Book reviews: Wide Sargasso Sea | The Catcher in the Rye | Fahrenheit 451

Title: Wide Sargasso Sea
Author: Jean Rhys

Original title: Wide Sargasso Sea
First published: 1966
Genre: Classic, Historical, Retelling
Series: --
Publisher: W.W. Norton & Company
Format: Paperback
Pages: 266
Finished: 12/02/2023
Summary: Prequel to "Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Bronte. Born into an oppressive, colonialist society, Creole heiress Antoinette Cosway meets a young Englishman who is drawn to her innocent sensuality and beauty, but soon after their marriage, rumors of madness in her family poison his mind against her. He forces Antoinette to conform to his rigid Victorian ideals.

My thoughts: I read this for a uni course about literary theories. Naturally, we were assigned to read this for, among others, postcolonial theory. Wide Sargasso Sea tells the story of Jane Eyre's crazy woman in the attic, Bertha. Well, in this prequel, her name is Antoinette, and Bertha is only the name Rochester forces upon her in an attempt to morph her into the wife he wants her to be. Without having completed my read of Jane Eyre, I still find this book to be a powerful companion to the famous classic. It is a highly character driven story that portrays the climate of post-slavery abolishment in early 19th century Jamaica. It shows the heteroglossia between English and Jamaican culture, coloniser and colonised, masculinity and femininity. Antoinette is a creole, white but born in the Jamaican colony, caught between cultures and accepted by neither. Rochester represents the cruel but frightened coloniser, who sweeps into Antoinette's life and is paid to marry her by her relatives. Repulsed by the life and culture he encounters in Jamaica, Rochester attempts to force Antoinette into an identity that better suits English culture. I must say, the story is extremely gloomy and it left me with grave emotions. It is also a story that moves at a slow pace, really showing how both Antoinette and Rochester are slowly driven mad by each other. Still, some parts felt slightly rushed and unmotivated, especially in the development of said characters' relationship. Overall, I enjoyed the book quite a bit, and it's sure to influence what I think about Rochester and I eventually continue reading Jane Eyre.

Rating: 3.5/5

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Title: The Catcher in the Rye
Author: J.D. Salinger

Original title: The Catcher in the Rye
First published: 1951
Genre: Classic, YA
Series: --
Publisher: Penguin
Format: Paperback
Pages: 192
Finished: 01/04/2023
Summary: It's Christmas time and Holden Caulfield has just been expelled from yet another school... Fleeing the crooks at Pencey Prep, he pinballs around New York City seeking solace in fleeting encounters—shooting the bull with strangers in dive hotels, wandering alone round Central Park, getting beaten up by pimps and cut down by erstwhile girlfriends. The city is beautiful and terrible, in all its neon loneliness and seedy glamour, its mingled sense of possibility and emptiness. Holden passes through it like a ghost, thinking always of his kid sister Phoebe, the only person who really understands him, and his determination to escape the phonies and find a life of true meaning.

My thoughts: Wow! I never in a million years expected to even like this novel, much less to be as blown away by it as this. Considering what I've heard about this book - that its protagonist is insufferable without any redeeming qualities - I was certain I'd hate it, too. That couldn't be further from the truth, though! The Catcher in the Rye is, to my great pleasure, a character driven book that follows Holden as he flees from yet another school he's been expelled from and tries to survive a few days alone in New York City before the day he's supposed to come home for Christmas. Really, this book is about Holden interacting with an array of different characters, both from his past and new encounters. Yes, Holden is a difficult character to root for, especially since every other character he meets seems to hate him to some degree. Everyone struggles with dealing with him. And that's no surprise, seeing as Holden is often misogynistic, selfish, and unpredictable. I see why other readers have a hard time relating to him. And yet, I found that I felt compassion for him. By no means would I defend his faults (he is often an asshole), but he is portrayed in such a vulnerable way that said faults were explained, or at least softened. Another thing I liked was the narration. It was so uniquely and expertly tailored to this kind of story. It really felt like a biography of sorts - so well adjusted was the text to the voice and personality of Holden. And the story, despite being character driven, felt exciting to read. What was going to happen next? Was he going to survive his days alone in New York? Who was he going to meet next, and would that person be the one to lose patience with him and try to kill him? It really kept me on my toes and kept me wanting to continue reading constantly. Wow, what a book. Hopefully, I'll reread it someday and like it just as much.

Rating: 5/5

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Title: Fahrenheit 451
Author: Ray Bradbury

Original title: Fahrenheit 451
First published: 1953
Genre: Classic, Dystopian
Series: --
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 190
Finished: 09/04/2023
Summary: Guy Montag is a fireman. His job is to destroy the most illegal of commodities, the printed book, along with the houses in which they are hidden. Montag never questions the destruction and ruin his actions produce, returning each day to his bland life and wife, Mildred, who spends all day with her television “family.” But when he meets an eccentric young neighbor, Clarisse, who introduces him to a past where people didn’t live in fear and to a present where one sees the world through the ideas in books instead of the mindless chatter of television, Montag begins to question everything he has ever known.

