{Review} Bloodleaf by Crystal Smith

Page Count: 384

Published On: March 12, 2019

Published By: HMH Books For Young Readers

Genre(s): Fantasy, YA

Source: paperback ARC - provided by HMH 
Age Rating: 16

Where To Find It: Amazon // Book Depository

My Rating: 4.5 stars 

Goodreads synopsis:

Aurelia is the first princess born to the Renalten crown in two hundred years, destined to fulfill a treaty by journeying to marry Valentin, the prince of Achelva – Renalt’s greatest enemy. Rumors of an unwell, cruel prince abound, and the only thing that eclipses Aurelia’s apprehension of her impending marriage is her fear of those who’d kill her to prevent it.

When an assassination attempt forces Aurelia to use forbidden magic to save a stranger, she is driven from Renalt by the witch-hunting Tribunal and a mob out for blood. But before she can claim asylum in the court of her betrothed, her travel party turns on her, forcing her to trade places with her treacherous lady-in-waiting, Lisette.

Now penniless in Achleva and bereft of her identity, Aurelia must decide if she wants to surrender to her new life or fight for her old one, all while navigating the complicated ties binding her to the enigmatic prince, the unquiet ghost of an ancient queen, and a poisonous plant called bloodleaf.

Aurelia is a pawn in a centuries-long game of love, power, and war— and if she can’t extricate herself from it before Lisette marries Valentin in her stead, she may face losses far more devastating than her crown.

~~~

Hey, guys!

    I was sent this beautiful ARC for an honest review. All thoughts and feelings are my own. Thank you HMH Teen for sending me the promotional package!

Trigger Warnings for rape, self-harm, war, intense violence

    If you guys have followed me for a while, you'll recognize that I am a massive fan of high fantasy novels with a focus on politics, magic, intense characterization, and fast-paced plots. I'm always jazzed to read a fantasy book that revolves around an arranged marriage -- I'm not sure why. I guess I'm just fascinated by the actions of the two people and how they respond to what they're being ordered to do. Marriage is such a special and sacred bond to me. I just love how girls/women respond to those situations, especially. Bring on the feminism! 

    Anyway, this book is pitched as a Goose Girl retelling, but I honestly haven't read that fairy tale. I read a minor synopsis after writing this review, but I think that this book absolutely stands on its own. The plot is so fantastically original and the characters and magic are so engaging. I loved it so much. 

    The book automatically drops us into the action and the political intrigue and discourse of Achleva and Renalt. I honestly loved the clash of the two kingdoms. The conflict wasn't particularly intense or complex, but it was still so much fun to read about. The characters really drove this book rather than the actual plot. Don't get me wrong, the plot was lovely and solid, but the characters really took the cake for me. I cannot wait to read the next two books to see what happens. This was just a fantastic introduction to a trilogy and a fantastic glimpse into Crystal Smith's writing capabilities. 

    This book was just so entertaining and fun to read. There were times where I would laugh out loud, and I totally cried toward the end. I need need need the sequel to this book. I'm so excited for everyone to get their hands on this book because they will be so pleased. 

Thank you, again, HMH for sending me an ARC copy!

Happy reading!

Olivia

~Liv the Book Nerd~
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Song Recommendation:

{Guest Review: Alex} Two Great Fantasies || Children of Blood & Bone by Tomi Adeyemi and Vicious by V.E. Schwab

I haven’t submitted anything to Liv’s blog since April but I have been reading a fair amount, actually. I’m going to review two books per submission and two submissions for a total of four reviews. I didn’t want to write long out thoughts on them, so I decided to compress and group them.

This group consists of Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi and Vicious by V.E. Schwab. Both stories focus on supernatural powers and abilities. The novels are clearly fantasy. Both books were really enjoyable and fun to read. I’d recommend both to anyone in the mood for superpowers and fantasy elements in storytelling.

Children of Blood and Bone (Legacy of Orisha #1) by Tomi Adeyemi 

  Rating: 4.7 Stars (4.5 for the audiobook)

  Page Count: 525

  Published on: June 27, 2017

  Published by: Henry Holt Books for Young    Readers

  Genre(s): Fantasy, YA, Fiction

  Age Rating: YA

  Where To Find It: Goodreads // Amazon

  Book Depository: {click here}

 Goodreads synopsis:

They killed my mother.

They took our magic.

They tried to bury us.

Now we rise.

Zélie Adebola remembers when the soil of Orïsha hummed with magic. Burners ignited flames, Tiders beckoned waves, and Zélie’s Reaper mother summoned forth souls.

But everything changed the night magic disappeared. Under the orders of a ruthless king, maji were killed, leaving Zélie without a mother and her people without hope.

Now Zélie has one chance to bring back magic and strike against the monarchy. With the help of a rogue princess, Zélie must outwit and outrun the crown prince, who is hell-bent on eradicating magic for good.

Danger lurks in Orïsha, where snow leoponaires prowl and vengeful spirits wait in the waters. Yet the greatest danger may be Zélie herself as she struggles to control her powers and her growing feelings for an enemy.

