{DNF Review} These Violent Delights by Chloe Gong

Page Count:  449

Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books

Published on: November 17, 2020

Genres: YA fantasy, romance, retellings

Amazon // Indie Bound // Barnes & Noble // Better World Books

April 22-26

Rating: DNF 

TW/CW: blood depiction, gore, violence, death, murder, loss of a loved one, disease/contagious contagions, discussions surrounding communism, transphobia, drug use and addiction, suicide, colonization, & racism (and microaggressions) 

(EDIT:) TW/CW cont'd: discussion/mention of human trafficking and kidnapping, loss of a pet, and there are creepy insects!
(Thank you Melanie [meltotheany] for the complete list!)

~ ~ ~

Goodreads synopsis: 

The year is 1926, and Shanghai hums to the tune of debauchery.

A blood feud between two gangs runs the streets red, leaving the city helpless in the grip of chaos. At the heart of it all is eighteen-year-old Juliette Cai, a former flapper who has returned to assume her role as the proud heir of the Scarlet Gang—a network of criminals far above the law. Their only rivals in power are the White Flowers, who have fought the Scarlets for generations. And behind every move is their heir, Roma Montagov, Juliette’s first love…and first betrayal.

But when gangsters on both sides show signs of instability culminating in clawing their own throats out, the people start to whisper. Of a contagion, a madness. Of a monster in the shadows. As the deaths stack up, Juliette and Roma must set their guns—and grudges—aside and work together, for if they can’t stop this mayhem, then there will be no city left for either to rule.

Perfect for fans of The Last Magician and Descendant of the Crane, this heart-stopping debut is an imaginative Romeo and Juliet retelling set in 1920s Shanghai, with rival gangs and a monster in the depths of the Huangpu River.

~ ~ ~

Hey, all!

I, unfortunately, DNF'd this novel at 33% (about 150 pages in).

I'm so sad that I didn't enjoy this book. It was getting to the point where my brain wanted to read, but I couldn't stay focused on the book because of my lack of connection to the story. I really wanted to like this book. I love Chloe Gong's presence online and I think she's a delight, but her writing style just wasn't for me.

I'm the kind of reader that adores character-driven novels. I love the emotions and depth that different characters from different upbringings and backgrounds can bring to a story. However, this book just didn't do it for me.

I liked the ideas of the characters. I just didn't like the execution of their personalities.

- It just felt like Juliette was constantly painted as this badass character, but it was just telling. The showing aspect just didn't happen. It just felt forced and lackluster. She kept doing things that were pretty badass, but then she'd turn around and do something really dumb and oblivious that a trained person wouldn't have done.

-Roma was just boring to me. Maybe it was just because I hadn't gotten to the meat of his character, but I really just didn't care about him at all.

I really liked the atmosphere of this story. The overall themes were shaping up to be done quite well, but it's really the characters that keep me reading their story. I just didn't care about what was happening to them. I really wanted to though.

This book also is #ownvoices for the Chinese representation. It also has a wonderful side character that is a trans girl and there is a budding m/m relationship between men who are Chinese and Korean.

Within the first 150 pages, I could tell that colonialization would play a massive part of the story. That's probably what kept me pushing forward. I loved those aspects of the story. However, I'm probably just going to watch or read a spoiler-y review to see what happens. In the book, Juliette felt like a foreigner in her own country. That speaks VOLUMES. The fact that her own people made her feel more Americanized and different just because she was sent away for an American education and to keep her safe from the violence in her country is just so heartbreaking.

The setting, the gangster vibes, and the themes in this book were everything, but I couldn't connect with the slow pacing and the characters.

I know that so many readers have absolutely adored this book. Please give it a try if it's been peaking your interest. My brain has been in a weird place lately and my mental health has honestly caused me to dislike books that I /thought/ I would adore. Chloe Gong brings so much to the book community and so many other readers adore this book. Please definitely give it a chance!

Let's discuss in the comments! 

Happy reading!

