If you know anything about me, you know that I am a sucker for cutesy romances that make your heart flutter. So when I came across this book with its cute cover and promising synopsis in the bookstore, I knew I had to get it. 

It's been a while since I actually read this book, so I'm not exactly clear on specific details but I can tell you the one big looming feeling I have left about this novel several months after reading it is DISAPPOINTMENT. I guess I was looking forward to a sort of Anna and the French Kiss vibe where you learn to grow fond of the city along with everything else. Everything else including falling in love with an adorable boy. 
Sure, the boy is cute, but the romance wasn't exactly something to fall head over heels over. Neither was the story arc with the main character. Without going too deep into my own personal life, let me just say that I am shocking familiar with the situation the main character has gone through. While I know that everyone handles their emotions differently, I found Lina's whole attitude in general to be extremely grating on my nerves. 
I don't remember much about Ren, so he's definitely not a main character that I fell head over heels for. I don't exactly remember really disliking him all that much either. He was more a steady neutral I guess. The whole romance though... It just felt extremely rushed. Not in terms of anything happening, but in terms of when one decides they're in LOVE with the other. I mean seriously, how in love can you be about a week in? 
The more I think about it, the more I think this novel has a lot of parallels with Anna and the French Kiss in terms of the love interest plotline. A LOT in common actually. The setting is pretty similar as well, as they're both thrown into school and life in a foreign country and are forced to make new connections and find their own way in a new friend group. Honestly, I may be biased saying this but if you want that sort of slow burn friends to lovers romance thing along with falling in love with a European city-- go for Anna and the French Kiss. It is infinitely better in every way. 
The one thing that could separate Love and Gelato from Anna and the French Kiss is its main storyline about family and finding it. (Though I suppose a big theme of Anna IS family). Dealing with the loss of a loved one and learning to incorporate a new figure into your life. While this plot line was probably the most interesting of the book, it fell flat. And was also extremely predictable.
Overall I'd give this novel 6/10 stars. It did have some cute and fuzzy moments but overall it felt rushed and there were a lot of annoying moments to outweigh the good ones. 

SYNOPSIS: 
​
A New York Times bestseller

A summer in Italy turns into a road trip across Tuscany in this sweeping debut novel filled with romance, mystery, and adventure.

Lina is spending the summer in Tuscany, but she isn’t in the mood for Italy’s famous sunshine and fairy-tale landscape. She’s only there because it was her mother’s dying wish that she get to know her father. But what kind of father isn’t around for sixteen years? All Lina wants to do is get back home.

But then Lina is given a journal that her mom had kept when she lived in Italy. Suddenly Lina’s uncovering a magical world of secret romances, art, and hidden bakeries. A world that inspires Lina, along with the ever-so-charming Ren, to follow in her mother’s footsteps and unearth a secret that has been kept for far too long. It’s a secret that will change everything Lina knew about her mother, her father—and even herself.

People come to Italy for love and gelato, someone tells her, but sometimes they discover much more.

Kirkus Reviews called Love & Gelato “a sure bet for fans of romance fiction,” while VOYA said readers “will find it difficult to put this book down.” Readers are about to discover a new place, a new romance, and a new talent.

SPOILER 

Ugh. Howard was obviously not her father / X from the start. And wow, the amount of ungrateful this girl is to be living in ITALY is shocking. And finally here's one of my notes that just speaks for itself "just finish the journal before making assumptions." 

Thanks for reading, 
Anj 

There's not much to say about this novel. Apparently it's a loose YA retelling of A Midsummer's Night Dream. Well, for starters, I'm not actually all that familiar with the tale, but all I can say about it is that it didn't adapt too well to the YA world in this novel. 
The story follows Mia, who has been crushing on soccer star Vince since about forever. Her best friend, Robyn runs a matchmaking business which has stellar results. Since Robyn refuses to help Mia out, she decides to take matters in her own hands in order to get her one true love to finally notice her... Only things don't go as planned, especially when a big wrench otherwise known as Logan gets thrown into said plans. Logan has been Mia's nemesis for so long that she never really bothered to notice him. Only now she's starting to... 
As you can see, the synopsis of this novel sets up a pretty obvious storyline. Sure, it sounds dumb and cliche but if you know me, you know that I can be a real sucker for dumb and cliche romances. You know, I'd be willing to overlook the ridiculous idea that a high schooler ran a matchmaking business if it lead to a swoonworthy romance or at least a fun storyline. Instead, this book fell flat. Mia's character just irked me. Basically every single decision she makes throughout the story is a horrible one. First of all, betraying/ going behind a best friend's back to mess with their business? Just no. And then there's the whole romance(s) going on within the novel. I'm not actually going to address that irritation up here, but wow. So many choices made in here were very, very ANNOYING. Not just Mia, but seriously, people in this novel are very aggravating, not to mention horrendous friends to each other. I just really didn't appreciate the directions multiple of the characters went in. It all just seemed extremely petty and immature, and not in the fun, enjoyable way to read. 
The main romantic interest's interactions with Mia were kind of fun, but nothing spectacular or new. I did enjoy a bit of the banter, but nothing stands out in my mind many months later. Honestly, nothing particularly great stands out to me about this novel many months later, just all the irritating things-- which is why this might seem like more of a rant review. Sorry about that. Overall, this novel wasn't ALL that horrible, but it was in no ways great, or even really all that good either. I would probably give the book 6/10 stars. It wasn't anything new, and nothing about it gave me the adorable butterflies that I want from a cutesy contemporary. Instead I just found myself getting annoyed more often than not. Not a big recommendation from me. 

Synopsis: 
Mia's best friend Robyn is known for her matchmaking skills, which is perfect, because homecoming is just around the corner. But Robyn refuses to set Mia up with the guy of her dreams, which forces Mia to take matters into her own hands. She uses Robyn's matchmaking service to make sure popular Vince Demetrius falls for her. 

Vince asks her out, but Mia doesn't count on Logan, the persistent school newspaper photographer who seems to like her out of the blue. Now she has to choose between Vince - the guy she knows is right for her - and Logan, who insists that she give him a chance. And she needs to make sure Robyn doesn't find out that Mia's been matchmaking behind her back. 

