ARC Review: The Dragon's Bride by Katee Robert

Title: The Dragon's Bride (A Deal With A Demon #1)
Author: Katee Robert
Publication Date: March 29, 2022
Publisher: Trinkets and Tales LLC
Pages: 185
Add to Goodreads

//I received this ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review//

Briar Rose might have a name out of a storybook, but she learned at a very young age that no prince was coming to save her. She’ll have to save herself. Unfortunately, even that is an impossible task in her current situation—trapped in a terrifying marriage to a dangerous man.

Desperate times call for desperate measures, which is how she finds herself making a deal with a demon. Freedom from her husband…in return for seven years of service.

She expects the service to be backbreaking and harsh. She doesn’t expect to be put on an auction block in a room full of literal monsters and sold to the highest bidder.

To Sol.

A dragon.

He might seem kinder than his fearsome looks imply, but she knows better than to trust the way he wants to take care of her, or how invested he is in her pleasure. In her experience, if something seems too good to be true, it certainly is.

Falling for Sol is out of the question. She’s suffered enough, and she has no intention of staying in this realm…even if she leaves her heart behind when she returns to her normal life.

Author's Note: Please check the author's website for all tropes, tags, and CWs. 

It's no secret around here that I adore Katee Robert. Whether or not something she writes sounds like my thing, I will absolutely give it a try and I'm so glad I decided to take a shot on The Dragon's Bride, my first monster romance! 

This book is as absolutely bonkers as you'd expect and I loved every wild minute of it. Briar Rose is makes a deal with a demon to kill her abusive husband in exchange for seven years in the demon realm. She thinks she's going in with eyes wide open, but she does not expect to be married off to the leader of the dragon territory, who happens to be a dragon himself. (Humanoid, but still.) A real monster can't be right than the monster she escaped, can he? 

Sol needs a bride as the leader of his territory and he has one in Briar for the next seven years. His parent put a stop to his pervious relationship, and he's never experienced anyone like Briar Rose. Sol doesn't expect his new bride to come with a boatload of trauma, but he's in it for the long haul. 

I absolutely loved both of these characters so much! Katee handled Briar's past trauma so carefully and I found myself rooting for her at every turn as she found her confidence with Sol. Of course, this isn't a Katee Robert book without steam and this had plenty of that! I knew going in that Katee's explanation for the physical logistics of Sol and Briar's romance was *magic* so that helped my suspension of disbelief. She knows how nuts this pairing is and goes full steam ahead and it's amazing! 

The world building was great for a 185 page monster romance novel and I'm eager to dive into book two to learn about the kraken and his realm. I wasn't quite sure how a seven year story would fit into such a small book, but it was incredibly well done with a nice little epilogue to wrap things up. I definitely plan to buy both the monster and discreet paperbacks of this book for my shelf! 

Book Review: Carry On by Rainbow Rowell

Title: Carry On (Simon Snow #1)
Author: Rainbow Rowell
Publication Date: October 6, 2015
Publisher: Wednesday Books
Pages: 528
Add to Goodreads

Simon Snow is the worst Chosen One who's ever been chosen.

That's what his roommate, Baz, says. And Baz might be evil and a vampire and a complete git, but he's probably right.

Half the time, Simon can't even make his wand work, and the other half, he starts something on fire. His mentor's avoiding him, his girlfriend broke up with him, and there's a magic-eating monster running around, wearing Simon's face. Baz would be having a field day with all this, if he were here--it's their last year at the Watford School of Magicks, and Simon's infuriating nemesis didn't even bother to show up.

Carry On is a ghost story, a love story and a mystery. It has just as much kissing and talking as you'd expect from a Rainbow Rowell story - but far, far more monsters.

When I reviewed Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell, I said that my least favorite bits of the book were the parts about Simon Snow and that I'd probably never read another of her books. I guess all I needed was three years of separation, because I am absolutely in love with Simon and Baz! I picked up this series during the B&N 50% off sale after Christmas and I'm so glad I did!

After several months of reading only fanfiction, I guess it's only fitting that I jumped back into "real" books with a book about characters that existed in fictional fanfiction. Simon Snow is the worst Chosen One who can barely use his magic without blowing everyone up. He and his archenemy (roommate) Baz have a complicated relationship that leaves Simon non-functional when Baz fails to show up at the beginning of term. He's sure that Baz is a vampire, even though vampire magicians don't exist. And I absolutely adored their relationship in every single form. I loved all of the secondary characters as well, perhaps with the exception of Agatha, who I could have done without.

I was a bit worried that this book would be as plotless as Fangirl, but I was so wrong! Simon's purpose is to defeat the Humdrum, a magical baddie who is sucking up all the magic. This book had mystery and adventure and I was enthralled. It wasn't fast paced, but I found myself glued to every page. When characters teamed up to plot and defeat the Big Bad, I couldn't wait to see how they'd succeed. 

