Review: The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY BY OSCAR WILDE
Publisher: Random House
Format: Paperback
Series: No
Pages: 194
Date Finished: 21.01.16
Rating: 4.5/5
Summary: Dorian is a good-natured young man until he discovers the power of his own exceptional beauty. As he gradually sinks deep into a frivolous, glamorous world of selfish luxury, he apparently remains physically unchanged by the stresses of his corrupt lifestyle and untouched by age. But up in his attic, hidden behind a curtain, his portrait tells a different story...

“The books that the world calls immoral are books that show the world its own shame.”

To put it simply, this novel is fantastic. Not only is the prose absolutely beautiful, but it explores themes that most authors wouldn't dare to (especially in the stuffy, oppressive Victorian era). The Picture of Dorian Gray is bold, daring, thought provoking and philosophical. It's no wonder that most of Wilde's contemporary didn't give it the best reception.

Dorian Gray follows an eponymous protagonist who essentially trades his soul for eternal youth and beauty. The portrait of him painted by his friend Basil Hallward bears not only his age but a visible sign of the sins he commits. As well as being a fantastic novel it also has elements of being a social commentary, sometimes even using very dark cynicism to highlight the flaws of Victorian society.

“I don't want to be at the mercy of my emotions. I want to use them, to enjoy them, and to dominate them.”

Some characters are more likable than others, though they all feel extremely real. Along with most of the classics I have read (which, sadly, isn't many) I did struggle to deeply connect with the characters in the same way I have with other novels. However, that doesn't change how beautifully crafted they are. Each one serves a purpose, from Henry Wotton to Sibyl Vane. Some were sexist, some were sympathetic, and others were downright evil.

Perhaps my favourite thing about The Picture of Dorian Gray is how Wilde's life adds to the narrative. I have to admit that I don't know much about Oscar Wilde, though I do know that he was gay. The homosexual undertones to the novel are quite frankly a delight to read. They're so blatantly obvious (at least they are to me, reading in the 21st century) and it's just wonderful. Fuck you, Victorian homophobia. This book is a work of art, and I like to think that it's sticking it's middle finger up at oppression.

“Nowadays most people die of a sort of creeping common sense, and discover when it is too late that the only things one never regrets are one's mistakes.”

I genuinely see myself wanting to reread this in a few years. The prose is so good it made me want to drool, and every other sentence felt quote worthy. It wasn't overly challenging to read, and whilst there was one chapter that dragged I was hardly ever bored. The Picture of Dorian Gray is a classic that's lasted the test of time, and I completely understand why.

“Some things are more precious because they don't last long.”

Review: Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz

ARISTOTLE AND DANTE DISCOVER THE SECRETS OF THE UNIVERSE BY BENJAMIN ALIRE SAENZ 
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Format: Audiobook
Series: No
Pages: 359
Date Finished: 19.12.15
Rating: 4.5/5
Summary: A lyrical novel about family and friendship from critically acclaimed author Benjamin Alire Sáenz. 

Aristotle is an angry teen with a brother in prison. Dante is a know-it-all who has an unusual way of looking at the world. When the two meet at the swimming pool, they seem to have nothing in common. But as the loners start spending time together, they discover that they share a special friendship—the kind that changes lives and lasts a lifetime. And it is through this friendship that Ari and Dante will learn the most important truths about themselves and the kind of people they want to be.

I don't really know what to say about this book, other than the fact that it felt alive. The characters had a life of their own, and it wasn't one of those contemporary novels that, no matter how enjoyable, has a detachment from reality. Everything about Aristotle and Dante feels like it could happen in real life. It feels like it already did.

“Words were different when they lived inside of you.”

The prose in this novel lent itself perfectly to being read as an audiobook, and I definitely recommend enjoying it that way. Lin Manuel Miranda's narration took the words of the page and completely immersed me in the world of Ari and D0ante. I'd be lying if I told you the reason I read this wasn't because Miranda was the narrator (he just happens to be my favourite human being. Ever). That aside, I can't form into words how magical this novel is.

I completely understand why it's won so many awards. It's powerful, and manages to be profound without becoming overly pretentious. Even though I can't relate to the two main characters on certain levels, I am beyond happy that this book exists. In terms of representation, this is the kind of book we need. Aristotle and Dante explores the themes of race and homosexuality, two things which are arguably underrepresented in YA at the moment. Books like this one are important, not just because it's a fantastic novel because it tells the stories of characters which don't normally get a voice.

“I got to thinking that poems were like people. Some people you got right off the bat. Some people you just didn't get--and never would get.”

Speaking of the characters, I bloody loved them. Aristotle and Dante both feel like real people, and the connection between them never felt as if it was fake. The supporting characters were just as great--I loved that family was an important theme, and that we got to know the parents of both characters as human beings, not just as 'mum' and 'dad'. They fleshed out the story and gave it its heart.

I can't quite give it five stars only because it took me a while to get through, partly because when I stopped listening I didn't feel a sense of urgency to continue the story. That aside, this is a beautiful novel that, in my opinion, everyone should read.

“I bet you could sometimes find all the mysteries of the universe in someone's hand.”

Review: A Room With a View by E.M. Forster

A ROOM WITH A VIEW BY E.M. FORSTER
Publisher: Penguin
Format: Paperback
Series: No
Pages: 221
Date Finished: 31.12.15
Rating: 3.5/5
Summary: "But you do," he went on, not waiting for contradiction. "You love the boy body and soul, plainly, directly, as he loves you, and no other word expresses it ..."

Lucy has her rigid, middle-class life mapped out for her until she visits Florence with her uptight cousin Charlotte, and finds her neatly ordered existence thrown off balance. Her eyes are opened by the unconventional characters she meets at the Pension Bertolini: flamboyant romantic novelist Eleanor Lavish, the Cockney Signora, curious Mr Emerson and, most of all, his passionate son George.

Lucy finds herself torn between the intensity of life in Italy and the repressed morals of Edwardian England, personified in her terminally dull fiancé Cecil Vyse. Will she ever learn to follow her own heart?

A Room With a View by E.M. Forster is a little novel that manages to tackle a great number of themes in its few pages. From the summary it may seem like a frivolous story surrounding a love triangle, but that is almost definitely not the case. Ultimately, it criticises the many flaws of society in 1908, it's date of publication, and presents many ideas that have significant merit, even today.

"I want you to have your own thoughts even when I hold you in my arms."

The novel follows Lucy Honeychurch, firstly during her holiday in Italy and secondly back at her home in Surrey. Essentially Lucy has to choose between George Emerson, a man considered beneath her in terms of class yet someone she could live a passionate life with, and Cecil Vyse, a wealthy yet generally boring and selfish man. There are definitely other aspects to the novel such as the elements of social critique and the cast of varied characters.

A Room With a View is a book I'm required to read for my A Levels. I'm not honestly sure that I would have picked it up otherwise, and whilst I am glad that I did I wouldn't be surprised if months of in depth analysis eventually kill it for me. I did quite like it, yet my general attitude towards Forster's novel isn't full of praise simply because I didn't fall in love with it. It is a great work of literature that can definitely be analysed in detail, but in terms of enjoyment it didn't blow me away.

“Life' wrote a friend of mine, 'is a public performance on the violin, in which you must learn the instrument as you go along.”

Perhaps the best element of the novel was Lucy herself. Starting out naive, Lucy's bildungsroman saw her develop as a character and by the end I would definitely call her progressive in terms of assertiveness and gender equality, something I enjoyed. She became honest and strong, and one of the final scenes between her and Cecil was just wonderful to read.

Cecil, one of the love interests, comes across as the kind of person that is just asking for for a punch in the teeth. He's dry, boring, sexist, controlling, and selfish, and as much as I dislike him that's exactly why he's a great character. He represents many of the flaws with the era, and contrasts against Lucy and George on many aspects. 

“No, he is not tactful, yet have you ever noticed that there are people who do things which are most indelicate, and yet, at the same time, beautiful?”

Whilst I definitely preferred George, and liked where his character was going, I felt like Forster didn't give us enough time to get to know him as a character. That's where I think the novel fell short for me--I wanted to truly see Lucy falling for him, not be told that she did. More depth from his character would make the romance work a lot better, and then I think I definitely would've pushed the rating up higher. I'm not saying that George is underdeveloped, but rather that I just wanted to see more of him.

Overall, this is an excellent novel that just failed to make me fall in love with it. In terms of the prose alone I would give it five stars, but I didn't enjoy it enough to warrant it that. That be said, I'm definitely looking forward to writing essays where I can rip apart Cecil for being a patriarchal idiot. That's always fun.