Olivia 

~ Liv the Book Nerd ~

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{Review} The Year of the Witching by Alexis Henderson

Page Count: 368

Publisher: Ace

Release Date:  July 21, 2020

Genre(s): Horror, Fantasy, Paranormal

Amazon // Indie Bound // Barnes & Noble // 

Better World Books

April 15 - April 21

Rating: 4 stars

Goodreads synopsis:

A young woman living in a rigid, puritanical society discovers dark powers within herself in this stunning, feminist fantasy debut.

In the lands of Bethel, where the Prophet’s word is law, Immanuelle Moore’s very existence is blasphemy. Her mother’s union with an outsider of a different race cast her once-proud family into disgrace, so Immanuelle does her best to worship the Father, follow Holy Protocol, and lead a life of submission, devotion, and absolute conformity, like all the other women in the settlement.

But a mishap lures her into the forbidden Darkwood surrounding Bethel, where the first prophet once chased and killed four powerful witches. Their spirits are still lurking there, and they bestow a gift on Immanuelle: the journal of her dead mother, who Immanuelle is shocked to learn once sought sanctuary in the wood.

Fascinated by the secrets in the diary, Immanuelle finds herself struggling to understand how her mother could have consorted with the witches. But when she begins to learn grim truths about the Church and its history, she realizes the true threat to Bethel is its own darkness. And she starts to understand that if Bethel is to change, it must begin with her.

~ ~ ~

TW/CW: rape, assault, sexual assault of a minor, racism, self-harm (used for magic and spiritual rituals), blood, gore, described violence, bigotry, racism, & classicism

If you guys know me, and my reading choices -- you've probably picked up that I hardly read horror, mystery, or thrillers. It's a rare occurrence and when I do read them, I like them to be primarily fantasy-based. That's my cup of tea. 

When I first saw this book promoted by some of my favorite bookish creators, I had to check it out for myself. 

The Year of the Witching by Alexis Henderson (Audiobook Excerpt)

Riley Marie's Reading Vlog

Neek's Review & Discussion

The Year of the Witching follows Immanuelle Moore in the lands of Bethel. A Puritan-like society where the people of Bethel worship a version of the Christian doctrine and god, follow a prophesying man called The Prophet -- all in the hopes of living according to the Holy Protocol and living in favor of their holy father. Immanuelle is born from a "blasphemous" relationship between her mother and an outsider of a different race. When her father is burned on the pyre, her mother seeks revenge through the dark arts and with the aid of the witches of the Darkforest. 

The Year of the Witching is a haunting, atmospheric story full of intense themes that can inspire so many influential conversations and discussions about misogyny, bigotry, love, religion, racism, spirituality, revenge and hatred, and what it means to be a woman in a misogynistic society. This book was so intense at moments. There were many moments that could be called predictable, but I'm honestly not mad about that. This book was set up and plotted incredibly well. The writing was impeccable and I didn't want to put this book down. I was completely hooked within the first moments of listening and reading. 

I've always loved stories that play with religion and the dynamics that come from warped and cult-like followings. You can usually find me researching cults and watching mini-documentaries from survivors that escaped from cults. If you're also one who is interested in those topics, I think you'd really like this book. 

I also really loved the witch elements and the magic that came from those aspects of the story. It really added another layer of creativity and intensity to the story

I fully expected gorier horror elements, but was so delighted to find this book to be more fantastical. Don't get me wrong, it was definitely gory and horrifying at times, but it had much more magic than I anticipated. The darkness that progressively came to the forefront of the story is always present in the novel. It was so enthralling and -- ahh! -- the writing was just so fantastic. I cannot gush about it nearly enough.  

This book was so excellent. I think that it was more of a fantasy novel than a horror novel, but that didn't stop me from completely devouring the story. I think this will be a new favorite for so many readers and I can't wait for this book and the author to gain more traction in the reading community. I can't wait to push this book into the hands of my friends. 

If you enjoyed:

• Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo (for the horror & darker elements)
• Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik (for the atmospheric vibes and magical elements)
• The Shades of Magic trilogy by VE Schwab (for the addicting, magical, and dark elements)
• The City of Brass by SA Chakraborty (for the magic & atmosphere!)
• Serpent & Dove by Shelby Mahurin (for the religious aspects & witchy bits)
• The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood (for the feminism! and dark aspects)

(These are just my connections for the way I read the book and how I interpreted it. These recommendations do not encompass all connecting recommendations. I’m not as well versed in the horror genre or the sub-genres. I can count on my fingers how many horror novels I’ve read. I’m sure there are more recommendations out there too!)

