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maegnoche's reviews
37 reviews
Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Death and Blood
The Atlas Six by Olivie Blake
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Content Warnings
Minor: Death and Death of parent
Ruin and Rising by Leigh Bardugo
5.0
If there's a perfect way to end a trilogy, Leigh Bardugo has certainly done it. I can proudly say that this was my favorite book from the Shadow and Bone trilogy.
As always, I have to commend Bardugo's imagery and writing style- she never fails with that one. The reason I liked this book much better was it filled in the gaps from the first and second book. I personally saw this improvement in the character development department as well as the romance.
I would say that Alina's journey in the first and second book was worthwhile to see however, it definitely needed a bit more for me and Ruin and Rising did not disappoint. The way Alina grew in the first book was dealing with her newfound powers and in the second book, dealing with the greed that came with it. In this book however, there wasn't one central issue she had to deal with. Of couse, Alina also grew through other things like death and all the casualties they had experienced- but that was further emphasized here.
The character redemption arc that was suprisingly done well was Mal's- highly contributing to the 5 star rating. I had a personal grudge against Mal while reading the last two books. I won't elaborate as much but he was defintely the love interest which you just couldn't grasp the reason of the MC for falling in love with. But this book helped me understand in various ways. It was super "will they/won't they" which aside from brining longing and angst to the book, it helped me see their relationship in a different light. Also his quotes in this book are simply chef's kiss.
Alina's realizations seem somewhat deeper this time which I think helps make this more than fantasy. Plus, I really loved the forming friendship between Zoya and Alina despite all that tension. I think it was a great addition just for a fun frenemies hint in the book but also Alina's growth in some way.
I believe the ending was the perfect fit for this trilogy despite the many mixed reviews. I definitely saw the parallel to Siege and Storm's beginning but the difference was Alina didn't have the choice to run away. This time she had, and I think after everything they faced, she deserved to choose that path. All Alina ever wanted was to go home and live a normal life- this ending perfectly fulfilled that.
As always, I have to commend Bardugo's imagery and writing style- she never fails with that one. The reason I liked this book much better was it filled in the gaps from the first and second book. I personally saw this improvement in the character development department as well as the romance.
I would say that Alina's journey in the first and second book was worthwhile to see however, it definitely needed a bit more for me and Ruin and Rising did not disappoint. The way Alina grew in the first book was dealing with her newfound powers and in the second book, dealing with the greed that came with it. In this book however, there wasn't one central issue she had to deal with. Of couse, Alina also grew through other things like death and all the casualties they had experienced- but that was further emphasized here.
The character redemption arc that was suprisingly done well was Mal's- highly contributing to the 5 star rating. I had a personal grudge against Mal while reading the last two books. I won't elaborate as much but he was defintely the love interest which you just couldn't grasp the reason of the MC for falling in love with. But this book helped me understand in various ways. It was super "will they/won't they" which aside from brining longing and angst to the book, it helped me see their relationship in a different light. Also his quotes in this book are simply chef's kiss.
Alina's realizations seem somewhat deeper this time which I think helps make this more than fantasy. Plus, I really loved the forming friendship between Zoya and Alina despite all that tension. I think it was a great addition just for a fun frenemies hint in the book but also Alina's growth in some way.
I believe the ending was the perfect fit for this trilogy despite the many mixed reviews. I definitely saw the parallel to Siege and Storm's beginning but the difference was Alina didn't have the choice to run away. This time she had, and I think after everything they faced, she deserved to choose that path. All Alina ever wanted was to go home and live a normal life- this ending perfectly fulfilled that.
Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo
5.0
Six of Crows, the first book in the SOC duology from the Grishaverse, is simply just so amazing. Now before I start with my very messy and chaotic review of why this book has taken a very special place in my heart, I would like to start by saying Leigh Bardugo is a genius or a criminal. The way she crafts a heist that you can't see in any action/robbery movie is so original and creative and unforgettable. Her secret? I don't know, but let's talk about the things I think made this book one of my favorite of all time.
Personally, the thing about robbery/heist/team gets together for a mission kinds of books/movies is that it's been done so much times before. It's a pretty common trope that even if we know will probably be the same thing over again, we want to watch it. That is the very reason why I went into SOC without high or you can even say low expectations despite the hype.
