Title: Finnikin of the Rock
Author: Melina Marchetta
Series: Lumatere Chronicles
Publisher: Candlewick
Published: September 29, 2008
Rating: ★★★★★ (5 out of 5)
Tag Archives: Seriously…You Must Read This
Review: The Boleyn Reckoning by Laura Andersen
Title: The Boleyn Reckoning
Author: Laura Andersen
Series: The Boleyn Trilogy
Rating: ★★★★★
Okay.
Deep Breath.
Okay.
I’ve had a little while to compose myself, and I thought sleeping on it would make the jumble of thoughts in my head make sense. But I woke up just as jumbled and happy and sad and emotional as I fell asleep. I knew going into The Boleyn Reckoning that my heart was going to get crushed. There were too many possible ways for things to go wrong and only a few ways for things to go right. I thought I was prepared. I don’t think I’ve ever been so wrong.
Dominic and Minuette are married. William doesn’t know; he still believes he’s betrothed to Minuette, despite her commoner birth. William has just survived the smallpox, but it’s left him physically and emotionally scarred. Elizabeth is feeling the tensions rise along the Catholic and Protestant division in England and she knows there’s only so much time before something snaps.
I continue to love Minuette, although her character undergoes a major transformation in this novel. She is used to be the lighthearted one of the group, the one that provides happiness to everyone else. Her happiness comes second to her friends. She’d do whatever necessary to make the lives of her friends easier. In the past, this only meant being there and providing light. In this novel, it means burying pieces of herself, making her nearly unrecognizable to her friends. She becomes hardened by life, and even though pieces of the old Minuette are there, she’s forever changed by the events of the novel.
Dominic is still one of my favorite characters. He’s loyal, even to the end. His one act of disloyalty is marrying Minuette, but I can hardly fault him for doing what his heart wanted him to do. Loyalty to Minuette won out over loyalty to William in that moment. Yet, through the rest of the novel, he remains focused on supporting William and being the friend William needs.
William. Oh, William. Being King has changed him, and not for the better. The power and paranoia has gone to his head. He gets rid of every threat, whether it is necessary or not. He is more vengeful than in the past. But he’s also hurting. The three friends he thought he could count on forever-Minuette, Dominic, and Elizabeth-have betrayed his trust in different ways. He feels isolated and alone, without the support he depended on to rule fairly.
Elizabeth really finds her power in this novel. She’s always been a strong woman, but she has to take even more control in this novel. She has to decide which she loves more, her brother or her country. She’s forced to take actions that go against William, but will serve the country better. But through it all, she wants to remain friends with Minuette, As Minuette rises higher and higher within the court, it’s clear Elizabeth is mourning the loss of a friend. They are still around each other, but Minuette has become protective of herself, and that ends up blocking Elizabeth from being close.
The plot of the novel had me tense. I actually snapped at people when they tried to talk to me. I had to know what was going to happen. Tensions were so high and William had become so mad with power that I was almost afraid to but the novel down. I was anxious and I cried. I had to set the book down and take some deep breaths. I even screamed into a pillow at one point. I was on edge up until the last pages. And I loved it.
I am going to miss Minuette, Dominic, Elizabeth, and William more than I can put into words. This is the first alternate history series that I wish had been more true than not. I was so invested in these characters that it’s hurting a little to say goodbye right now. This is a series that is a definite must read for anyone who loves history, but also likes to ask What if? I loved this series and can’t wait to read more from Andersen.
If you’d like to read The Boleyn Reckoning, you can purchase it here:
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Thank you to NetGalley, Ballantine Books, and Laura Andersen for advanced copies of the novel in exchange for an honest review.
Review: Champion by Marie Lu
Title: Champion
Author: Marie Lu
Series: The Legend Trilogy
Rating: ★★★★★
The Legend series has gotten better with each book. After reading Legend, I didn’t think Lu could write anything better. Then I read Prodigy and was amazed at how Lu outdid herself, but was sure she couldn’t top it. There was no way. And then there was Champion. Even if she had written a novel that wasn’t as great as the first two, it would still be fantastic. But I loved this book even more than the first two. It’s not a “let’s wrap this up in the perfect bow” book. It’s a “let’s make an impact and give the characters the ending they deserve” book.
June is one of three Princeps-Elects. She is getting a firsthand experience in the world of politics. Day has a high-level military position and works to keep the peoples’ faith in the Republic. Despite their high ranks, life isn’t perfect for them. June feels out of place in politics, even though she knows it’s a position of high honor. Day is trying to move beyond the past and make a new life for him and his brother. But there’s a piece missing in their lives they both try to ignore. When they are brought together again because of a growing threat, they have to deal with saving the Republic and saving their relationship.