Mia has two weeks before homecoming. Can she fix the mess she made or will she have to kiss her perfect match goodbye forever?
​
SPOILERS 
So Vince was never a real romance option. Ever, which irked me because Mia never even really gave him a chance even though she was the one messing around with him in the first place. UGH. I was expecting him to have more of a chance/ be more of a prominent interest, and was disappointed in the route taken there. 
And don't even get me started on Elena. Overdramatic. All around bitch, honestly deserves no redemption or forgiveness in my eyes. Like I don't actually remember what she did but seriously I remember it wasn't really worth forgiving her for whatever it was, or whatever shoddy apology she gave. I very clearly remember her pulling a fire alarm just for the fun of being dramatic though, so that's annoying-- she's a child who never thinks of consequences. Wow. Wonder how many times I've said annoying in this review. Sorry! 
Thanks for reading, 
​Anj

Let's just start this off by saying that this book left me shook to the core. Wow, the Wicked King was a wild ride and I absolutely adored every second of it. 
Overall thoughts: amazing. I loved Cardan and Jude-- their landmine filled relationship is literally everything, the tension is through the roof and that was my everything while reading this one. Individually, they're very interesting characters, but together they are everything haha. Like the background of betrayal and all with them is just too good. 
Still hate Taryn, like I know there was a short from her perspective that tried to "explain" everything, but I basically just hate her and while some betrayal is okay, hers was not. (not a spoiler, talking about the previous book). Like she waltzes in at the beginning of this one, doesn't apologize and just wants everything to be better, well guess what T, IT'S NOT. (Yes, I'm totally fine. It's all good. It's fine. I don't care...) 
Yeah, this book took my emotions on a super bumpy roller coaster. Honestly, the first book was good, but this one is a work of ART. 9/10 stars, obviously I highly recommend! If you even slightly enjoyed the first book, definitely pick this one up (if you haven't already, this review is coming very late, I'm aware.) 
Synopsis: 

The first lesson is to make yourself strong.

After the jaw-dropping revelation that Oak is the heir to Faerie, Jude must keep her younger brother safe. To do so, she has bound the wicked king, Cardan, to her, and made herself the power behind the throne. Navigating the constantly shifting political alliances of Faerie would be difficult enough if Cardan were easy to control. But he does everything in his power to humiliate and undermine her even as his fascination with her remains undiminished.

When it becomes all too clear that someone close to Jude means to betray her, threatening her own life and the lives of everyone she loves, Jude must uncover the traitor and fight her own complicated feelings for Cardan to maintain control as a mortal in a Faerie world.

SPOILERS: 
OKAY so it's been like half a year since I read this but can I just freak out over the fact that OH DEAR GOD SHE TOLD US THE ENDING OF THIS BOOK SO LONG AGO!!! The title of the last book has been released for years now. It's called QUEEN OF NOTHING. BECAUSE JUDE IS QUEEN BUT IT'S OF NOTHING. I'm highkey disappointed in myself for not even thinking of this. I know it's such a toxic relationship but I LOVE CARDAN AND JUDE. And I love how they're equals now. It's great. Okay. Yeah. That's the only spoilery thing I have to say because well... it's been so long whoops. 
Thanks for reading, 
Anj
​

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

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. 

​I am hanging my head in shame as I write this. Seriously, I am so very far behind on reviews. There are just too many to catch up on. Too many to even put in the title. Here are the mini reviews provided in this post: 
Part 1
Six of Crows & Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo
Catwoman by Sarah J. Maas
Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan 
Stalking Jack the Ripper by Kerri Manis Calco 
Foolish Hearts & Famous in a Small Town by Emma Mills 
​
Part 2
It Ends with Us & Maybe Someday by Colleen Hoover
The Diviners, Lair of Dreams & Before the Devil Breaks You by Libba Bray 
An Enchantment of Ravens by Margaret Rogerson 

Yes. It's a lot of books, but not a lot of books when you think of the time period I've read them over. This is between August and January, you guys (with a few books I'm going to try my hardest to give full reviews to in-between. Those include: Kingdom of Ash by Sarah J. Maas, Queen of Air & Darkness by Cassandra Clare & Wicked King by Holly Black.) I really haven't been reading all that much lately. Not because I don't want to, but because my life has been crowded in every sense imaginable. Here's me making an effort to get back on things. (I did just read two books in the span of the last day, so that seems rather promising.) 
WARNING It's been a very long time since I've read some of these, and I did not take excellent notes so.... These may not be the most passionate reviews. I apologize. 
Here we go. 

Maybe Someday by Colleen Hoover
After reading It Ends With Us, I was a little hesitant going into this novel as I wasn't sure I would get what I was expecting. Well, I didn't get what I was expecting but in a different way. I haven't read enough of Hoover's books to make this a definitive statement, but after this one I began wondering if she write light and cute romance books? Because it seems like her romances are more heavy handed. I was especially in need of a light romance after finishing It Ends With Us, and this was not exactly the cure I needed. 
While Maybe Someday is more romantically oriented, it's by no means a light, fun story. It's far more serious, and realistic, in a depressing way-- light rom coms can also be realistic.  
So yes, it was not what I needed in the moment, and also just not the book for me in general. I was expecting some sort of turmoil about the whole best friend and boyfriend being caught cheating thing (not a spoiler, literally part of the synopsis), but instead that's only mentioned a few times. It's much less about a scorned/hurt girl and circulates more around the relationship between Sydney and Ridge. I will admit their relationship is quite interesting, and it was an experience to get to see it progress, and I enjoyed the honesty between the two of them, but altogether not what I was looking for in a novel at the moment. 
At the start of the novel Sydney is moving into Ridge's apartment, as the apartment she had was shared with her best friend... who was sleeping with her boyfriend. Sydney and Ridge then begin to bond over a shared love of music, and feelings begin to stir. Only, Ridge has a long term girlfriend. 
It's an interesting set up, and an interesting story. Just, as I feel like I've said a number of times, not what I was expecting and not what I was wanting. 
The two things I liked the most about this novel are that a. Ridge is deaf, so it's interesting to see how that works into the plot and b. Colleen Hoover worked with a musician on the book, so when Sydney and Ridge write songs together you can literally LOOK THESE SONGS UP and listen to them. That adds an extremely unique and fun experience to reading. All together, not my favorite romance book, but still an interesting read. Sorry to all the hardcore Colleen Hoover fans I'm offending. 6.5/10 stars. 

Synopsis: 

Contains exclusive content: songs from Griffin Peterson 

Sydney is living in an idyllic bubble—she's a dedicated student with a steady job on the side. She lives with her best friend, has a great boyfriend, and the music coming from the balcony opposite hers is fast becoming the soundtrack to her life. But when Sydney finds out her boyfriend is cheating on her, the bubble bursts. The mysterious and attractive man behind the music, Ridge, gives Sydney hope that she can move on and they begin to write songs together. But moving on is harder than she expects, Sydney can only hope…. 

