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“Someone else’s choice doesn’t change who you are.” - Casey McQuiston, Red White & Royal Blue

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“I don't want an easy life. I want a meaningful one.”

- Natasha Ngan, Girls of Paper and Fire (Girls of Paper and Fire #1)

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“Just because something seems impossible doesn’t make it untrue.”  - Deborah Harkness, A Discovery of Witches

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“What is truth? Scholars seek it. Poets write it. Good Kings pay gold to hear it. But in trying times, truth is the first thing we betray.” - Joan He, Descendant of the Crane

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“Nothing tamed can curb what grew unfettered.” - Lana Popović, Wicked Like A Wildfire (Hibiscus Daughter #1)

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SORCERY OF THORNS BY MARGARET ROGERSON – DID IT SURVIVE THE HYPE? (REVIEW) 

Overall: 5/5 Stars Characters: 5/5 Setting: 5/5 Writing: 5/5 Plot and Themes: 5/5 Awesomeness Factor: 5/5 Review in a Nutshell: Sorcery of Thorns reminded me why I love standalone fantasies. With a unique world and magic system, great characters, and a fun plot, you won’t want to put this book down.

“It was always wise to be polite to books, whether or not they could hear you.”

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[ Related: An Enchantment of Ravens by Margaret Rogerson (Review) ]

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// Content Warning: Violence, Death, Panic Attacks, Imprisonment, Murder, Sexual Assault (Mention), Mental Illness, Forced Hospitalization, PTSD, Misogyny //

“She wasn’t a wielder of chains; she was a breaker of them. She was the library’s will made flesh.”

Release Date: 6/4/2019 Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books (Simon & Schuster) Page Count: 456 Premise:

Elizabeth is a child of the library. Growing up in one of Austermeer’s Great Libraries, she has always dreamed of becoming a Warden, guarding the living grimoires that line the shelves and protecting the kingdom from Maleficts- monsters that arise from damaged grimoires. She has also been raised to hate the Sorcerers that use the grimoires. But when the library is sabotaged and Elizabeth tries to save the kingdom from a Malefict, she is accused of being the saboteur. She is sent with Nathaniel Thorn, a sorcerer, and his companion, Silas, to face justice, but instead, she uncovers a conspiracy that only the three of them together can stop.

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Read more to see why I gave Sorcery of Thorns 5 Stars!

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“Knowledge always has the potential to be dangerous. It is a more powerful weapon than any sword or spell.”

WRITING & SETTING

Margaret Rogerson has officially cemented herself as one of my favorite fantasy authors after this book. If you liked her writing in An Enchantment of Ravens, you’ll love Sorcery of Thorns because it only gets better. She has mastered weaving together a complex fantasy world in a single installment while avoiding heavy info dumps and endless exposition. Everything flows together beautifully while crafting a unique and fascinating world. I loved the magic system in this book. I never really cared much about sorcerers and grimoires before, but she made me fall in love with her idea of them.

“When terrible things have happened to you, sometimes the promise of something good can be just as frightening.”

PLOT

Sorcery of Thorns is well-paced, with plenty of action and a slight mystery (but it’s solved pretty quickly so I wouldn’t really call it a mystery). The plot is pretty straightforward, but it always feels like there’s a lot going on. Even the quieter scenes pack so much weight, foreshadowing, and character development in them. Also, I was a little worried that the ending would be slightly rushed (because I felt that way with An Enchantment of Ravens) but the pacing really was practically flawless. This is one of the few standalones that make me want more, but not need it.

“…there is always more than one way to see the world. Those who claim otherwise would have you dwell forever in the dark.”

CHARACTERS

Before I talk about our main trio, I do want to mention the antagonist for a minute. Because damn, they were great. I won’t spoil the brief mystery aspect, but I will say that this is one of the few antagonists who have actually made me feel powerless. Usually, it’s easy to believe the heroes will save the day no matter how powerful the villain is, but there were several moments in this book where I had to stop and be like “damn” because the antagonist did something I had no clue how the heroes would recover from.

Speaking of our heroes- Elizabeth, Nathaniel, and Silas all have my heart. Elizabeth, the “feral librarian” (my new favorite nickname) is our main protagonist. She’s clumsy, naive, but ultimately good-hearted and determined. Nathaniel is the swoon-worthy sarcastic sorcerer who steals hearts. I loved his backstory and how real his traumas felt. We often see love interests with a Tragic Backstory ™ but Sorcery of Thorns really shows the impact that facing horrible things at a young age will have on you. And then there’s Silas. Silas is such a fascinating character. Seriously. I never knew what to make of him yet he always stole the scene. He’s now one of my favorite characters of all time. Also, I won’t say who, but there’s a canonically bi main character and ace and aro side-characters and it made me SO HAPPY!!!

“Ink and parchment flowed through her veins. The magic of the Great Libraries lived in her very bones. They were a part of her, and she a part of them.”

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[ Related: 2019 In 12 Book Covers ]

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CONCLUSION

Pros- Great characters, amazing world-building, unique setting, fantastic writing Cons- I ran out of adjectives writing the Pros Overall- 5/5 stars. Sorcery of Thorns is a can’t-miss novel for any fan of fantasy, or anyone who’s looking to have their heart fully captured in a book and reflected back at them.

