*I received an arc through netgalley in exchange for an honest review* ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 5 stars. I'm usually intimidated by poetry because I generally don't understand it. It has always been either hit or miss for me, and sadly mostly miss. Then came along this peculiar novel. A professor, who shares the author's name, finds himself in a mysterious village, where he's expected to teach a poetry class. The story plays out over the course of the fall semester where each week is about a new poet. The poets, though dead, arrive in their corresponding week to perform a reading and have drinks with the class while answering questions from the students. The first thing that was clear to me … [Read more...]
Age of Swords by Michael J. Sullivan
*I received an arc from the publisher via netgalley in exchange for an honest review* ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 stars. Comes out July 25th! As it is the second book in a series, this review contains spoilers from Age of Myth. If you haven't read this series yet, and you enjoy epic fantasy with great characters, do yourself a favor and pick it up. The breathtaking adventure that began in Age of Myth continues in Age of Swords as we revisit fantastic characters and meet new ones. And as the world expands beyond the borders of Dahl Rhen, the author masterfully weaves a plethora of new information into the story seamlessly. Age of Swords dives into the depths of the Art and how it works, while … [Read more...]
The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee
The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue follows Henry "Monty" Montague on his Grand Tour around Europe accompanied by his sister and his best friend. But what he thought was going to be one big party, turns into something much more exciting and complicated. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 stars. Initially, I wasn't overly interested in reading The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue. But after finishing the last book in the To All The Boys I've Loved Before trilogy by Jenny Han, I wanted to read something that was both fun and romantic. I picked up the audiobook on a whim, and I absolutely freaking loved it. The audiobook version is a little shy of 11 hours long, and a tad bit less when listening to it … [Read more...]
The Alchemists of Loom by Elise Kova
Today is just going to be a short review, because I'm currently on vacation. But mainly because I don't have much to say about this book, yet I still wanted to share my thoughts. ⭐️⭐️/5 stars. The Alchemists of Loom is a steampunk fantasy novel following the infamous White Wraith, Ariana, her initiate, Florence, and a Dragon called Cvareh. Thrown together by accident, they start to form an unlikely bond that lead them into a world of trouble. The world is super interesting because of all the steampunk elements. Somehow, when I first heard about it, I didn't catch the fact that it was steampunk. And I usually don't enjoy the aesthetics of that genre, but somehow this particular book … [Read more...]
Every Heart A Doorway by Seanan McGuire
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 stars. We often see books and movies about going to another world, but what happens when the adventure ends? What happens to the characters when they come home? That's what Every Heart a Doorway is about. Spanning only 173 pages, this is a very short book. Yet it manages to say much more than just the words on the pages. It presents a different side of portal fantasy, one that deals with the cruel pain of experiencing a true sense of belonging just to have it ripped away. Stripped of one's significance. Banished to a life of conformity, not knowing when, or even if there is a way back home. Hope hurts. That's what you need to learn, and fast, if you don't want … [Read more...]
Age of Myth by Michael J. Sullivan
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 stars. Age of Myth is my first Michael J. Sullivan book and I can honestly say I'm impressed. It's the first book in a six book series set 3000 years before the events of The Riyria Chronicles. The Legends of The First Empire series is meant to work as a separate entry into the world of Elan, and it does not contain spoilers for the other books set in the same world. The Fhrey have ruled the world for eons. They vanquished the Dherg, routed the giants, and chased the goblins into the sea. They have no equal, no fear of any living thing – until now.” Gods are believed to be immortal, but when Raithe, son of Herkimer, crosses the path of one of the Fhrey, things become a bit … [Read more...]
Ink and Bone by Rachel Caine
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 stars. Ink and Bone is an alternate history novel, where The Library of Alexandria has expanded to all corners of the world. The Library controls the flow of knowledge with an iron fist. It's illegal to possess original books and the only way to access literary knowledge is through the Library-issued 'blanks'. These blank books can display books from the Library's vast collection of originals. But it's not the same as handling a real book. The story follows Jess, who comes from a family of book smugglers. He loves books just as much as us readers, but to his family, books are the source of income. There is no sentimentality involved, unlike Jess' relationship with books. … [Read more...]
And I Darken by Kiersten White
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 stars. Lada is brutal and sometimes downright cruel. She's a complex character, because she is also capable of love. As much as she picks on her 'weak' younger brother, Radu, when push comes to shove, she loves him like nothing else. The story is never black and white. The most important parts are in the nuances, which makes the story come to life and makes it able to impact the reader with honest emotion and unavoidable facts of life. Like the story, the characters are outlined with ink-black broad hard strokes and slowly layered with color and nuance of strengths and weaknesses. Vlad the Impaler reimagined as Lada is one hundred percent human, which is more … [Read more...]
Quinsey Wolfe’s Glass Vault by Candace Robinson
EDIT APRIL 30th 2018: This review is of an old version of the book. A new and revised version is being released in June 2018. *I received an arc of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.* DISCLAIMER: This is my own personal opinion based on my enjoyment of the book. Some of the problems I had with the writing style may have been resolved in the finished copy, so please note that my opinion was formed after reading an advance copy. ⭐⭐/5 stars. Quinsey Wolfe's Glass Vault is an impressive weaving of horror stories and fairytales set in a place of evil incarnate. It's filled with twists and turns, some you'll be able to spot if you're reading closely, and others … [Read more...]
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/ 5 stars “The circus arrives without warning.” The first sentence is bordering on iconic, it sets the mood instantly, raises your expectations and lets you know that you’re in for a treat. The Night Circus is written in present tense, set in the past and plays out over a span of 30 years. It took me a couple of chapters to get used to the writing, but I soon grew to love it. It fits the story because it creates a sense of urgency, which made me as a reader more engaged in the story. The characters were interesting, but I wanted to get to know them and I never felt I quite got there. The person I cared about most and felt closest to was Bailey. His journey of finding his … [Read more...]