My thoughts: I had the opportunity to read Fahrenheit 451 for a uni course about American 1950's literature. I found it quite easy and quick to read, even though I decided not to rush through it. To me, this is a book that builds more on a concept or an idea than on characters or plot. For what it is, I enjoyed it well enough. For sure, it can be thought provoking, and that's one of the novel's good sides. I also enjoyed some of the more exciting parts, where the stakes rose high. Character wise, I wasn't blown away, but neither was I particularly let down. I thought Montag was an alright vessel to observe this vision of a dystopian world through. I liked Clarisse and Faver even more, and even Mildred for what she is meant to represent. They were all interesting characters. I did get a bit annoyed with Montag at times. I thought some of his reactions to things were exaggerated, his actions were at times unmotivated, and he was often unnecessarily rude to his wife. To some extent, I understand all this, but it got to the point where I was a little bit too frustrated. The prose itself I'd call effective and sometimes beautiful, with plenty of nature metaphors that quite pleased me.

Rating: 4/5

Book reviews: Britt-Marie var här | The Black Prism | Vampire Academy: A Graphic Novel

Title: Britt-Marie var här (Britt-Marie Was Here)
Author: Fredrik Backman
Narrator: Marie Richardson
Original title: Britt-Marie var här
First published: 2014
Genre: Contemporary, Adult
Series: --
Publisher: Bonnier
Format: Audiobook
Time: 11h 13min
Finished: 
Summary: At first sight, Britt-Marie is a fussy, passive-aggressive busybody. But hidden inside her is a woman who has bigger dreams and a warmer heart than anyone around her imagines. When she finds herself alone for the first time in decades, she realises she's spent her life making choices for the sake of other people. Is it too late for her to change? And in a small town of big-hearted misfits, can Britt-Marie find a place where she truly belongs?

My thoughts: "Britt-Marie var här" is both a story about fitting in and breaking free. To go from accepting one's lot in life to demanding something better for oneself. To exit one's comfort zone and widen one's horizons. About feeling needed and wanted. About a world changing, but on a very small scale.
This was a very nice little story. I must say it was expertly narrated by Marie Richardson, whose voice fit perfectly with Britt-Marie's character. I suppose this book is sort of feelgood, while also being quite sombre at times. It's got some good wisdom to share, while also being a bit ridiculous at times. Overall, I wasn't blown away, but I liked it a fair bit nonetheless. Britt-Marie was a great character to follow, and the book almost made me feel something for football (other than utter despise). I liked the setting, because it was uniquely described and I felt like I've been in a hundred similar little towns in my life. Run down, but still loved. However, I didn't feel a lot for most of the characters, and the kids kind of annoyed me. But I appreciated Britt-Marie enough to look past that.
I recommend this book to anyone who wants to try out good Swedish literature, and who's looking for something uplifting, thought through, warm, and unique. I'd love to read more books centred around senior characters. I also recommend the audiobook in Swedish.
PS. The book has been translated to several different languages, including English, if you'd like to check it out.

Rating: 3,5/5

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Title: The Black Prism
Author: Brent Weeks
Original title: The Black Prism
First published: 2010
Genre: High fantasy, Adult
Series: Lightbringer #1
Publisher: Orbit
Format: Paperback
Pages: 735
Finished: 17/06/2020
Summary: Guile is the Prism, the most powerful man in the world. He is high priest and emperor, a man whose power, wit, and charm are all that preserves a tenuous peace. Yet Prisms never last, and Guile knows exactly how long he has left to live.
When Guile discovers he has a son, born in a far kingdom after the war that put him in power, he must decide how much he's willing to pay to protect a secret that could tear his world apart.

My thoughts: Oh, where to start? Perhaps with the expectations I had? They were high to say the least. Lots of people on BookTube had raved about the series, what with the somewhat recent release of the final instalment, and the reviews on Goodreads were raving. This was bound to be my new favourite thing in the world! What could go wrong? Everybody loved it!
A lot could go wrong, it would seem. Truly, a lot. I will keep myself as short as I can. Let's start with the protagonists. Kip, who is around 15 years old, is an insolent little brat and I'd rather see him dead. He has very few redeeming qualities. He is rude, insensitive, dumb, and immature. I wish him no happiness as a character, but I much less wish to hear more of his whining. Then there's Gavin, who is a so-called morally grey character, meaning the reader is supposed to like and feel for him despite him being morally dubious. Was he morally dubious? Yes. Did I like him? No. He's twice Kip's age but they have about the same mindset and maturity level. There is also Karris, the female protagonist. I didn't feel much of anything for her.
Next, there is the blatant sexism sprinkled lovingly all over this novel. The majority of the female characters were at some point, often at several points, described as sex objects. Their breasts, lips, butts, and hips were mentioned over and over again. Far too many times for me to keep up with the counting. Both Kip and Gavin express themselves in a very sexist manner and seem to have a immature (yes, I'm using that word again) view on women. To make up for the fact that Gavin can't have the love of his life, he's got a sex slave who looks like her to sleep with him instead. At several points Kip shows some minor 'weakness' or emotion and it's joked that 'he's almost as bad as a woman'. I didn't see any point to all this sexism and I grew tired of it very quickly.
Third is the writing style, plotting, and other. The style of the writing is very simple, almost juvenile. Not in any way elegant or beautiful. I almost think Brent Weeks must be a 15 year old himself in a disguise. The writing would also switch at random from third person view to first person to presumably show a character's thoughts, but would do so without any italic text or quotation marks.  The plot was repetitive. Kip almost drowns more than three times in the course of one book. Three times. Brent Weeks got obsessed with describing what it's like to nearly drown, and decided to include it several times for the same character and no one else. I've also read the word 'luxin' enough times for a life time through this book. There are several small but noticeable plot holes that I won't mention because they're spoilers.
What did I even like? I think some of the world building was interesting. The story had promise, but wasn't executed well. It was way too long. I'm glad I finished it, though, and didn't leave it half read. At least now I can write a review. I don't recommend this book to anyone I like.

