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The Darkest Legacy, by Alexandra Bracken [goodreads] my rating: ★★★★★

SYNOPSIS

Five years after the destruction of the so-called rehabilitation camps that imprisoned her and countless other Psi kids, seventeen-year-old Suzume "Zu" Kimura has assumed the role of spokesperson for the interim government, fighting for the rights of Psi kids against a growing tide of misinformation and prejudice. But when she is accused of committing a horrifying act, she is forced to go on the run once more in order to stay alive.

Determined to clear her name, Zu finds herself in an uncomfortable alliance with Roman and Priyanka, two mysterious Psi who could either help her prove her innocence or betray her before she gets the chance. But as they travel in search of safety and answers, and Zu grows closer to the people she knows she shouldn't trust, they uncover even darker things roiling beneath the veneer of the country's recovery. With her future-and the future of all Psi-on the line, Zu must use her powerful voice to fight back against forces that seek to drive the Psi into the shadows and save the friends who were once her protectors.

I’ve been eagerly anticipating this book for what feels like an eternity, but I can’t deny that the idea of it still made me a little nervous. I loved Bracken’s The Darkest Minds trilogy when I read it years ago, and the characters and story have remained so dear to me. I was afraid the series would fall prey to this trend sweeping the YA world lately, where trilogies receive unexpected continuations that no one really asked for, continuations that usually aren’t as good as the original. As usual, I was wrong. Why do I keep doubting? The world may never know.

If I was going to return to a world I thought I’d contentedly left behind, this is exactly how I wanted to do it.

note: probably some minor spoilers ahead if you really want to go into this knowing nothing

THE STORY

“We deserve more than this. We’ve inherited the darkest legacy, but they don’t know that we’ve learned how to thrive in shadows and create our own light.”

I’m not going to talk very much about the actual plot, because I don’t want to spoil the ending of the original trilogy for anyone. I also think that even if you know that ending, it’s best to go into this knowing as little as possible. But ultimately, The Darkest Legacy details the continuing aftermath of the original trilogy five years after its ending scene, with the government and the nation still in turmoil and Zu as the protagonist. Go into it with just that, and there will be so many realizations and surprises to enjoy.

I’d also like to add that one of my favorite things about the original trilogy was how real it felt. While the series is technically dystopian, it almost never reads like one, because it is still our world, our government, dealing with the problems at hand, rather than some totalitarian government far in the future that is hard to connect with our world. This book definitely builds on that theme significantly, and it actually stole my breath away to see some of the book’s events parallel recent events so similarly. Another theme from the original that really came across in this book, too, was that most of these characters, our protagonists and heroes, aren’t really concerned with saving their world. For the most part, they’re just trying to survive the injustices they’re being faced with and trying to find happiness. It’s a story not often told, but it’s a startling and necessary reminder that Zu and the Psi are just children, not the country’s heroes. All of these things make this series so unique to me, and none of it was lost in this latest installment.

As usual, Alexandra Bracken’s writing was simple, yet powerful and effective. It’s the perfect style to detail the grittiness of this new America, the poison bubbling just beneath the government’s facade, the prejudice and trauma the Psi children face. She excels at action-packed scenes, which are perfectly balanced with meaningful character development and conversations and fun road trip vibes. It’s all basically her brand at this point. This definitely still feels like the same series I fell in love with many years ago.

CHARACTERS

While Bracken has many, many strengths as a writer, I believe that her greatest strength is her ability to craft characters who feel like real people. They fight, they demand to take up space, they love deeply, they cry, they grieve, they get angry, they sometimes act like the children they are and are sometimes forced to grow up far too quickly. Even with what has become a large and diverse cast, each character is distinct. And they’re all oh so easy to fall in love with, and I did. Repeatedly.

Overall, a big fear of mine going into this book was that I wouldn’t like the new characters as much as the original ones, or that they’d detract from the story for me. Even though the Black Betty gang holds a special place in my heart, I ended up adoring the new version of Zu and the two new characters whose stories intertwined with hers.

Suzume Kimura:

“You think I haven’t had people try to kill me before? Plenty had tried. A few had come close. I wasn’t prey anymore, and I wouldn’t let anyone turn me into it again.”

When I found out Zu would be the protagonist of this leg of the story, I was intrigued. While I loved Zu in the original trilogy, she was a difficult character to connect with due to her silence and the age gap between her and the other characters. She was a little girl with a traumatic past, a character I loved but whose perspective I hardly got a chance to hear.

Now, Zu has a voice, and a strong one. We get to hear her explanation of why she chose to be silent for over a year, but also come to understand how she overcame it. She’s badass and unafraid of standing up for herself and her friends, cares deeply about others, and has developed into a complex character who has to question everything she knows about herself and her role in this new world. I honestly enjoyed her point of view just as much as Ruby’s, and I’m so rooting for the woman she’s become.

Roman Volkov:

“Eyes of a poet, hands of a killer. Who the hell are you?”

I fell in love with another Russian boy. Who’s surprised? Absolutely no one at all.

I sadly can’t talk much about Roman or Priyanka, because so much of the story revolves around the mystery of their identities and backgrounds. But I can say that Roman is probably one of the softest and purest trained killers I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading about. My favorite thing about him is his constant internal struggle, much of it connected to his past and his upbringing, and the way it shapes him into a more thoughtful and caring person despite being, as I mentioned, a trained killer. My second favorite thing about him are all his soft and adorable scenes of him being a dork. My heart swells for him.

Priyanka Acharya:

“Are you capable of taking orders?” “You have no idea what I’m capable of.”