~~~ 

     Avatar The Last Airbender meets Africa. If Aang was a teenage girl with white hair. And could control dead spirits. And shadows. But seriously, Tomi Adeyemi has created a compelling story featuring strong male and female characters, each with their own trials and shining moments. The characters deal with prejudice, from both sides of the issue. There are some unavoidable tropes, with the evil ruler and romantic pairings, but they were written wonderfully. I liked this book so much that Liv got me an ARC after I read it and I bought the audiobook. The narrator, Bahni Turpin, did a wonderful job. I probably would have rated the audiobook higher, but I primarily listened to it while I was at work. I might listen to the audiobook and follow along with the ARC at some point in the future.

      I am impatiently waiting for my pre-ordered copy of the sequel and would love to be chosen to receive an ARC of it too.

Vicious (The Villians #1) by V.E. Schwab

 

  Rating: 3.5 Stars

  Page Count: 366

  Published on: September 24, 2013

  Published by: Tor Books

  Genre(s): Fantasy, Science Fiction, Adult,      Paranormal, YA, Fiction

  Age Rating: 

  Where To Find It: Goodreads // Amazon

  Book Depository: {click here}

Goodreads synopsis:

Victor and Eli started out as college roommates—brilliant, arrogant, lonely boys who recognized the same sharpness and ambition in each other. In their senior year, a shared research interest in adrenaline, near-death experiences, and seemingly supernatural events reveals an intriguing possibility: that under the right conditions, someone could develop extraordinary abilities. But when their thesis moves from the academic to the experimental, things go horribly wrong. 

~~~

     It’s fun to see two supervillains fight each other. One thinks he is the hero. The other knows he isn’t.

     That is how I would describe Vicious. The book follows two college friends on their quest to make superpowers a reality. They figure out a method and then go separate ways. The ex-friends come head-to-head years later in an attempt to kill one another. Neither character is a good person and that’s okay. I think the biggest selling point is that there aren’t heroes. The series is called The Villains. Schwab isn’t trying to trick readers into thinking that there is a hero.

     The book was fun to read. It felt like a Marvel film. There was a supernatural backstory, interesting secondary characters, and a climactic final fight. And a sequel. And like Marvel movies, the main problem is that isn’t ambitious enough. The protagonist wins, there’s going to be another one, and the antagonist probably won’t come back. One of the antagonists at least. The comparison probably isn’t deserved since the book came out in 2013 and Marvel had just started Phase Two of the MCU. But with my first read through in 2018, I can’t help it.

~~~

Other Reviews by Alex: {click here}

Skate or be skated.
-Alex

{Review} The Cruel Prince (The Folk of the Air #1) by Holly Black

Page Count: 370

Published on: January 2, 2018

Published by: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Genre(s): YA, Fantasy (Fae/Fairy/Fairies/Faeries), High Fantasy, Romance
Source: Hardback- personally purchased

Age Rating: YA

Where To Find It: Goodreads // Amazon

Book Depository: {click here}

My Rating: 5 stars

Goodreads synopsis:

Of course I want to be like them. They’re beautiful as blades forged in some divine fire. They will live forever.

And Cardan is even more beautiful than the rest. I hate him more than all the others. I hate him so much that sometimes when I look at him, I can hardly breathe.

Jude was seven when her parents were murdered and she and her two sisters were stolen away to live in the treacherous High Court of Faerie. Ten years later, Jude wants nothing more than to belong there, despite her mortality. But many of the fey despise humans. Especially Prince Cardan, the youngest and wickedest son of the High King.

To win a place at the Court, she must defy him–and face the consequences.