Maybe someday… 

Colleen Hoover draws you in to this passionate tale of music, love and betrayal…

The Diviners by Libba Bray 
I'm not usually an audiobook kind of girl. See, I'm a fast reader, and can absorb novels far, far faster than can be comfortably listened to. But here's the thing, as I am a seventeen year old girl with the heart of a grandmother, I recently got obsessed with knitting and crocheting, and I can't very well read while doing such hobbies. So I decided to try the audiobook for the Diviners, since it's a book that been waiting on my shelf for a very long time. 
At first I found the voices and the pace a bit annoying, but as I got into it more, I found myself constantly listening to the audiobook, and getting through the absurdly long audiobook in a couple days. Not only did I listen to the book when I was crocheting, I would also listen to it while brushing my teeth, getting ready for school in the morning, while driving to the store to buy more yarn, and even while reading other school books (I'm surprisingly good at multitasking.) This was both due to the combination of an excellent novel and also because after getting used to being read to instead of reading, I really got into the whole audiobook format. I would set the sleep timer and go to sleep listening to the book. Really, there was never a quiet moment. If you're too busy to read, I would highly recommend trying the audiobook (or any audiobook)! It's actually quite useful and enjoyable. 
Now on to the actual novel. The Diviners was nothing like I was expecting. The story mainly follows Evie O'Neill, a girl who goes to live with her uncle in New York City in the 1920s after causing a little too much trouble at home. I thought this would be a very serious story with a serious investigation into murder and an Avengers-like come together moment,  it was nothing like that. I don't even know how to describe this book, it's so unique. There's a definite element of horror, like sometimes I deeply regretted listening to this as I was falling asleep. The murder scenes are creepy as what, made creepier by the audiobook since the narrator actual whistles and sings the songs as the murderer approaches. There's also just teen drama going on. Evie's a party girl, she's a flapper after all, and doesn't like to take things too seriously. It's such a strange combination, and yet... somehow it all works. If you're tired of the same old tropes and whatnot, definitely check this book out, because there's nothing like it. 
Evie is truly her own person, I can't think of any other protagonists to compare her to. She's extroverted, stubborn and possesses an overabundance of confidence. She has the special ability to read any object she puts her hands on, which, while some other protagonists might keep their talent a secret, she literally uses it as a party trick. Yeah, Evie is definitely different from any protagonist you might read, but she's not one you'll be likely to forget anytime soon. At first she may come off as frivolous and a bit annoying, but as you get deeper in the novel, you can't help but fall in love with her. 
This is one of those novels that has a whole giant cast of characters with a plethora of POVs. I found that Evie's POV and those around Evie were the most interesting. Meaning that every single time we got to a Memphis chapter, I got a little bored. Sorry everyone who likes Memphis, he's just not all that interesting to me. 
Here's a brief overview of all the characters you'll be meeting

Mabel Rose-- she's Evie's best friend, and her polar opposite. She's meek, quiet and introverted, quite happy to just follow Evie around and live under the shelter of her helicopter parents and silently pine after Jericho Jones. I'll be honest, Mabel is not my favorite character, never has been. In the first book she's okay, but as the series progressed, she became my least favorite and at times I was ready to throw some punches at her. 

Sam Lloyd-- Let's just introduce this beautiful boy as my one true love. Sam is by far my favorite character in the entire series, with Evie coming in as a close second. He's a thief and skilled liar, yet he is also extremely charismatic and his banter with Evie is something I live for. He gets on her last nerve and will poke at her to get a rise just for fun. If that isn't #perfect, I don't know what is. Oh, and he may have a mission and goal of his own along with some surprising secrets... 
​
Will Fitzgerald-- Evie's uncle who she comes to live with. He runs The Museum of American Folklore, Superstition and the Occult-- more commonly known as The Museum of the Creepy Crawlies, which isn't doing so hot lately. Like almost all the characters in this story, he's basically filled past the brim with secrets and backstory, many of which have yet to be revealed. Will is friends with a detective, which is why, when a ton of strange murders occur, Will is brought in to consult. (And then Evie tags along, much to her uncle's annoyance. ) 

Jericho Jones-- this is Will's sort of adopted son / employee. He's a stoic young man of giant stature yet quiet nature who is hiding (shocker) a big secret. Jericho is not my favorite character. He's sweet but when the book is filled with some much more colorful characters, Jericho falls behind in the race for my love. (also I will mention things later in other reviews of the later books). 

Theta Knight-- She's a strong minded woman who doesn't mind causing a bit of scandal-- not nearly as much as Evie does, though. At first when she was introduced, I expected Theta to be your typical mean girl, but instead she and Evie become fast friends. I loved that element of the novel. And yes, she's also hiding a deep dark secret. Theta lives with her best friend, Henry, and I have to say I adore their relationship and wish it was explored to greater depths. 

Henry DuBois-- Not much is revealed about Henry in book 1, other than he plays piano and is gay. He's funny for the tiny bits of time that you see him, and well, he's hiding something too. Shocker. You get to find out a whole bunch more about Henry in book two. I love this guy, can't t really say much more than that, sorry! 

Memphis Campbell-- yup. This is the guy whose chapters I found to be boring. He used to have power, but he lost it after a tragic event in his past. Perhaps one of the reasons I was so bored by his storyline was because it was so detached from the others who I already loved and whose fates were quite intertwined (and I'd argue their storyline was more intriguing as well.) He lives in Harlem with his little brother and their highly religious aunt. He's black, which adds an interesting and sometimes sad dynamic as you see how racist many people were back in the 20s. 

Remember how I mentioned earlier about that dash of horror? More like a heaping of horror. The story starts with some sort of spirit named Naughty John being released, and oh boy, do I wish those dumb kids had left that Ouija Board alone, because Naughty John created some creepyass scenes that will probably haunt my dreams for a long time. The creep factor of this story... Wow. If you get the opportunity, I would seriously suggest audiobooking this one because it elevates the spookiness by so much. Here's something to think about, cheerful singing whilst committing brutal murder... 

Overall, I just highly recommend this book. It's nothing like you're expecting, with a unique and interesting cast of characters and an even more unique story. Still, there were some things that just felt like they were missing. Like there were a ton of satisfying moments and scenes I would've liked to have seen, but they happened without actually being written, like they're mentioned, but we never actually get to be in the scene. The relationships are just assumed, too. Like pivotal moments between characters and just the characters getting to know each other and whatnot is more mentioned than what we actually see. I think the story's strong points are its setting and plot, while its characters' relationships and developing them is a bit of a weakness. (This becomes more prominent in later books.) See, I'm the type of person who wants to be IN the action, not hearing mention of it later! And I also love watching relationships build and seeing dynamic between characters instead of just assuming something happened "off-screen," and that a lot of what these books want you to do. 