Again, I won’t say much, but I will say that Priyanka really surprised me. I wasn’t very fond of her when she was first introduced, but by the end of the book, I absolutely loved her. She somewhat reminded me of Vida with this mouthy, unlikeable vibe, but with a softer side that is slowly revealed to us. She’s sarcastic and hilarious and has so much love in her heart for the people closest to her. Although she takes some warming up to, she’s really an incredible character. I also really enjoyed the representation she brought to the story (as a desi girl with a female love interest), alongside Zu’s Japanese-American background.

RELATIONSHIPS

The relationships between Bracken’s characters always make me want to happily bang my head repeatedly against a wall, and this was no exception, so here’s some of that.

Zu, Roman, and Priyanka:

"Come together, leave together.”

This trio had a lot to live up to after the Black Betty gang, and they really delivered. Although there was some distrust and wariness between them at first, watching them finally trust each other and watch out for each other made my heart feel so full.

Starting with Roman and Priyanka, it was so refreshing to see a boy and a girl be best friends. I feel like there have been more male-female friendships in YA lately than there used to be, but rarely ones that are focused on at length. Here, Roman and Priyanka’s friendship and their unwavering loyalty to each other were central pillars of the story, and I loved every second of it.

Zu and Roman also have an adorable friendship (bordering on a romance?), and their scenes together made my heart melt. I also adored Zu and Priyanka’s friendship, and it was nice to see a meaningful female friendship instead of the girl-on-girl hate that so many authors seem to lean on. Ultimately, these three just took my heart and crushed it with all their cuteness and loyalty and love.

The Black Betty Gang:

“There was nothing in the world that would ever be powerful enough to keep us from being there to carry each other forward in those moments when our strength gave out.”

Although so many things in this book broke my little heart into microscopic little pieces, nothing holds a candle to the way it felt to be reunited with the Black Betty gang.

Despite my immense love for the new characters, these four will always be so special to me. After expecting that they would only be mentioned by Zu in passing or have very brief cameos, I was surprised at how large of a role they played in this continuation of the story. This is still very much Zu’s book, but it’s undeniable that Liam, Ruby, and Chubs (and Vida, shoutout to my girl) are still extremely important to Zu, and so they get more mentions and appearances than I ever could have hoped for, both in flashbacks and in present time.

The sad truth, though, is that five years have passed, and the Black Betty gang has grown apart and gone their separate ways. Heart-shattering as this was to read about, it made it all the more meaningful to realize that no matter how much time and distance keeps them apart, they are still family when it really matters.

TLDR; they broke me and my heart may or may not be a crushed pile on the floor right now.

FINAL THOUGHTS

If you’re scared of this book not living up to your expectations, don’t be. It’s different from the original trilogy, but it’s still a very characteristic addition to the series. It’s filled with beloved characters alongside the new ones and central themes that still ring true to the original. I was terrified that I wouldn’t enjoy it, but my fears were completely unfounded.

I’m not sure if this series is continuing, because for some reason I remember The Darkest Legacy being marketed as a standalone addition. But holy crap, it better be continuing after that ending. I’ve been plunged headfirst back into my love for this series, and I’m hoping for more! 

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This just so happens to be the first book tag I do on my blog, and it’s also one of the funniest I’ve ever seen! Big shoutout to Sage for creating this amazing tag, and thank you so much to Sam for tagging me!

1. YEET — which book would you yeet out of existence?

The Brilliant Light of Amber Sunrise, by Matthew Crow. There are plenty of books I haven’t read (and don’t plan on reading) that I’d love to meet out of existence, but I decided to pick one I actually have read. It’s been quite a while, but I remember absolutely hating it for several reasons. Besides the obnoxious and stereotypical characters, the book contained what I felt were really harmful messages about dealing with illness and about relationships. So it’s a hard no from me.

2. CRYING KIM K — which book gives you lots of feelings?

Salt to the Sea, by Ruta Sepetys. I could have picked a multitude of books for this question, considering that every book gives me a lot of feelings. I might be slightly heartless but books make me cry a lot, oops. But I can’t recall many books that have made me more emotional than Salt to the Sea. A combination of my love for the characters, the horror of their situation, and the sheer magnitude of a tragic historical event being so widely forgotten never fail to get the tears flowing. 

3. AMERICA, EXPLAIN — favorite book set outside the US?

Cinder, by Marissa Meyer. I tried to exclude fantasy and science fiction from this, but ended up going with a sci fi pick anyway. Although the world’s countries as we know them no longer exist on the Earth of the Lunar Chronicles, the continents and cultures are pretty much the same. The first book is clearly set in East Asia, and one of my favorite parts of this first installment was that vivid non-western setting.

4. RIP VINE — your saddest character death?

Mockingjay, by Suzanne Collins. One specific character in Mockingjay, really. Spoilers ahead, obviously. I could have picked any number of characters for this: anyone from the literal bloodbath that was The Deathly Hallows, my favorite character from The Maze Runner, the list goes on. But no death has affected me as much as the death of Finnick Odair. Not only was he my favorite, and not only was the way he died absolutely brutal, but it’s so heartbreaking that suffered so much throughout the last two books only to meet his end, leaving his little family behind. He did not deserve this. It’s 2018 and I’m still in denial.

5. WHAT ARE THOSE? — a book that left you confused?

Gemina, by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff. I had to steal Sage’s answer for this one, because there truly isn’t a book that’s left me more confused than this one. Literally they ripped a hole in the universe or fucked with the space-time continuum or what have you, and then there were two Hannas and two Niks and I just. I gave up on trying to understand what was going on.

6. BIG DICK ENERGY — favourite character with BDE?

A Darker Shade of Magic, by V.E. Schwab, and The Heroes of Olympus, by Rick Riordan. So many of my favorite characters exude big dick energy, so it was difficult to narrow it down to even three of them, but I think Lila Bard, Annabeth Chase, and Reyna Arellano are the epitome of big dick energy. Three badass women who have been through hell and come out on top, proceeding to intimidate and terrify men everywhere. Honorable mention to Jude Duarte but I used her for the next question.

