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| 3.96
| 68,742
| Jul 25, 2023
| Jul 25, 2023
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I’m on BookTube now! =) Technically “One of Us Is Back” is on my April TBR, but I’m way too curious and tomorrow it will be April 1st so I decided to c I’m on BookTube now! =) Technically “One of Us Is Back” is on my April TBR, but I’m way too curious and tomorrow it will be April 1st so I decided to cut myself some slack here. *lol* I mean, let’s be honest, I’ll finish it in April anyway. ;-) This said: I can’t believe I’m going to be reunited with the entire cast of the first two books again! I can’t wait to see how Nate and Bronwyn are doing and what Addy and all the others are up to! I wonder whose POVs we’ll get to read! I’m so pumped for this! XD Find me on: My Blog Instagram ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Mar 31, 2025
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not set
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Mar 31, 2025
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Hardcover
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| 4.11
| 401,326
| Aug 30, 2022
| Sep 01, 2022
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I’m on BookTube now! =) This was as much fun as the other two books! =) I loved the way Avery grew from all those challenges and I think she chose wisel I’m on BookTube now! =) This was as much fun as the other two books! =) I loved the way Avery grew from all those challenges and I think she chose wisely in the end! The found family was so strong in here, which I absolutely adored! I think Avery and her four Hawthorne boys will be amazing in the future. Oh, and I can’t wait to read the next series & “The Brothers Hawthorne”. Full RTC soon! I’ll have a field day with this one. *lol* ____________________________ It’s time to read the next book in this series: “The Final Gambit”! Yes! I’ll try to get up a review of the second book soon, but for now I’ll just dive into the third one. *lol* #SorryNotSorry XD I just need to know how it continues and ends! Also I’m not sure if “The Brothers Hawthorne”, the fourth book, is the last book or just an extension of this trilogy but I’ll definitely read it after finishing “The Final Gambit”. Anyway! I’m sure I’ll enjoy this one and I can’t wait to find out who Avery is going to choose. ;-P I’m invested!!! Find me on: My Blog Instagram ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Mar 24, 2025
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Apr 06, 2025
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Mar 24, 2025
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Paperback
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| 0008659311
| 9780008659318
| 0008659311
| 4.07
| 97,531
| Nov 05, 2015
| Sep 26, 2024
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I’m on BookTube now! =) Only Alice Oseman is able to pack this kind of a punch with a mere 160 pages novella. The mental health rep was amazingly done I’m on BookTube now! =) Only Alice Oseman is able to pack this kind of a punch with a mere 160 pages novella. The mental health rep was amazingly done and Charlie’s and Tori’s sibling relationship is just so wholesome. It broke my heart, though. >_< Full and short review TCS! Stay tuned! __________________________________ It’s still March and this means #MinisculeMarch is still in full swing too! So I’ll just squeeze in another short novella I wanted to read for ages! I recently found “This Winter” in one of my libraries and since it’s one of the few Alice Oseman stories I still haven’t read yet, I decided to go for it now. =) This obviously plays around Christmas but it’s officially Spring now and since Spring is Charlie’s family name this is enough justification to read it. *lol* To my brain this makes perfect sense. Anywayyyy! All this to say: I’m gonna read this now. XD Find me on: My Blog Instagram ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Mar 21, 2025
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Mar 23, 2025
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Mar 21, 2025
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Paperback
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| 1529405238
| 9781529405231
| 1529405238
| 3.86
| 287,453
| Jul 16, 2019
| Jul 18, 2019
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it was amazing
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I’m on BookTube now! =) “You're wondering what this is - but not, I think, wondering who this is. You know - just as I've known, since our eyes met dur I’m on BookTube now! =) “You're wondering what this is - but not, I think, wondering who this is. You know - just as I've known, since our eyes met during that messy matter on Abrogast-882 - that we have unfinished business." Thus starts a conversation between two opponents on different sides of a war that spans over countless time lines and millennia. Damn. Forgive me my crude language but where do I even start? “This Is How You Lose the Time War” is such a masterfully crafted story that it’s not easy to put it into words. In fact, I’m convinced it’s one of those books you can’t describe properly because you either say too much or you don’t say enough. It’s a fine balance the book itself manages to maintain throughout the entire storyline and I can only raise my hat to the two authors who created this beautiful prose. I read that each author chose one of the characters and that they actually reacted to each other’s letters which gives the book a unique spin not even the authors were able to anticipate. Of course, there was an outline they held to, but apparently, the individual reactions in the letters were even a surprise for them. Talk about a great way to write a book, because it’s exactly that kind of push and pull that glues the reader to the pages. ”Will you respond, establishing complicity, continuing our self-destructive paper trail, just to get in the last word? Will you cut off, leaving my note to spin its fractal math inside you? I wonder which I’d rather.” Well, at least it glued THIS reader to the pages. I know this story isn’t going to be for everyone. It’s one of those intricate tales you have to digest slowly and steadily. It’s a book that has its own pace and for some it will be too slow and not tangible enough. So if you’re a reader who likes their suspense and a fast moving plot that is direct and without any detours I can guarantee you that you won’t enjoy “This Is How You Lose the Time War”. However, if you’re one of those readers who enjoys a slow game of chess and thrives on reading beautiful prose that’s not only elaborate but also brilliant in its execution. Well, then this story is definitely for you. ”P.S The keyboard’s coated with slow-acting contact poison. You’ll be dead in an hour. PPS. Just kidding! Or … am I? PPPS. I’m just screwing with you. But postscripts sure are fun!” I loved how their letters started out being a little bit playful at the beginning, but with time turned into a serious conversation full of trust, respect and mutual affection. They learn from each other and about each other and it’s one of the many things that made this story so achingly beautiful. I mean after all we have two women from different sides of a war that start a conversation without any judgement and try to understand where the other side is coming from. Both, Red as well as Blue, are highly intelligent and serve their superiors well. While Blue is on the side of Garden who seems to be connected with its agents and is more subtle in its war efforts using nature and the natural course of things, Red finds herself on the side of Commandant who comes from a background that prefers high-technology and machines. They couldn’t be any more different even if they tried, but they share a hunger for knowledge, an ache to outwit each other, to be respected and to be seen. "And then we'd be at each other's throats even more." Oh, petal. You say that like it's a bad thing. It occurs to me to dwell on what a microcosm we are of the war as a whole, you and I. The physics of us. An action and an equal and opposite reaction. And as unlikely as it seems to be, they actually find this in each other’s letters. As soon as one of them does something and tampers with a timeline, the other one is sent to undo it. It’s reaction and counter reaction, move and countermove and each and every single time they leave each other a message in the most creative way possible! No, seriously! I was impressed by the way they communicated and how they came up with so many sophisticated and intricate ideas. They were each other’s equal and they madly fell in love because of it. The trust that formed between those two was a force to be reckoned with and I loved how they had each other’s back. But their urgency, their desire to write each other, to quite literally “eat” the others words! It was an exquisite ache, a mind-bending yearning that needed to be sated no matter the cost. ”I want to be a body for you. I want to chase you, find you, I want to be eluded and teased and adored; I want to be defeated and victorious – I want you to cut me, sharpen me. I want to drink tea beside you in ten years or a thousand.” ”I want to say, now, before you can beat me to it – Red, when I think of this seed in your mouth I imagine having placed it there myself, my fingers on your lips.” Their letters started with an appreciation for each other’s talent and work, and then turned into so much more. They love each other, they throw everything they have at each other, knowing full well the other side will be able to take it. There’s a fragile beauty to their unwavering trust and strength as they wander through the centuries thwarting the other side’s efforts to win the war. No one knows when the war started and why it’s been raging for millennia but neither side wants to give up their advantage and even though Red and Blue are working against each other, they are somewhat connected through their letters and affection. Some might say they flourish in each other’s shadow and seek solace in their words. "You will be free - from your recovery and from your task. I'll be sent, no doubt, to undo the damage you've caused. And we'll run again, the two of us, upthread and down, firefighter and fire starter, two predators only sated by each other's words." ”Red, I love you. Red, I will send you letters from everywhen telling you so, letters of only one word, letters that will brush your cheek and grip your hair, letters that will bite you, letters that will mark you.” But then the inevitable happens and their longing for each other’s words turns into danger. I honestly didn’t expect the book to take that route and to end the way it did and all I can say is that it was quite mind-blowing to make my way through those last couple of pages. Then again, I probably should have expected such an ending because Red and Blue are anything but ordinary and of course, there’d be a unique touch to how their story ends. Or should I rather say to how they end their own story because despite being agents on different sides of a time war, they always worked around each other and remained in control. I won’t say more because I don’t want to spoil the ending for you and I suppose you’re none the wiser after reading what I wrote. ;-P ”Listen to me – I am your echo. I would rather break the world than lose you.” Conclusion: Beautiful, stunning, mind-bending and painfully exquisite! “This Is How You Lose the Time War” is all of those words and even more. El-Mohtar’s and Gladstone’s prose is one of a kind and the world building and time threads Red and Blue move on continue to be mysterious until the very end. They are composers, musicians and conductors all at once, incessantly working their way through all the time lines and possibilities, strumming each other’s chords in the most glorious and tender ways. As a musician, I can’t praise this story any higher than this so I’ll just leave it at that. Brilliant, mind-blowing and perfect! 5 stars, a million stars, all the stars and then some. Spoilery Quotes:(view spoiler)[I didn’t want to spoil the ending with those two quotes but they were too beautiful not to mention them so here they are in the spoiler section: ”It is always too late to say what must be said. I cannot stop you now. I cannot save you. Love is what we have, against time and death, against all the powers ranged to crush us down. You gave me so much – a history, a future, a calm that lets me write these words though I’m breaking. I hope I’ve given you something in return – I think you would want me to know I have. And what we’ve done will stand, no matter how they weave the world against us. It’s done now, and forever.” ”I loved you. That was true. With what’s left of me I can’t help but love you still. This is how you win, Red: a long game, a subtle hand played well. You played me like a symphony, and I hope you won’t mind my feeling a little proud of you for such a magnificent betrayal.” (hide spoiler)] ____________________________ This was brilliant, mind-blowing and just perfect?! The way Red and Blue interacted, their strong feelings, the prose! Beautiful, stunning, mind-bending and exquisite! I’ll try to write a proper review for this soon, but for now that’s what you get! RTC soon! _____________________________ It’s time to start my first #MinisculeMarch book! And I heard so many good things about this one, too! I swear “This Is How You Lose the Time War” is one of those books that’s been all over my feed for months and since people are still reading and raving about it, I figured it was about time to go for it. Moreover, with a total of 201 pages it fits perfectly for my #MinisculeMarch Readathon! This is going to be an interesting read and I’m so here for it. =) Find me on: My Blog Instagram ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Mar 10, 2025
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Mar 15, 2025
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Mar 10, 2025
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Paperback
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| B08VKLGQ4J
| 4.12
| 73,444
| Sep 07, 2021
| Sep 07, 2021
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I’m on BookTube now! =) I wanted to read “The Charm Offensive” in February but unfortunately my kid was ill at the beginning of the month and my readin I’m on BookTube now! =) I wanted to read “The Charm Offensive” in February but unfortunately my kid was ill at the beginning of the month and my reading time was put on hold. Well, my kid is ill once again as I type this (seriously, this winter has been too long already) but I decided to start reading it anyway. Otherwise, I might never do it and that would be such a shame. So here we go! Let’s hope that this queer rom-com will be the entertaining and light-hearted diversion I’m craving for. I mean a Bachelor who falls for the producer instead of one of the many women vying for his attention! What could possibly go wrong? *lol* Find me on: My Blog Instagram ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Mar 04, 2025
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not set
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Mar 04, 2025
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Kindle Edition
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| 1250854512
| 9781250854513
| 1250854512
| 3.56
| 252,406
| Jan 31, 2020
| Mar 01, 2022
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it was amazing
