Review of The Wicked Trilogy Novellas by Jennifer L. Armentrout

The Wicked Trilogy Novellas by Jennifer L. Armentrout

The Prince

4.05 out of 5 Stars

The King

4.66 out of 5 Stars

The Queen

4.51 out of 5 Stars

As a part of 1001 Dark Nights, JLA has been putting out these Wicked novellas since 2018. I just binge-read all of them in one fell swoop and because they're all back-to-back, centered around the same romance, so I thought it might be fun to review them together!

First, background. The original trilogy (Wicked, Torn, and Brave) takes place in New Orleans and follows Ivy, an Order member sworn to protect the human world from fae. Without getting into the actual plot of the trilogy, what you need to know about the setting is that it (a) takes place in New Orleans-- beautiful, (b) picks up pretty much immediately after the trilogy ends-- love it, (c) involves a lot of the same characters that were developed beforehand-- sweet, but (d) the novellas' main characters are not as developed in the trilogy. What does this all mean? There's a killer background that readers of the trilogy will absolutely love, but there's enough originality to these novellas to allow any reader to pick them up.

Second, the reviews.


The Prince
4.05 out of 5 Stars
We start the novella trilogy technically only two weeks after the full trilogy ends. But then there's a five-year time gap, so I don't really know when to explain the starting timeline for the novellas. Either way, I really liked how we had that connection to the last Wicked book. For me especially, it has been three years since I've read these books. Literally, I read Brave within its first week of publication, so it's been a minute since I've been in the fae-new-orleans world. So I really appreciated that split second of connection to what had been happening beforehand politically between the worlds and how the characters were all connected to each other. I think it was a really clever way to introduce the relationships and dynamics while also plunging into the substantive plot.

I think this was a great way to start mini-series with semi-new characters! I really liked the pacing, a liked the borderline insta-love/are-they-bonded thing going on between Brighton and Caden. And I love Caden. There is a small part of me though that wishes it was a full novel. Like, I just enjoyed reading it so much that I wanted more. I think if there was more content (aka not a novella), there may have been a better chance to draw out the connection between Brighton and Caden. I also think I might have liked to see more of the larger plotline filled out. It was a really great read! I just wish I had more of it.

(Although, to I think maybe clarify that last sentence(?), I totally respect the sheer quantity of writing JLA does each year and respect whatever reasoning she made in making this a novella and not a novel. I guess my main point in that last paragraph is to say, while I liked the novella format because it was shorter, I also would have loved to keep reading her writing.)


The King
4.66 out of 5 Stars
So you may have noticed already, but I rank this novella as the best of the three.
If you have read the novellas, you may be shocked. There is some really dark and twisted stuff that happens in this one. BUT, as gut-wrenching as that whole series of chapters are where Brighton's with Aric, it is precisely because of my intense reaction that I think this one was the best. Just because it wasn't all warm and fuzzies doesn't mean it wasn't an excellent book. I actually think it's irrelevant what emotional reaction you get out of a book, any strong reaction is a job well done on the writer's part. And that's what this novella was. It was sucker punch after sucker punch. There were a few really sweet moments as well, so it wasn't all doom and gloom and there was a nice balance.

What made this one really stand out to me as the best of the three was that all of the character were essentially fully developed and we were really digging into the meat of the plot and tension. If you were to put all three of these novella together (OMG if the publisher were to ever decide to do that I would 100% get a physical copy) the highest tension and the riskiest climax of the story would be in this portion. We didn't have to worry about set up or tying up loose ends. . . it was all just go go go diving into the twists and turns of the story.

The Queen
4.51 out of 5 Stars
Overall, I think this was a great "end," but here's the thing. I have a feeling JLA isn't done with this world yet because Neal is still out there and there are still winter fae conspiring to get Queen Morgana to Earth. And I feel like Neal was too developed as a character to have just been a one-off and quick mention at the end. I think he's our next big baddie in whatever spinoff series or novellas JLA creates. Not only am I totally down with that, but I would love to see more of Tink and to be able to revisit Ivy and Ren and now Brighton and Caden. So that's my hope/speculation/prediction.