The characters are what make me love this novel. The plot and action are nice, but without the right characters, I probably wouldn’t have loved reading this book so much. June is analytical, but that’s the way she keeps her head when everything is falling apart around her. When she lets her guard down, though, she’s vulnerable and just wants something, someone real to hold on to. Day has a tough exterior, having to fight for everything growing up. But he cares so much for the people he loves that he would do anything to take pain away from them. These two characters alone are what make this novel so amazing, not to mention all the secondary characters.
I was on the edge of my seat the entire time. I wasn’t sure how Lu would be able to end things. I had all these ideas and scenarios in my head, but none of them compared to what actually happened. Just when things look like they’re getting better, something pops up and a whole new plan has to be formed. I felt my heart drop at times, only to have it lodged in my throat a few moments later.
Champion is the best ending this series could have. It wrapped things up, but left pieces to the imagination of the reader. There’s tragedy and pain, but hope and happiness, too. This is the ending the characters deserved. The entire Legend series is a must read.
If Champion sounds like your kind of novel, you can purchase it here:
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Review: Into the Still Blue by Veronica Rossi
Title: Into the Still Blue
Author: Veronica Rossi
Series: Under the Never Sky
Rating: ★★★★★
I had loved every book in this series. The world and characters Rossi created are so incredibly thought out and real that finishing this book felt like saying goodbye to friends. It was a sad feeling, but in the best possible way. After Under the Never Sky and Through the Ever Night, I had high hopes and expectations for Into the Still Blue. Rossi far exceeded everything I wanted for this book.
At the end of Through the Ever Night Perry had moved the Tides into the safety of a cave. They knew Hess and Sable had teamed up to travel to the Still Blue. They also had Cinder. Aether storms were getting worse and time was running out for everyone. Soon, the storms would destroy everything, including them. Perry brings a team together to rescue Cinder and steal enough hovers for the Tides population. The team is dysfunctional, though, and from the beginning things don’t always go to plan. The rest of the novel is filled with action, drama, romance, and everything I could have wanted.
The relationships in this book, in this series, are what make it so amazing. Of course there’s the love story between Aria and Perry. They’re just as wonderful in this book, having to go through a few rough patches before coming out stronger and better. But every relationship in the book is that way. They all have dimension and feel incredibly real. Aria and Roar have one of the best friendships I’ve read in a book. Rossi could have easily turned this into a love triangle, but she didn’t. Instead she created a friendship that I envy. They are always there for each other, and love each other, but it’s still friendship. One of the strongest I’ve ever read. Even the relationships with the more minor characters are fleshed out and wonderful.
I don’t want to go into too much about the plot. I don’t want to spoil any piece of this novel for anyone. But something I love about how Rossi writes is how she paces everything. It’s not action upon action upon action through the entire novel. Instead, she throws a lot at you, makes your heart race and your breath catch. Then she gives everyone a break, a few chapters to breathe and to recover. There’s sweetness and swoons, usually, in those breaks. The action and plot make you fall in love with the book, the pauses make you fall in love with the characters.
There were times when I was close to tears. Sometimes it was because of what was written. Other times it was because I knew I was nearing the end of the book. I’m not ready to leave the world of Aria and Perry, yet I also loved how the story ended. This is a series I will be reading over and over again. It’s nearly perfect in every way and I’m incredibly grateful to Rossi for writing it.
If Into the Still Blue sounds like your kind of novel, you can purchase it here:
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Thank you to Edelweiss and HarperCollins for an advanced copy of the novel in exchange for an honest review.
Review: The Boleyn Deceit by Laura Andersen
Title: The Boleyn Deceit
Author: Laura Andersen
Series: The Boleyn Trilogy
Rating: ★★★★★
If a book is good, it makes me feel a lot of emotions. If a book is amazing, it makes me feel too many emotions and I end up face-first on the floor because the emotions take over and I can’t function. The Boleyn Deceit had me on the floor, unable to figure out what to do with my emotions and wondering why history wasn’t Andersen’s books.
The Boleyn Deceit follows shortly after The Boleyn King. Minuette and Dominic are in love, but William has his heart set on Minuette. Elizabeth is wishing she could admit her feelings for Robert Dudley without repercussions. Minuette is still searching for the person behind the death of her friend, and is becoming the center of rumors and death threats. All the drama and intrigue of the Tudor court is there and it’s hard to believe this isn’t how history happened.