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I’m on BookTube now! =) ”Knowledge is carnage. You can’t have it without sacrifice.” It’s very rare for me to start writing a review right after I finis I’m on BookTube now! =) ”Knowledge is carnage. You can’t have it without sacrifice.” It’s very rare for me to start writing a review right after I finished the book, yet this is exactly what I’m doing right now. “The Atlas Six” is one of those stories you have to analyse as long as everything is fresh in your mind because otherwise you might forget things. Memory is a tricky thing that can bend to your will if you’re not careful enough so I decided to go for this review (or most likely essay) as soon as possible after finishing the book. There are just too many puzzle pieces to remember them all later on, which in itself is a testament to the author’s intricate writing style and especially the amazing character building Olivie Blake went for in this book. Also and let me make this clear right from the start: If you don’t like character driven stories or morally grey characters then you most certainly won’t enjoy this one. In “The Atlas Six” we have six different POVs and every character has its own voice, thoughts, feelings and troubles to deal with. All six of them are unique and distinguished and I’m pretty sure I would have know in which head we were even if their names wouldn’t have been written at the beginning of every chapter. I loved them all for different reasons and even though there were some people we didn’t get too see all too much of, I’m certain the author will rectify that in the next book. Olivie Blake strikes me as an author who knows exactly how to build up her character arcs and world so I’m very intrigued what she’s going to throw at us in the next book. As for this one: It lives and breathes from the characters and the interactions between them. There really isn’t a lot of plot going on and we don’t see all too much of the world building, but I think that’s mainly due to the fact that the author wanted to give us a good grasp at her main characters and what they are capable of. (e.g. lots of intrigues, schemes and manipulations among each other) This was some sort of warm up for the second and third book of the series and I’m not mad about it because it was done so masterfully! Still, I really want to find out more about the Alexandrian library and how the Alexandrians operated for centuries. I’m just very intrigued by this world and all the characters we got to know. There’s always more than initially meets the eye and every single one of those MCs had layer upon layer. Just like an onion, but you never truly get to the core. XD I loved it. So, so much! Anyway! Before I continue in this vein and this overall review gets even longer than it already is, I’ll just go for my in depth character analysis instead. I know this is going to be a long one, so buckle up, get yourself a beverage of your choosing and come along for the ride! ;-) (Also: If you want to read my unshortened 5.200 words long essay that takes a deep dive into Atlas, Ezra, the Parisa/Callum and Nico/Gideon dynamic you can do it: here! The characters: Welcome to the Library of Alexandria! Where you’ll find immeasurable knowledge but also many spoilers and facts you probably don’t want to know. Knowledge is a double-edged sword so tread carefully when you decide to enter those hallowed halls of wisdom! ;-P Libby Rhodes: ”Ambition was such a dirty word, so tainted, but she had it. She was enslaved by it. There was so much ego to the concept of fate, but she needed to cling to it. She needed to believe that she was meant for enormity; that the fulfilment of a destiny could make for the privilege of salvation, even if it didn’t feel that way right now.” Let’s start with Libby first! It strikes me as interesting that this is legit the only quote I saved from Libby and I think it’s due to the fact that the author decided to keep her on surface level?! I mean throughout the entire book we’re told that Libby is extremely powerful and that she could be so much more if she’d just go for the knowledge and power she craves. But she doesn’t because in contrast to the others she’s actually a decent person whose moral compass is still intact. Or in short: Her conscience is holding her back which seemed to be the overall theme and struggle of her character. I wonder what will happen once she decides to throw all caution to the wind and bends morality to her own will. Maybe we’ll find out in the next book? It seems to me like Blake wants to go in a certain direction with Libby and I’m pretty sure it’s some sort of dark descent storyline. If I’m right I can’t wait to find out how the author is going to write her corruption arc because in “The Atlas Six” Libby was nothing but a model student. Parisa’s influence might have changed that, though. Nico de Varona: "By the sound of his swearing, Nico guessed American, maybe CIA. That, he thought with a shiver of anticipation, would be very exciting indeed. He had never been important enough to merit assassination before." And here I am once again surprised that I only wrote down one Nico quote! Then again, this still fits his character profile, because the entire book Nico is more like the other side of a coin or the other half of a whole. We have it in the dynamic with Libby and we have it in his relationship with Gideon. Yet despite it all Nico was a very intriguing character because in contrast to Libby he knows that he’s powerful and hasn’t been corrupted by it. Yet. It’s apparent that he thrives when he’s using his abilities and that if he’d allow himself to be corrupted, he could be a force to be reckoned with. I think none of the others truly sees him as a threat because he gives off some serious happy puppy energy; they’d be foolish to underestimate him, though. Nico is fiercely protective of those he cares about and Libby as well as Gideon are both at the top of his priority list. There’s so much potential in him and quite honestly the fact we found out that he died when he turned into an animal for Gideon the first time, was something I didn’t expect. Callum only stated, that Nico’s magic kept him alive but I can’t help but wonder to which extent and if his body has been resurrected or if he’s just made of raw power now?! I need more info than that and I hope the next book will provide it! Tristan Caine: "Any rare glimpses of optimism were swiftly dealt with, like a virus his mind and body leapt to attack. Feelings of hope? Cancerous. Maybe it was systemic, a matter of lifelong institutional mistrust. There was a constant sensation for Tristan that if things seemed to be going well, he was in the process of being mightily tricked." Okay, let’s go for Tristan next. Libby and Nico are both physicists, which is only logical and made sense, but Tristan is introduced as an illusionist and I’m not sure if that is the right term for him. I mean after all, he’s able to see through illusions and not to create them himself. Therefore, I think there’s way more to his character and abilities than initially meets the eye. Also right at the beginning Atlas told him that his powers are rarer than he thinks and there was that moment when he saw Ezra in a different dimension. So, I think whatever Tristan is, he’s not an illusionist. He’s the opposite of an illusionist (whatever that is) and his powers might be even rooted in being a physicist?! I mean if I got it correctly, physicists can manipulate the world around them to their whims and if he sees through illusions he is manipulating them, right?! At least that’s my take on things and the logic in my brain. *lol* Also I really liked Tristan because he was an honest person and kinda my kryptonite by being a broken boy. His childhood and his relationship with his father made him very cynical and distrustful, yet the one person that got truly close to him was Callum who hurt him even more. Poor Tristan. I really felt sorry for him and I don’t even want to know what Callum planted in his mind. One thing is for certain, nothing good can come out of this. >_< Parisa Kamali: ”Well, because to you, sex is purely physical, when in fact the mind opens along with everything else,” said Parisa. “To try to overpower someone’s mind, to make it subject to my own, is a waste of time. When he’s inside me I hardly have to lift a finger to know precisely what he is, what he wants. He’ll tell me so himself without my asking. And why impress my demands unnecessarily, wasting energy and effort? I can make people loyal to me simply by offering them something they want above all else, which costs me nothing to give.” Well, Parisa is nothing but practical and considering her past and the way she’s been abused I’m not surprised she acted the way she did. She’s one of those women that know who they are and what they are capable of and she has no qualms to use her abilities to her advantage. Considering her special telepathic powers, you might say she lets herself be used in order to gain what she wants. I found it interesting that she drew the line at using Nico, though. He was the only combatant (aside of Reina) she didn’t toy with and I wonder why that is. I don’t buy her “I would ruin you because you’d fall for me with all your heart” bullshit. Parisa is more calculating and conniving than that. And let’s not forget the fact she chose Nico’s mind as a safety net when Callum tried to push her into suicide. Why Nico of all people?! I need answers to that because knowing Parisa everything she does, she does with an ulterior motive! Next to Callum she was definitely the most cunning and manipulative character out of all six and there’s more to uncover. I can’t help but wonder if dying in Nico’s mind will cause some repercussions for her, though. So far we didn’t see any but maybe in the next book? Also I get why she chose Dalton as a love interest, I mean to gain knowledge and information through him was a smart move. I suppose she got way more than she bargained for through their affair, though. I wonder what she’ll uncover in “The Atlas Paradox” with the help of the others. Callum Nova: "You have no interest in knowing about the opportunity itself, Mr. Nova?" "If I want it, it's mine," Callum said, shrugging. "I can always wait and make that decision later. More interesting than the game is always the players, you know. Well, I suppose more accurately," he amended, "the game is different depending on the players." Boy, Callum was such a manipulative little shit! That man is arrogant af and knows exactly what he’s doing and how to use his powers in order to f*ck with people’s minds. I swear, this one is a force to be reckoned with and the others better continue to be wary of him. The interesting thing about him is that he’s already morally grey when the book starts and that none of the others anticipated how far he’d go in order to get what he wants. I think to coin him as a psychopath like Parisa did, won’t help, though. From what I gathered from the little he told Tristan about himself, he has “daddy issues” too so I suppose that might have been one thing that drew him to Tristan. He even admitted, that his mother wouldn’t be alive if he wouldn’t have anchored her to him and forced her to live on. There seems to be an entire world of feelings underneath his cool and calculating exterior and that makes him one of the most intriguing but also most volatile and dangerous characters of the book. I wonder what is going to happen once he’s not able to suppress his emotions any longer. As for his abilities: I think he’s not just an empath that likes to toy with people’s minds and feelings but also some sort of illusionist? At least Tristan could see through his illusions regarding his appearance so I can only assume that he can also manipulate illusions. Either way, pride goes before a fall and I think we witnessed his, when he tried to kill Parisa and Tristan. Reina Mori: ”There was such a thing as asking too much, and she had known the demands of others all her life. Even, or perhaps especially, the demands of those who had not wanted her at all.” I gotta be honest here: Reina is some sort of a wildcard! She’s introduced as a naturalist which means she can manipulate plants and nature, yet she seems to be different than other naturalists because it seems like plants are drawn to her and want to absorb her energy and life essence. Because of that she always puts a lid on her abilities in order to survive and not to be drained by her own powers, which sounds exhausting. I suppose this is also the only reason why she joined the initiation process. All Reina wants is knowledge and answers and she doesn’t seem to care for anything else. All the intrigues and manipulations of her fellow students don’t seem to concern her and she mostly keeps to herself throughout the course of the first book. Truth be told, at the moment it seems like Nico is the only person who managed to befriend her. I wonder if we’ll see more of Reina in the next instalment. There’s a lot of potential to her character but we only got to see the surface so I’m very curious if that’s going to change in book two. The relationships & ships: Libby & Nico: "If not for her, Nico might not have noticed most of the things he did, and probably vice versa. A uniquely upsetting curse, really, how little he knew how to exist when she wasn't there; his only source of pleasure was knowing she probably felt the same whenever she could bring herself to stomach the admission." Libby and Nico might be one of the greatest love stories never told! I mean, come on! No one can tell me they aren’t meant for each other. Everyone sees them as two sides of a coin and their anger and hatred for each other solely stems from the fact that they spent so much time fighting each other for recognition in the eyes of people that will never even understand their unique connection. They know each other better than anyone else, the simple fact Nico noticed every shift in Libby’s mood and vice versa a dead giveaway that they are something like soul mates. Whenever Libby argued with Ezra I was like: Girl, you love Nico, why are you wasting your time with Ez? I mean by the end of the book Nico even spells it out for Libby and I wanted to shake her to make her listen!! Nico literally told her that she’s too good for Ezra and that he won’t survive her dying. Libby give that poor boy a break and LISTEN to what he says! But well, the book ended how it ended and Nico was devastated when they found Libby’s body (or what they think is her). I kinda hope Libby will break free from that weird prison in another dimension and that Nico and her will end up being together. You can always hope and dream, right? *lol* All I know is that those two aren’t finished yet and that Nico will do everything in his power to bring Libby back and if that’s not love, then I dunno. Tristan & Callum: ”The truth is I don’t want to hurt you,” Callum told him softly. “This, what I’m doing to you, I would never have done it if not to save you. To save us. You no longer wish to trust me,” he acknowledged, “I understand that, but I cannot let you keep your distance. You need to know what my magic tastes like, how it feels, so that you will recognize the absence of it. You need to know pain from my hands, Tristan. You need me to hurt you so that you can finally learn the difference between torture and love.” Those two were killing me! No, I mean it. Their friendship/relationship or whatever is going on between them is so toxic and destructive, yet I still couldn’t get enough of them. I think it’s the way they are always tense around each other. They don’t trust each other but they are drawn to each other like a moth to a flame and I think not even Callum is able to pinpoint the reason why. Their chemistry and intensity was off the charts and as weird and crazy as it might sound, I think Callum fell first. Yes, you read right! He never made a secret of his feelings for Tristan, but I think he’s so broken that he doesn’t know how to love him. If that makes any sense?! The moment Tristan found out that Callum had betrayed him and played with his mind and perception was tough and I felt with him when he cursed. Still, things got worse from there on out and those two ended up being at each other’s throat. That scene when Tristan tried to kill Callum and he hurt him instead?! Damn, I was at the edge of my seat! It was so intense! Also despite the fact that Callum claimed he wanted to kill Tristan, I don’t think he would have gone through with it. I mean why hurt him with his magic to make him feel “how it tastes” when he’s truly manipulating him? It didn’t sound like he wanted to kill him, it sounded like he wanted to make him understand. By hurting Tristan he pushed him even farther away, though, and no matter how much Callum seems to love him, I can almost guarantee that those two won’t have a HEA. Their relationship is way too complicated and toxic to end well, but I’m definitely along for the ride to see where it takes them. Conclusion: “The Atlas Six” was different than I expected it to be, but I still enjoyed every second of it. I mean when I went into this story I expected an intricate plot and world building, two things that clearly weren’t this books forte. What I got was an extremely character driven and atmospheric book instead and I’m glad to say that I’m not mad about it. I get the disappointment of some readers, but I personally lived and breathed for the intrigues, manipulations and all the chemistry and tension between the characters. I thrive on human relationships and people’s dynamics in the stories I read, so this was perfect for me. Blake totally delivered when it comes to the development of deeper human connections and complex interpersonal relationships. Something I can’t always say about every author. All told, the characters clearly were Blake’s main focus, but if you love character driven books and can live with a little bit of plot and world building, then this book certainly will be for you, too! ;-) Find me on: My Blog Instagram ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Feb 08, 2025
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Feb 27, 2025
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Feb 08, 2025
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Hardcover
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| 1484746430
| 9781484746431
| 1484746430
| 4.27
| 106,332
| May 01, 2018
| May 01, 2018
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I’m on BookTube now! =) I’ve borrowed this book about 6 times from my library by now because I always had to return it. Well, not anymore! I’m determin I’m on BookTube now! =) I’ve borrowed this book about 6 times from my library by now because I always had to return it. Well, not anymore! I’m determined to read it those next four weeks because it’s finally time to start another Uncle Rick story! I missed Apollo and his friends so I’m ready for this new adventure! Also, I can’t wait to see more of Apollo’s character growth! <333 Next to Percy he’s one of my fave Rick Riordan MCs! Let’s do this and finally read “The Burning Maze”!!! Find me on: My Blog Instagram ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Feb 2025
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not set
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Feb 01, 2025
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Hardcover
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| 0008501858
| 9780008501853
| 0008501858
| 4.16
| 357,229
| Aug 23, 2022
| Sep 28, 2023
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I’m on BookTube now! =) It’s time to get some books off my many annual TBR lists and “Babel” is one of them! So what better way to start the New Year? I’m on BookTube now! =) It’s time to get some books off my many annual TBR lists and “Babel” is one of them! So what better way to start the New Year? This is actually the first book I’m beginning to read in 2025 because all the others have been on my “currently reading” for a while. I’m very curious if I’ll end up liking this or not. I mean I trust in Kuang’s magic and this really sounds so good! Historical fiction is always rather hit or miss with me but I’m sure if anyone can persuade me it’s R.F. Kuang. Fingers crossed “Babel” will be great! Find me on: My Blog Instagram ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Jan 06, 2025
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not set
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Jan 06, 2025
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Paperback
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| 1035064642
| 9781035064649
| 1035064642
| 4.44
| 820
| Jun 10, 2025
| Jun 10, 2025