The first thing that really captured my interest and my heart was the characters. Essentially, this book uses the "found family" trope (not sure if that's what it's called but you get the point) But what's so special about it is that Bardugo doesn't just use the trope and call it a day. She makes it her own by giving the characters purpose. Even characters whose presence don't feel too seen or aren't meant to be like Wylan for example cannot be taken out of the story or if they do, it wouldn't be the same. Through the multiple POVs, I think she's perfectly able to establish a platform for each character to tell their story and kinda just do their thing sometimes.
What I personally loved about these characters is despite them being morally grey, even unlikable and extremely questionable, is they're multi-dimensional. Now the way Bardugo makes them multi-layered is something I completely and wholeheartedly adore. I think a huge problem with lots of authors who write about trauma or painful pasts is that they either do the following (sometimes both): one, they use the pain for plot development or drama or two, they prioritize building the trauma over the overall story. While their intentions may be noble and it's definitely very important to talk about these topics, its essence is completely wasted because it just seems too forced or too unnatural. In SOC, the story is prioritized which is why when the characters' pasts are brought in through flashbacks in their chapters or seldomly conversations, it seems natural, it seems more relatable, it isn't thrown in your face. I won't go much into detail but here's a few things I loved about the characters.
Kaz who's the leader of the gang is one of the best anti-heroes or even characters I have ever encountered. I think the thing I love about him despite being so questionable as a person is that he's upfront about it and even proud of it. Unlike other very morally grey characters who are changed when they meet their "found family" or that one girl (okay, Kaz has Inej but we'll talk about that later), Kaz doesn't and he isn't meant to. This is also where his hard past is seamlessly integrated into the story. Not to give any spoilers, but as someone who lost so much and had to literally work his way up as a child, he can't afford to be good. He doesn't really care about the greater good, his main intention is literally money but he owns up to it and that's what makes him redeemable as a character.
Okay, I take Kaz being one of my favorite characters of all time because we need to talk about Inej. Inej just like the rest of the gang has been through absolute hell. While Kaz's intention is money, Inej just wants freedom. She wants to get rid of her debt, she wants to go back to her family, she wants a shot at normalcy. I really applaud Bardugo for creating such a complex female character who is also badass. I sound confusing but the way female characters who have trauma are built is just letting them kill, get retribution, face this person who's the source of their trauma, have some out of the blue monologue and immediately she's empowered. Bardugo finds a combination between complex female characters who can't really kill or wear capes or do Captain Marvel like things and female superheroes. She can literally easily kill anyone anytime but she'll never get over her biggest fear and that's honestly okay. Also she doesn't really try to hard to make herself useful or prove herself worthy, she's just Inej or the Wraith which I also love.
Jesper's also really interesting and although his story isn't filled with as much hardships as Kaz's and Inej's, he still manages to spice up the story. In a way, he kind of portrays a part of us that wants to get better, that wants to repair the aftermath of our mistakes, and the large part that's not even halfway there. I think his story really sends the always forgotten but super important reminder that change doesn't happen overnight and that's just okay.
Nina deserves more hype seriously because she manages to deliver humor and complexity, super flawlessly too. She's sort of an extension of Jesper in a way that they both regret the consequences of their mistakes. She's still beating herself up for things she did and I like how the way she navigates through it seems so raw and genuine.
Wylan's cute and also Jack Wolfe's my new crush so even though he didn't take up much of the story, I still love him. Also he's such a softie that him and Jesper would be so perfect for each other. I did almost cry though about the part with his dad that was later on revealed.
Matthias is umm... I really don't know- he has a past and has been through some hard stuff but I guess his personality is mostly being in love with Nina. His whole thing about leaving a part of his identity behind and feeling like a traitor to his people was pretty interesting I'd give him that but otherwise he was fine I guess.
Another thing I loved about this book was the dialogue. Leigh Bardugo Aces the whole banter part of this book. Jesper and Inej, Nina and Inej, just them in general. It makes the book feel much lighter which I completely adore. Ms. Bardugo you should be a comedian. There's also really a balance between banter and prose.
Now for the romance. Can Inej and Kaz just get together already? Every interaction they had got me blushing, screaming, crying, and wondering when it's my turn to be happy. The slow-burn, the tension, the "I hate everyone but you", ugh I LOVED THEM. And when Kaz asks Inej to stay I SWEAR I was on the verge of losing it. Wylan and Jesper too. The way Jesper actively finds ways to tell Wylan he likes him and openly and proudly flirts with Wylan. SWOON. Matthias and Nina have a sadder love story. I love how theirs was an enemies to lovers to enemies again back to lovers. I personally believe though Nina deserves better than Matthias. Sorry Matthias, I just don't like you too much HAHA.
