A satisfaying conclusion with a good romance | The Revolution of Ivy

Title: The Revolution of Ivy (The Book of Ivy #2)

Author: Amy Engel

Published: November 3rd 2015 by Entangled Teen

Goodreads summary: Ivy Westfall is beyond the fence and she is alone. Abandoned by her family and separated from Bishop Lattimer, Ivy must find a way to survive on her own in a land filled with countless dangers, both human and natural. She has traded a more civilized type of cruelty--forces marriages and murder plots--for the bare-knuckled brutality required to survive outside Westfall's borders.

But there is hope beyond the fence, as well. When Bishop reappears in Ivy's life, she must decide if returning to Westfall to take a final stand for what she believes is right is worth losing everything she's fought for.

REVIEW

The ending of The Book of Ivy let me eager for more adventures in this world, and I wanted more than what I got. The Revolution of Ivy starts where the previous book left off, with our main character, Ivy, struggling to survive outside the fence. This is a real trope in dystopia so it wasn’t really original, but I liked the way they handled it, Ivy had to fight for herself as soon as the beginning of the book. Of course, she finds a community, but lie about who she is and why she was put outside.

I was annoyed that she couldn’t tell the truth, at first, because I thought it would blow up into her face, but it didn’t. She was confronted to her past really quickly, but she had been able to make friends in the meantime, so they helped her. Ivy was an indecisive character during the most part of the book, it was realistic, because she had to choose where her loyalties lied, but it was irritating at the same time.

The world introduced was usual in dystopia, very similar to the Delirium trilogy by Lauren Oliver. The struggle about surviving in the wild was handled well, even if I thought they stayed there for a long time, which didn’t allow the book to move a lot. The characters spent a lot of time worrying about winter, the supplies, and it wasn’t really exciting for me. They got back to Westfall a little late, in my opinion, but I liked that they got back for a real reason, though. The new characters introduced were well developed and I got really attached to them.

My favourite part of the book was totally the romance. I didn’t care that much that this story was classical dystopia, because Ivy and Bishop have such an amazing relationship. They had to work a lot on their relationship, because Ivy felt so guilty for what happened, but they were such cuties.

The ending was action-packed and fast-paced and triggered a lot of emotions in me; it totally redeemed the book for being slower paced in the beginning. I wasn’t surprised by the resolution of the book, though. The epilogue was amazing, I really enjoyed it.

Final Thoughts:                                                                 

I really enjoyed this book which was a satisfying conclusion to this duology, but I expected more action and a faster pace. The new characters introduced were great. The romance was actually the best part of the book. Overall, this duology is classical dystopia; fans of that genre should love it.

Have you read this duology? Did you find it was an usual dystopian novel? 

Reign of Shadows | Waiting on Wednesday

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly feature hosted by Jill from Breaking the Spine where we discuss the upcoming releases that we are most excited for. 

Title: Reign of Shadows
Author: Sophie Jordan
Published: February 9th 2016 by Harper Teen

Goodreads summary: Seventeen years ago, an eclipse cloaked the kingdom of Relhok in perpetual darkness. In the chaos, an evil chancellor murdered the king and queen and seized their throne. Luna, Relhok's lost princess, has been hiding in a tower ever since. Luna's survival depends on the world believing she is dead.

But that doesn't stop Luna from wanting more. When she meets Fowler, a mysterious archer braving the woods outside her tower, Luna is drawn to him despite the risk. When the tower is attacked, Luna and Fowler escape together. But this world of darkness is more treacherous than Luna ever realized.

With every threat stacked against them, Luna and Fowler find solace in each other. But with secrets still unspoken between them, falling in love might be their most dangerous journey yet. 

With lush writing and a star-crossed romance, Reign of Shadows is Sophie Jordan at her best.

MY THOUGHTS

I've read an other book by this author, but I was disappointed. However, this one totally appealed to me. First of, the cover is GORGEOUS, I can't help but dream about having it on my bookshelves. Second, this is an high fantasy... And that's my favourite genre. Third, it feels like a Rapunzel retelling. I love Rapunzel. I just want this. I'm confident that Sophie Jordan won't let me down with this book, even though I didn't like Uninvited (I think it was the name? Not sure).