I know people didn't love the second book as much as this one, but I will be starting it immediately because I can't get enough of these characters! I can't wait to see how they continue to grow and what they get into next. If you've been avoiding this book and you're here for lighthearted fantasy that pokes a bit of fun at normal fantasy tropes, you definitely need to give Carry On a try! 

Audiobook Review: The Hollow Heart by Marie Rutkoski

Title: The Hollow Heart (Forgotten Gods #2)
Author: Marie Rutkoski
Publication Date: September 9, 2021
Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton
Pages: 304
Add to Goodreads
Review for book 1

Intrigue, romance, and magic abound in the heart-stopping conclusion to Marie Rutkoski’s Forgotten Gods duology.

At the end of The Midnight Lie, Nirrim offered up her heart to the God of Thieves in order to restore her people’s memories of their city’s history. The Half Kith who once lived imprisoned behind the city’s wall now realize that many among them are powerful. Meanwhile, the person Nirrim once loved most, Sid, has returned to her home country of Herran, where she must navigate the politics of being a rogue princess who has finally agreed to do her duty.

In the Herrani court, rumors begin to grow of a new threat rising across the sea, of magic unleashed on the world, and of a cruel, black-haired queen who can push false memories into your mind, so that you believe your dearest friends to be your enemies.

Sid doesn’t know that this queen is Nirrim, who seeks her revenge against a world that has wronged her. Can Sid save Nirrim from herself? Does Nirrim even want to be saved? As blood is shed and war begins, Sid and Nirrim find that it might not matter what they want…for the gods have their own plans.

Marie Rutkoski has been one of my favorite authors since my early blogging days. I've devoured every one of her books and each of them has made my favorites shelf, so I knew that The Hollow Heart would be no different! I could not wait to jump back into this world and see how Nirrim and Sid's story ended. I have to say, the audio did not disappoint (how could it with Justine Eyre narrating?), although the story wasn't quite what I was expecting. 

The Hollow Heart picks up with Sid arriving back in Herran and Nirrim leading a revolution in her own country. It seemed to divide readers, but I am firmly on the side of loving that Kestrel and Arin are in this story! I will admit that I didn't love Kestrel as a mother, but I am so glad I got to see more of how their story continued after The Winner's Kiss ended. As much as I enjoyed the fan service of seeing Sid's parents, I do wish that the two main characters of this series weren't separated for 90% of the book. 

A lot of Sid's storyline revolved around misunderstandings and miscommunication, which I usually can't stand, but I really related to her and didn't mind it quite as much as I usually would. In The Midnight Lie it was obvious that Sid was very confident in herself, but I really liked seeing her more vulnerable side after her heartbreak. On the other hand, Nirrim was extremely difficult to connect to or root for. In fact, her character bordered on irredeemable for me, which really is a shame because I loved her in book one. 

Marie Rutkoski expanded on the world and mythology in The Hollow Heart, even including one of the forgotten gods as a POV character. It was interesting to see the magic and deities that Arin believed in confirmed as reality (although I honestly can't remember how big a part this played in the original trilogy). It makes me wish that The Winner's Trilogy had been a bit magical too! 

My main complaint is that this series should have been longer. The Hollow Heart truly felt like a second book in a series and I wish that there was going to be a book three. I know that this was always planned as a duology, but the ending is so abrupt and comes after such a brief reunion between the lead characters, that it doesn't feel completed. I desperately wanted more time with Nirrim and Sid together and to see how they worked through all that happened while they were apart.

This book wasn't exactly what I was hoping for, but I still enjoyed the time I spent in this world. I'm not sure if Rutkoski has plans to write more in this world, but I would definitely love to see more of these characters in the future! 

ARC Review: How to Marry Keanu Reeves in 90 Days by K.M. Jackson

Title: How to Marry Keanu Reeves in 90 Days
Author: K.M. Jackson
Publication Date: November 2, 2021
Publisher: Forever
Pages: 336
Add to Goodreads

//I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review//

Bethany Lu Carlisle is devastated when the tabloids report actor Keanu Reeves is about to tie the knot. What?! How could the world's perfect boyfriend and forever bachelor, Keanu not realize that making a move like this could potentially be devastating to the equilibrium of...well...everything! Not to mention, he's never come face to face with the person who could potentially be his true soulmate—her.

Desperate to convince Keanu to call off the wedding, Lu and her ride-or-die BFF Truman Erikson take a wild road trip to search for the elusive Keanu so that Lu can fulfill her dream of meeting her forever crush and confess her undying love. From New York to Los Angeles, Lu and True get into all sorts of sticky situations. Will Lu be able to find Keanu and convince him she's the one for him? Or maybe she'll discover true love has been by her side all along...

I just finished How to Marry Keanu Reeves by K. M. Jackson. I was struggling between whether to give this book 3.5 or 4 stars but in the end I decided on four stars.

