus. I really went from hating to loving that character, and if that doesn't show spectacular character development, I don't know what does. 
Final books are hard to write. You have to wrap up all the lose ends in a satisfying manner. Otherwise the end will taint every reader's experience and memories of the entire series. It's a really difficult task, one that hardly any authors are able to meet. 
Unfortunately, Immortal Reign did not meet all my greatest expectations. To be fair, I did have some great expectations for this book, and at the same time I was a little doubtful. One of this series' biggest flaws is pace/timing. It has a tendency to rush some plot lines while keeping others feeling much too slow. This book was no exception. Maybe the reason I can't quite forgive this rushed/slowed plot is because this is the final book. At the end of the last book I feared there was too much to wrap up in one more book, and I fear that fear was not overly misplaced. 
While some elements of this story were fantastic, others were just not timed right. In fact, the pacing for most of this book just felt wrong. It was either too fast, or too slow. Don't get me wrong, the book was still good, but I just really wished I could've enjoyed the experience a little more. 
Of course, I was always welcome to both Magnus and Cleo's chapters, it would seem they were the only characters I really felt invested in by this book. I didn't care to read about any others, in fact, their chapters just felt long and arduous. Side Note: I'm not just saying Magnus and Cleo chapters were perfect, because they weren't. Some of their pacing was off as well, but I just felt happier when reading their bits. The others? The stakes didn't even seem to matter that much to me, I was just bored with the story and the characters, and I think that was mostly due to the pacing. It didn't allow me to just sink into the story, I kept getting thrown off. 
Other than pacing the other main thing that I just got irked by in the novel is how easy and ​convenient everything felt. That helped with the issue of pacing, how fast it felt sometimes. There was no challenge to the story, and if there was it seemed to be wrapped up in the next page. There was never enough suspense to actually get me on the edge of my seat. I was never really al that worried-- I knew things would turn out fine because before I could even start worrying, it was resolved. I get it, the novel had to finish the story, but... Still. It could've been a million pages long for all I cared, I just wanted the perfect book. (I get it, it's hard to write the perfect book. And I did enjoy parts of this book, I did! But I'm just disappointed this was how it had to end.) 
All in all, I can't give an unbiased rating on this book, so I really don't know how to rate it. My instinct is to rate it higher due to my attachment to the series, but my critic senses call for me to lower that rating, knowing my bias for the series. So I'm going to give this book a 6-7/10 stars, because I just don't know how to rate it. Sorry for all the complaining, it's just easier to point out the flaws than the good things. Plus the flaws tend to stick with you longer, and I actually read this book a bit ago. I don't want you to come out of this review thinking this book was all bad, because there really were good parts, I promise. I was just overall disappointed because it's the end of a series I'm highly invested in. 

Synopsis: 
​
As two lethal elemental gods set out to destroy Mytica, sworn enemies must become allies in the final fight to save the kingdoms.

Jonas continues to willfully defy his destiny, but the consequences of plotting his own course are drastic. As the fight for Mytica rages on, he must decide just how much more he's willing to sacrifice.

Lucia knows there's something special about her daughter and she'll do anything to protect her, even if that means facing Kyan alone.

Amara is called back home to Kraeshia. Grandma Cortas has her own plans for Mytica's future. She promises Amara power, revenge, and dominance if she agrees to be part of her scheme.

Magnus and Cleo's love will be put to the ultimate test. Dark magic is causing widespread destruction throughout the kingdom. Enemies across the sea are advancing. And unrest is stirring throughout the land. Is their love strong enough to withstand the outside forces tearing them apart?


SPOILERS BELOW 

I know, no author can be perfect. If you kill of characters people are upset, but if you don't, your readers are still upset. None of the main characters died in this book, and I was actually never worried about any of them dying because I just got the feeling it wouldn't happen. Yes, I want a happy ending for my beloved characters, but I also didn't feel like there was anything at risk, also there was no real cost of this huge war. The way to get people invested is to make the stakes high, to show the cost, and in this the stakes were not all that high and there wasn't much of a cost. 
The only big(ish) character who actually died was Gaius, and we all knew he was going to die anyway. Sure I didn't want Cleo or Magnus to die, but wouldn't it make the novel have more of an impact? If the people who hosted the elements died? 
Y'all know where I stand on Lucia, and that still hasn't changed. I dislike her. And Jonas? I didn't particularly care for him either. I found myself just wishing for Magnus or Cleo chapters on any chapters that weren't about them, because nothing that happened seemed all that interesting. In fact, things that happened in Magnus and Cleo's weren't all that riveting either, I just like their characters. Don't even get me started on Amara's chapters. Do I care? Nope. No I do not. Nor do I care for her happy ending, because she was never a character I was particularly invested in. I guess Amara could be compared to Manon from Throne of Glass. The difference is, the way Manon was written and the plot she takes part in makes her a far more interesting character who you can get invested in, while Amara was just dull and annoying to me. 
Everything just felt rushed. Like it all happened, then it was over. Such as the big finale? How many pages was that? five? And you think they're dead... never. Because it's all resolved so soon, plus the finale didn't really feel like it had all that much risk, either. Also everything just happened so easily, such as Magnus getting into the castle at the end. Cleo had to like get fire taken out of her path by Lucia, how did Magnus get there for his convenient little interruption? And then there were just the slow bits that I couldn't wait to have over. All in all, it was a strange book that I have very mixed feelings about. I want to love it... but I just can't. 
Thanks for reading, 
​Anj

"And yet none of those things seems valuable anymore. None of those are true power. True power isn't granted. True power can't be taken away." 

