Nevernight - Review

Book Review:
Title: Nevernight
Author: Jay Kristoff
Publisher: HarperVoyager
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

“I’m a rumour. A whisper. The thought that wakes the bastards of this world sweating in the nevernight.”

Destined to destroy empires, Mia Covere is only ten years old when she is given her first lesson in death.
Six years later, the child raised in shadows takes her first steps towards keeping the promise she made on the day that she lost everything.
But the chance to strike against such powerful enemies will be fleeting, so if she is to have her revenge, Mia must become a weapon without equal. She must prove herself against the deadliest of friends and enemies, and survive the tutelage of murderers, liars and demons at the heart of a murder cult.
The Red Church is no Hogwarts, but Mia is no ordinary student.
The shadows love her. And they drink her fear.

What a book!
When I first became aware of Nevernight, there were three key words I constantly heard over and over again that stuck with me. Three words that ultimately drew me into this book and made me realise that this is a book I NEED to read. What were those three words you say? Assassins, Revenge & Murder. Otherwise know as my kind of book. Honestly, what more could I even ask for?! (Okay, maybe some more romance because I'm a sucker for a good romance, but it still had basically everything I love)
This book managed to deliver on everything it pitched - there were assassins, there was revenge and there were a lot of murders, some of which are still a bit too raw to talk about *sobs* (Jay Kristoff is ruthless!)

So we have our main protagonist, Mia Covere, who at the tender age of 10 was made to stand and watch as her father was murdered right in front of her eyes. Since that life changing moment, six years ago, she has lived her life with one goal in mind, avenge her father's death. And once Mia sets her mind to something, she ensures that she sticks to it and doesn't let anything or anyone get in her way. And trust me when I say, you would not want to get in her way. She will cut you! It's one of the main things I admired about her; she was a head-strong and all-around intriguing, complex character. I mean, she has the power to control the shadows!! How cool is that?! I loved learning more about her ability throughout this book and seeing how she can command the shadows and bend them to her will. Forget flying, super strength & all those other powers, I want to control the shadows!

Also while we're on the topic of shadows, I just want to quickly share my love for Mister Kindly who is Mia's very own shadow cat and definitely one of my favourite characters of the book!
To be honest, I loved every character in this book. They were all so fascinating and each of them added something special to the story. We had Tric, Ashlinn and Jessamine to name a few.

As a whole, I really enjoyed this book, but there were two things that unfortunately stopped this book from being a 5 star read. (Bear in mind that these are my personal opinions and that they may differ from other people)

1. It took quite a bit of time to really get used to the writing and be able to fully immerse myself into the story. The ARC I had was 640 pages and I believe it took about 150 pages for it all to really click with me.
2. The footnotes didn't work for me. They were actually very interesting and funny at times, but every time I read one, especially the longer ones, it ended up distracting me and pulled me out of the story.  

But other than those two points, this was a fantastic read!

On a different note, I've seen a lot of discussion on whether this book should be classed as young-adult or adult. Everyone has their own different view points, which is great, but personally rather than classing this as one or the other all I'm going to say is, that this book is a dark & gritty read. It has graphic violence, sexual scenes and a lot of swearing. If these don't bother you, then I really recommend you pick this book up.
In my opinion, as a young-adult, I actually found it quite refreshing to see a teenage character swearing. So many authors when writing about a teenager tend to refrain from including swear words and dirty deeds, but in some ways, it makes the story unrealistic for me, because who are we kidding, teenagers swear a lot! (Though I do understand and respect that it may make some feel uncomfortable when reading)

Never Flinch. Never Fear. Never Forget.

4 Stars
Goodreads

The Crown's Game - Blog Tour (Review)

Blog Tour & Review:
Title: The Crown's Game
Author: Evelyn Skye
Publisher: HarperCollins

WELCOME to the second day of The Crown's Game blog tour, which just so happens to be on my blog. For my portion, I will be sharing my thoughts and feelings on this magical book.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

"For the winner of the game, there would be unimaginable power. For the defeated, desolate oblivion. The Crown's Game was not one to lose."

Vika Andreyeva can summon the snow and turn ash into gold. Nikolai Karimov can see through walls and conjure bridges out of thin air. They are enchanters—the only two in Russia—and with the Ottoman Empire and the Kazakhs threatening, the Tsar needs a powerful enchanter by his side.

And so he initiates the Crown’s Game, an ancient duel of magical skill—the greatest test an enchanter will ever know. The victor becomes the Imperial Enchanter and the Tsar’s most respected adviser. The defeated is sentenced to death.

Raised on tiny Ovchinin Island her whole life, Vika is eager for the chance to show off her talent in the grand capital of Saint Petersburg. But can she kill another enchanter—even when his magic calls to her like nothing else ever has?

For Nikolai, an orphan, the Crown’s Game is the chance of a lifetime. But his deadly opponent is a force to be reckoned with—beautiful, whip smart, imaginative—and he can’t stop thinking about her.

And when Pasha, Nikolai’s best friend and heir to the throne, also starts to fall for the mysterious enchantress, Nikolai must defeat the girl they both love... or be killed himself.

