Book: The Cruel Prince by Holly Black

 

★★★½/★★★★★

“What could I become if I stopped worrying about death, about pain, about anything? If I stopped trying to belong? Instead of being afraid, I could become something to fear.”

I remember my first Holly Black book , The Darkest Part of the Forest, which I didn’t finish since I had a hard time getting into it, believe me I tried, and when I heard about her new book The Cruel Prince, I thought twice. But when I saw the cover and heard everyone raving over it, I knew I have to try again. So with a hope that I will fall in love with Holly Black’s writing this time, I decided to read it.
The book as a whole is compelling and with its beautiful cover, everyone would totally love it. With a promising plot line and faeries on the go, The Cruel Prince for me is a new world since I haven’t read many fantasy books like this one. It’s intriguing for me and this faerie world gave me a break from my usual YA read.
I actually don’t know how to write a review for this one. I’ve been trying but haven’t gotten anywhere. So, this time I’ll try harder.

“If you hurt me, I wouldn’t cry. I would hurt you back.”

First of all, I want to say that I did enjoy this book. There are strong characters though I can’t say I’m Jude’s biggest fan (or any of them). She’s headstrong but a bit annoying at times though I get where she’s coming from. She wants to be a faerie, more likely wants to prove those who belittles her that she can be better than them so she does everything to acquire power or position in Elfhame. Taryn, Jude’s twin sister, is a miss for me. I get her role in the book but she didn’t quite interest me. She’s a bit immature and I like Vivi more. Now, Cardan is a complex character for me. I didn’t get him and had a hard time figuring him out. I didn’t like him until the latter part of the book and that’s only because I finally understood why he’s such an ass. The others, Cardan’s friends, the other faeries and such, well, I think it’d be better if they were developed as well because I was confused as hell. I didn’t know which is which and that was hard given that I wasn’t familiar with them. The world building was okay, plot line was good, I enjoyed the twists and turns of events and I think the ending was the highlight for me.
Like I said, I haven’t read many books like this one and the idea of faerie world to me is quite exciting. I actually expected more from the world-building but I guess that’s all I’ll get.

“If I cannot be better than them, I will become so much worse.”

Overall it’s an okay read. I couldn’t get into it the first few pages and there were times I got bored but the middle part got me through it. For me, it’s not that world shattering or mind blowing like what others felt but it’s good enough that I want to read the next book. If anything, I think I’m more excited than what I want to admit since the ending left me wanting more. I want to see what happens next!

Book: Frostblood (Frostblood Sage #1) by Elly Blake

 ★★★/★★★★★

“Those who can't control themselves will find themselves under the control of others.”

Well, it's not like I didn't enjoy this book but there are some things that didn't quite sit well with me. You may say there's nothing special about this book because you've read something like this before, I have, but there were surprisingly some elements that I did enjoy. The book itself felt unoriginal with all its Fire vs Ice and "the girl" saving the world tropes so in short, this book is your typical YA fantasy. 

The book tells the story of Ruby Otrera, a Fireblood living in a world of Frostbloods. She's probably the last of her kind since the Frost King orders the death of any Fireblood in their kingdom. When she is found by the soldiers, Ruby witnesses the death of her mother and village in their hands. She is then kept in prison for months until two hooded figures visit and offer her freedom. Soon, Ruby is training with Arcus and living in an abbey with the monks with a mission to kill the Frost King.

“Frostbloods are fully capable of feeling in every way. The danger is that those emotions, while powerful and deep, may be covered with a layer of ice that prevents the natural expression of them.”

I didn't instantly liked the characters but Ruby was a so-so. In the beginning she's weak, scarred and the typical heroine who questions the world why she's the chosen one. She doesn't make wise decisions and sometimes too stubborn for her own good. Arcus, I liked less especially when his character shifted from being all too mean to somehow bearable! I mean, one second he's mad at Ruby but the next he's all sweetheart. Argh! I loved the monks so I think there's that. The pacing was sloooow up until the middle of the book where everything started to get intense. There was actually a point when the whole book felt just like a long premise/introduction to the real book!

The world-building is okay since you already know what to expect. The romance, yes there is, felt forced. I think it would've been okay if there was none but there just have to be one! Then there's the division between the Firebloods and Frostbloods, with the former as dominant. Worlds with this kind of divisions always end up in war so we also know what to expect with this kind of trope. And like I said, I did like some things in this book. For starter, I liked the cover! And that counts. Another thing is the myth on how the Frostbloods and Firebloods were created, it wasn't new but I think that was interesting. There's also a bit of the twist I admit I didn't see coming. Aside from those, all the others we just okay for me.

Overall, Frostblood is an okay book. I'll probably read the next book at some point but not soon.

Book: Nevernight (The Nevernight Chrnonicle #1) by Jay Kristoff

★★★★/★★★★★

 “Your mind will serve you better than any trinket under the suns...It is a weapon...and like any weapon, you need practice to be any good at wielding it.” 

My first Jay Kristoff novel and I liked it! I'll be honest, I was not interested at first, got bored a lot of times but didn't notice that I was actually already enjoying it at some point. It'd been a hard read for me, the writing style is kinda not in my taste, it was very dense, but, but! I was engrossed with the story and I grew to love the characters nevertheless. Not to mention the footnotes anymore because I stopped reading them early in the book.

Nevernight is actually hard to rate and review. At some point I was convinced I'll only give it 2 stars but in the end realized it deserved 4 stars! Now I don't know how to explain. I think it's a matter of liking the book as a whole or not. In short, you have to be patient with this book! There were parts I didn't like but there were also parts I really loved. That's how crazy this book was for me. I'm torn between disliking it to totally loving it!

Own nothing, Mercurio had said. Know nothing. Be nothing.
Mia breathed deep. Swallowed hard.
Because then you can do anything.