This book is about a black woman named Bethany Lu Carlisle who sees a tweet that Keanu Reeves is getting married in 90 days and this devastated her. She literally created a 5 step plan to find Keanu, talk him out of his impending marriage, and tell him he should marry her. So, Lu and her best friend of 20 years, True, went on a road trip and different adventures where they tried to catch Keanu before he disappeared.

When I first read the description, I figured Lu was in her 20s because that’s just an extremely immature reaction to a stranger getting married, even if that stranger is the beautiful, talented, and philanthropic Mr. Reeves. I was flabbergasted to find out she was in her 40s and it really cast her in a negative light for me. She was so obsessed that she was focused on her phone waiting for new tweets while she was in an extremely important business meeting. She was just extremely immature and emotionally stunted due to a past trauma she never dealt with.

The saving grace of this book for me was Truman Erickson. True was funny, sweet, honest, unafraid of his emotions, and emotionally mature. I anticipated chapters from his POV and scenes containing his character. He was also a very selfless and brave person. He was written as THE perfect book boyfriend.

My only complaints about this book, aside from my initial dislike of Lu, was that I personally believed there weren’t enough chapters from the POV of True. Instead of the chapters alternating like most books do, there could be 5 chapters of Lu and then 1 chapter of True and then back to Lu. My second complaint is that the author used the incorrect phrase “I could care less” when “I couldn’t care less” should have been used (that’s a common mistake that always grinds my nerves).

This book will be published on November 2, 2021 and I HIGHLY recommend this book for anyone who loves romantic comedies! I’ve already pre-ordered my copy and I’m excited to read the final draft. 

ARC Review: Once Upon a Broken Heart by Stephanie Garber

Title: Once Upon a Broken Heart (OUABH #1)
Author: Stephanie Garber
Publication Date: September 28, 2021
Publisher: Flatiron Books
Pages: 416
Add to Goodreads

Evangeline Fox was raised in her beloved father’s curiosity shop, where she grew up on legends about immortals, like the tragic Prince of Hearts. She knows his powers are mythic, his kiss is worth dying for, and that bargains with him rarely end well.

But when Evangeline learns that the love of her life is about to marry another, she becomes desperate enough to offer the Prince of Hearts whatever he wants in exchange for his help to stop the wedding. The prince only asks for three kisses. But after Evangeline’s first promised kiss, she learns that the Prince of Hearts wants far more from her than she’s pledged. And he has plans for Evangeline that will either end in the greatest happily ever after, or the most exquisite tragedy…

It's no mystery around my blog that Caraval is one of my all-time favorite series! Despite not loving book three, it's a trilogy I don't hesitate to recommend and I've read the first two books multiple times. Of course, I was ecstatic when I found out Stephanie Garber would be writing Jacks's story next and couldn't wait to start reading once I got my hands on an ARC! 

Once Upon a Broken Heart feels like a direct sequel to Finale, which I didn't quite realize. The author has said that it could be read independently, but it definitely spoils the ending of the Caraval series and features characters from it as well. I also don't know that it's entirely fair to call this Jack's story. When I first heard about it (and until recently) I mistakenly thought it would be from his point of view. Instead, this book is told entirely from Evangeline's POV and, while Jacks does feature heavily, he is not the main character. 

Luckily, I really enjoyed Evangeline as a protagonist, although not quite as much as Scarlett and Tella. I felt for her struggle over trusting her stepsister and wanting to be loved deeply by someone. There are multiple love interest options for Evangeline in this story and, surprisingly, Jacks really isn't one of them. I did love their interactions and watching their friendship (or is it?) develop over the course of the book. Jacks is still one of the most intriguing characters in YA and I especially enjoyed reading more about his role as a Fate. It's never quite clear how much Jacks can be trusted or what his goals are. 

As for the plot and world building, it did all feel very similar to Finale (which felt very different than Caraval to me). Stephanie Garber's writing is just as whimsical and fantastic as it has always been and I flew through the pages to see what would happen next! I loved exploring the North and its fairy tale lore and was glad to see more of this world explored. Like in her previous series, everything was shrouded in mystery. What did feel different was that each plot point felt a bit spoon fed and I wish there had been a bit less hand holding. There's also a lot of flip flopping on who and what can be trusted, which was a little frustrating at times. 

Although this wasn't a perfect read for me, I absolutely cannot wait for the next book in this series! I'm hopeful that now that all the mysteries have been set in motion, things will start to make sense and fall into place. I'm also really hoping to get some POV chapters from Jacks! I am dying to know more about his thoughts and motivations. If you enjoyed Caraval like I did, you're not going to want to miss this story! 

ARC Review: Kingdom of the Cursed by Kerri Maniscalco

Title: Kingdom of the Cursed (Kingdom of the Wicked #2)
Author: Kerri Maniscalco
Publication Date: October 5, 2021
Publisher: Jimmy Patterson
Pages: 448
Add to Goodreads
Review for book 1

One sister.