If you enjoy ___ you will enjoy The Year of the Witching!

• Hella dark stories with intense themes and discussions
• Narratives about trauma
• Cults
• Stories based on radicalized religions & the discussions that can come from those settings
• Feminism!
• Witches — the spooky, dark kind
• The Salem Witch Trials

(Again, this doesn’t even fully begin to cover all the elements I loved or that you could possibly love.)

Let's discuss in the comments! If you decide to pick this story up, please let me know what you think of it in the comments as well!

Happy reading!

Olivia
~ Liv the Book Nerd ~

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{Review} The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune

 

Page Count: 394

Publisher: Tor Books

Release Date: March 17, 2020

Genre(s): Fantasy, Romance, LGBTQIA+

Amazon // Indie Bound // Barnes & Noble // 

Better World Books

April 10 - April 13

Rating: 5 stars

Goodreads synopsis:

A magical island. A dangerous task. A burning secret.

Linus Baker leads a quiet, solitary life. At forty, he lives in a tiny house with a devious cat and his old records. As a Case Worker at the Department in Charge Of Magical Youth, he spends his days overseeing the well-being of children in government-sanctioned orphanages.

When Linus is unexpectedly summoned by Extremely Upper Management he's given a curious and highly classified assignment: travel to Marsyas Island Orphanage, where six dangerous children reside: a gnome, a sprite, a wyvern, an unidentifiable green blob, a were-Pomeranian, and the Antichrist. Linus must set aside his fears and determine whether or not they’re likely to bring about the end of days.

But the children aren’t the only secret the island keeps. Their caretaker is the charming and enigmatic Arthur Parnassus, who will do anything to keep his wards safe. As Arthur and Linus grow closer, long-held secrets are exposed, and Linus must make a choice: destroy a home or watch the world burn.

An enchanting story, masterfully told, The House in the Cerulean Sea is about the profound experience of discovering an unlikely family in an unexpected place—and realizing that family is yours.

~ ~ ~

This book. 

Guys!

This book!!!!

If you've been amongst the book community since this book was released, you probably have either seen it or have witnessed the hype that has accumulated around the story. I'm here to tell you -- it's so worth the hype. 

This book was everything I could have hoped for. Maybe more? 

Yeah. It was even better than I could have imagined. 

When first reading the synopsis of this novel, my interest wasn't all that peaked. When I started listening to it through the Libby app (thank you library!), I was instantly hooked. This story was just so compelling to me from the get-go. 

The House of the Cerulean Sea follows Linus -- a forty-year-old caseworker that works for the Department in Charge of Magical Youth where he oversees the children that are housed in government-run orphanages and homes. One day, Linus is plucked from his ordinary life by Extremely Upper Management and sent to the Marsyas Island Orphanage. He doesn't know what his assignment is -- he isn't even allowed to read about the location until he arrived. He meets six children of extraordinary abilities and their caretaker, Arthur. Arthur isn't like other caretakers. To the children, he is their ultimate protector and Arthur will do anything to keep his kiddos safe. 

This book was whimsical, magical, charming, inspiring, and like a breath of fresh air. This book is technically adult, but I just want to push it off into my younger siblings hands, my mom's, all of my family members -- heck, I bought three copies to gift my friends and then pushed my copy into my fiance's hands to read after his finals are concluded. This is one of those books that I was everyone to read. 

This book was the warmest hug that my soul needed during these crazy times we live in. This book is probably one of my newest comfort reads. You bet your patooty that I'll be picking it up at least one more time this year. I can't stop thinking about it. This is the sort of book that needs to be adapted and promoted toward other modes of media. This book is incredibly hopeful, relevant, and uplifting and I hope it is received by more open-hearted readers. I hope it inspires change and love in the hearts of whoever reads it. 