Rating: 2,25/5

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Title: Vampire Academy: A Graphic Novel
Author: Richelle Mead
Illustrator: Emma Vieceli
Original title: Vampire Academy: A Graphic Novel
First published: 2011
Genre: Fantasy, YA
Series: Vampire Academy: The Graphic Novel #1
Publisher: Penguin
Format: Paperback
Pages: 144
Finished: 20/07/2020
Summary: St Vladimir's Academy isn't just any boarding school - hidden away, it's a place where vampires are educated in the ways of magic and half-human teens train to protect them. Rose Hathaway is a Dhampir, a bodyguard for her best friend Lissa, a Moroi Vampire Princess. They've been on the run, but now they're being dragged back to St Vladimir's where the girls must survive a world of forbidden romances, a ruthless social scene and terrifying night time rituals. But most of all, they must stay alive.

My thoughts: I read this for the challenge to read a book from a genre you wish you'd read more of for the 2020 Reading Rush!
While I loved the "Vampire Academy" series, the first book was my least favourite. It's a bit simple, shallow, and cliche. I wanted to read the graphic novel adaption to see if it added anything to the story of the first book that would make it better. I didn't find that was the case. The story became compressed because of this new format, and thus a lot of character and world building was lost on clumsy exposition and a frenzied pacing. It was, however, pleasant to see certain aspects of the story visualised, such as the St Vladimir school, the magic, and some of the characters that I thought was very well depicted. Overall I didn't fall head over heels for the art style, though satisfactory, or the shortened format.

Rating: 2,25/5

Book reviews: Skyward | The Indigo Spell | A Gathering of Shadows

Title: Skyward
Author: Brandon Sanderson
Original title: Skyward

First published: 2018
Genre: Science fiction, YA
Series: Skyward #1
Publisher: Gollancz
Format: Paperback
Pages: 510
Finished: 10/05/2020
Summary: Defeated, crushed, and driven almost to extinction, the remnants of the human race are trapped on a planet that is constantly attacked by mysterious alien starfighters. Spensa, a teenage girl living among them, longs to be a pilot. When she discovers the wreckage of an ancient ship, she realizes this dream might be possible—assuming she can repair the ship, navigate flight school, and (perhaps most importantly) persuade the strange machine to help her. Because this ship, uniquely, appears to have a soul.

My thoughts: I had a lot of fun reading this with two of my friends! I was excited to finally read "Skyward" after all the hype taking place on booktube and Goodreads. I'd previously read Sanderson's other young adult series, "The Reckoners", which I enjoyed quite a bit, and I was interested to see how he'd tackle this new series in the sci-fi genre.
"Skyward" has some similarities to "Steelheart", in that the protagonist lost their father to an evil force at an early age, and since they've idolised their father and their life goal revolves around his fate. They both set out to join the army/rebel group set on defeating said evil. They both use slightly silly swearwords.
I so far like "Skyward" more than "The Reckoners" series. I think Spensa was a stronger written character than David was; she's fierce, determined, and passionate. She also has a humorous streak and a flare for dramatic wording, which I found really endearing. She's a rebel amongst rebel, an outlaw of outcasts, and she won't let anything stand in her way. I loved her character development through the story, and I'm curious to see where Sanderson will lead her character next.
The world building and social + military systems were easy to fall into, and the language it's written in is simple and flowing. I could perhaps have done with a few more flowery lines (we attempted to collect quotes for every book talk), but that's not exactly what I expect from Sanderson anyway. The side characters were also well written. One flaw I can mention there is that an amount of characters are introduced in the first half of the book that were a bit hard to distinguish from one another and who practically disappeared in the second half of the novel. My effort to remember their names and roles were certainly to no use. Another flaw was the hint to a possible romance, but which was quickly snuffed out and therefore seemed rather unnecessary to the story. I will say that a character I liked a lot was M-bot, who put a smile to my lips and made any scene amazing.
The plot was well paced, and as expected the finale was epic and thrilling. It left a few loose threads that will surely be picked up in the sequel. We could do with some expanding on the world and look more beyond the atmosphere. Overall, a greatly entertaining and well written novel.