As long-buried secrets emerge, threatening the future of the empire, it becomes dangerously clear... the Crown’s Game is not one to lose.

I first came across The Crown's Game in early 2016 when reading blog posts about 2016's most anticipated reads. It looked like everyone and their mother was waiting for this book to release, so I looked up the blurb...and instantly became one of those people. I was then lucky enough to receive an early copy of the book from the lovely Alice at HarperCollins. No time was wasted before I picked it up and devoured it within two days, and although it wasn't exactly what I expected, it was quite an enjoyable read.

I want to start off by talking about the magic within this book. As this is a fantasy story and the fact that the whole premise of this book centres around magic, it was highly important that every detail of it was executed well. And it was! Both of Nikolai's and Vika's enchantments were beautifully unique in their own way. The thing I loved most was that both of their magic couldn't have been any more different, which meant that I was always on edge since I could never tell who was in the lead. There was no way to compare who did the better job, they were both individually special.

Another thing I loved about this book was the setting and world-building. The Crown's Game takes place in Imperial Russia, which is always so fascinating to read and learn about. While reading this book it was quite easy to tell that the author had put a lot of effort and research into building this book and setting. The descriptions and imagery were vivid and imaginative, yet they were also realistic. The perfect mix.

Now, the magic and world-building were amazing, but one thing that I didn't enjoy as much was the romance/love triangle in this book. Now, personally I'm not the biggest fan of love triangles purely because they can become a tad too angsty for me, but if done well, I am able to endure them. I think the main issue I had with this love-triangle was that is all felt a bit too much like insta-love. From the first moment Nikolai and Pasha met Vika there was this instant attraction and connection which felt rushed. I would have have preferred a much more slow-burn attraction to make it more believable, but that's just my opinion.
However saying that, it did not take much away from the story, since it focuses mainly on the game rather than the romance.

My favourite relationship of the entire book was actually the friendship between Nikolai and Pasha. These two boys come from totally different backgrounds, yet their friendship has managed to stay strong. At times their relationship did become a bit rocky, but ultimately they always had respect and love for each other. And I do admire a good friendship!

One thing I don't admire though is THAT ENDING! Some may say that the author ended this book quite cruelly or  some may say they ended quite cleverly. Cruelly because...well you'll have you read the book to figure that out. And cleverly because it leaves you desperately needing and wanting the second book. How will I cope with having to wait a WHOLE YEAR before I can get my hands on the sequel? HOW?
If you need me, I shall be lying in a pool of my own tears until next year.

But overall, this book is a beautiful and captivating read with it's vivid and imaginative setting and it's utterly unique magic.
If you enjoy Imperial Russia, magic and strong world-building be sure to pick up a copy of The Crown's Game when it comes out (June 30th in the UK)

4 Stars
Goodreads

And that is a wrap on my portion of The Crown's Game Blog Tour! Be sure to check out the rest of the blog tour, dates & links below.

A Court of Mist & Fury - Review

Book Review:
Title: A Court of Mist & Fury
Author: Sarah J. Maas
Publisher: Bloomsbury

“To the people who look at the stars and wish, Rhys."
Rhys clinked his glass against mine. “To the stars who listen— and the dreams that are answered.”

 Feyre survived Amarantha's clutches to return to the Spring Court - but at a steep cost. Though she now has the powers of the High Fae, her heart remains human, and it can't forget the terrible deeds she performed to save Tamlin's people.
Nor has Feyre forgotten her bargain with Rhysand, High Lord of the feared Night Court. As Feyre navigates its dark web of politics, passion, and dazzling power, a greater evil looms - and she might be key to stopping it. But only if she can harness her harrowing gifts, heal her fractured soul, and decide how she wishes to shape her future - and the future of a world cleaved in two.

How do I even convert my feeling into words. In my mind, all I can think is 'ASDFGHJKL PERFECTION. ABSOLUTE PERFECTION. RHYSAND. PERFECTION. FEYRE. PERFECTION. FEMINISM. PERFECTION.' and so on..
As you can see, my mind cannot process any coherent sentences regarding ACOMAF, but I'll try my best anyways.

This book was PERFECTION! (Have I said that already?) But honestly, I cannot fault this book at all. It was everything I wanted and more. It was an epic fantasy story. A unforgettable romance novel. But most importantly, it was an inspiring book about self discovery. 

I'll try to keep spoilers to a minimum, but in this novel we see Feyre realising her self worth. Understanding that nobody should settle for less than they deserve. That every female has a right to their own opinions and wants. That if there are people in your life who don't respect you and treat you as an equal, you should remove them from your life, because they will only drag you down. It was both beautiful and inspiring to read. This book touched me very deeply, and I want to give the highest praise to Sarah J. Maas for it. It's not often you see such a strong character growth and arc. 

Speaking of characters, I absolutely adored all of the new additions to the series. We had Cassian, Azriel, Mor, Amren, to name a few. They are all part of the Night Court, which I think is safe to say is my favourite court out of them all. The Night Court is literally what dreams are made of. I could live there forever, especially if I was surrounded by such awesome people. I mean it also helps that Rhysand is the High Lord.
If you haven't figured it out yet, Team Rhysand!
 