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I’m on BookTube now! =) WAIT! A new V.E. Schwab book in 2025?! With three different women, in three different centuries “And all of them grow teeth.”?! Acc I’m on BookTube now! =) WAIT! A new V.E. Schwab book in 2025?! With three different women, in three different centuries “And all of them grow teeth.”?! According to V.E. Schwab & some lucky ARC readers, this means “toxic sapphic vampires” and I’m so here for it! Also the title is chef's kiss! I mean: "Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil"!?! I need this in my life ASAP!!! Find me on: My Blog Instagram ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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not set
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not set
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Dec 17, 2024
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Hardcover
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| 1444957651
| 9781444957655
| 1444957651
| 4.47
| 177,277
| Dec 07, 2023
| Dec 19, 2023
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it was amazing
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I’m on BookTube now! =) ”are you flirting with me or something Nicholas” “Maybe I am, Charles …….” “you are terrible at it” This volume was great again an I’m on BookTube now! =) ”are you flirting with me or something Nicholas” “Maybe I am, Charles …….” “you are terrible at it” This volume was great again and by now I think my love for the “Heartstopper” series knows no boundaries. It always feels so good to come back to this world and to be part of the amazing queer found family Alice Oseman created. By now they feel like real people and the mere thought of Volume 6 being the last feels kinda overwhelming. I know this series has to end, but after being a fan of Nick and Charlie for years (I read Volume 1 on tumblr long before it was even released as a paperback and when Alice’s name was still a whisper in the queer community on the net) I just can’t wrap my head around the idea of this series being finished. It feels so surreal, but it is the way it is. *sigh* I’ll miss those two and their friends. T_T Anyway! Let’s not be maudlin and talk about Volume 5 instead! ”Why? You know I, like … really fancy you” “I know, it – it’s not really anything to do with you, I just … It’s just all in my head.” “Is there anything I can do to help?” This time around we tackle the important topic of trust and sexual intercourse and I think Alice did an amazing job of conveying Charlie’s as well as Nick’s struggles. Both boys feel more and more ready to take their relationship to the next level, yet at the same time they are both scared of this huge step. What I really liked was that Oseman stayed true to her characters and showed how different their reasons of being scared were. For Charlie being intimate with Nick was a struggle, not because he didn’t love him or didn’t want to be with him in that way, but because of his mental health and the thoughts that invaded his mind whenever they got close to being intimate. Charlie knew that he could trust Nick completely, yet his mind still interfered and got in the way. OCD and the impulse to control things is not something you can turn off and I love that Alice Oseman was able to portray this so well. ”A part of intimacy is trusting someone enough to let go of that control a little. And that can be very difficult sometimes. But it’s important to remember that as long as you and Nick trust and respect each other, and are listening and communicating with each other, then you’re safe, and there’s nothing to worry about.” I loved Mr. Geoff for saying this and I loved him even more for having an open ear for Charlie and trying to help him to get to the solution on his own. And I fully agree with him: Charlie is strong! I think he doesn’t even realize how far he’s come and I’m so proud of him for tackling his problems heads-on and addressing the things that are important to him. He’s come such a long way! Also the way he stood up to his mum and didn’t allow her to get away with trying to control him again. Awesome! That’s my boy! I think his mum played a very big role in Charlie’s and Tori’s mental health getting worse and worse and a lot of their problems stemmed from her being too strict and controlling, so it’s good for them to speak up for themselves and to set some boundaries. ”I’m not a child. And if I want to spend time with my boyfriend, then I will. You can’t stop me.” Nick’s mum is the complete opposite of Charlie’s and I love Mrs. Nelson so much, you have no idea!!! This woman is made of awesomesauce. Period! The casual way she offered Nick to go to the pharmacy if he and Charlie needed something. Acceptance and absolutely no judgement! This is a mum, who truly cares about her son and supports him no matter what! Gosh, the world needs more mums like that! Even though Nick felt very embarrassed by her offer, which is understandable but damn, is he lucky to have her. <3 ”If you need me to get you anything, I can always stop at the pharmacy on my way home from work.” “Mum please stop talking.” “Okay” I think Nick’s fear of taking the next step comes from being embarrassed by the topic of having sex in general and the fact that he doesn’t feel secure in who he is. There were so many things he figured out about himself in those last couple of volumes and it was just a lot. Plus he always had Charlie at his side who helped him along and emboldened him to be true to himself and to find his own way and voice. Nick kept so many things to himself before he became friends with Charlie and that almost makes him a completely different person to the first volume. Well, at least to his family and former friends. Deep down he was always the way he’s now but he never truly showed it and kept that part to himself. ”When I realised I was bi … I feel like I woke up. Because I was repressing so much of myself before then. Not just my sexuality, but, like, my thoughts and feelings and personality.” Thankfully, he has a great support system of friends now, and Elle and Tara who aren’t afraid of nudging him in the right direction. Gently and with a lot of understanding and patience. I had to laugh so much when Elle addressed the elephant in the room and her and Tara accompanied Nick while he bought some “precautions”! Haha! Seriously, you need friends like this! Especially Elle! I love that fierce and bold girl that tackles everything heads-on and is never afraid to speak her thoughts and opinion! No wonder Tao is besotted with her. *lol* <3 ”Could we not have gone through like self-checkout?” “Nope.” “That’s £ 15.99 please.” “I hate you both” “You’ll be thanking us when you and Charlie get to –“ “ELLE!!” They spoke about Nick’s wishes as well and I thought that scene was so important for him. Nick was always more some sort of a people pleaser and just went along with his friends, and even now that he found his own voice he’s still struggling with going for what HE truly wants. I’m so glad Elle spoke up and was able to get through to him because she’s right. Of course Nick loves Charlie, but his future is important too and he needed to hear that. At that age you have to put yourself first and the people that truly love you will support you no matter what. I’m sure Charlie and him will figure it out. Elle: ”Nick, you always put everyone else’s feeling above your own. And I know you and Charlie love each other, but this is your future. Like, I know how you feel. I’m in the same boat. But … I have to put myself first right now.” Tara: “Charlie would support you! He wants you to be happy! Putting yourself first for once wouldn’t make him hate you!” Nick: “It – It’s not just about him. I’m scared to be away from him. I don’t know who I am without him.” Tara: “Maybe it’s time to find out.” Also, one of my favourite moments in this Volume was when Charlie and Tori took that Ferris wheel ride and spoke about Tori struggling with her sexuality and her love for Michael. The way Tori broke the news to Charlie that neither her nor Michael are straight was kinda funny but also serious at the same time?! I just loved the fine line between humour and severity in this scene. And can we, just for one second, acknowledge how relatable Michael Holden is?! I mean that quote below?! Pedro Pascal is awesome and the fact Michael loves him too, and is a fellow pansexual, only caused me to love him even more. I adore Michael Holden more and more. <333 ”Neither of us is straight, Charlie. I’m surprised you didn’t notice with Michael.” Michael: “Oh, are you guys watching “Normal People”? Paul Mescal is soooo sexy. Is that Pedro Pascal’s Instagram? I’m obsessed with him” Plus the sibling relationship between Charlie and Tori is one of the best things in this series. They truly care about each other and it made me so happy that Tori knew she could confide in Charlie and that he would listen to her. She might be his big sister but Charlie knew she had troubles and it was so heart-warming to see she trusted him enough to come out to him as asexual. And don’t even get me started on Charlie’s awesome reaction and the way he acknowledged her fears but also managed to give her the necessary support to confront them and encouraged her to talk about her feelings with Michael. It’s so wholesome to see them both supporting each other in that way and I need to see more of their sibling bond in the next volume. <3 ”FUCK what anyone thinks. Your relationship can be whatever you want. Girlfriend and boyfriend, or not. Who cares. I said to Nick once that if he didn’t ever want to have sex then that would be fine. Like, yes, I really want to do that with him, but if he didn’t, I wouldn’t break up with him. I love him. I know not everyone feels that way about their relationships, and that’s fine, but I do. Maybe Michael does too.” “A lot of people would think you’re weird for saying that.” “I don’t give a fuck.” Conclusion: I’m always in awe how Alice Oseman manages to tackle so many different issues in just one volume! And I’m even more flabbergasted by the fact that she always, really always, nails them in such a short time span. I mean this volume had 336 pages and they packed quite a punch! I can’t wait to read Volume 6 but I’m also sad because it will be the last one and I’ll have to say goodbye to the found family that accompanied me for years. T_T I already know it will be bittersweet, but thankfully, I have a little time left to make peace with the fact that there’ll be a final volume. <3 Wish me luck, I’ll need it. XD ________________________________ I know I say this about every “Heartstopper" volume BUT I loved it! <3 Alice Oseman just writes all those characters and their struggles so well! It feels real! They feel real and they all had a lot on their plates once again. XD Full RTC soon! For now I’ll just say that I can’t wait for Volume 6!!! _________________________________ I finally found “Heartstopper: Volume 5” at my library!!! YAY! I wanted to read this so badly ever since it came out and since I’m trying to finish all the books on my “currently reading” until the end of the year this is a good and short choice for in between. I can’t wait to find out what Charlie and Nick are up to in this volume! I’m sure it will be epic. <3 I’m so ready for this, you have no idea!!! The excitement is real! XD Find me on: My Blog Instagram ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Dec 09, 2024
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Dec 23, 2024
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Dec 09, 2024
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Paperback
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| 4.50
| 371,486
| Sep 13, 2022
| Jun 29, 2023
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I’m on BookTube now! =) DAMN!!! What an ending! O_o My sister was the first to get my unfiltered reaction right after I finished this book and let me tel I’m on BookTube now! =) DAMN!!! What an ending! O_o My sister was the first to get my unfiltered reaction right after I finished this book and let me tell you, it was another four letters word but it started with “F” instead of “D”. I can’t believe the book ends like this!!! After all those chapters!!!! ARGHHHHHH!!! I’m not okay and I won’t be until I got that last book into my hands and know how this story ends! Full RTC once I managed to collect my brain cells. They’re all over the place right now. T_T __________________________________ I’ve been dying to read “The Ballad of Never After” ever since I finished the first book and I’m so curious in which kind of direction this series will go. With Stephanie Garber and with Jacks everything is possible. *lol* As it seems Evangeline will have to trust our beloved Prince of Hearts once again in order to break a murderous spell. Sounds very intriguing already and well, there’s also Apollo to think of. ;-P Let’s find out where Eva and Jacks are heading. XD Find me on: My Blog Instagram ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Dec 02, 2024
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Jan 18, 2025
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Dec 02, 2024
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Paperback
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| 1250797306
| 9781250797308
| 1250797306
| 4.04
| 11,597
| Feb 08, 2022
| Feb 08, 2022
|
it was amazing
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I’m on BookTube now! =) ”I know,” he says. “Your sexuality doesn’t define you, but it is a part of you.” His words are tight, voice breaking ever so sl I’m on BookTube now! =) ”I know,” he says. “Your sexuality doesn’t define you, but it is a part of you.” His words are tight, voice breaking ever so slightly. I squeeze his hand gently, an understanding passing between us. “But questioning who you are? It’s a risk we all take. It’s your risk to take if you want to. No one else gets to decide this for you; it’s your life.” Trigger warnings:(view spoiler)[homophobia, biphobia or just queerphobia in every possible way, racism, sexism, outing of a character (hide spoiler)] And this quote is exactly why books like “Ophelia After All” are so important for young queer kids. I honestly didn’t think starting to write my review about this beautiful coming-of-age story would make me this sad, but considering the world we live in, alone to write about a queer book has become some act of defiance. The voices that want to silence us are becoming louder and louder each day, all over the world the political climate is changing. These days it seems like all the good work, all the acceptance, the progress we made, is undone and destroyed by a handful of conservative and rich men that managed to get to the top of the food chain. Amazing books like this one are most likely being banned and destroyed as I type this and yes, I’m allowed to feel sad about this. Because it are voices like Racquel Marie’s that make a difference and change so many people’s views and beliefs. Who is going to tell those stories? Who is going to change the world for the better? Who will write about acceptance and loving yourself and preach love instead of hatred? I honestly dunno, and that’s a scary thought and one of the reasons why I’ll continue to read and write about queer books. Because the world needs those stories and characters, it needs voices that tell you that queer kids exist and that they have no evil agenda and only just want to live their lives in peace. Just like Ophelia Rojas who always thought, she was boy-crazy until she met a nice girl named Talia that turned her entire world upside down. "My parents love me; I know this for sure. But I also know they love weddings and grandchildren and the expectations they have for me. They love the daughter they know, but what if I stop being that daughter?" What if? I think there’s not a single queer kid in this world that didn’t have the same thoughts as Ophelia and wondered if their parents would still love them if they found out that they’re queer. It’s the kind of question every person that’s part of the LGBTQIA+ community has to deal with at some point and the outcome can vary from good to extremely bad. It always depends on your family and friends and it’s something you don’t have any control over. Thankfully, Ophelia has good parents and awesome friends. At the beginning of the book it might not seem like it, but that’s part of the story’s charm. I mean, we start like Ophelia and don’t know her friends and family’s stance on being queer, it was something that never even occurred to her until she met Talia so she has no idea what to do with all those feelings and how to sort through them. Ophelia’s emotions are a real mess and this makes her story so relatable. She might have no idea what she’s feeling or doing, but she’s painfully aware of the fact that she needs to figure out what’s going on. ”I know Lucas is just who my parents would expect to see me with, who I would’ve expected as well, once upon a time. But I have to forget about those expectations. I have to think about what I want now. Whatever that is.” Ophelia isn’t the only one whose love life is messy, though, and we get to see a side-character love triangle in the form of Lindsay, Wes and Sammie as well as many other different and diverse representations. This was definitely something I absolutely adored about the book and the way all those reps were woven into the story was done so well. No matter if it was Ophelia herself who wasn’t just American-Cuban but also Jewish, Wesley who was Korean American or Sammie Ophelia’s best friend who was Pakistani, each and every single one of those characters was diverse and true-to-life. Not to mention all the sexualities that were represented as well. We have Talia who is a bisexual black Latina, Zaq who’s black and pansexual and Wes who’s Korean American and asexual. And yes, this might sound like many reps packed into a small book but it worked because every character had its own voice and was fleshed out. ”For the love of all that is good, please tell me why you’re in my bedroom insulting me this early in the morning.” Before he can even fully open his mouth, I add, “And don’t you dare ask what time of day I’d prefer you to insult me at.” He closes his mouth, lips still curled in amusement. Alone the interactions between Ophelia and Sammie were gold because you could tell those two have