Rating: 4,5/5

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Title: The Indigo Spell
Author: Richelle Mead
Original title: The Indigo Spell
First published: 2013
Genre: YA, Fantasy
Series: Bloodlines #3
Publisher: Penguin
Format: Paperback
Pages: 401
Finished: 20/05/2020
Summary: Spoiler alert! Sydney Sage is an Alchemist. She protects vampire secrets - and human lives. In the aftermath of a forbidden moment that rocked Sydney to her core, she is struggling to decide between following her Alchemist teachings - or her heart.
Then she meets alluring, rebellious Marcus Finch, a former Alchemist who is now on the run. As Marcus pushes her to rebel, Sydney finds that breaking free is harder than she thought.
There is an old and mysterious magic rooted deeply within her. And as Sydney searches for the person attacking powerful young witches, she realizes that she must embrace her magical blood - or else she will be next.

My thoughts: Small spoiler alert! I'm lucky this just passes the 400 page mark, or else I wouldn't know what to do with myself.
Oh boy, this series is addicting. Richelle Mead is a master at capturing my attention and holding on to it. Whenever I'm not reading these books, I'm thinking about them almost constantly. What's gonna happen next? Will Sydney and Adrian be able to be together? When will things unravel? It's no secret now that I am loving this series, and even more so than I did with "Vampire Academy". While it's not the most beautifully written or crafted story, I find great value in the way it manages to entertain me and amuse me. I do wish, though, that the story would 'zoom out' a little on the world building and show more of what's going on elsewhere than in Sydney's life. Maybe that's something we'll see more of in the second half of the series. I also think we should've seen more of Jill in this book. We've done that in the past, so why leave her character in the shadows in this book? She's rather important to the story, after all.
The romantic tension between Sydney and Adrian grew significantly with this novel, and I have to say that I appreciate the slow burn that Mead provides us with. This isn't a story where the two lovebirds are willing to die for each other within the span of one book. It actually takes them several books to gain feelings for one another, which is rather more realistic, if you ask me.
I liked this book and lot, and it might be my favourite in the series so far. Looking forward to the next one soon.

Rating: 4,25/5

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Title: A Gathering of Shadows
Author: V.E. Schwab
Original title: A Gathering of Shadows
First published: 2016
Genre: Adult, Fantasy
Series: Shades of Magic #2
Publisher: Tor
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 509
Finished: 31/05/2020
Summary: Spoiler alert! Kell is plagued by his guilt. Restless, and having given up smuggling, he is visited by dreams of ominous magical events, waking only to think of Lila. As Red London prepares for the Element Games – an extravagant international competition of magic – a certain pirate ship draws closer. But another London is coming back to life, a shadow that was gone in the night reappears in the morning. Black London has risen again – and so to keep magic's balance, another London must fall.

My thoughts: I picked this book to read in May thanks to the monthly reading theme, which was to read a book with something white on the cover. This cover appears a little beige on this image, but I'd say it definitely counts!
I seem to go into Schwab's books with lower and lower expectations for each that I read. Still, I had high hopes for this one. It's one of her newer adult works, and the sequel to a book that I actually really enjoyed two years back. I just assumed I'd love this. And I did really like parts of it. Schwab has an incredible way with words that I found myself marvelling at throughout this book. Her metaphors are beautifully crafted, and I can tell there's a lot of thought put into her writing. She's also great at crafting morally grey characters, which is why "Vicious" is one of my favourite books ever. This book also showcases that talent of hers, with superb a character like Delilah Bard. They're wonderfully human and flawed.
I want to love everything about this book. But I didn't, and it saddens me a lot. I used to consider V.E. Schwab as one of my absolute favourite authors, and now I'm not at all sure anymore. But why did this book fall flat to me?
Well, despite a strong first scene, this book never manage to quite catch my attention. I dragged my feet behind myself while reading it. I did think some scenes were very suspenseful and well written, but I wish I'd felt hooked since page one. Spoiler alert! I regrettably felt little to no interest for the main plot point of the story; the magical version of the Olympic Games. I wish Schwab would've either focused completely on the competition, or let it be left out completely. I wanted to know more and feel invested, but I never got to that point. I didn't care what the outcome was, nor did I root for anyone. Another thing that bothered me a lot actually was character motivation. I didn't understand why Lila went out of her way to enter the competition. I almost get why Kell felt urged to enter, but even then I was doubting. Neither character seemed to actually really want to enter, but did it anyway, despite how bad things would go if they were found out. I became quite annoyed at this. Blatantly stupid decisions need better motivations. I also think Lila is a little too conveniently powerful. I wish she'd be badass without super magical powers.
There were a few too many cursive emphasised words (mostly adjectives and verbs) at the end of sentences to show how amazing and surprising some things were. I felt the emphasised words became a tad too many, often with up to two on each page. It's a personal preference for me, I realize, but something that bothered me a little all the same.
Other small things I noticed: The made up language 'Arnesian' sounds ridiculous. I'm sorry, but I think exactly that whenever it's written on a page. Characters are all very moody and broody, maybe too extreme. I get that this is a Slytherin novel, though.
My favourite characters in this book were Alucard, (Spoiler alert: Holland), and Lila.