Wrapping up on Brighton and Caden, I think they're adorable. I am complete trash for any sort of soulmate or bond trope which makes this pairing even better, but even putting that aside, I really like them as a couple. What I especially appreciate is that even as Brighton had to pull herself out of a really dark and vengeful place, Caden (barring extreme physical safetey concerns) let her do it and furthermore loved her either way. The epilogue was especially sweet when we got to see them all chilling at Hotel Good Fae. It was a cute little bow on top of the present that fit perfectly with the novellas as a whole. 

Now, before I leave this post, I have to say, Tink is one of my favorite characters of ALL TIME. I want more Tink. I want a Tink and Fabian story. I want to see Tink be a godfather. I want to see Tink annoy the crap out of Ren. I am Tink trash. Not only is he the ye olde great comic relief character, but he is incredibly loyal and lovable. If I were to compare him to another JLA character, I would say he reminds me a lot of Luc from her Lux/Origin series. She just does Tink so well as a character. He'l loving and lovable and yet so complex past the surface presentation. For example, I want to see Tink break out some epic brownie powers. I think that would be SO much fun to read. Even if we get nothing else from this world though, I just wanted to take this moment to write a Tink appreciation paragraph!!! :)

Thanks for reading!

Mid-Year Book Freak-Out Tag

Mid-Year Book Freak-Out Tag

Happy July! We are just a smidgen past the halfway point of the year and so everyone is taking a second to look back at what they've read so far and what they want to read by the end of the year. My friend Deja recently uploaded this tag on her YouTube channel Literary Princess and I am so excited to do it myself. (Pssst-- really quick. Go subscribe to her channel! She's literally fantastic and her Instagram is full of beautiful cosplay!)

I haven't really had a chance to read a lot lately. I've picked up a few books here and there over the past month, but overall, I've just been swamped with school and work. Even right now, I'm writing this during a study break. A study break I probably shouldn't even be taking right now, but whatever. It'll be fine. All this to say, I have no clue what my reading has looked like for the year so far, so this could be really interesting, or really repetitive. Here we go!

(Also, this may be semi-obnoxious, but if I have a review to a book, I'll link it in the text in case anyone's curious.)

1. Best Book You've Read in 2020

Ohhhhh.... can I pick two? Please? Pretty please?
Okay great! Thanks!

From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout
I am literally obsessed. Like, my SJM books level obsessed. And I have always enjoyed this author, but woooooooowwwww this book got to me. I have a whole review and so I won't go into crazy mode right now, but if you want to see crazy, go check that post out.

Crescent City by Sarah J. Maas
Oh, look, a SJM book. Is anyone surprised? I certainly wasn't. Of course I tried to enter this new series with a blank slate, but even with whatever bias I have about my love for her books, this made it on the list as well. I just love sinking my teeth into her fantasy novels. There is nothing better on this planet.

2. Best Sequel I've Read in 2020

Undercover Bromance by Lyssa Kay Adams 
As I was going through my books for the year, I realized I literally have read next to no sequels. There were like three, this and series I've read before. This was a good book though! Just because it was almost a default win doesn't mean I didn't love it. I gave this funny contemporary romance four stars on Goodreads. It is incredibly lighthearted and endearing and perfect fluff for the summer!

3. New Release I Have Not Read Yet

A Song of Wraiths and Ruin by Roseanne A. Brown 
This is one of those books that has been on my radar for ages and it's killing me that I haven't read it yet. "The first in an fantasy duology inspired by West African folklore in which a grieving crown princess and a desperate refugee find themselves on a collision course to murder each other despite their growing attraction." (Goodreads) Like, bruhhhhhh seriously I need a copy of this NOW. Actually! As I'm typing this, I think I'll order a copy to arrive my house the day I finish finals.... oooohhhhh that sounds like the perfect way to celebrate the end of the term.

4. Most Anticipated Release for the Rest of the Year

A Kingdom of Flesh and Fire by Jennifer L. Armentrout
This is the upcoming sequel to From Blood and Ash which I mentioned above. I was completely and totally expecting this book not to come out for another year because that's how series normally work, ya know? But this book is coming out in September. The first one came out in March. I have so much excitement for this book, I'm fully prepared to succumb to the book coma I know will follow when I finish it.