As Jude becomes more deeply embroiled in palace intrigues and deceptions, she discovers her own capacity for trickery and bloodshed. But as betrayal threatens to drown the Courts of Faerie in violence, Jude will need to risk her life in a dangerous alliance to save her sisters, and Faerie itself.

~~~

Hey, guys!

     The Cruel Prince was one of the first books that I purchased in 2018. Unfortunately, I put off reading it until March. Man was that a dumb idea! Oh my gosh this book was so stunning! I'm obsessed! The world building, the characters, the conflict, the Faerie court, the whole plot, the political intrigue!!! Everything was done so fantastically! This book has become one of my new favorite books. I love love loved this book! I'm going to try to write a review that you all can understand, but it is going to be so hard not to gush in this review because I loved it so much

     The Cruel Prince follows Jude. When Jude was seven, her parents were murdered and she and her sisters were stolen away to live in the High Court of Faerie. Ten years later, Jude just wants to belong in the Faerie Court, however; she is basically treated like a glorified pet and is rebuked because of her mortality. Jude becomes deeply engrossed in her desires to fit in and begins to become embroiled in the political schemes and intrigue that is frequent in the Faerie Court. Jude has to make the choice to risk her life to save the people that mean the most and the least to her. 

     Before reading The Cruel Prince, I really was not a fan of Holly Black. Her work just did not impress me. A few years ago, I read her Spiderwick Chronicles and I wasn't overly impressed. I then I tried to get into her Magisterium series that she writes with Cassandra Clare and I really wasn't impressed. However, this book has introduced me to her YA writing and I'm in love! I love her fae worlds so much! In my opinion, her YA writing style is so much more compelling than her middle grade. I cannot wait to dive into her other work and I definitely cannot wait to read The Wicked King. The Cruel Prince has definitely become one of my favorite books of 2018 and probably one of my new favorite books of all time. Yeah. It's that good.

     Let's dive into the characters in this book because... spoiler alert! I loved them all. They were just so incredibly complex and interesting. I absolutely adore Jude. She's very flawed and almost annoying at times, but I honestly loved reading from her perspective. She's sarcastic, she's fierce, she's strong. I just loved her character overall. I just loved how she rose above her tragedy and worked to make her life more fulfilling. Her goals for her life were so interesting and her story was so addicting. I cannot wait to see what she does next. Her relationships with her family and adopted family were so fascinating. I can't help but wonder what she'll do next in book two. Her relationship with Cardan was also so strange. I'm not sure how I feel about what happened at the end of the book. I just desperately need the story to continue so I can see what happens next. 

     I'm just going to flat out admit that I loved Cardan. I think he's just as complex and intriguing as Jude. I think that his character is one of my favorites. His history and personality are just so thought provoking. He is a complete d-bag, but wow...he has a story to tell. I cannot wait to continue read more about him in The Wicked King. He has so many LAYERS! Call him Shrek, because the dude is just wow. I have no words. I just cannot wait to continue his story.

     Holly Black has a talent to write whimsical yet dark magical worlds with dark and mysterious fey people. The world was so twisted and her world was so fabulously written that I did not want the book to end. The book was just so immersive and addicting. I loved how there was a larger focus on the political intrigue rather than the potential romance. The romance is somewhat woven throughout the story, but it definitely is not the focus. I adored that. Her faerie world that she has created is so different from the whimsical fae that I'm familiar with. I'm so excited to read more of Holly Black's work. 

    Overall, I just adored this book. I cannot wait for the sequel or the finale. I need it in my life and I will continue to impatiently wait for January. I'm just honestly hoping that my pre-order will come at least a day in advance from Amazon, but I doubt it will happen. I'm just so in love with this book. I recommend it to everyone. It's just wonderfully done. I'm so impatient for more! 

My Previous Holly Black Reviews:

• The Field Guide (Spiderwick #1) 
• Spiderwick #2-#5 
• The Iron Trial (Magisterium #1)
• Bailey's Spiderwick series review

Happy reading!

Olivia

~LivTheBookNerd~

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{Review} Language of Thorns (Grishaverse #0.5, #2.5, #2.6) by Leigh Bardugo

Page Count: 281

Published on: September 26, 2017

Published by: Imprint

Genre(s): YA, Fantasy, Retellings, Anthology, Short Stories

Source: hardback -gift

Age Rating: YA

Where To Find It: Goodreads // Amazon // Book Depository

My Rating: 4.75 stars

Goodreads synopsis:

Love speaks in flowers. Truth requires thorns.

Travel to a world of dark bargains struck by moonlight, of haunted towns and hungry woods, of talking beasts and gingerbread golems, where a young mermaid's voice can summon deadly storms and where a river might do a lovestruck boy's bidding but only for a terrible price.

Inspired by myth, fairy tale, and folklore, #1 New York Times–bestselling author Leigh Bardugo has crafted a deliciously atmospheric collection of short stories filled with betrayals, revenge, sacrifice, and love.

Perfect for new readers and dedicated fans, these tales will transport you to lands both familiar and strange—to a fully realized world of dangerous magic that millions have visited through the novels of the Grishaverse.

This collection of six stories includes three brand-new tales, all of them lavishly illustrated with art that changes with each turn of the page, culminating in six stunning full-spread illustrations as rich in detail as the stories themselves.