Two sinful princes.

Infinite deception with a side of revenge…Welcome to Hell.

After selling her soul to become Queen of the Wicked, Emilia travels to the Seven Circles with the enigmatic Prince of Wrath, where she’s introduced to a seductive world of vice.

She vows to do whatever it takes to avenge her beloved sister, Vittoria...even if that means accepting the hand of the Prince of Pride, the king of demons.

The first rule in the court of the Wicked? Trust no one. With back-stabbing princes, luxurious palaces, mysterious party invitations, and conflicting clues about who really killed her twin, Emilia finds herself more alone than ever before. Can she even trust Wrath, her one-time ally in the mortal world...or is he keeping dangerous secrets about his true nature?

Emilia will be tested in every way as she seeks a series of magical objects that will unlock the clues of her past and the answers she craves...

Hold onto your butts! Unpopular opinion incoming. Kingdom of the Wicked was one of my absolute favorite reads of 2020. I was obsessed and had to acquire every edition I could find. Needless to say, I was SO excited to get access to an ARC of Kingdom of the Cursed and jumped in as soon as my brain would allow (mood reading sucks). Based on other reviews I expected a lot of spice and, coming off of a spicy book binge, I was definitely here for it. 

Kingdom of the Cursed picks up immediately after book one with Emilia traveling to the Seven Circles with Wrath. Upon arriving at his palace she begins to search for clues about her sister's murder while resisting the sinful influence of the realm. Honestly, the plot of this book is a bit all over the place and a little confusing at times.  

Kingdom of the Wicked set up a mystery that I was eager to figure out. There are multiple new mysteries on top of the ones that are ongoing from that book and, where book one had a clear focus and goal, this one tried to do too much at once. Emilia seemed to jump around constantly to new theories, mysteries, and plans and I struggled to understand what she was even trying to do. There were some interesting reveals in the last 10%, but I wish there had been more clear plot earlier on. 

Truly though, I'm just here for the romance between Wrath and Emilia. This book has been marketed as New Adult (or at least the word of mouth has implied that it is) and the spice was really not what I expected. While there are certainly spicy scenes, Kerri's way of writing sexuality has always been off to me and it's no different here. Emilia constantly talks about how empowered and sexual she is, but there is always a sense of shame surrounding sex in this world. This was also an aspect of Kerri's previous series that made me uncomfortable.

Mild spoilers to further my thoughts about the weird handling of sexuality:

Two things in particular really make me question what Kerri's feelings towards sex before marriage are: First, the actual act of sex between Wrath and Emilia has massive, life changing consequences. Second, when Emilia actually sees other people having sex, it's at a party thrown by one of the princes and is written as one of many sinful indulgences put on display by Gluttony.

The world itself is fascinating. We only visit three of the Seven Circles, but each one is unique and well written. The brothers Emilia meets are a bit one dimensional and perfectly fit their sins, but I did really enjoy Pride and Envy. All that said, I wish that Kerri spent significantly less time on her descriptions. I frequently found myself skimming multi-page long descriptions of rooms, clothes, gardens, etc. I understand world building, but her overly descriptive style is not for me. 

I definitely plan to continue with book three because the end of this one does feel like it's leading to something better. In the meantime, I think this series will be moving off my favorites shelf. 

Book Review: Red, White and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston

Title: Red, White & Royal Blue
Author: Casey McQuiston
Publication Date: May 14, 2019
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Pages: 421
Add to Goodreads

First Son Alex Claremont-Diaz is the closest thing to a prince this side of the Atlantic. With his intrepid sister and the Veep’s genius granddaughter, they’re the White House Trio, a beautiful millennial marketing strategy for his mother, President Ellen Claremont. International socialite duties do have downsides—namely, when photos of a confrontation with his longtime nemesis Prince Henry at a royal wedding leak to the tabloids and threaten American/British relations. The plan for damage control: staging a fake friendship between the First Son and the Prince.

As President Claremont kicks off her reelection bid, Alex finds himself hurtling into a secret relationship with Henry that could derail the campaign and upend two nations. What is worth the sacrifice? How do you do all the good you can do? And, most importantly, how will history remember you?

Red, White & Royal Blue is a humorous story about America’s First Son, Alex, falling for the Prince of Wales, Henry. After the ruination of a wedding cake at a royal wedding, Henry and Alex were forced by their respective heads of family, heads of state, and PR teams to be “best friends” in public. A schedule of public events they’d attend together was devised by their teams and they were forced to play ball. Predictably, their fake, Instagram-worthy friendship becomes real somewhere along the way; and then this real friendship turns into a real relationship. While it’s easier for the First Son to be in a same-sex relationship, it is much more difficult for the Prince of Wales to be in a relationship of his choosing. This is a coming-of-age story full of laughter, heartbreak, friendship, love, and self-discovery and I loved every second of it.