What do you think about this book? I feel like we have a lot of fairy tales type of books coming next year and I'm so happy about it. Do you like this genre? Which book did you choose for you WOW?

A character-driven book I wanted more action from | Ungodly

Title: Ungodly (The Goddess War #3)
Author: Kendare Blake
Published: September 22nd 2015 by Tor Teen

Goodreads summary: For the Goddess of Wisdom, what Athena didn't know could fill a book. That's what her opponents said. 

So she was wrong about some things. So her carefully planned assault on Olympus left her team beaten and scattered and possibly dead. So they have to fight the Fates themselves, who, it turns out, are the source of the gods illness. And sure, Athena is stuck in the underworld, holding the body of the only hero she has ever loved.

But all is not lost. Hermes is still topside, trying to power up Andie and Henry before he runs out of time and submits to his death, or the Fates arrive to speed it along. 

And Cassandra is up there somewhere, too, on a quest for death... with the god of death himself.

REVIEW

This book was the conclusion to the Goddess War trilogy, I was excited to read it, because the second book left off on a cliff-hanger. Now that I’m looking back, I feel like this trilogy was more character-driven than action-packed, and I’m kind of regretting it, because I was expecting more action from it.

I really enjoyed that we got three points of view in this book, because at the end of the second book, the characters weren’t at the same place and were looking toward different paths. This switch between the points of view made me kept reading and totally renewed my interest for the plot.

Kendare Blake expanded the world of this trilogy and we finally got to see the Underworld – literally everyone expects it in Greek mythology novels – I liked to see how Persephone was dying. However, I’m wondering: did we see Zeus in this trilogy? I feel like we didn’t but maybe I read too fast and missed the part where he was? I don’t know but it is awkward not to see him.

The romance was so good in this book, I’m happy Henry and Andie got together – even if the whole world was begging them to be together I’m kidding. I also got a soft spot for Thanatos with Cassandra, even if it is twisted, him being death and everything, but I don’t mind, she deserves to be with someone after all the events of the previous books.

My favourite moments featured:

1)      Hephaestus who was so cool and steampunk-y (evn if it’s urban fantasy). He was a noble character, even if I doubted him for a moment. And the lunch with Hermes was everything.

2)      When the Moirae possessed Cassandra, it was unexpected and disgusting but AWESOME.

I felt the ending was a little easy, I actually didn’t remember it while writing this review, three days after I finished the book (and here, everyone discovers or not my reviews are scheduled LOOOONG after I’m reading the books).

How joining the book community changed my reading life | Discussion

I wanted to do a discussion post but… I also wanted to talk about something personal so…

BOOKS + PERSONAL STUFF = ALMOST PERFECT

Anyway, I wanted to talk about how the book community impacted on my reading life. In fact, I used to be a little bookworm, who was alone, because even if I’m from a family of readers… We don’t read the same thing, even if my brother loves Rick Riordan. But still. So when I found the book community, it was everything I could wish for!

In 2013, I started to watch BookTube videos and well… It changed a lot of things in my reading life and reading became more like an addiction since then. I got a lot of book recommendations from these videos and I'm grateful for that. However, it's not the case these days, I'm only watching BookTube videos for entertainment... Because I read a lot more than most BookTubers (except Aprilius Maximus who is as bad as I am!). Before, I could read a book, then I wouldn’t read for a month, and then I would read three books in a row. It depended. Now… If I don’t read every day, I’m feeling… WEIRD.

So, let's talk about joining the book community online changed my reading life (for the best and the worst).

I'M READING SO MUCH AND I'M SHOCKED ABOUT IT EVERY DAY

So because of that, the main thing that changed in my reading life was the amount of books I read. To make it simple, look at the difference between 2013 and 2014:

Reading 55 books was already a lot in 2013 and I was really proud. Before, I had NO IDEA how many books I read a year, and I didn't care. The more important was that I was reading and loving it. But then, it really became an addiction, as you can see. My amount of books read also increased drastically because I started to get competitive, to read as many books as possible. I think deep down, I'm still thinking like that.