Holly Black's novel, The Dark Prince, is a dark story full of intrigue, cruel beauty and twists around every corner. If you're tired of cliched plot lines, The Cruel Prince is the book for you. It's an extremely original story with twisted characters. There's no 'good,' everyone has their faults, and boy, are they big faults. You might even call them evils. 
I loved this novel, it really was a great way to start off the year, entirely different from what I was expecting. There was no way I could've predicted the end of the novel from the first few chapters, the story's motives keep changing and expanding.
Of course, going into the book I wasn't sure what to expect either. I've never read a Holly Black book, but after this one I'm sure I'll be trying another one of her stories soon. Before reading The Cruel Prince, I wasn't sure if it was modern day or if it had a fantasy setting. All I knew was that there were faeries, the protagonist was a human living amongst them, and that there was, well, a cruel prince. All elements that are bound to draw me to the story to begin with-- I love faeries. And I love "mean" characters, because there's usually a reason for their malice, and the meaner the better the backstory. 
Just everything about this novel was a pleasant surprise. It was modern day, but that didn't take away from the aura of the faeries. Where the story begins and ends are drastically different places, despite the book not taking place over a long length of time. Priorities change very quickly over the course of the story, and I loved that. 
This book is a combination of telling the story of a complicated family relationship, harassment, magic, and courtly politics. How do you fit those all together smoothly into a story? I have no idea, but somehow Holly Black was able to make it work. Somehow you get a modern tone in a world feels anything but. The book deals with modern, seemingly un-fantasical issues like bullying at school, while also depicting magic and the intrigue of court. I just can't emphasize how amazed I am at how smoothly and well this book read despite the combination of different topics. It's one of the main factors in making this book seem very original and different from most other stories. 
While I can't promise the story has a fast start, it's not exactly slow either. From almost the first few pages I felt like I was sucked into the story. Not because there were any particularly BIG events and plot twists to draw my attention, no, the story had to set those up first. No, I was drawn in because of the narration. The tone, and... the setting. I don't know, everything just seemed to make me want to stay in the novel, to continue because I knew it was going to get even more interesting soon. Not that I was bored... I don't know how to explain it. I guess I could say that I was ​intrigued from the very beginning, and then my investment in the story only grew from there. 

"The odd thing about ambition is this: You can acquire it like a fever, but it is not so easy to shed." 

The rest of the quote is real interesting but it's spoilery so... 

Jude is The Cruel Prince's protagonist. She's a human living in the faerie world... which makes her life extremely complicated. To her and everyone around her, she looks inferior to their immortal perfection. Yet Jude is determined to prove her worth. She's quite the ideal protagonist. She's a fighter, not one to be pushed over (as you will quickly realize), and her morals are far from perfect. Jude is twisted. She's lived in a twisted world of clever deceit for so long that she's basically become part of it. What I'm trying to say is that Jude isn't exactly good. I wouldn't categorize her as an anti-hero, but she certainly isn't a full on hero, either. Jude falls somewhere in-between, which is part of why she's such a fun protagonist to follow. 

"You're like a story that hasn't happened yet. Because I want to see what you will do. I want to be part of the unfolding of the story." (okay, that might not be quoted correctly, sorry, I have picture and the quote moves onto another page.) 

Then there's Cardan, the cruel prince. And boy, he is pretty cruel. He certainly wasn't what I expected, going into the novel, but then again, nothing in this novel was what I expected. He's... dark, like all the characters in the novel, yet somehow he came out to be one of my favorites. I'm fascinated by his relationship with Jude. (not that they have a relationship, just the way they interact with each other). I don't want to give anything away, I'll just say I had a lot of fun reading their interactions at certain points in the story. Cardan is a mystery, and it was certainly hard to figure him out. You think you got him down in a box, and then he'll do something that completely blows those walls open. 
All and all, I would give The Cruel Prince 8/10 stars. It was a fantastic read, and I'd highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys a bit of fantasy, faeries, court intrigue or just something new, different from the usual type of story. It's a fun book, or, in the words of Leigh Bardugo it's "lush, dangerous, a dark jewel of a book." Couldn't agree more. If you like happy, light books, this isn't for you, but if you enjoy a bit of betrayal and a story that'll keep your mind on its toes, this is the one for you. 

Anyway, here's the synopsis: 

Of course I want to be like them. They’re beautiful as blades forged in some divine fire. They will live forever.

And Cardan is even more beautiful than the rest. I hate him more than all the others. I hate him so much that sometimes when I look at him, I can hardly breathe.

Jude was seven years old when her parents were murdered and she and her two sisters were stolen away to live in the treacherous High Court of Faerie. Ten years later, Jude wants nothing more than to belong there, despite her mortality. But many of the fey despise humans. Especially Prince Cardan, the youngest and wickedest son of the High King.