Rating: 3,75/5

Book reviews: The Comedy of Errors | Bloodlines | The Golden Lily

Title: The Comedy of Errors
Author: William Shakespeare
Original title: The Comedy of Errors
First published: 1591
Genre: Play, Comedy, Classic
Series: --
Publisher: Avenel Books
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 20
Finished: 19/04/2020
Summary: Two sets of twins are separated at birth by a storm at sea: a pair of masters (both named Antipholus) and a pair of servants (both named Dromio). Years later, the Antipholus-and-Dromio pair raised in Syracuse happen to visit Ephesus, where the respective twins reside—providing the basis for ongoing incidents of mistaken identity, within a lively plot of quarrels, arrests, and a grand courtroom denouement.

My thoughts: This is the book I read for the prompt to read an entire book/literary work in just one room. I of course picked my bedroom, which is where I do the vast majority of my reading nowadays. I did, however, venture outside with this book, but only to take a photo for instagram.
So what did I think? Well, this is the first time I properly delve into Shakespeare, and I must admit I was a bit apprehensive. Would it be too difficult? Would I understand nothing? Would I be left in despair? Alas, this was not the case. It actually went really well! I've seen the play before in Swedish, and that helped me a bit in following the plot. It's an amusing story, but what I enjoyed most were the typical Shakespeare insults that I've only seen in quotes before. "Dromio, thou drone, thou snail, thou slug, thou sot." It was a good time, and I'm glad to have finally read some Shakespeare. I feel encouraged to read more in the future. This is also the oldest piece of literature I've ever read now, I think!
PS. This play took up only 20 pages of my edition, whereas it usually takes up around 100 pages when it's published on it's own. Just saying, that font was small and compressed af :/

Rating: 3,25/5

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Title: Bloodlines
Author: Richelle Mead
Original title: Bloodlines
First published: 2011
Genre: YA, Fantasy
Series: Bloodlines #1
Publisher: Razorbill
Format: Paperback
Pages: 421
Finished: 26/04/2020
Summary: Spoiler alert for Vampire Academy! Sydney belongs to a secret group who dabble in magic and serve to bridge the world of humans and vampires.
But when Sydney is torn from her bed in the middle of the night, she fears she's still being punished for her complicated alliance with dhampir Rose Hathaway. What unfolds is far worse. The sister of Moroi queen Lissa Dragomir is in mortal danger, and goes into hiding. Now Sydney must act as her protector.
The last thing Sydney wants is to be accused of sympathizing with vampires. And now she has to live with one...

My thoughts: I read "Bloodlines" for the reading theme of April, which was to read a book with big or somehow annoying faces on the cover. The covers for all the books in this series are all about faces, so it seemed an appropriate choice. I've also wanted to delve into the "Bloodlines" series for over a year now, since it's the sequel spin-off series to "Vampire Academy", which I really enjoyed in early 2019.
There's something about these vampire books that makes me want to keep reading forever. Once I'm reading one of these books, I can't stop thinking about them in between reading sessions. Are they great pieces of literature? Well, perhaps not on the same level as for example "All the Light We Cannot See" by Anthony Doerr, but I don't think that's a fair comparison to make. Mead's books are pure YA entertainment, and she does it well. There wasn't a ton of action in this first book of the series, but I still enjoyed it a lot because of the characters. I really like the new protagonist, Sydney, and feel that I can relate to her on a more personal level than I could to Rose. She's academically ambitious, wants to solve all the problems she encounters, and always wants to do her best to help others. And of course I'm still loving Adrian, despite his obvious faults. He's the stellar image of what a love interest was supposed to look like in YA fantasy novels back around 2010; tough on the outside but soft on the inside, emotionally unstable, and is reluctant to fall in love with the protagonist. Clearly that was a winning concept then, and I'm still enjoying it now for old time's sake.
I sincerely look forward to continue reading the series, and I can only imagine that it gets better from here.

Rating: 4,25/5

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Title: The Golden Lily
Author: Richelle Mead
Original title: The Golden Lily
First published: 2012
Genre: YA, Fantasy
Series: Bloodlines #2
Publisher: Razorbill
Format: Paperback
Pages: 418
Finished: 04/05/2020
Summary: Spoiler alert! In hiding in a Californian boarding school, Sydney's life has become irrevocably intertwined with Jill Dragomir, the vampire Moroi princess she has been tasked with protecting. She has grown close to those in Jill's royal circle - and to someone in particular. Someone that forces her to question everything the alchemists believe in. Someone forbidden.
When a shocking secret threatens to tear the vampire world - her new world - apart, Sydney's loyalties are tested more than ever. Should she trust the alchemists - or her heart?