7. I WON’T HESITATE BITCH — favourite book with a morally gray protagonist?

The Cruel Prince, by Holly Black. I’m so tempted to go with Six of Crows or Vicious, but since Sage and Sam already did those, I’ll choose the next best thing. Morally gray (or even villainous) female characters are just about my favorite thing ever, and Jude Duarte fits that perfectly. She’s willing to throw her morals out the window for a taste of power and control over those who have wronged her, and it’s basically the best thing I’ve had the pleasure of reading in my whole life.

8. MOVE, I’M GAY — book featuring an LGBT+ romance?

The Raven King, by Maggie Stiefvater. While Adam and Ronan’s romance isn’t the main focus of the Raven Cycle, it happens to be one of my favorite LGBT+ romances of all time. Stiefvater has a real strength for writing characters and their relationships with one another, and these two are no exception. The Raven King is where they really take center stage, and I really enjoyed their scenes in that book especially and watching their relationship finally take shape.

9. STREET SMARTS — favourite book featuring a protagonist whose strength is their intelligence?

Six of Crows, by Leigh Bardugo. Many people consider Kaz Brekker’s ruthlessness to be his greatest asset, but I’m a firm believer that his intelligence is his deadliest strength, and it’s also my favorite characteristic of his. It amazes me how he’s always one step ahead of everyone else, always has an elaborate plan in place with so many moving parts, and they almost always work. Yes, he wouldn’t be able to carry out those plans if he wasn’t willing to get his hands dirty, but it’s his brilliant mind that came up with them in the first place.

10. ALEXA PLAY DESPACITO — character death you were happy about?

A Reaper at the Gates, by Sabaa Tahir. Again, spoilers ahead. I’m throwing a party the day Keris Veturia drops dead, but in this installment I got the next best thing when Helene killed Marcus Ferrars. I have never despised a character more than Marcus, because he’s not just a villain because his goals conflict with the protagonists’ goals. He’s a villain because he’s guided by a disgusting set of morals, as in, he takes advantage of women without any qualms, threatens and objectifies Helene almost constantly, and kills almost her entire family just to make a point. I’m literally so happy he’s dead and I’m glad Helene was the one to do it, even if it was a mercy kill.

11. THEN PERISH — a book you DNFed?

Seeker, by Arwen Elys Dayton. This is the only book I’ve ever DNFed. I would have chosen it for a book that confused me, but to be fair, I never made it anywhere close to the end. From what I’ve heard, though, it never gets any less confusing. It was so messy even within the first few chapters, jumping around settings and time periods with no explanation at all, and the characters were bland enough that I didn’t feel the need to keep reading, even for them.

12. KERMIT SIPPING TEA — a book that makes a statement?

The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue, by Mackenzi Lee. While this was ultimately a fun book, it balanced the adventure and humor with more serious commentary on important themes such as homophobia, racism, sexism, and ableism. It made a really important statement that so many readers of historical fiction seem to forget: people of color, LGBT+ people, and disabled people have always existed, have always faced a unique set of challenges, and have stories worth telling. 

13. SAME HAT — the character you relate to the most?

All the Bright Places, by Jennifer Niven. Although All the Bright Places is a controversial book, even in my own mind, I can’t deny that I’ve never related to any character more than I did to Violet Markey. Both of us have always wanted to be writers, but stopped writing for a while after some kind of traumatic experience. And both of us had to learn how to deal with the mental illness of someone we really cared about. After thinking I’d never find anyone who could relate to that life-changing part of my life, reading about Violet was such a comfort.

14. OH WORM — a book you didn’t expect to love?

The Young Elites, by Marie Lu. I know this is really shocking, but back when the first book came out, I wasn’t expecting to love it, or even like it. I had read and loved Marie Lu’s Legend trilogy and wanted to read more by her, but back then I had this aversion to fantasy, and the dark premise of the book also freaked me out. I’d also read reviews saying that Marie Lu was better suited to writing dystopia than writing fantasy. But when I actually read the book, I fell in absolute love. It’s now one of my favorite series, and it opened me up to reading other fantasy books. 

15. SHREK — favourite book featuring mythical creatures?

To Kill a Kingdom, by Alexandra Christo. I’m not sure what, exactly, counts as a mythical creature, but I figured sirens are definitely a safe pick. This was my most recent read, and I absolutely loved it. It was a dark twist on traditional mermaid stories, and the combination of sirens, pirates, royals, impressive writing for a debut, and an enemies to lovers romance have boosted it to one of my favorite reads of this year.

I’m tagging @endymionreads and @aphroditereviews, and anyone else who wants to do it!

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ten wonderful (mostly ya) novels written by authors of colour that i recommend adding to your tbr

ok, so. i just saw a booktuber make a video about diverse books she recommended, and only ONE of them was written by an author of colour, which pissed me off, so here’s a list of 10 books that i LOVE  that are all written by authors of colour. this is just a TINY number of books out of all the wonderful diverse books out there, and i recommend checking out THIS link for diverse book recommendations of all kind.

brooklyn brujas series, by zoraida córdova. (i had the chance of reading the second book as an arc, and even if you don’t like the first one, it’s worth it to continue on with the series. the two books are completely different, whilst still being amazing, in my humble opinion.)

from twinkle, with love, by sandhya menon. (to be fair, i’m still reading this - mostly because i don’t want it to end. it makes me feel the way i felt when i first read the princess diaries, and i ADORE it.)

homegoing, by yaa gyasi. (pretty much the only adult book in this list, and definitely one of my all-time favourite books. a multi-generational story that will break your heart and then proceed to re-build it.)