This was a five star read for me. I have absolutely nothing bad to say about it. This book does get pretty steamy, but it’s not YA so unlike Jay’s Gay Agenda, it didn’t make me uncomfortable because of my age. I’m extremely disappointed to admit that this was only the second same-sex relationship romance novel I’ve ever read, seconded to She Drives Me Crazy by Kelly Quindlen a few months ago. I’m privileged enough to have never had to struggle with my sexual identity, but so many people do and that’s why stories like Alex’s are important. It’s important for LGBTQ+ people to see themselves represented in the literary world and I can’t wait to see what LGBTQ+ romance novel is coming out next.

Book Review: Jay's Gay Agenda by Jason June

Title: Jay's Gay Agenda
Author: Jason June
Publication Date: June 1, 2021
Publisher: HarperTeen
Pages: 368
Add to Goodreads

There's one thing Jay Collier knows for sure—he's a statistical anomaly as the only out gay kid in his small rural Washington town. While all this friends can't stop talking about their heterosexual hookups and relationships, Jay can only dream of his own firsts, compiling a romance to-do list of all the things he hopes to one day experience—his Gay Agenda.

Then, against all odds, Jay's family moves to Seattle and he starts his senior year at a new high school with a thriving LGBTQIA+ community. For the first time ever, Jay feels like he's found where he truly belongs, where he can flirt with Very Sexy Boys and search for love. But as Jay begins crossing items off his list, he'll soon be torn between his heart and his hormones, his old friends and his new ones...because after all, life and love don't always go according to plan.

From debut novelist Jason June comes a moving and hilarious sex-positive story about the complexities of first loves, first hookups, and first heartbreaks—and how to stay true to yourself while embracing what you never saw coming.

Another great 5 star read! I want to start this review off by saying I am absolutely loving this trend of main characters who are list makers. I’m not a list maker but, I swear, one more good book with list makers and I’m going to become one. There will be a mini spoiler in this review because it’s a complaint I’ve seen in multiple reviews.

Jay’s Gay Agenda is about Jay Collier, a high school student from a very small, rural, suffocating town in Washington. As the only openly gay student at his school, and probably in his entire town, Jay made it to senior year with no first kiss, no first hand hold, and not even a romantic hug. Jay could only dream of a time when he’d be able to have romantic relationships and he kept his dream in list form in his notebook. To Jay’s excitement, he and his family moved to Seattle for his mom’s job. Unfortunately, he had to leave his best friend, but for the first time in his life he wouldn’t be the only openly gay kid around. Jay quickly starts living his best life and crossing things off of his Gay Agenda. Ultimately, Jay gets in over his head dealing with his hormones and his heart and trying to keep his best friend happy while trying to enjoy his new life.

The biggest complaint I’ve seen about Jay’s Gay Agenda is that while Jay was dating one boy, he was sleeping with another. People are calling this cheating but, they seem to be skipping over the fact that Jay was not in an exclusive relationship. Therefore, he was not cheating. Romance as a teenager is complicated. Romance as a teenager at 17/18 when you’ve never even held someone’s hand is arduous. People may argue that Jay should have told his love interest, Albert, that he was sleeping with someone else while they were going on nonexclusive dates, but that was not information he was obligated to share. Albert was not entitled to that information because again, they were not exclusively dating. I also saw a complaint that Jay’s narration is “teenagey”. *Insert HUGE eyeroll here because Jay is a TEENAGER*

My personal complaint, that isn’t really a complaint, about this book is the semi-explicit sex scenes. This is only a complaint because I’m personally far too old (26) to explicitly read about teenagers having sex. I try to keep all of my smut in adult books.

Other than that, I thought this book was amazing. It was funny, it was insightful, and the characters were very flawed. In short, it was an authentic coming-of-age story and I can’t wait to see what Jason June puts out next!

ARC Review: For the Wolf by Hannah Whitten

Title: For the Wolf (Wilderwood #1)
Author: Hannah Whitten
Publication Date: June 15, 2021
Publisher: Orbit Books
Pages: 448
Add to Goodreads

//I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review//

The first daughter is for the Throne.

The second daughter is for the Wolf.

For fans of Uprooted and The Bear and the Nightingale comes a dark fantasy novel about a young woman who must be sacrificed to the legendary Wolf of the Wood to save her kingdom. But not all legends are true, and the Wolf isn't the only danger lurking in the Wilderwood.

As the only Second Daughter born in centuries, Red has one purpose-to be sacrificed to the Wolf in the Wood in the hope he'll return the world's captured gods.

Red is almost relieved to go. Plagued by a dangerous power she can't control, at least she knows that in the Wilderwood, she can't hurt those she loves. Again.

But the legends lie. The Wolf is a man, not a monster. Her magic is a calling, not a curse. And if she doesn't learn how to use it, the monsters the gods have become will swallow the Wilderwood-and her world-whole. 