The book tells the story of Mia Corvere, a girl who chooses to enter a school of assassins, to train and master the skills she needs to get what she desires most; vengeance for her family. At a young age Mia lost her father, mother and a younger brother but found a friend in Mercurio who later becomes her teacher. There's also Mister Kindly, a cat who is not a cat, a shadow Mia befriended when she was young. With Mercurio's assistance, Mia goes through a series of trials just to get to Red Church and along the way meets Tric, a boy who like her also wants to get revenge. At the Red Church, Mia starts training, she meets new friends/enemies and learns about the skills she needs most if she wants to avenge her family. 

The boy stared at the hands that held his. “This is a dark road we walk, Mia.”
“Then we walk it together. I watch your back. You watch mine. And if I fall before the end, you get Scaeva for me. Make him scream. And I’ll swear the same for you.”

Like I said, you have to be patient with this book. It's 450+ pages long with dense writing, violence, intense scenes, sex and strong language. It is bloody, you guys! Dark and edgy with twists and turns you wouldn't imagine. There's a bit of romance, only a bit, but I'm satisfied. You see, I'm a sucker for romance in every book and I'm contented with what little this book offered. I actually loved Tric! Like, really. He's both sweet and a badass and I liked that he cared for Mia as Mia did for him. The supporting characters are also all pretty interesting. Ash and her brother are pretty cunning and I loved all the Shahid. With world building, a lot say it reminded them of Harry Potter and even though I haven't read but only watched HP, I can agree it somehow reminded me of Hogwarts. The Red Church is cool enough to be Hogwarts, I think.

Overall, it's a great book. A pretty slow beginning but when the story starts to grab you, you wouldn't want to stop reading. Now I'm pretty excited to read the sequel, Godsgrave!

Book: A Conjuring of Light by V.E. Schwab

 ★★★★★/★★★★★

“Love and loss,” he said, “are like a ship and the sea. They rise together. The more we love, the more we have to lose. But the only way to avoid loss is to avoid love. And what a sad world that would be.”

One word: Brilliant. 

Gahd, I really love this series and now that I've finished the last book, I don't think I'll ever be the same again! I mean, after knowing Kell, Lila, Rhy and all the other characters, it's hard to move on! And thinking that their story is already over... no, no, no! But well, Shades of Magic has been an amazing adventure. 

It's been over a week since I finished the book but until now I still have a book hangover. I tried picking up another book right after finishing but I just can't take my mind off Kell. It's a bit crazy, I know, but I needed a while to absorb everything and convince myself that it's really finished. The series is over. And it still makes me frown everytime I tell myself that.  

Everything in this book is just plain brilliant. The characters, the plot, the prose, the worldbuilding, especially the world building! I fell in love with everything the instant I read the first chapter and right there and then I had my new favorite series. And author! 

“Picking out a gift?” asked the captain.
“No.”
“Good, then take this.” He dropped a ring into Kell’s hand.
Kell frowned. “I’m flattered, but I think you’re asking the wrong brother.”

The characters are what made me love this series even more. I've already grown fond of Kell, Lila, Rhy, Alucard and even Holland who broke my heart in this last book. They all had their own moments, times when they had to make crucial decisions and I think that's when their character shone the brightest. Rhy has finally started acting like a prince, wanting to do something to protect his family, his people, his kingdom. Kell is ever the self-sacrificing prince/brother/Antari. (And I fell in love with him all over again!) Lila, well, she's still the best thief out there, always headstrong and  stubborn. I've always liked Alucard since the AGoS but in this book, omg, he stole my heart! And Holland, oh poor Holland. My heart ached for him all throughout.

I also love the interactions between the characters because they always just end up bickering with each other, annoying the hell out of one another. Especially Kell and Alucard! Sometimes Holland too. But those playful moments are what I'll miss most!!!

Her heart was beating hard against her ribs, some primal part of her saying run, and she was running, just not away. She was tired of running away. So she was running into Kell.
And he caught her.

Now let's get to the romance part where oh. my. gulay. Kell and Lila. Lila and Kell. Do I need say more? Because they're perfect. For each other. With each other. From the first book I've been rooting for their romance and finally, finally, Schwab gave us something exciting in this book! And can we also talk about that scene where Kell was teaching Lila some magic words? OH. MY. GOD! I was practically grinning the entire time. And when Alucard walked in on them? It was hilarious!

Moving on, we also have Rhy and Alucard and they're the cutest! I enjoyed every moment they had together especially when Rhy acted all prince-y at first but in the end finally realizing Alucard's true feelings. 

 When Kell Maresh and Lila Bard had first parted ways, he’d whispered the word in her wake, beneath his breath, full of the certainty—the hope—they’d meet again. He’d known it wasn’t an end. And this wasn’t an end, either, or if it was, then simply the end of a chapter, an interlude between two meetings, the beginning of something new.

 Overall, I'm very satisfied with this series. Schwab didn't disappoint and that ending is just... perfect! I honestly had to stop myself a few pages away from the ending because I just didn't want it to end. I love this series that much! I guess I wasn't just ready for it to end that I tried to draw it out for as long as I could. But of course, it had to end. 

Anyway, I know I only ended up fan-girling without even coming up with a proper review but there's really only one word to describe this book and it's brilliant. So read it, you guys!

And, well, Anoshe.

Book: Lucian Divine by Renee Carlino

 ★★★¹⁄₂/★★★★

“One thing I do know now is whatever faith you believe in, true love is real... and it endures.”

 

I have to say it's refreshing to read something new from an author you love. I've read two Renee Carlino books before and loved both! I remember when I was so in love with Before We Were Strangers and then with Swear on This Life and was so excited with the news of Lucian Divine. So then when it was released, I made sure to get a copy right away.

