This year, only two books have made me cry so hard I had to stop reading. This was one of them.
But it's not because it's sad--it's actually a sweet, hThis year, only two books have made me cry so hard I had to stop reading. This was one of them.
But it's not because it's sad--it's actually a sweet, hopeful book filled with the ordinary joys of childhood. It's more the understanding of how isolated the Georges of the world must feel, and the hope that every single one of us takes the time to listen, to understand, to be supportive, and to be kind.
All I have to say is, this book is somehow even more awesome than the original series.
Don't be nervous about the multiple POVs--every character has hAll I have to say is, this book is somehow even more awesome than the original series.
Don't be nervous about the multiple POVs--every character has history and agency, and you'll care deeply about every single one of them. Plus diversity! Kickass heroines! Gifted thieves! Amaaaaazing action sequences! All perfectly paced and perfectly thrilling.
Here are a few of my favorite quotes from the book that I formatted, too! Get thee to a bookstore--the hardback is gorgeous, and so is the book. The author has outdone herself.
There is a giveaway for 2 QOS tote bags + books as well.
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Kim and I will also be doing a joint review discussion on the blog soon. I'm refraining from responding to further comments on this review space for the time being while I collect my thoughts, but I thank you guys so much for the discussion and passion for these books, and look forward to continuing later. See you back here in a bit, I'll post the link when it's up!
Initial reaction:
I stayed up all night reading this, and these are the only coherent things I can say at this point:
1. The women in this series are PHENOMENAL. Holy hell, I swear fealty to them until the end of my days.
2. The new characters are fantastic! There is such complexity and poignancy in each of their stories, and I loved every single one of them, as well as what Aelin's interactions with them showed about her character.
3. More descriptions of sleeping under a wyvern's wing, please. <3
4. I have issues with the way a couple of things are handled--most strongly and specifically, how poor Chaol is almost unrecognizable for most of this book. Even though I can accept misunderstandings, mistakes, differences of opinion, cross-purposes, and so on, it makes me so sad that his story arc seemed to be so diminished and dishonored.
5. But the thing I didn't think I could be talked into, I'm actually totally on board with. I get why people might be upset by (view spoiler)[Rowan and Aelin getting together, and maybe if there hadn't been so much previous back and forth with Dorian and Chaol, and if Chaol hadn't pretty much disavowed Aelin through most of this book, the new relationship would've been more palatable (hide spoiler)], but I'm pretty happy with the way the way the big change develops and is described in and of itself.
6. This book also made me cry. Like gasping sobs in the middle of the night that I had to stifle so I wouldn't wake my husband. I teared up at several points, but the graveyard scene was the one where I just lost it. (view spoiler)[Sam still hurts my heart, so I was unbearably moved that his presence is so deeply felt in this book. I didn't expect it. (hide spoiler)] *bawls all over again*
Also, the badass action scenes! Aelin! Her suit and weapons! The magic! MANON. And bathtub scenes, heeeey. More at some point when I'm not half-dead with lack of sleep.
I went into this with a certain amount of dread, but much to my surprise, this is the book that has the happiest ending out of all of them. This just means more torture is in store in future books, obviously, but for now...bliss.
** PLEASE. Use spoiler tags in the comments below if you want to talk about anything that could even remotely spoil the reading experience for someone else. Thank you!...more
I had a feeling five pages into this book that it was going to make my Top 10 list for the year. I was right, because it's also my first 5 star book oI had a feeling five pages into this book that it was going to make my Top 10 list for the year. I was right, because it's also my first 5 star book of 2015! Freaking looooved this, it's unlike anything I've ever read before.
You will enjoy this if you liked elements of ALL THE TRUTH THAT'S IN ME, THE HALLOWED ONES, and ANOTHER LITTLE PIECE. You'll also love it if you appreciate the bizarrely perfect combination of hard prison violence and deadpan humor of the show ORANGE IS THE NEW BLACK.
To write a contemporary psychological thriller that keeps you guessing is already an achievement, particularly with careful plotting (view spoiler)[there are only a couple of things I question, but they don't detract from the power of the story at all (hide spoiler)] and perfectly rendered characters. But to combine that with story inspired by the German fairy tale "The Girl with No Hands" is a stroke of genius. It's brutal, it's bloody, and it's unforgettable.
More of a review to come closer to release. I hope this author is working on something, because if this is what her debut looks like, I cannot even imagine what her future books will hold. ...more
Wendy Darling
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