7/10 stars. The first book is nothing AMAZING, but it's a really fun read. I was left wanting to see more moments from the "side characters" aka everyone other than Evie, as some of them (Memphis) seemed pointless to the story arc. The novel definitely had a slow side, but it also created an enchanting world. 

Synopsis: 

​Evie O’Neill has been exiled from her boring old hometown and shipped off to the bustling streets of New York City—and she is pos-i-tute-ly ecstatic. It’s 1926, and New York is filled with speakeasies, Ziegfeld girls, and rakish pickpockets. The only catch is that she has to live with her uncle Will and his unhealthy obsession with the occult.

Evie worries he’ll discover her darkest secret: a supernatural power that has only brought her trouble so far. But when the police find a murdered girl branded with a cryptic symbol and Will is called to the scene, Evie realizes her gift could help catch a serial killer.

As Evie jumps headlong into a dance with a murderer, other stories unfold in the city that never sleeps. A young man named Memphis is caught between two worlds. A chorus girl named Theta is running from her past. A student named Jericho hides a shocking secret. And unknown to all, something dark and evil has awakened.

Lair of Dreams by Libba Bray 
Somehow this book is able to take on a completely different tone from the first, yet still be absolutely riveting and sufficiently scary, in its own manner. And dare I say it? I do, I think that Lair of Dreams is even better than its predecessor. Again, I audiobooked this one as I am unfortunately unable to physically read whilst crocheting, which is my latest obsession. 
Going to be real honest here-- I'm writing this part of the review in May when I audiobooked it in November.... Which means it's most definitely not fresh in my mind. 
I don't want to say much, especially because it's been so long that my feelings and thoughts are not completely accurate, but THIS IS A FANTASTIC NOVEL. It was a lot of fun to read, especially if you're curious about the seemingly side characters-- they're main, but were pretty off to the side in book one, meaning Henry, Theta, Mabel etc. Really, Henry's storyline is what drives the book. You get to find out so much more about him, and even get introduced to a new main character-- Ling Chan. She took a bit of getting used to for me, but now I like her-- I'm just not good at adjusting to new things, haha. 
While Henry's storyline really drove the plot, there were plenty of other things going on with the other characters to keep the reader entertained and intrigued.  You dig a lot deeper into Theta's backstory, follow Mabel as her life is completely turned on its head... sorry, not a big fan of her, and MOST IMPORTANTLY get caught up in a whirlwind fake romance between my true love and my fave. Aka Sam and Evie get stuck in creating a fake romance, which is positutely the best thing that could've occurred. Fake romances are cliche, but they're legit one of my favorite things, especially when being run by one of my SHIPS! Seriously, this fake romance was SO much fun because Sam and Evie's banter never fails to entertain. I mean, also they're both perfect, so they perfectly belong together, am I right or am I right? 
Anyway, sorry for the shitty review. Read this book if you liked the first one, but be aware the the tone is very different than that of the first (which still works!) Again, same as with the first book, my biggest issue is the lack of the "people" moments, really seeing a lot of vital moments in relationships and whatnot. It's not insta-stuff seeing as there's a lot going on in the background that you just don't get to see, but I want to see it! 7.5/10 

Synopsis: 
​
The longing of dreams draws the dead, and this city holds many dreams.

After a supernatural showdown with a serial killer, Evie O’Neill has outed herself as a Diviner. With her uncanny ability to read people’s secrets, she’s become a media darling, earning the title “America’s Sweetheart Seer.” Everyone’s in love with the city’s newest It Girl…everyone except the other Diviners.

Piano-playing Henry DuBois and Chinatown resident Ling Chan are two Diviners struggling to keep their powers a secret—for they can walk in dreams. And while Evie is living the high life, victims of a mysterious sleeping sickness are turning up across New York City.

As Henry searches for a lost love and Ling strives to succeed in a world that shuns her, a malevolent force infects their dreams. And at the edges of it all lurks a man in a stovepipe hat who has plans that extend farther than anyone can guess…As the sickness spreads, can the Diviners descend into the dreamworld to save the city?

In this heart-stopping sequel to The Diviners, Printz Award-winning and New York Times bestselling author Libba Bray takes readers deeper into the mystical underbelly of New York City.

An Enchantment of Ravens by Margaret Rogerson 
Gonna be real honest, the first time I saw  this book I was attracted to it because I recognized the cover art's artist. It's the same artist who does Sarah J. Maas works, I think it's Charlie Bowater? But I'm not exactly sure. Then I looked up the synopsis and wasn't exactly hooked, so I continued scrolling.
I actually forget what finally convinced me to order this book, possibly all of the amazing ratings I'd been seeing. For example, one of the reviews I read said that Rogerson was BORN to write, so I figured I shouldn't miss out on the hype and go ahead and try it out. 
Overall thoughts is yeah, it's a fun, light read. Especially if you're a fan of fae, which I am. (fan is a bit of a soft word for how obsessed I am with the fae lol.)  One of the problems with the story is just how short it is-- I literally read it in one sitting. Due to the lack of length, it felt a little lacking in the building of certain aspects. Reading this book was an odd combination of pieces that felt too fast and others that felt way too slow.  The ending especially felt rather rushed-- the magnitude of big threats wasn't felt all that much with how quickly the story wrapped up. 
I absolutely adored the descriptions in this novel, they were very vivid and illustrated. I could really see the world and its characters in my mind's eye. I also found myself laughing A LOT whilst reading this one. I loved all of the intricacies with the fae, like if you're polite to them they HAVE to be polite back. Also, the fae we get to know best throughout the novel-- Rook, is hilarious because of his childish tendencies. Seriously, he just thinks he can has what he wants and throws temper tantrums when he doesn't get them, and while that sounds unattractive, it's adorable and hilarious the way it's shown in the novel. Basically, Rook doesn't know any better when it comes to interacting with humans. Actually, all the fae are very childhish in ways, haha. One of my notes is literally "lol, all the fae are children." 
Another thing that I really enjoyed about this book was Rogerson's take on the Fae, and how, despite all the amazing things in their lives, they're empty inside. They have no emotions, which is something they envy the humans for. They're all not the glamorous beings portrayed in many other fae novels. Instead, they're all vain and glamoured beings-- not nearly as beautiful as they show themselves to be. In fact, these Fae glamour everything, including their food to make their lives seem as perfect as possible. Since they're empty inside, Fae are unable to create, which is why they are so fascinated by humans, and their dabbling in the arts. 
The romance in the book was borderline instalove, which I hate-- because then you get no time to really get attached or root for the relationship. Borderline, not totally. See, the attraction and connection springs up real quick, but the romance such doesn't happen for a long while, so I was pretty excited when the romance kicked in. 
​Again, my biggest issue with the novel was how short it is. I think most of the other issues I have with it come with its length. Like there's this whole larger set up in the background about an issue with the world that I expected to be somehow resolved, but it wasn't, which left me feeling a little disappointed any empty. Also, the plot was rather predicable for me-- all the big twists I saw coming from about 200 pages away (which is about the length of the book. 
All in all, a very enjoyable, light read 7/10 stars. There's a fun romance, and interesting and exciting plot. However, I'd advise not to expect too much depth going into the novel. It's there to tell one story, and it does that job well. It brushes on ideas that hint at greater depth in the world, but those are never truly resolved or used to their greatest potential. 