And now, of course, you can ask me: But how do you manage to read that much? Are you a Time Lord? How much money do you spend on books?

Well, in fact, when I'm at uni, I live alone so it's really easy to read because I can do it while I eat, when I do breaks between studying, etc. I make more time for it than for watching Netflix, for example. I also don't have a social life this semester, it's a choice but this way, I can read a lot! Lastly, it's bad but... Sometimes my classes are really bad, because a teacher isn't really good and everything soooo... I can read and listen to him at the same time. Yes, that's my dirty little secret. I read 58% of A Thousand Nights by E.K. Johnston during a class on Thursday.

And about the money well... I don't spend that much (I mean yes I do, but it could be so much worse). Two and a half years ago, I bought an e-reader (called Penelope) and I read most books on it. I love physical copies more, tbh, but I don't have enough money for it... Kindle unlimited helps a lot! For example, in November, I only bought Winter and Ten Thousand Skies Above You in hardcover, that's all! I'm also starting to buy more paperbacks, because it's cheaper.

I READ IN A LANGUAGE THAT ISN'T MINE

If you don't know, I'm French. So of course, even when I first started watching BookTube videos, I was reading the same books that everyone else... But in French. Now, all I can think is: Ugh, translations. I discovered a lot of books, but I could only read the first or second book in each series because... Sometimes, translations take a year. Yes, can you imagine reading Winter after everyone? I can't.

So I started to read in English, because I wanted to know what happened in Clockwork Prince. Yes Cassandra Clare is a reason for everything. I remember reading Clockwork Angel, loving it so much and wanting the sequel. Then I realized I wouldn't have it before long and then I begged my father to buy it through Amazon (I didn't have a credit card at that time, I was a little one). It was hard, but I managed and I loved it. And then I got the first hardcover edition of Clockwork Princess and I'm still as proud as a peacock about it.

But because of that my book collection is... Monstrous. I own some books in French but then the last book of a lot of series in English (Legend, The Mortal Instruments, The Heroes of Olympus). However, it is sometimes useful, because I'm starting to make my boyfriend read in English *evil laughter* (Btw I know you're reading this and you're happy I'm talking about you, even if I got you ;) ).

Still, here I am, talking in English all the time on the Internet and sometimes... It is hard to find my words in French, because I'm lost between the two languages. But I'm proud because if it weren't for books, I wouldn't be great in English. I can pnly talk about books I love with English speaking people so yeah... No choice!

I'M ACTIVE ON SOCIAL MEDIAS

When I joined the book community, I had a tumblr, and I spent ALL MY FREE TIME on that website. Now that I think about it, I'm wondering about the usefulness of doing so... It was my first online experience of sharing my love of books, through graphics of fandoms. I think I just did it because it was pretty *hides because of shallowness*

At the same time, I also made a Goodreads account and it was like a bookworm’s heaven. It still is. To be honest, 60% of my time on the Internet involves Goodreads. I’m reading every list ever and I’m updated on every book, it’s crazy. I’m slowing down a little bit since I now have a blog, but still. Anyway, at first, I was only reviewing books there, for two years I think?

In 2014, I wanted to create a blog, it exists (if you go on my Google profile, you can see I have two blogs) but I never posted on it. I guess I had the idea but no. I didn’t have time for it back then, so I’m glad I didn’t start at that time or it would have been a catastrophe. Then, at the beginning of June, I thought a lot about it and then I did it! I created a book blog! Well, of course I did because you’re reading this! I’m happy I did it, just to prove myself I could.

But, I’m now also active on Twitter! I think I had an account for three years but I really started using it with the blog, because it helps you with promo. So yeah, I’m trying to tweet, but I’m not really good. But I’m active there. Sometimes. It’s a huge step, ha-ha.