I went into this book knowing it had queer representation, wonderful characters, heartwarming and loving vibes, and that it was incredibly beloved by all who've read it. Because of that, I don't want to reveal more about the book other than what's included in the synopsis. Trust me as I continue to just gush and gush about this book. Please read it. I don't think you will be disappointed at all.

Happy reading!

Olivia

~ Liv the Book Nerd ~

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{Review} A Deadly Education (The Scholomance #1) by Naomi Novik

Page Count: 336

Publisher: Del Rey Books

Release Date: September 29, 2020

Genres: YA fantasy

Format: audio

Rating: 3.75 stars

Goodreads synopsis

Lesson One of the Scholomance: Learning has never been this deadly.

A Deadly Education is set at Scholomance, a school for the magically gifted where failure means certain death (for real) — until one girl, El, begins to unlock its many secrets.

There are no teachers, no holidays, and no friendships, save strategic ones. Survival is more important than any letter grade, for the school won’t allow its students to leave until they graduate… or die! The rules are deceptively simple: Don’t walk the halls alone. And beware of the monsters who lurk everywhere.

El is uniquely prepared for the school’s dangers. She may be without allies, but she possesses a dark power strong enough to level mountains and wipe out millions. It would be easy enough for El to defeat the monsters that prowl the school. The problem? Her powerful dark magic might also kill all the other students.

~ ~ ~

Before I proceed with my review, if you've missed the discussions surrounding this book, please look into the reviews written by BIPOC readers when it comes to the accusations made against the author and this novel. I researched and searched for my own answers when deciding on reading this novel. My review will not discuss the accusations made or the discussions established as it isn't my place to say whether this novel is harmful to marginalized groups. The issues surrounding this book seem subjective when it comes to worldbuilding and some issues seem to be taken out of context. Please read reviews and decide whether you would like to read this book for yourself. 

A Deadly Education takes place in a magical school called The Scholomance. The Scholomance is a bananas hellscape where kids are magically sent for what is essentially a four-year independent study where monsters are constantly at their throats, the school is scheming to test and/or kill the kids as they learn. Throughout their stay, the kids are stuck in the school where they struggle to shower, study, and eat without monsters creeping out to kill them and eat them for their magical essences. 

Throughout the book, the reader is taken through the school from the perspective of Galadriel during her junior year. El's powers are so intriguing. The book is written as a sort of unreliable first-person stream of consciousness. Not only did it improve the overall ambiance of the novel, the lack of information that El provided just added to the mystery surrounding the prophecy surrounding her existence, the chaotic, magical void that is the school, and the overall culture within the school.

At first, it was a lot to take in, but wow was it fun. El is such an interesting narrator because she's already been in the school for just about three years. She knows the ins and outs, the secrets, and the culture of the students is already her whole life. Looking in from the perspective that she gives us -- it's hard to get behind her biases, her nepotism, her narcissism, and her trust issues. El, as an unreliable narrator doesn't really give the readers much leeway and sometimes makes observations that are clouded by the trauma she's faced in her past. There's a really wonderful discussion that could be had surrounding her dysphoria and the perpetuated dysphoria one can experience in the school.

The school, as a whole, does perpetuate a sense of dysphoria. It encourages students to think for only themselves and to think of only surviving the hellscape it invents and allows to breed in its walls. This then leads the reader to not exactly enjoy El, but also not to enjoy any of the other characters as much as they usually would if the book hadn't been written as it was. 

Overall, the novel was really well written. I really enjoyed the many layers that were masterfully written throughout the story. However, there were some aspects that just seemed so info-dumpy when one would think about how short the book was, how El would just stop and explain for a page or so, etc. There are definite moments that I would understand to be upsetting to BIPOC readers, but that isn't my tale to tell. 

If you're interested in reading more reviews from a more informational lens please, check out the reviews of BIPOC readers. Here are some really wonderful ones:

• "The Intersectionality of Magical Academia: A Review of Naomi Novik’s A Deadly Education" ~ A Naga of the Nusantara 
• Mary S. R. on Goodreads 

Have you read this one? What did you think?

Happy reading!