legacy of orïsha, by tomi adeyemi. (SUCH AN AMAZING FANTASY BOOK SERIES - ok i’ve only read the first book, but still. i usually hate books that mostly focus on chase scenes but i LOVED this one. this is 100% a recommendation.)

little & lion, by brandy colbert. (one of my all-time contemporaries in which i saw both my sexuality and my mental health represented. this book feels very close to my heart.)

sidekick squad, by c. b. lee. (eeeeeeeeeep this was SO cute. a bit predictable, but that didn’t take away from my enjoyment of this story. this is actually reminding me that i really need to pick up the second book.)

the hate u give, by angie thomas. (i mean……….. this book needed to be on this list. it’s been on the new york times bestseller list since it came out, and it 100% deserves the hype. just, wow.)

three dark crowns, by kendare blake. (ok so opinions are pretty mixed about this one because it’s quite slow, but i personally LOVED it.)

when the moon was ours, by anna-marie mclemore. (MY ALL-TIME FAVOURITE BOOK)

wild beauty, by anna-marie mclemore. (real magical realism that will most likely make you want to literally live in a garden.)

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As my summer comes to an end later this month, the freedom to waste away entire days curled up in bed with a book also comes to an end soon. Before school starts, I’m planning one last hurrah by participating in the N.E.W.T. readathon hosted by bookroast on Youtube! You can find detailed information about the challenge here.

The readathon takes place from August 1st to August 31st, and in order to “pass” and complete the challenge, you must pass two or more subjects with at least an A and achieve a score of an O in at least one of them. I’m planning to achieve O’s in four subjects and pass a fifth with an A.

Hopefully, that actually happens.

TRANSFIGURATION

A: read a book with a gray cover →Ash Princess, by Laura Sebastian [goodreads]

I was really struggling to find a book with a gray cover, but I finally settled on this one. I know almost nothing about it, besides that fact that it follows the story of a princess who has been dethroned and her kingdom taken over. It’s also been recommended to me by a friend because I liked The Young Elites, so uh, insert eyes emoji here.

E: read a book from an author you’ve never read before →To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before, by Jenny Han [goodreads]

It’s been a hot minute since I’ve read a contemporary, but I needed to include this somewhere because the trailer for the upcoming movie caught my eye on Twitter. This honestly just looks like an adorable read that I need in my life now.

O: read a book that’s set in a kingdom/has royals →To Kill a Kingdom, by Alexandra Christo [goodreads]

I’ve always loved stories about mermaids and/or sirens. The concept really just called to me with this one—the idea of a siren princess and a siren hunter prince meant to kill each other falling in love just. Yes please.

MUGGLE STUDIES

A: read a book by one of your favorite authors →This Savage Song, by Victoria Schwab [goodreads]

After falling completely in love with Victoria Schwab’s other books this year, it only makes sense that I can’t wait to pick up the last series of hers that I haven’t yet read. I’ve heard such wonderful things about this duology, and I know Schwab’s writing, world-building, and characters never disappoint.

E: read a biography →I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, by Maya Angelou [goodreads]

I recently bought this on a whim at a used bookstore because I read and loved some of Maya Angelou’s poems a few years ago. Based on those poems and the interesting things I’ve already researched about her, I’m eager to read her life story in her own words.

O: read a retelling →Heart of Iron, by Ashley Poston [goodreads]

This is a retelling of Anastasia, and while it’s been a while since I’ve brushed up on that particular story, I remember loving it as a child. This also just sounds like a fun sci fi story, and it’s been recommended to me a lot recently, so I’m finally giving it a go.

DEFENSE AGAINST THE DARK ARTS

A: read a last book in a series →Our Dark Duet, by Victoria Schwab [goodreads]

After reading This Savage Song, I’ll be moving onto this second and final book in the Monsters of Verity duology. I always love Schwab's works, so I’m positive I’ll love both of the books.

E: read a foiled book →Delirium, by Lauren Oliver [goodreads]

Upon examining my bookshelves, I think this might just be the only book I own with an entirely shiny foil cover (I have the new paperback edition). I’ve owned it for way too long without reading it, so now seems like the perfect opportunity!

O: read a book with the word ‘dark’ in the title →The Darkest Legacy, by Alexandra Bracken [goodreads]

This is the fourth book in the Darkest Minds series, and it just came out yesterday! I’ve literally been waiting anxiously for it for months, so I couldn’t be more excited to return to a beloved story and world from a new perspective. I’m also so ready to get into a Darkest Minds mood in anticipation for the film coming out in a few days.  

CHARMS

A: read a book with magic in it →Children of Blood and Bone, by Tomi Adeyemi [goodreads]

I have been wanting to read this book for months, but other books have gotten in the way, and I think it’s about time I make space for this one. I’ve heard nothing but incredible things about it, and the concept is super intriguing, especially with its basis on West African mythology and its focus on elemental magic.

E: read a book with a cover that charmed you →Passenger, by Alexandra Bracken [goodreads]

I bought this book such a long time ago, back when it first came out, solely because of the cover. (This was before I realized it’s by the same author who wrote The Darkest Minds.) It’s so gorgeous and I’ve had it for a ridiculous amount of time without reading it, so now is as good a time as any to pick it up.

O: read a book you think will leave a mark →The Poppy War, by R.F. Kuang [goodreads]

While this is a high fantasy novel, I’ve also heard that it’s an intense and bloody book grounded in the violence of the Second Sino-Japanese War and the Rape of Nanking, which is a piece of East Asian history that has been largely ignored. This sounds like it will be very impactful, and I’ve heard nothing but glowing praise for the book.

ANCIENT RUNES

A: read a book set in the past →Between Shades of Gray, by Ruta Sepetys [goodreads]

This book is set in 1941 and explores one of the lesser known experiences of World War II. I was deeply moved by Sepetys’s other WWII book, Salt to the Sea, and the way it shed light on a tragedy I never would have known about otherwise. I hope this book will have the same effect.