 I admit this book was one of my most anticipated books this year and I hate to say this but this book kinda disappointed me. I mean, it started off right with a promising premise and I was enjoying every moment of it but everything after that happened too fast. I mean, I don't have anything against fast-paced love story but theirs just felt rushed. But overall, I still enjoyed this book and I was happy with how things ended. 

The story centers around Evey who meets her guardian angel Lucian, not to mention drunk, in a bar after a date gone wrong. Evey finds Lucian funny and yes, stunning and since he looks harmless to her,  she ends up inviting him inside her apartment to sober up. There, Lucian reveals to her that he's actually her guardian angel and thinking that he's just drunk and a few screws loose, Evey plays along with him. Until he proves her that he's really an angel—all wings and poof. When Evey still doesn't believe him, he starts telling her things about her that only her true guardian angel would know.

“This is fun, Lucian. You have quite the imagination. My life is complete now. I’ve met an angel who sits in bars, binge drinking and playing stupid songs on the jukebox.”

Lucian knew the consequences of revealing himself to Evey but he doesn't care. He's already on probation for breaking some rules but his feelings for her are stronger and he doesn't give a damn if the big guy up there would punish him. Soon, both Evey and Lucian are having a connection and it's a love that breaks every cosmic law there is.

Lucian is the kind of guy, or guardian angel, you instantly fall in love with. Being a guardian angel and all, his personality surprised me at first because I have this idea of guardian angels in my head and it's very different from Lucian. But despite being cocky and a bit snarky, he's really sweet and charming. He deeply cares for Evey and loves her no matter how wrong and forbidden being in love with a human is. Evey, on the other hand, is also not hard to like. But the fact that she fell in love with Lucian right then and there was a little meh for me. I know they have this connection and she felt attracted to him the first time but still, things happened too fast.

“Love doesn't always have the perfect timing. Just wait until you find the right person. Until then, live your life.”

The middle part of the book is what I enjoyed most. Here, Evey and Lucian matured a lot as they try to live as normal as they could despite the reality that Lucian is changing over time. They find a way to live and love each other like everything is fine. But of course, there are rules for a reason. And Lucian breaking one of those must face the repercussions.

 “Maybe after I was gone, she would remember me and be tormented. Or maybe I'd have to watch her die, and I'd be tormented. And then I realized, that is love. That is life. Brutal and beautiful all in the same..”

The ending definitely made up for the pacing and plot holes. I think it's really sweet and I would've given this book only two stars if it didn't end that way! I mean, I knew Evey and Lucian just have to end up together no matter what and thank God they did! My heart broke for the both of them but I'm just glad they still got the ending they deserved.
 

This paranormal romance will surely touch your heart and will make you believe that true love endures.

***

“I want to see you again, Evey.”

“Really?”

“You just have this thing. You're beautiful and funny and smart, and I knew in five minutes I'd want to see you again.”

“Do you believe in fate?” I asked him.

“I want to. I'm going to start right now. Can I eat dinner with you tomorrow?”

So soon, I thought. But that was the old Evey talking. “Yes.”

“And Monday?”

“Yes.”

“Tuesday?”

I laughed. “Um, that might be pushing it.”

“Yeah, you're right. I've had a lot of wine.”

Book: Cress (The Lunar Chronicles #3) by Marissa Meyer

★★★★★/★★★★★

“Captain?”

“Yeah?”

“Do you think it was destiny that brought us together?”

He squinted and, after a thoughtful moment, shook his head. “No. I'm pretty sure it was Cinder.”

 I managed to finish this book early this year but wasn't able to write a proper review until now. Actually, I was planning on finishing Winter first before writing a review for both but I don't think I'll get around Winter anytime soon since I'm still stuck with my other books. Anyhow, I'm writing a review for this now and I can say that I loved it but not as much as Scarlet which is my favorite in the series so far.

Continuing where Scarlet left off, the third book finally introduces Cress, the brilliant hacker girl who contacted and informed Cinder about Queen Levana's plan on killing Prince Kai even after they get married. After the attack on Earth by a Lunar army of wolf-like creatures, Scarlet and Wolf have also joined Cinder and Thorne on their ship and they are forced to go into hiding in space. While forming a plan on how to stop Prince Kai from Marrying Queen Levana, Cinder and the others are able to contact Cress again and since she can be useful to them and she's willing to help anyway, they decided to rescue her in the satellite where Sibyl Mira has been keeping her hostage. Of course Thorne willingly agrees to help save a damsel in distress so they execute a rescue mission and everything seems to be going right until something happens which causes them to lose Scarlet, Thorne and Cress. Now Cinder is left with a wounded Wolf and a Lunar guard named Jacin. 

“Captain,” she murmured. “I think I’m in love with you.”
An eyebrow shot up. She counted six beats of his heart before, suddenly, he laughed.
“Don’t tell me it took you two whole days to realize that. I must be losing my touch.”

 There are a lot of reasons why I enjoyed this book but I think the main reason is Captain Thorne. I mean, how can you not love him with all that sense of humor and charm? He's really adorable and I liked how nice and sweet he is to Cress. Cress, on the other hand, is a genius when it comes to computers and somehow a romantic. She's sure that Captain Thorne is who she was waiting for all her life to save and sweep her off her feet. She's a dreamer and her imagination gets the best of her. I actually love that she's not your typical heroine and she's so cute she complements Captain Thorne's personality so well. Then there's also Cinder and Kai, of course! With the wedding preparations and everything, Kai is all stressed out and frustrated especially when Queen Levana keeps on threatening the Earth with her Lunar army. My heart is still aching for Cinder for she's trying her best to stop the wedding and save the Earth at the same time. It's a lot for her but she shew she has to do something. And between trying to find her friends and Dr. Erland, she also worries about Prince Kai who also worries about her. Scarlet and Wolf don't have a lot of appearance in this one but I love them the same. I think Wolf grows a lot in this book and his relationship with Cinder might've gone down hill in the first part but towards the end they learn to understand each other. Another awesome character is Iko and she actually has a big role in this book. She's funny and I liked it everytime she and Jacin, who I will discuss later, bickers.