“Men were not gods after all, but as human and as clumsy as girls.”

Review: Saint Anything by Sarah Dessen

SAINT ANYTHING BY SARAH DESSEN
Publisher: Penguin
Format: Paperback
Series: No
Pages: 448
Date Finished: 08.10.15
Rating: 2.5/5
Summary: Peyton, Sydney’s charismatic older brother, has always been the star of the family, receiving the lion’s share of their parents’ attention and—lately—concern. When Peyton’s increasingly reckless behaviour culminates in an accident, a drunk driving conviction, and a jail sentence, Sydney is cast adrift, searching for her place in the family and the world. When everyone else is so worried about Peyton, is she the only one concerned about the victim of the accident?

Enter the Chathams, a warm, chaotic family who run a pizza parlour, play bluegrass on weekends, and pitch in to care for their mother, who has multiple sclerosis. Here Sydney experiences unquestioning acceptance. And here she meets Mac, gentle, watchful, and protective, who makes Sydney feel seen, really seen, for the first time.

“The future was one thing that could never be broken, because it had not yet had the chance to be anything.”  

The most honest thing I can say about this book was that it was nice. The romance was nice, the story was nice, the conflict was nice--I can't think of anything inherently terrible about Saint Anything, but I can't think of anything that great either.

Saint Anything tells the story of Sydney, a girl whose elder brother is in prison for drink driving, subsequently paralysing a boy from the waist down. From this summary I expected the book to deal with the dark stuff more than it actually did. Of course it mentioned it, but honestly I just wanted more. All the gritty, realistic elements of the book just felt a little lacklustre. So many elements were set up and I felt that they were all barely resolved, and if they were it was in a big showy chapter at the end.

Sydney's main problem aside from her brother is that she feels invisible. The thing is, we're never actually shown that, only told it. Being a teenager I've obviously felt invisible before so I should've sympathised with her but I just didn't. It wasn't as if Sydney was whiny, but I felt no connection to her whatsoever.

“It was unrealistic to expect to be constantly in the happiest place. In real life, you're lucky just to be always somewhere nearby.”  

Another thing that bothered me was Ames. He's this really creepy guy that ends up assaulting Sydney. Whilst this could have been a really powerful subplot, I don't think it was handled all that well (it still wasn't handled badly) and was a little unnecessary to the story. Again, I thought the resolution of this aspect of the books as week. Also it's the first time I've read a book where the character has the same last name as me, and of course it had to be a creepy pervert.

I liked most of the characters, but in the same way I like the colour yellow. It's alright, I suppose, but I don't love it. I don't really care about yellow. Sydney felt a little bland, and the whole cast of characters had a few defining traits each and nothing more to them than that. Mac and Sydney had a cute relationship, but any idea of romantic tension fell flat on its face. Their story went something like they meet, they like each other, they flirt, they kiss, they live happily ever after. The fact that Mac was the brother of Sydney's best friend could've upped the tension but it barely did.

It may sound like this book was rubbish. It isn't. I flew through it and had a good time reading it. Like I said at the beginning, all the good things were just nice. I can't go into the specifics about what I liked because in all honesty I'm not really sure. Everything was perfectly average. It's a shame because I've heard so much about Sarah Dessen and I really wanted this book to shine. I don't think it will stop me from picking up her other books, but I'm certainly in no hurry.

“When faced with the scariest of things, all you want to do is turn away, hide in your own invisible place. But you can't. That's why it's not only important for us to be seen, but to have someone to look for us, as well.”  

Review: The Dream Thieves by Maggie Stiefvater

THE DREAM THIEVES BY MAGGIE STIEFVATER
Publisher: Scholastic
Format: Paperback
Series: The Raven Cycle #2
Pages: 450
Date Finished: 07.10.15
Rating: 4/5
Summary: Now that the ley lines around Cabeswater have been woken, nothing for Ronan, Gansey, Blue, and Adam will be the same. Ronan, for one, is falling more and more deeply into his dreams, and his dreams are intruding more and more into waking life. Meanwhile, some very sinister people are looking for some of the same pieces of the Cabeswater puzzle that Gansey is after…  

“In that moment, Blue was a little in love with all of them.
Their magic. Their quest. Their awfulness and strangeness.
Her raven boys.”  

I have been completely and utterly sucked into the world of The Raven Cycle. I can't stop thinking about the characters and the world and the mystery even when I shouldn't be (basically I daydream instead of pay attention in class). To put it simply, I've found a new series to get addicted to.

Side note: do you think there's a rehab for book addicts?

I really, really liked The Dream Thieves. The tone and the atmosphere of the book is a strange blend of edginess, magic and wonder. Stiefvater's writing style really is beautiful, and I'm at utter awe about how well paced her writing is, and how beautifully all the different POV's weave together.

The Dream Thieves has a slight focus on Ronan, one of my favourite characters. We're invited into his strange world where his dreams come true as well as shown the reality of his dark, haunted past. I loved it. I love him. Through Ronan and the rest of the characters, Steifvater deals with some really serious issues that compliment the fantastical backdrop perfectly. She doesn't force anything down your throat, but the way the characters and their issues The Dream Thieves are presented is nothing short of realistic.

“And Ronan was everything that was left: molten eyes and a smile made for war.”    

I loved Ronan's interactions with Kavinsky, one of the most interesting characters in his book. If I'm honest I worked out his secret the same way I did with Adam's in The Raven Boys--I thought it was a detail that I missed, not a real secret. That aside, Kavinsky was like Ronan's mirror reflection. He was what Ronan could become, and seeing the parallels were a great and somewhat alarming addition to the book.

Like with the first book, I love exploring the tensions and relationships between our core cast of characters. In The Dream Thieves they get even more developed. I can't wait to see how things unfold in Blue Lily, Lily Blue. Yet again I want to use the world realistic. There isn't any melodrama--Stiefvater ups the tension without sacrificing the rawness and the humanity of her characters.

 “She wore a dress Ronan thought looked like a lampshade. Whatever sort of lamp it belonged on, Gansey clearly wished he had one. 

Ronan wasn't a fan of lamps.”  

Just as much as I love Ronan, this book made Gansey quickly become my favourite. There's something wonderful about him that I can't quite explain. I hate to say it but Adam is beginning to annoy me. His character is fantastically developed and well written, but his actions are a tiny bit frustrating.

Perhaps my major criticism with this book is that although the climax was big enough, I wanted more. When I wanted dynamite I got fireworks--everything was well done and beautiful, but I just wanted more. Also, there were points where I felt a little confused about the plot, especially about Adam and Cabeswater.

“I wish you could be kissed, Jane,' he said. 'Because I would beg just one off you. Under all this.' He flailed an arm toward the stars.”      

Romance is only a very small subplot in The Dream Thieves but I thought it was handled perfectly. From the outside you could dismiss it as yet another book with a love triangle, but in reality it's a lot more than that. Blue makes her choice and she doesn't hang indecisive between two boys. The friendships are not put after the relationships. And, more importantly, the slow building romance between Blue and Gansey is just amazing to watch unfold.

I said exactly the same thing in my review of The Raven Boys. I enjoyed reading this enough to warrant it five stars, and it was only a few elements that made me give it four instead. I probably should, considering that I can't stop thinking about these damn characters. I don't really think that I want to stop.

“While I'm gone," Gansey said, pausing, "dream me the world. Something new for every night.”  

Review: The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater

THE RAVEN BOYS BY MAGGIE STIEFVATER
Publisher: Scholastic
Format: Paperback
Series: The Raven Cycle #1
Pages: 421
Date Finished: 27.09.15
Rating: 4/5
Summary: Blue has spent the majority of her sixteen years being told that if she kisses her true love, he will die. When Blue meets Gansey’s spirit on the corpse road she knows there is only one reason why – either he is her true love or she has killed him.

Determined to find out the truth, Blue becomes involved with the Raven Boys, four boys from the local private school (lead by Gansey) who are on a quest to discover Glendower – a lost ancient Welsh King who is buried somewhere along the Virginia ley line. Whoever finds him will be granted a supernatural favour.

Never before has Blue felt such magic around her. But is Gansey her true love? She can’t imagine a time she would feel like that, and she is adamant not to be the reason for his death. Where will fate lead them?

“My words are unerring tools of destruction, and I’ve come unequipped with the ability to disarm them.”