To win a place at the Court, she must defy him–and face the consequences.

In doing so, she becomes embroiled in palace intrigues and deceptions, discovering her own capacity for bloodshed. But as civil war threatens to drown the Courts of Faerie in violence, Jude will need to risk her life in a dangerous alliance to save her sisters, and Faerie itself.


SPOILERS BELOW FOR THE CRUEL PRINCE, DO NOT READ IF YOU HAVEN'T READ THE NOVEL YET


Let's just start this part off with some self-satisfaction. I KNEW I COULDN'T TRUST LOCKE. Neve trust the friendly guy in this kind of story. It's the cruel ones that show exactly who they are, like my lovely bae, Cardan. Locke was just hiding behind a friendly mask. He's actually a dick and I KNEW IT. Sorry, just proud of myself for figuring that out. And I also had a good guess that Locke was Taryn's suitor. 
"I have lied. I have betrayed. I have triumphed." 
​Let's just ask what the hell kind of sister is Taryn? Sure she "warned" Jude, but seriously? She's.. Ugh. I really hate disloyalty and that is the prime example of it. 
Now, thinking of Cardan. At first I thought he was a love interest. But then I Was like oh shit nope. He's VERY cruel. No chance of a romance there. And then it turned around when she found that paper with her name all over it. Jude thought that was a sign of hate but like... Nope people don't do that when they hate you. I loved the interaction with Cardan and Jude, and that's the thing I'm really looking forward to seeing more of in the next book. 
Cardan... Ah just wow. All the interactions in the 2nd part of the book just had my mind grinning. I can't describe it, I just loved it. After the party when he's completely under her control and they decide to "work together." Wow. Fantastic. 
Okay, so the last bit of the book moved a little fast. At first it seems like a normal, perhaps slow paced story to start off with. Little odd mix of modern day and faerie, and then the next part of the novel went wholly fantasy on us and moved so quickly! Jeez. like the negotiations just breezed through. Then the end, wow. The throne room scene? I was on the edge of my seat. (I actually was, I like to sit on the edge of my seat to keep good posture.) The betrayal of Cardan (somehow that betrayal was okay, haha.) and then his words to her at the end of the book? AH. Get me the next book this instant. 
And then there's that whole thing with Dain. And all the siblings, really. Like, wow, I was not expecting them to all get wiped out! I was expecting that Dain issue to come into play in books to come, but it's great now that he's dead. Surprising, and missing out on some potential with continuing sibling rivalry, but it was REALLY surprising. Something that doesn't happen in too many books today. I have to respect that creative decision because it really started off the new, different part of the story. 

Anyway, thanks for reading. 
-Anj

​Beauty can often hide darkness. Imagine a song, so beautiful and so simple, played on a violin... It may be the last thing you ever hear. Our Dark Duet is the haunting, yet beautiful sequel to Schwab's This Savage Song. 
If you read my review for This Savage Song, you'll know that I have mixed feelings about Schwab's writing style. I find it both riveting and... boring at the exact same time. You may be wondering how is that possible? And my only way to respond to that is I have no freaking clue. Well, I felt the same about this book as I did the last couple Schwab's books I read. I couldn't put my finger on whether I was bored or extremely intrigued with the plot line. That's just how the story works. 
Still, I loved seeing where Kate and August went after the events in This Savage Song. Kate quite literally went somewhere else, to another whole city, while August went somewhere different mentally. Doing the hard things so that other people don't have to. 
Again in this novel, these two characters offer such an interesting contrast to each other, except for this time, the roles seemed to have been flipped. Kate seems to be (slightly) more hopeful, and optimistic, while August has left that part of him behind. 
I really don't know how I felt about this book. I didn't love it, but I thought I did at some points, but I definitely don't hate it, despite the fact that at some points in time, I had no trouble just putting the book down and away. I think that's just what Schwab's writing does for me. 
On that note, I also am not sure how I feel about how the story really played out either. Yeah, it provides an interesting story... But while some parts of the plot felt rushed and hurriedly hashed over, others felt arduous, like they'd never, ever end. 
I think the most interesting part of this story would have to have been the relationship dynamic between Kate and August. I just love how they interact and think of each other. They're what I really had no mixed feelings about for this book. I love these characters, and they'll stick with me for a long time. 
As far as conclusions go, this story is far from the worst, it's just not the best, either. I'd give this book a... 6.9/10 stars. Not quite a 7, but definitely not a 6. If you've already started the books, then why not finish them? I felt basically the same way about this book as I did about the first so... Yeah. If you liked the first then read the second. It you didn't? Then don't read it. 
Sorry if this review was unhelpful 

Synopsis: 

THE WORLD IS BREAKING. AND SO ARE THEY.

KATE HARKER isn't afraid of monsters. She hunts them. And she's good at it.

AUGUST FLYNN once yearned to be human. He has a part to play. And he will play it, no matter the cost.

THE WAR HAS BEGUN.

THE MONSTERS ARE WINNING.

Kate will have to return to Verity. August will have to let her back in. And a new monster is waiting—one that feeds on chaos and brings out its victims' inner demons.