The Year of the Witching by Alexis Henderson
The release date for this one is right around the corner, July 21, but I actually think I'm going to put it off for a couple months...? I haven't fully decided yet. All I know is that I really want to check this one out. It is both fantasy and horror, which is a combo that is really sort of making my mind twist. I'm intrigued. Plus, the premise sound fascinating. It's about Immanuelle diving into a deep exploration of her town and the woods around it, including the histories of the witches in the area and the secrets of her puritanical town. The only reason I want to wait a couple of months to read it is because it sounds so atmospheric, I want to read it when the nights are getting longer and the air is crisper, and everything in general just feels a little spookier.  

5. My Biggest Disappointment of the Year

Rage and Ruin by Jennifer L. Armentrout
THIS WAS STILL A GOOD BOOK. I 100% hate that I had to put this book here because it was still a good book!!! I just didn't love it like I wanted to love it. It is the sequel to Storm and Fury, the spinoff series of the Dark Elements. This series centers around Zayne new character Trinity, so if you were team Zayne back in the other series, then you really should check this series out. The timing of when I read this is probably throwing me off too. I read it after I loved From Blood and Ash, so expectations were really high. It was still a good sophomore book though, and I am looking forward to the last book coming out.

6. My Biggest Surprise of the Year

The June Boys by Court Summers
I don't really read a lot of psychological-thriller-type books, so I was thrown for a little bit of a loop when I read this one. The formatting was weird on my copy as well, but that's beside the point. For me, this book was a surprise because I didn't know how I would attach to the book, and I found that I really liked it! The genre still isn't my main jam, but I enjoyed the story and really liked how it all came to a close.

7. Best New Author or Author New to Me

Anna K by Jenny Lee
Jenny Lee is a new author to me! Also, it looks like Anna K was her debut young adult book, so bonus newness. Anna K is a modern retelling of Anna Karenina set in the upper upper upper class lifestyle of New York.  The best thing about this book, well one of the best things, was the tone of the writing. Literally one of the coolest and most conversational tones I've read in a long time.

8. My New Fictional Crush

Hawke from From Blood and Ash. Looking at him versus Hunt from Crescent City, I had to go with Hawke. He's the guard that takes over protecting our main character in the story and he is cunning, and loyal, and I love how he is able to coax Poppy into reevaluating her own life without being too pushy or over the top about it. Like, serious A grade personality with A+ potential. He's a little sketch, but just like, a teeny tiny baby amount.

9. My Newest Favorite Character

Lehabah. Lehabah is from Crescent City and I don't care about how much page time she had, or how minor a character she was, she was the best. A best friend. A stellar library boss. Sass galore. Relatable af. All around, part of what elevated the book from good to great. Her story is so tragic too and she didn't deserve it. Definitely my newest favorite character.

10. Book That Has Made Me Cry

Crescent City by Sarah J. Maas
See above.
Also,
Light it up. 

11. Book That Made Me Happy

The Trouble with Hating You by Sajni Patel
I could have listed this one as a favorite debut as well because this is Sajni Patel's debut novel!! The Trouble with Hating You is a contemporary romance about a biochemical engineer and the lawyer who is trying to help save the company she works for. There's also a great friend group however, so while the romance made me happy, the friendships did as well because I think they were done so beautifully.

12. Most Beautiful Book I Have Bought or Received This Year

I have two very different choices for this one. 
Crescent City by Sarah J. Maas
The artwork on the cover was done by Carlos Quevedo and I'm literally obsessed. Not only is the work stunning on it's own, but there were so many details that were put into the cover that tie it back to the book that my mind was blown. This artist has other work as well that is just as amazing. So I absolutely needed to include this book here.
Crave by Tracy Wolff
Completely on the opposite end of the spectrum from Crescent City is Crave. The cover is incredibly simple, but I really like the elegance of that simplicity. It's just a ruffly white flower on a black backdrop with some blood dripping down from the title onto the petals. Super simple, really crisp.

13. What Books Do I Need to Read by the End of the Year

Oh my God literally so many, but I'm just going to list three:
Crier's War by Nina Varela
The Last Confessions of Mara Dyer and Noah Shaw by Michelle Hodkin
Crush by Tracy Wolff

14. Shout Out My Favorite Book Community Member

Deja at Literary Princess! She's the friend who's tag I watched and her videos are A+++! I've linked her channel at the start of this, but here is another link just to reinforce that you should go check out her videos and subscribe to her channel and amazing work! :)


Thanks for reading!