I want to take you back five years or so to this period of my life known as the ‘Twilight phase’. Granted, I was never obsessed with Meyer’s novels, but the first time I read them I actually liked them. From Twilight, I read The House of Night, Fallen, Evermore and a bunch of other paranormal novels. I like to think of that period of my reading life ‘the dark ages’, mostly because I know that if I reread those books I would almost definitely loathe them.

It took one book to scare me from paranormal YA novels: Teardrop by Lauren Kate. Reading that book was like swimming through mud.

Flash forward a few years to when I heard about The Raven Boys. I told myself that I wouldn’t read it, because the tagline wouldn’t look place in one of those dreaded paranormal books I began to loathe (if our heroine Blue kisses her true love, he dies). The glowing reviews couldn’t persuade me. In the end, it took a lot of praise from the wonderful Erin to persuade me to give it a try. 

To put it simply, this book is worth its weight in gold.

“She wasn't interested in telling other people's futures. She was interested in going out and finding her own.”  

The Raven Boys is everything I want in a paranormal novel. It follows Blue Sargent--a sixteen year old girl from a family of psychics who has the ability to amplify other people’s powers—and four boys from Aglionby School, otherwise known as raven boys. We’re introduced to a girl whose told that her kiss could be fatal, and a boy whose trying to discover as much as he can about things called ley lines, and a mysterious Welsh man called Glendower. Along with a slightly disturbing Latin teacher who goes by the name of Barrington Whelk (believe me, I know), everything comes together in an intricately woven plot.

For me, the characters were the shining star of this book. Each one of them felt real, complete with their own problems, faults and desires. I loved them all, especially the wonder that is Ronan Lynch. There’s something about him that just makes me want to give him a big hug and tell him everything is okay (even if he’d probably punch me for that). I think he’s one of the most developed characters in the book—Gansey and Adam probably come second. I really loved the dynamic between the four raven boys, although personally I feel like Noah needed a little more development (though I can kind of understand why he wasn’t given much).

Even though Ronan was probably my favourite, I think I'm a little in love with Gansey. He has his flaws, but he's so refreshingly well developed. The relationship between Gansey and Adam was probably the most interesting. I really like how Stiefvater dealt with the differences between an extortionately wealthy boy and his friend who has to manage multiple jobs just to stay in school. 

“Gansey had once told Adam that he was afraid most people didn't know how to handle Ronan. What he meant by this was that he was worried that one day someone would fall on Ronan and cut themselves.”   

And then there’s Blue. I really like her, I do, but personally I feel like her character doesn’t dazzle like the others do. Do you ever feel that the main character can sometimes feel a little bland compared to the others? I’m not saying that she’s two dimensional (because that would be an outright lie), rather that I just wanted a little more from her.

Whilst it could be argued that there is a love triangle going on, in this first book at least I don’t feel like there is. In the first chapter Blue is told that Gansey could be her true love, but although they have great chemistry there isn’t actually any romantic feelings between them yet. There’s no love at first sight, or lengthy paragraphs about the beauty of each others’ eyes. I’m pretty sure that Blue won’t end up with Adam, but I like the fact that she isn’t really torn between him and Gansey. Yet. This book is not a romance novel first and foremost, and I think that just adds to its strength. 

“They were always walking away from him. But he never seemed able to walk away from them.”  

  I really enjoyed the fantastical elements of The Raven Boys. It’s clear that Stiefvater has done her research, and honestly it’s a pleasure to read. Not all of my questions got answered in this book which is just fine, and I’m still a little unsure of the implications of that thing with Adam at the end. The things about they ley lines and Glendower are really interesting and I can’t wait to find out more in The Dream Thieves (which I’ve already ordered because I need to know what happens next).

If I’m being nitpickey I’d point out that Noah’s secret was a little too obvious for me. Honestly, I guessed it straight away and assumed that it was already made clear in the story, but I’d just missed the sentence where it’s explicitly stated. Sorry for being vague (I’m trying really hard to avoid spoilers here). I still think it’s a cool aspect of the story, though.

The Raven Boys is a novel with multiple subplots and multiple layers. I think that’s why it hasn’t fallen into the Twilight trap. Stiefvater could’ve easily made it a novel about a girl torn between two friends, knowing that she can’t kiss either of them because he’ll die. Instead she chooses to weave together multiple narratives and raise the stakes on multiple levels. I loved that. 

“Fate," Blue replied, glowering at her mother, "is a very weighty word to throw around before breakfast.” 

Maybe the reason I tend to stay away from paranormal YA novels is because they’re often very annoying. You know what I mean—misunderstandings are the only thing pulling the plot forward, and the characters ignore the obvious just because it makes it easier for the author. The Raven Boys wasn’t like that. You don’t know how nice it was to read about people who have a healthy respect for the police, and about a heroine who doesn’t do the stupid thing. I’m pretty sure that Bella would’ve kissed Edward by page forty five, thus killing him. Maybe that’d be a good thing because really, how many stalker vampires do you want to watch you sleep? The correct answer is no because it’s fucking creepy.

I know everyone says this, but Stiefvater really does have a beautiful writing style. It’s so lovely to read, complete with witty dialogue and well-constructed scenes. I absolutely adored the scene when Blue first met the raven boys, and the bit where Ronan punches Adam’s father.

The Raven Boys isn’t a perfect book but I still loved it. I enjoyed it enough to warrant it five stars, though recently I’ve been trying to save my five star ratings for books that really, really deserve them. Unfortunately The Raven Boys just fell short of that top spot, though I don’t doubt that its sequels will get better and better. I feel like Stiefvater set everything up perfectly, and I can't wait to find out what happens next (in three to five business days. Thanks, Amazon).

"I found it."  

"People find pennies," Gansey replied. "Or car keys. Or four leaf clovers."

"And ravens," Ronan said. "You're just jealous 'cause" - at this point, he had to stop to regroup his beer-sluggish thoughts - "you didn't find one, too."

Mini Reviews: The Princess Diaries Books 8-10

If you've read my reviews before, you'll probably know that I pride myself in having the mental age of a pre teen and unashamedly love The Princess Diaries even if they're not the best written books in the world. I first read them when I was eleven, though because book eleven was released earlier this year I decided to reread the entire series before picking it up. I've reviewed the second and third books, as well as books four to seven in the form of mini reviews.

AFTER EIGHT

Pages: 228

Date Finished: 17.09.15

Rating: 2.5/5
This book was unfortunately a little 'meh'. It wasn't as funny as the previous instalments, and the only thing driving the plot was melodrama. Whilst After Eight did deal with important issues, I wasn't really a fan of how some things were handled (thank god Michael loathed the term 'precious gift' just as much as I do). There wasn't any substance, and I felt that the whole book was lacking.

Negatives aside, it's almost impossible not to get sucked into this series. I read it in one sitting (rather than doing homework. Oops) and I know for a fact that all I'll be able to think about tomorrow is Mia and Michael. I still love them both as characters (even though I want to shake some sense into Mia most of the time), and the supporting cast really is great. I have to say that I found myself agreeing with Lilly a lot in this book, something that I never thought I'd normally do.

Grandmere has been giving Mia hints about sex for the past few books now, and it was really funny to see Mia finally understand what she was talking about. And, yet again, Buffy and Lord of the Rings references are always appreciated.

I think the reason why the book was unsatisfying is because it had no climax, or no resolution. There were just a series of events that felt necessary for the series to progress. Maybe this series is mean to be binge read, but this book wasn't really contained in itself like the others were.

Of course I'm going to continue with this series despite the fact that my heart is broken (J.P. is not my friend). I don't understand how a book so average can be such an addictive page turner.

TO THE NINES
Pages: 269
Date Finished: 18.09.15
Rating: 3.8/5
Wow, this book was way more satisfying than the last. Even if I still hate JP, and even if it wasn't as funny as the earlier books, I still really enjoyed it. Do you know why?

In To The Nines, the book wasn't focussed completely on romance. Yeah, a huge chunk of the book focussed on heartbreak, but there was something else driving it forward: Mia. Finally, finally she is starting to become less melodramatic and more assertive. She's finally growing up and it was wonderful to read. Faced wih a serious and life changing decision towards the end of the book, I feel like she made the right choice. Not for her, but for Genovia.

I felt like this series declined in quality towards the middle, but this Is where it's picking up again. I do miss the humour, but Mia is no longer that silly fourteen year old. She's beginning to grow into herself. I feel like her character arc in this book was surprisingly satisfying, as were her reactions with the other characters. Despite the arguments, each of them had a valid point of view.

Another aspect of the book I really enjoyed was the character of Lana. I'm happy that she's transitioning from the standard high school mean girl to someone who actually has real feelings.