Olivia

~ Liv the Book Nerd ~

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{Review} Take A Hint, Dani Brown (The Brown Sisters #2) by Talia Hibbert

Page Count: 361

Published On: June 23, 2020

Published by: Avon

Genre(s): Adult contemporary romance

Steam: 4/5 (5 being super steam)

TW: the death of a parent and sibling, panic attacks 

My Rating: 5 stars

Goodreads synopsis:

Danika Brown knows what she wants: professional success, academic renown, and an occasional roll in the hay to relieve all that career-driven tension. But romance? Been there, done that, burned the T-shirt. Romantic partners, whatever their gender, are a distraction at best and a drain at worst. So Dani asks the universe for the perfect friend-with-benefits—someone who knows the score and knows their way around the bedroom.

When brooding security guard Zafir Ansari rescues Dani from a workplace fire drill gone wrong, it’s an obvious sign: PhD student Dani and ex-rugby player Zaf are destined to sleep together. But before she can explain that fact, a video of the heroic rescue goes viral. Now half the internet is shipping #DrRugbae—and Zaf is begging Dani to play along. Turns out, his sports charity for kids could really use the publicity. Lying to help children? Who on earth would refuse?

Dani’s plan is simple: fake a relationship in public, seduce Zaf behind the scenes. The trouble is, grumpy Zaf’s secretly a hopeless romantic—and he’s determined to corrupt Dani’s stone-cold realism. Before long, he’s tackling her fears into the dirt. But the former sports star has issues of his own, and the walls around his heart are as thick as his... um, thighs.

Suddenly, the easy lay Dani dreamed of is more complex than her thesis. Has her wish backfired? Is her focus being tested? Or is the universe just waiting for her to take a hint?

~ ~ ~

 Hey, guys!

I'm back with another gushing review. Once again, Talia Hibbert has blown me away with her characterization, representation, and overall writing style. 

Reading a Talia Hibbert novel is like breathing a breath of fresh air after a long stuffy day inside. I adore everything about this novel and I just adore Talia's writing style.

When I first read Get A Life, Chloe Brown in 2019, I fell in love with Talia's witty, smart writing style, her ability to include the perfect amout of steam and romantic/sexual tension, her flawless execution, and her delightful characters. It became an instant favorite of the year and it's one of the few books that I've already reread this year. 

This book has:

-fake dating

-a romance that stems from a viral video

-Zafir: a Muslim ex-rugby player with anxiety who uses his experience to teach mental health seminars for young rugby players 

- Dani: a fat, Black, bisexual witch with commitment issues

- a quirky, addicting writing style that you won't get sick of

From the first page, I knew that I would adore Dani Brown and her story. Not only was she instantly captivating and relatable, but there were also factors that went into her personality that I didn't expect -- but loved so much. Dani is such a blunt and fascinating character. Not only is she a practicing witch, in the midst of her journey toward a doctorate in a literature-based degree (and she has the best focus of study that she's immensely passionate about! I love it so much!), and she has the best confidence. 

While this concept is usually quite a cliche, Dani isn't like other characters. Hear me out. Dani is so freaking realistic. I saw so much of myself and so many facets of my friends in her. I related to her so much. She's so intensely passionate about her goals and aspirations, but she works hard for it. Additionally, she's Dani isn't like so many characters that I have read about. She's passionate, hard-working, and she guards her heart. There are so many romance novels where the character will just jump into the new relationship and they don't really worry about guarding their heart. 

Zafir was the perfect love interest. The representation of his anxiety disorder was done so well (in my opinion and based on my own experiences). I can't really go into it too much, but I cannot rave about Talia Hibbert's ability to discuss mental health gently and respectfully enough. 

This book is just so phenomenal. Read it!

Happy reading!

Olivia

~ Liv the Book Nerd ~

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{DNF Review} Simmer Down by Sarah Smith

 Page count:  320

Published on: October 13, 2020

Published by: Berkley

Genres: Adult contemporary romance

Rating: DNF

Goodreads synopsis:

In this finger-licking good rom-com, two is the perfect number of cooks in the kitchen.

Nikki DiMarco knew life wouldn’t be all sunshine and coconuts when she quit her dream job to help her mom serve up mouthwatering Filipino dishes to hungry beach goers, but she didn’t expect the Maui food truck scene to be so eat-or-be-eaten—or the competition to be so smoking hot.