~~~

Hey, guys!

     Back in December, my boyfriend's lovely family gifted me this book for Christmas. I was so excited to read the stories and be re-immersed into the Grisha world. This book totally lived up to the hype and my expectations. The stories were fantastic, the writing was A+ as always, the illustrations were stunning, and the book itself was just amazing. I love these stories so much. I couldn't find anything that I didn't like about this book. It was just straight-up awesome. Cue the excessive gushing and lack of critical analysis. 

     This book was just gorgeous! I'm so in love with the stories that Leigh Bardugo created for this world. Each story was so hauntingly beautiful and the language and imagery that they created were just so imaginative and stunning. I'm so pleased with both the physical look of the book and the actual content itself. The illustrations throughout the book were just so intricately done and the detail that went into their making is just astoundingly beautiful and perfectly reflected the stories and their spooky vibes. Each story was intricately crafted in a way that left you desperately wanting more, yet still satisfied with how their ending was summed up. 

      Each story in this Grisha anthology is inspired by common known and lesser known fairy tales, myths, and folklore. The five stories each represent the five areas/countries in the Grisha universe. The stories are such a fantastic representation of the Grisha world. Each story adds more to the world building and reveals a more in depth look at the history of the world.

Other Grisha Reviews:

• Shadow & Bone (The Grisha Trilogy #1) by Leigh Bardugo
• Siege & Storm (The Grisha Trilogy #2) by Leigh Bardugo
• The Tailor (The Grisha Trilogy #1.5) by Leigh Bardugo
• Six of Crows (The Six of Crows Duology #1) by Leigh Bardugo

Happy reading!

Olivia

~LivTheBookNerd~

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{Review} Empire of Storms (Throne of Glass #5) by Sarah J. Maas

Page Count: 693

Published on: September 6, 2016

Published by: Bloomsbury USA Childrens

Genre(s): Fantasy, High Fantasy, YA, Romance

Source: Hardback - personally purchased

Age Rating: YA

Where To Find It: Goodreads // Amazon // Book Depository

My Rating: 5 stars

Goodreads synopsis:

The long path to the throne has only just begun for Aelin Galathynius as war looms on the horizon. Loyalties have been broken and bought, friends have been lost and gained, and those who possess magic find themselves at odds with those who don't.

With her heart sworn to the warrior-prince by her side, and her fealty pledged to the people she is determined to save, Aelin will delve into the depths of her power to protect those she loves. But as monsters emerge from the horrors of the past, and dark forces become poised to claim her world, the only chance for salvation will lie in a desperate quest that may mark the end of everything Aelin holds dear.

