smiles_is_reading1's reviews
27 reviews

A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J. Maas

adventurous challenging emotional funny tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

Flying through the pages of this book was never easy. I heard a lot that ACOMAF is the best book in the series but this one is so far my fav. I dreaded my fast pace reading as I predicted my heart may shatter in the end. A lot of scenes were very impactful, especially the interactions between Nesta and Fyre as their relationships started to have more vivid lines.
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 Plot twists were spotless and I never saw any of it comings, and the small adventures outside the battlefield that took place were amusing (i.e. how Fyre went to capture the Suriel, how she went to retrieve the mirror)
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One of the many things that kept me in awe is the descriptions and presentation of several courts, predominantly furnishing the narrative with several illustrations of images that come to Fyre’s mind whenever she encounters an important moment, and characters that were introduced with their stories and backgrounds (Lucien’s one was 😲 for me, Mor’s was heartbreaking I sobbed🥺) adding life to the cast, making mistakes and bad calls and showing their vulnerable side was 🤌🏻
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Again with the repetitive words is the downside but this time was “I could have sworn” it was too much and would have preferred a lot of either the predictions/statement was just written directly I usually challenged myself at some pages how many “I could have sworn” will read😂

A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas

adventurous challenging emotional funny mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

World building became much richer and clearer in this part, I fell in love with the cast characters and their background and how each was written to emphasise their own voice  especially where a lot of female characters were represented in bigger and stronger roles(Mor is a QUEEN♥️) not to mention that pacing was far better and much more events that was not bored to follow. 
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One of the leading points it doesn’t romanise the toxic love stories/ relationships which is based on the Alpha Male protects his Female at any costs even on her freedom expense (aka Fyre and Tamlin) wether Feyre herself realised it or Rhysand voiced it. The portrait of several critical points as well was evocative such as Feyre mental fallout and her PTSD which she went through was outstanding, yes she is the CurseBreaker and she freed the courts from Amarantha but I loved how her guilt was depicted and how she healed properly and took her time emerging victorious, chapter 30 broke me into tears 😭. Also the representation that men can be abused sexually (Rhysand suffering under the mountain was not underestimated)
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what I wish it was a bit improved is the repetitive of words, snarl, growl, purred were mentioned a lot to point I counted 5 in one page 😂😂.

A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

World building is amazing,slow yes but I loved the ancient clashes, magic and how all the Prythian, Hybern and Mortal land were all created from a Cauldron. The several shades and differences between High Faes and faeries, and the divisions of courts, really enchanting. 
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The description was rich and too the point even though the plot was very slow progressing and I felt bored at some points, till chapter 33-34 when the true action began🤭, but I adored all these details especially when describing a scene that involved senses I felt connected through all scenes. 
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Majority of the book(Tamlin and Ferye love story) was all re-telling of The Beauty and The Beast and I was not quite convinced with their feelings for each other, idk felt too much for me and I cringed at some points. I liked better Ferye character development and the fact that she was deploying the plot, it’s very rare to see an entire book plot revolve around a character and can be directed and move by them. 

Sneak Peek: The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

I won’t lie at first I was very skeptical about this book, I was not able to grasp a plot, everything seemed to move with the characters instead of a storyline. But as the book continued I started liking it actually and LOVE IT, the ending was striking and I am still not over it😍 
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I loved so much the idea of art being mixed with the plot that at some point it became the plot itself, also the reference to greek mythology was amazing to add more depth to the events. 
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The moments of reflection was a brilliant add, felt very cinematic(i.e it will be years before Addie realises..) it made me as a reader imagine what were her feelings now and what they may be like after that, cuz it happens to all of us.
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Addie was actually my fav character she has developed a lot, very rounded, stubborn, brave, strong yet delicate and full of so many emotions. 
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Luc is unique, I don’t consider him the villain but rather the plot weaver, his character is so rich and had several aspects. His alteration towards Addie is well described and I liked the idea that his emotions are recounted from Addie’s reliance on his eyes. His relationship with Addie was the milestone for me in the novel, the tension and arrogance as both are strong characters they matched each other. 
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Henry was a normal character for me, he did not develop much in my opinion till the end when he sat a path for himself, apparently he needed a story like Addie in his life and I did not like their relationship that much. 

