Review of The Cruel Prince by Holly Black

The Cruel Prince by Holly Black

5 out of 5 Stars

This is one of the few books that are as truly phenomenal in every regard as they can be. Holly Black's The Cruel Prince is as addicting and powerfully beautiful as the faerie fruit that is in the book. The characters are authentic, the momentum of the story just right, the writing mythically enchanting, and the politics of courts wonderfully convoluted. This book is just what a book with fae should be: dark, intricate, and spell-binding.

SPOILERS BELOW

Plot:
One of the best things about this book I think is that there is not a romantic plot in it. There is romance to be sure, but the focus is primarily on Jude finding her place amongst the High Fae of Elfhame. This is partially due to Jude's character, which will come later, but as a whole, I think the plot could best be described as a beautiful tree. There's a main conflict that needs to be resolved (Jude finding her place) like the trunk of the tree, but then there are all these twining little plots and details like the branches that make the tree whole.

Of all the things that happen in the book, my favorite is how things are developed and revealed to the reader. Constantly, there are at least two or three things happening at once that are all significant in some form or another. The reader learns as Jude does though, which means that things are not clear right away necessarily. And then they all come together in the end of the book and, I kid you not, I couldn't put down the book at the end even if I wanted to.


Characters:
Jude: Jude may be one of my favorite literary characters ever. I love how she is so strong and we get to see her develop to conquer her fear- or at least function with it- of the fae around her. Her rashness was a bit startling at times, but I think it fits with her character. My only concern though is to see how "dark" she gets per say. I have a theory that Valerian's curse on her will either, a) turn her into a killing machine where she'll come to despise herself, or b) doesn't matter at all because he died before he said the third part. I'm interested to also see how her relationship with Cardan plays out. [I ship it, but with trepidation]

Taryn: She was the most infuriating character ever! Even more so than Valerian the psychopath. This may also be because I have a sister, and I absolutely cannot imagine my sister doing what Taryn did. But holy smokes, I felt betrayed when Taryn revealed she was dating Locke and knew Locke was teasing Jude. Sister just don't do that.

Cardan: I have very mixed feelings on Cardan. It seems like for every horrid thing he does, there's a good deed (or at least slightly above decent deed) to counteract it. However, now there's the huge concern over what will happen at the end of his and Jude's bargain, because we all know he's pissed as hell for being made King. What I hope happens, is that Jude will make him see reason, they'll fall for each other in their own volatile ways, and then at the end of the year Cardan makes Jude Queen. Wouldn't that be nice? Or at least the least bloody? Of course then when Oak comes back Cardan will rescind the crown and he and Jude will move away and live happily ever after. 

Valerian: He's a psychopath- that's all I think I need to say.

Locke: Locke is just slimy in my opinion. Yes, I hate him for how he played the twins and I think he's disgusting for doing it. But he's not evil like Valerian, so I can't hate him as much. Plus, it does seem like he'll take care of Taryn? Maybe? Or, he'll do something awful to her and Jude will kill him. I think that's an acceptable option as well. He'll definitely be in the story then.

Madoc: I don't have very many strong feelings on Madoc. My biggest thing with him is that I'm curious to see what happens when he wakes up and realizes everything that's happened. Will Cardan protect Jude from him? Will he even try to get revenge? Who knows.....

Writing:
First person present tense narration can be extremely difficult to pull off; but when it is done correctly, it is my absolute favorite to read. Holly Black not only pulls it off though, but she also does so in a way that is excellent for telling a story. It's strange because in this way, the book isn't just a narration of what Jude is going through, but it is the artistry of weaving a story in a way that is meant for enjoyment.

As for the world of the book, I was so happy to be back in this world. I loved The Darkest Part of the Forest, and it made me SO happy to see Severin and Ben (even though Ben wasn't named in the book). The world is just so thoughtfully illustrated and what's more is that the story was constantly in motion. Some parts were the fast pace that they needed, and others were a bit slower to explain things more thoroughly, but they always fit the tone and the moment they were telling.