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IF YOU LIKED SORCERY OF THORNS, I’D RECOMMEND:

An Enchantment of Ravens by Margaret Rogerson – [ Review ]

Clockwork Angel (The Infernal Devices #1) by Cassandra Clare – [ Review ]

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BONUS! MORE QUOTES I LOVE:

“What is the point of life is you don’t believe in anything?”

“If you don’t believe in anything, then you have a great deal less to lose.”

“Tempting as the prospect is, we are not attempting world domination. It sounds fun in theory, but in reality, it’s a logistical nightmare. All those assassinations and so forth.”

“Wherever there was darkness, there was also so much light.”

“But you know the truth of magic. The greatest power springs only from suffering.”

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Have you read Sorcery of Thorns yet? What is your favorite book that includes libraries/bookstores?

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“Never greet a tiger at midnight, for they are the manifestations of your past misdeeds.”  - Swati Teerdhala, The Tiger at Midnight (review)

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“We hunt the flame, the light in the darkness, the good this world deserves.” - Hafsah Faizal, We Hunt the Flame Blog || Goodreads || Bookstagram || Twitter  || Reviews

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GRACELING BY KRISTEN CASHORE – IS IT AS GOOD AS PEOPLE SAY? (REVIEW)

Quick Stats: Overall: 3.75/5 Stars Characters: 4/5 Setting: 3.5/5 Writing: 3.5/5 Plot and Themes: 4/5 Awesomeness Factor: 3.75/5 Review in a Nutshell: I went into this book with crazy high expectations, and while it didn’t quite meet all of them, it was still a great read.

“Mercy was more frightening than murder, because it was harder.”

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[ Related: August Favorites & My September TBR ]

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// Content Warning: Violence, Death, Torture, Animal Death, Murder, Incest (hinted at), Pedophelia (hinted at), sexual assault (hinted at), Human Trafficking (Mention) //

“When a monster stopped behaving like a monster, did it stop being a monster? Did it become something else?”

Release Date: 10/01/2008 Publisher: Harcort Page Count: 471 Premise: Katsa is a Graceling. She was born with an innate gift. Except, while some people were Graced with fighting, telepathy, or music, Katsa was Graced with killing. Used as the king’s pawn, Katsa is sent across the kingdom threatening and torturing whoever the king tells her to, but what he doesn’t know is that she has her own missions, helping those who need it. On one of those missions, she meets Po, the youngest prince of a faraway kingdom. The two of them must work together to solve a mystery that threatens his family, but they didn't expect to fall in love, or uncover a secret that threatens everything they know.

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Read more for all of my thoughts on Graceling!

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“If I wanted to stun anyone at dinner, I’d hit them in the face.”

WRITING & SETTING

Like I said, I had very high expectations going into this book. It was very, very hyped. And I think my high expectations may be a part of why I feel a little disappointed after reading it. Don’t get me wrong- it’s good. But it just wasn’t mind-blowingly amazing. The writing is what I liked the least. A lot of the phrasing was awkward and stiff. I could tell she was trying to evoke a classic fantasy tone with her prose, but sometimes it came off as a little pretentious and unnecessary. However, the dialogue was really great. It showed off the chemistry between the characters and it was just really fun. The setting was also much more of a hit for me. This is definitely a mostly European-inspired fantasy, and the kingdoms all felt very similar (with the exception of Lienid), but I loved the politics between the lands, as well as the entire concept of Gracelings and how they work.

PLOT

Graceling is definitely a journey book. There is a lot of traveling. I’d say that 50% of this book is the characters trying to get from one kingdom to another. That said, it leaves a lot of room for the characters to shine, which I always love. The plot itself isn’t really fast-paced, but it isn’t slow. It has plenty of gripping moments, but they pass by quickly.

CHARACTERS

Before I went into this book, I knew some people weren’t fans of Katsa. I can see that. She’s definitely not the easiest protagonist to love, but she does have a great character arc throughout the book. Po, however, is very easy to love. He was definitely my favorite character, with either Bitterblue or Raffin as #2. This book really excels in having strong side characters that are just as compelling- if not more- as the main characters. Also, the antagonist. The main villain isn’t as rounded out as some of the other characters, but they are absolutely terrifying. Also, can we talk about the romance for a second? Because oh my god I love it. Seriously. It is such a healthy relationship, and it’s completely adorable!

“There’s no shame in crawling when one can’t walk.”

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CONCLUSION

Pros- Fun dialogue, Interesting world, good characters, amazing romance Cons- Prose isn’t great, not exactly a “thrilling read” Overall- 3.75/5 stars. Graceling is a good book, but I feel like the majority of the hype is because it came out in a time when there weren’t that many options for YA fantasy. So while I would recommend it to fantasy fans, I don’t know if it would have gotten the same praise if it came out today.