They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

The title itself is a spoiler, and even though I knew what to expect was left heartbroken. I liked how the novel timeline is within 24hrs and though the book seems small but there was always something happening, small heart-to-heart talks and did not feel cliché at all. The emotional building was slow and sometimes it was not in lines but you can sense the intensity and till the very last moment I had hope. 
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The characters were so well written and events building depended on them. Even there are two main protagonists yet it was full of several others whom stories contributed notably to the plat and were woven together to creat a full and handsome portrait of life. 
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Narration was a hide key element that connected all the novel together. It was fast paced, very simple and short paragraphs and chapters but all gave thoughtful insight to connect deeply with the characters and plot.
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Rule of Wolves by Leigh Bardugo

adventurous challenging emotional funny tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.5

I had high expectations for this book mainly cuz I will see more of my favourite character Nikolai but I was quite disappointed with how certain points in the plot took path (its plot twist tho 🤌🏻👌🏻), and with its ending, though happy one but cannot deny it felt unrealistic and I was not a big fan of it. 
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The cast of characters and the multiple POVs was exceptional, I personally LOVED to have a counter POV for the Darkling, finally giving him a voice not to justify himself as much to have some insight into his complex mind. 
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The description of battles in this book was the its landmark for me. Every detail and inch of battle was extraordinary described it felt as flying in the skies and seeing it all from above. 

King of Scars by Leigh Bardugo

adventurous challenging dark funny hopeful mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

After I fell for Nikolai during Siege and Storm, this book fed me well with him but it was so slow paced at the beginning and even after going through so many pages, chapters  and finishing the book I cannot help but feel it was a very long prolong and an introduction for the next book. 
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I grew to love Zoya. She was so interesting in Shadow and Bone trilogy and felt like she has more to present than the haughty, arrogant Grisha, he backstory was certainly rich and the way she reminded herself she is “strong enough to survive the fall” was extraordinary.
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Nina’s chapters felt detached and I cannot feel but she belongs to the Crows and the barrel more than in Ravka and the Little Palace. 
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The re-telling of The Prince and the Pauper(Isaak and Nikolai) was remarkably and hilariously well portrayed and I loved Isaak encounters with Tolya, Tamar, Genya and David. 
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Overall: I was gald to be pulled back to grishaverse but I did not like that book did not have any climax and all felt like a preparation for the next book, which makes me wish if the two book were just made into one would have been a lot better. 

To Kill a Kingdom by Alexandra Christo

adventurous challenging dark funny mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

The narrative was poetic and lyrical not exaggerated at all, it felt a little childish at some points but it gave the fairytale sense. Description of buildings and setting always bounced in my sight as if earth cracked and hurled it in front of me turning into reality. 
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The world building was swift and unfolded quickly yet carefully, it was exciting seeing several myths blinded into the story. The plot itself was in rapid pace I did not feel rushed nor bored. I wish there were more in the book or another part to discover the rest pr the world as it was said there are 100 kingdoms, would have love to extend the adventure a little longer🥺 
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 Lira is my favourite, she is the badass siren, girl, pirate you will for in this book. Elian has a unique frame of mind that’s not carried out in most characters. Lira and Elian enemies to lovers tripe romance was slowly build and can sense their falling in love, I was left on edge in a lot of scenes cuz of their taunting to each other. 
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My favourite part about this book was the description of fighting and battles always came into focus and words that were used to follow the movements of characters and setting was easy yet demonstrative enough to roar around me.

All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr

adventurous dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

One of the main advantage of this book is the short chapters and shifting between the two point of view even though it’s a third person narration but you can see each protagonist character gives their own voice.

The Lost Sisterhood by Anne Fortier

adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

The duel narratives of the past and present excited me from the very beginning, being a feminist I liked how the whole plot is about powerful women, breaking female stereotypes and even the protagonist Diana Morgan is very brave and intelligent. I was very much in love with how the romance worked in both timelines, and I am impressed by how it ended and no strings were disregarded.  I also likes how several characters from Greek mythology were involved, Hercules, Paris and King Minos to make the story richer and detailed in the mythology world.