been besties for years and knew each other better than they’d like to admit. Of course you never know every side of someone and sometimes you don’t even know yourself which caused those two to have a couple of struggles along the way. Still, their friendship was really sweet and their problems stemmed from other things than Ophelia discovering her sexuality, which I loved btw! Sammie and Ophelia were two teens struggling with many issues and hang-ups that influenced their actions, but there was never a doubt they truly cared about each other and wanted to work things out. The good thing is, they talk about it and try to understand where the other one is coming from. Well, at least after the dust has settled and they’ve gotten a chance to calm down a little bit. ”No, I want to know why my friends seem to think all my problems have to be centered around boys,” I say, crossing my arms. “And why they think I can’t be friends with a guy without being in love with him. And why I can’t have, like, three days of being moody without it being the end of the fucking world.” To witness Ophelia’s realisation that everyone had a certain picture of her and that it was so far from how she truly felt and saw herself was kind of heart-breaking at times, but the way she learned to embrace those parts of herself and allowed herself to feel all those things was extremely beautiful to read as well. The emotions Ophelia feels are raw and all over the place, but they are also powerful and real. At first, she tries to ignore them but they eventually demand to be acknowledged and felt, which led to a situation that escalated pretty quickly, but then again to come out to your family and friends is always messy and never a walk in the park. It felt realistic that all those bottled up feelings would erupt at some point and they eventually did. ”You think I don’t know about consequences, Sammie? You think I don’t know what it’s like to feel your heart burning a hole straight through your chest because you know if you open your mouth, if you let yourself admit the truth even for a second, that everything will change? I know what that feels like. I will never forget what this fucking feels like.” Ophelia is never alone with her problems, though and I loved that Wesley was such a huge part of her journey and helped her as best as he could. At first Wes seemed to be a very shy and reserved guy but the more I got to read about him the more he grew on me. He’s one of the side-characters I ended up loving the most and he’s definitely some sort of mentor for Ophelia. I think every kid should have a Wesley in their life. ;-) "I never apologized for kissing boys. I shouldn't have had to apologize just because she and her mom and whoever else decided somewhere along the way that I wasn't the type of girl to kiss another girl." Anyway! Another thing I liked was that the way people perceive others was given some room as well. The characters in this book don’t have it easy, they have to deal with their heritage, with the way others see them and how they feel themselves and then they have that added layer of being queer and figuring out stuff as well. I liked that some of them were still questioning, that they admitted that it’s not easy to balance their heritage and the expectations that come along with it while also trying to be true to themselves. It’s something a lot of teens that come from mixed backgrounds have to work through and it’s tough but everyone has to find an individual solution that works for THEM. And maybe, sometimes the answer is just to acknowledge that there will always be two sides to the coin and that you’ll always try to find a balance. ”Half of my blood and heritage is one thing, half is another, and more often than not, it leaves me feeling less like a whole person with a complete, unique makeup, and more like two halves of a girls who is never enough.” I think the ending and how everything comes together in those last couple of chapters was done extremely well. Racquel Marie gave her characters enough time to sort through their issues and to come to their own conclusions and this is always a good thing. I love myself some MCs that tackle their problems head-on and find a way to overcome their troubles. Yes, there were some moments in the book when everything felt a little bit educational but then again the information was woven into the story and the reader finds out about all the different queer labels alongside Ophelia. Therefore, I can’t really blame the author for trying to explain labels this way. Probably it was a little bit too on the nose for me because I know about all the queer labels already, for someone who never heard about other sexualities it might be a very welcome explanation, though. ”Waiting for someone to love you back seems beautiful in a miserable way when you’re young. No offense.” She smiles. “But a life spent waiting is not a life spent loving. It’s a life spent wasting away on the promise of something you’re not guaranteed.” Conclusion: “Ophelia After All” was such a positive surprise and I can’t believe there aren’t more people raving about this book. As coming-of-age stories go, this one was great and I loved all the different and diverse reps! The ending was very unique, atypical but also realistic and for me this made it an even better read! All told, I really hope many people will read this story because it’s a great one and as I said at the beginning of this review: The world needs more books like “Ophelia After All”! Always and especially in times like these. ______________________________ This book was such a surprise and I loved it!! All the different queer and diverse reps and the way the characters issues were handled?! Chef’s kiss! We love a group of friends that tries to solve their problems by communicating. How come not more people are talking about this book?! Full RTC soon! I have thoughts and I need time to write them down! _______________________________ I think I’ve to admit that I was totally drawn by the cover of this book. I mean look at those amazing colours! I didn’t even know what “Ophelia After All” is about when I picked up the book, but after a short glimpse at the blurb I had to borrow it because YAY, it’s actually a queer book! XD As for what it is about: Apparently Ophelia is a romantic and has many boy crushes until she suddenly begins to think about a cute girl named Talia?! Sounds right up my alley, so here we go! Find me on: My Blog Instagram ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Nov 18, 2024
|
Jan 20, 2025
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Nov 18, 2024
|
Hardcover
| ||||||||||||||
| Oh, Axie
*
| 9781529391732
| 1529391733
| 4.10
| 82,752
| Feb 22, 2022
| Feb 23, 2023
|
really liked it
|
I’m on BookTube now! =) ”The rules are simple: No warriors. No women, besides the Sea God’s bride. No weapons. Joon broke the first rule by coming toni I’m on BookTube now! =) ”The rules are simple: No warriors. No women, besides the Sea God’s bride. No weapons. Joon broke the first rule by coming tonight. I broke the second. And the third. Don’t you love it when you’re whisked away into a magical world and don’t know what’s happening but everything is so mysterious and intriguing you just come along for the ride? Well, I do and this was exactly why “The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea” worked so well for me. I know there will be some people out there who won’t like the sudden story jumps and changes in scenery, but I definitely enjoyed reading this book. I think the experience I made with this was similar to how I felt when I read “The Starless Sea” and I’m pretty certain if you loved that book you’ll have a great time reading this one as well. I mean with myths and legends you always have to accept parts of the story the way they are without second-guessing the logic of it and if you’re able to do that, I’m sure you’ll be fine. ;-) ”Sometimes, only through a story can a truth be heard.” As for the story itself: As far as I could gather this book is loosely based on a Korean legend named “The Tale of Shim Cheong” and gave it a new spin. What I found very interesting is that Axie Oh still kind of wove the original tale into the story by making Shim Cheong one of the main characters. In this story she is supposed to be the Sea God’s bride and taken on a boat to be sacrificed, but instead of her being thrown into the sea and the Spirit Realm it’s our MC Mina who sacrifices herself and jumps into the sea in order to take her place. Mina doesn’t have anything to lose and her brother Joon is madly in love with Shim Cheong so she doesn’t want him to be heartbroken and does the only thing she can think of. Namely sacrificing herself to the Sea God instead of her brother’s one true love. Well, suffice it to say things get really interesting from there on out, because Mina lands in the Spirit Realm where the red string of fate leads her directly to a sleeping Sea God and confronts her with the truth. The Sea God isn’t angry at her people, he’s in an enchanted slumber no one has been able to wake him from. Oh yeah, and there are three warriors that make sure he’s protected from the outside world by cutting the string of fate and turning the bride’s souls into magpies because apparently being bound to a human bride makes the Sea God vulnerable and weak. "Who are you to judge their hopes? At least they have them. What do you have? A sword that cuts. Words filled with hate." We're both breathing heavily. His gaze moves upward, from my mouth to my eyes. "For someone who can't speak," he says slowly, "you have a lot to say." To say Mina’s first encounter with Lord Shin and his two loyal friends Kirin and Namgi doesn’t go well would be an understatement, but then again they cut her string of fate and kidnapped her soul that turned into a magpie. Well, and to add insult to injury she’s not only stranded in the Spirit Realm and has no idea what to do, but also lost her voice along with her soul. It’s a frustrating and terrifying situation our heroine finds herself in, but thankfully she gets unexpected help from two spirits with a baby. I absolutely loved and adored Mask, Dai and Miki! They were so kind and always tried to help Mina whenever she lost her way and didn’t know what to do next. And they loved each other so fiercely it actually caused me to shed a few tears. T_T I mean if you managed to read about Dai’s unconditional love for Miki without even batting an eye, chances are high you might actually have no soul. XD ”Do you know how much I love Miki?” he continues. “When she gurgles, like she does when she’s happy, I feel like my heart grows to ten times its normal size. When she is sad, I feel like my heart is breaking. I would give my life a hundred times for Miki.” Those three! <3 They aren’t the only trio that’s amazing in this book though and I loved the dynamic between Lord Shin, Kirin and Namgi as well. All three of them had a unique voice and came from different backgrounds, yet they were still fiercely loyal to each other and literally would have gone through hell and back in order to save each other’s lives. Their brotherly bond was so nice to read about and I can’t help it, but I still think that Namgi and Kirin felt a deeper love for each other than “just” brotherly affection. The way Namgi spoke about Kirin… you don’t speak about your friend or brother like that! I think Namgi had it bad for Kirin but due to their different social standing and upbringing, he felt like he wasn’t good enough for him. Which was such a shame, because Namgi was one of the purest and kindest souls ever and I really loved him so much. <3 ”He forms attachments slowly, but when he does, he’s the most loyal friend, fiercely protective of those he cares about. He would do anything for Shin.” “And you?” I ask softly. Namgi says nothing, though a shadow falls across his face. “When I look at Kirin, I see only him, a bright light in the darkness. When he looks at me, he sees only the darkness.” I won’t spoil anything but there was a scene later on that made me think that maybe, Kirin might feel the same way about Namgi after all. XD So I was happy with the way things played out and I loved how we found out who or rather what Namgi and Kirin truly are. So despite them not having the best start with Mina, all three warriors grew on me and I was a sucker for the Mina/Lord Shin dynamic. Those two gave as good as they got and I adored Mina for being a heroine that has no idea what’s actually going on but still knows who she is and never falters. She was a stubborn, compassionate and strong-willed MC and I absolutely loved that about her. ”You’re right,” I say. The boy’s eyes flit back, narrowing as I speak. “I am like the other brides. I know what it is to love someone you would do anything to protect. Who are you to say what my fate is – if I am to fail, or if I am to succeed? My fate is not yours to decide. My fate belongs to me.” Also Lord Shin! It was so nice to see their relationship evolve. At first they were very weary and distrustful of each other but the more time Mina and Shin spent around each other, the more they got to know each other. I think they were a classic case of “nothing is as it seems” and I really liked that they took their time to get to know each other. At first there seemed to be so much that separated them, but the more they talked and spoke about the things that concerned them, the more they realized that there were actually more things that connected them than drove them apart. “You claim the gods should love and care for humans. I disagree. I don't think love can be bought or earned or even prayed for. It must be freely given." For once, I don’t jump to argue with him, mulling over his words. “I can respect a belief such as that,” I say finally. Mina might have been a stubborn MC but she also knew how to reflect on her actions and thoughts and she could admit when someone else made a valid point. I appreciated this immensely, because so often you have a main character that’s stubborn for no reason and refuses to acknowledge that there are other opinions and beliefs as well. I think the world would be a better place if people would listen to each other and try to understand where the other one is coming from before they jump to conclusions and judge others for their actions. There definitely need to be more Mina’s in the world, because Mina sees people for who they are, with all their strengths and weaknesses and she accepts them without hesitation. ”It might not be as large as a mountain or as bright as the moon,” I say as he lifts his eyes to meet mine, a heart breaking vulnerable look in their dark depths, “but it’s just as beautiful because it’s your soul. It’s strong, resilient, and steadfast. And stubborn.” He laughs softly. “And worthy, just as you are.” That moment caused me to smile and made me sad at the same time. T_T Because despite the first impression we get from Lord Shin he’s actually an honourable soul that tries to do what’s best for the Spirit Realm and the Sea God. He literally dedicated his entire life to protect the Sea God and to keep peace in the Spirit Realm and he always put his people and duty first. >_< Get yourself a Lord Shin. That’s all I’m going to say. ;-) Conclusion: “The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea” was very different to the books I usually read and it doesn’t happen all too often, that I’m whisked away into another world and don’t want to leave it. But this was exactly what happened with this Korean folklore and mythology inspired retelling. It’s rare for me to love all the main and side-characters, yet I couldn’t help but pull for each and every single one of them. The world building was done so well, too, and I could imagine the Spirit Realm and its inhabitants so well. And the ending?! Well, I didn’t see it coming and in my humble opinion that’s always an achievement! XD If you like fairy tales with strong MCs and aren’t afraid to go into another world completely blind, I’m sure you’ll enjoy this book as well. It’s a fun ride and I’m glad I went along with it. ;-) ___________________________ I was totally vibing with the fairy tale and folklore parts of this story and I loved that “The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea” was so very different than the books I usually read! Also the ending and how it all came together! No words, just admiration! Shin and Mina were two really great MCs but the side characters were awesome too! Kirin, Namgi, Mask, Dai, Miki.. they all have my heart. <3 Full RTC soon! I need to think this through! ____________________________ I suppose for once I’m actually good with going through with my monthly TBR. *lol* “The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea” is the second book I wanted to read in November and it’s been on my TBR for ages. I love myself some good mythology in my books and this sounds like it will deliver! The only other Axie Oh story I ever read was “XOXO” and I enjoyed that one so I’m pretty optimistic I’ll end up liking this one too. I guess we’ll find out and see! ;-) Find me on: My Blog Instagram ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Nov 11, 2024
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Dec 08, 2024
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Nov 11, 2024
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Paperback
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| 000860066X
| 9780008600662
| 000860066X
| 4.16
| 630,279
| Apr 04, 2023
| Aug 30, 2023
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I’m on BookTube now! =) WHY REBECCA ROSS?! Why?! I think I’m speaking for both of us when I say: We need book two asap!! Iris and Roman were so cute and I’m on BookTube now! =) WHY REBECCA ROSS?! Why?! I think I’m speaking for both of us when I say: We need book two asap!! Iris and Roman were so cute and yes, they broke my heart! T_T Full RTC soon! For now I’m busy with trying to get my hands on book two! *lol* ___________________________________ This is a buddy read with my lovely sister and even though I’m a couple of days too late I’m still glad we’re doing this together! (Sorry, didn’t plan on getting sick. *lol*) So as soon as I have the energy to pick up that huge brick of a book (not even kidding here. It IS a heavy book!) I’ll play catch up! Thankfully you’re not that far ahead in the game... yet. XD This said: I’m very curious how the magical letter exchange is going to play out in this and if I’ll end up loving the story or not. Could go either way. The fact it’s enemies-to-lovers is already a plus, though. Guess we’ll see and find out. Find me on: My Blog Instagram ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Sep 21, 2024