Finishing this book was almost sad in a way because now I don't have the second book and I won't have the second book until some time in 2019 I believe. However, I looked on Goodreads and it says the next title is The Wicked King, which make me so excited I could scream... there's just so much to wait on! So many ways this could go! The characters and the world are hanging on the precipice of the unknown and I hate and love that feeling all at once. I absolutely cannot wait to see where this series goes. Highly recommended, this book is definitely an official favorite of mine and I really think it will explode across the community.

Thanks for reading!
POPSUGAR Reading Challenge: Book You Borrowed

How to Read When...

Reading During the School Year

This past week I went back to school. I know that for many people, this is the time that they begin to slow down their reading or stop entirely. I've also seen this become more and more true the older I get and with the more advanced classes that I take. However, it never fails to astonish people when I tell them the number of books that I read per year (around 100). And while I genuinely love to read, it sometime isn't easy to be able to do so with homework, classes, work, etc., etc.

Here's what I suggest: 1) Set aside 30 minutes; and 2) Bring a book everywhere with you.

1) This goes for whatever it is that you love. If it something that brings you joy, you should give yourself the time to enjoy it. The world is not going to end if you relax for a brief moment of time. Set aside your phone, turn off the notifications, and (for those inclined to read) fall between the pages of a book you've been looking forward to.


2) You'd be surprised how much reading you can get done in the couple of minutes here and there throughout the day. Before class starts, waiting to meet a friend, on a bus... you can read in these places. So always have a book with you in some form, because it can be so easy to just pick it up where you left off and make progress in the story. If you don't want to carry around a physical book with you, I highly suggest e-books because you can download either the kindle app or use iBooks, both of which I like.

I hope if you are going back to school or are already back that this is helpful in some way! There is a very good chance that it is advice that you have seen before, but they're the bits that I have found helpful all the same. Good luck with your new year!


Thanks for reading!

Spoiler Free Review of Zenith by Sasha Alsberg and Lindsay Cummings

Zenith by Sasha Alsberg and Lindsay Cummings

3.75 out of 5 Stars

*Thank you to Harlequin Teen and Edelweiss + for providing a DRC for me to read!*

NO SPOILERS

The first in what will hopefully be a very successful space series, Zenith, by Sasha Alsberg and Lindsay Cummings, has great promise and potential to it while the finer details and minutia to the story and writing are the only things that deter from this being a great novel.

Following the story of Androma Racella and her gang of fellow space pirates, Zenith is a space opera heist where the protagonist finds herself needing to complete a job to save a man from her past from a notorious prison. Helping her though are not just her fellow hand-picked shipmates, but Dex, an unwelcome fellow outlaw that she had worked with in her past. The plot keeps moving, the characters play off each other, and the world is a beautiful imagination drawn on page.
 
The writing of the book itself is tricky. I know that the two of them switched back and forth while writing, and some author duos pull it off really well, but I could tell when the writer switched. With the way that this story is laid out, I do not think you were supposed to be able to tell that. I can only imagine how immensely difficult it is to synthetically have two people writing on the same story, but it did distract me at times. 

Zenith, while not being the most well constructed book of the year, definitely has it merits and I will continue to read it to find out what happens to the characters and larger plot of the book. The best thing about this book I think is that it has something for nearly every reader. Even those who do not normally find enjoyment in the "science fiction" genre or with "space" books will be able to find enjoyment in the story.

You can buy a copy of Zenith this Tuesday, January 16th!!! My full review will be published on Friday, January 19.

Thanks for reading!

Books of 2018

Books I'm Looking Forward to in 2018

Part 1: January-June

Looking through all of the books I am really excited for being released this upcoming year, I realized two things: one, there is a massive amount of them coming out this month; two, there are not many books listed for the second half of the year yet. So I'm only going to list books that are slotted through June, and then I will cover the second half at a later date when the publication dates are finalized.