Which will be harder to conquer: the monsters they face, or the monsters within?

SPOILERS BELOW 
When Kate and August finally met... i was so excited. That was what I had been waiting the entire book for! Also can we just comment on how Kate's fake last name was Gallager? Cause AWWW.  Yeah, there's a bit of a controversy over the bit of romance in the book, some people loved it, while others didn't. I didn't actually mind the romance, I thought they'd make a good pair other than the fact you know, August would always kind of want to steal Kate's soul... 
Well... On to the ending. I'm a bit disappointed that Kate died, but I'm very happy that a part of her will always live on in August. I think that's a pretty cute idea. Though, I am disappointed that we never got any closure on her friends in Prosperity, or I should say how they never got any closure on her. They might think her dead, or they might think she just decided to never come back... And that makes me sad. It's realistic, but sad all the same. 

Anyway, thanks for reading. 
​Anj

Imagine this. A rich world of magic, action, fantasy and adventure, with a witty protagonist and an intruiging plot. A story following an extraordinarily powered group attempting to defeat a seemingly undefeatable enemy. Want a story chalk full of cleverly done plot twists-- one that will forever be one of the most spectacular series you will ever read? Yeah, this is the series for you... Kind of. Tower of Dawn is a spin-off// companion novel to the Throne of Glass Series by Sarah J. Maas aka the author of my favorite book of all time as well of two of my favorite series, one of them being this one.
Throne of Glass follows cocky assassin Celaena Sardothien as she compeats for her freedom... well, that's the first book. I guarantee the next books in the series get better and better. I promise, if you like fantasy novels, this is the series for you. There's no going back after reading a Maas book, so I'm warning you now, it's going to be hard to find other fantasy novels that compare. If you're interested, I highly encourage you to go check that book out-- it's a great series. That's all I really feel the need to say about it (it's your loss if you don't read it), but if you haven't read this series up to Queen of Shadows (Book 4) or even Empire of Stoms (5), I don't reccomend reading further. This review will contain spoilers for those books, so read them first!
Anyway, on to talking about Tower of Dawn. First off, just a quick comment on the over. It's a pretty good cover, it just doesn't look like it belongs in the Throne of Glass series. It looks more like a... Game of Thrones book. I like it, I just don't like how it doesn't fit in. In with the rest of my books. On to the Tower of Dawn book, I'll start this review (not actually starting it anymore, is it?) by saying how I felt going into this book. Eh. Chaol? No too interested in him, especially after reading Queen of Shadows. Then I really wasn't into him. He was pretty much a dick for the entirety of that book.
Coming out of this book? I felt the complete opposite. I felt reluctant to end the story, and beyond excited to read the last Throne of Glass book (which is shocking, seeing how much I was already eagerly anticipating that release.) 
Tower of Dawn follows Chaol Westfall and Nesryn Faliq as they venture south to Antica in search of someone with the ability to heal Chaol's fractured spine. Antica holds the world's best healers, and among them is Yrene Towers, a young woman who has an intense dislike for men of Erilea. Especially those associated with the monarchy. She also has a special connection to a certain blonde, hot headed assassin we all know and love... Basically if you haven't read The Assassin's Blade before this, I recommend you do, because it gives a little back story between Celeana and Yrene. 
This book is set in a fascinating and rich world, and Maas' world-building are spot on. In every book she improves her technique, and this book may be the best book in terms of world-building yet. As well as character building, there was a whole cast of new characters introduced in this book, and not one of them felt flat. No, instead all of them are well-founded, fascinating characters with different motives driving each of them. I was intrigued to learn more about each character, and still am. I hope to be seeing a lot more of these characters in the future, as well as their mythology and their word in general. 
This book all around surprised me, the writing, world-building, character-building, and all the technical aspects were phenomenal, as was the plot-- which was intriguing. All in all this book was the epitome of good books, it has everything you could ever want... Except maybe Aelin and Rhysand as principal characters, but hey, I can't be that picky, can I? 
Not only was this book a great story, it was also not your typical YA story cutout (then again, are Maas' books ever?), its plot went in a direction that I wasn't expecting going into it, and that somehow made the book even better. The relationships in the book were the thing that surprised me the most, I just loved the way they were built, and just the different way the characters saw each other// the different relationships all the characters had. 
That had to have been my favorite part about reading this book-- it went in a direction I wasn't expecting at the beginning, and not a complete 360 hey I hate this because I never saw it coming direction change. I saw it changing and was kind of like no, is this really happening? It was a change you, as the reader, can really appreciate, because of how it helps further the characters and their journeys. Though, I did also love the world-building. I think I'm now officially in love with Antica. Just everything about it, including the complicated royal family that we didn't see nearly enough of (and trust me, you see a lot of them). Honestly I can see an entire series just set in this world as well. 
I'm giving Tower of Dawn 9/10 stars. Yeah, it was that good. I absolutely loved it. If you love the Throne of Glass Series and have hesitations about reading this book? Chuck those hesitations out the window because trust me when I say this book will blow you away. (Blow us all away *whistling*) This is not a book you want to miss, and not just because you might get confused when the last book comes out, but also because of just how amazing this story is on its own. Seriously, you'll regret not reading this one. Don't miss out on this fantastic journey.