 Aside from all the endearing characters, it's well plotted, action packed and very exciting. The turn of events will surprise you and you wouldn't help but get engrossed with every page you turn. Meyer surely did a good job with this series and every book is special in their own way.

By the end of the book almost every character is already introduced. Cinder and Kai, Scarlet and Wolf, Cress and Thorne, and Jacin is introduced at the beginning as a Lunar guard who along the way changes allegiance and decided to help Cinder and her friends instead. We also see a little of Winter who is Queen Levana's step daughter. She's a little creepy to be honest and I'm yet to read her story in the next book. It also turns out that she's keeping Scarlet with her and I can't wait to know what happens next.

“You serve the queen,” she said. “How can I trust you?”

His lips twitched, like she's make a joke, but his eyes were quick to harden again. “I serve my princess. No one else.”

The floor dropped out from beneath her. The princess. His princes.

He knew.

If you haven't read the series, you better start now because it's amazing! Highly recommended for those who love good re-tellings with well developed characters, good world building and interesting plot lines. 

Read my full review of Cinder here and Scarlet here.

Book: Crooked Kingdom (Six of Crows #2) by Leigh Bardugo

★★★★¹⁄₂/★★★★★

“I would have come for you. And if I couldn't walk, I'd crawl to you, and no matter how broken we were, we'd fight our way out together-knives drawn, pistols blazing. Because that's what we do. We never stop fighting.”  

I knew the moment I finished Six of Crows I had to read this book right away! I loved the first book but Crooked Kingdom took my love for it to a whole new level. I mean, oh my god Kaz and his crew! It's been a crazy ride this book and every twist and turn will make you love it more. Like seriously!

So we're back with Kaz and his crew after they broke in and out of the Ice Court. It was a suicide mission, an impossible heist, but thank all the Saints they got what they came for (more or less) in the form of Kuwei Yul-bo. They were to get their reward that could make them rich beyond their wildest dreams when Van Eck crossed them. Uh-oh, not a good idea. But Kaz is smart and he'd somehow expected that to happen so he had a plan. The only problem was he made a teeny tiny mistake that caused them to lose Inej. Now they're plotting to get Inej back and make Van Eck regret crossing them. And when the news about jurda parem spreads and reaches the leaders around the world, Kaz needs all the help (and tricks) he can get to protect Kuwei and rescue Inej at the same time. To make things a lot messier, Van Eck teamed up with Pekka Rollins and if Kaz gets lucky, he can get Inej back, can protect Kuwei, make Van Eck pay and finally get his revenge to Pekka Rollins all at the same time.

My gahd! This book is a masterpiece! If the first book managed to wow me, this book, this book!!! has blown me away. The character development is superb and every character deserves a round of applause! *clap clap clap* We have a wonderful and awesome world building and of course there's Bargudo's brilliant writing style.

“Have any of you wondered what I did with all the cash Pekka Rollins gave us?” 
“Guns?” asked Jesper.“Ships?” queried Inej.“Bombs?” suggested Wylan. “Political bribes?” offered Nina. They all looked at Matthias. “This is where you tell us how awful we are,” she whispered.

Kaz, Inej, Nina, Matthias, Jesper and Wylan. These six people has grown so much in this book, each carrying a role that is crucial to the group. Their every action affects the group and I think that's why I love them so much because they work perfectly together and yes, they might've done some mistakes but they regret and learn from it because they knew that their lives depend on every action they do. Kaz is as cunning as ever, still giving the orders and running things around. When Ketterdam turns its back on him, he makes sure to make every person responsible pay and to get his home back. Inej is braver and more determined after what Van Eck did. She's still that strong-willed girl who believes in her friends. Nina and Matthias are lovely in this book! I love those witty banters Nina always throws Matthias and I have to admit that Matthias has somehow started to sound like one of them everytime they plot something. Jesper still has his sense of humor and I don't think I can love him any more than I already do. Wylan becomes more confident now (latter part) and he's still adorable. It made me laugh every time Jesper teases him and I love them both, you guys!! I think they're cute together. Six people, several cons, hundreds enemies, this book is crazy exciting and I dare you not to get hooked after everything!

“How many times have you told me you're a monster? So be a monster. Be the thing they all fear when they close their eyes at night.”

Cons upon cons, trick after trick, this book has a lot of twist and turns that will surely surprise you. There were times when I thought I knew how things will turn out but of course, Leigh Bardugo will prove me wrong. She made Kaz so cunning it was impossible to predict what he's thinking. And I'm in love with him because of that.

“Nina glanced from Inej to Kaz and saw they both wore the same expression. Nina knew that look. It came after the shipwreck, when the tide moved against you and the sky had gone dark. It was the first sight of land, the hope of shelter and even salvation that might await you on a distant shore.”

Dark, violent, entertaining and brilliant, Crooked Kingdom just proves to be one of the best sequel ever! It's a bit lengthy but I didn't mind because I enjoyed every page of it. I rooted for them every step of the way from rescuing Inej to auctioning Kuwei. Honestly, I want more of Kaz and his crew but well, can't do anything about it. This book is truly a page turner, something you won't be able to put down because you're eager to know what happens next. It'll make you laugh, excited, frustrated, will give you the feels and yes, it'll make you cry because of Matthias, oh Matthias! My heart broke for Nina and after everything they'd been through, I can't believe Matthias didn't make it to the end. *sobs*

“Go home to Ravka, Nina. Be free, be as you were meant to be. Be a warrior, as you always have been. Just save some mercy for my people. There has to be a Fjerda worth saving. Promise me.”