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The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue, by Mackenzi Lee [goodreads] my rating: ★★★★

SYNOPSIS

Henry “Monty” Montague was born and bred to be a gentleman, but he was never one to be tamed. The finest boarding schools in England and the constant disapproval of his father haven’t been able to curb any of his roguish passions—not for gambling halls, late nights spent with a bottle of spirits, or waking up in the arms of women or men.

But as Monty embarks on his Grand Tour of Europe, his quest for a life filled with pleasure and vice is 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.

Still it isn’t in Monty’s nature to give up. Even with his younger sister, Felicity, in tow, he 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 that spans across Europe, it calls into question everything he knows, including his relationship with the boy he adores.

I went into this book expecting to find a fun, lighthearted 18th century road trip romp, and nothing more. And while this book was extremely fun, it also surprised me by being so much more than that.

Every time I think about this book my heart goes whoosh. I laughed and cried and it was wonderful.

THE STORY

“I don’t think it’s a good idea to go courting trouble, is all.” “We’re not courting trouble,” I say. “Flirting with it, at most.”

The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue follows Monty, a young English gentleman with decidedly un-gentlemanly passions, including drinking, gambling, and seducing every pretty girl or handsome man he meets with his stupidly charming face. 

Until now, Monty has been living life to the fullest, satisfying his reckless tendencies with his best friend Percy by his side and trying to keep out from under the thumb of his father’s disapproval. But as Monty and Percy prepare to travel Europe on their Grand Tour, the rug is pretty much yanked out from under Monty’s feet. He’d been expecting a year of pleasure and vice all across the continent, but his father ruins those plans by sending a strict bear leader and Monty’s obnoxious younger sister Felicity along on the journey. Soon, Monty and Percy’s Tour has become a boring parade of museums and cultural appreciation, which is about as entertaining as watching paint dry for someone like Monty.

And it sucks, really, because Monty needed to enjoy this year−after it’s over, his father expects him to take over the family estate and settle into the exact kind of boring, stuffy life he doesn’t want. On top that, he’ll be separated from Percy, who is moving to another country at the end of the year to attend law school. And this is an urgent problem, because as of late, Monty is falling hard for his best friend and is very−I repeat, very−inept at dealing with it. 

Soon enough, Monty gets the exciting Tour he wished for, though not in the way he’s expecting. After Monty steals what turns out to be a very important object from a duke’s residence, he, Percy, and Felicity end up being chased across Europe by highwaymen, pirates, and even the angry duke himself. All sorts of trouble ensues as they try to find a way out of this latest mess.

I have to admit, the plot of this book went to insane places. The plot itself was so crazy at times, and at other times events were so oddly convenient and contrived, that I just had to suspend my disbelief and roll with it. And while it was the plot that drove this story forward at breakneck speeds, that plot was balanced pretty well with character development, so I can’t even raise too much of a complaint. There were aspects of the plot I really did enjoy, and some twists that caught me off guard and made me want to chuck the book at the wall, which is a sure sign that I was still enjoying myself.

This book also involves three of my favorite things at one point or another: nobility being moronic, road trips, and pirates. Overall, it’s filled with action, adventure, and absolute chaos. It doesn’t take itself too seriously and it’s. So. Much. Fun. The dialogue−and Monty’s internal monologue−was absolutely hilarious. Monty’s comments or the banter between the three main characters sometimes had me crying of laughter, and I was constantly astonished at their capacity to become inadvertently involved in increasing levels of mayhem. They literally have the worst luck in the entire world and it’s so entertaining to watch.

But this book was also filled with heartfelt moments. Every interaction the characters had made me care about them more and more, whether that interaction was funny or sad or somewhere in between. 

Even though this is the fun and adorable book I was anticipating, and also definitely the most lighthearted historical fiction I’ve ever read, it also addresses topics that much of historical fiction shies away from. Namely, acknowledging that people of color, people with disabilities, and people of varying sexualities have always existed and have stories worth telling.

The book strikes the perfect balance between being comical and action-packed and still addressing topics like racism, sexism, and ableism in a serious way. And in tackling those topics, it led to some sad and/or impactful scenes that I honestly wasn’t expecting to see at all in a book like this. Truly, I’m so glad this book surprised me in that way, even though, again, it made my heart go whoosh.

CHARACTERS

If I could, I would wrap up the main cast of this book in many warm and fuzzy blankets and give them hot chocolate and all of my love and support. I want nothing more than to protect them from all the hardships they face, both individually and as a group. I adopted them. They’re my children now. Try and take them from me and face my wrath.

Henry ‘Monty’ Montague:

“I swear, you would play the coquette with a well-upholstered sofa." "First, I would not. And second, how handsome is this sofa?”

If you look up ‘bisexual disaster’ in the dictionary, there’s a picture of Monty running naked across the front lawn of the Palace of Versailles. True story. What a moron.

I found Monty to be a hilarious and endearing narrator overall, even though there were times when his actions really annoyed me and all of the characters in the book. He’s so immature sometimes, and he can be self-absorbed and unaware of his privilege, but I actually loved how those things were addressed. He does experience a lot of growth, which I really appreciated.

It’s also really difficult not to sympathize with and love Monty after learning more about him. First impressions can be misleading, and his personality goes a lot deeper than just a guy with a penchant for the roguish and reckless. By the end, I seriously loved him and wished for nothing more than his happiness, because boy does he deserve it.

Percy Newton:

“Against the sky, the stars crown him, marking the edges of his silhouette like he is a constellation of himself.”

The purest and kindest boy to ever exist. Monty was literally in awe of him the entire book and that’s honestly relatable.