In this breathtaking fifth installment of the New York Timesbestselling Throne of Glass series, Aelin will have to choose what—and who—to sacrifice if she's to keep the world of Erilea from breaking apart.

~~~

     I'm not going to get too into detail when discussing this book because I'll just start rambling and fangirling and that doesn't help anyone figure out if they should read this book. Not only that, I have to refrain from spoiling the first 4 books of this series. 

    First of all, I'd just like to say that this book was a roller coaster of emotions all throughout. The relationships and continual world building were just absolutely fantastic. The characters are all just so wonderfully fleshed out and they naturally grow with the series which is so delightful to read. I really loved the dual perspective aspect of this book. It made the story so much more vibrant and well rounded. Each perspective of every character added a kind of depth that I usually don't read in fantasy novels. Maas's writing style and ability is just so wonderful. I adored every bit of this book.

    As I've continued on with this series, I've grown to love these characters like they are my own children. Each one's story is just so rich and different and their personalities are just so fascinating. They clash, they click, and some just cannot get along. That's what I love about these characters. They aren't the typical characters and they aren't perfect at all. Their actions never seem to be written specifically to move the plot along. The events that occur are just perfectly written and the story just flows so nicely. The constant twists and turns and additions to the overall plotline are just so cleverly done. I rarely guess what happens next. 

    This book blew my mind. I finished this book and I was absolutely crushed. Sarah J. Maas always seems to tear me apart with her books...I should just accept it and anticipate it, but I'm always hoping for some semblance of a happy ending...nope! We get a cliffhanger! Every time! I need TOG #7! I need to know what happens to Aelin and Rowan and the gang next! Give me Aelin or give me death! (No. Just kidding...but seriously...I need her back.)

     I'd like to gush about the character and relationship development...just for a bit. Feel free to skip these if you'd like, but Julia hasn't gotten to Empire of Storms, so I'm dying to gush. Each relationship has progressed so naturally and so beautifully. I cannot wait to see where these relationships go. I cannot imagine how everything will be wrapped up in October. 

     Rowan and Aelin grow so much in this book. I just adore how their relationship has blossomed. Their emotional and physical bond is just so inspiring and their vulnerability with one another is magical. I cannot believe how much I love them. I only want what's best for them. I just want them to live happily ever after. If SJM kills them off or kills one of them off in the next book I will break. I'm sure of it. 

     Although Dorian was my least favorite character in this book, I feel like he's growing back into his sassy and strong character. He seemed to kind of fly under the radar in EoS, but I think that is because of his experiences in the previous books. A lot of people have been discussing his rapid character change, but I actually understand how his character has been changing. He's gone through some emotional and physical trauma. He's trying to move past it the best he can. I support him and I hope that he and Manon get together in the end. I think she's good for him. I think they are thoroughly adorable!

On that note...Manon. My queen. The light of the Witch clans. The most badass witch that will ever be (probably). This chick is just so fantastically written. The amount of development that she goes through is so wonderfully done. I cannot wait to see how her character grows in TOG7. I love her developing relationship with the gang, I love her bond with Elide, I love her with Dorian. I love her whole character. I'd definitely read a prequel series about Manon...in fact, I'm sort of demanding it. I need more backstory on Manon!

    Elide. What a strong little cinnamon roll. I love her so much. I cannot wait to see how her character grows. After the trauma that she's gone through, she's shown such immense strength in the face of danger. I love her. I love her. I love her. She is a strong independent and healing woman. She deserves every happiness and all of the answers to her questions. I hope that she and Lorcan get together and are happy. I need that in my life. They are precious. 

    Lorcan. Oh my goodness, his development was probably one of my favorite parts of this book. I love him, I love his character development, I love his loyalty, I love his flaws, I love his bond with Elide, I love how he's questioning his past decisions, and I just want him to be happy. Oh my goodness, the events that went down in the last chunk of the book literally broke me. LORCAN JUST DESERVES ALL OF THE HAPPINESS! 

     Aedion. Oh this man just goes through so much in this book. Mainly emotional, but wow oh wow...He deserves all of the happiness...

      I know I've basically said that they all deserve all of the happiness, but they do! These characters are just so near and dear to my heart. They deserve all of the happiness!

    This book was just absolutely fantastic. I highly recommend this series. If you didn't enjoy the first couple of books and didn't feel the sparks like you anticipated, push through to Heir of Fire and the rest because the amount of depth and dimension in these sequels are just out of this world. 10/10 would recommend forever. 

My Other Maas Reviews:

• The A Court Of Thorns & Roses series
• A Court of Thorns & Roses
• A Court of Mist & Fury
• A Court of Wings and Ruin
• The Throne of Glass Series
• Throne of Glass
• Crown of Midnight
• Heir of Fire
• Queen of Shadows
• The Assasin's Blade {coming soon!}
• Tower of Dawn {to read}

Happy reading!

Olivia

~LivTheBookNerd~

Twitter // Instagram // Tumblr // Goodreads // YouTube // Bloglovin // Book Depository

{Review} Seraphina (Seraphina #1) by Rachel Hartman

Page Count: 499

Published on: July 10, 2012

Published by: Henry Holt & Company

Genre(s): Fantasy, High Fantasy, YA, Romance

Source: Hardback - personally purchased & audio --via library/Overdrive

Age Rating: YA

Where To Find It: Goodreads // Amazon // Book Depository

Twitter: @_rachelhartman

My Rating: 4.75 stars

Goodreads synopsis:

In her New York Times bestselling and Morris Award-winning debut, Rachel Hartman introduces mathematical dragons in an alternative-medieval world to fantasy and science-fiction readers of all ages. Eragon-author Christopher Paolini calls them, "Some of the most interesting dragons I've read in fantasy."

Four decades of peace have done little to ease the mistrust between humans and dragons in the kingdom of Goredd. Folding themselves into human shape, dragons attend court as ambassadors, and lend their rational, mathematical minds to universities as scholars and teachers. As the treaty's anniversary draws near, however, tensions are high.

Seraphina Dombegh has reason to fear both sides. An unusually gifted musician, she joins the court just as a member of the royal family is murdered—in suspiciously draconian fashion. Seraphina is drawn into the investigation, partnering with the captain of the Queen's Guard, the dangerously perceptive Prince Lucian Kiggs. While they begin to uncover hints of a sinister plot to destroy the peace, Seraphina struggles to protect her own secret, the secret behind her musical gift, one so terrible that its discovery could mean her very life.