Madam Secretary Season 1 Thoughts and Feels

Madam Secretary 

Season 1

Thoughts and Feels

4.43 out of 5 Stars

I had no clue this show was a thing until it popped up on my Netflix feed and now I feel like I missed out when it was airing live! Fortunately for the entertainment side of my brain, it was very captivating. Unfortunately for my productivity, it was very captivating.

Madam Secretary is a political show about the fictional Secretary of State, Elizabeth (Bess) McCord. Episode 1 sets it all up: ex-CIA, predecessor died in a suspicious plane crash, used to be a professor living on a horse farm. As each episode goes along, there is a wide variety of different crises that come up in the office and internationally that we get to see the State off take care of. It was really well done in my opinion (even though I haven't seen many political shows lol) because it wasn't over-the-top or melodramatic. There's one office romance, but it occupies minimal air time and there is some family drama as well, but that serves more as character development for Bess as we see her balance her high-profile position and her relationships at home.

Bess is fantastic. Seriously, I love that while she has her own very strong morals, she's also very comfortable listening to other people's perspectives. I especially love that if she's talking to her husband, she can keep up with his level of philosophical theory as an ethics professor (which, I love their relationship), so clearly she's done her research. Bess really strongly and quietly holds her own though in her position. Like I mentioned, she came into the office because the last guy died in a plane crash, so nobody really knew who she was or was thrilled she was there. The Chief of Staff especially, Russell Jackson, has a very stern personality, so it was all heightened. Bess just went about her job though and completely crushed it with success after success.

Overall, I liked how consistent the show was with through-line of the Iran Peace Talks and suspicious plane crash. I think they sort of nailed how much they needed to draw attention back to those puzzle pieces by keeping it fresh without overwhelming every single plot and episode with new information. But oh my God, I think the most intense episode was when Iranian Ambassador Javani died. I cried and cried. It was heartbreaking to see this man pass away in front of his son. That scene was so horrible, but so well-done and set up for that the tragedy hits home in your heart instantaneously.

Despite how well the show handled the overall/larger plot, I also really liked how each episode had it's own center. I feel like because the show was handled this way, we were able to see more of the "everyday," or I guess the variety, of situations the State had to handle. These situations ranged from navigating a person seeking asylum to going through a potential shooter outside the building to helping solve a crisis in Canada. It is so varied and each episode is going to be different from the next.

It was still a long season. This is not a Madam Secretary thing, but an American thing. I just don't really understand seasons that are 22 episodes long. I was not as upset about this as I normally am with TV shows because I thoroughly enjoyed the show from pacing to acting to plot. It did get to that point for me of, "oh jeez how many episodes are in this season?" But I didn't get to that point until much later than I would expect myself to. So even though it was a long season, I wasn't as annoyed with the 22-episode length like I am with other shows.

What I appreciated was that the show wasn't super dramatic. I wouldn't know, but I imagine it was just slightly a bit more dramatic than what actually happens in a political office. Then again, it could be incredibly boring, I have zero clue. But I think what it is for me as a viewer, is that it felt realistic. Like, Grey's Anatomy is very fun and dramatic, but I don't image doctors and nurses have the dramatic relationship scenes in a hospital they way they do in the show. With Madam Secretary, I don't get that vibe.

This show low-key gives me some sort of hope for the future of American politics. Not all politics are bad, but there are a lot of politicians that I am not happy with (this is a mild way to put it). And seeing a show about high-ranking political figures that are ethical and moral, not perfect, but they try, is a sort of balm, even if it's fictional.

I'm already watching season 2 and I am so happy to have found show to binge that balances some drama with some cognitive necessity. Just a dash brain power needed, but a healthy-sized dash. 

Thanks for reading!