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IF YOU LIKED GRACELING, I’D RECOMMEND:

Throne of Glass (Throne of Glass #1) by Sarah J. Maas – [ Review ]

Grave Mercy (His Fair Assassin #1) by Robin LaFevers – [ Review ]

Rosemarked (Rosemarked #1) by Livia Blackburne – [ Review ]

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Have you read Graceling? What is one fantasy series that you’ve been dying to read?

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"For a moment," he says, "I wondered if it wasn't you shooting bolts at me." I make a face at him. "And what made you decide it wasn't?" He grins up at me. "They missed." - Holly Black, The Wicked King (review)

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“Happiness does not happen. Happiness must be uncovered, separated from the skin of pain. It must be claimed. Kept close. Protected.”  - Tahereh Mafi, Defy Me (Review)

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Havenfall by Sara Holland - Magic & Mystery (ARC Review) (Blog Tour)

Quick Stats:

Overall: 4/5 Stars Characters: 4/5 Setting: 5/5 Writing: 4/5 Plot and Themes: 4/5 Awesomeness Factor: 4/5 Review in a Nutshell: Havenfall will pull you into a world of betrayal, romance, mystery, and magic.

To see all of my thoughts on Havenfall, click this link to see my full post over on my blog!

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“The desert sings of loss, always loss, and if you stand quiet with your eyes closed, it will grieve you too.”  -Nafiza Azad, The Candle and the Flame

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“How did you change your life when you were trapped like this? Her history didn't define her. Her origins didn't define her. At least, they shouldn't. She could be more, if she had a chance.” - Helen Hoang, The Bride Test (Review) Blog || Goodreads || Bookstagram || Twitter  || Reviews

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WELL MET BY JEN DELUCA – NOT YOUR TYPICAL FAIRYTALE ROMANCE (ARC REVIEW)

*Thank you to Netgalley and Berkley for providing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions in this review are my own. Quotes are from the ARC and are subject to change upon publication.*

Overall: 5/5 Stars Characters: 5/5 Setting: 5/5 Writing: 5/5 Plot and Themes: 5/5 Awesomeness Factor: 5/5 Review in a Nutshell: Well Met is just pure fun. This book is adorable, entertaining, and full of heart.

“I didn’t choose the wench life. The wench life chose me.”

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[ Related: 12 Summer Romances (6 YA + 6 Adult) ]

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// Content Warning: Insecurities around not being enough, depression//

“Birthday wishes were allowed to be lofty. I blew out the candles and let those wishes fly away with the wisps of smoke. The ones that were meant to be would come back.”

Release Date: 9/3/2019 Publisher: Berkley Page Count: 336 Premise:

When Emily’s sister got in an accident, she dropped everything to help her and her niece. So when said niece needs an adult to volunteer with her at the Renaissance Faire, she agrees. However, what she didn’t expect was to make an enemy of the man running it, Simon, so quick. He has no patience for Emily and is quick with a critique, but once they get on Faire grounds, he changes completely. He turns into a suave pirate and flirts constantly with Emily’s character, but is it real, or is it just the characters they have to play?

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WRITING & SETTING

This book is addictive, and while that definitely had to do with the great plot and characters, I also have to give credit to the writing and setting. Jen DeLuca’s writing style is so easy to be absorbed by, and the immersive setting of the Renaissance Faire hooks you the second you start. Although that could just be me because I absolutely love the idea of Ren Faires. It’s because of this book that I’ll actually be going to my first one soon! Okay, but back to the writing. It’s very well done, with such a relatable tone that allows the book to feel both lighthearted and fun while also heartbreaking when necessary.

“You’re so focused on the past it’s all you can see. How can we have a future if all you keep doing is looking back?”

PLOT

I know I already said this book is addictive, but I just need to say it again. I could not put it down. There was always something interesting happening, between the romance plotline, the family dynamics, and the Ren Faire itself. The plot also managed to both be fun and entertaining while discussing some deeper issues and handling them well.

“Let us love you, and remind you that you’re worth it until you figure out what you’re going to do next.”

CHARACTERS

Partially why this book is so good is the characters in it. Emily is a great protagonist. She’s strong, smart, and organized, with painfully relatable insecurities that she is trying to work through. I really loved her character development, and how she grows over the course of the book. As for our love interest, I really don’t want to say too much because it’s best to learn more about him over the course of the book. I know that’s one of my personal favorite parts of enemies-to-lovers romance. However, I will mention that I loved how much his pirate character reminded me of Hook from Once Upon A Time. It was amazing. Also, there were some great side characters! I especially loved Emily’s dynamic with her sister and her niece.

”I know you want to. You want to help everyone. But you need to help yourself for a change. Do what’s right for you.”

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[ Related: 15 September 2019 Releases]

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CONCLUSION

Pros- Great characters, addictive, Cons- There are no ren faires near me, which isn’t the fault of this book, but this book has now brought this problem to my attention so I’m blaming it. Overall- 5/5 stars. Well Met is everything I wanted it to be and more. With an adorable and steamy romance, the perfect setting, and amazing characters, you do not want to miss this.

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IF YOU LIKED WELL MET, I’D RECOMMEND:

Red, White, and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston – [ Review ]

The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren – [ Review ]

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