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Wednesday, September 30, 2020

Caraval Book Review


 

Hi guys!


Fun story. Last summer I started a book that everyone was hyped about. I got one chapter in, decided I hated it, and didn’t finish it. 

Today, I’m giving that same book a five star review. 


The Blurb:


Scarlett Dragna has never left the tiny island where she and her sister, Tella, live with their powerful, and cruel, father. Now Scarlett’s father has arranged a marriage for her, and Scarlett thinks her dreams of seeing Caraval—the faraway, once-a-year performance where the audience participates in the show—are over.


But this year, Scarlett’s long-dreamt-of invitation finally arrives. With the help of a mysterious sailor, Tella whisks Scarlett away to the show. Only, as soon as they arrive, Tella is kidnapped by Caraval’s mastermind organizer, Legend. It turns out that this season’s Caraval revolves around Tella, and whoever finds her first is the winner.


Scarlett has been told that everything that happens during Caraval is only an elaborate performance. Nevertheless she becomes enmeshed in a game of love, heartbreak, and magic. 


The Plot:


The plot to this book was so fun. Knowing the tag line—remember, it’s only a game—had me suspicious of literally everything. It was a really interesting ride of twists and turns, where some of the things that seemed perfectly ordinary were some of the biggest tricks, and then other things I was positive were important turned out to be completely ordinary. 


This is one of the first books in a long time that I didn’t guess the outcome long before finishing it, and the ending left so many strings to tie up that it just makes a person want to dive right into the next book.


The Characters: 


Scarlett makes an interesting leading lady. It seems like most of the books I read have girls who’s flaw is to dive into things without thinking. Scarlett has the opposite problem. I spent a good part of the book screaming at her to just do something. Anything. It definitely kept a person in suspense. 


Tella perfectly captures that youngest child attitude and it’s fun to see how the two sisters bounce off each other. 


Julian. Ah, Julian. I started out hating him, then liking him, and it just went back and forth about a thousand times. The perfect book boyfriend. 


I could go on about Legend, how despite not being on the page much (at all?) his character came through so delightfully in all of his schemes with the games. I really liked getting to see some of the letters he wrote too. Dante, with all his tattoos and his vain personality is quite possibly my favorite. Tragic that. 


Really the one point that needs to be drove across is just how aesthetic this book is. From the main cast, all the way down to the background characters who only appear for a scene or two, each and every one of them had such a beautiful, obvious aesthetic. The author did a fantastic job of painting this magic dipped world, where the beauty is on perfect display, with evil undertones coloring the shadows, all without it becoming sensory overload. 


Spot on. 


Wednesday, September 23, 2020

All the Stars and Teeth Book Review


 


Hey guys!


Today I’m reviewing All the Stars and Teeth by Adalyn Grace. I’ve had it for awhile, but finally got around to reading it this summer. 


Here is the blurb:



Set in a kingdom where danger lurks beneath the sea, mermaids seek vengeance with song, and magic is a choice.


She will reign.


As princess of the island kingdom Visidia, Amora Montara has spent her entire life training to be High Animancer — the master of souls. The rest of the realm can choose their magic, but for Amora, it’s never been a choice. To secure her place as heir to the throne, she must prove her mastery of the monarchy’s dangerous soul magic.


When her demonstration goes awry, Amora is forced to flee. She strikes a deal with Bastian, a mysterious pirate: he’ll help her prove she’s fit to rule, if she’ll help him reclaim his stolen magic.


But sailing the kingdom holds more wonder — and more peril — than Amora anticipated. A destructive new magic is on the rise, and if Amora is to conquer it, she’ll need to face legendary monsters, cross paths with vengeful mermaids, and deal with a stow-away she never expected… or risk the fate of Visidia and lose the crown forever.


I am the right choice. The only choice. And I will protect my kingdom. 



Cool right? I’m giving this book 4 stars. 