Where Monty is more dynamic and idiotic, Percy is more quiet and levelheaded and is definitely the one who keeps the pair from getting into too much trouble. I have literally nothing but good things to say about him, and I could probably spend a decent amount of time just gushing about how kind and loyal and goodhearted he is, so I’ll refrain.

Percy also brings some amazing diversity and representation to the story. After reading about his experiences as a man of color with a disability, back when those things together had the potential to completely isolate him from the rest of society, I loved him even more and was so frustrated with the injustice he faced. But my boy rose above it and is also proof that people with disabilities don't need to be “cured” to live fulfilling lives. I love and support him always and that is all.

Felicity Montague:

“Just thinking about all that blood." I nearly shudder. "Doesn't it make you a bit squeamish?" "Ladies haven't the luxury of being squeamish about blood," she replies.

Felicity Montague is literally younger than me, and yet she’s everything I aspire to be in life. I wish I was half as motivated as her. I wish I had my life together like her. She’s my hero and my inspiration at this point.

Despite initially, through Monty’s eyes, being viewed as just his silly and annoying little sister, Felicity proves her capability soon enough. Society tells her she can’t have the same opportunities as men, and she’s having none of that. She wants to get a real education and become a doctor, even though that was virtually impossible for a woman at the time. Although she’s only like fifteen, she’s super intelligent and well-versed in anatomical and medical knowledge. She saves the boys’ necks more times than I can count. She’s so strong-willed and levelheaded and determined and she’s definitely my favorite out of the main three. Give me her companion novel now please.

RELATIONSHIPS

Monty and Percy:

“You’re the kind of pair that makes everyone around them feel as though they’re missing out on a private joke.”

As someone who isn’t fond of friends-to-lovers romances unless they’re done really well, I can wholeheartedly affirm that this was done really well. My heart couldn’t handle it, it was exploding with all the cute. 

Percy and Monty’s friendship, which was incredible to begin with, blossoming and changing into something new, was so adorable to watch. Mutual pining for each other, without knowing that the other person reciprocates, is one of my favorite tropes ever. Never gets old. Watching Monty act like an absolute fool because he doesn’t know how to deal with falling for his best friend was just. Ah. Ahhhhh.

They had so many heartwarming moments, both in flashbacks from throughout their friendship that Monty recalls, and in the present. I laughed with them. I cried over them. I cried some more, because in a book that I thought was just a fun romance, their story sometimes took such a turn for the sad that I was like hmm I need to go shed some tears now. They go through so much together and I guarantee you’ll be rooting for them.

Don’t mind me, I just have this giant gaping hole in my chest where these two punched me in the emotions.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Ultimately, this was an extremely enjoyable book to read, and although it was light and fluffy it also toyed with my emotions like crazy. The characters were absolutely lovable, and although the plot was far-fetched, it was undeniably fun to see the chaos unfold. The book also goes one step further by showcasing diversity in a genre that doesn’t usually have much and tackling some really important issues. I’d recommend this to anyone looking for an entertaining and diverse historical fiction novel unique from any other!

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hi i love ur accurate book recommendations and reviews!! (sorry if this is too random) <3

not random at all! thank you so much! 

[ravkanreads-blog]

im in such a bad reading slump and i trust ur taste. do u have any book recs? any recs really. i usually read fantasy but idc

That always makes me nervous because I don’t trust my own taste but… hopefully you’ll be able to pick some out of these-

fantasy (mostly YA):uprooted by naomi novika darker shade of magic by v.e. schwabthe knife of never letting go by patrick nesssix of crows by leigh bardugodeathless by catherynne m. valentean enchantment of ravens by margaret rogersonbitten by kelley armstrongcruel beauty by rosamund hodgethe hazel wood by melissa albertthe bear and the nightingale by katherine ardenwintersong by s. jae-jonesto kill a kingdom by alexandra christothe last werewolf by glen duncana court of thorns and roses by sarah j. maasvampire academy by richelle mead (i go hard for these kids) & bloodlines

non-fantasy:if we were villains by m. l. rionever let me go by kazuo ishiguroa brief history of montmaray by michelle coopertell the wolves i’m home by carol rifka bruntcode name verity by elizabeth weinthe secret history by donna tartt

mythology related:circe by madeline millerthe closed doors by pauline albanese (*short play)gameboard of the gods by richelle meadthe song of achilles by madeline millernefertiti by michelle morandaughter of smoke and bone by laini tayloramerican gods by neil gaimanthe heretic queen by michelle moran

mind-f*ckery:i’m thinking of ending things by iain reiddark matter by blake crouch

murder mysteries/thrillers:the broken girls by simone st. jamesinto the woods by tana frenchthe girl with the dragon tattoo by stieg larssonsharp objects by gillian flynnthe likeness by tana frenchgone girl by gillian flynn

books that are on my immediate tbr shelf based on good reviews:the poppy war by r. f. kuangspinning silver by naomi novikthe hating game by sally thornechildren of blood and bone by tomi adeyemithe wicked deep by shea ernshawthe shadow of the wind by carlos ruiz zafoni’ll be gone in the dark by michelle mcnamarathe woman in the window by a.j. finna little life by hanya yanagihara

good luck, wishing you slump-free weeks to come!

[ravkanreads-blog]

The Cruel Prince, by Holly Black [goodreads] my rating: ★★★★★

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.

Never in my entire life did I think a book about faeries would capture my full and undivided attention, let alone destroy my life so utterly and warrant all of the love in my itty bitty heart. But alas, here we are.

I’ve never been the world’s biggest fan of faeries or other similar fantasy creatures. For some reason, whenever a synopsis would mention them, I’d slowly back away and then run in the other direction. Then, when Throne of Glass descended into excessive fae male-ness without warning or cause, I truly feared I’d have an aversion to faeries forever. But there was so much hype surrounding this book and so many friends telling me I should read it, so I decided put to put my hesitation aside, just this once, and boy, am I glad I did.