The world building and plot development went perfectly hand in hand with the character development and just everything else. There were so much twists and turns throughout the book that I just needed to find out what was going to happen next. If anyone knows how to build a plot creatively and properly at the same time, it's Leigh Bardugo. She's a master at balance, suspense, and pacing.
Longest review I've ever written but that's not even enough to encapsulate how much I loved this book. Little tip though: it took me three months to move on from this book because of the first 80 pages that are kinda hard to understand, so don't get discouraged. But other than that, get this book right now and you won't regret it.
Personally, the thing about robbery/heist/team gets together for a mission kinds of books/movies is that it's been done so much times before. It's a pretty common trope that even if we know will probably be the same thing over again, we want to watch it. That is the very reason why I went into SOC without high or you can even say low expectations despite the hype.
The first thing that really captured my interest and my heart was the characters. Essentially, this book uses the "found family" trope (not sure if that's what it's called but you get the point) But what's so special about it is that Bardugo doesn't just use the trope and call it a day. She makes it her own by giving the characters purpose. Even characters whose presence don't feel too seen or aren't meant to be like Wylan for example cannot be taken out of the story or if they do, it wouldn't be the same. Through the multiple POVs, I think she's perfectly able to establish a platform for each character to tell their story and kinda just do their thing sometimes.
What I personally loved about these characters is despite them being morally grey, even unlikable and extremely questionable, is they're multi-dimensional. Now the way Bardugo makes them multi-layered is something I completely and wholeheartedly adore. I think a huge problem with lots of authors who write about trauma or painful pasts is that they either do the following (sometimes both): one, they use the pain for plot development or drama or two, they prioritize building the trauma over the overall story. While their intentions may be noble and it's definitely very important to talk about these topics, its essence is completely wasted because it just seems too forced or too unnatural. In SOC, the story is prioritized which is why when the characters' pasts are brought in through flashbacks in their chapters or seldomly conversations, it seems natural, it seems more relatable, it isn't thrown in your face. I won't go much into detail but here's a few things I loved about the characters.
Kaz who's the leader of the gang is one of the best anti-heroes or even characters I have ever encountered. I think the thing I love about him despite being so questionable as a person is that he's upfront about it and even proud of it. Unlike other very morally grey characters who are changed when they meet their "found family" or that one girl (okay, Kaz has Inej but we'll talk about that later), Kaz doesn't and he isn't meant to. This is also where his hard past is seamlessly integrated into the story. Not to give any spoilers, but as someone who lost so much and had to literally work his way up as a child, he can't afford to be good. He doesn't really care about the greater good, his main intention is literally money but he owns up to it and that's what makes him redeemable as a character.
Okay, I take Kaz being one of my favorite characters of all time because we need to talk about Inej. Inej just like the rest of the gang has been through absolute hell. While Kaz's intention is money, Inej just wants freedom. She wants to get rid of her debt, she wants to go back to her family, she wants a shot at normalcy. I really applaud Bardugo for creating such a complex female character who is also badass. I sound confusing but the way female characters who have trauma are built is just letting them kill, get retribution, face this person who's the source of their trauma, have some out of the blue monologue and immediately she's empowered. Bardugo finds a combination between complex female characters who can't really kill or wear capes or do Captain Marvel like things and female superheroes. She can literally easily kill anyone anytime but she'll never get over her biggest fear and that's honestly okay. Also she doesn't really try to hard to make herself useful or prove herself worthy, she's just Inej or the Wraith which I also love.
Jesper's also really interesting and although his story isn't filled with as much hardships as Kaz's and Inej's, he still manages to spice up the story. In a way, he kind of portrays a part of us that wants to get better, that wants to repair the aftermath of our mistakes, and the large part that's not even halfway there. I think his story really sends the always forgotten but super important reminder that change doesn't happen overnight and that's just okay.
Nina deserves more hype seriously because she manages to deliver humor and complexity, super flawlessly too. She's sort of an extension of Jesper in a way that they both regret the consequences of their mistakes. She's still beating herself up for things she did and I like how the way she navigates through it seems so raw and genuine.
Wylan's cute and also Jack Wolfe's my new crush so even though he didn't take up much of the story, I still love him. Also he's such a softie that him and Jesper would be so perfect for each other. I did almost cry though about the part with his dad that was later on revealed.
Matthias is umm... I really don't know- he has a past and has been through some hard stuff but I guess his personality is mostly being in love with Nina. His whole thing about leaving a part of his identity behind and feeling like a traitor to his people was pretty interesting I'd give him that but otherwise he was fine I guess.