The plot: 


The idea of soul magic is very creepy, and the author did a fantastic job of making it such an aesthetic part of the culture. Really, the whole book is very aesthetic, weaving in bones and colors and of course pirates and ships, and delicious stuff like that. 


My only qualms were that the first chapter or two really dragged for me. It felt like I was being bombarded with world building, and all I knew about Amora was that she really wanted to sail, and it kind of made her a brat. There were also a few places where the wording threw me. The story world was so deep and captivating, and then a handful of modern sounding phrases were thrown in and it pulled me of the moment. 


That being said, the wording wasn’t the end of the world, and after chapter two things took off, and got moving. Then I couldn’t stop reading. And the world building was necessary to understand what happened next, so I’ll forgive it all being thrown into the first chapter. 


There were several fun plot twists that I didn’t see coming (keep an eye out on Bastian), and the entire magic system felt very fleshed out and in depth. I loved all the different cultures on each island, and the scene where the mermaid takes them underwater gave me goosebumps. 


The characters:


Like I mentioned, Amora starts out a bit of a brat. But that actually turns out to be a neat aspect of her character arc. In the beginning, she’s very much got the attitude of she’s the only one who can rule her people, in a very haughty way. By the end, she still thinks she’s the only one who can rule her people, which is really fun since I think it’s unusual for characters to not actually change their opinion by the end. But this time her attitude about it is much more humble, and urgent. She cares deeply about her people and wants to rule well. 


Bastian is very fun. I was expecting more of a pirate figure, and instead I got an injured puppy. Poor little guy. He just needs a hug. He does a good job of hiding it with his suave pirate facade though, which adds in plenty of humor. 


Amora’s fiancĂ© is a hoot. If nothing else it’s fun to watch (read?) him squirm at all the horrors Amora drags him through. The dude had his arm cut off for her. That’s some dedication right there. 


There is also a mermaid in the book (I’m sorry, I’m blanking on her name) and I love her. So much sass. So much vicious. She’s one of those characters that while she’s technically on the good guys’ side, you always get the feeling she could snap and kill them all at any moment. It’s thrilling. 


The sequel will be released next year, and I will absolutely be buying it. *my bookshelf wailing in the distance* 


Have you read this gritty fantasy? 


Wednesday, September 16, 2020

Hiatus is Over


 Hello peoples! 

It’s been a minute, but I think it’s time to officially break my hiatus. 


Dare I even ask how your summer went? 


This year has been nothing short of a whirlwind. So many good things have happened. But so many awful things have happened too. 

On a small scale, my family is doing great, and life has been good. But it hurts my heart seeing the turmoil that this country and world is caught up in. Sometimes I wonder if maybe the world as we know it is just over. Then other times I hear about things that restore my faith in humanity. 


I missed you guys, but the break was much needed. I used the time off to recharge and adjust to life as a mom of two, watch good movies, spend absurd and lovely amounts of time outside, write, and read some fantastic books. In the future I’ll have some book reviews and some updates on The Queens Three for you. 


Today, I’ll catch you up on life. My little man is three now, and every day with him is an adventure. Sometimes a messy, overwhelming adventure, but an adventure nonetheless. Miss Lorie darlin’ is eight months (what??) and cruising along furniture like a pro. I’m sure walking is right around the corner. The arrival of a tooth robbed me of my perfect happy baby who sleeps all night, but I’m hoping the crabby season is behind us for now. 


I’m 25. Which is bizarre. How can I be old enough to be a quarter of a century? I feel eternally sixteen. Maybe that’s a good thing. 


I spent my evenings staying up till 2 in the morning watching Poldark, so if anyone has any tv recommendations similar to that to fill this void in my life, that would be great. 


In a nutshell, my summer could be summarized as a chicken coop roofing, garden tending, vegetable canning, flower planting, house updating, diapers and snuggles filled blur. And I loved it. 


It’s good to be back! Tell me about your summer. What did I miss?