I forgot to mention that I’m a shy person. Yeah. You can’t see it here, because of course, I’m here to talk write. But on Twitter, it’s harder, IDK. Anyway, the book community helped me with that, because I can talk to other people about books I love and I even did it in real life in October at the Leigh Bardugo’s event. So yes, the book community totally helps me on a social aspect. Because I suck at being social.

What is your story about the book community? Can you open up about books you love in real life? Let me know :)

A promising book based on Chinese folklore that let me down | Soundless

Title: Soundless
Author: Richelle Mead
Published: November 10th 2015 by Razorbill

Goodreads summary: From Richelle Mead, the #1 internationally bestselling author of the Vampire Academy and Bloodlines, comes a breathtaking new fantasy steeped in Chinese folklore.

For as long as Fei can remember, there has been no sound in her village, where rocky terrain and frequent avalanches prevent residents from self-sustaining. Fei and her people are at the mercy of a zipline that carries food up the treacherous cliffs from Beiguo, a mysterious faraway kingdom.

When villagers begin to lose their sight, deliveries from the zipline shrink and many go hungry. Fei's home, the people she loves, and her entire existence is plunged into a crisis, under threat of darkness and starvation.

But soon Fei is awoken in the night by a searing noise, and sound becomes her weapon.

REVIEW

Funny thing well definitely not for the author, every time I’m going back on the Goodreads’ page of this book, the ratings are getting lower and lower. To be honest, I was so excited about this book, because it was based on Chinese folklore, it was a fantasy, and it was written by Richelle Mead, author of the amazing Vampire Academy and Bloodlines series. However, if I hadn’t known she was the author of this book, I wouldn’t have guessed, because it was so different from her previous works.

In the beginning of this book, I felt so bored, the pacing was really slow and not a lot happened. Fei and Li Wei decided to do something 25% in and this book wasn’t even 300 pages long! I was confused during the first chapters of the books, because I felt like the world had just been thrown at me, with no explanations. I felt it was more a dystopia than a fantasy, because it had such a typical dystopian novel plot… When Fei regained her hearing, I found it pretty easy, because she just had to read the words of someone who could read to understand what it was like, it was unrealistic.

Fei was a brave main character but she didn’t stood out to me, she felt like every other YA heroine I’ve read before, I lacked of connection toward her. I really didn’t like her relationship with her sister, because Fei was doing everything in her place – without asking her opinion sometimes – it was pretty irritating, especially when you know that Fei was the younger of them. I had actually forgotten that detail and thought it was the contrary, until I read other reviews, it’s how confusing it is. The romance she was into was pretty cheesy and predictable, like : “Oh I’m promised to someone I don’t love but this guy I’ve always swooned over starts to get interested in me.”

The plot started to be interesting when Fei discovered other villages. However, the climb before that took forever, I just wanted it to stop. The explanation behing why Fei’s village was lonely and treated differently was interesting, but I wasn’t blown away or anything…

This book is labelled as “Chinese folklore” but sadly, it was almost non-existent. Actually, it felt like the only reason I could think this book was set in a China-esque country was the name of the characters AND THAT’S ALL. This Chinese folklore I was promised was set in the last two chapters of the book…

Final thoughts:

I was expecting a lot of this book, because I love Richelle Mead, she always writes funny books with swoon-worthy characters. I’ve always loved getting into one of her books, because I knew I would love it. I was expecting the same of this one, but I felt let down. It was a short book where not a lot happened and that felt more like a slow first book in a series. I have this weird feeling that Richelle Mead was trying to prove she could do other things than Vampire Academy and Bloodlines by getting a book published as soon as possible (The Ruby Circle, last book in the Bloodlines series, was published in February, this one in November), but it didn’t work. I didn’t see a lot of research concerning Chinese culture, I think she didn’t know how to put it in the book.

Have you read books based upon Chinese folklore? Do you have any recommendations for me? Are you a fan of Richelle Mead? What did you think of that new novel of hers and are you excited for her new series, The Glittering Court?

The Dark Days Club | Waiting on Wednesday

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly feature hosted by Jill from Breaking the Spine where we discuss the upcoming releases that we are most excited for. 