But Tiva’s Filipina Kusina has faced bigger road bumps than the arrival of Callum James. Nikki doesn’t care how delectable the British food truck owner is—he rudely set up shop next to her coveted beach parking spot. He’s stealing her customers and fanning the flames of a public feud that makes her see sparks.

The solution? Let the upcoming Maui Food Festival decide their fate. Winner keeps the spot. Loser pounds sand. But the longer their rivalry simmers, the more Nikki starts to see a different side of Callum…a sweet, protective side. Is she brave enough to call a truce? Or will trusting Callum with her heart means jumping from the frying pan into the fire?

~~~~

Hey, guys!

A couple of months ago I was approved to read Sarah Smith's 2020 novel, Simmer Down; however, this reading experience didn't go as expected. Unfortunately, I didn't enjoy it as much as I anticipated. In fact, I DNF'd it. 

If you've been following me on Instagram and Goodreads, you've probably seen the massive amount of romance novels -- a romance binge if you will. However, Simmer Down just wasn't what I was looking for. I've heard so many wonderful things about the author's work, but I was really let down by this novel. When going into this novel, I was really excited to read about food trucks, Hawaii, Filipino foods, and the promise of a heavy familial influence was really promising. However, when hitting the half-way mark of this story, I began to lose interest. By the 60% mark, I was completely bored and any of my interest in the story had disappeared.

This was just not for me. 

By 60%, I had begun to feel like the romance was forced and the angst and predictable conflict that naturally develops in romances just felt boring and uninspired. Their relationship, unfortunately, didn't really develop as I had hoped. They got together far too quickly, it wasn't even shown on-page, and it just was really frustrating. The moments that you would want from a romance -- the scenes where they begin to actually fall for each other -- were glazed over and their happiness in their relationship was established far too quickly. The angst that could come from the slightly forbidden aspect of their relationship was just nonexistent. The scene that allowed the characters to come into continuous contact was just really unrealistic and the heroine's behavior drastically changed in order to let that scene pan out.

Overall, I didn't like this story. I DNF'd at 60% and I don't plan on picking it back up. I know that this romance will definitely be something that other readers will enjoy, but it wasn't the kind of romance that I enjoy.

Happy reading!
Olivia
~Liv the Book Nerd~
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{Review} Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes (The Hunger Games #0.5) by Suzanne Collins

Page count:  439

Published on: May 9, 2020

Published by: Scholastic Press

Genres: YA dystopia, science fiction

Rating: 4 stars

Goodreads synopsis:

It is the morning of the reaping that will kick off the tenth annual Hunger Games. In the Capital, eighteen-year-old Coriolanus Snow is preparing for his one shot at glory as a mentor in the Games. The once-mighty house of Snow has fallen on hard times, its fate hanging on the slender chance that Coriolanus will be able to outcharm, outwit, and outmaneuver his fellow students to mentor the winning tribute.

The odds are against him. He's been given the humiliating assignment of mentoring the female tribute from District 12, the lowest of the low. Their fates are now completely intertwined -- every choice Coriolanus makes could lead to favor or failure, triumph or ruin. Inside the arena, it will be a fight to the death. Outside the arena, Coriolanus starts to feel for his doomed tribute... and must weigh his need to follow the rules against his desire to survive no matter what it takes.

~ ~ ~

Hey, guys!

When Ballad was first announced, I was really excited to dive back into the world of the Hunger Games, but really, I was just ecstatic to read more from Suzanne Collins. Her books and style are just so well done and give me so much nostalgia for a simpler time. When I first read the Hunger Games series, I was in middle school and the class that I was in was so much fun. I've never had a classroom dynamic like that since. Additionally, Collins' Underland Chronicles are just freaking fantastic. I definitely want to do a reread soon because they are flawless. Read them.

Surprisingly, Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes was genuinely a good read and didn't disappoint. I'm not saying that because it was a nostalgic experience, I'm really impressed with how this book was written. 

There are a lot of readers who were just not happy with how this book was laid out and I can see how their reading experience would lead them to their conclusions. However, I fully believe that everyone reads differently. When I started this book I was purely looking to have my questions answered when it comes to how Snow became so freaking evil, how the Capitol became what it was, and how the war went down initially.  

