It's been a literal age since I shared what I've been reading recently, which is a shame
because over the past lot of months I've read some truly incredible books!
I might put together a post of my favourite books from 2016 closer to the end of the year, but right now I want to share what I've managed to read this past month. Sadly, I only have the physical copy of one of these books, the others have been read on the Kindle App on my phone, with the intention of buying a physical copy in the near future...it just so happens that I haven't done that yet, oops!
Three Dark Crowns - Kendare Blake
My Rating: ****
In every generation on the island of Fennbirn, a set of triplets is born: three queens, all equal heirs to the crown and each possessor of a coveted magic. Mirabella is a fierce elemental, able to spark hungry flames or vicious storms at the snap of her fingers. Katharine is a poisoner, one who can ingest the deadliest poisons without so much as a stomach-ache. Arsinoe, a naturalist, is said to have the ability to bloom the reddest rose and control the fiercest of beasts.
In every generation on the island of Fennbirn, a set of triplets is born: three queens, all equal heirs to the crown and each possessor of a coveted magic. Mirabella is a fierce elemental, able to spark hungry flames or vicious storms at the snap of her fingers. Katharine is a poisoner, one who can ingest the deadliest poisons without so much as a stomach-ache. Arsinoe, a naturalist, is said to have the ability to bloom the reddest rose and control the fiercest of beasts.
But
becoming the Queen Crowned isn't solely a matter of royal birth. Each
sister has to fight for it. And it's not just a game of win or lose . . .
it's life or death. The night the sisters turn sixteen, the battle
begins.
The last queen standing gets the crown.
I loved this book! The world-building was fab, if a bit slow at the beginning, and the whole premise of the story is so dark, yet completely mesmerising at the same time. Each chapter is the POV of a different sister, which is great because it means that we get to be a part of all sides of the story, and get to know all of the sisters instead of being stuck with one perspective! There is also a pretty massive twist at the end which I did not see coming, so I can't wait for the next book to come out. There's some romance throughout the book, but if I'm honest, it felt pretty unnecessary and forced. In my opinion, I think this book would have been just as good without it!
Buy it here:
The Midnight Star - Marie Lu
My Rating: ****
There was once a time when darkness shrouded the world, and the darkness had a queen.
Adelina Amouteru is done suffering. She's turned her back on those who have betrayed her and achieved the ultimate revenge: victory. Her reign as the White Wolf has been a triumphant one, but the darkness within her has begun to spiral out of control, threatening to destroy everything.
When a new danger appears, Adelina must join the Daggers on a perilous
quest in order to save herself and preserve her empire. But this uneasy
alliance may prove to be the real danger . . .
I love The Young Elites as a series, but I have to be honest, I didn't absolutely love this book for some reason! I mean, it was great and it was the perfect way to end the series, in my opinion. Completely heartbreaking and satisfying all at the same time, and maybe that's why I didn't love it...I grow far too attached to books/series that I love, which means that I hate it when they inevitably end!
So maybe I didn't love it, or connect with it as well as I should have because
I knew that the story was coming to an end...
Anyway, The Midnight Star is the perfect conclusion to this trilogy.
We see Adelina's descent into further madness and her thirst for power deepen, but we also see her relationship with her sister flourish. We learn more about the other characters, and see their regret for mistakes made in the previous two books, which adds to them. We can see their flaws and that makes them seem more human to us as readers, which is a big reason why this has 4 stars, instead of 3!
All in all, I thought it was a great conclusion to this story, but I just didn't love it as much as I expected too!
Buy it here:
Waterstones || Easons || Amazon
This Savage Song - V.E. Schwab
My Rating: ***
Kate Harker and August Flynn are the heirs to a divided city—a city where the violence has begun to breed actual monsters. All Kate wants is to be as ruthless as her father, who lets the monsters roam free and makes the humans pay for his protection. All August wants is to be human, as good-hearted as his own father, to play a bigger role in protecting the innocent—but he’s one of the monsters. One who can steal a soul with a simple strain of music. When the chance arises to keep an eye on Kate, who’s just been kicked out of her sixth boarding school and returned home, August jumps at it. But Kate discovers August’s secret, and after a failed assassination attempt the pair must flee for their lives.