~~~

Hey, guys!

      After having Seraphina on my shelf for months and months, I've finally picked it up for the booktubeathon and TomeTopple read-a-thons. I originally picked it up via audiobook so I could read and paint at the same time, but I ended up finishing it in physical format. I really did enjoy the audiobook, but I think that because my focus was on two tasks, I didn't retain as much as I would have if I had just started and finished in physical format. Granted, the beginning was a bit slow, so I'm not sure if I would have continued the book if I had started in physical format. After a couple chapters, however, the book really picked up and I was sucked in. 

     Seraphina follows Seraphina Dombegh. Seraphina is a fantastically gifted musician as she joins the court of Goredd. As she begins her apprenticeship with the court master musician, a member of the royal family is mysteriously murdered in a draconian fashion. In Seraphina, humans and dragons live in peace -- the dragons in their human shape (saarantras). Seraphina is drawn into the investigation and under the scrutinous eye of the captain of the queen's guard, Prince Lucian Kiggs. As Seraphina attempts to keep her secrets and struggles to herself, she fears that her secrets will change her life forever. 

    My issues with the book are mainly caused by my own indecisiveness, but there was one main issue that I had that definitely was not because of my strange reading habits. I honestly think that this book is a bit slow in the beginning. It's probably because of the world building, the introduction of the characters, the world, the political standings, etc. However, I really do think it was essential for this novel. This book is so original and wonderfully done. Rachel Hartman's world is so diverse and intelligent and fascinating to learn about. I never felt like the author was trying to fit too much world building or the heavier topics into her book.The important topics that she wrote about were never dumbed down for the reader. Rachel Hartman has such a beautiful writing style. Her intelligence and wisdom just shine through.

      I really did not know if I would like this book when starting it. Lots of people raved about it back in 2012 and 2013, but I never really took the effort to get into it. I'm not sure if I would have fully appreciated this back when I was 14 or 15, but at age 19/20, I really enjoy this style of book. I adore the political intrigue, the secrets, the mystery, the fantastical magic system. I loved the dragon species and the depth behind the history of Goredd. I'm definitely going to have to pick up Shadow Scale when I'm not on a book buying ban. 

      I absolutely loved Hartman's new take on dragon-kind. I'm usually wary when reading dragon books, as they're usually really unoriginal or just bland as heck. In my opinion, Christopher Paolini's Inheritance Cycle cannot be beaten, but Hartman's Seraphina really impressed me and comes as a close second. It definitely deserved the many awards it has won. Hartman has the ability to successfully write a novel that covers all of the important topics --politics, equality, acceptance, etc. Her method of discussing acceptance, alone, was beautiful and done so well. I adore her characters and the depth behind their personalities. 

      Seraphina is such a fantastic character. She was so snarky and grumpy in the best way. She's so different and dynamic. I loved her attitude and passion for equality and the truth. Her friendship with the princess, the prince/captain, and her fellow court musicians was so fun to read about. She's not perfect, at all, but she's so naturally good. I loved how she dealt with all of her domestic issues and her friendships, as well as managing her secrets. She never became someone she wasn't and I adored her for it. 

      I'm not too keen on the romance aspect of the book. I can't get past some dishonest aspects of it. Maybe that will be resolved in Shadow Scale. I hope it is. 

      Overall, this book was really good. I'm definitely going to check out book two and more of Rachel Hartman's future works. I love her writing style and I adore her ability to create a dynamic and interesting cast of characters. 

Happy reading!
Olivia
~LivTheBookNerd~

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