Synopsis: 

In the next installment of the New York Times bestselling Throne of Glass series, follow Chaol on his sweeping journey to a distant empire.

Chaol Westfall has always defined himself by his unwavering loyalty, his strength, and his position as the Captain of the Guard. But all of that has changed since the glass castle shattered, since his men were slaughtered, since the King of Adarlan spared him from a killing blow, but left his body broken.

His only shot at recovery lies with the legendary healers of the Torre Cesme in Antica—the stronghold of the southern continent's mighty empire. And with war looming over Dorian and Aelin back home, their survival might lie with Chaol and Nesryn convincing its rulers to ally with them.

But what they discover in Antica will change them both—and be more vital to saving Erilea than they could have imagined.

SPOILERS  

OKAY HOW ON THE EDGE OF YOUR SEAT WERE YOU THE ENTIRE BOOK, WAITING FOR CHAOL TO BE LIKE "YO GUESS WHAT? YOUR SAVIOR? THAT'S AELIN, THE QUEEN I WORK WITH AND AM TRYING TO GET HELP FOR." Like seriously that was me for this whole book. Like WHEN WILL SHE FIND OUT???!!  She finally did, but it wasn't shown in the pages which was SO ANNOYING BECAUSE I WAITED THE WHOLE BOOK FOR THIS!!
(Also, side note: how heart breaking is it gonna be when Yrene thinks she's meeting her savior, but her savior has no idea who she is, because it's actually Lysandra?) (Also, is Maas incapable of writing wedding scenes??? Huhhhhh?1) 
The unpredictable thing I Was talking about above was the whole Nesryn and Chaol thing not working out. I went into the book assuming they were an established couple and came out pleasantly surprised. That's what's so fantastic about Maas-- she doesn't follow the whole established couple thing. It can change at any moment, and when I started to notice a thing between Chaol and Yrene, I couldn't believe it. But then it happened, and I was happy about it. Especially because you know, Sartaq and Nesryn. Can I get a hell yes? 
That entire time they were out with Sartaq's bird people I was getting a whole Illyrian vibe, which I appreciated. I also loved the whole relationship development between Sartaq and Nesryn, because when you look at Nesryn and Chaol's relationship it was really doomed to die-- he never went to see her family, and it was clear from the start of the book they didn't have that BAM love feel between each other. 
Back to being out with the bird people, oh my god, that scene where Sartaq didn't fit through the chasm? I almost died when I thought Sartaq was actually gonna die for good. Like nooooo, luckily we saved my baby. But yay for that cuteness between Nesryn and Sartaq. Going into this book I didn't think I'd get attached to the relationships, but look at me. I did. 
And then that scene where there was a giant wolf I was SO excited because IT'S ONE OF THE CADRE. Nope it was a shoe shifter... bummer, but still, he was a cool guy who's Lysandra's uncle (that was pretty predictable), so I guess it was okay. 
Also how frustrating is it that we spent the whole book healing Chaol's back only to have it permanently broken again? That irked me, like ugh, all that hard work down the drain. 
And that Aelin part at the end? SOMEONE GET ME INTO 2018 RIGHT NOW BECAUSE I NEED THIS NEXT BOOK!!
Thanks for reading, 
​Anj

Several years ago, when I was a Wattpad fanatic, I started reading this insanely popular book called The Bad Boy's Girl by Jessgirl93. I don't remember much about that book, but I do remember that I really enjoyed it. So when I found out that this book was published? I knew I had to pick it up. 
The Bad Boy's Girl follows Tessa O'Connell, a high school senior content to live her life hopefully flying under the radar. She lives in constant fear of her peers, who bully her mercilessly... That is, until the one person she would've never expected comes back into her life and turns everything upside-down. 
Cole Stone, the brother of the boy Tessa's hopelessly in-love with. He tormented her through her childhood, but now he's back. And he's different. Cole is kind. And he pushes Tessa to be better, to actually live a real life. 
Tessa is a highly relatable character, she's not aloof. She feels real. She's someone the reader can really connect with and understand. And she's funny (as is the story in general.) 
Cole, Cole is basically everything you want in a boy, or I want in a boy. Dark hair sarcastic attitude and a heart of gold underneath all the blunder. What a perfect boy, he proves over and over again how perfect he is through his acts of chivalry towards Tessa. He's back and he's there to prove that he's the one for Tessa O'Connell. 
All in all, this book was a really fun read. It has the components that would win me over in a contemporary novel. Funny, relatable protagonist, bad boy with a heart of gold and an entertaining plot line. The protagonists aren't the only well shaped characters in the story either. No, there are some side characters included who are very well rounded. 
Thing is, the book had such a strong start. The first two thirds of it were fantastic. It was a fun, lighthearted read. Just a book that would make your day better, you know? Aside from having some grammatical flaws, The Bad Boy's Girl was, sorry I'm repeating myself a lot, but the perfect contemporary read. 
And then the last third of the book... This is the reason I'm so conflicted about the story. The ending of a story is really the major thing that sticks with you after you finish it... And the last third of the Bad Boy's Girl was highly disappointing. Actually, the last third of the book really felt unneeded and actually felt more like it was dragging. It kind of felt like it forgot all the side characters and just concentrated on Cole-Tessa and that got... boring. Just the same little things happening over and over and the tension just felt really arbitrary and forced. No, I'm not just upset about the ending because by then I didn't really care that much, plus I've also read the Wattpad version so I know there's more to the story. Basically, the last third of the book kind of ruined it for me. It was forced and just... Meh. I didn't enjoy it. Which is why the star rating is lower than it should be for all the praise I gave for the beginning. 
Would I recommend this book? ... Not sure. See, as I keep repeating over and over. The beginning 2/3s is GREAT. It's the perfect story, it just drags near the end. I want to really like this book, I do... But I just can't get over the ending, I'm sorry. Also the editing is pretty poor-- there are a lot of grammatical errors. But I understand that because I make grammatical errors all the time (I bet there are about a million in this very review), but I would expect it to be a little more clean in a published book. All together I'd give the Bad Boy's Girl 6/10 stars. I've said all I want to say on the topic. Actually, I've just repeated the same thing over and over again. So I think you all know how I feel about it. Sorry this review sucks, I'm just really conflicted over this book and also have a big back up of reviews and it's been a while since I actually read the book. 