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Oct 20, 2024
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Sep 21, 2024
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Paperback
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| 1526651793
| 9781526651792
| 1526651793
| 3.98
| 25,520
| May 11, 2023
| May 11, 2023
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I’m on BookTube now! =) I really enjoyed this book and it was a lot of fun! =) The conversations between Gwen & Art were hilarious and gave me life, plu I’m on BookTube now! =) I really enjoyed this book and it was a lot of fun! =) The conversations between Gwen & Art were hilarious and gave me life, plus their interactions with Gabe & Bridget were cute. The ending was a little bit heavy, though so I dunno. >_< Full RTC soon! I’ll give it a think. ______________________________ I recently found “Gwen & Art Are Not in Love” in my library and just had to borrow it because the premise sounds way too good. I mean, this is a retelling in which Gwen and Art are supposed to marry each other, but actually hate each other’s guts?! *lol* And to top it all off they are not only in love with other people but both of them are queer as well! This sounds like the most interesting love square!? I hope this is a good one!! *fingers crossed* Find me on: My Blog Instagram ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Aug 26, 2024
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Sep 13, 2024
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Aug 26, 2024
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Paperback
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| 4.19
| 546,606
| Sep 07, 2021
| Sep 07, 2021
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really liked it
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I’m on BookTube now! =) ”Est unus ex nobis. Nos defendat eius.” She is one of us. We protect her. Did it take me half a year to sort my thoughts and to I’m on BookTube now! =) ”Est unus ex nobis. Nos defendat eius.” She is one of us. We protect her. Did it take me half a year to sort my thoughts and to actually write a review about this wild rollercoaster of a book?! Erm, yeah, I’m afraid so. Truth be told, I probably wouldn’t have even started to write this review if I wouldn’t have found the third book at my library recently. I dove right in and figured I would have to write about “The Hawthorne Legacy” first before I forget too many details and plot points. And there were many!! Boy, Jennifer Lynn Barnes definitely knows how to capture her reader’s attention and all the revelations and games within games had my head spinning. Add to that the inescapable and strong pull of Jameson and Grayson Hawthorne and you’re in for one hell of a ride. What I really liked about this story, was that we finally got some answers about Avery’s past and how she’s connected with the Hawthorne’s. I think I’m not spoiling anything when I say: You’ll never guess the truth and whatever you think you know, you know nothing and you’re absolutely on the wrong track. ;-P Just come along for the ride and enjoy whatever the author throws at you because it will be highly entertaining, surprising, suspenseful, heart-breaking and intense. You just gotta love all those Hawthorne boys with their unique talents and charisma. ”I don’t know who my father is. Skye was never what one would call maternal. The old man raised us. He made us in his own image.” Jameson swung, and the ball went soaring. “Xan has his mind. Grayson got the gravitas. Nash has a savior complex. And I …” Another ball. Another shot. “I don’t know when to give up.” But the book isn’t just about them and the mystery around Avery’s inheritance, it’s also about Avery getting more confident in her new role and about a found family that sticks with her not matter what. I loved that she didn’t just get support from the four Hawthorne boys but also from her bestie Max, Libby, Oren and Alisa. They might all be side characters but they have their own voices and I grew quite fond of Oren, Avery’s bodyguard and Alisa, her lawyer. They always try to protect Avery and even though it’s their job to do so, I got the distinct feeling that they actually care about her and want what’s best for her. Sure, you could argue about Alisa’s actions here but I’ll talk about that in my spoiler part! Anyway! Before this gets even longer: I had a blast reading “The Hawthorne Legacy” and I’ll analyse the hell out of this story now, so you’ve been warned! ;-) The characters: Welcome to Hawthorne Manor, where every secret passage leads to hidden rooms and glaringly obvious spoilers! It’s up to you if you want to discover the truth or not. Be warned though, once you found those spoilers there’s no return! Enter at your own risk. ;-P Avery: ”I am an expert at not wanting to want things,” I held my sword up for a moment longer, then lowered it, the way he’d lowered his. “But I’m starting to realize that the person I need to be, the person I’m becoming – she’s not that girl anymore.” I’d been given the world. It was time to stop living scared, time to take the reins. It was time to take risks. To say Avery’s life was turned upside down would probably be the understatement of the century. Ever since she became a billionaire, her life became madness and it showed at the beginning of the book. After being shot at and running for her life she went through some serious trauma or well she probably would have had a trauma from everything if given the chance. Unfortunately, our MC is never allowed to take a little breath and there is danger at every corner. Seriously, I have no idea how Avery is coping with all this because if she didn’t need therapy after the first book she’ll definitely need it now. All those revelations about her father, Toby and her mom. Damn! Add to that Tobias Hawthorne’s riddles that are thrown at her from the grave, some danger because everyone wants her money and you’ve a recipe for disaster and at least 10 years of therapy coming her way. Avery wouldn’t be Avery if she’d just stand there and let everyone have their way with her, though. By the end of the book she became so damn strong and I’m kinda proud of her! There are many things that are out of her control but there is also a lot she can do and she’s finally figuring that out! I’m very curious about her character arc in the next book because I really want to see that self-confident girl that allows herself to actually WANT things! Give me this version of Avery, I beg you, please!! ”Toby Hawthorne loved my mother. She loved him. It had been an epic, seaside kind of love. Literally. Just knowing that made me feel like I’d been lying to myself every time I’d pretended that I didn’t have feelings, that things didn’t have to be messy. That I could have what I wanted without ever really longing for anything, body and soul.” Jameson: "Would you close the door if I promised very sincerely not to ravish your client?" "Jameson!" I hissed. Alisa glanced back and rolled her eyes. "I've literally known you since you were in diapers," she told Jameson. "And you have always been trouble." I already was in love with Jameson after the first book and nothing changed. He’s my broken-boy kryptonite and the way he cares about Avery and always puts her first is just so damn disarming! This boy has his priorities straight and even though he just can’t resist a good puzzle, Avery and his family are more important to him. I think if he set his mind to it, Jameson would be one of those people who could even charm a wall. So that clearly works in his favour, as does his smart mouth! Haha! I kinda adore him for being so unapologetic, yet soft at the same time. His soft side is so endearing ugh! I feel Avery’s struggle, you want to resist him but damn is he tempting. *lol* I’m glad he finally opened up and we got to see more of the real Jameson and I can’t wait to see what he’s going to do in book 3. Grayson: Grayson turned the phone back around and those gray eyes locked on mine. “Avery, have I ever given you reason to believe that I’m particularly averse to danger?” Grayson Hawthorne was arrogant enough to consider himself bulletproof – and honourable enough to see a promise through to its end.” Well, I suppose I’ve a problem now because on the one hand Grayson has turned into broken-boy kryptonite in this second instalment but on the other hand he did some things I just couldn’t understand and that left me disappointed. Ugh! Grayson Davenport Hawthorne why do you have to be so infuriating and difficult?! I can respect his integrity, though. Gray is so hard to assess. He’s honourable and keeps his promises and we finally got to see his vulnerable side, but he’s also stubborn and sometimes very inflexible. In short he’s fighting an internal fight and I don’t know which side of him will win, but I’m pretty sure it won’t be enough to win Avery’s heart. Just a guess. I’m definitely ready to see where his character arc will go and I hope I’ll feel less conflicted about him in the future. *fingers crossed* Xander: ”Both,” Xander gritted out, and there was a note of intensity in his voice that I’d never heard from him before. Xander was the youngest Hawthorne brother. The least competitive. The one who’d been in on their grandfather’s last game.” Mhmm Xander wasn’t that huge of a part in this book because he set out to do one thing but then got distracted by another hint and dropped his original search to find Toby. I personally think that he has enough of following his grandfather’s clues and just wants to live his own life. He’s an inventor and has his grandfather’s intelligent mind and unlike his brothers he’s not as invested in solving puzzles. The fact he was in on all the secrets in the first book and was only a spectator but not a participant says it all. He’s more like Nash in that regard and keeps to himself and out of the hunt. Yes, sometimes he helps Avery and his brothers but as a rule, he doesn’t get involved in the games. I respect that and I think even his grandfather did. I’m very curious if he and Max will hook up, though! *LOL* I know, I know! But there was some serious chemistry there and Max is intelligent and can follow his talk about science so I think it wouldn’t be that unrealistic, right?! Someone back me up here! Haha! Nash: ”Hey, kid.” Nash didn’t bat an eye at the fact that I’d just appeared seemingly out of nowhere. In fact, the oldest Hawthorne brother gave the impression that the whole mansion could come crashing down around him and he’d just keep leaning against that fireplace. Nash Hawthorne would probably tip his cowboy hat to Death herself.” I still like this calm cowboy! There’s just something really grounded and sweet about him. Add to that his “savior complex” (like Jameson called it) and you can’t help but trust this man. Nash is just wholesome and gives off comforting “Ben & Jerry’s” vibes. *lol* Moreover he keeps out of all the games his brothers play and that makes him an extremely calming presence. I like that he’s watching out for Avery and helping her whenever he can and I still ship him and Libby! Unfortunately, we didn’t see much of them in this book and I hope that will change in the next one. Also my bad opinion about Skye only got even stronger after everything I found out about Zara and Nash’s father! How could she do that to her own sister? It takes a high level of spite and cunning to seduce the man your sister loves just because you begrudge her happiness. Zara definitely rose in my esteem after I found out that she took care of Nash when Skye dropped him and this despite everything. >_< This said: Can I have more Libby and Nash moments in the next book?! Alisa: Hurt flashed across Alisa’s features, and I remembered what Max had said. Alisa had moved me back here without permission. With my life on the line, she’d acted to save my inheritance. “Don’t look at me like that,” Alisa said – to me this time. “It worked, didn’t it?” I was here. I was alive. And I was still a billionaire. “It cost me dearly,” Alisa held my gaze. “It cost me this family. But it worked.” Okay, hear me out! I think there’s a lot so say about Alisa and she’s probably one hell of a morally grey character who has a tendency to follow logic instead of her heart. (She’s very similar to Grayson in that regard.) She’s an amazing attorney, though and she’s loyal to a fault. Even after Tobias’s death she’s doing everything in her power to make things work and while her decisions might seem heartless sometimes I still think that they are actually meant well. She was tasked with a job and she’s doing whatever it takes to go through with it. Even if that means to take Avery from the hospital, which in all honesty was a smart move because I don’t even want to know what could have happened to her in there. There are many people who want to see her dead, and to be hidden in Hawthorne Manor was definitely the best course of action while she was vulnerable and in a coma. I’m giving Alisa the benefit of the doubt here and I think the Hawthorne’s should do it, too. Period. The relationships & ships: Avery & Jameson: ”Tell me what you need.” Jameson wasn’t flirting. He wasn’t being cryptic. He wasn’t using me, in any way that I could tell. I let out a long, effortful breath. “I need to take this damn wall down.” Jameson nodded. He looked past me to Oren. “We’re going to need a sledgehammer.” I already said it when I spoke about Jameson and I’ll say it again, I love how much he cares about Avery! She always comes first and he’s the first one who would jump in front of her to save her from a bullet! (He actually did that in the first book, if I remember correctly.) Jameson tries to give Avery what she needs and he’s not doing it for his own gain, he’s doing it for Avery! Yes, he’s always a little bit playful but Avery can be serious around him too and that makes their relationship so beautiful. Somewhere along the way, Jameson fell head over heels for her and he came to a point where he doesn’t want to deny his feelings any longer. Avery was still torn at the beginning of the book but I think she made her decision by now. When it comes to feelings, Jameson is just more reliable and I think that’s exactly what will make her choose him over Grayson. Jameson loves Avery and he doesn’t make a secret out of it, he’s there and addressed the elephant in the room which is more than I can say for Grayson. If Avery knows what’s good for her she’ll choose Jameson. XD ”You don’t have to kiss me now. You don’t have to love me now, Heiress. But when you’re ready …” He brought his hand to the side of my face. I leaned into it. His breath went ragged, and then he pulled his hand back and nodded to the disk in my hand. “When you’re ready, if you’re ever ready, if it’s going to be me – just flip that disk. Heads, I kiss you.” His voice broke slightly. “Tails, you kiss me. And either way, it means something.” Avery & Grayson: ”I’m his –“ Before I could get the word daughter out, Grayson leaned his head down and crushed his lips to mine. He kissed me to save me from what I’d been about to say. For a small eternity, nothing in the world existed outside of that kiss. His lips. Mine. For show. Grayson kissing Avery to shut her up was definitely one of my favourite moments in the book. Haha! I really wanted to ship them so badly but I just couldn’t. Turns out that Gray is even more of a broken boy than Jameson is and unfortunately, that comes with a full set of problems. He just has too many issues that work against him and he’s not ready for a real relationship. I think Gray has to work on loving and forgiving himself before he can go into a serious relationship and Avery is just not the right girl for that. She wants different things Gray just isn’t able to give her. It’s sad but it is the way it is. For me their potential for a relationship died when Avery was attacked and Grayson didn’t do anything. I get why he didn’t do anything, but this is just not how you want your love interest to act. *sighs* So yeah, after this book I can’t ship them anymore. I do hope that Grayson will find true love and a girl that will make him happy, though. He deserves it; it might just take a little while. Grayson & Jameson: ”This isn’t just a clue,” Grayson said, his voice low and harsh. “This is my …” He couldn’t say the word father. “I know.” Jameson crossed to stand in front of his brother, lowering his forehead until it touched Grayson’s. “I know, Gray, and if you let this be a game, it doesn’t have to hurt.” Soo those two brothers still have the most dysfunctional relationship ever but they also care for each other deeply?! I swear they’re a mess, but I still love their dynamic. They might have been raised to compete against each other, but they still managed to keep their brotherly affection alive. Sure, they argue a lot but show me any siblings that don’t. XD I think my heart broke a little for both of them when Jameson gave Gray a chance to be with Avery. I know he would have stepped aside if it would have made Avery and Grayson happy, but since Gray didn’t choose Avery and fought his feelings instead, Jameson finally acted. Damn. *sighs* Those two brothers are killing me, I swear!!! On a side note: I found it interesting that we discovered who Grayson’s and Nash’s fathers were and I’m pretty sure we’ll find out about Xander’s and Jameson’s dad’s too. ”Are you done?” Grayson was yelling now. “Avery was dying, and you couldn’t run toward her?” “What do you want from me, Jamie?” “You think I didn’t fight the same fight? I halfway convinced myself that as long as Avery was just a riddle or a puzzle, as long as I was just playing, I’d be fine. Well, joke’s on me, because somewhere along the way, I stopped playing.” Toby & Avery & Hannah her mom: ”You have a daughter now,” I told him, my voice low. He looked at me, his expression never wavering. “I have two.” In the span of a heartbeat, fury gave way to devastation. Tobias Hawthorne the Second wasn’t my father. He hadn’t raised me. I didn’t carry a single drop of his blood. But he’d just called me his daughter. Can you give me a minute?! I need to cry a little because the entire Toby/Hannah/Avery story was killing me! Seriously, it was so heart breaking! T_T I never expected Avery’s story to turn into this kind of direction and damn, did it hurt! I honestly thought she was his daughter. But then we found out about Toby’s past with Avery’s mom and that he loved her more than anything but they kinda were star-crossed lovers. I honestly didn’t expect Sheffield Grayson to try to get revenge on Toby, but after everything was revealed this made perfect sense. Toby seeing Avery as his daughter and trying to make sure she was okay after her mom’s death. AHHH!! I swear his “In my heart you were always mine.” was such a shot to the heart! >_< He loved Hannah so much and his love extended to Avery even though she had no idea who he was. It made me really sad that Hannah and Toby never got a chance to be together but after everything that happened it was very realistic. I just hope that Avery and Toby will see each other again. He’s her real father in every way that counts and they deserve to be in each other’s lives. <33 ”Knowing what I know now, I don’t know how you did it. I should have drowned. I should have burned. My lips should never have touched yours, but for the rest of my life, Hannah, O Hannah – I will feel every kiss. Feel your touch when I was halfway dead and wholly rotten and you loved me despite myself.” Conclusion: “The Hawthorne Legacy” was as engaging, enchanting and suspenseful as the first book! If not even more! By now, we know the players; we have a good grasp on their characteristics, we’re familiar with the world they live in and all of this makes it inherently easier to move through the storyline! Which is full of plot twists, new mysteries, shocking revelations and intense moments between the MCs! Do I even have to say more?! I loved every second of this book and I’m very glad there are more to come! ;-) Find me on: My Blog Instagram ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Aug 20, 2024