THE STORY

“The odd thing about ambition is this: You can acquire it like a fever, but it is not so easy to shed.”

The Cruel Prince follows Jude Duarte, a mortal girl living an ordinary life with her parents, her twin sister Taryn, and their half sister Vivienne, who is half-faerie. In a tragic turn, Vivienne’s father Madoc, a faerie general, murders Jude’s parents. In what proves to be an even greater tragic turn, Madoc steals the sisters from the mortal world and raises them as his own children in the land of Faerie, where Jude is pretty much doomed to be looked down upon for the rest of her life.

Since Madoc is a general for the High King, Jude and her sisters are basically raised among faerie royalty. And although the high society faeries she grows up with make her life a living hell, Jude wants desperately to fit in among them, but as a mortal, she can never compare to their beauty and power. She’s learned to live among them, dealing with their cruelty and hatred and pretending she isn’t afraid of them, but she’ll never be one of them. And she’s so tired of it.

Soon enough, just swallowing all the cruel insults and pranks isn’t enough for Jude. She’s bitter. She wants revenge against those who wronged her. She wants to have power over them, as impossible as that seems, and she wants it now. So when the opportunity arises for Jude to seize just that, she takes it.

Against a backdrop of twisted court politics rife with deceit and betrayal, Jude becomes a spy and an assassin, hoping to work her way up in the faerie courts. For once, her mortality is an asset. For once, everything seems like it’s working out. And then, of course, a wrench is thrown in her plans and if this didn’t sound absolutely delightful already, that’s when it really gets going.

I adore this story, I really do. I’ve now discovered that faeries are manipulative and chaotic and I love reading about manipulation and chaos, so someone please explain why I’ve never willingly picked up a faerie book before. And Jude’s role in all of this, as a mortal, adds such a cool twist to what could have been a very traditional, formulaic faerie story. Also, I love dark fantasy, and light this is not. There is treachery everywhere and it is so compelling and wonderful.

“Faerie might be beautiful, but its beauty is like a golden stag’s carcass, crawling with maggots beneath his hide, ready to burst.”

Alongside the plot, I also found the writing in this book to be absolutely gorgeous and descriptive. Holly Black did such an incredible job painting a picture of the dark, frightening beauty of Faerie and delving into the characters’ skewed motivations with ease. The writing style really just heightened the atmosphere, intensity, and my enjoyment of the story.

My one gripe with this story–and it’s really not a serious complaint at all–came in whenever the setting shifted to the mortal world, or when the characters’ talked about it. For some reason it just made me uncomfortable to be so enthralled by the world of Faerie, and then suddenly I’m walking through Target. It was really jarring and weird to me every time it happened. But I also feel like even this served a purpose, because that’s how Jude feels about the mortal world, being removed from it for most of her life.

Anyway, the fact that a book about faeries actually got me this invested took me by surprise. Except not really, because with so many good things coming together in one book, I was bound to like it. While it has its slower sections, the entire thing was a wild ride from start to finish. I was turning pages at the speed of light and trying to predict what would happen next. (I was usually wrong.) This is definitely one of those books that I wish I could reread without knowing all the twists and turns.

CHARACTERS

There’s something to hate about every character in this book and it’s glorious.

The complexity of the characters’ motivations and actions is what really made this book for me. I love twisted characters who do bad things for righteous reasons, or good things for despicable reasons. I love manipulative characters. This book is full of them. Without that element, I doubt it would have been as intriguing to me, personally. The characters worked hand in hand with the plot and the atmosphere to truly make this story dark and delicious.

Jude Duarte:

“Before, I never knew how far I would go. Now I believe I have the answer. I will go as far as there is to go. I will go way too far.”

First of all, I’d like to make it known that I would let Jude kill me if she really wanted to (and she might, if I got in her way). I think she was supposed to be “unlikeable” but I don’t even care. I love her so much and that is all.

I always find myself drawn to female characters like Jude–she fits perfectly into this archetype that I adore, every single time, without fail. A female character is downtrodden and spit upon her entire life, until it leads her to become resentful and ambitious and gives her a desire to wield power over those who wronged her, and she will go to any lengths to get it. I literally never get tired of this. For me, watching Jude grapple for power and influence in Faerie was the exact equivalent of curling up in bed and watching my favorite movie, popcorn and all, except more violent and less cuddly. I was rooting for her so hard.

One of my favorite things about Jude’s character is her ambition and determination, even when she’s been underestimated and afraid for most of her life. The dark places her character ends up because of that ambition are so interesting, considering where she started off.

Cardan Greenbriar:

“Prince Cardan, sixth-born to the High King Eldred, yet still the absolute worst.”

I still haven’t decided exactly how I feel about Cardan Greenbriar. On the one hand, he’s arrogant and cruel and a bully. By all means, I should hate him, right? On the other hand, by the end of the book, it was very difficult to hate him. I’m shook.

Cardan, admittedly, is a garbage fire of a human being (faerie being?) and an absolute mess. Despite being a prince, which entails being somewhat respectable, he does virtually nothing besides taunting others and getting ridiculously drunk. He’s elitist, entitled, and senselessly wicked. In the earlier parts of this book, I wanted to strangle him. Frequently.

But as we learn about the viciousness of the royal family and the faerie courts, the world in which Cardan was raised, we discover that Cardan hides behind many masks and wears many faces to get by. He’s a victim of manipulation and abuse, and while that doesn’t excuse his behavior, it does allow us to sympathize with the thought process behind it.

Ultimately, Cardan is a complex guy whose layers Jude and the reader have only just begun to peel away. I like him. I’m not sure if I’ll ever love him, but I’m excited to see his character move forward.

Locke:

*insert photo of a garbage can here*

Moving on.