Synopsis: 

“Some people bring out the worst in you, others bring out the best, and then there are those remarkably rare, addictive ones who just bring out the most. Of everything. They make you feel so alive that you’d follow them straight into hell, just to keep getting your fix.”
— Karen Marie Moning, Shadowfever

Tessa O’Connell is a girl as ordinary as they come-or so she thinks. Her aim for senior year is to keep her head down yet somehow manage to convince her childhood love Jay Stone to love her back. What she isn’t prepared for is for Jay’s brother, Cole to return to town and change the life she’s always been seemingly content to live. Tall, gorgeous as all hell and a bad boy with ocean blue eyes and the perfect edge of adorability, he was her greatest tormentor, her number one enemy.But the guy that’s come back is like no one Tessa’s ever come across. He challenges her, he tests her limits, he forces her to bring out the girl she’s long ago buried under a veil of mediocrity and most of all he compels her to consider that perhaps the boy that infuriates her to the point of no return might just her guardian angel.

Warning: The story comes with a bad boy notorious for making you swoon, inducing hysterical laughter and making you question whether you could purchase a clone on ebay

Anyway, thanks for reading. I'm sorry my reviews have sucked lately, please bear with me, I've been very busy and haven't had much of a chance to write. Also... Yeah. Well. I'll try to clean them up! 
Love you all, 
Anj

Cute, light and happy, everything you want in a contemporary novel. How do introverts fall in love? Apparently texting. Maybe I should try it out sometime, haha. 
Several years ago when I was super into Wattpad, I started reading this story called the Cell Phone Swap. I really enjoyed it, so when I saw this book, the published version, I just knew I had to get it. And I do not regret that choice in the slightest. 
Extrovert follows Keeley, an introverted girl who's always lived in the shadow of her brother Zach, who's captain of the football team and one of the most popular boys in school. She's never been the star of her family or her school, that was always Zach's place. Then, one day Keeley accidentally swaps phones with someone who happens to be an extremely attractive guy. 
While Textrovert is every cliche put to the max, it's still highly enjoyable. This book doesn't use the cliches in that annoying I've-read-this-one-million-times before way. No, it actually uses the cliches in the way that you can enjoy the classic adorable tropes. Sure, everything was extremely predictable, but aren't all contemporary novels? The fun of contemporary novel isn't the mystery, it's the journey the story takes you on. :Like how much you smile and laugh while reading this book. 
I frequently found myself grinning from ear-to-ear whilst reading this book, as well as squealing from the adorability of it. 
An extra just cute factor of the book is that it's formatted so that the texts sent between Keeley and Talon are depicted as actual texts, which I just absolutely loved. 
Keeley is a relatable protagonist who's easy to sympathize with. I soon found myself falling in love with her, the way she thought and her relationship with not only Talon, but also her brother. Even though Zach is the "star" he still needs his sister, and doesn't want to be separated from her. That pulled on my heart and I just... I love Zach. I love all the characters in this book-- there isn't a single one that I found really annoying, no I liked the way they all fit together. But back to Keeley. She's the perfect protagonist for the story, I loved following her thoughts throughout. She's funny, and over text she comes off as sarcastic and a little confidant, while in real life she's shy and frequently second guesses herself. Tell me that isn't relatable. I can really relate with having a relationship (I'm not talking about boyfriend girlfriend, just a relationship as in a connection between two people) over text/the internet with someone being perfectly okay-- where you can basically tell each other anything, but when we come face to face? It's kind of awkward at first. Neither of us are really sure of what to say to each other, or how to act. So yeah, I really relate to Keeley in this story, and not only because of that. She's just a very likable protagonist. 
Talon is Keeley's love interest. The guy she accidentally swaps phones with. He's the perfect boy. He has his flaws, but that makes him so much more perfect and realistic in my eyes. He's cocky, sure, but he has a heart of gold underneath and really, that's all that matters. I don't really want to give too much away about him. I'll let you fall in love with him on your own. 
I've already mentioned my love of Zach, he's so sweet and my heart frequently twisted for him in this story... I'm actually maybe crossing my fingers for a spin-off/ companion novel following Zach. Yeah, that's how much I love this character. 
All in all I would give Extrovert 8/10 stars. It was everything I could want in a contemporary novel, sweet romance with heartstoppingly cute moments that had me squealing loud enough to scare my cats, funny moments and lines that had me laughing hard enough to scare my cats, and characters that are so easy to grow attached to that my heart could barely handle it. (Yeah, could't relate that to my cats, sorry.) I highly recommend this book to those who enjoy some good, cute, light romances as well as some well-used cliches. 