January
Cruel Prince by Holly Black (January 2)
Batman: Nightwalker by Marie Lu (January 2)
Meet Cute: Some People Are Destined to Meet by Jennifer L. Armentrout (January 2)
Zenith by Sasha Alsburg and Lindsay Cummings (January 16)
Moonlight Sins by Jennifer L. Armentrout (January 30)

February
Paris Adrift by E.J. Swift (February 6)
Shadowsong by S. Jae-Jones (February 6)
The Dark Calling by Kresley Cole (February 13)
People Like Us by Dana Mele (February 27)

March
Restore Me by Tahereh Mafi (March 6)
The Prophecy by Jennifer L. Armentrout  (March 8)

May
A Court of Frost and Starlight by Sarah J Maas (May 1)
War Storm by Victoria Aveyard (May 15)

June
Save the Date by Morgan Matson (June 5)
A Reaper at the Gates by Sabaa Tahir (June 12)

Please note! There are so many great books coming out that I have not read their predecessors yet, hence they are not on this list. However, that is something that I hope to rectify. 2018 is just beginning and we are off on a good foot for books coming out!

Thanks for reading!

The Greatest Showman Movie Review

The Greatest Showman Movie Review

3.5 out of 5 Stars

For the entirety of this review, it is important to note that I saw this movie twice in theaters. The first was because my friend and I wanted to check it out like any other film. Based on that first viewing, I would not have volunteered to see it again. However, I had promised to take a different friend to the movies, and this was the film that they chose. It was their treat, so I agreed to see it again. Interestingly enough, I liked it more the second time I saw it, and I'll explain why in a moment. Despite liking it more the second time around, I don't think I would spend more money to see it in theaters again for a third time.


The Greatest Showman, for those who are not completely sure of what the movie is about, is inspired by the life of P.T. Barnum, the guy that created the first circus. Hugh Jackman plays this role and is accompanied in the film by Zac Efron, Zendaya, and Michelle Williams. Young Barnum has nothing but through hard work earns enough to marry his childhood sweetheart and live in New York City. When he loses his job, he begins to use his imagination to think of a new attraction in the city that he can call his own. The movie progresses throughout his circus career and stresses the importance of family and acceptance. The movie, as is said within the movie, really is a "celebration of humanity".

Sounds fantastic right? It very nearly was; however, the first time I saw it there was so much going on and there were multiple plots that I couldn't follow them all without wondering about where the film was going to go. About halfway through the movie, there had already been a successful rising tension, climax, and resolution plot line and I was so confused about where the movie was going to go. It was extremely distracting! And then when the second one started, it was fuzzy as to what the problem was that needed to get solved. It wasn't until the climax of that plot that it became known what was happening that needed resolution. The second time around though, I knew what was going to happen so I was able to enjoy everything else more than. So on that note, I would say it was not strong writing and storytelling.

A part of this movie that I really did enjoy were the songs. The opening scene itself is bada** as heck and got me really excited for the show. From start to finish, there is an air of entertainment to all of the music that really drives home the movie. I think my favorite song of the entire thing though it "The Other Side", which is sung by Hugh Jackman and Zac Efron. It was just such great buildup within the lyrics and composition, and then with the choreography that they used it made for a really enjoyable scene in the movie. Lastly, the colors, settings, and costumes were SO amazing. I don't think they could have hit the nail on the head better with the whole entertaining-circus-Barnum thing. The colors were bold and bright and unapologetic. And then there is the contrast with the high society of New York that wore very formal attire with dulled colors or pale colors.


This movie is worth going to see in theaters, even if only once. It is also a great family movie, so if there are little kids and you need to see something that everyone can watch, this will work nicely. For me though, the plot was too disorganized and jagged to really make it spectacular. The Greatest Showman is up for three Golden Globes tonight (as of this posting): Best Motion Picture- Musical or Comedy, Hugh Jackman for Best Performance by an Actor in a Musical or Comedy, and "This is Me" for Best Original Song- Motion Picture.

Best of luck to all the nominees for the Golden Globes tonight and thanks for reading!

