January 18, 2017

REVIEW| Siege and Storm

Siege and Storm (The Grisha Trilogy #2)
Leigh Bardugo

⭐⭐⭐⭐

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Synopsis for Shadow and Bone:

Surrounded by enemies, the once-great nation of Ravka has been torn in two by the Shadow Fold, a swath of near impenetrable darkness crawling with monsters who feast on human flesh. Now its fate may rest on the shoulders of one lonely refugee.

Alina Starkov has never been good at anything. But when her regiment is attacked on the Fold and her best friend is brutally injured, Alina reveals a dormant power that saves his life—a power that could be the key to setting her war-ravaged country free. Wrenched from everything she knows, Alina is whisked away to the royal court to be trained as a member of the Grisha, the magical elite led by the mysterious Darkling.

Yet nothing in this lavish world is what it seems. With darkness looming and an entire kingdom depending on her untamed power, Alina will have to confront the secrets of the Grisha . . . and the secrets of her heart.

Review:

The Cover:

My only real problem that I have ever had with these books is the change they made, from that glorious matte grey into these,  shiny editions. Meaning that only the second and third book, now, truely matches on my shelf. 

Still beautiful, though. 

I think once you read the book, that's then when the cover will make sense as a journey. The waves directing back to the palace in the background, of this art piece. Yes, art piece. I can't really elaborate more on the cover.

The Content:

I'm out of sorts in writing reviews but, let's start on characters?

Alina goes through an interesting character arc in Siege and Storm. Which is why I probably enjoyed it more than Shadow and Bone. She grows. From the weak character, she was, into someone willing to put herself forward. She grew into the role that needed to be set up for the events in book three. It's rare to find someone who is already willing to put herself on the line,  to not need any growth as a person. Especially in the events of the past book and this one. To not grow would just be a testimony of an author's inability to write. 

Even if, Mal remains a great pain in my reading ass. I understand Mal's purpose in the story, he is what grounds Alina. Which I'm not sure means I can tolerate him or it's making me more annoyed. But, he acts as a boundary, blind sighting her into the wanting of what she has now had to leave in the past. But, also not letting her fall into the world of politics, in making the same mistakes and presumptions as before. The only default I find with this is that sometimes he is a trope. Jealous over a little competition and over protective, when clearly Alina can protect herself.  Male beating his chest.

The most common opinion I can find is that the Darkling is a love among readers. Even after the revelations in Shadow and Bone, I can see why so many people continue to swoon at his feet. When he shows presence in a scene I can feel his charm, he is alluring in some respect. Yes, I, too, have fallen at his Darkling feet. 

In my mind, the plot for Siege and Storm splits itself into two parts. We have Alina's journey in the first 200 pages and then the second half towards a destination. The first I enjoyed reading more. There was an adventure to be had, moving plot and turns that kept me going. I found myself just pushing for the sake of finishing the last hundred or so pages. I knew what was going to happen, unlike how this books started out with. I think if I the plot had kept pace and not tampered off. This would have been given 4.5/5 stars, perhaps.  

I'd still recommend. Particularly to those who are treading the waters into YA Fantasy. I am still going on to the third and final instalment of the Grisha Trilogy.

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January 17, 2017

QUARTERLY TBR| Jan- Mar '17

If you couldn't tell, last year I failed miserably at any form of TBR that I made. I know. I know. I suck. So, I thought this year would be different. I know quite a few people have switched to using TBR's based on the season, however, I find that messy when Winter crosses over into the new year. So I'm going to break down the year into each quarter.

I wanted to stick at TBR's because I just find it a nice way to give you an idea of what sort of reading mood I'm in as well as what reviews are to be expected.

Anyway, enough beating around the bush, let's talk books.

January:

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Harry Potter #4)
J.K. Rowling

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I don't know what it is that made me do it but, New Years Day I got the audiobook up on Audible and started to reread. I began rereading these last year and only got up to Chamber of Secrets.