I said that After Eight didn't really feel like a contained book. However, To The Nines actually does. Though, I do want more character development with a lot of the side characters. As much as I love them, they're beginning to feel like caricatures of themselves, if that makes sense. I mentioned this in my reviews of the other books, but I still want more when it comes to showing, not telling.

This book wasn't perfect, and this series certainly isn't the best written of all time. That doesn't change how invested I am in the lives of the characters, and how fun they are.

TEN OUT OF TEN
Pages: 400
Rating: 4/5
Date Read: 19.09.15
All I want to say right now is aaawww. Or in the words of Mia: EEEEEEEEEEEEEEH!!!!!!!!!

Ten out of Ten isn't a perfect book. It's not the best written, and it's certainly predictable. You know what? I don't care. I don't' care that this series isn't considered top notch literature, or that it's just a 'silly kids book'. All that matters is that I had an absolute blast reading it.

This book starts just under two years after the last. I know that it had to for the plot to work, but I find it hard to believe that Mia went that wrong without writing in her journal, even if it was to work on her novel. That aside, in this book everything finally comes together.

I loved seeing Michael back. He's certainly one of my favourite characters, and it's no secret that I ship him with Mia real bad (as far as I'm concerned, J.P. can go rot in hell or something). They just have chemistry, and the way their relationship progressed just felt so organic. Also, seeing them interact again was ridiculously cute, and I can't wait to read the eleventh book as soon as I can get my hands on it.

Mia finally feels grown up, and it was really nice to see her laughing at her younger self (thank God Cabot doesn't take Mia's view about the 'precious flower' thing. Ugh). I also loved how she became friends with Lana, and how Lana actually appreciated her too. Speaking of Mia's friends, it's so great to read about the whole gang. I just love them all so much, okay?

One of my favourite aspects about this book was the novel Mia wrote. It's funny, because her rant about why romance books are just as important as more 'serious' fiction mirrors exactly what I've been thinking over the past few weeks. Whilst it's probably a little unrealistic that someone would get published at eighteen (I hate to say it, but the extracts from her book weren't' that great), I'm so happy that she's finally chasing her dreams.

Without making this post too lengthy, I'll just say that this is a really satisfying to the series (not including the eleventh book, as it only came out this year). Yeah, it isn't perfect, but I care for Mia, Michael and all their friends. That's enough, isn't it?

Review: Maya's Notebook by Isabel Allendi

MAYA'S NOTEBOOK BY ISABEL ALLENDE
Publisher: Fourth Estate
Format: Paperback
Series: No
Pages: 387
Date Finished: 13.09.15
Rating: 4/5
Summary: Isabel Allende’s latest novel, set in the present day (a new departure for the author), tells the story of a 19-year-old American girl who finds refuge on a remote island off the coast of Chile after falling into a life of drugs, crime, and prostitution. There, in the company of a torture survivor, a lame dog, and other unforgettable characters, Maya Vidal writes her story, which includes pursuit by a gang of assassins, the police, the FBI, and Interpol. In the process, she unveils a terrible family secret, comes to understand the meaning of love and loyalty, and initiates the greatest adventure of her life: the journey into her own soul.

“I'd realized that in writing happiness is useless-without suffering there is no story.”  

I have to admit that I picked up this book half expecting to hate it. This book was mentioned by my English teacher and whilst the description was really compelling, it didn't seem like my thing. Maya's Notebook is a departure from the genre's that I normally read, but that didn't change the fact that I really loved it.

Before I get into the review, I want to say that despite what some people have shelved it as on Goodreads, this isn't a YA novel. As the summary suggests, there are rather harrowing and sometimes graphic descriptions of drugs, rape, prostitution, violence and sex. It's dark and gritty--definitely not for the faint of heart--yet that doesn't change the fact that Maya's Notebook is essentially a novel about love, compassion and healing.

“As my Popo used to say, life is a tapestry we weave day by day with threads of different colors, some heavy and dark, others thin and bright, all the threads having their uses. The stupid things I did are already in the tapestry, indelible, but I’m not going to be weighed down by them till I die. What’s done is done; I have to look ahead.”  

Told in media res, Maya's Notebook jumps between her life in exile on the Chilean island of Chiloé and her past. Even though the narrative isn't completely linear, I thought the way that it unfolded was wonderful. There weren't chapters (the book was split into four parts--Summer, Autumn, Winter and Spring) I thought the pacing was wonderful. As the novel went along we got to piece together Maya's story, and the comparison between the present and the past was emotional to say the least. Although I found one of the revelations predictable, Maya's Notebook is still a fantastic novel.

Maya is a really compelling character, despite the fact that she makes a lot of really stupid decisions. I really liked her. Practically everything bad you could think about that could happen to a character happens to her. Seeing her go in and out of addiction was devastating, especially when she hit rock bottom. Perhaps the most terrifying thing was that she had a happy childhood. Maya didn't have drug addict parents, and if anything that made her story even more heartbreaking. There was one incident that started her downfall, and if I wasn't reading in a public place I'd have probably welled up a little.

“Our demons lose their power when we pull them out of the depths where they hide and look them in the face in broad daylight.”    

Though, I need to mention that whilst her age was mostly convincing, the use of words like 'man' (as in 'Hey, man') felt a bit jarring. Allende is a seventy three year old woman so I do think that she did very well in writing a character of nineteen, though there were points when I did question it.

I'm kind of ashamed to admit that I haven't read nearly as many books by authors of different cultures than I should have. I found the Chilean aspects to Maya's Notebook absolutely fascinating. I felt as if I was living in Chiloé myself, experiencing not just the scenery but the culture that is so different to my own. Everything about it is authentic and it's clear that Allende loves her home country. This book is worth reading just for that.

I also loved the entire cast of supporting characters (okay, maybe not Roy Fedgewick. That guy can go fuck himself), particularly Maya's Nini, Blanca, and Manuel. The Chilean characters were so delightful, and each and every one of them was three dimensional.

There are many layers to Maya's Notebook. There's an element of Chile's political history, a family narrative, a plotline involving gangs in Las Vegas, and also a flavour of Chilean lifestyle and culture. Even though there was a lot going on it wasn't clunky, and the message resonated with me all the same.

"Promise me you'll always love yourself as much as I love you."

I did find that it took a little while for the story to really get going, but once it did I was sucked in. Like I said earlier Allende doesn't shy away from darkness and angst. The whole book feels surprisingly realistic--there isn't a pretence of a happy ending, or that every character will live a perfect life. What happened with Daniel is a perfect example of that.

I'm not going to talk about the ending in specific (because spoilers, duh), but I really liked the way the book felt like it really was Maya's notebook. It just ended, not with a witty line or the tying of every knot, but in a way that shows that life goes on even after the last page. We don't get to see what happens in Maya's future, but I have a feeling that she'll be okay.

"The whole world is magical, Maya."

Review: Queen of Shadows by Sarah J Maas

QUEEN OF SHADOWS BY SARAH J MAAS
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Format: Paperback
Series: Throne of Glass #4
Pages: 648
Date Finished: 01.09.15
Rating: 5/5
Summary: Everyone Celaena Sardothien loves has been taken from her. But she's at last returned to the empire—for vengeance, to rescue her once-glorious kingdom, and to confront the shadows of her past . . .

She will fight for her cousin, a warrior prepared to die just to see her again. She will fight for her friend, a young man trapped in an unspeakable prison. And she will fight for her people, enslaved to a brutal king and awaiting their lost queen's triumphant return.

Celaena’s epic journey has captured the hearts and imaginations of millions across the globe. This fourth volume will hold readers rapt as Celaena’s story builds to a passionate, agonizing crescendo that might just shatter her world.

“She was a whirling cloud of death, a queen of shadows, and these men were already carrion.”    

Yesterday, after months and months of waiting, speculating, and Tumblr-ing (?), at 11:30 AM the postman knocked on my door. And in his hands was a box containing Queen of Shadows, in all its beautiful, wonderful glory. After a lot of jumping up and down, fangirling and taking awkward selfies with said book in my Throne of Glass shirt (this was the only one that didn't put too much emphasis on the massive pimple on my nose which, lets face it, is still the first thing you notice), I finally sat down to read. And I read right into the night, finishing the book at three minutes to midnight.