Another thing I loved about this book was the dialogue. Leigh Bardugo Aces the whole banter part of this book. Jesper and Inej, Nina and Inej, just them in general. It makes the book feel much lighter which I completely adore. Ms. Bardugo you should be a comedian. There's also really a balance between banter and prose.
Now for the romance. Can Inej and Kaz just get together already? Every interaction they had got me blushing, screaming, crying, and wondering when it's my turn to be happy. The slow-burn, the tension, the "I hate everyone but you", ugh I LOVED THEM. And when Kaz asks Inej to stay I SWEAR I was on the verge of losing it. Wylan and Jesper too. The way Jesper actively finds ways to tell Wylan he likes him and openly and proudly flirts with Wylan. SWOON. Matthias and Nina have a sadder love story. I love how theirs was an enemies to lovers to enemies again back to lovers. I personally believe though Nina deserves better than Matthias. Sorry Matthias, I just don't like you too much HAHA.
The world building and plot development went perfectly hand in hand with the character development and just everything else. There were so much twists and turns throughout the book that I just needed to find out what was going to happen next. If anyone knows how to build a plot creatively and properly at the same time, it's Leigh Bardugo. She's a master at balance, suspense, and pacing.
Longest review I've ever written but that's not even enough to encapsulate how much I loved this book. Little tip though: it took me three months to move on from this book because of the first 80 pages that are kinda hard to understand, so don't get discouraged. But other than that, get this book right now and you won't regret it.
The Upside of Falling by Alex Light
4.0
This book was originally a Wattpad book and although it's very hard to admit this: I liked a Wattpad book. There I said it.
This book is literally To All The Boys with parental issues mixed in. Did I eat it up? YES. Was this book extremely corny? YES.
Originally I expected this to be a 3/3.5 star book because the plot was very generic, the writing was okay, and while the characters were interesting they could use some work.
But then during the middle of the book, despite the very middle school-ish, pretty Wattpad like writing, the book was saying some real things. I personally admired how it depicted divorce and family problems. While Becca's personality was basically just liking romance and being a cynic because her parents divorced, I appreciated the effort to at least add some substance to her personal story and the love story.
I also liked how the ex best friend of Becca wasn't just reduced to the "oh she became pretty and popular so she's an irredeemable jerk". She was actually given sort of a storyline and a reason for being the way she is other than "she's a girly girl and is pretty" which other books tend to not do.
I don't think this book was anything special especially in the genre it operates in but it's genuine enough, provides that super sweet and corny aspect that I love in fake dating romances so this is why it gets 4 stars. Pacing was fine nothing really spectacularly crafted too but their story was still cute enough to root for them and be hooked. Also Brett Wells is one of the best book boyfriends. I love him, he's amazing and I bet he'd be really cute too irl. Someone please send me the Amazon link to find him.
Only thing I really hated about this book is that it made me wonder when I was going to be happy and have my fake dating story arc.
TLDR: If you want a light and easy read and you're also a sucker for the fake dating trope, get this book now.
This book is literally To All The Boys with parental issues mixed in. Did I eat it up? YES. Was this book extremely corny? YES.
Originally I expected this to be a 3/3.5 star book because the plot was very generic, the writing was okay, and while the characters were interesting they could use some work.
But then during the middle of the book, despite the very middle school-ish, pretty Wattpad like writing, the book was saying some real things. I personally admired how it depicted divorce and family problems. While Becca's personality was basically just liking romance and being a cynic because her parents divorced, I appreciated the effort to at least add some substance to her personal story and the love story.
I also liked how the ex best friend of Becca wasn't just reduced to the "oh she became pretty and popular so she's an irredeemable jerk". She was actually given sort of a storyline and a reason for being the way she is other than "she's a girly girl and is pretty" which other books tend to not do.
I don't think this book was anything special especially in the genre it operates in but it's genuine enough, provides that super sweet and corny aspect that I love in fake dating romances so this is why it gets 4 stars. Pacing was fine nothing really spectacularly crafted too but their story was still cute enough to root for them and be hooked. Also Brett Wells is one of the best book boyfriends. I love him, he's amazing and I bet he'd be really cute too irl. Someone please send me the Amazon link to find him.
Only thing I really hated about this book is that it made me wonder when I was going to be happy and have my fake dating story arc.
TLDR: If you want a light and easy read and you're also a sucker for the fake dating trope, get this book now.