Book Review: Children of Blood and Bone

Title: Children of Blood and Bone

Author: Tomi Adeyemi

Series: Book 1 of Legacy of Orisha

Genre/s: Young Adult, Fantasy, Dystopia, Adventure

My rating: 5 stars

Goodreads synopsis:

They killed my mother.
They took our magic.
They tried to bury us.

Now we rise.

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

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

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

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

Children of Blood and Bone is consuming, enthralling, intense, and heartbreaking all at once.

The writing

Wow. That’s what I can say about the writing style of the author. Tomi Adeyemi weaves a story full of pain, hope, despair and magic. Every chapter and every page makes me crave for more. At the same time, it also made me afraid of what’s to come.

From the very first chapter until the end, it was intense and action-packed. Her writing style really managed to keep me at the edge of my seat! And honestly, if I didn’t have any work, I would have devoured this book in just a couple days as I really enjoyed it!

I also love how the author did not abuse the use of detailed description and metaphors. The narration was just enough to make me visualize the different locations, feel the character’s emotions, and go along the situations. And the metaphorical expressions throughout the book was just enough to make it poetic and poignant.

The characters

I loved the characters as well! The multiple first person point of views allowed me to peer into the characters’ personalities—their emotions and thoughts—as the story went on.

I felt Zélie’s pain, her drive, her hope, and despair. Reading the story through her perspective filled me with a lot of emotions. With every chapter I read in her perspective, it’s almost as if her emotions become a tangible thing that affects me to the core. She might have been sidetracked by something in the middle of the story, but at the end she found her purpose once again.

I felt Amari’s hopelessness and guilt, and her willpower to correct all the wrongs her father made. I loved that despite what she went through under the care of her father’s hands, she was not tainted by the same hate and evilness that surrounds him, or the doubts and naivety that surrounds her brother. She is truly a pure soul in this book. (and I hope it stays that way for the rest of the series omg).

I felt Inan’s doubts, hate, and fear. His character was the most frustrating out of them, for me.  I understood his fear of himself and the hatred in the early parts of the book, but even when the truth about his father’s evil deeds was already glaring at him, he stills wants to erase magic in Orïsha. He remains a good soldier eager to please his father, and that was really infuriating for me.

The plot

The plot of this book was amazing and really intense from start to finish. Just when I thought one problem was solved, another one comes and then plot twists sprout from one chapter to another, it was heart-stopping!

The plot kind of reminded me of Snow Like Ashes by Sara Raasch (aka one of my favorite books out there and an underrated series!) as well. Especially at the middle an near the end part, when Zélie is conflicted and having second thoughts about returning the power for all maji in Orïsha.

The attraction between Zélie and Inan was something I did not like to be honest. It felt rushed and confusing. (Also, I am not overly fond with the insta-love trope, so you can see why this irks me.)

The plot has also left me with some interesting questions. I hope I get the answer to them in the sequel. I’m really excited to continue this story!

The world-building

The world-building is probably my favorite thing in this book! It was amazing! The world-building of this story just reminded why Fantasy is my favorite genre of all. It was consuming and intriguing, and truly beautiful.

I loved the parts where they would talk about the mythology and the magic embedded in Orïsha, and after I finished the book, I honestly want to know more about it! I was actually expecting some sort of glossary at the end of the book, because their world was really intricate and beautiful. I want to find out more about those ten maji clans; their gods, their powers, everything. And because of it, I immediately took the the official quiz and found out that I am a Connector! Adeyemi is truly a genius for creating this incredible world.

(I do hope we get a glossary in the future haha!)

Quotes from the book

“I won’t let your ignorance silence my pain.”

“When your opponent has no honor, you must fight in different ways, smarter ways.”

“Your people, your guards – they’re nothing more than killers, rapists, and thieves. The only difference between them and criminals is the uniforms they wear.”

“As long as we don’t have magic, they will never treat us with respect. They need to know we can hit them back. If they burn our homes, we burn theirs, too.”