AND OH MY GOD IT WAS BLOODY BRILLIANG ASDFGHJKL I'M SO HAPPY AND MOVED AND EMOTIONALLY DRAINED AAAAHHHHHH

*ahem*

To put it simply, I think this book is better than Heir of Fire. Even though the story is far from over, Queen of Shadows feels like the final transition from the arrogant, hot-headed Celaena Sardothien to the brave and queenly Aelin Galathynius. It's not without tension, failure, mystery and heartbreak, but this book is so much more than a story about an assassin fighting for her freedom. Whilst the word I would have used to describe the first two books would be badass, I would pick epic to describe the wonder that is Queen of Shadows (and believe me, it's more bad-ass, bloody and gritty than the first two books combined).

“What a shame that the current owner of the Vaults, a former underling of Rourke Farran and a dealer of flesh and opiates, had accidentally run into her knives. Repeatedly.”    

First of all, I'm going to say that this review probably won't be any good, considering it's a really long book to talk about and 99% of my notes are things such as 'YES OMG I AM TOTALLY SHIPPING IT NOW', 'lol lol Rowan oil' (don't ask), and 'OH HOLY SHIT PLOT TWIIISST'. I'm not ashamed to admit that they're direct quotes.

Queen of Shadows introduces a bunch of new characters. I'm not going to go over them all, but my favourite is definitely Lysandra (yes, the courtesan from The Assassin and the Underworld) who alongside Rowan and Aelin is one of my favourites in the entire series. All the characters felt so much more mature, especially Aelin. I don't want to outright spoil anything, but there were three distinct moments that really showed how far she's come and I just loved it.

"To her surprise, the woman obeyed--but then said, "Or you'll threaten to kill me again?"

"I don't make threats. Only promises."  

Arobynn Hamel also makes an appearance, and whilst he's a dreadful bastard the complexity of his relationship with Aelin is... interesting to say the least. You can see why he had a hold on her for so many years.

Another thing I loved was the friendship between Lysandra and Aelin, as well as the bromance between Aedion and Rowan. They have their territorial, testosterone filled moments, but their scenes were just hilarious. The fact that Aedion, like me, is a bit of a Rowan Whitethorn fangirl made me smile.

"Rowan Whitethorn is a legend. And so is his--what do you call them?"  

"Cadre," she said glumly.  

"The six of them..." Aedion loosed a breath. "We used to tell stories about them around fires. Their battles and exploits and adventures."  

 She sighed through her nose. "Please, please don't ever tell him that. I'll never hear the end of it." 

Speaking of Rowan, I absolutely love him. Although I was a little sad to find out that he'd cut his hair, he feels like one of the most developed characters in the series (aside from our wonderful Aelin, of course). We get to see another member of his cadre who is kind of a bastard, but everything he does makes sense, as if there's a method to his madness.

Chaol annoyed me a teensy bit in the beginning (I'm in mourning because I just don't love him anymore) but he really came around in the end and I'm so happy about that. I've been defending Chaol for so long (and I still will... to an extent) but when he said a certain thing to a certain fire-breathing bitch-queen I refused to tolerate it. I just want to say that even though he had his dickish moments (as did Aelin), they were all completely rational considering the hell he'd been through. Some people seem to forget that Chaol has literally lost everything that he once believed in. Everything. Still, he definitely redeemed himself with a great character arc.

I still absolutely adore Manon, but a teensy bit less than I did in Heir of Fire. Her character arc is wonderful but there weren't as many characters who were worse than she was (remember Iskra--the Yellowlegs heir--in book three) to make her more sympathetic. Still, I really do love her. Can I be the first to say that even if it'll probably never be canon, I'm really starting to ship Manon and Elide. Sorry, not sorry. That aside, it's becoming increasingly clearer where her story is going and I'm so damn excited to see what happens to her in book five.

"You make me want to live. Not survive; not exist. Live.

Aelin does make her choice in this book regarding romance, but I won't say who to avoid spoilers. To be honest at first I thought that romantic feelings between these two characters were being developed too quickly, but by the end I had totally jumped ship and was behind it completely. For the first two books there was one couple I shipped hardcore, but all of that was forgotten after a certain scene in chapter fifty two. 

 

Sarah J Maas manages to be such a tease whilst still writing (in my own humble opinion) one of the best examples of chemistry I've read in a long while. There is no one more deserving of Aelin Galathynius than the person she ends up with, and to be honest I'm just terrified to see how our hearts can be broken in books five and six. Saying all of this, the romantic plotline didn't begin to take over from the rest of the story which I loved.

Heir of Fire really extended the scope of the world but that's nothing compared to Queen of Shadows. We learnt more about its history, its monsters and magic, and everything came together for That Ending which was, just so you know, perfect. Every titbit of information tied together as seemingly irrelevant characters/scenes from earlier books contributed to the complex web of a plot. I commend Sarah for how well paced Queen of Shadows was, and for how she managed to weave in a lot of POV's so seamlessly. Whilst some had more page time than others, I think we got to see into the heads of at least seven characters, possibly more.

"What do I do?" She had to swallow before she said,  

"You light up the darkness."

Everything was just so epic and the tension was so high from page one right to the last sentence (which was PERFECT, by the way). Whilst we don't have that much to go on, book five was set up quite nicely and I already think the wait has been too long (at the time of writing this, I finished QoS about thirteen hours ago). I have no idea how everything is going to unfold, and I can't wait to see it.

Lots of people (aka Tumblr) have been hating on certain aspects of the book. People on Tumblr have defended it a lot better than I could, but I just want to say that if you're disrespecting a book just because your ship isn't canon, or because you think someone out of character for having character development, please don't. I trust that Sarah knows her characters and how to write a novel, considering everything I've read of hers has been a five star read.

To summarise, Queen of Shadows was a six hundred and forty eight page long example of badassery, fantastic storytelling and wonderful characters. It's practically impossible for me to find any flaws in this wonderful, wonderful book.

“What if we go on,' he said, 'only to more pain and despair? What if we go on, only to find a horrible friend waiting for us?' 

Aelin looked northward, as if she could see all the way to Terrasen. 'Then it is not the end.”  

Review: Heir of Fire by Sarah J Maas

HEIR OF FIRE BY SARAH J MAAS
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Format: Audiobook/Hardcover
Series: Throne of Glass #3
Pages: 565
Date Finished: 30.08.15
Rating: 5/5
Summary: Celaena Sardothien, heroine of the New York Times bestselling series, rises from the ashes to burn even brighter than before.

Celaena has survived deadly contests and shattering heartbreak-but at an unspeakable cost. Now, she must travel to a new land to confront her darkest truth…a truth about her heritage that could change her life-and her future-forever. Meanwhile, brutal and monstrous forces are gathering on the horizon, intent on enslaving her world. Will Celaena find the strength to not only fight her inner demons, but to take on the evil that is about to be unleashed?

In this USA Today bestselling third book in the New York Times bestselling series, Sarah J. Maas again delivers the epic fantasy, heart-stopping pace, and heady romance that have won her readers the world over.

"Once upon a time," she said to him, to the world, to herself, "in a land that has long since been buried to ash, there lived a young princess who loved her kingdom... very much."

If, for whatever reason, my house was set alight (maybe Aelin did it) there would be three things that I would want to make sure didn't go up in the flames. The first would be the ring I always wear that I inherited from my late grandma, the second would be my laptop (because it contains all my writing), and the third would be my signed and personalised copy of Heir of Fire. Now, I understand how stupid that sounds. It's just a book, and even signatures can be written again.

Heir of Fire is my favourite book, but that isn't really the reason.

I don't know if I'm just weird, but have you ever read a book that just speaks to you on an emotional level? Which makes you strangely proud when the characters overcome hurdles that have been stuck in their way for years, or that can reduce you to tears in the good moments as well as the bad? Heir of Fire is that book for me.

Brace yourselves for a really, really long review. I just have so many feelings, okay?

“It was a long story, and sometimes she grew quiet and cried - and during those times he leaned over to wipe away her tears.”  

Starting where Crown of Midnight left off, Celaena's story turns from a dark and gritty fantasy to a tale of epic scope. A ton of new characters are introduced, and three plotlines are weaved together seamlessly. I'm in awe of how perfectly the different POV's worked together.

The first--and of course my favourite--story is Celaena's, who goes to the land of the Fae to make a bargain with Queen Maeve so she can find out more about the Wyrdkeys. Maeve, being a conniving bugger, won't give Celaena that information until she completes magical training with one of her warriors. Enter Prince Rowan Whitethorn, who may just be my favourite character aside from our heroine.

“Because she is dead!" She screamed the last word so loudly it burned in her throat. "Because she is dead, and I am left with my worthless life!”    