Synopsis: 
A skilled painter must stand up to the ancient power of the faerie courts—even as she falls in love with a faerie prince—in this gorgeous debut novel.

Isobel is a prodigy portrait artist with a dangerous set of clients: the sinister fair folk, immortal creatures who cannot bake bread, weave cloth, or put a pen to paper without crumbling to dust. They crave human Craft with a terrible thirst, and Isobel’s paintings are highly prized. But when she receives her first royal patron—Rook, the autumn prince—she makes a terrible mistake. She paints mortal sorrow in his eyes—a weakness that could cost him his life.

Furious and devastated, Rook spirits her away to the autumnlands to stand trial for her crime. Waylaid by the Wild Hunt’s ghostly hounds, the tainted influence of the Alder King, and hideous monsters risen from barrow mounds, Isobel and Rook depend on one another for survival. Their alliance blossoms into trust, then love—and that love violates the fair folks’ ruthless laws. Now both of their lives are forfeit, unless Isobel can use her skill as an artist to fight the fairy courts. Because secretly, her Craft represents a threat the fair folk have never faced in all the millennia of their unchanging lives: for the first time, her portraits have the power to make them feel.

An action filled story, set in a fantastical world with compelling characters and complex relationships... What more could you want in a series? 
Cinda Williams Chima's high fantasy series is nothing like any high fantasy you might imagine. What high fantasy about a hunted princess ends up in a school. It's such a strange combination. Like you don't really expect there to be high school-esk teen drama when there are such high stakes, and yet here we are in the Exiled Queen, following our cast of characters all attending the same academy-- whether they know it or not. Yet, Chima still managed to blend these two very different categories seamlessly. Somehow they work. 
I'm going to be really honest with you all right now. This is not going to be the review that you deserve. I read these books back in August and have altogether forgotten the minute details that would make this review wholesome. This is just going to be a basic overview of how I felt about these books-- and a little spoilers below to discuss some of my particular feelings on events that happened during them. 
Similar to the first book, these three all had the same strange feeling of while you're reading it, it's intriguing, but when you put them down there's no magnetic pull forcing every thought to be around the plot and characters. 
One issue that I took note of with these books  (literally, I took a note, which is why I'm mentioning it right now.) was that the stories are all really more plot driven, not relationship. As we all know, a good story has a balance of both, unfortunately I found the Seven Realms' novels a little lacking in the relationship section. For example, there's this instantaneous OUT OF NOWHERE attraction/obsession one character apparently feels for another, and just... wow. I can't really say anything other than WHERE DID THAT COME FROM? WHERE? Certainly not anywhere in the Milky Way. There were just tender or relationship building moments I felt like could've really elevated these novels, and that I really would've liked to see.  
Still, I don't want you to think these were bad reads-- I actually really enjoyed them. I gave the Exiled Queen 7.5/10 stars, The Gray Wolf Throne 7.8/10 stars and the Crimson Crown 7.9/10 stars, ( and if you forgot, I gave the Demon King 7/10 stars), so yes, this series actually just gets better and better as it continues on, which is fantastic. It will never be one of my all-time favorite books that I reread once a month (yes, I do do that with some), but they were definitely fun and enjoyable reads. I would recommend if you enjoy fantasy with a hint of teen drama. These novels are certainly unique, as I mentioned earlier. They use tropes but then turn them on their heads by placing them in an unimaginable setting. 
There are some very predicable big "reveals," but somehow I didn't find that hindering my experience. What really bothered me was the relationship thing that I mentioned above. Though the next big bothering factor is truly just personal. WHY ISN'T THERE MORE MICAH BAYAR IN THESE BOOKS? I'm in love with him and have been since book 1. It wasn't his fault his father was evil and had evil marriage plans for him and Raisa! He's such a complex character (and I'm in love with him), I think the lack of Micah in all the novels is a waste of an intriguing character. (side note: one of my notes literally says Micah Bayar? I think you mean Micah Bae-yar). I think he has a bad exterior but is good underneath, (and we all know that is SO my type), and I truly believe that poor Micah was wronged by his lack of presence in any of the novels. I also would've liked to have seen more of the Micah-Fiona dynamic. There's a moment in one of the books (I don't fully remember it) but Micah says something along the lines of she's (something, I forget), but we protect each other and just, my heart. If you couldn't tell, playing with the relationships is something that is really important to me, and all together I would've liked to see more of Micah and his as I find them intriguing. (Half my notes are on Micah ahaha). Don't get me wrong, I do really like Han, and I really like the idea of him with Raisa, I just love Micah, and I wanted to see more of him, I didn't want him to end up with Raisa, though, I did want him to have a happy ending. 
Okay, one last negative about the series before I get back to the positives. This is a slight spoiler, but not intense. THE ENDING OF THE NOVEL WAS NOT A F****ING ENDING. It resolves the BIG plot issues, but staying true to a theme seen throughout the entire series, the closure on the people and their relationships was woefully lacking. The only closure you get is on the main characters, all of the side characters' fates are just left behind, not resolved. In fact, the novels bring up several issues and rifts between characters that are never resolved in the series, which, sure I guess could be interpreted as realistic, but let's be real here, I'M NOT LOOKING FOR REALISTIC IN MY NOVELS ABOUT MAGICIANS AND STOLEN CROWNS. Really, though, the ending of Crimson Crown really pissed me off because of how abrupt it was, all the side characters were really just forgotten, and that irks me even now, months later. Here's the literal note I wrote (with a little bit of censoring) (MILD SPOILERS, SKIP BELOW QUOTE IF YOU'RE SENSITIVE TO MILD SPOILERS, NOT MAJOR)
  
"F***K EVERTHING. THERE WAS NO CLOSURE ON _________....... (spoilers) MAYBE SIDE ******* CHARACTER.... BUT [they're] IMPORTNAT TOO.... Like this is really not okay. The ending was just shoved together and only [the main characters] got full closure and a happy ending.  I am so angry and upset right now." 