Elizabeth is the same, stubborn, strong, determined woman in this series as she is written in the history books. She is levelheaded most of the time, but both she and William have the Tudor temper to deal with at times. Dominic is calm, controlled, and rational. Minuette is innocent, but not as naive as others believe. She may not be as experienced in the darker side of court life, but that doesn’t mean she can’t play the game.
The dynamic between these four has changed from the first novel. In the beginning, the weight of responsibilities didn’t weigh so heavy on them. They were never carefree, but they were able to forget their troubles, if only for a little while, and just be friends. William looked to these three to be his support, to always tell him the truth because they are the only ones he trusts. In The Boleyn Deceit, secrets have changed their relationships and even though they say they still trust each other completely, William becoming king means that is not always true. As William adjusts to being king, his relationships become more about usefulness and that in turn changes the relationships between the close four.
The weaving of the deception and trickery is so fantastic that just when I thought everything had been revealed, Andersen adds another twist that fits to perfectly that I couldn’t believe I didn’t see it coming. There are layers of deceit and just as one knot unravels, another forms. It’s deliciously tangled and I love it.
The Boleyn Deceit is a novel just as amazing and breathtaking as any story from history. Andersen has created characters and plots that are so perfectly in tune with the period that I forget I’m reading an alternate history novel. I’m a huge history buff and while I contemplate how things would have turned out if one thing were changed in the story, I’m usually sticking with the facts. Andersen makes me wish this is how everything turned out. Her writing and story are so perfect that for once, I want to change history. The Boleyn Reckoning cannot get here soon enough.
If The Boleyn Deceit sounds like your kind of novel, you can purchase it here:
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Thank you to Random House publishers and NetGalley for an advanced copy of the novel in exchange for an honest review.
Review: Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas
Title: Crown of Midnight
Author: Sarah J. Maas
Series: Throne of Glass
Rating: ★★★★★
I am nearly speechless. It’s rare for me to lose words when it comes to books I love, but Maas has managed to write a book that took the words from me. I’ve been eagerly awaiting Crown of Midnight and it did not let me down at all. I mean…wow.
Celaena is now the King’s Champion, doing his bidding by getting rid of his enemies. He tells her a name; she goes to get rid of the “problem.” It’s the bargain she has made for her freedom. She is anything but loyal to the king, though, and that puts not only herself in danger, but those she cares for as well. Chaol is the man she finds herself drawn to, but she values her friendship with Prince Dorian as well. Things only get more complicated when secret plots and long forgotten information start finding their way out.
Celaena is a dichotomy. She is fearless, yet cowardly. She’s strong, yet powerless. She’s incredibly brilliant, but confused. She has no problem taking on someone in a fight. She knows how to handle herself there. But when faced with secrets and cover-ups, she cowers. She can fight against the most well trained fighter and win, but she can’t fight against forces she can’t see. When faced with horrible tasks, she figures out a way around them in order to save lives, but lets her emotions cloud her judgment at times. She’s a fascinating character and after the last chapter, I really cannot wait to read more about her.
Chaol and Dorian are still wonderful. Dorian has accepted that he may not be her first choice and that creates a bit of tension between the three of them. He still wants to remain friends, but the lines are blurry and need to be sorted out first. Chaol is loyal to the crown and he lets that interfere with what he wants to do. And then trouble hits and the three of them fall apart and roles are changed. It’s amazing how Maas can write a love triangle that’s not really a triangle, but still lets you have those warm, fuzzy feelings about both boys. I love it.
The plot. My, oh my. The entire story is a thing of beauty. There are creates and fights and secrets and it’s simply lovely to read. Everything that happens answers one question but leaves you with more. It’s a twisting, winding maze that I can’t see the end of, but can’t help but try to piece together. That I have to wait until next year to get more of the story is leaving my insides curling.
Crown of Midnight is a stunning novel that has me declaring that this is a must read series and author. Maas can write an amazing novel and the wait for the next novel is way, way to long. I need it in my hands as soon as possible.
If Crown of Midnight sounds like your kind of novel, you can purchase it here:
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Review: The Bitter Kingdom by Rae Carson
Title: The Bitter Kingdom
Author: Rae Carson
Series: Fire and Thorns
Rating: ★★★★★
This is such a bittersweet review to write. One the one hand, the book was amazing. Everything I wanted, could have asked for, and more. But it’s the last of the series, and I almost didn’t want to read it, just so I could make the series last.