Snow is obviously malevolent and the bad guy in the original trilogy. There was no way that Collins could escape the actual terror that Snow inflicted upon so many people. But -- hear me out. Reading how his villain origin story developed was deliciously fascinating. When I read this book, I found myself really connecting with Snow. His thought processes were flawed, but his grappling feelings about good, evil, morality, justice, etc. were so fascinating. He seems to be a fairly morally gray character at first, but he really dives deep into his flawed, greedy perspective as the novel develops. It's just so interesting to me! To me, Ballad is fascinating because it's a character study, an examination of how a great nation can fall into evil and greed, and how hardship can cause a nation to be incredibly divided and brainwashed into separatist ideals. 

This book wasn't perfect. There were moments where I felt like things were drawn out too far and the pacing would lag. The romance? -- Shouldn't have happened. However, I enjoyed the dynamic between the two, but I really wish that the book had been broken up between Lucy Gray and Snow's perspective in a sort of dual perspective execution. I feel like it would have really added a sense of complexity to the whole situation. While Lucy Gray was incredibly mysterious and smart, I really wanted a peek into her mind. I have so many questions about her intentions and character development. I would have loved to get a glimpse of her experience in the arena. The parts about the development of the Games and the behind the scenes parts of the Games were interesting, but it grew kind of tiresome and bleh because we weren't in the thick of the action.     

Though the last 40% of the book was a bit slow and the stakes were supposed to be high, but you knew they were pretty low considering you knew Snow would eventually become what he is. But, I still enjoyed so many of the smaller elements. There were so many lovely references to the original trilogy and even more hints toward how Katniss's world became so bleak. I really enjoyed the stepping stones that Collins laid out that led you to discover how so many practices, laws, etc. came to be -- especially in the Capitol and District 12. 

Overall, I really liked this book. It made me incredibly emotional and the analysis that I did while reading this book made me really nostalgic for the original trilogy, really overwhelmed and sad for the world we are in today (because there were so many elements that were far too relevant, and it just made me have even more questions. I would have loved to have a sort of anthology with the history of Panem, the history of the games, and the influence that each of the Games had on Panem's overall culture and way of life. I love Suzanne Collins and I cannot wait to read more from her. 

I definitely encourage you to check this out if you're interested. It's a pretty polarizing read, but I think a lot of HG lovers will find things to take from it.

If you're interested to read my thoughts on the Hunger Games trilogy (2015-reread), I have a full series review up on my blog. If you're interested in reading my thoughts or following a reading vlog where I discuss the books with what I've learned from my last 4 years of college, let me know! I'd love to reread, annotate, and analyze these books. 

Happy reading,

Olivia

~ Liv the Book Nerd ~

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{Review} A Heart of Blood & Ashes (A Gathering of Dragons #1) by Milla Vane

Page Count: 560

Published On: February 4, 2020

Published By: Berkley Romance

Genre(s): Adult romantic fantasy

Source: mass-market paperback personally purchased/listened to for FREE on Hoopla

Where To Find It: Amazon // Book Depository

My Rating: 3.5 stars

 

Goodreads synopsis:

A generation past, the western realms were embroiled in endless war. Then the Destroyer came. From the blood and ashes, he left behind, a tenuous alliance rose between the barbarian riders of Parsathe and the walled kingdoms of the south. That alliance is all that stands against the return of an ancient evil--until the barbarian king and queen are slain in an act of bloody betrayal.

Though forbidden by the alliance council to kill the corrupt king responsible for his parents' murders, Maddek vows to avenge them, even if it costs him the Parsathean crown. But when he learns it was the king's daughter who lured his parents to their deaths, the barbarian warrior is determined to make her pay.

Yet the woman Maddek captures is not what he expected. Though the last in a line of legendary warrior-queens, Yvenne is small and weak, and the sharpest weapons she wields are her mind and her tongue. Even more surprising is the marriage she proposes to unite them in their goals and to claim their thrones--because her desire for vengeance against her father burns even hotter than his own... 

 

~ ~ ~