Synopsis: 
​
Summer is nearly over and Keeley is about to start her senior year when disaster strikes: she picks up the wrong cell phone by mistake. 😞 Just her luck that it belongs to Talon, a totally arrogant jock 🏈 who’s just left for football camp—with herphone. Keeley doesn’t know him, but they’ll need to rely on each other to forward their messages for an entire week.

Talon is so full of himself, but Keeley quickly discovers he’s funny, too—at least his texts are. 😅 And he listens to Keeley—which is more than anyone else does. Texting Talon, she can be more than just the quiet twin sister of a popular boy. Texting Talon, she can be the outgoing person she’s always wanted to be. Soon the two are falling for each other, hard.

But when true identities are revealed and secrets are exposed, will Keeley’s feelings stay the same?

Anyway, thanks for reading <3
Anj

This isn't a tale for the faint of heart. It's no superhero story. No this is a tale of the origin of two villains, all starting when two brilliant young men meet in college. Ten years later they emerge, one with an undying need for revenge, and the other on a mass murder spree. When they meet again the collision will be cataclysmic... And only one will emerge victorious. 
Eli and Victor were best friends in college, but one fatal day changed all of that, landing Victor in jail and Eli set on a new mission. 
This is a fun novel to read, especially if you love anti-heroes. Because Victor and Eli are far from anything close to being heroic. It's slow, and takes a while to get in to, but after a while the book becomes hard to put down. It's intriguing, finding out what happened to tear Eli and Victor apart and set them in the places they currently are. 
Like all other Schwab novels that I've read (which is a grand total of two), this book has an air of distance to it, as in the reader doesn't feel as connected to the characters, but at the same time it's really hard to put down. The characters are so... strange and different from anything I've ever read before. Both are psychopaths for sure, and neither of them are even close to being in the right. But that's what make them so compelling, because they both believe they're doing the right thing with such a strong conviction... But then again, doesn't every villain think they're the hero in their own story? 
This book's world is so interesting, think of it as something like the world of X-men, but without any good in it. There's no Charles and Magneto, there's just... Well, I don't know the X-men well enough to find the perfect parallels. There are people with powers, and in this world they're called EOs (standing for extraordinary). Part of the fun of reading this book is finding out everyone's different powers and how they got them. 
Between Victor and Eli, I can't help but like Eli better. I have no idea why, because they're both horrible choices. But I just sided more with Eli in this book, maybe it's because his character is more appealing to me. Or maybe it's just because I dislike Victor more. I really don't like Victor that much, like he has some redeeming moments in the novel but overall just from the start... He's not a character that I find appealing. Eli's horrible, he really is, but for me, Victor is just worse. 
There are plenty of other characters in this book, but all in all the only thing it comes down to it Eli and Victor. While there is a connection between the "side kicks" it started with E and V, and that's how it ends too. 
All in all, I'd give Vicious 7.6/10 stars. It was a really good novel, well-written with very unique characters, some of which I still think about and have no idea how I feel about. That's the thing with Schwab... Her books stay with you for a long time after you finish them. It's impossible to stop thinking about them. I hear there's a second book coming out... And I'm eager anticipating it-- this book couldn't have ended the way it did. My biggest problem with the story is the ending. It irks me how it ended, but if there's a sequel... Maybe it can help redeem the book in my mind, because that ending.... It's hard for me to see past the ending. Not saying that the ending is bad enough to make you not read the book at all, I really recommend it, I had a lot of fun reading this one, and I wouldn't want you to miss out on the experience. 

Anyway, here's the official synopsis: 

Victor and Eli started out as college roommates—brilliant, arrogant, lonely boys who recognized the same sharpness and ambition in each other. In their senior year, a shared research interest in adrenaline, near-death experiences, and seemingly supernatural events reveals an intriguing possibility: that under the right conditions, someone could develop extraordinary abilities. But when their thesis moves from the academic to the experimental, things go horribly wrong. 

Ten years later, Victor breaks out of prison, determined to catch up to his old friend (now foe), aided by a young girl whose reserved nature obscures a stunning ability. Meanwhile, Eli is on a mission to eradicate every other super-powered person that he can find—aside from his sidekick, an enigmatic woman with an unbreakable will. Armed with terrible power on both sides, driven by the memory of betrayal and loss, the archnemeses have set a course for revenge—but who will be left alive at the end?