Going into For the Wolf I wasn't quite sure what to expect. I love dark fantasy and fairytales, but I didn't love Uprooted. I am thrilled to say that this was absolutely a ME book! While I do think it is a dark fantasy in the same way that Uprooted and The Bear and the Nightingale are, I wouldn't really compare them. To me, this is closer to Joanna Ruth Meyer's Echo North or Rosamund Hodge's Cruel Beauty, and those happen to be some of my all-time favorites. 

For the Wolf is told in alternating POVs. The first is Red, the second daughter who has terrifying magic and is meant to be a sacrifice for the Wolf who keeps the monsters of the Wilderwood at bay. The second is her sister, Neve, who is trying to save Red from her fate. At first the split POV slowed the book down for me, but by the end I was totally on board with both sisters' stories.

This book grabbed me within the first couple chapters once Red entered the Wilderwood. I absolutely adore all of the lore present within this story. The town Red and her sister are from is full of sinister religion and superstition that Red comes to realize is far from the truth. The Wolf is actually a man named Eammon and is nothing like what she has been taught. The relationship between Red and Eammon was EVERYTHING. If enemies to lovers is your trope, you are going to love this. 

As I already mentioned, the lore of For the Wolf is incredible and so is the rest of the world building. While I can't wait to see a map of this world, I felt like I could easily envision the Wilderwood and the lands it surrounds and separates. The magic system is unique and well explained with small reveals throughout the book to keep you guessing. The cult-like religion that rules this world, along with its villain, is multifaceted and believable and I cannot wait to see where this goes in book two. 

One thing that I did notice is that this story seems to be closer to Beauty and the Beast than Little Red Riding Hood. I don't know if there's a deeper original tale that I'm unfamiliar with but, other than Red's and the Wolf's names, I didn't see the similarities to Red Riding Hood. Luckily, Beauty and the Beast is my favorite fairy tale. That being said, For the Wolf may have touches of these tales, but it's utterly unique and doesn't rely too heavily on any of them.

For the Wolf is an absolutely incredible dark fairy tale that had me immediately in a slump after it ended because honestly nothing can compare. I was hyping this book to my friends before it ended and I plan to shout from the rooftops for the foreseeable future. The wait for For the Throne is going to be long and I'll certainly be re-reading this in the meantime. 

 

Book Review: A Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J. Maas

Title: A Court of Silver Flames (A Court of Thorns and Roses #4)
Author: Sarah J. Maas
Publication Date: February 16, 2021
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Pages: 757
Add to Goodreads

Reviews for book 1, book 2, & book 3

Nesta Archeron has always been prickly-proud, swift to anger, and slow to forgive. And ever since being forced into the Cauldron and becoming High Fae against her will, she's struggled to find a place for herself within the strange, deadly world she inhabits. Worse, she can't seem to move past the horrors of the war with Hybern and all she lost in it.

The one person who ignites her temper more than any other is Cassian, the battle-scarred warrior whose position in Rhysand and Feyre's Night Court keeps him constantly in Nesta's orbit. But her temper isn't the only thing Cassian ignites. The fire between them is undeniable, and only burns hotter as they are forced into close quarters with each other.

Meanwhile, the treacherous human queens who returned to the Continent during the last war have forged a dangerous new alliance, threatening the fragile peace that has settled over the realms. And the key to halting them might very well rely on Cassian and Nesta facing their haunting pasts.

Against the sweeping backdrop of a world seared by war and plagued with uncertainty, Nesta and Cassian battle monsters from within and without as they search for acceptance-and healing-in each other's arms.

Welcome to another edition of Tracy's unpopular opinions! It isn't a secret around the blog that A Court of Wings and Ruin was my least favorite of the ACOTAR series, at least until A Court of Frost and Starlight. I couldn't even finish that one. Then I tried and failed to read Crescent City. It shouldn't be a surprise then, that I was a little nervous about A Court of Silver Flames. Still, I was excited to see how Nesta and Cassian's story came together. Big yikes. 

This book picks up not too long after ACOFAS, with Nesta drinking away her sorrows and bringing home a new fae male (cringe) every night. I think we can all agree that she needed therapy, but the whole set up for this book - that Rhysand and Feyre gave her an ultimatum of either leaving Prythian or training with Cassian - was kind of gross to me. I understand the concept of tough love, but something about this didn't sit right. This really outlines one of my big issues with Silver Flames: what happened to Super Feminist Rhys? In this book he's constantly threatening women, making decisions for them, keeping secrets to protect them... This ain't it. But I digress. 

I've seen a lot of people say that this book has no plot and is all romance, but honestly I felt like the romance was lacking too. I totally bought Nesta and Cassian in Wings and Ruin, so their love story shouldn't have been a stretch, but something about the way it was written did not work for me. While I did love Cassian, Nesta continued to be a raging bitch throughout the entire book, both to Cassian and those around her. I really could not see what Cassian saw in her.