Review of The Lost City by Amanda Hocking

The Lost City by Amanda Hocking

3.47 out of 5 Stars

***Thank you to St. Martin's Publishing Group and NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.***

In The Lost City is a wonderful spin-off of the author's Trylle Trilogy that follows a new protagonist, Ulla Tulin, as she tries to discover her parents and heritage. You do not need to have read neither the Trylle Trilogy nor the other spin-off series The Kanin Chronicles to follow this book. (Sorry there were so many negatives in that sentence haha!) Personally, I haven't read The Kanin Chronicles, but I totally remember loving the Trylle Trilogy back in high school. Now, I don't want to share my age, but let's just say it's been a minute since I've been in high school, so I read those books a while ago. But I remember loving them and loving the pacing and the originality of a book with trolls as the main characters.

The Lost City dives even deeper into this troll territory and I just love exploring new books that have unique/less common fantastical elements. How many other books are out there with whole troll societies and main characters?? And we really get to see a lot of interesting dynamics between the different kinds of trolls in this book, as well as some Norse mythology which was a delightful added bonus. Ulla is determined to trace her bloodline and any ancient genealogy books she can find in order to figure out who her parents are. She had been left with the owners of an inn back when she was a baby, and the only real working clue she has to guide her on this path is her mother's name, Orra.

The attempted discovery of Ulla's mother is only part of the plot. There's also the exploration of a great magical city (Mimirin) and some random strangers that don't quite fit in with the rest of the trolls. It was all very interesting, but it wasn't clear how all the individual pieces matched up with each other and there was no high-risk plot connecting everything until the end. So unfortunately, all of that great set-up sort of consumed the pages until about 60% of the way through for me. At that point, there were finally enough signals and larger events happening that I was able to go "What's going to happen next?" and really feel engaged with the plot.


Part of what I'm waffling on a little bit here as well is that the book was a really easy read. Like, I think it could be a middle-grade read. And the more I thought about it, the more I realized that there didn't seem, to me at least, to be any content or themes that would make the book inappropriate for a middle-grade audience. However, it is labeled as a young adult book and the main character is old enough to be venturing into the world on her own. In my mind, that puts the book in a weird market whereby middle-grade readers are trying to relate to a character that is experiencing things that they haven't come to experience yet, but also young adult readers could get frustrated if they feel like they aren't challenged enough.

Reading level and set-up aside, it was a very original world and story that I loved seeing unfold and develop. There were also great relationships between the characters. I absolutely loved how close Ulla was with all of the kids and how she was essentially Hanna's older sister in Mimirin. There's just such a sweet and powerful message there about choosing your family and being accepted by those you love.

The Lost City is perfect for you if you are looking for a fun and light fantasy novel. It had all the creativity and magic with so few pitfalls that I think would really brighten up any reader's TBR. Plus, I have a good feeling about where the series could be heading so I think it's a good idea to check this one out!

Thanks for reading!

Seberg Movie Review

Seberg

Movie Review

Honestly, I was only half paying attention to this while I watched it because I was cleaning at the same time. Because of that, I don't feel comfortable giving it any sort of starred ranking because I don't think it would be genuine.

Seberg is a historical, thrilling biopic (lots of things, I know...) about Jean Seberg, an actress in the middle of the 20th century who was an activist for racial equality. The movie picks up at the start of her involvement with the Black Panther Party and follows her throughout the next several years and the government monitors her and attempts to end her involvement with the Black Panther Party. She is aware on some level that she is being watched, but it is a slow unravel where she starts to question every phone call, crew member on sets, and interactions with friends.

Of the top of my head, what I was able to notice while I was half-paying attention was this:
1. The resolution felt soft and unsatisfying.
2. Kristen Stewart was amazing in this.
3. This topic was fascinating, but I wanted more.

1. Overall, I just didn't really like how the movie ended. There's no really clear understanding of what is going to happen to the other characters and even with Seberg herself, we only get that classic background music and text overlay describing the end of her life. What I'm really wondering is, if that was the resolution, what was the climatic moment in the movie?

2. I feel like Kristen Stewart gets better and better with every movie that I see her in. There were times that I would look up to the screen and just see Seberg. It would be a self-shock to remember that I was watching Stewart play Seberg. Also, there is such a slow unravelling of Seberg's character that I though Stewart did really really well.