ACOWAR Ships

Ships in A Court of Wings and Ruin

A Court of Thorns and Roses series by Sarah J. Maas

Feysand:
I think this may be one of my favorite ships of all time.... then again, it may just be because of Rhys, so I'll have to think about this one a bit before I officially declare it as "all-time favorite".  There are so many pieces of this ship though that make it incredible. First, I would like to state that I shipped them in book 1. Some people are probably reading that and thinking it's bullshit, but I seriously did. I wasn't lukewarm about it either- the end of book 1 happened and I was ecstatic and I DEVOURED the second book to figure out what happened. It's already been a paragraph and I've barely touch the actual ship, so I'll just make a whole post about them later. There's no way I can condense this into a paragraph.


Nessian:
This is the ship that has literally exploded across the fandom, and while I ship it, I am not as fanatic about it as others. I will say though that I am really supportive of the two of them, because you have Nesta who is super intense and will not show emotion and then you have Cassian who is a flirt and very demonstrative. I'm not sure if it's the ship that I love then so much as it is the situations that they get into. Seeing them break these characteristics for each other is really what gets to me. It just shows how much that they mean to each other, even if it's an accidental show of emotion. The one possible hiccup would be if either of them found a mate. I don't think that will happen, at least from a literary perspective because it is supposed to be a rare thing and we already have two pairs. However, if it were to happen, would they break the bond with the other so that they could be Nessian? I don't know....

Elucien:
I'm giving them a chance. They are mates after all, and while Elain is dealing with her own shit ton of being turned into a Fae, I really think that her and Lucien have personalities that will go well together. Lucien very clearly cares enough to put her in front of himself and the instinct to be around her. Hell, he left the freaking court that she was in and wouldn't even see her because she wasn't ready to. There is definitely trouble ahead though because poor Azriel may or may not have a thing for her.

Elriel:
In terms of Elriel, I don't know how much I support this ship. I guess it's there? It wasn't as present though when I read A Court of Wings and Ruin although I guess that their scenes could be read that way. In my perfect happy world though, Elain ends up with Lucien and Az finds someone else to take care of and be happy with.  For them to end up together, the bond between Elain and Lucien would have to be broken, which is not possible in this world correct?

Amrian/Vamren:
Hit me like a pile of bricks, this one did. This is the ship that although they don't have a bunch of page time, I am obsessed with the time that they do have. Varian calms Amren down a bit and gets her to give up her other creature-thing. I died when that happened. The only thing that I would like to see more of in the upcoming books though is in addition to more page time for these two, more characterization of Varian. He seems like a really great guy, but I just don't know if he's as fleshed out as they other characters are. If he were to be built up character-wise a bit more than I think this ship will be even better than it is now. Side note- does anyone know their official ship name???

 
Morx???:
I just want Mor to find someone. I take that back- at the very least, I want her to tell the Court of Dreams that she's gay so that she can at least have a chance of finding someone. Plus, Az will stop (maybe) harboring feelings for her and move on. The only possible ship I can think of for Mor is Viviane, who I feel like knows that Mor is gay. This ship can't happen though because Viviane is with and perfect with Kallias. So Mor is still left alone- unless she meets someone new in the future books. The only other not-very-well-known character right now is Vassa, the mortal queen that is cursed by some sorcerer. Maybe Mor will end up with her?

Thanks for reading!

Movies of 2018

The Movies of 2018 I'm Excited About

 

****means that this movie is an adaptation of a book****

Avengers: Infinity War- May 4

Black Panther- February 16

Ready Player One- March 30****

The Incredibles 2- June 15

A Wrinkle in Time- March 9****

12 Strong- January 19

The Post- January 12

Love, Simon- March 16****

Fifty Shades Freed- February 9****

Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald- November 16

Red Sparrow- March 2

The Nutcracker and the Four Realms- November 2

Ocean's 8- June 8

The Darkest Minds- September 14****

There are probably a TON more movies coming out this year that I either do not have on this list or do not know about, so please let me know which you are really looking forward to!!!

Thanks for reading!