Title: The Dark Days Club (Lady Helen #1)
Author: Alison Goodman
Published: January 26th 2016 by Viking Books for Young Readers

Goodreads summary: New York Times bestseller Alison Goodman's eagerly awaited new project: a Regency adventure starring a stylish and intrepid demon-hunter!

London, April 1812. On the eve of eighteen-year-old Lady Helen Wrexhall's presentation to the queen, one of her family's housemaids disappears - and Helen is drawn into the shadows of Regency London. There, she meets Lord Carlston, one of the few who can stop the perpetrators: a cabal of demons infiltrating every level of society. Dare she ask for his help, when his reputation is almost as black as his lingering eyes? And will her intelligence and headstrong curiosity wind up leading them into a death trap?

MY THOUGHTS

I heard about this book at the beginning of this year and I got excited right away. I'm so eager to know more about the Regency - because I'm French, so I only know our side of history. 19th century is a time period I love, so I'm really excited. Moreover, it is about hunting demons, which I also love. I know it won't be the same (and I don't want that) but I totally have an Infernal Devices vibe from this book, even if it's not the same period exactly. Because of that, I sure want to read this book!

What do you think of this book? Which book are you excited for this Wednesday?

2016 Debuts | Top Ten Tuesday

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature created by The Broke and the Bookish. The last time I did a TTT it was for Halloween, it feels like forever ago. Anyway, I had to do this week's topic, because DEBUTS.

HIGH FANTASY

High fantasy is my favorite genre so of course I had to start with it! There are so many debuts from this genre which will be released next year! I'm really excited about Sword and Verse because it's about a world where there is still slavery. The main character, Raisa, is a slave but starts working in the palace as a Learned One. She falls for the prince but is also approached by the Resistance so what will she do? DUM DUM DUM. It reminds me a little of An Ember in the Ashes so of course I want it! Assassin's heart is about families fighting for power and assassins (obviously) so OMG I want! It is also full of romance but mostly assassiiiiiins (I know I already said it but, but, but). The Crown's Game is set in a Russian land (yes we'll have culture) about two enchanters that have to fight each other to die or become the Imperial Enchanter. But of course, they fall in love in the process so struggle. 

 

Rebel of the Sands takes place in a desert. I love setting where there is no in-between, weatherly speaking. Djinn might be alive in this world and what else do you need? Burning Glass is about a girl with a powerful gift who is forced to serve the emperor, while assassins try to kill him constantly. It reminds me a little of Red Queen but it'll probably more... Original!

WITH AN HISTORICAL VIBE... BUT MOSTLY FANTASY 

Okay, this is the category of 'OMG I want you now but idk how to describe you'. Seriously. I really don't know how to qualify Ivory and Bone but... it takes place on the Great Ice it sounds so cool. I've not read a lot of novels with that kind of setting (maybe After the End by Amy Plum but that's pretty much all) so now I want to because I'm curious and I love learning about new places. Blackhearts will probably be a big thing because it is about Blackbeard... before Blackbeard. So yay, pirates and ships and prequel! Revenge and the Wild is one of these western books we started to see in 2015. This one is mixed with steampunk so it is right up my alley!

TIME TRAVEL 

Time traveling will probably be a new trend in YA for the upcoming years (Passenger *coughs*) and I'm really looking forward to it, because I'm such a history nerd. The Girl From Everywhere features a ship where time traveling is possible, so yay (btw ships are life my favorite trope). I found the plot to be rather interesting, because it is about our main character, Nix, whose mother died while giving her life. So her father wants to get back to the day Nix was born and prevent her mother to die... But it could change her whole life, especially the fact that she loves one of the members of the crew. Into the Dim will make the main character travels to Eleanor of Aquitaine and Henry II's era and I want this so badly! When we have a historical novel, it's not often set in the Middle Ages and I want more of those, so bring Into the Dim to me!

So many unique and interesting debuts are being released next year, I can't get to have them in my hands and love them!

Are you excited about these books? Have you heard of other debuts I should add to my TBR list?