Now let's talk about Kaz and Inej. Oh my god, those two! I'm not sure whether I should be satisfied with their ending or not because I want mooooore! I know the two of them touching (holding hands) is already too much for the both of them but come on! A hug, maybe? But either way, I'm really really glad for Inej and Kaz, well, may the Saints guide him as he build his empire now that he got his money! And revenge.

Overall, this book is one of the best I've ever read and I can't recommend this book enough! So do yourself a favor and pick up Six of Crows then READ this book! :D

Book: Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

★★★★/★★★★★

“Kaz had taught her to crack a safe, pick a pocket, wield a knife. He'd gifted her with her first blade, the one she called Sankt Petyr―not as pretty as wild geraniums, but more practical, she supposed.”  

I finished this book a month ago but only able to write a review now.

Six of Crows was my first book of Leigh Bardugo and oh my god I loved it! I'd been hearing about this book while reading A Darker Shade of Magic (some comparing them) last year and I'm glad I listened when people told me to read this one if I loved ADSoM. I'm a big fan of ya fantasy and the world Bardugo created in this book is brilliant. The characters are also amazing, unique in their own way and you can't help but love them all! Especially cunning Kaz. :)

Six of Crows is set in the dark and violent city of Ketterdam, a trading hub where everyone wants to make money and is ruled by street gangs. Among these gangs is Kaz Brekker, the leader of the Dregs and a prodigy when it comes to thievery and secrets. When Kaz is offered a job that could help him speed up his revenge plans for the person who ruined his life, he knew he needs to take this job no matter how impossible it is. And for that, he needs a crew that can make impossible possible.

Kaz assembles his team of misfits; Inej, a spy known as the Wraith; Jesper, a sharpshooter who loves to gamble; Nina, a Grisha who can kill by just twisting her hand; Matthias, a convict who has thirst for revenge; and Wylan, a runway with privileged past. All six of them will try to do the impossible, trusting and depending on each other. And if they get lucky, they might just get the fortune and freedom and revenge they mostly desired. 

“No mourners. No funerals. Among them, it passed for 'good luck.” 

Gosh! I really enjoyed this book. The characters are all well-developed and they complement each other. It was hard not to like them because they're all cunning and funny and I liked that Inej and Nina are as competent as the boys. Of course each of them has their own unique personality and they might not get along well at first but along the way they learn to put aside their dislike for each other and just focus on the big heist they must pull off.

With everything happening in this book, I'm impressed that Bardugo managed to thread everything in the right place. I mean, I was hooked from the very first page until the last because it was so intense and the switch in POVs made it more exciting! The emotional tension between characters also made it more interesting and suspenseful. I think I was actually waiting for someone to snap and just, I don't know, quit or something because, hey, that would be a good twist but of course, something else happened. 

Kaz leaned back. “What's the easiest way to steal a man's wallet?” 
“Knife to the throat?”  asked Inej.“Gun to the back?” said Jesper.“Poison in his cup?” suggested Nina.“You're all horrible,” said Matthias.

There's action, suspense, a lot of comedy and of course a little romance in this book! I was actually very satisfied and happy with what little romance this book have because Oh my god! I ship them all!! I think Kaz and Inej are epic and I love them together!! Inej is fierce and lovely at the same time, I adore her! Kaz may not be the showy type and he may be cold at times but he cares for Inej. He wants her and that's so hard to say!

“He needed to tell her...what? That she was lovely and brave and better than anything he deserved. That he was twisted, crooked, wrong, but not so broken that he couldn't pull himself together into some semblance of a man for her. That without meaning to, he'd begun to lean on her, to look for her, to need her near. He needed to thank her for his new hat.”

Nina and Matthias, on the other hand, are intense! There were times I wasn't sure if they were going to rip each other's heart or what. They had a bad history so Matthias isn't that thrilled to join Kaz's crew even if the reward is his freedom. Matthias is stubborn but he's rational and loyal. I wasn't sure about his at first but I came to love him towards the end. I like Nina because she's kind and a loving friend. She's also funny and like Matthias, she's loyal. And of course there are Jesper and Wylan who bicker a lot, and I say a lot! They're both hilarious and I think they complement each other well. It's like where Jesper lacks, Wylan supplies. Lol. In short, I love them both!

Overall, Leigh Bardugo surely did a great job with this book and now I want more! The world-building was amazing, the characters were well-rounded and the plot was well written! I'm reading Crooked Kingdom now (only few pages in) and I'm so excited to read the rest! I hope it live up to my expectations.

Book: Scarlet (The Lunar Chronicles #2) by Marissa Meyer

★★★★★/★★★★★

“I knew they would kill me when they found out, but…” He struggled for words, releasing a sharp breath. “I think I realized that I would rather die because I betrayed them, than live because I betrayed you.”

I finished this book a couple of months ago but wasn't able to write a proper review until now. After loving Cinder, I decided to dive into Scarlet's world, the next installment in The Lunar Chronicles series. And I tell you guys, I'm loving this series more and more!!

Goodreads Blurb:
Cinder, the cyborg mechanic, returns in the second thrilling installment of the bestselling Lunar Chronicles. She’s trying to break out of prison—even though if she succeeds, she’ll be the Commonwealth’s most wanted fugitive.

Halfway around the world, Scarlet Benoit’s grandmother is missing. It turns out there are many things Scarlet doesn’t know about her grandmother or the grave danger she has lived in her whole life. When Scarlet encounters Wolf, a street fighter who may have information as to her grandmother’s whereabouts, she is loath to trust this stranger, but is inexplicably drawn to him, and he to her. As Scarlet and Wolf unravel one mystery, they encounter another when they meet Cinder. Now, all of them must stay one step ahead of the vicious Lunar Queen Levana, who will do anything for the handsome Prince Kai to become her husband, her king, her prisoner.