SPOILERS BELOW 

As I said earlier, I really don't like the ending of the novel. It irked me so much I had to rant to my father, who was driving us to see my cousin's christening. I expected so much out of this ending, I expected these two great forces to both level each other, that one wouldn't come out on top. I thought it would be a balanced ending. But Victor won, and that irks me. Like I said earlier, I don't love Victor. Not that I love Eli, I was just hoping the ending would be fair for both of them. And yet I do get the ending seems poetic. It ends the way it ended ten years ago, with one sending the other to jail. 
I don't know the exact ending I was expecting, but I know I wanted slash thought it would be even, as I keep repeating. I thought either somehow they'd find a way to both die or they'd make up somehow, I had no idea how but I thought that's how it would work out. Because when two great forces collide, shouldn't it come to a standstill? 
Also I regret Serena dying, that irks me. Just Eli's side in general lost this one (how is he gonna get out of jail? He's not like Victor who can pain his way out.) But Serena.,. You see her redeeming quality in her telling Sydney to get to safety. I would've liked to see more of her. She irked me at times, but everyone in this book did. I wish we had more time to get to know not just the main characters, but the side ones. All these forces combined? I wish I would be able to see that. 
Anyway, that's all. My small rant-ish thing about the end. 
Anyway, thanks for reading! 
​-Anj

"Corsai, Corsai,
Tooth and claw,

Shadow and Bone
Will eat you raw.

Malchai, Malchai,
Sharp and sly,

Smile and bite
and drink you dry.

Sunai, Sunai,
Eyes like coal,

Sing a song
And steal your soul.

Monsters, monsters
Big and small,

They're gonna come
and eat you all."

Imagine a world that's so dark that crime isn't an uncommon occurrence. And I don't mean petty little crimes, I mean real ones. Where people are murdered or beaten to the verge of death on a daily basis. A time when crime is such a common occurrence that people's sins have given birth to monsters.
For a long time I heard about Victoria Schwab this, Victoria Schwab that. She's a big deal, and it seems like everyone loves her. So of course, eventually I gave in and decided to try one of her books. This is the first one.
Overall, I can't exactly explain how I felt about it. Schwab's writing style throws me for a loop. Though it had a slow beginning, the book just suddenly pulled me in and I was intrigued, and yet I still somehow felt distanced from the writing. I'm writing this review after reading three of Schwab's books, and I feel the same way about the writing style in all of them.
The world building in this story is very unique, it's kind of a dystopian novel, but kind of not because it takes place someone that is not here. Though, it is in the future where everything is destroyed so maybe it is dystopian, I just don't like the assumptions that come along when someone says "dystopian" these days. NO NOT ALL DYSTOPIAN NOVELS ARE LIKE THE HUNGER GAMES. It's a whole genre, not just one template. This book takes place in a city called Verity. It's been split in half, North and South.
North V-City is kind of like normal life, you can still do your job and go to school. The only difference is that it's ruled over by an evil, kind of mob boss type man who controls monsters. The people who live there have to pay a steep price, and still, they don't dare venture out at night. Because that's when the monsters come out to play.
South V-City is more of the dystopian feel, it's completely destroyed, but the people there aren't living with a self applied blindfold. They're the ones who know how terrible the monsters are, and are fighting to keep their freedom and to stay away from Callum Harker's terrible reign.
It's not often you'll find a book so dark and violent, and yet so enjoyable.
This is kind of a twist on Romeo and Juliet, minus the intense romance. Kate Harker is like her father, or, at least, she tries to be cunning and cruel. She longs to be a vicious monster, not the kind that haunt the streets at night, but the kind that has humanity, but choses to ignore it. While August Flynn is the "son" of the leader of South V-City. He's a real monster, and all he really wants is to be human.
"But the monsters-- real monsters-- didn't look like the stupid little hood ornaments. No, the real monsters were much worse." 
I lived for the interactions between these two. It took a while for the two's path to actually cross, but once they did, the book sure got a whole lot more interesting. 
All in all, I'd give this book 7.5/10 stars. Like I said before, I can't exactly put my finger on how I felt about this book, I know I enjoyed it, but I can't really place the extent of enjoyment. I was having a great time reading it, yet I was kind of distanced from the story. I would recommend it, but I didn't absolutely love it. I think it's a fun, different read, though. If you're tired of classic tropes, Schwab's books are definitely for you. 
"People are users. It's a universal truth. Use them, or they'll use you."

Here's the synopsis: 

There’s no such thing as safe in a city at war, a city overrun with monsters. In this dark urban fantasy from author Victoria Schwab, a young woman and a young man must choose whether to become heroes or villains—and friends or enemies—with the future of their home at stake. The first of two books.

Kate Harker and August Flynn are the heirs to a divided city—a city where the violence has begun to breed actual monsters. All Kate wants is to be as ruthless as her father, who lets the monsters roam free and makes the humans pay for his protection. All August wants is to be human, as good-hearted as his own father, to play a bigger role in protecting the innocent—but he’s one of the monsters. One who can steal a soul with a simple strain of music. When the chance arises to keep an eye on Kate, who’s just been kicked out of her sixth boarding school and returned home, August jumps at it. But Kate discovers August’s secret, and after a failed assassination attempt the pair must flee for their lives.

Anyway, thanks for reading, 
​Anj