Jude’s Family:

“Three is an odd configuration of sisters. There’s always one on the outside.”

This is one messed up family. I won’t say much, but wow.

Vivi is definitely my favorite of the bunch. Every time she appeared, she lit up the page. But the rest of Jude’s family? Yikes. Despite how much I can’t stand them all, I did find Jude’s relationship with Madoc to be intriguing, and I’d love to see more of it in the future. I also enjoyed the relationship between the three sisters at times, but mostly because it was interesting to see how each of the sisters shaped Jude.

RELATIONSHIPS

Given the abundance of betrayals and the abundance of morally gray characters in this book, there’s bound to be some drama. Lots of complicated relationships, mhmm I love me some of those. However, if I had to pick a favorite...

Jude and Cardan:

“You remind me that I am a mere mortal and you are a prince of Faerie. Well, let me remind you that means you have much to lose and I have nothing.”

Jude and Cardan’s dynamic is one of the most twisted–and compelling–I’ve read about in a long time. Like, to the point where I think back to the beginning of the book and then look at the end and go how on earth did we get here.

At the start of the book, Cardan hates Jude, because Jude is mortal. And Jude hates Cardan because he treats everyone like crap, namely her. It seems simple, but there are so many layers to peel away when it comes to their interactions. Because as much as they hate each other, their lives keep intersecting in the most unexpected ways and I have lots of feelings about it.

I’m not sold yet on the idea of a romantic relationship between them, but I can’t deny that their scenes were crackling with electricity. Whether that electricity was sexual tension or unadulterated hatred or both, I guess time will tell. Whatever happens, bringing two of the most screwed-up, twisted characters in this story together, in any capacity, has already proven to be interesting, and I cannot wait for more interactions between them.  

FINAL THOUGHTS

I went into this book fully expecting not to like it, for my own dumb reasons. Now, here I am, loving it and telling all my friends about it and watching all of my feelings concerning it pour from my heart like an unstoppable flood. It’s everything I could ever want from a book about trickery and betrayal, and its dark, magical atmosphere completely pulled me in. Also, I love Jude Duarte. I love her so much and she carried this story along so wonderfully. I’m proud of her.

I highly recommend this book for fans of high fantasy with political intrigue!

Holly Black, bring on The Wicked King.

[ravkanreads-blog]

LGBTQIA+ BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS!!

requested by anon 

it’s universally known that the gayer your reading list is, the merrier. also, your power & health bar definitely increases by at least ten. so from black bisexual zombie hunters to trans superheroes to lesbian pirates and all around wholesome & inspiring queer stories, this is a diverse list of books that center lgbtqia+ characters and lgbtqia+ themes. I hope this maybe introduces you to a new fav!

Keep reading

[ravkanreads-blog]

Hannnn!!! 💕❤️

TINA!! 💕

[ravkanreads-blog]

Morning, everyone! I’ve already posted book recommendations for Gryffindors and Hufflepuffs, which means that it’s Ravenclaw’s turn! Ravenclaw is my own house, and so this was a pretty difficult list to come up with, as I didn’t want it to simply be a list of my favourites. Still, I’m proud of the final result, and I hope you guys will enjoy it! The recommendations can be found below the cut! (Next week, Slytherin!)

Keep reading

[ravkanreads-blog]

ya  books with romance & asian protagonists

bc asians can have love stories too okay

bolded = ownvoices; mc = main character; li = love interest; * = to be released; *** = romance is side plot

contemporary:

to all the boys i’ve loved before by jenny han (half-korean mc)

when dimple met rishi by sandhya menon (indian-american mc’s/ship)

i believe in a thing called love by maurene goo (korean-american mc)

saints and misfits by s.k. ali (half-indian/half-egyptian mc) (tw: rape)

something in between by melissa de la cruz (filipina-american mc)

prom queen perfect by clarisse david (filipino mc/li)

keeping the distance by clarisse david (filipino mc/li)

ink and ashes by valynne e. maetani (japanese-american mc)***

noteworthy by riley redgate (chinese-american mc, japanese-american li)***

girl on the verge by pintip dunn (thai-american mc)***

the lines we cross by randa abdel-fattah (afghan-australian mc)

queens of geek by jenn wilde (chinese-australian mc also bi!)

cloudwish by fiona wood (vietnamese-australian mc)

the lost & found by katrina leno (half-indian mc)

the sun is also a star by nicola yoon (korean-american mc)

tiny pretty things by sona charaipotra and dhonielle clayton (half-korean mc, korean-american li)***

american panda by gloria chao (taiwanese -american mc, japanese-american li)*

starfish by akemi dawn bowman (half-japanese mc)* ***

love, hate, & other filters by samira ahmed (indian-american mc)* ***

historical:

outrun the moon by stacey lee (chinese-american mc and li)***

sci-fi/fantasy:

the girl from everywhere by heidi heilig (half-chinese mc, persian li)***

not your sidekick by c.b. lee (half-chinese/half-vietnamese mc also bi) (trans rep in side character who will be mc in sequel)

want by cindy pon (taiwanese mc and li)***

a crown of wishes by roshani chokshi (indian mc’s/ship)***

warcross by marie lu (chinese mc, japanese li)***

when the moon was ours by anna-marie mclemore (pakistani mc also trans!)

legend by marie lu (mongolian mc)***

the lynburn legacy by sarah rees brennan (part-japanese mc)***

the epic crush of genie lo by f.c. yee (chinese-american mc and li)* ***

rebel seoul by axie oh (korean mc, korean li)* ***

note: i haven’t read all of these, and i’m not sure of how much romance are in some of these, especially some of the ones that are to be released

also note: @asianya​ is a good resource for books with asian protagonists and has more recs

last note: you may have noticed that i didn’t include some of the popular ones; that was probably on purpose :)