I loved seeing much more of Rhys and his life in this book. Seeing Feyre struggle broke me, but so did learning about Rhysand's past. He hasn't had an easy life. When anything seems to go right for him, there's always something new that pushes him back. It's heartbreaking! I need him to get the happy ending that he deserves. He has suffered way too much.
You can see clearly how much he loves and cares for Feyre, yet he doesn't make the same mistakes Tamlin does. He worries about her and wants to protect her, but understands that she is capable and should be able to make her own decisions. He let's her be her own person. And that - as well as his other traits - makes him pretty much near perfection in my eyes. 

Moving on to the plot of the story. In one word; Perfection! (Am I using that word too much?)
In more words; It was non-stop action that kept my heart racing. I was unfortunately spoiled on some minor plot points of ACOMAF before it was released, which I was annoyed about, but it did not take anything away from the story. There were many parts which I knew were coming, yet when they arrived my stomach still dropped and my mind was still blown. Also, THAT ENDING! I (sort of) regret reading ACOMAF within a day, because the wait for the next book is going to be TORTURE! Cauldron save me! Though I have complete faith that the wait will be worth it entirely.

Before I wrap this review up, there's one more topic I want to share my feelings about. And that topic is the sexual content within this book. Now, before reading ACOMAF I knew there were going to be some steamy scenes, but what I read, I did not expect. WOW! I assume that there will be a number of people who will try to make this into a big issue and will argue that it shouldn't be classed as YA, which I understand to some degree. However as a young adult myself (17 years old) I had no problem with those scenes at all and found it quite refreshing to see some sexual relations in a YA novel. It should definitely be embraced more in young-adult fiction.

Well, there are my views. It was so hard to put my feeling into words and not just write 'ASDFGHJKL' repeatedly. 
It's only May, but I can already guarantee that this book will be part of my Top 10 of 2016.

To sum up in 6 words: An epic romantic, feminist fantasy novel

5+ Stars (ALL THE STARS)
Goodreads

The Raven King - Review

Book Review:
Title: The Raven King
Author: Maggie Stiefvater
Publisher: Scholastic

“He was a book, and he was holding his final pages, and he wanted to get to the end to find out how it went, and he didn't want it to be over.”

Read my review for the The Raven Boys (1st in series) HERE, my review for The Dream Thieves (2nd in series) HERE and my review for Blue Lily, Lily Blue HERE

This review may have some minor spoilers for the entire series.
 
All her life, Blue has been warned that she will cause her true love's death. She doesn't believe in true love and never thought this would be a problem, but as her life becomes caught up in the strange and sinister world of the Raven Boys, she's not so sure anymore.

I can't believe it's over. It's actually over. No more Blue. No more Gansey. No more Ronan. No more Adam. And no more Noah. What do I do with myself? I've become way too attached to these characters (like I do with every series I read) and I just don't think I'm ready to let go yet. 

However, saying that, this was quite a brilliant finale. It was action-packed from start to finish (some may argue it was too packed) and my heart was racing - and breaking - constantly throughout it. From the very first book, we've both seen and been told of Gansey's fate. Even Maggie herself said that - and I quote - 'That kid is going down.' Furthermore, I think we were told like four times within the first couple of chapters of The Raven King that Gansey was going to die. Knowing something like that really keeps you on edge. I mean, I could have easily read this book in one sitting, but the constant death reminders scared me, so I ended up reading the book over 2 days to prolong the experience and preserves Gansey's life. 

In the previous books there are little hints of romance, but it's not focused purely on that topic. This book however, has so many more 'romantic' moments with pretty much every character. Some people may not enjoy that, but I for one am a sucker for romance so I loved it. The Bluesy scenes and the Pynch scenes we got were everything I wanted and needed. So much swooning! 
The relationships as a whole within the gang, both romantic and platonic, are just inspiring. They always had each others backs. They always saw the best in each other. And they would die for each other. Literally. It's the kind of friendship you strive for in life.

The Raven King is without a doubt my favourite book of the series, but I did have one little issue with it. I wanted more Noah! Noah is my son. My precious Cinnamon Roll. And I felt dissatisfied with how much Noah we got in this book. It felt like he had been pushed to the side as a minor character, and I didn't like that. Some might disagree with me, but that's just my personal view. If we had more Noah, this would definitely be a five star read, but unfortunately due to that issue I can only give it 4.5 stars, which to be honest is still an amazing rating. 

Other than that, I cannot fault this book. Maggie Stiefvater knew exactly what she was doing. I think the direction that this book took was done well and even though it completely shattered my heart, I wouldn't change anything (apart from having more Noah, obviously.)

So, I guess those are my views about this finale. I haven't spoken much about the plot, because I don't think I can say anything without spoiling it, but in short, I loved it!
It's sad to say goodbye to such a fantastic series, yet I'm excited to see what Maggie has in store for us next. And hopefully, she *might* consider writing about the gang again? (One can dream)


4.5 Stars
Goodreads