***
First of all I want to say that Oh. My. God. this book is brilliant and I. Love. It!! I enjoyed Cinder but I definitely loved this one! There are new characters in this book and I really didn't expect that Cinder and Scarlet's story will be told at the same time. I think Marissa Meyer did a good job weaving their stories together. And Scarlet with Wolf is my favorite of all! I'm not a fan of insta-love but I'll make an exception because I did enjoy the time Scarlet and Wolf spent together. They faced a lot of danger and I think that connection they have just strengthen the feelings they have for each other.

“Wolf.” Her tongue was parched. She tires to wet her dry lips and tasted blood. “What have they done to you?”

“You.” The word was spat out at her, full of hatred. “What have you done to me?”

I still love Cinder because she's still a kick-ass heroine but Scarlet is a different type of kick-ass. She's brave and strong-willed, determined to find her grandmother. When Wolf shows up, I knew where their story will end but I love it anyway. And Thorne, oh my god Thorne!! He's my favorite ever. He's adorable and witty, never failed to make me smile/laugh everytime. I also love it whenever he and Cinder banter with each other.

A relieve grin filled up Thorne's face. “We're having another moment, aren't we?”

“If by moment, you mean me not wanting to strangle you for the first time since we met, then I guess we are.” Cinder slumped back on the floor.

As much as I want to tell you everything about this book,. I don't have time. I'm writing this in a computer shop (my computer broke down again!!!) and I need to go soon. But overall I enjoyed this book (more than the first) with all the plot twists and other surprises. Cinder's fight with Queen Levana are getting more and more interesting now that things are unraveling. I actually just finished Cress (the third book) last week and now I can say that this is my new favorite series. I think it couldn't get any better! 

Book: Eléonore: An Iníonaofa Novella by Faith Rivens

★★★★/★★★★★

Firstly, I want to say thank you to the lovely Faith Rivens for giving me an ARC of her book. I was given this a couple of months ago (I think) and was able to finish it a couple of weeks later but wasn't able to write a review right away because you know, busy with work and all. And I know this review is way way late but I'm writing this anyway because I want everyone to know how much I enjoyed this book.

The story revolves around Eléonore, part-time librarian/part-time demon hunter/full-time mother. Being a demon hunter is a legacy passed down to her by her late father but being a mother to Etienne is a job she chose and loves. When suddenly a bounty is placed on her head and demons start hunting her down, she's determined to find out who and why someone would do that. What enrages her more is Etienne's life is in danger too as long as she has the bounty on her head. So she sets off to hunt down these demons instead and is determined to find out who put the bounty even if it means being separated from Etienne.

"The world was big and could be terrifying; if I wanted to survive it, I had to be bigger, braver."

 I was sold right away when I read the blurb and I knew I was going to love this novella. i certainly did! I think Eléonore is the kind of character you can't help but love. She's a kick-ass heroine, not perfect but a strong-willed one. She loves Etienne so much and would do everything, anything, to keep him safe. And I think any mother would've done what she's done just to protect their child. Like I said, Eléonore is not perfect, she makes bad decisions but she makes up for it by learning from it. 

The secondary characters are also adorable. I didn't expect Raphael at all but I loved him! And I may have not expected the romance but I love Eléonore and Raphael together anyway. Lol. (I'm a sucker for romance, you see). I also like the simplicity of the world-building. I admit I haven't read many books set in Canada so it was refreshing to read about the place and the descriptions are lovely. Also, it was beautifully written. Everything felt natural, no forced dialogues and the narrative is impressive. 

Overall I really enjoyed this novella and would definitely want to know the rest of Eléonore's story! So if you want a kick-ass heroine, a compelling story with a lot of action, you should read this one! :)

Book: Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie

3.75/5stars

“All children, except one, grow up.”

  
Peter Pan movie has always been my favorite and I love Peter and Wendy! I admit I found their story a bit heartbreaking but it's a wonderful story nonetheless!! :) And I know it rarely happens but I also found the movie better than the book. 

“All the world is made of faith, and trust, and pixie dust.” 

I really enjoyed Peter's story as well as his and the Lost Boys' adventures in Neverland. Wendy showing up with Michael and John just made it more exciting and bizarre. For me, Peter Pan is really an interesting character for he never wants to ever grow up, always wanting to just have some fun and adventure. He's arrogant, he fights pirates, flies around, befriends mermaids and run things around Neverland. The Lost Boys look up to him and together they make their adventures. Tinkerbell is also one of my favorites! She's ill-tempered, jealous, and I liked it everytime she's pissed off at Peter and spits out, "You silly ass!" She's mischievous but very fond of Peter and helps him everytime. 

I somehow feel sad for Peter for he has no strong ties to reality. He thinks that as long as he stays as a boy, then he can be free of any responsibility. He forgets important things and people and he's always carefree, not taking things seriously. With Wendy, he found a mother figure, one that could tell them thrilling stories, tuck them to bed and help them clean. Wendy is a wonderful character for she really cares for Peter and the Lost Boys. She might have enjoyed Neverland and wanted to stay, but she knew what's real and that they must come home to their parents. 

“You won't forget me, Peter, will you, before spring cleaning time comes?”

I'll also mention Captain Hook because a tv show I'm watching, Once Upon A Time, has him as one of the main characters and there I love him so much! He's not as callous as novel-Hook but he's still a pirate and he's, well, gorgeous (played by Collin O'Donoghue). I can also understand Hook's hatred for Peter and as he said, it's Peter's cockiness that puts him off, because Peter, really, can be cocky most of the time.

Like I said earlier, Peter and Wendy's ending broke my heart. It's really sad and the fact that Peter did forget Wendy somehow, oh my god! :( How could you, Peter! 

 

Peter Pan and Wendy will always be my favorites and no matter how sad their ending is, I'll never get tired watching the moving over and over again. Lol.

“Oh, all right,” he said at last, and gulped. Then he unbarred the window. “Come on, Tink,” he cried, with a frightful sneer at the laws of nature; “we don't want any silly mothers;” and he flew away.