And before you go, Anji, there's a sequel series. I know there is, that's actually why I started this one in the first place, so I could read flame caster, but now I'm just salty. This was supposed to be a finale novel, yet the only "final"-ness came to the main characters, and none of the plethora of side ones. And you'll note earlier that The Crimson Crown had my highest rating-- it could've made it to the 8 if not higher if not for the ending that was thrown together and pissed me off, because before the ending the novel was phenomenal. And I have to admit, the ending scarred me about this series a little. It would've never been one of my all-time favorites, but I think I would've left it with some fonder memories if not for this last bit of the novel. 
Back to the positives. The two components I loved the most about this series were its intricately crafted world and political aspect. I love novels that play with the political games of court (if you know any good ones, please contact me), and the world was beautiful with all its details and careful set up of tensions and different cultures (clans, wizards, humans).. YES these novels truly did have good aspects to them, I promise, for some reason it's just easier to go on about the negatives. Maybe because I take the good stuff for granted unless it really stands out whereas all the flaws stand out to my critical mind? 

Anyway, sorry for the random, branching review. Here's the synopsis for Exiled Queen, and below are some real spoilers on my thoughts (or maybe just my notes) from reading these books. 

Haunted by the loss of his mother and sister, Han Alister journeys south to begin his schooling at Mystwerk House in Oden’s Ford. But leaving the Fells doesn’t mean that danger isn't far behind. Han is hunted every step of the way by the Bayars, a powerful wizarding family set on reclaiming the amulet Han stole from them. And Mystwerk House has dangers of its own. There, Han meets Crow, a mysterious wizard who agrees to tutor Han in the darker parts of sorcery—but the bargain they make is one Han may regret. 

Meanwhile, Princess Raisa ana’Marianna runs from a forced marriage in the Fells, accompanied by her friend Amon and his triple of cadets. Now, the safest place for Raisa is Wein House, the military academy at Oden's Ford. If Raisa can pass as a regular student, Wein House will offer both sanctuary and the education Raisa needs to succeed as the next Gray Wolf queen. 

Everything changes when Han and Raisa’s paths cross, in this epic tale of uncertain friendships, cut-throat politics, and the irresistible power of attraction.

SPOILERS FOR EXILED QUEEN 
Basically how these are going to go is that I will just copy over my notes, unless I feel I have something else to say on them. 
"lol where did this Fiona attraction come from" (this is what I was talking about earlier) "[most] Relationships created in this book are instantaneous-- not a relationship driven story." 
"Give me more Micah, like chill the marriage wasn't his idea." 
"SO AWKWARD Amon caught her spying." 
"FINALLY HAN AND RAISA MEET AGAIN." See, I did ship them and love them together, I just also LOVE Micah and want my baby to find happiness, just not with Raisa. 
Here's a thought from now me. Was anyone else actually surprised that Crow was Alger? Because I sure as hell wasn't. It was pretty obvious. 

SPOILERS FOR GRAY WOLF THRONE

"Why does everything have to go wrong, ugh." 
"Also Han get over it, she clearly loves you." 
"MICAH KNELT FOR RAISA. I'M CRYING." See what I mean? Micah really does have a good heart. Yes, I'm biased, shut up haha. 
"Alright Mellony time to get your ass outta here." Seriously, I barely remember anything, but I do remember how ANNOYING this girl was. 
"HE GAVE HER HANALEA'S RING." 
"Loved the political aspect." 

SPOILERS FOR CRIMSON CROWN

"Such an intricate world." 
"Yay Alger knows his line continued." 
"Han slightly possessed? Outburst to Fiona." 
"Micah threatening Han for Raisa. Bae." I forget what this was about, but pretty sure it was in regards to Raisa's safety which was a real turn on for me, haha. 
"The flash piece Fire Dancer had-- I knew it! It's a trigger or something." 
"Ugh, still haven't seen enough of Micah." 
"Jt was Lucius, not Hanalea, who betrayed Alger. Calling it now." -- and I was right. 
"Glad there's not the typical turning on each other plot." That was enjoyable about these books-- they weren't typical. 
"Him only remembering the tavern song. I'm dying." That was a pretty funny moment. 
"FINALLY A MICAH CHAPTER." and I had hope for nothing, because there was only one. 
"Yo, dude, Micah deserves to know his family is dead." This really made me angry at Han. No matter how much Han may dislike Micah, don't you think he has the right to know that they're gone? Especially Fiona, his twin-- this was when that quote I cited earlier happened. Wow, I really wish we'd gotten to see more of their relationship. 
Okay next quote was one where I was getting mad at Han about him preaching about getting over the past and then going to to think of all the things he resented Micah for and wouldn't be helping him with... But he didn't say Micah, he called him "a Bayar." It was something like he wouldn't be "teaching to a Bayar." Which just goes to show that Han is still chained by family prejudices-- literally what he was just saying that Micah or someone should get over. 
"Micah just getting his heart broken. My poor baby." 
"Micah thought Han was dead, okay? HE DIDN'T KNOW." Really, Micah's fam did wrong him by lying to him. He thought he was telling Raisa the honest truth by saying Han was dead and trying to help her by proposing a marriage. I hate that this was never resolved and the novel ended with Raisa thinking Micah had lied and resenting him for it. I waited for a last scene just between the two of them clearing things up, imagine my disappointment when that never happened. If you couldn't tell, I just want my baby to be happy, haha. 
"Lol Raisa is my age and getting married." And yet I still haven't had a boyfriend... hmmm... 
"I KNEW IT. ALGER AND HANNALEA REUNITED." yeah, this was actually one of the perks about the end of the book. I'm glad they got to see each other again. 
And then there was the quote about lack of closure in the ending. You guessed it, it was Micah I was raging about. But also Fire Dancer and Cat and the rest of them didn't get a happy ending or closure or anything. Only Raisa and Han did, so I rest my point. Not the best ending. 
 
Anyway, thanks for reading this scattered review, sorry it took so long to come out 
Love you all, 
​Anji

Here's a book that's been on my TBR for years now. A decadent world filled with magic and culture, a delicate balance of power between the monarchs, wizards and clanspeople... so delicate that it's about to collapse. Filled with intrigue, action and just a dash of romance, The Demon King truly is a fun and enthralling ride. 