Then there was the smut. There was so much of it and it wasn't particularly well written, which is surprising because SJM did it pretty well in Mist and Fury. It seemed as if she got clearance to write an adult book and decided to cram as much sex as she possibly could into the second half (because there wasn't much in the first, which was just Nesta moping). She also seemed to think that Nesta and Cassian enjoying things a bit rough was super scandalous, when it was actually just a bit cringeworthy. Although, maybe a lot of her readers would agree based on the shock and awe I've seen over Nesta's one sentence super scandalous fantasy. :/ 

Before this review gets ridiculously long, let's jump into the speed round. I hated the plot set up with Feyre and Rhysand. It was stupid and out of character and created unnecessary drama. I hated the entire ending to the Nesta's training plot point and found it to be utterly nonsensical and required way too much suspension of disbelief. I hated that Nesta was essentially given a free pass for being such an absolutely horrible person to everyone around her. I hated that SJM brought in a paper thin villain and random new mythology that didn't need to exist. I'm also not impressed with Tamlin becoming a literal animal and no one staying to help him overcome HIS trauma. 

It may sound like I totally hated everything about this book, but I honestly didn't. I did really enjoy the treasure hunt feels I got from Silver Flames. I liked the new female characters who befriended Nesta and the further exploration of the library under the House of Wind. Seeing Nesta overcome her trauma was satisfying, although I do wish she'd given a better apology at the end. I really, really loved getting to know Cassian and his backstory better. The House itself was also a really cool addition to the story.

I know that Sarah J. Maas has it in her to write amazing stories and I just don't understand what happened here. There was obviously a lot of potential for a great story in A Court of Silver Flames. Here is an established world and established characters that we already love and I really wish she had done more with it. Instead, her writing style has completely changed from the beginning of the series and the plot has fallen to the wayside to make room for more cringeworthy sex scenes. 

Will I continue the series? Yes. But from here on out I will go into SJM books with low expectations and the understanding that nothing will top the first two. 

Book Review: A Vow So Bold and Deadly by Brigid Kemmerer

Title: A Vow So Bold and Deadly (Cursebreakers #3)
Author: Brigid Kemmerer
Publication Date: January 26, 2021
Publisher: Bloomsbury YA
Pages: 416
Add to Goodreads
Reviews for book 1 & book 2

Face your fears, fight the battle.

Emberfall is crumbling fast, torn between those who believe Rhen is the rightful prince and those who are eager to begin a new era under Grey, the true heir. Grey has agreed to wait two months before attacking Emberfall, and in that time, Rhen has turned away from everyone—even Harper, as she desperately tries to help him find a path to peace.

Fight the battle, save the kingdom.

Meanwhile, Lia Mara struggles to rule Syhl Shallow with a gentler hand than her mother. But after enjoying decades of peace once magic was driven out of their lands, some of her subjects are angry Lia Mara has an enchanted prince and magical scraver by her side. As Grey's deadline draws nearer, Lia Mara questions if she can be the queen her country needs.

As two kingdoms come closer to conflict, loyalties are tested, love is threatened, and an old enemy resurfaces who could destroy them all, in this stunning conclusion to bestselling author Brigid Kemmerer’s Cursebreaker series.

The Cursebreakers series has had a place on my favorites shelf since I read the first one as an ARC in 2018. I have loved following along on this journey with Harper, Rhen, and Grey, and I was so excited to get book three! I raced out and picked up a copy on release day and finished it by that night, but I realized fairly quickly that I was going to have some issues with this installment.  

A Vow So Bold and Deadly picks up shortly after A Heart So Fierce and Broken ends. Harper is in Emberfall with Rhen and Grey is in Syhl Shallow with Lia Mara. War is looming though neither side truly wants it. Although I fell in love with Rhen and Harper's romance in the first book, I hated Rhen by the end of the second and found Harper's actions questionable. In this one I was extremely disappointed by them. 

I knew going in that there would have to be a redemption arc for Rhen and I was eager to see how Brigid Kemmerer would bring me around to him. What I was not prepared for were the number of excuses for his actions by every character in this book, along with a ton of victim blaming. Here are some non-spoilery quotes: 

"Do you think it cost me nothing?" ... For the first time I realize that the bulk of anger isn't at the people around me. It's not about Rhen. It's about myself. He made choices here, but so did I. His choices were about Emberfall. Mine were about Grey. We were both wrong and both write at the same time...

Friendly reminder that his choices included torturing a 15 year old child along with Grey, and hers included saving them. 

He seems relieved. I think that's the most startling thing of all: his relief. I'd somehow forgotten that he doesn't want to resort to drastic measures, that at his core, he wants the best for his people.

This sounds remarkably like an excuse made for an abusive partner.  

I once begged him for mercy. He did beg. I remember. But is that all that matters? They spent an eternity together, enduring the most terrible things I can imagine, but their relationship will boil down to one poor choice? And even as I think that, was the poor choice Rhen's, when he ordered his guards to find some whips, or was the poor choice Grey's, when he decided to run, when he chose to keep his birthright a secret?