“As it fades, I see the truth – in plain sight, yet hidden all along. We are all children of blood and bone. All instruments of vengeance and virtue. This truth holds me close, rocking me like a child in a mother’s arms. It binds me in its love as death swallows me in its grasp.”

(The naked cover looks really beautiful, come admire it with me!)

This book has been one of my most anticipated reads this 2018 and I am really blown away! 5 stars!

How about you, have you read this already? Comment down below!

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Book Review: Carry On

Title: Carry On

Author: Rainbow Rowell

Series: Book 1 of Simon Snow

Genre/s: Young Adult, Fantasy, Supernatural, LGBTQ+

My rating: 4 stars

Goodreads synopsis:

Simon Snow is the worst Chosen One who’s ever been chosen.

That’s what his roommate, Baz, says. And Baz might be evil and a vampire and a complete git, but he’s probably right.

Half the time, Simon can’t even make his wand work, and the other half, he starts something on fire. His mentor’s avoiding him, his girlfriend broke up with him, and there’s a magic-eating monster running around, wearing Simon’s face. Baz would be having a field day with all this, if he were here — it’s their last year at the Watford School of Magicks, and Simon’s infuriating nemesis didn’t even bother to show up.

Carry On – The Rise and Fall of Simon Snow is a ghost story, a love story and a mystery. It has just as much kissing and talking as you’d expect from a Rainbow Rowell story – but far, far more monsters.

While I was reading the book, I suddenly realized how it’s sort of a mashup between Harry Potter and Twilight, and yet it’s still a different book altogether.

The writing

The writing was good enough for me. It was light and humorous, the kind that made me laugh at certain points of the story. But although I found it good, there were some parts of the writing that I didn’t like. I found the author’s use of parentheses excessive. I mean, I know they were the thoughts of the characters, but it was too much for me.

I also didn’t like how there were certain parts of the story that seemed like they weren’t important enough, and I really feel like they should have been!

The storytelling is also somehow fragmented. There were perspectives from the past, there were perspectives from the present. And then there were also perspectives from characters that seemed out of place, and that can be confusing.

The characters

I really liked the characters of this book, particularly the two main characters which is Simon and Baz. I loved the chemistry between them!

In Simon, I saw an insecure boy, not ready for all the responsibilities and expectations carelessly thrown at him when he was only a child. And in Baz, I saw a loyal and ruthless boy, conflicted by his feelings, and afraid of the destiny that awaits them.

I liked Penelope and her loyalty to Simon. She was fierce and intelligent and I wish she finished her studies at Watford! I didn’t like Agatha on the other hand. She really seemed unconcerned about Simon and I kept wondering how the hell did they end up together when there doesn’t seem to be any chemistry at all. Also, I have a feeling in my gut that she would like to be a Normal more than someone who has magic.

The Mage, I am conflicted about his character. I have so many questions about him and I didn’t get any answer at the end of the story. For example, what was his real agenda? Did he truly care about Simon or no? How can he do that to him? I’m disappointed that his character left so many unsolved questions for me.

The plot

The plot was also interesting! It’s one of the factors that kept me on turning the pages and looking for more. Unfortunately, I did not find more at the end of the book! Again there were so many unsolved mysteries that concerns the plot. I felt like there were subplots that weren’t fully explained and solved (I’m not going to specify them since I don’t want to spoil you all haha!) I am honestly hoping I find some answers in the sequel!

The world-building

I loved the world-building in this story. Somehow, it reminded me of Harry Potter because of the magic and the setting, but it has its own flair as well.

I found the World of Mages really intriguing. I loved how their spells rely on the language that they speak; that some spells were common phrases people say daily (and that is an indication that the spell will be effective).

I also found it interesting, how they treat their magic. Like how it can “run out” when  family members keep marrying Normals for generations. And how feeling their magic run out when they’re in a dead spot causes them to  severe reactions. For me it shows just how dependent they are in their magic.

Quotes from the book

“You have to pretend you get an endgame. You have to carry on like you will; otherwise, you can’t carry on at all.”