While this book has been on my radar for years and years now, I've always been hesitant to pick it up. Why? Well, years back I tried out the Chima's other series-- the Heir Chronicles, and was not particularly impressed. I read the first and second book, bought the third, and still have yet to pick it up. Maybe one day, probably not. But then again, I felt drawn to this series, mostly because of its high rating on Goodreads (4.2-- anything above 4 means most likely a phenomenal book.) Of course, I still didn't get the push I needed to read it, until I read a recommendation for Flamecaster, which is the first book in a sequel series to the Seven Realms series (this series). I wanted to just read Flamecaster, but I read a review saying I have to read the Seven Realms series first... So here we are. And let me make this clear from the get-go: I am so glad I read this series. 

​The Demon King follows two main protagonists-- Raisa ana'Marianna, the rebellious crown princess, and a reformed thief Han Alister. Both characters and their separate are quite interesting-- though, if I'm being honest, The Demon King definitely is the worst/ least interesting book in the series. As is common with high fantasy books, it takes a lot to set up the world, therefore, a lot of The Demon King was exposition-- just introducing the characters and the world they live in. Still, there was something that kept me reading it. Like, while reading, it's very hard to extract yourself and put the book down (after a bit in, I'll admit the start was a bit slow), but once you put the book down, it's not all that hard to not think about it anymore either. 

The most impressive thing about the book was its world. It took a lot of effort to really set it up and show where you were. I loved the political conflicts between the clans, the wizards and the monarchs. It made the world seem so much more realistic and relatable. There is a true complexity and depth written into their strained relationships-- and it was intriguing to read about. 
​
I would give the Demon King 7/10 stars, it was fun, but like I said, when I put it down, it wasn't something that I felt tugging at me to pick back up again. If you didn't get the vibe from the review, I'm actually writing after having finished the entire series so, just take my word for it and believe me when I say the series most definitely gets better-- worth the read, especially if you enjoy fantasy / action with a dash of romance like I do. 

Synopsis: 

Times are hard in the mountain city of Fellsmarch. Reformed thief Han Alister will do almost anything to eke out a living for his family. The only thing of value he has is something he can't sell—the thick silver cuffs he's worn since birth. They're clearly magicked—as he grows, they grow, and he's never been able to get them off.

One day, Han and his clan friend, Dancer, confront three young wizards setting fire to the sacred mountain of Hanalea. Han takes an amulet from Micah Bayar, son of the High Wizard, to keep him from using it against them. Soon Han learns that the amulet has an evil history—it once belonged to the Demon King, the wizard who nearly destroyed the world a millennium ago. With a magical piece that powerful at stake, Han knows that the Bayars will stop at nothing to get it back.

Meanwhile, Raisa ana'Marianna, princess heir of the Fells, has her own battles to fight. She's just returned to court after three years of freedom in the mountains—riding, hunting, and working the famous clan markets. Raisa wants to be more than an ornament in a glittering cage. She aspires to be like Hanalea—the legendary warrior queen who killed the Demon King and saved the world. But her mother has other plans for her...

The Seven Realms tremble when the lives of Hans and Raisa collide, fanning the flames of the smoldering war between clans and wizards.

Thanks for reading (sorry for such a short review, it's actually been a couple weeks since I read the book and I kinda forget the big things since I didn't take notes) 
Anji

The Darkest Minds Never Fade in the Afterlight. 
Three stellar novels, containing strong, complex characters and intriguing plots filled with action, adventure and high stakes. Plus a heart wrenching romance. What more could you ask for? These books are beloved to me-- one of the first series I read that helped to trigger my now insatiable book obsession.  
Whenever I hear one of my favorites books are being turned into a movie, the news is always accompanied with a mixture of emotions. Excitement because it'd be amazing to see my favorite stories and characters come to life, and get the recognition they deserve... but there's also a strong sense of apprehension. See, book-to-movie adaptations have a strong history of being huge disappointments. For every amazing book-to-movie, there's tons of unsuccessful adaptations that just disappoint everyone. For example, the Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings movies are amazing, but The Mortal Instruments, Divergent Trilogy, Vampire Academy, Percy Jackson, I Am Number Four etc. were all terrible flops that really just disrespected the books. 
Where does the Darkest Minds fall in all of this? Unfortunately this movie is the latter. I had such strong hopes for it-- I've been following news on the movie ever since it was even announced that the story had been picked up for adaptation rights, so this release was a big deal for me. 
I wasn't able to get to see the Darkest Minds on its release day, or even its release week, but I was keeping up with it... and my heart sunk when I saw its shockingly low ratings just about everywhere. I think The Darkest Minds had only been in theaters for two weeks by the time I found the chance to see it... and it was already not playing in most of them. I had to travel an absurd distance to get to a theater showing it, and even though I'd heard all of the negative reviews, I still went in hoping for the best-- but soon enough I realized that the movie was certainly not going to be that. 
I can never understand how book-to-movie adaptations go so horribly wrong-- I mean seriously! You already have a successful script in book form! I get that some things need to be changed to make the movie producible, but vital plot points plus changing things just for the sake of changing them? Ugh. I can't. Too many things in this movie were switched, and not even for the better-- I think it was just made to appeal more and be more "intense" but the book was plenty fascinating. 
There were elements of the story that made absolutely no sense to me and just seemed ridiculous. Such as the fact that the kids' eyes glow their power color? Also no one even mentions that ever-- so is it just something that the viewers can see... or? But why does this make any sense at all? Because the government gave the powers their colors because of their level of danger... so why would the powers abide by the colors given to them by the government? 
There were also moments where the tone of the movie was unclear. There was a serious car chase action scene going on and then it cut to this weird picture of Lady Jane bouncing to music in her car. It just couldn't seem to stick to a tone, which caused the film to be muddled-- which doesn't make it easy to really get into the story. 
The whole relationship between Liam and Ruby was just... fast and wrong. It was totally rushed-- it felt like they fell in love in just about three days. When the film ended I leaned over to my companions and said, "Bet you after fifteen days they're going to be engaged." It was a joke, but it really did apply. 
The book made Liam and Ruby a slow burn that made it impossible not to fall in love with their relationship. All together the movie's depiction of Ruby and Liam's connection was disappointing. In the book Liam bears the burden of being the leader of his group (Chubs and Zu), he feels responsible for them and it's a heavy weight... Ruby helps to connect with him and lift a bit of that burden away. They just have these touching moments that really make their relationship tangible-- the movie had none of that and just tried to skip ahead to the romance. It was the most insta-love-y connection I've ever seen. And I hate instalove. 
Just a few more examples of weird things are when Liam and Ruby are like trying to compare themselves to Harry Potter characters-- that scene might have tried to be comedic or relatable, but instead it just turned out uncomfortable and awkward. Then there's that scene in the mall where the telepaths literally press Liam and Ruby together, why was the position needed? I think it was added to make more sexual tension between the two of them but it just... like everything else it was weird. Also the very end scene Ruby just walks up to Liam and hugs him from behind which is WEIRD because it seems like a totally comfortable movement, when they'd never been depicted doing that before. Not only were scenes made weird, but Liam's whole character from the book was just different and a whole lot more likable/ easier to get attached to than movie Liam. (Why did they make Chubs a green? So that the whole group was very color? That just makes it more unrealistic! Ugh. He's supposed to be a blue, if you didn't know.) 
Actually, I could go on a rant about all the things made wrong in this movie, but... well, you all don't really want to read that. I did appreciate the characters of Zu and Chubs-- they were definitely the best part of the movie. Otherwise... Not much else was impressive. Sometimes I literally had to look away I was just so done with the movie and how it decided to depict the story. All and all, I was very disappointed. 4/10 stars. It got sucked into all the classic cliches, changing things to try and make the movie a hit, when in reality, it would've already been one if it hadn't made those changes. The cliches and attempts to make a hit movie are really what sunk that ship. 
Sorry if this review just seemed long and ranty... I'm not really sure where this is going so I'm jus too to say-- thank you for reading! Sorry this review came out so late-- I started it a long time ago but then school started and well... I've been busy. 
-Anj