Celaena's chapters don't just introduce Rowan but give us a glimpse at the huge world that Maas has created. Despite all of that, Celaena is completely and utterly broken. Not just about Nehemia's death, but about everything that has happened over the past few books (as well as more backstory that unfolds over the course of the book). Her plotline were great, but that alone isn't the reason why Celaena's story just resonates with me. I don't know why--it's not like I've gone through any of the things she has, or like I understand what she's going through. Maybe it's just down to beautiful writing.

I've said it before, but I've never cared so much about a character than I have Celaena. Whilst it was utterly heartbreaking to see her at her lowest point, watching her get back up again is definitely the most inspiring thing I've ever read. Her strength, as well as her friendship with Rowan, was the most wonderful and inspiring part of this book. I don't want to spoil it, but there were moments where I had to pause my audiobook and just take it in for a second.

I can honestly say that Celaena's (and Rowan's) character arc is the most beautiful thing I have read in a long, long time. Possibly ever.

The other part of the narrative followed a new character, Manon Blackbeak. Manon is the heir to the Backbeat witch coven, and the King of Adarlan has asked the witches to train with wyverns to be his aerial army. Manon is ruthless and heartless--she kills people for the fun of it and doesn't think twice. It's no surprise that I absolutely love her.

“Witches didn't need blood to survive, but humans didn't need wine, either.”  

The Ironteeth society is one of the most interesting and terrifying things I've read about in a while. It's full of interesting, beautiful and brutal characters, women that would gut you if you said one wrong word. Whilst it isn't perfectly clear to how Manon's story will weave in with Celaena's, I'm so excited to see where it's going. There was one line towards the end of the book that was completely and utterly harrowing, and I hope it's set up for a plotline that Queen of Shadows will explore.

I may be wrong (or just a massive nerd), but I'm pretty certain that the witches 'three faced goddess' is a not to Hecate, the Greek goddess of witchcraft. The detail of the worldbuilding is incredible. I alsolove how big the scope of Heir of Fire is, and it's pretty clear that Maas did her research when worldbuilding the witch society, as well as the rest of the world.

"Somehow, that regret made her feel incredibly, heavily mortal."

The third part of the story is about Chaol and Dorian. Both characters have their own separate storylines. I'll start with Chaol's. In Heir of Fire, Chaol is struggling to come to terms with the truth about Celaena, and with what his part will be in the oncoming war. He ends up aligning himself with Aedion Ashryver, Celaena's cousin.

I've read Heir of Fire three times now, and to be honest I've never really cared about Aedion that much. Don't kill me. But with this reread I like him a lot more than I did before and think his character is fantastic. Aedion has been forced to work for the king of Adarlan in shopping rebels in Terrasen, but really he's aligned with rebels. His one wish is to see his Queen, Aelin, alive one more time.

Even though Chaol works with Aedion, a lot of people don't like where his character goes in Heir of Fire because he's struggling to pick a side. Yes, Chaol acts like a twit for most of the book. I know that. I know he hasn't gone through as much, but I don't understand how people are hating on Chaol for taking a while to get his shit together whilst Celaena took much longer and did far worse things.

"He looked to his friend and said what he had always know, from the moment they'd met, when he'd understood the prince was his brother in soul. "I love you."

Now I've got that off my chest, I'll talk about Dorian. In Heir of Fire, Dorian is learning to deal with his magic, as well as starting a new romance with a healer called Sorscha. So many people don't like her and I simply can't understand why. She's brave and defiant and strong, even if she isn't as loud or hot-headed as Celaena. You can probably tell I ship her with Dorian. Sorian? Dorscha?

The last quarter of Heir of Fire reduced me to tears at multiple points. It's a book about worldbuilding, yeah, but really its a story of characters arcs. It sounds silly, being proud for a cast of fictional characters. But I am. For each and every one of them. Excuse me whilst I get laughed off the internet. But still, the last quarter was completely heartbreaking and amazing in so many ways. I can't even express how good it is.

I mentioned this briefly when I was talking about Manon, but Heir of Fire was filled with imagery that was just completely harrowing. I listened to the audiobook and read the physical copy at the same time (which was really weird, but something I'd recommend doing) and that really made me appreciate how wonderful the writing was. I'm still in awe. There were some scenes that effected me in a way I can't really explain.

"As one, they looked to the boxes, to all those jewels bought with the blood of a continent. And without a word, without a bow or another gesture, they walked off the stage."

If you want an answer to why this book, and Celaena, means so much to me it's probably because of that. It just effects (or affects? I never know) me on a level I struggle to comprehend.

Reading this review back, I can see it's kind of a mess. To be honest, I don't think it's possible for me to write a Throne of Glass review that's even remotely coherent. I should stop babbling before this turns into a ridiculously long example of misuse of the English language.

I guess all I want to say is that you should probably read this series.

“She was the heir of ash and fire, and she would bow to no one.”  

Mini Reivews: The Princess Diaries Books 4-7

Because I apparently don't care if my librarian thinks I have the reading taste of a twelve year old (read what you love no matter what, right?), I recently checked out books four to seven of the Princes Diaries from my local library. I read these books when I was in year seven (that's either sixth or eighth grade for people in the US. I never know which. Ages 11-12, if that helps) and because an eleventh book was released recently I decided to give them a reread. Still, I wander what my new history teacher would say if I was procrastinating my research on Russian history to read about a melodramatic fifteen year old princess who lives in New York. Maybe I won't tell them,

You can find my reviews for the second and third books here and here, but I found that I was getting quite repetitive in what I was saying, hence why I decided to do mini reviews instead.

MIA GOES FOURTH

Pages: 197

Date Finished: 25.08.15

Rating: 3/5

I didn't really enjoy this one as much as the first three. Don't get me wrong, I did like it, but nothing much really happened. The main conflict focussed on Mia being terrified that Michael, her boyfriend, was going to break up with her because she was going to have to cancel their first proper date because she had to go to a ball with her Grandmother. I'm sorry, but what? Whilst Mia's insecurities make her charming, this one was verging on whiny. Just a heads up: no one worth dating will brake up with you because you buy them the wrong birthday gift.

That aside, there were some really great elements in this book. Once again the humour was on point, and I loved the pop culture references (Mia's favourite movies are Star Wars and Dirty Dancing which just happen to be two of mine). Though, Mia said that in Buffy, the titular character belonged with Angel. Um, no. Spike all the way. I'm getting sidetracked. The mentions of Jane Eyre, one of my favourite books, were also great. Another thing I loved was the few meta references the book made about its movie.

GIVE ME FIVE

Pages: 238

Date Finished: 25.08.15

Rating: 3.5/5

I read this one directly after the fourth book, yet again in one sitting (well, aside to have dinner). Whilst I thought it better than the first book, I still found it to be a little too overdramatic. The main conflict of the plot resides in several elements, one of them being how distraught Mia is that Michael doesn't want to go to his own Senior Prom, and therefore can't invite her. I understand that prom is a lot to get excited about (you don't know how long I spent trying to tame my hair for mine), but considering she'll have her own prom when she's a senior it didn't seem like that big a deal. Maybe that's just me, but she was beginning to get a little whiny again, especially when the prom issue eclipsed all the other happenings.

One thing I did love was the situation with Grandmere and her dog, Rommell, causing a strike across most of New York. The way that unfolded was hilarious. Yet again the book in its entirety caused me to laugh out loud, and there were passages that I just loved. This one in particular:

"Instead, she threw my Fiesta Giles action figure--the one of Buffy the Vampire Slayer's watcher, Giles, in a sombrero--against the wall! I tried to explain to her that he is a collectors item and worth nearly twice what I paid for him, but she was fully unappreciative of my lecture. She just went, 'Get me a hot water with lemon and honey or I shall destroy all of your Bippy the Monster Catcher characters!"

Side note: where do I get a Fiesta Giles action figure?

Don't get me wrong, I did really enjoy this book, but yet again I just wanted more. Even if I do ship Michael and Mia it's starting to feel a little flat and I just want to see more of it. Still, I am glad that I'm rereading this series. It's just cute, light hearted fun.

SIXSATIONAL

Pages: 256

Date Read: 26.08.15

Rating: 3.75/5

Okay, so I definitely enjoyed this book more than the fourth and fifth ones, though yet again there were a few things that bugged me. I'll start with the positives, though. Sixsational was fast paced, hilarious, and began to feel a little more grown up compared to the other books. The main issues that Mia is dealing with in this volume is firstly the fact that Lily forced her to run for student president against Lana (something she seriously didn't want to do), and secondly that she's worried that Michael expects her to have sex with him now he's encouraged (again, something she doesn't want to do).