 Hey, guys!

I'm really not sure how to review this book... I enjoyed many aspects of it, but there was a lot that I couldn't mesh with. There was so much to unpack on every page and it definitely wasn't the easy read I was looking to start 2020 Tome Topple with... Granted, that isn't a bad thing at all, but I've been reading so many historical romances lately, that this was almost a culture shock (even though I absolutely adore fantasy).

I really wish that GR would implement the 1/2 and 1/4 stars. This book is probably going to get 3.5 stars because there was a lot that I liked, but not enough to give it 4 stars. I wish I had loved this more because it's definitely my jam.

This was recommended to me by the lovely Taylor from BaeCrate and other wonderful members of the BaeClub/BaeCrate group on Facebook. When the blurb mentioned "dragons" and a marriage of convenience, I needed it. This was also my first dip into the romantic fantasy genre. I've read quite a lot of fantasy/high fantasy novels WITH romance, but this novel had a focus on the romance that was being developed throughout. Before, I really didn't think I liked romance-heavy stories, but now I'm converted, and I can't wait to read more. This was a really enjoyable novel, but it had some flaws that I just didn't jive with.

For one thing, I didn't feel like the characters were written as well as they could be. When I was reading or listening, it just felt like they were missing an extra element that would have allowed me to be connected to them or care about what they really did. I wasn't INVESTED. When really lovely characters that I enjoyed got hurt or died, I didn't feel anything at all...which breaks my heart! I wanted to care! Maybe it was because of the different writing style they used, but I couldn't connect with the main couple at all. Whenever I would be on the edge of my seat, the next scene would just lose me. I was bored quite a lot in this book because it would go off on a tangent/info-dump that I didn't want to know about then. I really just wanted a lot more of the characters.

This was a deliciously slow-building romance. I was dying for Yvenne and Maddek to interact and just TALK and hash out their feelings, but they were stubborn as heck -- especially Maddek. Maddek was so hot, but such a stubborn meathead. GRANTED, for the entire book he is grieving for the loss of his parents and struggling to move past the anger and hurt that he's faced because of the lies that are spread about their demise, but holy cow. He can go from being such a sweetheart to a royal dick within a page. I loved it. Yvenne was so stubborn and fit him so well. I loved how she stood up for herself consistently and didn't let the alphaholes step all over her when they thought they knew what was best. She was so wise beyond her years and didn't allow the terrible terrible things that happened to her define how she served her people. She was such a well-developed character. She had her flaws and shortcomings and she wasn't physically able to do all that was expected of her (cue the abuse), but she worked past it to do all that she possibly COULD do. [ Additionally, I loved that Maddek didn't stop her from attempting to push her limits, but when she did push them too far, he would counsel her and help her heal from whatever she did. He didn't know it until it was screamed at him, but holy crap he's such a softy for Yvenne. (hide spoiler)]

ALSO! The side characters were so lovely. I wanted so much more from them. I wish they had been described more -- PHYSICALLY! I have no idea what they look like at all other than vague and general descriptors -- gender, beards, general conversational vibes. I also couldn't keep track of all the names a lot of the time. That's probably on me, but I wish there had been a list of characters or some sort of character art for me to refer to. Someone, please send me all of the fanart. If there isn't fanart, can someone artistically inclined make some? Pretty please?

It's so obvious to me that this author has so much talent and I loved the complexities of her world and the complexities of her characters. There is so much skill that was put into their setting, world-building, and the political aspects that came with such a complex world. However, it was hard to stay immersed if I couldn't connect with the characters. There were so many great lines and conversations, but I felt like the characters were overshadowed by the world and the info-dumping that tended to occur throughout.

I'm excited to read the second book in the series. I really liked how the story developed and progressed. I just wish that there had been more physical descriptions of the book and more character interaction.

The issues that I had with this story, I think, are because of my own preferences. I prefer to read character-based stories. Take it how you will. I'm not trying to bash the book. I really did like it.

Happy reading!

Olivia

~ Liv the Book Nerd ~

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