“You were the centre of my universe and everything else spun around you.”

“And sometimes holes want to get bigger, but Baz was wrong—sometimes they just want to be filled.”

“How long does it take for a star to collapse? How many trillions of years?”

“You were the sun, and I was crashing into you.”

Photo above: My copy of Carry On plus a bookish candle inspired by Watford!

So, this would have been 3.5 stars for me but I loved Simon and Baz and all the feels I experienced while I was reading this, so 4 stars! I do hope the sequel will be better though.

So have you read this yet? What did you think of it? Come tell me down below!

Book Review: The Wicked Deep

Title: The Wicked Deep

Author: Shea Ernshaw

Genre/s: Young Adult, Fantasy, Paranormal/Supernatural

My rating: 5 stars

Goodreads synopsis:

Welcome to the cursed town of Sparrow…

Where, two centuries ago, three sisters were sentenced to death for witchery. Stones were tied to their ankles and they were drowned in the deep waters surrounding the town.

Now, for a brief time each summer, the sisters return, stealing the bodies of three weak-hearted girls so that they may seek their revenge, luring boys into the harbor and pulling them under.

Like many locals, seventeen-year-old Penny Talbot has accepted the fate of the town. But this year, on the eve of the sisters’ return, a boy named Bo Carter arrives; unaware of the danger he has just stumbled into.

Mistrust and lies spread quickly through the salty, rain-soaked streets. The townspeople turn against one another. Penny and Bo suspect each other of hiding secrets. And death comes swiftly to those who cannot resist the call of the sisters.

But only Penny sees what others cannot. And she will be forced to choose: save Bo, or save herself.

This book is brilliantly written, eerie, haunting, and just so, so good. At the end of the book, my heart was scattered all over the place, and my mind was reeling, thinking about just how brilliant it was!

The writing

When I read the first few chapters, I was immediately intrigued. There was something about the author’s writing that is both alluring and haunting; the way she described the town of Sparrow, the curse, the people, the way she conveyed the thoughts and emotions of the main character Penny Talbot, and other characters as well.

I also loved the flow of the book, the way the author told the whole story. It did not just focus on Penny’s perspective, it revolved around other characters and past events as well. So throughout the story, I witnessed multiple past events unfurl, and saw how it came down to the present story.

The characters

I also love the characters in this story, not just the main characters but the other characters involved as well. The characterization was so good, it seemed like every character in the book has their own story to tell—Penny, Bo, Penny’s mother, Penny’s dad, the Swan sisters Marguerite, Aurora, and Hazel, Rose, the townspeople, everyone. I truly felt like every character was involved in the story and that they all had their own significant parts.

The plot

I absolutely loved the plot of this book! It was haunting and truly intriguing. There were times when I would express my reaction out loud because I didn’t see a plot twist coming or that the current situation was getting frustrating and I didn’t know what would happen next.

The plot kept me buried in the book. I wanted to know what happened two centuries ago with Marguerite, Aurora, and Hazel, and I also wanted to know what will happen next in the present-day story and how will Penny and Bo and everyone in Sparrow will survive the curse, if they survive the curse. The plot made me crave. I think that’s the right word for it! It made me crave for a conclusion that will satisfy the hunger I felt throughout reading the book haha!

Also, there were certain points in the plot which I have sort of predicted, but still the author’s writing left me in awe and shocked. I swear it was so, so good!

 

Quotes from the book

“Love is an enchantress—devious and wild. It sneaks up behind you, soft and gentle and quiet, just before it slits your throat.”

“We wait for death. We hold our breath. We know it’s coming, and still we flinch when it claws at our throats and pulls us under.”

“We’re deadlocked in a strange battle of secrecy. Neither of us is willing to tell the truth. Neither of us is willing to let the other one in.”

“Even her grief can’t keep her from kindness.”

“But how do you let yourself unravel in front of someone, knowing your armor is the only thing keeping you safe.

So I don’t say anything. I keep my heart hidden deep and dark in my chest.”