My thoughts: I enjoyed this just as much as "Bloodlines"! Sydney is still a character I can relate to and I liked seeing even more of Adrian. Guessing what's going to happen in the story isn't super difficult, but sometimes that's what I need in a book. Easy to love, easy to follow. Not everything needs to be super complicated. I just want to keep flying through this series, but I think I'm going to take a small break to read something else between this and the next book, "The Indigo Spell". Luckily, the upcoming two books in the series are both just over 400 pages. After that, I'm in trouble with the rest of the series... oh well.

Rating: 4,25/5

Book reviews: Throne of Glass | Crown of Midnight | Spinning Silver

Title: Throne of Glass

Author: Sarah J. Maas
Original title: Throne of Glass
First published: 2012
Genre: High fantasy, YA
Series: Throne of Glass #1
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 404
Finished: 31/03/2020
Summary: When magic has gone from the world, and a vicious king rules from his throne of glass, an assassin comes to the castle. She does not come to kill, but to win her freedom. If she can defeat twenty-three killers, thieves, and warriors in a competition to find the greatest assassin in the land, she will become the King's Champion and be released from prison.
But something evil dwells in the castle—and it's there to kill. When her competitors start dying, horribly, one by one, Celaena's fight for freedom becomes a fight for survival—and a desperate quest to root out the source of the evil before it destroys her world.

My thoughts: Finally, I read the kind of book that was much needed to get my desire to read going again. This novel is fast paced and easy; a true page turner. There's basically everything I wanted right now; a quick and witty dialogue, an actually well executed love triangle drama, some secrets, fights, and fantasy politics. Not to say that it was a perfect book, but it was a perfectly timed read. "Throne of Glass", along with the second book in the series, has been living in my shelves for years upon years (since 2013, when the pretty cover version was released in hardcover). I finally got to it!
Besides the positive things about it, this book had its flaws. While Celaena is described as a ruthless and badass assassin (which she can be), I found that her actions contradicted that statement at times. She sleeps unguarded a lot, and lets people sneak into her rooms without noticing them. She's also not quite as daring/unafraid as I'd expect of an assassin with her reputation. And while the love triangle was good in the way that I really didn't know who Celaena would choose, both of the love interest were quite similar in their personalities. I do know that they become more distinct in the second book, but them being so alike made me rather indifferent to who Celaena would choose.
All in all, it was a pleasant and exciting read that I without a doubt enjoyed quite a bit. I look forward to the rest of the series, and I hope it won't break my heart as much as I suspect it will.
(PS. Dorian has nothing on Chaol. Period.)

Rating: 4/5

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Title: Crown of Midnight
Author: Sarah J. Maas
Original title: Crown of Midnight
First published: 2013
Genre: YA, High fantasy
Series: Throne of Glass #2
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 418
Finished: 04/04/2020
Summary: Spoiler alert! From the throne of glass rules a king with a fist of iron and a soul as black as pitch. Assassin Celaena Sardothien won a brutal contest to become his Champion. Yet Celaena is far from loyal to the crown. She hides her secret vigilantly; she knows that the man she serves is bent on evil.
Keeping up the deadly charade becomes increasingly difficult when Celaena realizes she is not the only one seeking justice. As she tries to untangle the mysteries buried deep within the glass castle, her closest relationships suffer. It seems no one is above questioning her allegiances—not the Crown Prince Dorian; not Chaol, the Captain of the Guard; not even her best friend, Nehemia, a foreign princess with a rebel heart.
Then one terrible night, the secrets they have all been keeping lead to an unspeakable tragedy. As Celaena's world shatters, she will be forced to give up the very thing most precious to her and decide once and for all where her true loyalties lie... and whom she is ultimately willing to fight for.

My thoughts: Small spoiler alert! My emotions have been played with :( What a roller-coaster.
"Crown of Midnight" opens up the plot for a much wider reach, giving us a clearer view of where Maas is taking the series. While the first book was mostly just a fun time, this second instalment in the series takes on a more serious tone as Celaena's emotions are tested and we learn more about her past. So when it comes down to it, did I like the change or not?
I did! While the 'rebellion against the ruler(s)' sort of plot/trope isn't always my cup of tea, I think this one has potential. We need a little more world building for me to actually care about the different kingdoms in the Erilea lands, but I think we'll get more of that as the series progresses. I do not think that the king is the best written antagonist I've ever read about, but he's not the worst either.
One thing I complained about in the previous book was that Dorian and Chaol's characters were too alike. They became more distinct in this novel, which is great, and the love triangle in "Throne of Glass" was pretty much gone. Huzzah! There's still a lot of angsty yearning going on that I don't like a ton, but I hope it'll pass with the next book.
Celaena has mood swings like no other, and she constantly changes her mind like the weather. In some cases I'm with her, but in most cases I'm not. I like reading from her perspective partly, but I'm glad we get other perspectives as well. I don't think I'd like the books half as much if I was stuck with only Celaena. I also didn't like how she reasoned and acted after that thing in the middle happened :/
Overall, this was an entertaining and fast read. The series isn't great yet, and it remains to be seen if it will ever live up to the hype. I understand why people rave about it; it's easy, dramatic, romantic, and continues to have big reveals strewn over it (unfortunately I saw the 'big reveal' at the end of this book coming from book one). For me, it lacks a writing style that is beautiful and flowing enough, and I wish there were more descriptions of the environment/world around Celaena. I want more complex politics and world building. And some continued character development for our main characters. Other than that, I had a swell time!