Elisa is on the run. Not only is she a fugitive in her own country, but her enemies have taken the man she loves to lure her to them. Her Godstone is more alive than ever and she knows she still has more to accomplish. She is driven and determined to not fail the man she loves, her country, her friends, and herself. Every choice she makes is important and the pressure she is under is immense.
Elisa is amazing in The Bitter Kingdom. She doesn’t let worry or fear cloud her judgment. She knows she faces many problems, but instead of losing control, she decides what to do and when. She uses her voice powerfully and doesn’t back down when she knows she’s right. There is so much she accomplishes in this novel.
There is also a glimpse into Hector’s mind in The Bitter Kingdom. They don’t take up a large section of the novel, but they are enough. They show the respect and admiration he has for Elisa as well as the love he has for her. They carry so much weight in so few pages, but they give you such a good, warm feeling. As for the romance between Elisa and Hector, Carson isn’t building it up as much in this novel, but instead focuses on showing how Hector and Elisa are equals, and how their love built on friendship, trust, and admiration is a guiding force for each of them.
The storyline just about did me in. I couldn’t stop reading, deciding sleep wasn’t necessary and that caffeine loading the next day would be completely worth it. I just had to know what was going to happen next. There was no easy spot to stop and say “here is good, I’ll pick it up here tomorrow.” I even had trouble stopping to make myself lunch and dinner. The action and fighting was intense, and even the times when there wasn’t fighting, I still couldn’t put the book down.
The Bitter Kingdom is one of the best series ending novels I’ve read. It has a little bi of everything and is incredibly well written. I’m extremely sad to see this series end, but it ended perfectly. I cannot wait to see what Carson comes up with next.
If The Bitter Kingdom sounds like your kind of novel, you can purchase it here:
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Review: Letters from Skye by Jessica Brockmole
Title: Letters from Sky
Author: Jessica Brockmole
Rating: ★★★★★
Letters as a way of communicating are going away. People no longer wait by their mailbox with the hopes a letter will come for them. We email now, or use Facebook or Twitter. Near instant communication. We also share so much of our lives today that things that used to be private have now become basic public information. I think this is why the letter format of Letters from Skye appealed to me so much.
The entire novel is made up of letters. Every single page is filled with correspondence; letters between David and Elspeth, letters between Elspeth’s daughter Margaret and Paul…every detail of the story is given between the lines of those letters. There is only so much a letter can convey. It’s a tiny glimpse into the life of the letter’s author. The entire story isn’t told; there are details that aren’t there, days that are left blank. But what is in those letters is a love story spanning countries, oceans, continents, and decades.
Elspeth is a poet who has never ventured beyond the island she calls home. She finds inspiration in the land she grew up on, and the poems she writes leads an American to write her first fan letter. From there, a friendship builds. David and Elspeth begin a relationship of honesty and truth. They begin to depend upon each other and their friendship continues to grow until love finds its way in. Just when they think they might be able to start something amazing, David becomes involved in World War I and their letters become even more important.
The other set of letters, between Margaret and Paul, takes place during World War II. Paul is a fighter pilot for the Royal Air Force and Margaret has fallen for him. Elspeth warns her daughter of what a war can do to a relationship, but Margaret holds onto her love with Paul. After a bomb sends letters flying around the home Margaret and Elspeth share, Margret begins to question her mother and her secrets. They are the secret Elspeth has kept locked away for 20 years, even from Margaret. When Elspeth disappears, taking the letters with her, Margaret sets off on a journey to discover her mother’s story and how that is tied to Margaret’s unknown father.
David and Elspeth’s love story is powerful and real. The challenges they face, shown through these letters, are moving and brought tears to my eyes. Getting to see this love span the decades through letters is more powerful than reading a narrative would have been. Sure, there are some details that aren’t shared, but what you do read is even better. You read two people falling in love and finding a way to maintain that relationship through a war.
I imagine that reading Letters from Skye is much like hearing the story about how your grandparents fell in love. You many hear one story from you grandpa, and one from your grandma, but once you read those letters they exchanged before getting married, you finally understand it. I don’t know how to describe the feeling this book gave me, but it moved me to tears.
Letters from Skye is Brockmole’s first novel. I am hoping beyond expression that it isn’t her last. Her way of weaving a story so beautiful has made me a devoted fan from the very first page. Even if you aren’t a huge fan of historical fiction, this is a must read book.
To purchase your copy of Letter from Skye, click on one of the links below:
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Thank you to Ballantine Books and NetGalley for the advanced copy of the novel in exchange for an honest review.