There could not have been a lovelier sight; but there was none to see it except a little boy who was staring in at the window. He had had ecstasies innumerable that other children can never know; but he was looking through the window at the one joy from which he must be for ever barred.

Book: Cinder (The Lunar Chronicles #1) by Marissa Meyer

★★★★/★★★★★

“And the prince did know her now, sort of. He'd been kind to her at the market. Perhaps he would ask her to dance. Out of politeness. Out of chivalry when he saw her standing alone."

Cinder has been sitting on my TBR pile for a while now and since I was determined to finish off some series this year, I decided to put the it on my list of top 5 series I'll finally, finally, read in 2016! So there I was reading this book and oh my god did I love it! It's probably one of my best reads this year! And to be honest, I didn't expect to love it this much. Maybe a little but not this asdfgfdjhfkdghlhg much! If you know what I mean. ♥

“She was a cyborg, and she would never go to a ball.”

The book centers on Cinder, a sixteen year old mechanic in New Beijing. She can fix anything tech-related and is the best in the field. Also, she's a cyborg. She doesn't really remember her life before the surgery but she knows that she's from Europe and her father, adoptive father, took her home with him five years ago. But it was not long after that her father died because of Letumosis, a plague that's been killing both human and cyborgs alike. Now Cinder lives, works, to be exact, for her stepmother Adri and stepsisters Pearl and Peony. Fortunately she has her very useful android Iko who accompanies and helps her get through everyday. Peony is actually kind to Cinder and they get along well. But when Peony gets infected by letumosis, Adri blames Cinder and soon volunteers her for the cure trials against her will. Meanwhile, Prince Kai has his own problems and is mourning the death of his father caused by the plague. He'd met Cinder on her booth before to ask her to fix his android and obviously there was attraction between them, though Cinder tried to deny it. And now that Cinder is brought to the labs for the trials, she and Prince Kai meet again. Enters Dr. Erland, the scientist conducting the trials. No one survives the trials but surprisingly, Cinder does. It makes Dr. Erland curious and after some research here and there, he finally realizes why. But he keeps his findings to himself only sharing a little to Cinder because he knew it could be dangerous once people learn about this information. After explaining to her, Cinder voluntarily agrees to do the trials thinking it could help Peony and other people. Dr. Erland also lets her leave the labs but to check in once in a while. On the other hand, Queen Levana, the Lunar Queen everyone hates, is visiting the Earth to pay respect to the late Emperor. For so long she and her kind has been threatening the people of Earth and the leaders of the Earth have been trying to make a peace agreement with her but her demands are unbelievable. And now that Kai is to become Emperor, she wants to be Empress. But of course there's no way Kai will agree to marry an evil Lunar like her. That's why Kai is nagging Cinder to finish fixing his android because there's information in there he badly needs that can somehow help him dethroning Queen Levana. And while he's at it, he also starts working his charms on her. Cinder knew she can't accept anything from the Kai, not his princely manners, not his ball invitation, especially not a gift! Besides, Cinder thinks that once Kai finds out that she's a cyborg (yes, he didn't know because neither Dr. Erland nor Cinder has informed him about it), he'll probably be disgusted at her just like everyone else. But when a crucial information gets passed down to her that can probably save Kai from Queen Levana, she doesn't really have much of a choice but to attend a ball and meet the new Emperor even if it means facing the evil Queen Dr. Erland warns her about.

He met her gaze, surprised, as if he'd forgotten who he was speaking with . Then, “You can call me Kai.”
She blinked, “Excuse me?”
“No more 'Your Highness.' I get enough of that from... everyone else. You should just call me Kai.”
“No, that wouldn't be―”
“Don't make me turn it into a royal command.” He hinted at a smile.

This book is plainly amazing. When I first read the blurb I was intrigued as to how the author would re-tell the story of Cinderella with cyborgs and Lunar people and a plague but surely Marissa Meyer made it work. With the dystopian world she created where there are humans and cyborgs living together and yeah, moon people, she definitely nailed it! It's actually creative, the worldbuilding fantastic and the concept is refreshing for me. The characters are also great and I love Cinder. She's a strong protagonist and Kai, oh my god, Kai! Isn't he charming? Well, he's a prince for one and even if he's not, I think he'd still be charmingly princely!

“Not that I have anything against dancing. I can dance. If you want to dance.”

 I can talk about Kai all night long about how he's sooo cute and funny and hot and everything but let's move on with the other characters. Iko is another I really love! She's very entertaining and I actually felt really sad for what happened to her. Curse Adri!  Queen Levana, on the other hand, is quite evil but I'd love to read more about her. And maybe I will in the next book. And I know I've talked about Cinder and Kai already but I just really love them both! Together! I love how Kai flirts with Cinder and asking her to the ball is really sweet of him. Those moments they're together are my favorites and though Cinder ends up hurting Kai, we all know what will happen next. Cinder is Cinderella after all.

“I know this is stupid, but part of me felt like if I could come see you today, if I could convince you to go with me tonight, then maybe I could still change things. It's dumb, I know. It's not like Levana cares if I, you know, might have actual feelings for someone.”  

Like I said, this book is one of my best reads this year. It's very engaging and had me all hooked up from the very beginning. There are twists and turns though I've guessed right about some of them early on. Nonetheless, I enjoyed every page of this book and with that kind of ending, who wouldn't get excited to find out what happens next? I have tons of books lined up this month but I don't think I can wait longer to read the next book.

Book: The BFG by Roald Dahl

 ★★★★/★★★★★

‘I is a dream-blowing giant,’ the BFG said. ‘When all the other giants is galloping off every what way and which to swollop human beans, I is scuddling away to other places to blow dreams into the bedrooms of sleeping children. Nice dreams. Lovely golden dreams. Dreams that is giving the dreamers a happy time.’