This Savage Song was good, but I don't think it was amazing, that's why I've given it 3 stars.
It felt a little like it was missing something, but I have no idea what that would be? It was still a great book, I read chapter after chapter after chapter, with each one ending on a cliffhanger
so obviously I had to find out what happened next!
The world was interesting, and I definitely got the "Romeo + Juliet" vibe, but without the romance element, which was strange and refreshing all at once,
and yet I don't think the lack of romance is what is missing from this book.
I love the creation of the monsters, the creepy little rhymes about them and how they come in to existence. August is my fave, I love how he struggles with being a monster and how he wrestles with his nature, but I didn't really like Kate.
She seemed spoilt and nasty for the most part, for no real reason other than her craving for her fathers approval.
This Savage Song is the first of a series, (maybe a trilogy? I'm not really sure) called Monsters of Verity, and book two, Our Dark Duet, isn't due to be released until June 2017!
Buy it here:
Waterstones || Easons || Amazon
:::
That's it for this month, I only finished 3 books in November! I have a couple of great books that I'm looking forward to reading in December, so my hopes are high for next month!
Also, I'm actually really excited about doing a 2016 round-up of all the books I've read this year, but I may get started on it now because I think it will take some time, so you should wish me luck!
What books have you read recently? Any recommendations?!
Let me know in the comments, or on social media!
❤
I love The Young Elites as a series, but I have to be honest, I didn't absolutely love this book for some reason! I mean, it was great and it was the perfect way to end the series, in my opinion. Completely heartbreaking and satisfying all at the same time, and maybe that's why I didn't love it...I grow far too attached to books/series that I love, which means that I hate it when they inevitably end!
So maybe I didn't love it, or connect with it as well as I should have because
I knew that the story was coming to an end...
Anyway, The Midnight Star is the perfect conclusion to this trilogy.
We see Adelina's descent into further madness and her thirst for power deepen, but we also see her relationship with her sister flourish. We learn more about the other characters, and see their regret for mistakes made in the previous two books, which adds to them. We can see their flaws and that makes them seem more human to us as readers, which is a big reason why this has 4 stars, instead of 3!
All in all, I thought it was a great conclusion to this story, but I just didn't love it as much as I expected too!
Buy it here:
Waterstones || Easons || Amazon
This Savage Song - V.E. Schwab
My Rating: ***
Kate Harker and August Flynn are the heirs to a divided city—a city where the violence has begun to breed actual monsters. All Kate wants is to be as ruthless as her father, who lets the monsters roam free and makes the humans pay for his protection. All August wants is to be human, as good-hearted as his own father, to play a bigger role in protecting the innocent—but he’s one of the monsters. One who can steal a soul with a simple strain of music. When the chance arises to keep an eye on Kate, who’s just been kicked out of her sixth boarding school and returned home, August jumps at it. But Kate discovers August’s secret, and after a failed assassination attempt the pair must flee for their lives.
This Savage Song was good, but I don't think it was amazing, that's why I've given it 3 stars.
It felt a little like it was missing something, but I have no idea what that would be? It was still a great book, I read chapter after chapter after chapter, with each one ending on a cliffhanger
so obviously I had to find out what happened next!
The world was interesting, and I definitely got the "Romeo + Juliet" vibe, but without the romance element, which was strange and refreshing all at once,
and yet I don't think the lack of romance is what is missing from this book.
I love the creation of the monsters, the creepy little rhymes about them and how they come in to existence. August is my fave, I love how he struggles with being a monster and how he wrestles with his nature, but I didn't really like Kate.
She seemed spoilt and nasty for the most part, for no real reason other than her craving for her fathers approval.
This Savage Song is the first of a series, (maybe a trilogy? I'm not really sure) called Monsters of Verity, and book two, Our Dark Duet, isn't due to be released until June 2017!
Buy it here:
Waterstones || Easons || Amazon
:::
That's it for this month, I only finished 3 books in November! I have a couple of great books that I'm looking forward to reading in December, so my hopes are high for next month!
Also, I'm actually really excited about doing a 2016 round-up of all the books I've read this year, but I may get started on it now because I think it will take some time, so you should wish me luck!
What books have you read recently? Any recommendations?!
Let me know in the comments, or on social media!
❤
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