Review: The Sea of Tranquility by Katja Millay
Title: The Sea of Tranquility
Author: Katja Millay
Rating: ★★★★★
Sometimes a book comes up and smacks you in the face with how amazing it is. You think you’re ready when you read it, and that the heartbreak you know is coming won’t sneak up on you. Then you’re reading the book and before you realize what it happening, you heart is in a million pieces, those pieces have lodged themselves in your throat, and you can’t breathe because of how perfect the words you are reading are.
The Sea of Tranquility is one of those books. I was wholly unprepared for what this book did to me. I knew it wasn’t going to be lighthearted, yet parts of it were. I knew there would be a bit of love, but I didn’t understand just how perfect that love would be. I knew my heart would break, but I didn’t realize how many pieces a heart could break into until I read this book.
Nastya is trying to find her way in a new life. Everything she has ever known was taken away from her in a few short moments and she’s left to rebuild some form of life. As much as she wants to find a way to live, things are holding her back. She can’t seem to find a way to move forward without things dragging her back to a world she doesn’t know how to live in anymore.
Josh loses the people he loves until it’s just him. He shuts people out, not wanting to risk losing anyone else. If he doesn’t give himself anyone to love, he won’t have to lose anyone else. He has people in his life, but he keeps them safely locked away from any real emotional connection to keep them safe.
When these two people started an unlikely relationship, I knew the hurt was going to come. They share some secrets, but keep others. What started as a relationship of toleration slowly becomes friendship which leads to romance. These two people don’t jump right into their feelings; both know that feeling can be dangerous.
Nastya and Josh are looking for the second chances. They’re looking for a way to forge ahead in life, even though their pasts haven’t been kind. They want the chance to love and be okay. Every page is laced with that need. Even more than they want each other, they need that second chance. Millay did an amazing job in keeping the story authentic, giving just the right about of hurt coupled with a pinch of hope.
I really don’t have the words to express how much this novel moved me. Nastya and Josh were broken, and they aren’t magically fixed in this book. To expect perfection after everything that happened would have made this book felt wrong. Even though everything wasn’t wrapped up in a perfect little bow, the last words of the novel were exactly what they needed to be. I will never look at pennies, garages, or woodwork the same again.
The Sea of Tranquility is a perfect book. Read it. There’s nothing else I can say.
You want to buy this novel and read it. I know you do. So click here:
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Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for a copy of the novel in exchange for an honest review.
Review: The Boleyn King by Laura Andersen
Title: The Boleyn King
Author: Laura Anderson
Series: The Boleyn Trilogy
Pages: 368 pages paperback/ebook, 386 pages Kindle
Rating: ★★★★★
Okay. So. Alternate history. I wasn’t sure about this. I’m a huge history buff. As I write this review, the History Channel is on in the background and they’re talking about the founding fathers. Not only do I love history, but Tudor history is a time that fascinates me. Every person had a part, even the women (even though they were severely underestimated) and the fact that a country and religion was turned upside down because of a few select people amazes me. Writing a rewrite of that history could either be one of the best things I’ve read or one of the worst.
I am over the moon that The Boleyn King awed me. The way Anderson has crafted her story makes it feel as though this really could be the true history. She could have easily made the characters fit the better moral standards we have now, but it would not have felt authentic. The drama is there, both in the court and with France, and Anderson has done an extraordinary job of imagining how the past could have been dramatically different. With one change, so much potential was unleashed and Anderson took full advantage.
The story is written mostly in 3rd person from four points of view; Minuette, Dominic, Elizabeth, and William. Minuette is an orphan born on the same day and William and grows up as a part of his and Elizabeth’s lives. She is fortunate and knows it, but never takes advantage. Dominic is the best friend of Will and always speaks his mind when others would lie to the king. William knows he needs that and trusts Dominic more than nearly everyone else in his household. Elizabeth is the dutiful princess wishing for something a little more free. She knows her role, but that doesn’t stop her from dreaming of having choices.
These four have grown up together and their friendships create a fantastic story. I cared for every single one of them and the dynamic between all these characters unfolded wonderfully. Will and Elizabeth had their moments of being royal, and then a few pages later they are just people with their friends. Minuette and Dominic are able to speak more freely with the royals than most and that creates a special kind of tension and jealousy within the court.
The Boleyn King drew me in on the first page and it only got better from there. It’s not hard to picture this as a history book instead of a fiction novel and that is what I love most about it. Anderson completely convinced me of this alternate history and waiting for the next book is going to be its own form of torture.
If The Boleyn King sounds like your kind of book, you can purchase it here:
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Thank you to Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine and NetGalley for an advanced copy of the novel in exchange for an honest review.
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