One night, by the witching hour, Sophie sees a giant. Because Sophie has seen him, the giant decides to kidnap her from the orphanage. Sophie is scared and thinks the giant will eat her but to her surprise, he doesn't. When they reach the Giant Country, the giant explains that he only took her so she can't tell anyone about his existence. Soon, the giant tells her that he doesn't eat human beans like the other giants, that he's a Big Friendly Giant. As Sophie and the BFG spend more time together, they become closer and each learn a thing or two from each other. They avoid the other bully giants who always go away to find new human beans to eat at night, they go dream collecting and later will pay the Queen a visit to stop the other giants from eating more human beans.

 My first book of Roald Dahl was Matilda which was brilliant. This time I read The BFG and no doubt loved it too! Sophie and the Big Friendly Giant are soooo fun to read!! It's only my second book of Dahl but definitely not the last! It's very entertaining but beyond that I think it's very ironic too that it'll make you ponder at times.

‘Do not forget,’ the BFG said, ‘that human beans is disappearing everywhere all the time even without the giants is guzzling them up. Human beans is killing each other much quicker than the giants is doing it.’ 

‘Human beans is the only animals that is killing their own kind.’

I enjoyed everything about this book! Sophie is a brave and smart girl while the BFG is a kind, thoughtful, well, friendly giant. I loved their adventures and somewhere along the way they formed a beautiful friendship. I liked it everytime the BFG talks in a funny way and Sophie corrects him everytime. They're hilarious and I found myself cracking up at the BFG's words most of the time.

‘You is welcome to go and search my cave from frack to bunt,’ the BFG answered. ‘You can go looking into every crook and nanny. There is no human beans or stringy beans or runner beans or jelly beans or any other beans in here.’ 

And the more I read on, the more I loved the BFG!! He dislikes the other giants because they eat human beans and it's really cute that instead of eating them, the BFG gives them pleasant dreams. And because the BFG is only 24 feet tall, not 50 feet like the others, and he doesn't eat human beans, the other giants bully him but of course, he doesn't hurt them back because for him, “Two rights don't equal a left.”

I think this book is amazing! When talking about giants children always think they are scary but Dahl was able to write a book about a friendly giant who befriends a sweet girl. Yes, there are scary giants in this book but Sophie and the BFG are able to punish them for being brutish. It gives the idea that even little girls and friendly giants can do great things together. I also like that it shows us that not all giants are scary and eat human beans. In short, don't judge a book by its cover!

This book is really entertaining with Sophie and the BFG's adventures, the BFG's silly words but I especially loved the dream collecting part and when they visited the Queen! And the fact that they involved the Queen is brilliant enough!

Then out he came!

Twenty-four feet tall, wearing his black cloak with the grace of a nobleman, still carrying his long trumpet in one hand, he strode magnificently across the Palace lawn towards the window.

The maid screamed.
The Queen gasped.
Sophie waved.

The movie adaptation came out months ago but I'm yet to watch it. The trailer looks great and it's really cute so I'm really excited to watch it! :)

Movie: Doctor Strange 2016

I had a chance to win invites to an exclusive screening of Doctor Strange a couple of weeks ago courtesy of Cadbury Dairy Milk and Nuffnang Philippines. Since I scored two tickets, I went with my friend and we both definitely enjoyed the movie!

 ★★★★/★★★★★

Main characters:

Benedict Cumberbatch as Dr. Stephen Strange 

Chiwetel Ejiofor as Karl Mordo

Rachel McAdams as Christine Palmer

Benedict Wong as Wong

Mads Mikkelsen as Kaecilius  

Tilda Swinton as Ancient One

 Doctor Strange is a character from the Marvel Comics of the same name and tells the story of Stephen Strange, a neurosurgeon who, after a tragic accident, discovers the hidden world of magic and alternate dimensions in search of a way to heal his hands. 

Strange is a talented but arrogant doctor who chooses his patients and thinks highly of himself. After losing the use of his hands due to a car accident and not finding a way to heal them through traditional medicine, he ventures on a journey to Kathmandu after hearing the story of Jonathan Pangborn, a paraplegic who is able to walk again. Strange finds Karl Mordo in Kamar-Taj who then brings him to the Ancient One. The Ancient One shows Strange her power, revealing the astral plane and other dimensions such as the Mirror Dimension. Strange is skeptical at first but when the Ancient One shows him more, he begs her to teach him. The Ancient One initially refuses because of Strange's arrogance and because he reminds her of Kaecilius, a former student who turned rogue and now seeks greater mystic power. Eventually, the Ancient One agrees to teach Strange and soon Strange finds himself fighting to save the Earth from evil forces from other dimensions.

As expected from Marvel Studios, they did a good job with Doctor Strange. I admit I didn't have the chance to read the comics but I'm a huge fan of Marvel movies! And like their other superheroes, Doctor Strange is a brilliant, engaging and funny character.

 Visually satisfying and mind blowing, Doctor Strange will surely capture everyone's interest not only because it's a Marvel movie but also because the effects are incredible. I mean, how cool is it to see the whole Manhattan turning into a Rubik's Cube while Strange and his enemies, who can pull weapons out of thin air, can teleport and can leap out of their bodies into their astro form, fight each other?

  I also love the characters! Benedict Cumberbatch as Stephen Strange was an excellent choice and Rachel McAdams as Christine was perfect! I loved Rachel McAdams' character, a co-worker and past lover who puts up with Strange's not so good attitude. She cares for Strange and even though Strange is kind of a jerk for misinterpreting her kindness, she still understands him. Strange actually reminded me of Tony Stark for being arrogant, filthy rich and somewhat self centered at times. They're both invested in what they do but when life threatens to take everything they've worked on and a new opportunity to prove themselves appears, they decided to take the chance.

For me, Doctor Strange is a huge success for Marvel! And though it's not my most favorite from Marvel, Doctor Strange is a very entertaining movie. :)