My favourite scene in this book was when Mia was delivering her speech for the student president elections. It was fabulous, and quite frankly shows how far she's come regarding character development. Whilst there weren't as many hilarious one liners in this book, the way the problems escalated were downright hilarious. Michael was another favourite part of this book. I really do love that guy. And, yet again, the meta references were pretty cool.

Now unfortunately to the problems I had. Yet again I wanted more, and I did feel that it resolved far too well. Also, I didn't like how the theme of sex was handled. I know it may just be Mia and Tina's melodramaticness (is that a word?), but losing your virginity being described as giving "the gift of my flower" (by Tina) seems a bit stupid. Saying that, I did like how Mia was adamant on waiting until she was ready, and that Michael understood.

Still, I am looking forward to reading book seven once I've, you know, cooked dinner (she says whilst eating hardboiled sweets).

SEVENTH HEAVEN

Pages: 285

Date Read: 28.08.15

Rating: 3.8/5

Okay, for me this is where the series really gets started. We finally get to meet J.P. (who I don't like because he isn't, you know, Michael), the issues dealt with in the book became a little more grown up and some of the darker moments really hit home. Well, I say darker moments. They weren't dark at all, but compared to the earlier books any real drama compared to melodrama were welcome additions to this series. Despite all that, this book really is just light-hearted fun.

I enjoyed this a teensy bit more than the sixth one, but definitely not as much as the third (which is my favourite so far). Yet again there were certain points which made me laugh out loud and whilst I would like more one liners, the fact that Mia put Buffy Summers (AKA my hero) at number fifteen of the people she loves most in the world made me all happy inside. Buffy goes a long way, people. Always remember that.

Honestly I wasn't really buying the musical aspects of this book. I really did like the storyline with Lily and Michael's parents, but for me the main driving force that's keeping me reading these books is the relationship between Michael and Mia (especially when the ending was so cute). Despite knowing what happens in later books and how the series ends I ship it so bad. Whilst I genuinely do enjoy this series, I can't help but wonder if I'd feel the same way without their relationship. Also, the fact that Mia thinks that every single mistake will cause Michael to break up with her is just a little unrealistic.

It's kind of stupid how invested I'm getting in this series even though I haven't loved it since book three, but there is something to be said for how much I care about the characters, goddammit. Yes, not all of them are developed, and yes they're a bit ridiculous. That doesn't change anything. So to preserve my own sanity, I know I'm definitely going to marathon the last three books when I manage to get my hands on them. And then I'm finally going to be able to read Royal Wedding (book eleven). Hurrah.

Review: The Hero of Ages by Brandon Sanderson

THE HERO OF AGES BY BRANDON SANDERSON
Publisher: Gollancz
Format: Paperback
Series: Mistborn #3
Pages: 724
Date Finished: 18.08.15
Rating: 5/5
Summary: Tricked into releasing the evil spirit Ruin while attempting to close the Well of Ascension, new emperor Elend Venture and his wife, the assassin Vin, are now hard-pressed to save the world.This adventure brings the Mistborn epic fantasy trilogy to a dramatic and surprising climax as Sanderson's saga offers complex characters and a compelling plot, asking hard questions about loyalty, faith and responsibility.

“If you give up what you want most for what you think you should want more, you'll end up miserable.” 

Brandon Sanderson's official title should definitely be The Hero of Fantasy because his books are bloody fantastic. It's official: I'm 100% certain he's a genius.

If you haven't worked it out already from my gushing, this book was amazing. I read The Final Empire last July, The Well of Ascension back in December and finally I finished The Hero of Ages on my plane back from America. I read it in two main sittings, and despite the fact that you could probably knock someone out with this book, it was still faced paced, tense and exciting throughout.

Also, a hella lotta shit went down.

(There will be spoilers for the first two books in this series, by the way).

"Lately, I feel like my life is a book written in a language I don't know how to read.”  

I'm in awe of how much planning Sanderson must have done for this book. So many seemingly irrelevant things from previous books became significant, and all the plot threads were tied up spectacularly. I don't even understand how Sanderson managed to weave together so many individual POV's and subplots whilst still producing a coherent book.

Despite being sucked in straight away I spent the first four hundred or so pages feeling a little depressed. It wasn't because the book was bad--far from it--but rather because the situation that the characters were in seemed so bleak. Elend is questioning whether he is a good man after all or if he is just as bad as the Lord Ruler, Sazed has developed depression after Tindwyl's death and has given up his religious studies, and Spook has become addicted to his Allomatic power. The world is literally beginning to end, no one can find the Lord Ruler's stash of atium and there is seemingly no way for them to stop Ruin--an entity that Vin herself released.

 “Somehow, we'll find it. The balance between whom we wish to be and whom we need to be. But for now, we simply have to be satisfied with who we are.”    

There are so many different POV's in this book, and my favourite was always the one that I was currently reading. Sanderson really showed off not just his talent for secondary world creation but for constructing rich and detailed characters. Just like in the first two books the character arcs were done so well, yet there was no telling which way they would go. I was honestly on the edge of my seat all the way through.

Vin is still such a badass, and it was so great to see Spook have a much bigger role in the story. I really do love that guy, as well as Breeze and Sazed and Elend and Allrianne and TenSoon and... yeah, I kind of love everyone.

Each characters decisions were so logical, even the ones I didn't agree with. Even if characters were opposing our heroes, Sanderson did a great job of still making them three dimensional. Unless you read this book you can't understand how refreshing it was for everything to just make sense.

If I'm being nitpickey I'd say that whilst it is clear that Vin and Elend do love each other, their relationship is a little passionless. Saying that, my favourite part of their dynamic is how they trust each other above everything. They're also willing to sacrifice each other for a greater cause and that just makes me so happy, especially when I've read so many books filled with stupid characters who choose to save their partner over the whole soddingworld.

 “You've managed-- in our short three years together-- to kill not only my god, but my father, my brother, and my fiance. That's kind of like a homicidal hat trick. It's a strange foundation for a relationship, wouldn't you say?”  

My favourite Vin/Elend scene was when they crashed the party, their exit in particular. It was so fucking badass. If I wasn't in public at the time I'd have yelled HELL YEAH as loud as I could, pairing the exclamation with an air punch or something.

Sanderson is famous for his plot twists and The Hero of Ages is full of them. I managed to figure out one of them ahead of time, but most of the time Sanderson had me fooled. The cheeky bugger. Honestly, the way everything came together at the end was just so great. Although I myself am an atheist I really appreciated the religious elements (don't worry, there is nothing preachy about them at all) and it was so lovely, especially because Sanderson himself his religious. You'll see what I mean if you read it--whilst it may not be for everyone I found it so tasteful, beautiful and surprising.

 “Faith means that it doesn't matter what happens. You can trust that somebody is watching. Trust that somebody will make it all right.”  

I read this book on the plane and by the time it was over I was crying really gross, ugly tears. I held them back a little, but thankfully everyone else around me was asleep so they didn't see the extent of my emotions. I was a mess.

Unfortunately I got spoilt for the big deaths but that didn't make them any less harrowing. For the last forty or so pages I was wearing my sunglasses (even though it was dark on the plane) so no one could see my red and blotchy eyes. I really have to commend an author when they make me care for the characters that much.

“People with passion are people who will destroy - for a man's passion is not true until he proves how much he's willing to sacrifice for it.”  

I definitely plan to reread this series back to back in the near future. It's one of my top three favourites of all time and I'm both excited and scared to read The Alloy of Law. Still, I don't think I've ever read a series as clever and well constructed as the Mistborn trilogy. I'm excited to read more Cosmere books to see how they fit together (also, look out for the mention of Hoid in this one).

I'm stopping the review here before I start crying again, but all I need to say is that if you haven't read this trilogy yet, you really need to. It's practically flawless.

Review: Third Time Lucky by Meg Cabot

THIRD TIME LUCKY BY MEG CABOT

Publisher: Macmillan Childrens Books
Format: Kindle E-Book
Series: The Princess Diaries #3
Pages: 213
Date Finished: 13.08.15
Rating: 4.5/5
Summary:Sometimes I think I must be the luckiest girl in the world. I mean, really. Think about it: I may not be pretty, but I am not grossly disfigured; I live in New York City, the coolest place on the planet; I'm a princess; I have a boyfriend. What more can a girl ask for? Who am I kidding????

Mia's love life is a disaster - and being heir to the throne of Genovia sure doesn't help.

Because while Mia's finally got herself a boyfriend, he's SO not the right guy. The one she really wants is Michael, but he's not available right now he's going out with Judith, who clones fruit flies. Would Michael ever prefer Mia to the fruit-fly girl? As if!