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Sep 29, 2024
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Aug 20, 2024
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Paperback
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| 1788167228
| 9781788167222
| 1788167228
| 3.93
| 85,846
| Jan 12, 2021
| Jan 06, 2022
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liked it
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I’m on BookTube now! =) ”We are much stronger and more powerful than we understand. We are fifteen thousand pounds of muscle and bone forged from rage I’m on BookTube now! =) ”We are much stronger and more powerful than we understand. We are fifteen thousand pounds of muscle and bone forged from rage and trauma, armed with ivory spears and faces unique in nature, living in grasslands where any of the ubiquitous humans may or may not be a poacher.” Trigger warnings:(view spoiler)[ transphobia, violence, physical abuse, assault (on page), suicide, transphobic slurs, cheating & infidelity, MC is outed by another person (hide spoiler)] I finished “Detransition, Baby” about 3 weeks ago but I still haven’t found a way to review this book properly. I wish I could give you that elaborate review I spoke about, but with a book like this it’s really hard to speak about all the things I liked and didn’t like. I guess that’s the reason why so many other readers kept their reviews short and simple. I have extremely mixed feelings about this story because on the one hand it’s so good to have this book out there in the world and to get the unfiltered truth about how it feels to be trans in our society. It’s a true and bold representation of trans life we usually never get to see. But on the other hand there were a lot of serious themes and issues that were addressed in a way that made me feel extremely uncomfortable while I read the book. I’m pretty certain this was the author’s intention but for me those passages weren’t thought-provoking, but felt pretty alarming instead. So the question is: How do I review this book? I guess we might as well start with the plot and take it from there. The premise of the book was really interesting and I think it’s a very unusual approach because for once we also get a de-transition rep. So far I only read about MCs that transitioned so to get a de-transition story and then even in this kind of setting was something completely new and different. Which is a good thing in my book! Torrey Peters might have educated an entire generation of readers with this story and I’m very glad she did! It takes guts to write a book like this and there need to be voices like Torrey Peters’s in order to make trans experience not only more palpable but also available for the general public. ”This is what happens when the only trans voices out there are the loudest, shrillest trans girls constantly publishing dogmatic Trans 101 hot takes to rebuke the large cis public. You get people thinking that in order to avoid offending trans people, you must locate and follow a secret guidebook filled with arcane rites, instead of just thinking about them decently, as you would anything else.” I think it’s safe to say that the plot is rather simple because we have two POVs, Reese’s and Ames’s, and they vary while the story is told. A couple of years ago Reese and Ames were in a relationship. Back then Ames still went by Amy and was a girl, but then something happened that caused him to de-transition again and their relationship ended. Fast forward a couple of years later and Ames works at a company and has an affair with his boss Katrina. Well, and because Ames thought that after years on estrogen he would be sterile, they didn’t take any precautions and Katrina ends up pregnant. They both don’t feel up to the task and Ames gets in contact with his ex-girlfriend Reese asking her if she’d like to help him raise Katrina’s and his kid, finally fulfilling Reese’s strong wish for motherhood. I know, it sounds extremely crazy if you write it down like that and don’t worry, the MCs question their idea, too. *lol* Okay, so much to the plot. Still, there’s a lot more to this story and I think the only way to talk about this, is to speak about the characters and their stance on things themselves. So I guess I’ll try to write about the characters now and choose three quotes for every MC that represent the essence of their character. I have to divide this somehow so please bear with me. In his reply, he can’t help but let loose an old defensiveness on this topic. “I think it’s the opposite,” he says too sharply. “The whole reason transsexuals transition is because gender matters so incredibly much.” Ames: ”He hadn’t understood how little sense he made as a person without Reese until after she began to detach from him, until the lack of her became so painful that he started to once again want the armor of masculinity and, somewhat haphazardly, detransitioned to fully suit up in it.” Ames was the character I could relate to the most, because the way he thought and his opinion on certain things aligned the most with my own views of the world. I found his character interesting because his gender was so fluid. He started out as James then transitioned into Amy and later on de-transitioned into Ames. One of the most intriguing things in the book was Ames’s conversation with a man that de-transitioned, because it showed how the perception of others plays so much into the way people see themselves. That tans woman didn’t pass as a woman but when he de-transitioned back into a man, he didn’t pass either because people still saw his femininity. I think Ames could relate to that because when he was still James everyone was able to glimpse his femaleness, then he transitioned into Amy and became a beautiful woman, but he didn’t feel like he passed and sometimes craved the safety that comes with masculinity. I think the fact he chose Ames as his final name said a lot about the way he sees himself. And I’m pretty sure Ames was living his own truth outside of the gender norm because he loved to be a woman but he also enjoyed his masculinity and the protection it gave him. The author never explicitly mentioned it but I got gender-fluid vibes from Ames and experience has taught me that it takes one to know one. ;-) Maybe that’s the reason why I could relate to Ames character the most. This however is also one of the things I criticize about the book. I mean even in a story about people who are transgender all of the characters desperately try to fit into the gender binary of male or female. And this with all the horrible prejudices and gender stereotypes that come along with it which made me feel extremely conflicted about the book. But let’s go to the next character and get deeper into this discussion. ”She should have felt happy, but she didn't. Instead, she felt as if she had given in to an urge that ought to be turned away from. As when people shut their eyes in horror at the possibility of an apparition." "I got sick of living as trans. I got to a point where I thought I didn't need to put up with the bullshit of gender in order to satisfy my sense of myself. I am trans, but I don't need to do trans." Katrina: ”Are you sure you’re okay with this?” she asked. “If the genders were reversed, and some man had told his female employee to take a day off of work and come over I’d be appalled.” Katrina stands for the typical emancipated cis women of our generation. She’s in a leadership position, worked on her career, doesn’t take any shit and has a pretty strong opinion of what it means to be a woman and mother. I think I have to give her kudos for realizing that she’s not ready for a kid because a lot of people only realize that when it’s already too late. Moreover, I appreciated the way she was trying to think outside of the box and questioned herself and her decisions. I think in that way she had a leg-up on Ames and Reese, because those two thought more inside of the box of the gender binary than her. Which says a lot about how they perceived women- and motherhood. And this brings me right to Reese and her stance on things. ”What am I, some kind of walking uterus to you? Have you seen pregnant women? Do you think I would choose to go through that just to play a part in giving a baby to your ex-lover? Do you have any respect for my body? Do you value me at all?” ”I can’t believe that I’m more willing than you to think openly. Maybe the way you’re seeing things isn’t working. You’re so sure how things are, how to do things. But the way you do things ends in funerals. Maybe instead of saying what the inevitable outcome is, just make a fucking leap.” Reese: "She'd be over here, getting knocked around, each blow a minor illustration of her place in a world that did its gendering work no matter what you called it. So yeah, Stanley, bring it on. Hit Reese. Show her what it means to be a lady." Reese… where do I even start with her?! I read a couple of reviews that said that the book is misogynistic and I’m pretty sure this perception is due to Reese’s POV. Reese is a trans woman and strives to achieve that picture perfect idea she has of woman- and motherhood. Only, her idea of womanhood is a very narrow-minded one and she borrows all the usual clichés. I think in her mind women are still “the weaker sex” and she thrives when she feels fragile and vulnerable. I mean okay if she wants to feel like that in order to feel strengthened in her womanhood, but the way she lived it was nothing but self-destructive. For instance Reese only dated men that were unfaithful, bad company, misogynistic and hit their women. The fact she dated men from fetish sites, so called “tranny chasers” certainly didn’t help and I think her self-esteem must have been extremely low to put up with a guy like Stanley. Oh boy, how I hated him! Also and I need to say this here: Reese’s view of what it means to be a woman and that it entails being weak and vulnerable kinda made me angry. Because women in general are extremely strong and it takes a lot of strength to carry a child for 9 months and to raise it and give it all your love. So, yeah, if I’d be face to face with Reese I’d tell her: “Fragile and vulnerable?!” my ass!!! Seriously, I’m not surprised so many people thought this story to be misogynistic. With a character like Reese it’s really hard not to. Also and I say this with all the respect to Reese’s womanhood and femininity here, but a statement like the one she gave about cis women and hysterectomies tells me that she didn’t have to deal with this kind of problem. Just to make this very clear: Hysterectomies are NOT wildly available and every doctor will ask you about 10 times if you really want to get one before they give you a huge folder with thousands of things you have to sign in order to get one. And this is only the paperwork and psychological evaluation you’d have to get through. It SHOULD be a wildly known fact to everyone that hysterectomies are a not a walk in the park. They affect women who get them in so many ways because your hormones go crazy and they are dangerous, so many things can go wrong and leave scars you have to deal with for the rest of your life. It says a lot that doctors usually only go for them when the woman who gets surgery already has cancer and there’s no other way to save her life. It’s THAT kind of a life altering surgery where it’s better to deal with the repercussions than to die from cervical cancer. Truth be told it’s way easier for men to get a vasectomy and in comparison to women they barely have any repercussions to fear and if necessary could even undo it. You can’t undo a hysterectomy. And mind you: Usually it’s the woman who has to think about pregnancy prevention because almost every contraceptive or contraceptive device needs to be used by the woman. Pregnancy prevention for women is in fact WILDLY AVAILABLE because men don’t get pregnant. And if you just take a little moment to think about all the things women can use and do, not to get pregnant, and then there are just condoms for men (which a lot of them don’t want to use, but that’s an entirely different matter for another day), you see the imbalance women take for granted every single day. So yes, that’s the bitter truth right there. Sorry for that short essay but Reese’s ignorance on that matter and the way she assumed every woman would secretly cherish the idea of “their reproductive ability” made me so angry. It felt like a typical male view and Reese is a woman so I think this riled me even more?! It felt like a betrayal from your own ranks. I honestly hope that Reese’s view on womanhood and motherhood is not typical or representative for trans women because the way Reese lived her truth was very stereotypical, self-destructive and extremely unhealthy. I like to believe that not all trans women are in abusive relationships, because that wouldn’t just be toxic but also horrible. No woman deserves to be treated the way Stanley treated Reese. Period! As you can see I have a strong opinion about those things and I stand by it. ”It didn’t really matter what the difference was – although usually it was maleness to her femaleness, because men knew how to make her feel feminine, and feeling feminine turned her on; but she supposed she’d be open to other different types who could do the same. However, never someone just like her. No one should be that vulnerable to another.” "Cis women are always complaining about the burden of their reproductive ability, while secretly cherishing it. Hysterectomies are widely available, but even women who don't want children aren't exactly lining up to get them." One more topic to address : "He didn't need to explain this to Reese. She knew that no matter how you self-identify ultimately, chances are that you succumb to becoming what the world treats you as." I think this quote put the struggle of identifying as someone outside of the gender binary extremely well and I really liked the authors approach on this. When you’re a trans woman you want to pass as a woman, when you’re a trans man, you want to pass as a man. You want the world to see you the way you see yourself and to be confronted with other people’s perception is a constant struggle and challenge. And I’m just talking about being trans here. If you’re non-binary, gender-fluid, bi-gender or somewhere on that spectrum you have an even harder time because people will always try to fit you in a box. A box that doesn’t fit and never will, because you’re neither male nor female, you’re always somewhere in between. Just putting that out there in the world as an impulse for further thoughts. ;-) Conclusion: This review is already way too long and I still have so many thoughts I could share but I think I’ll just leave it at that. If you’ve read this book and want to talk about it, be my guest in the comments! I mean, all things considered this was a good book. The writing style might not have been for me and I disagreed a lot with Reese’s character, but I can appreciate what the author tried to do with this story and even though the ending wasn’t my cup of tea either, I still think that it fit the book. I’m going with the middle ground here: 3 stars. No less, no more. ________________________________ I honestly dunno how I feel about this book, let alone how I’ll rate it. There were good things but there were also some things I didn’t like. But I guess that’s exactly what the author tried to achieve because this book is supposed to be controversial. Anyway! RTC soon! I’ll give this a think and will try to put my thoughts & feelings into an elaborate review. ________________________________ I heard so many things about “Detransition, Baby” by now and I’ve to admit that they all only made me even more curious about the book. Some people hated it, others loved it, and I can’t help but wonder why. So if you know me, you know I’m intrigued. ;-) The only way to find out on which side I’ll land on, is by reading the book, so that’s exactly what I’m going to do. The blurb already sounds like we’ll have complicated family & relationship dynamics and I’m so here for it. Give me all the trans reps! I hope this will be a good one. *fingers crossed* Find me on: My Blog Instagram ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Aug 14, 2024