Rating: 4,25/5

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Title: Spinning Silver
Author: Naomi Novik
Original title: Spinning Silver
First published: 2018
Genre: Fantasy, Retelling, YA
Series: --
Publisher: Del Rey
Format: Paperback
Pages: 466
Finished: 14/04/2020
Summary: Miryem is the daughter and granddaughter of moneylenders, but her father’s too kind-hearted to collect his debts. They face poverty, until Miryem hardens her own heart and takes up his work in their village. Her success creates rumours she can turn silver into gold, which attract the fairy king of winter himself. He sets her an impossible challenge – and if she fails, she’ll die. Yet if she triumphs, it may mean a fate worse than death. And in her desperate efforts to succeed, Miryem unwittingly spins a web which draws in the unhappy daughter of a lord.
Irina’s father schemes to wed her to the tsar – he will pay any price to achieve this goal. However, the dashing tsar is not what he seems. And the secret he hides threatens to consume the lands of mortals and winter alike. Torn between deadly choices, Miryem and Irina embark on a quest that will take them to the limits of sacrifice, power and love.

My thoughts: My friend has been so incredibly kind to let me borrow this book for a solid two months. I had a hard time getting into it since it's pretty sparse when it comes to dialogue and I've been in a bit of a reading slump. But I've finally finished it at last! I must say, it was well worth pushing through. The pacing is on the slower side, which I don't mind in a book, especially when it makes up for it in characters and writing. This one did just that. I loved following three stubborn, ambitious, and brave young women who were driven by love for their family rather than romantic interests. Yes, there is some romance, but to have it be written in the way this book did it was a breath of fresh air. Romance was not the point of the novel. I think great love shown for family above all is seldom shown well in YA fantasy and I wish it wasn't that way.The way Miryem puts her parents before all else was moving and something I could relate to more than a girl willing to die for the boy she's known for a month.
The characters overall were expertly constructed, and I was able to both love and hate a few at the same time. The settings were also described well; sometimes I felt a cold chill run through me even though I had a heating blanket over me. Can't say I was sad to miss out on snow this winter after reading this book ;)
All in all, "Spinning Silver" is a very good book that is only held back a little by lacking some pace and being a little too long. Had it been shortened down some, I think it could have been even more perfect.

Rating: 4,5/5

Book reviews: Going Bovine | The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue | Shadow Study

Title: Going Bovine
Author: Libba Bray
Original title: Going Bovine
First published: 2009
Genre: YA, Fantasy
Series: --
Publisher: Delacorte
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 480
Finished: 08/02/2020
Summary: All 16-year-old Cameron wants is to get through high school—and life in general—with a minimum of effort. It’s not a lot to ask. But that’s before he’s given some bad news: he’s sick and he’s going to die. Which totally sucks. Hope arrives in the winged form of Dulcie, a loopy punk angel/possible hallucination with a bad sugar habit. She tells Cam there is a cure—if he’s willing to go in search of it. With the help of a death-obsessed, video-gaming dwarf and a yard gnome, Cam sets off on the mother of all road trips through a twisted America into the heart of what matters most.

My thoughts: Libba Bray is an author that I've read and loved before. She's the person behind one of the series that has truly shaped me as a reader; the "Gemma Doyle" trilogy from 2003-2007. Knowing that those three books were published before "Going Bovine", I feel rather confused about the complete difference in quality.
To put it bluntly, "Going Bovine" wasn't a good book. The main character, Cameron, was a complete asshole that I just couldn't root for at all. He's a douche to everyone he meets and he continues to be that throughout the whole novel. His character development is weak and doesn't make up for the shithead he is. The women in the story are written poorly, which surprises me coming from an author who 1) is a woman herself and 2) has written female characters very well in the past (and future) in relation to the publication year of this novel. It's as if Libba Bray was struggling with writing women from a boy's perspective and ended up making every female character's personality flat. Cameron himself is rather rude to said female characters, while at the same time being very attracted to a number of them. Incel much? I didn't care for all the mentions of his d*ck "perking up" at the sight of girls. The swearing in this novel wasn't handled well either. I'm not against swear words in novels, but they need to be handled with care for them to work in large amounts. Otherwise the language comes off as too informal. That was the case with this novel, and instead of giving the narrative an edge, it came off as childish and stupid.
The story itself sucked. It's a good example of a writer having lots of ideas and can't decide which to include and which to save for another project. Libba Bray threw it all into the mix, and the result is a plotline that is all over the place and seems pointless. Every new direction the story took was unmotivated and unnecessary. The characters would spend time at one place, doing crazy stuff for 10-50 pages, and then move on to the next thing and leave the last one unresolved and never returned to later. Repeat that a dozen times or so and the result is this 480 page novel.
To conclude, the characters sucked, the plot was bad, the writing style left a lot to wish for, and the ending/plot twist was disappointing to say the least.
The few things that were actually good with this novel was that it was quick and easy to read, and the cover is sorta cool. Libba Bray has written such incredible novels, and I was truly surprised to see that a book like this was even published by her. Sorry Libba, but this was a hard miss.