I really, really love this series. I first read it when I was about eleven and out of the ones I've reread I think Third Time Lucky is my favourite in the series so far (though I seem to remember the books got a lot better as the series progressed).

“I usually know almost exactly how I feel. The problem is, I just can't tell anyone.”  

My favourite thing about Third Time Lucky is definitely Mia. I think she's just fantastic. The situations she gets herself into are hilarious if not a little over dramatic, but that's why I think the book is so fast paced and entertaining. The amount of drama in her life is on par with a character in Hollyoaks or something--she's in love with her best friends brother Michael but is dating a boy called Kenny, someone who she's too afraid to break up with even though she doesn't love him. She's also the princess of a small European country and her mother is married to and pregnant with the child of her teacher.

Oh, and she may also be failing algebra.

 I know how ridiculous it sounds but I don't care. These books are so close to perfect, this one in particular. Third Time Lucky made me feel a really nice, warm and fuzzy feeling. It's essentially a book version of the feeling you get spending a night in with a tub of ice cream watching Dirty Dancing. I laughed, I cringed, and I even got butterflies in my stomach.

Whilst this book was fast paced, at times I did crave more depth. The last ten pages were more of a narration telling us what happened rather than showing the reader--this same thing happened with the first two books in the series. I suppose it's Cabot's style, but I just want more.

“The way things are going, I wouldn't be surprised if pretty soon I start wearing ripped-up fishnet stockings and dyeing my hair black. Maybe I'll even start smoking and get my ears double-pierced or something. And then they'll make a TV movie about me and call it Royal Scandal. It will show me going up to Prince William and saying,'Who's the most popular young royal now, huh, punk?' and then headbutting him or something.”    

Another (very minor) problem is with Michael and Mia's relationship. A romance between a freshman and a senior struck me as a little unrealistic. It may just be me, but the gap between a fourteen year old and an eighteen year old is a big one. Even though I do ship them with all my heart, my brain keeps on jumping back to the age gap. Still, they are perfect for each other and do have a lot of chemistry. I suppose I ship them more than the age gap bothers me, but I thought it was worth a mention.
            
I mentioned it in my review of Take Two but I really do love the cast of characters, right from Mia's Grandmere to her best friend Lilly. They're all wonderfully diverse and each one brings something new to the table, even if they do come across as slightly exaggerated. Yet again I didn't care about that, not when they were so hilarious.

“Whatever. Boris, must you constantly breathe on me?”      

Third Time Lucky is just as hilarious as the first two. There are so many quotes that I wish I could share so all I'm going to say is that you just need to read it. I don't care how old you are, of if you read the Princess Diaries when you were younger (I promise you they're just as excellent the second time around). They're in the same vein as the Confessions of Georgia Nicholson series, though in my opinion Mia is definitely a superior protagonist. It's safe to say that I'm going to start the fourth book as soon as I can get my hands on it.

Review: Throne of Glass by Sarah J Maas

THRONE OF GLASS BY SARAH J MAAS
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Format: Audiobook
Series: Throne of Glass #1
Pages: 404
Date Finished: 01.08.15
Rating: 5/5
Summary: In a land without magic, where the king rules with an iron hand, an assassin is summoned to the castle. She comes not to kill the king, but to win her freedom. If she defeats twenty-three killers, thieves, and warriors in a competition, she is released from prison to serve as the king's champion. Her name is Celaena Sardothien. 

The Crown Prince will provoke her. The Captain of the Guard will protect her. But something evil dwells in the castle of glass--and it's there to kill. When her competitors start dying one by one, Celaena's fight for freedom becomes a fight for survival, and a desperate quest to root out the evil before it destroys her world.

“Libraries were full of ideas–perhaps the most dangerous and powerful of all weapons.”

I don't know where to start when writing this review. It's no secret that the Throne of Glass series is my absolute favourite (even above Harry Potter and Mistborn), yet I've always considered this first book the weakest in the series. As some of you may know, I'm rereading the books for the third time in the run up to Queen of Shadows being released in under a month (!!!) and I decided to listen to the audio book instead.

I'm completely and utterly enthralled.

Aside from the audio narration being amazing (the narrator is exactly how I always imagined Celaena to be), it completely swept me up into the book and I felt like I was experiencing it for the first time not the third. I can now say completely honestly that whilst I do prefer the sequels, Throne of Glass is not a weak book--it's fucking spectacular.

I mentioned it in my review of The Assassins Blade, but listening to the audio really showed off Sarah J Maas's wonderful prose. I'm in awe. I'm already running out of adjectives but her descriptions are just so beautiful. I was sucked up into Erilea from page one and I don't think I ever want to leave (even if it is kind of awful). Here's one of my favourite descriptions:

There was a darkness in his eyes that felt cold and foreign, like the gaps between the stars.

I don't want to spoil anything, but if you haven't already reread this series I would recommend it, especially because there are so many nods to events in the novellas/later books that you probably wouldn't pick up on the first time round. It's clear that Maas knew exactly what she was doing right from the beginning, leaving subtle hints to Celaena's past as well as her future.

There isn't a single character in this series that I don't love. When I say that I don't meant that I like them all per se, but that each and every one is developed, interesting and purposeful. There are some I just love to hate. Lady Kaltain is the perfect example. I didn't really feel this way the first or second time I read this, but now I absolutely love her. Granted I don't want her to succeed, but my heart may have broken for her a little at the end.

“No. I can survive well enough on my own— if given the proper reading material.”

Celaena Sardothien is so badass and incredible. She'll always be my favourite character, but right from the beginning I was reminded of why her story means so much to me. She's smart and witty but also very vulnerable and I found myself feeling proud every time she succeeded, and terrified when she was scared. If you're sceptical about this series, read it just for her. I love her to bits. Even if I'm not a badass assassin, I feel like I can relate to her. She loves books, chocolate, dresses, music, theatre, parties... the list goes on and on. Yes, she could probably kill you in less than a second, but that doesn't mean she can't have real hobbies too.

"She pictured his fingers, pushing against that line of chalk, reaching for her despite the barrier between them.”

Aside from Celaena, my favourite character is definitely Chaol. I don't know if I ship him with Celaena (I don't care who she ends up with as long as she's happy and it's not Dorian) but he is such a fantastic character. I love him. There is so much chemistry between him and Celaena, and most of my favourite scenes involved him in some way. I do like Dorian, but him and Celaena don't have the spark that she shares with Chaol.

Throne of Glass is extremely fast paced and action packed. Celaena has to fight in a competition to secure the position of Kings Champion (followed by four years of servitude and then freedom), and over the course of the book she competes in a series of tests against the other competitors. Whilst some are only mentioned in passing, they kept the excitement levels at a high and showed off our heroine's assassin skills. Lots of people say that they think this book is more pretty dresses than badassery and they do have a point, but I don't really care. Throne of Glass isn't as epic as its sequels, but the action scenes are still exhilarating and the stakes are always high.

“We all bear scars,... Mine just happen to be more visible than most.”

Keeping the tension throughout is the mystery regarding the sudden deaths of some of her competitors. This aspect of the book is the fantasy element, and although it isn't 'high' fantasy it sets up the magic and the mystery for the series perfectly. The Throne of Glass world is so detailed and it's clear that Maas knows exactly what she's talking about. The history and the world building is so developed even though the majority of the book takes place in one building.

This review is basically a love letter to the series. Sorry, but I'm not sorry.

One of my favourite scenes is the final duel at the end of the novel. Basically, shit goes down. The reason why I love it is that it shows Celaena's strength, as well as the depths of her relationship with the three other main characters (Chaol, Dorian and Nehemia). That scene in particular is actually quite empowering, giving a tiny glimmer of what is to come in later books.

“My name is Celaena Sardothien. But it makes no difference if my name's Celaena or Lillian or Bitch, because I'd still beat you, no matter what you call me.”

The last thing that needs mentioning is that even though there are hugely emotional scenes, this book is fucking hilarious. I was listening to my audiobook in public so I had to resist the urge to laugh out loud like a crazy person on multiple occasions. The witty dialogue is great, as well as that one awkward scene when Chaol realises that Celaena is on her period.

Reading this review back, I still don't think that I can do this book justice, or express how much I love it. I understand that it isn't everyone's cup of tea, and that the first book doesn't show off the epic direction this series goes in, but if I had to recommend you one book it would be this one. I'm so, so in love with each and every page.

“You could rattle the stars," she whispered. "You could do anything, if only you dared. And deep down, you know it, too. That’s what scares you most.”