3. The whole premise and context of this film is absolutely fascinating. More importantly, it is important for conversation about race in America. However, I don't think the film dived deep enough into these themes. They had a great opportunity, but I don't think they took advantage of it fully. Again though, I wasn't paying close attention while I was watching it, so I could be off about this.

Thanks for reading!

Review of Rage and Ruin by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Rage and Ruin by Jennifer L. Armentrout

3.8 out of 5 Stars

I don't know why, but I didn't love this book as much as I thought I would. It was still good, it just wasn't the oh-my-god-I-loved-this good like I tend to feel about her other books. To me, everything seemed more surface level compared to previous strong personalities and intense plot development. In all fairness, I am coming out of a reading slump which could be heavily affecting the way that I am looking at this story and reviewing it.

As a whole though, it felt almost like it was written on autopilot if that makes sense? Like, JLA is a fantastic writer, so writing on autopilot is still going to give you a great read, but a lot of phrases were overly familiar, a lot of tropes were overly familiar, and I didn't feel that connection with the book that I was going to be on a crazy fun roller coaster. I knew all the turns and all the plunges so nothing was as exciting and new.

I honestly don't even really want to get into a huge review/break down discussion of the book, which makes my heart a little sad. BUT, I don't want that to be any indication of the quality of this book. I think my not wanted to give it a full review is part of me just coming out of my reading slump so please don't read too much into that.

I think the biggest "review" I can confidently give this book is that it is a sophomore book. Now, I have read some really bad sophomore books and this was not one of those. However, I think all sophomore books have the near insurmountable task of being more than a set-up book, and I think most fail. This one certainly wasn't a failure because there was definitely a separate plot goal in mind, but for the most part it felt like a set-up book. But what a set-up. Holy cow, that was a boss ending.

Was it fabulous? Eh, not so much for me. Was it good? Yes. I can very comfortably say that and recommend to readers of the series to keep going, especially because I am so intrigued about where we are going to go in the next book.

Thanks for reading!

Summer Books I'm Looking Forward To

Summer Releases

The June-August Books That I'm Looking Forward to Coming Out

Hello! So this list is both a long list and a short list at the same time. There are so so so many books coming out this summer that I'm looking forward to, but to help support the Black Lives Matter movement, I'm only going to list the books coming out by black authors. This is not an exhaustive list by any means, and I've also thrown on a list of educational books on racism and resources to find even more literature and media to make it easier for all of us to access.

Those of us who read (and those who don't) know how impactful literature is on the individual, the community, and the larger social awareness of the world. That impact - which is a small word that encompasses a huge range of effects and emotions - is vital. Which is why it is profoundly important that diversity is represented in literature. Excellent books are getting published every week, and it is important to carry the value of diversity beyond just this moment in time into the months and years and decades after this summer. But, for those wanting something newly released and don't know where to start, well. . . here ya go. . . :)

June

The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett

A Song of Wraith and Ruin by Roseanne A. Brown

A Song Below Water: A Novel by Bethany C. Morrow

All the Things We Never Knew by Liara Tamani

You Should See Me in a Crown by Leah Johnson 

Saving Ruby King by Catherine Adel West

July

Cinderella Is Dead by Kalynn Baryron

Trouble the Saints by Alaya Dawn Johnson

The Year of the Witching by Alexis Henderson

The Voting Booth by Brandy Colbert

This Is My America by Kim Johnson

August

Now That I've Found You by Kristina Forest

Luster by Raven Leilani

Cry of Metal & Bone by L. Penelope

Raybearer by Jordan Ifueko

Isaiah Dunn Is My Hero by Kelly Baptist

Also, here is the list of books and resources to find more books to read and ways educate yourself about current events, history, and perspectives.

• So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo
• Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates
• Be the Bridge by LaTasha Morrison
• The Souls of Black Folk by W.E.B. Du Bois
• Goodreads's Anti-Racist Reading List
• Harper's Bazaar's BLM Reading List
• Vogue's BLM Reading List
• Lastly, Netflix has created a "genre" (I think they're calling it this, but I'm not 100% sure. . .) called Black Lives Matter.

Thanks for reading!
(Final editing note: I believe the pandemic may still be messing up publication dates. I know of several books from the past couple of months that have been moved, but I'm not sure if summer titles have been moved as well. These are all up-to-date as far as I know.)