Rating: 2/5

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Title: The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue
Author: Mackenzi Lee
Original title: The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue
First published: 2017
Genre: Historical, YA
Series: Montague Siblings #1
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 501
Finished: 29/02/2020
Summary: Henry “Monty” Montague doesn’t care that his roguish passions are far from suitable for the gentleman he was born to be. But as Monty embarks on his grand tour of Europe, his quests for pleasure and vice are in danger of coming to an end. Not only does his father expect him to take over the family’s estate upon his return, but Monty is also nursing an impossible crush on his best friend and traveling companion, Percy.
So Monty vows to make this yearlong escapade one last hedonistic hurrah and flirt with Percy from Paris to Rome. But when one of Monty’s reckless decisions turns their trip abroad into a harrowing manhunt, it calls into question everything he knows, including his relationship with the boy he adores.

My thoughts: "The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue" is a real page-turner; adventurous, romantic, witty, and gay. Henry "Monty" Montague is a character filled to the brim with sarcasm, humour, and funny flaws, making him both lovable and absolutely frustrating. I could go from rooting for him to thinking he was quite dimwitted. On one hand he's self centred, has drinking issues, and makes some very foolish choices and mistakes. On the other hand, he's charmingly self aware, has a sharp tongue, and is adorably in love with Percy. I found the romance between the two sweet and endearing. Percy is such a sweetheart, and he deserves all the love he can get.
I was also a big fan of Monty's sister, Felicity, who wouldn't take Monty's nonsense/bullshit and basically was the one who pulled the gang through to the finish line. She is admirably clever and I hope to follow her story more in the sequel.
As for the story and writing style, I think the novel was written in a fun and easy way. It definitely has a unique tone that fits the 1700's setting while also feeling obviously contemporary. The writing style is more entertaining than lyrical and beautiful, but I didn't mind that. Books like this are definitely needed now and then. The plot was a bit all over the place, but still easy to follow as the trio make their way through Europe in a series of discoveries, thefts, ambushes, and escapes. There were parts that I enjoyed less than others, but overall it was a solid plot.
To summarise, I really enjoyed this book, despite going through some tough times  in my private life that set me back quite a bit in my reading. Still, this book provided some light in the darkness, and while I couldn't enjoy it fully, I still did like it a fair bit.

Rating: 4,25/5

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Title: Shadow Study
Author: Maria V. Snyder
Original title: Shadow Study
First published: 2015
Genre: High fantasy, YA
Series: Chronicles of Ixia #7, Poison Study #4, Soulfinders #1
Publisher: MIRA Ink
Format: Paperback
Pages: 410
Finished: 27/03/2020
Summary: Spoiler alert!When Yelena was a poison taster, her life was simpler. But She'd survived to become a vital part of the balance of power between rival countries Ixia and Sitia. Now she uses her magic to keep the peace in both lands—and protect her relationship with Valek.
Suddenly, though, they are beset on all sides by those vying for power through politics and intrigue. Valek’s job and his life are in danger. As Yelena tries to uncover the scope of these plots, she faces a new challenge: her magic is blocked. She must keep that a secret—or her enemies will discover just how vulnerable she really is—while searching for who or what is responsible for neutralizing her powers.
Yes, the days of tasting poisons were much simpler. And certainly not as dangerous…

My thoughts: The "Poison Study" trilogy became a new favourite series of mine a little over a year ago. That series was completed in 2008, and seven years later this sequel trilogy was born. I was excited to finally dive back into the world Snyder created in the original trilogy, and most of all to meet the characters again.
Sadly, "Shadow Study" didn't quite live up to my expectations. Granted, those expectations were sky high and difficult to meet. Maybe I was asking for too much. Regardless, this book fell short. I didn't feel engaged in the story or Yelena's perspective anymore. The side characters didn't appeal to me either. I did, however, really enjoy reading from Valek's perspective and learning more about his backstory. He became my favourite character while reading, and I liked his chapters the most. This left me wishing that the whole book was from Valek's point of view, and that we'd learned even more about his passed and maybe only gotten glimpses of Yelena's story through Valek.
I must add that part of my judgement comes from reading the first series in a translated version (Swedish). I believe maybe the translation was made in a more formal language than the original version, and that's part of what I liked about the series. Switching to the English narrative, it seemed informal in comparison and not as serious. The switch was especially obvious in Valek's ways of expressing himself with word choices that didn't fit with the personality I'd seen previously.
In the end, I'm a little bit disappointed. I fail to see the point of this book. I understand now that Snyder was pressured into writing this sequel series by fans, but I sort of wish that she hadn't. It's not a bad book, just not as good as I'd hoped.

Rating: 3,5/5