 

Photo above: The Wicked Deep with The Swan Sisters as magnetic bookmarks! (Btw, I got these magnetic bookmarks from Idle Stuff! You can get your own Swan Sisters set, and more, if you order from their website! Use my code “OBSCURE10” to get 10% off!)

 

So, this was such an amazing book! 5 stars it is! How about you, have you read this one? What were your thoughts? Is it in your TBR already?! Tell me down below!

(Also, I tried to make this review more organized, and I think I like this format! Hahah!)

Book Review: Alice of the Rocks

Title: Alice of the Rocks

Author: E. Graziani

Genre/s: Young Adult, Romance, Historical Fiction, Science Fiction

My rating: 3.5 stars

Goodreads synopsis:

“Promise that you will come back.”

Born in 1495 and raised in 2012, Alice Ferro’s life has been anything but normal. The only problem is, she doesn’t know it. As a 17-year-old in 2029, she has an ideal life, complete with loving parents, the latest technical gadgets, and a summer vacation in Italy. Upon arriving in Florence, sensations of surreal memories begin to surface, leaving her puzzled and confused.

Knowing that reconnecting with his lost love could be dangerous for both of them, but willing to take the risk, Claudio Moro seeks out Alice in her new world. His very existence in 1512 is at stake! Having been accused of both treason and murder, he needs Alice to help clear his name and redeem his family’s honour. The question is, will Alice remember their love and care enough to leave her perfect future to redirect his doomed past?

Alternate universe? Time travel? Oohhh sign me up!

Upon reading the synopsis of this book, I was immediately intrigued! The idea of a parallel/alternate universe or time travel is something that I really like. And so I went ahead and read this book!

This book has a blend of romance, historical fiction, and science fiction that I quite liked! Although there were parts that I was not exactly fond of, there were aspects that really delighted me!

Book Review: Autoboyography

Title: Autoboyography

Author: Christina Lauren

Genre/s: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance, LGBTQ+

My rating: 5 stars

Goodreads summary:

Three years ago, Tanner Scott’s family relocated from California to Utah, a move that nudged the bisexual teen temporarily back into the closet. Now, with one semester of high school to go, and no obstacles between him and out-of-state college freedom, Tanner plans to coast through his remaining classes and clear out of Utah.

But when his best friend Autumn dares him to take Provo High’s prestigious Seminar—where honor roll students diligently toil to draft a book in a semester—Tanner can’t resist going against his better judgment and having a go, if only to prove to Autumn how silly the whole thing is. Writing a book in four months sounds simple. Four months is an eternity.

It turns out, Tanner is only partly right: four months is a long time. After all, it takes only one second for him to notice Sebastian Brother, the Mormon prodigy who sold his own Seminar novel the year before and who now mentors the class. And it takes less than a month for Tanner to fall completely in love with him.

Last Saturday, I found myself at the middle of a bookstore trying to take advantage of their ongoing sale. And as I looked for books, I came across a hardcover copy of Autoboyography! I first read it last December (in paperback), and finding a hardcover just made me want to read it all over again. So I did!

New Reading Buddies from Bookie Bookmarks

Hello book nerds! I am here to do another unboxing blog post, this time from Bookie Bookmarks!

Bookie Bookmarks is a bookmark shop based here in the Philippines. They produce regular bookmarks, magnetic bookmarks, and various art prints for bookworms worldwide (yes, worldwide!).

Last June 30, I found out that I was chosen as one of their reps! I am so excited to be working with them and showing other people their lovely works. And that is why I’m here today, to show you the amazing goods I received last Saturday!

Are you ready?!

Mermaid Crate Unboxing: Twist of Fate

Alright! So, I am here today to gush about the book box that I just received! I’ve seen blog posts from others that feature book boxes, and now that I’ve opened mine, I really want to make one of my own and show you guys just how awesome this box is!