"A prince may be the subject of myth and legend, but he can't live in them. He should live in the real world, where he can create them. You should pay less mind to fairy tales, Elian, or that's all you'll become." 

Vicious and clever, Alexandra Christo tears her way into the book world with her stunning debut novel To Kill A Kingdom. Loose fairytale retellings seem to be all the rage these days (Cinder, A Court of Thorns and Roses, etc.), yet I never knew I needed a wicked retelling of the Little Mermaid until I read this book. I was missing out, and I didn't even realize it until this book came along. 

Like I said before, it's wicked, and it's cunning, and it's a whole boatload (haha) of fun. Usually when I'm in a deep book hangover, the only cure is to read a sweet romance to snap me out. It's usually no good to read another action/fantasy story, because my mind is still stuck in another world. I still picked up To Kill A Kingdom for some reason-- even though I knew the odds of me liking it were slimmer due to the fact I was still feeling hurt by the ending of the Wolf by Wolf. Yet against all odds, I didn't just end up liking the book. I love it. 

"Royalty cannot be unmade. Birth rights cannot be changed. Hearts are forever scarred by our true nature." 

It very loosely tells the story of The Little Mermaid-- and I mean loosely. Like, the main character is half fish, her love interest is a prince and she has red hair and at some point gets turned into a human. The rest is a series of twists and turns that are all their own. To Kill A Kingdom will take you on a marvelous ride, stealing your breath and yanking at your heartstrings. It has a fun and intriguing plot, and even more fun and lovable characters. 

The "mermaids" of the story are not, in fact, mermaids. They are sirens, not the creepy vulturelike type of siren, but the mermaid-like sirens who sing to sailors and are their peril. Every year on her birthday, a siren will enchant some poor sailor and rip out their heart. It's brutal and it's vicious, and I love everything about them. They're solitary, cruel creatures who care for nothing but themselves. They do not bond, and they do not care. They simply exist to satisfy their own pleasures. 

"I may not have my fins, or even my voice, but I am my mother's daughter. I am the most murderous creature in the hundred kingdoms."

While all sirens are feared, not many sprout as much terror in the hearts of man as the Prince's Bane, otherwise known as Lira, the princess of the sea. Lira is cruel and brutal, just as a siren should be-- or at least, she tries to act that way. I loved Lira's character because of how sharp she is. She's nothing like the sweet, naive Ariel. Nope, Lira is a personality of her own, and the only way to describe her is sharp. She's cunning, and more than that-- she has a very sharp tongue, always quick to lash out with clever words. Her and Elian's word spars are part of what made the book so enjoyable. She's a strong protagonist, able to defend or attack even when in a strange body in an even stranger setting. 

The story is told from dual POVs, Lira's and Elian's. Elian is a pirate at heart, but stuck in a Prince's body. All he wants is to be out at sea with his loyal crew, hunting the creatures who hunt him-- sirens. Yet, he has a duty to his family and to his country, a duty that he despises. How can he be responsible for a nation when he feels an undeniable calling to the sea? Like Lira, he's not just clever, but he's also cunning. He comes up with the most devious plans, and never backs away from a fight.

Neither Elian nor Lira are what you'd, or at least I, expect(ed). They're both masters of sass, and clever snaps, which makes their interactions a joy to read. I found myself laughing out loud and snorting more times than I could count. Their banter just... made everything so much better. 

"You can't win a war. Someone else just loses." 

The world Christo has created is rich and beautiful. Not only did she create a glittering setting, but she also even went as far as to write parts of a language for the story! Now that's impressive and takes good commitment. I was shocked when I reached the end of the book and discovered it to be a standalone-- from the intricate world Christo put the effort into setting up, and the amazing characters, I assumed (and wanted) there to be more books. Yet, so far there aren't any plans for more. Unfortunately. 

Every element of this story is breathtaking, not just the world. It's all so beautifully written and... Wow. This really is just a work of art. It would be impossible to know that this was the author's debut novel-- some authors have been publishing for years and still have yet to master the elegance that Christo has with her words, her characters and her storytelling. 8/10 stars, To Kill A Kingdom is a truly beautiful and exciting masterpiece.

I will admit that yes, the beginning of the story seemed a bit slow-- perhaps overly slow in my eyes because I was still fawning over Luka Lowe and Yael, but it really catches up, I promise. You just have to learn to love the characters, and then everything follows. :) I highly recommend this book to any and all, it has every element you could possibly want and more. You honestly don't know you're missing out, but you really are if you haven't read To Kill A Kingdom yet. 

Synopsis:  

Princess Lira is siren royalty and the most lethal of them all. With the hearts of seventeen princes in her collection, she is revered across the sea. Until a twist of fate forces her to kill one of her own. To punish her daughter, the Sea Queen transforms Lira into the one thing they loathe most—a human. Robbed of her song, Lira has until the winter solstice to deliver Prince Elian’s heart to the Sea Queen or remain a human forever.

The ocean is the only place Prince Elian calls home, even though he is heir to the most powerful kingdom in the world. Hunting sirens is more than an unsavory hobby—it’s his calling. When he rescues a drowning woman in the ocean, she’s more than what she appears. She promises to help him find the key to destroying all of sirenkind for good—But can he trust her? And just how many deals will Elian have to barter to eliminate mankind’s greatest enemy?

Thanks for reading, 
​Anj