I wanted the minimal contact we get with Bill Weasley. And I got that. And then went on a Domhnall Gleeson {plays Bill Weasley in Deathly Hallows) rampage and rewatched all my favourite Gleeson films. Help me. Merlin's Beard!

And yes, by the time this post goes up I would have already finished this one.

Pantomime (Micah Grey #1)
Laura Lam


I got sent this for review from UKTor. That was in November. If you couldn't tell there will be a theme of books that I've let myself get behind on because, I have decided to focus on a degree and binging tv shows.

This book has been compared to The Night Circus but, with what I understand as LGBTQ+ representation. I am intrigued and cannot wait to review this one for you.



A Darker Shade of Magic (Shades of Magic #1)
V.E. Schwab


You know that book you've had on your shelf for ages and have every intention of reading but, you just won't. Not because you aren't excited for it but because you know just how much you will love it.

Every book I have read by V in the past I have loved. I love the themes she explores, the characters she writes and I also am a bit in love with her. (Her tweets are the most relatable 140 characters ever!!) 

All I know is:  Kell is a traveller. One of the last who can jump through parallel Londons. Red, White and Grey. Black London is non-existent?  

That is all I need to know and all I want to know. This is the month I take the plunge back into another of V's worlds. It's been too long.

February:

A Gathering of Shadows (Shades of Magic #2)
V,E, Schwab


Yup, may as well binge the entire series. This is the continuation to book one. And with the final book in the series coming out towards the end of the month I may as well not stop there. 

I don't know anything about this one due to trying to keep spoilers down to a minimum.

I will be trying to write a non-spoiler review either way.



Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (Harry Potter #5)
J.K. Rowling


Seeing as it is the 10th Anniversary of the publiction of Deathly Hallows I am going to try and read a book a month. I will probably stop here and read HBP and DH in June and July unless I get that weird desperate desire like I did at the start of the year.

If I remember correctly this was my third favourite book and movie, so it would just be interesting to see how it compares as my views have changed since I last reread this.



Champion (Legend #3)
Marie Lu


I have been saying on this blog I have wanted to finish this trilogy for the longest of times. Since last summer?

I'm not at the point where if I don't read this soon I may need to reread the first two book in order to understand the plot of this one. I'm not at the point, yet.

I won't rehash what this trilogy is about. It's an older series that surfaced back in 2012 and the great renaissance of dystopian YA.

I AM GOING TO FINISH THIS SERIES. I NEED TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENS!

March:

A Conjuring of Light (Shades of Magic #3)
V.E. Schwab


Alas, here we have it. The final book in the Shades of Magic trilogy. 

This ones doesn't come out until the end of Feb so, it won't get read until the start of March I don't think. 

Again, don't want to know anything on what happens because spoilers for the other books. Just know how excited I am and how my heart is going to break. It always shatters after I finish a book by V.

Strange the Dreamer (Strange the Dreamer #1)
Laini Taylor


As you will see March will be the month where I am scrambling to squeeze in all the exciting new releases that I we have coming out.

Strange the Dreamer is one of my most anticipated books that is being released in this first half of the year. Honestly, Laini Taylor is one of my favourite writers for beautiful prose.

I still have no idea what this book is about but, I don't care. I am being sold just by the fact the Laini's name is printed on the cover. I am terrible.



The Song Rising (The Bone Season #3)
Samantha Shannon

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It's been two years since I finished reading  The Bone Season and it's sequel. So good that I binged them over the space of a week. And, yes, I regret every moment.

Why?

Because, I've been cruelly clinging onto the ending of book two ever since. The fact that I remember the ending so vibrantly this far along and a hundred books read in between really says a lot. 


I just hope I'm not left disappointed. Really. That would be soul crushing.


And there you will have it. My TBR for the next three months. Kept to a reasonable amount and not too overly ambitious. However, I am hoping to try squeeze in some more reading, as I am really trying this year to stop relying on TV and movies. Just need to keep pushing to get those few extra pages read.