Book Review: The Darkest Minds

Title: The Darkest Minds

Author: Alexandra Bracken

Series: Book 1 of the The Darkest Minds series

Genre/s: Young Adult, Fantasy, Science Fiction, Dystopia

My rating: 5 stars

Goodreads summary:

When Ruby woke up on her tenth birthday, something about her had changed. Something alarming enough to make her parents lock her in the garage and call the police. Something that got her sent to Thurmond, a brutal government “rehabilitation camp.” She might have survived the mysterious disease that killed most of America’s children, but she and the others emerged with something far worse: frightening abilities they cannot control.

Now sixteen, Ruby is one of the dangerous ones.

But when the truth about Ruby’s abilities-the truth she’s hidden from everyone, even the camp authorities-comes out, Ruby barely escapes Thurmond with her life. On the run, she joins a group of kids who escaped their own camp: Zu, a young girl haunted by her past; Chubs, a standoffish brainiac; and Liam, their fearless leader, who is falling hard for Ruby. But no matter how much she aches for him, Ruby can’t risk getting close. Not after what happened to her parents.

While they journey to find the one safe haven left for kids like them-East River-they must evade their determined pursuers, including an organization that will stop at nothing to use Ruby in their fight against the government. But as they get closer to grasping the things they’ve dreamed of, Ruby will be faced with a terrible choice, one that may mean giving up her only chance at a life worth living.

My thoughts:

When I first read the synopsis of this book, I was hooked! And then I found out that it was going to be a movie this 2018; that got me even more excited! (I then vowed to read the whole series before the movie comes out haha!)

Book Review: When Dimple Met Rishi

Title: When Dimple Met Rishi

Author: Sandhya Menon

Genre/s: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance

My rating: 4 stars

Goodreads Summary:

Dimple Shah has it all figured out. With graduation behind her, she’s more than ready for a break from her family, from Mamma’s inexplicable obsession with her finding the “Ideal Indian Husband.” Ugh. Dimple knows they must respect her principles on some level, though. If they truly believed she needed a husband right now, they wouldn’t have paid for her to attend a summer program for aspiring web developers…right?

Rishi Patel is a hopeless romantic. So when his parents tell him that his future wife will be attending the same summer program as him—wherein he’ll have to woo her—he’s totally on board. Because as silly as it sounds to most people in his life, Rishi wants to be arranged, believes in the power of tradition, stability, and being a part of something much bigger than himself.

The Shahs and Patels didn’t mean to start turning the wheels on this “suggested arrangement” so early in their children’s lives, but when they noticed them both gravitate toward the same summer program, they figured, Why not?

Dimple and Rishi may think they have each other figured out. But when opposites clash, love works hard to prove itself in the most unexpected ways.

My thoughts:

This was really good! I had so much fun reading this. When Dimple Met Rishi had the right amount of romance, comedy, culture, and breaking societal norms among women and family. It was definitely balanced all throughout the story!

Book Review: Red Queen

Title: Red Queen

Author: Victoria Aveyard

Series: Book 1 of the Red Queen series

Genre/s: Young Adult, Fantasy, Science Fiction, Dystopia

My rating: 4 stars

Goodreads summary:

This is a world divided by blood – red or silver. The Reds are commoners, ruled by a Silver elite in possession of god-like superpowers. And to Mare Barrow, a seventeen-year-old Red girl from the poverty-stricken Stilts, it seems like nothing will ever change. That is until she finds herself working in the Silver Palace. Here, surrounded by the people she hates the most, Mare discovers that, despite her red blood, she possesses a deadly power of her own. One that threatens to destroy the balance of power. Fearful of Mare’s potential, the Silvers hide her in plain view, declaring her a long-lost Silver princess, now engaged to a Silver prince. Despite knowing that one misstep would mean her death, Mare works silently to help the Red Guard, a militant resistance group, and bring down the Silver regime. But this is a world of betrayal and lies, and Mare has entered a dangerous dance – Reds against Silvers, prince against prince, and Mare against her own heart.

My thoughts:

Well. That was certainly a wild ride! A handful of my friends are big fans of this book and they have encouraged me tirelessly to read it. And after months of it being stuck on my TBR pile, I finally got the chance to pick it up!