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Sep 28, 2024
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Aug 14, 2024
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Paperback
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| 1035007312
| 9781035007318
| 1035007312
| 4.07
| 279,312
| Feb 22, 2022
| Nov 10, 2022
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it was amazing
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I’m on BookTube now! =) ”After twenty-two years of adventuring, Viv had reached her limit of blood and mud and bullshit. An orc’s life was strength and I’m on BookTube now! =) ”After twenty-two years of adventuring, Viv had reached her limit of blood and mud and bullshit. An orc’s life was strength and violence and a sudden, sharp end – but she’d be damned if she’d let hers finish that way. It was time for something new.” And something new it is! I think the special thing about “Legends & Lattes” is that the story starts exactly where other books usually end. The adventure is over, all the fights are won and Viv has the scars to prove it. She’s tired of her life as a soldier and after 22 years she craves some quiet and peace. A normal trade that will ensure she can enjoy a calm peaceful life, a place to call her own and lots of coffee to bring joy into the world. It’s a pretty humble plan but it’s definitely an honourable one. (One I fully support because reasons and mostly COFFEE! *lol*) So right after her last adventure Viv sets out to find the perfect place for her coffee shop and ends up in Thune. A little city whose residents have never even heard of coffee. A small obstacle Viv is sure she’ll be able to overcome once they taste her delicious drinks and goods. Well, and once her legendary Scalvert’s Stone starts to work its magic and provides her with some dire needed luck. ;-) "They called it a café. People just sat around drinking it from these little ceramic cups, and I had to try it, and ... it was like drinking the feeling of being peaceful. Being peaceful in your mind. Well, not if you have too much, then it's something else." I honestly loved this so much!!! I think I get the hype now, and why so many people loved “Legends & Lattes”! This book is very different to other high fantasy stories and extremely slow paced but I think that’s exactly what makes it so charming. We follow Viv as she buys an old building, renovates it with the help of Cal, a hob who becomes one of her most trusted friends, and then starts her business by selling coffee and café latte. Sure, there doesn’t happen a lot, but it’s so nice to follow Viv as her long-cherished wish of being a coffee shop owner comes to fruition. It was a slow start, but boy, did I live for the way everything came together so nicely. I just loved the manner in which Viv went about setting up her business. She might have been a layperson but she trusted her gut instinct and made so many precious friends along the way. No matter if it was Tandri, the succubus she hired as a barista, or Thimble her rattkin baker, that created the most delicious pastries, Viv seemed to have a sixth sense for who to hire and to trust with her dream. It was so satisfying, wholesome and oddly soothing to read about every food that was added to the menu and boy, did this book make me hungry! Thimble sounded like a genius in the kitchen and I found myself wanting to taste his pastries. They sounded way too good! *lol* "Come on around here. I'll show you," said Viv. She was smiling, and for the first time, the building, the city, this place ... felt like hers. A place she'd still be tomorrow, the week after, next season, next year ... Home." But not everything is perfect and there are clouds on the horizon. An old battlefield acquaintance is jealous of Viv’s success and a local gang has set their eyes on Viv’s shop and profit. Our quick-witted orc barbarian would never allow them to destroy what she built, though and with the help of her friends and a huge dire-cat named Amity she’s ready to defend what’s hers. I won’t go into more detail here because you’ve to experience this book yourself but I just wanted to say that I loved how so many of the shops customers became Viv’s closest friends. They all contributed something to make the place a safe haven and it was so beautiful to see how every single one of them fell in love with the idea of Viv’s shop. Also and this is so rare for a standalone novel, all the characters were unique and fleshed-out! No matter if it was Hemington, a standoffish student who made the wards for Viv’s shop, Pendry the shy musician, Durias the chess playing gnome or Laney, Viv’s old neighbour that couldn’t bake to safe her own life, they were all one-of-a-kind and gave so much warmth to the storyline. The kindness of the characters made my heart feel so full and I think that already says so much about this book. <3 That’s not what I mean,” said Tandri, with surprising heat. “Sure, it might be fine this time, for this one thing … but once it’s an option, once she can pick that back up …” She pointed at the sword on the wall. “She loses what she won by building this place without it.” I can’t talk about the characters kindness without mentioning Tandri as well, because I loved her so much for being at Viv’s side from the beginning. They started out as strangers, then became friends and tentatively turned into more than that later on in the book. Such a satisfying slow burn romance that made me very happy for both of them. They both deserve happiness and a quiet peaceful life and the way they understood each other without saying anything was chef’s kiss. Give me more sweet and gentle romances like this one, please!!! ”You’d find few who know it, these days, but ‘the ring of fortune’ is an old sea-fey phrase. It means … a destined cadre, I suppose. Individuals brought together, like to like. Which can be fortunate, of course. Sometimes, nothing’s more fortunate than that!” Conclusion: “Legends & Lattes” is one of the most wholesome and tranquil books I’ve ever read. It floats by so steadily and it’s the perfect story it if you want to read something quiet, relaxing and rather uneventful. The found family trope in this book is perfection and the descriptions of Thimble’s delicious pastries made me hungry more than once. If you’re looking for something slow-paced and nice that will put a soft smile on your face: This is the book! ___________________________________ Short info: Yes, the hype around this book is real! <3 This was so, so wholesome and sweet and the found family trope really gets a chance to shine in here! There doesn’t happen a lot, though and the book is very slow paced. I guess it depends on your reading tastes, but for me this was perfect! Full RTC soon! I’ll write down a couple more thoughts because this was nice!! ____________________________________ It’s time for a comfort read and every book reviewer, book blogger, bookstagrammer and BookTuber I know said that “Legends & Lattes” is one of the best comfort books ever. So here we are and since I’m in dire need of a comforting and wholesome story it seems like the right time to pick this up. =) Plus it’s queer too so this sounds perfect! Let’s find out if this is as amazing as everyone claims it to be. ;-) Find me on: My Blog Instagram ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Jul 30, 2024
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Aug 18, 2024
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Jul 30, 2024
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Paperback
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| 1529380944
| 9781529380941
| 1529380944
| 4.06
| 512,950
| Sep 28, 2021
| Jun 30, 2022
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really liked it
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I’m on BookTube now! =) "I believe there are far more possibilities than happily ever after or tragedy. Every story has the potential for infinite endi I’m on BookTube now! =) "I believe there are far more possibilities than happily ever after or tragedy. Every story has the potential for infinite endings." Since I already started to read the second book of this series I decided it was about time to write my review for the first one! I mean, I rarely continue series in the same year I started to read them, so I think this says a lot about how much I enjoyed “Once Upon a Broken Heart”! I really liked “Caraval” and the way the first trilogy developed, but after reading the beginning of Jack’s trilogy I have to admit, that I love this story even more. I think there are three very good reasons why I find myself enjoying this even more than the “Caraval” trilogy and I’ll try to put them into words. 1.) The trilogy is only about Jacks and Evangeline (and Apollo?!) and that’s good the way it is, because in “Caraval” the first book was about Scarlett and then we suddenly had Tella as the MC in the second and third book. So the consistency of the MCs is one of the things that makes it easier to dive into this tale. 2.) Evangeline is not as adventurous and naïve as Tella and Scarlett. She might be as young as Tella, but she learns from her mistakes, which already makes her a more mature MC than the other two girls. To be honest they were kinda prone to put their foot in it, especially Tella. *lol* I’ll explain what I mean in more detail in the character section later on. ;-) 3.) Plus the world building and plot are interesting and so far it’s been quite unpredictable, which I love. Some people might say the plot is all over the place but I don’t think it is. There’s a reason to every single moment the reader experiences with the MCs and Stephanie Garber knows exactly what she’s doing. She’s keeping her readers on their toes and I love that. Also unofficial reason number 4: Jacks! He qualifies for being a reason; because he’s one of the most intriguing, morally grey, manipulative, always thinking ten steps ahead characters ever and you all know how much I adore characters like that. *lol* I think I could write down at least 5 more reasons but I’ll leave it at that because otherwise this overview will get too long. Suffice it to say, I was highly entertained and that I’m pretty certain I’ll love the rest of this series too! I can’t wait to dive into the other two books, but before I do, you get a detailed and spoilery review about the characters and my thoughts! That is, if you want to, and continue to read. ;-) The characters: Welcome to the Magnificent North where fairy tales come true! Be careful of the fairy tale you’re wishing for, though, because as we all know some of them are cruel and don’t end well. ;-) This kingdom is full of spoilers as well, so you better don’t dwell if you have no desire to find out the truth. It’s up to you, choose your path wisely. Evangeline Fox: ”She just wanted one more hug from her father. One more moment of her mother smoothing her hair. The pain she felt at missing Luc wasn’t even a scratch in comparison to the absence of her mother and father. She still wanted Luc, but what she really wanted was the life and all the love that she’d lost.” What to say about Eva?! Well, she might seem to be young, naïve and clueless at first because she makes a deal with Jacks to stop the wedding of her sister and her ex-boyfriend, but unlike Tella she learns from her mistakes. Evangeline has a good heart and always wants to see the best in people, but the farther we get into the plot the more she questions everything. I think with her it’s less being naïve and more just not believing that the people she’s spent her entire life with would do her harm. And quite honestly this is relatable because we all want to trust the people we love and care about. Unfortunately, Eva can’t really trust the people she loves and what makes it even worse is that they have the potential to hurt her the most. So I feel for Evangeline and every choice she made that forced her to acknowledge that bitter truth. The Eva at the end of this book is not the same Eva we got to see at the beginning and this is what I call character growth. Is she still trying to believe in the good of people? Yes, because real character growth takes time and doesn’t happen from one second to the next, but she’s definitely more on guard, and starts to develop a healthy dose of distrust towards other people. Especially towards Jacks which can only be good for her. *lol* Also she has her principles and beliefs. Moreover she has compassion for the people around her, no matter how vile they treat her. I think Eva is the best-developed and well-rounded female MC Stephanie Garber wrote so far and I definitely want to see more of her and her character arc. ”Keeping Apollo under this curse felt a lot like letting Marisol and Luc remain stone statues; it would be less painful for Evangeline, but she couldn’t do it. She couldn’t doom Apollo to living life under a spell.” ”Doesn’t matter.” Tiberius gave her a bleak look. “Magic things always want to do that which they were created to do.” “But I’m not a magic thing; I’m just a girl with pink hair!” “I wish that were true.” His voice was torn. ”She cried once more for Apollo, she cried with relief that she was still alive, and she cried for Tiberius. Not for the part of him that had tried to kill her but for the part of him that had killed his brother by mistake.” ”She wanted to hope that Jacks wouldn’t have gone this far. But he was the Prince of Hearts. According to the stories, he’d left a trail of corpses as he’d searched for his one true love. He would definitely go this far if it gave him what he wanted. And he wanted to make that prophecy come true.” Jacks: ”He sat on the dais steps, lazily leaning against one of the pillars with his long, lean legs stretched out before him. His hair was golden and messy, his too-bright blue eyes were blood-shot, and his mouth twitched at the corner as if he didn’t enjoy much, but he found pleasure in the brief bit of pain he’d just inflicted upon her. He looked bored and rich and cruel.” Jacks! Oh my! I already loved him so much in “Caraval” but boy, was he amazing in here. I just love my male MCs cruel and cunning, but also gentle and caring and boy did Jacks deliver in this book. He’s honestly such an intriguing character and I loved every single moment he appeared on page. I think what makes him so damn appealing is the fact that he might be manipulative and adamant but he’s also vulnerable and hurt. That scene at the beginning of the story when we saw him in his church? I think that was the true Jacks behind his seemingly impeccable façade. Eva caught him at his most vulnerable and she did it by entering HIS church that was actually locked up! Which if you ask me, was the reason he realized that she’s the key who can open the Valory Arch. Jacks is one who plays the long game like no other so I’m sure many things will make sense later on in the series and I can’t wait for them to unravel. XD The last thing I’ll say about Jacks here is that he’s always honest with Evangeline, well that is if she asks the right questions which she rarely does. *lol* But to me it’s obvious that he cares about her and that he wants to protect her from himself. He told her more about himself than he ever told anyone before and every piece of information about him comes in disguise. With him, you really have to read between the lines but it’s so worth it. <3 I love this man and I want more. Period. "I don't think you and I have the same definition of hurt." "Be thankful for that, Little Fox." Jacks gave her a smile that was all sharp edges. A drop of blood fell from the corner of his mouth, and something godforsaken washed over his expression. "Hurt is what made me." ”Everyone lies – people think I’m more likely to help if they’re after something noble like true love.” A hint of derision crept into his voice, chipping away a little more at the Prince of Hearts she’d imagined. “But even if you do really love this boy, you’re better off without him. If he loves you back, he wouldn’t be marrying someone else. End of story.” ”It wasn’t that long ago that I saw you in my church, willing to promise me almost anything to make the pain stop. Was that a lie? Or have you already forgotten the way heartbreak rips apart the soul piece by piece, how it turns you into a masochist, making you long for the thing that just eviscerated you until there’s nothing left of you to be destroyed?” His cold fingers dug into her cheek. ”Jacks shoved her out of the way before she could move. Lighting fast, he darted in front of her like a shield. Luc didn’t have time to switch course, and his teeth clamped onto Jacks’s neck with a sickening tear. Prince Apollo: ”You don’t have to give me so many gifts,” she said. “I’d give you the world if I could. The moon, the stars, and all the suns in the universe. Anything for you, my heart.” Now Prince Apollo is quite the enigma if you ask me. We almost know nothing about him aside of the fact that he’s the Prince of the Magnificent North and that he has a brother who obviously loves him. Judging by the way he reacted to Evangeline when he first saw her, he didn’t really seem to be a huge fan of her, though. To me it felt like he’s one hell of an entitled pain in the ass that thrives when he’s able to put on a show. At least that’s what I gathered from what other people said about him. He sounds like one of those men who know they are rich and handsome and use this knowledge to their full advantage. So in short pretty much like a narcissistic jerk who doesn’t treat others very well. I can only assume those things, though, because due to Evangeline kissing him and putting him under a love spell right after, we never had a chance to glimpse his true personality. I personally think that Eva won’t like it once the spell and curse are lifted. It’s just a hunch. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ I genuinely hope I’m wrong, but I’m afraid I might be right. I suppose sooner or later I’ll find out. His eyes were red, his mouth twisted, and his jaw clenched so tightly she thought it might crack. “What have you done, Evangeline?” His harsh words weren’t quite a yell, but they were certainly loud enough that the guards on the other side of the door probably heard. “Why do I feel as if you’ve stabbed me in the heart?” He grimaced in pain as his eyes closed. The relationships & ships: Evangeline & Jacks: "There are much better ways to die than this, Little Fox." "Your attempts at comfort are tr-tragic," Evangeline stuttered. "You're still alive," he grumbled. His fingers found her eyelids then, and with feather-soft touches, he brushed away the melting ice. Wow, just wow. Those two will most definitely be the death of me if they continue to be like they were in the first book. Enemies-to-lovers doesn’t cover it, because they are so much more than that. It’s kinda hard to give them classical Greek drama roles but if I had to put them in categories I’d say Eva is the protagonist of the story and Jacks is the deuteragonist. Because he is her foil and he certainly aids her as much as he opposes her plans whenever it’s necessary. And if that isn’t the definition of a deuteragonist, then I dunno. *lol* Of course his own interests get in the way as well which makes for extremely entertaining scenes between those two. Jacks is not the villain of the story but the question is, who is?! I haven’t found an answer to that yet but I will. ;-) Anyway! I loved the intense chemistry between those two and even though neither Eva nor Jacks would ever admit it, they definitely caught feelings for each other. Which is kinda bad because technically Jacks pushed Eva into Apollo’s arms and I’m sure sooner or later he’ll regret that. Also I find it interesting that there were already two kisses in the first book (if I remember it correctly, it’s been a while I finished this book *lol*) and I can’t help but wonder who’ll get the last kiss from Evangeline. I’m going to be bold now and make the assumption that the last kiss will go to Jacks because he tries to avoid it at all costs and it would be kind of poetic if the last kiss Evangeline has to give would be to him. Well, I guess I’ll find out if I’m correct when I read the last book. For now, all I have to say is that they are truly cursed because I honestly can’t see the thing with Apollo ending well. >_< Still, Jacks is so soft with Eva, I want more of this side of him. <333 ”He held on to her as if she were a grudge, his body rigid and tense, as if he really didn’t want her there, and yet his arms were tight around her waist as though he had no intention of ever letting her go.” She shouldn’t have stared – staring at Jacks was never a good idea. But it was impossible to pull her gaze away. His skin was flushed with color, and his eyes were brighter as well, a radiant sapphire blue. He looked part angel, part fallen star, and completely devastating. “Evangeline – stop looking at me like that. You’re making this much more difficult.” Jacks spoke between clenched teeth, but she still caught a glimpse of his sharpened incisors, which now looked startlingly like fangs. ”You’re the one who said I needed a distraction.” His fingers drifted lower, trailing down her chest to the sensitive stretch of skin right above the lacy line of her corset. “Isn’t this better than talking?” One finger dipped all the way into the corset. Her breathing hitched. “I don’t think this is a good idea.” “That’s what makes it interesting.” I was only trying to warn you, Jacks silently replied. And then, as if he weren’t a monster as well, Jacks slid an arm underneath her cape and wrapped it around Evangeline’s waist, holding her possessively tight as he drawled, “Stop flashing your fangs. I’m the only one who gets to bite her.” ”She didn’t want Jacks. She just wanted someone to want her the way Jacks had wanted this girl. And she didn’t want it to be because of a spell or a curse. Evangeline wanted a real love powerful enough to break a spell, which was exactly what Jacks wanted, too. He leaned his head against the dark iron gate, and Evangeline would forever remember the way he looked just then. He was still indescribably breathtaking, but it was all the tragic beauty of a sky where every single star was falling. His hair was a storm of broken gold. His eyes were a mess of silver and blue. Evangeline & Prince Apollo: "His lips greedily slanted over hers as his other hand slid into her hair, destroying the curls Jacks had already mussed as Apollo plundered her mouth. He tasted like lust, and night, and something lost that should have stayed that way." This is literally a love match made in hell. >_< When Jacks told Eva to kiss Apollo, I knew that this wouldn’t end well and judging by the ending of this book the signs I’m right are all there. In addition, I still feel kinda conflicted about Apollo. He didn’t strike me as the kind of guy who’d be very forgiving once the spell was lifted. I mean I respect Eva’s wish to free him of the love spell, but I’m honestly scared what will happen to her afterwards. Apollo’s obsession with her was very unhealthy and didn’t they say that strong spells like this one always have repercussions to the person who used them? This is so going to bite Jacks and Eva into their butts. For now she should be safe though, I guess?! I dunno, I’m not happy about this. >_< ”All she could see was the longing and the hope and the hint of fear swirling in Apollo’s expression, as if she might say no. But how could she? For the first time in months, her heart felt full to bursting.” Evangeline & Marisol: ”She might have lost her parents, but she’d had their memories to hold on to, their stories and their words of encouragement. But all Marisol had was her mother, who had torn her down instead of building her up.” I think Eva has way more trust in their relationship than I ever would have. I understand that she didn’t want to believe Marisol could be so vile and hurt her like that but all the signs were there and Jacks gave her plenty of hints as well. Eva’s stepsister is an evil one and I knew she would judge her for trying to stop the wedding with the help of Jacks. Marisol is so holier-than-thou and ugh, I hate her for it. Those two will never be friends because Marisol is too evil for it. *lol* I can’t help but wonder how her character arc is going to proceed from here on out, though. I doubt that she’ll be able to redeem herself in the next book. She’s not the mastermind and villain in the story, though so the question still stands: Who’s the true villain of this story?! Maybe the second book will help with that? I need more hints to find the true antagonist. XD ”Marisol was not the rumors and the lies that had been printed about her. And if she and Marisol showed up tonight together, smiling and happy and untouched by fear, people would be able to see the truth and stop believing all the lies.” ”I’ve made some poor choices as well.” Evangeline squeezed her stepsister a final time before letting her go. Now it was her turn to be nervous. But Marisol deserved to know the truth. It wasn’t fair to let her carry all the guilt or believe that Evangeline was entirely innocent. Evangeline didn’t know if they would ever be true sisters, but they would never mend all their wounds if some were still infected with lies.” Conclusion: “Once Upon a Broken Heart” was an amazing start into a new series and I already liked this one more than the entire “Caraval” trilogy before it. And I really enjoyed “Caraval” so this speaks volumes! Jacks is one hell of a multi-layered and morally grey MC and Evangeline is a heroine with strengths and weaknesses in equal measure. The world building of the Magnificent North was marvellous and I totally loved the fairy tale vibes this story gave off. Of course, Stephanie Garber’s writing style is as beautiful and engaging as ever and I can’t wait to continue with this series. In fact, the second book is already waiting for me so please excuse me while I get back to it. ;-P I’m determined to find the true antagonist of this story. XD Find me on: My Blog Instagram ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Jul 24, 2024
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Aug 17, 2024
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Jul 24, 2024
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Paperback
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| B0CCZM8Y4C
| 3.83
| 12
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| Aug 31, 2023
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liked it
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I’m on BookTube now! =) "His soft hand is wrapped around my neck, pulling me closer. The tears slowly come to a crawl as he breathes life between my li I’m on BookTube now! =) "His soft hand is wrapped around my neck, pulling me closer. The tears slowly come to a crawl as he breathes life between my lips. The rain outside starts to pour down while the spinning world seems to come to a perfect still moment between us. Our galaxies are swirling together." It were quotes like this one, which made this book really interesting and good for me. I’m not gonna lie, though, at parts this story was extremely confusing and the timeline seemed to be all over the place. “Flesh and Bone – Awakening” had some good parts but also some that would have needed a little bit more work or feedback from the beta readers. So I think it’s best if we start with the good things first and then work our way through the not so good parts, okay?! First I’ve to say that I really loved Sam and Max as characters. They both gave me “All For the Game” vibes and if you know me, you know that I’m obsessed with this series. So I really appreciated those two boys and that they made their way even though they had a lot of baggage they carried with them. ”Well, I give up," I mutter through gritted teeth. Making eye contact, we both lean into the flame. The tobacco leaves light the night between us. His dimples radiate against the flame as that smirk transforms into a full-blown smile, all the while his hazel eyes never leave mine. We stay in that flame, gazing, gauging each other. Their chemistry was very palpable and even though they didn’t want to admit it at first, it became obvious that they were drawn to each other and weren’t able to escape each other’s pull. I really wish the author wouldn’t have left us in the dark about their mysterious connection because the way it reads, you know there is something between them but you never truly find out what exactly it is. I’m pretty certain a lot of people will say it’s insta-love, but I got the distinctive feeling that the author had reasons for writing them that way. Still, even after finishing the book, I didn’t grasp those reasons and that’s a shame because I really wanted to understand their relationship. "Caught off guard, I respond without thinking. "Absolutely, I ... I think I would go to war for you." His hand grabs mine firmly; a deep blush crossing his face. My grip tightens but he responds in kind. As stories go, this is a slow-paced one and there doesn’t really happen a lot. I’m honestly still trying to figure out in which kind of direction the author wanted to go with this because on the one hand we have the budding relationship of Sam and Max, then we have Max’s mysterious powers which he’s trying to hide and we also have Sam playing Lacrosse with his team. Well, and in between there are some sort of random fighting scenes and mysterious moments when I didn’t know what exactly was going on. *lol* I think you can already tell why this book was so confusing for me. XD "I might not know you very well Sam, but I recognize strength when I see it. You're the only one who doesn't want to recognize it. I thought at first it was a fear of being hurt, but now I think it's fear of being able to hurt others." From the blurb you can tell that mythology and gods seem to be involved in the story as well, but that aspect was highly confusing for me. We get a lot of dream sequences or parallel world sequences even (if I understood that correctly), in which Max is struggling with his fate, but we never truly find out what that fate is or entails. You might say Max is a very unreliable narrator and I think you’d be right with that assumption. Also I didn’t quite grasp which mythology the author wanted to go for. There were a couple of Greek Gods that were mentioned (Zeus, Hera, Olympus, etc.) but then we also had Max’s uncle named Horus?! And Horus is a god from ancient Egypt so this confused me immensely. Unless this was supposed to be a mash up of many different mythologies?! I think in this particular case, it would have been better not to keep the reader in the dark and to go for some tangible facts instead. That way a lot of the reader’s confusion could have been prevented. ”Just … wait, Sam. I didn’t want this, I didn’t want to have someone feel that my life depended on them, I’ve never depended on anyone before, and I don’t want to start now. I didn’t want anyone mixed up with any of this! I don’t even feel like I should be here! I feel like I’m on borrowed time, but whose time, right? Whose lives are sent to replace my own? I mean, do you really want to become involved in this? In me?” I’m still trying to figure out what Max meant with all of this and so far there’s nothing but a huge question mark hoovering over my head. XD Anyway! Ignoring all of those issues, I could still see that the author has a lot of potential. There’s this raw and intense energy to his writing that sometimes grips you and you can’t help but think: “Damn, this is written so beautifully.” The relationship between Max and Sam, once it gets out of the “I hate you but I still kinda like you” stage is written so tender that you’re happy about every single moment they spend together and I think this was the part where the author’s writing style excelled the most. In addition, the ending was quite suspenseful and many things started to make sense. All told, I ended up liking SammaX’s story, no matter how confusing it was and I’ll watch out for book two because I hope to get some answers! Because as I already said, this story had a lot of potential and I’m curious if it will be used in the next book. =) ________________________________ This was a very interesting book but also extremely confusing at some points. I’m not gonna lie, half of the story I had no idea what was even going on (Max is an unreliable narrator) and the timeline confused me big time. XD Still, there’s a lot of potential and the last couple of chapters were pretty suspenseful. This said: Full RTC soon! I need to think about this some more in order to put all my thoughts into words. Stay tuned. ;-) ________________________________ I heard about this book on IG and wanted to read “Flesh and Bone - Awakening” ever since I saw the fanart some artists made about the main ship Sammax. So here we are! Considering there is even fanart on IG I’m surprised this doesn’t have more reviews on goodreads!? I mean the book is about sports and two boys that fall in love and apparently it also has some mythology angle?! Sounds good to me. =) I don’t know about you, but I’m sold. xD Find me on: My Blog Instagram ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Jul 12, 2024
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Aug 04, 2024
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Jul 12, 2024
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Kindle Edition
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Virginia Ronan
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not set
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Mar 31, 2025
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it was amazing
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Mar 10, 2025
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not set
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Mar 04, 2025
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it was amazing
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Feb 08, 2025
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not set
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| 4.44
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not set
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Dec 17, 2024
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| 4.47
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it was amazing
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Dec 23, 2024
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Dec 09, 2024
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Dec 02, 2024
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it was amazing
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Jan 20, 2025
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Nov 18, 2024
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| Oh, Axie
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| 4.10
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really liked it
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Dec 08, 2024
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really liked it
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Sep 29, 2024
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liked it
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Sep 28, 2024
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Aug 14, 2024
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it was amazing
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Aug 18, 2024
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Jul 30, 2024
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| 4.06
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really liked it
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Aug 17, 2024
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Jul 24, 2024
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| 3.83
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liked it
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Aug 04, 2024
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Jul 12, 2024
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