I... WHAT? This is the worst victim blaming I've ever seen in a book. Was the poor choice GREY'S??? And then there's this one: 

"But what do you want, Grey? Do you want Rhen as your brother? Or is this just a way to take advantage again?" 

Again!" He whips his head around. "When have I taken advantage?" 

"When you first went to Syhl Shallow. When you declared war. You knew he was broken and hurting. You knew he was still dealing with everything Lilith did to him." 

"I did not take advantage." His voice is tight. "His enforcers were slaughtering his people to get to me. He tried to kill [15 year old] Tycho. His guards would have leveled Blind Hollow. He would have-" 

"He would have listened to you, Grey." I pause. "If you'd told him the truth. From the beginning." 

More victim blaming that makes me want to tear my hair out. And here's the thing: I'm not mad at how it wrapped up in the end. I'm not mad at Rhen getting redemption because I expected it. What I am furious about is Rhen's actions being excused and Grey being guilt tripped for his own torture. 

All of that aside, I still loved the romance between Grey and Lia Mara. I still loved Tycho and Iisak. There were things I genuinely enjoyed about his last book in one of my favorite series, but the way the author went about redeeming Rhen left a disgusting taste in my mouth.

I'm honestly unsure of how to rate this or even where to put it on my shelf. I'm shocked I haven't seen anyone else talk about this. I love Brigid Kemmerer and I hate that I've had this reaction to one of her books, and maybe it's just how I'm reading it? For now I'll rate it 2.5 stars because I did enjoy it by the end and I loved Grey, but these things are just too much to overlook. 

Book Review: Recipe For Persuasion by Sonali Dev

Title: Recipe For Persuasion
Author: Sonali Dev
Publication Date: May 26, 2020
Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks
Pages: 464
Add to Goodreads
Amazon | Bookshop.org

Chef Ashna Raje desperately needs a new strategy. How else can she save her beloved restaurant and prove to her estranged, overachieving mother that she isn’t a complete screw up? When she’s asked to join the cast of Cooking with the Stars, the latest hit reality show teaming chefs with celebrities, it seems like just the leap of faith she needs to put her restaurant back on the map. She’s a chef, what’s the worst that could happen? 

Rico Silva, that’s what.  

Being paired with a celebrity who was her first love, the man who ghosted her at the worst possible time in her life, only proves what Ashna has always believed: leaps of faith are a recipe for disaster. 

FIFA winning soccer star Rico Silva isn't too happy to be paired up with Ashna either. Losing Ashna years ago almost destroyed him. The only silver lining to this bizarre situation is that he can finally prove to Ashna that he's definitely over her. 

But when their catastrophic first meeting goes viral, social media becomes obsessed with their chemistry. The competition on the show is fierce…and so is the simmering desire between Ashna and Rico.  Every minute they spend together rekindles feelings that pull them toward their disastrous past. Will letting go again be another recipe for heartbreak—or a recipe for persuasion…? 

In Recipe for Persuasion, Sonali Dev once again takes readers on an unforgettable adventure in this fresh, fun, and enchanting romantic comedy.

I just finished Recipe for Persuasion by Sonali Dev and I LOVED it! Part of Dev’s Raje series from her twist on Jane Austen novels, this book takes us through Ashna Raje’s life. I don’t like to have spoilers in my reviews so I won’t add any. However, I will say that the description of this book on Goodreads is misleading. This was not the lighthearted, romantic comedy I was expecting. This book explored some very hard and serious themes and that made me like it all the better.

Personally, I hated Ashna. She was childish, impulsive, and had A LOT of issues. She also lacked basic communication skills. I found myself wanting to rip my hair out sometimes because of her behavior. And yet, this was still a five star read for me. The story of Ashna’s mother, Shobi, was the star of this book for me. Shobi was a strong, powerful, and amazing woman and her story was impactful. Being an American woman, it can be hard to sometimes remember that women in other countries have it much harder than the women in my country ever will. I’ve found myself going down the rabbit hole on Google doing research on India and how women are treated there and if it hadn’t been for this book, I may not have ever researched it. In both Pride, Prejudice and Other Flavors and Recipe for Persuasion, Dev intertwined important current events into her story, such as American healthcare issues and American immigration. Combined with Shobi’s entertaining and strong feminist backstory, I couldn’t put Recipe for Persuasion down.

I’ve never read Persuasion by Jane Austen so I can’t compare Dev’s twist to the original story. In July 2021, Incense and Sensibility, based off of Sense and Sensibility, will be released and it’s about Yash Raje and his run for governor in California. I just received Incense and Sensibility through NetGalley. If Yash’s story goes the way I think it will, I can’t wait to read it and write my review for it!

Book Review: In Five Years by Rebecca Serle

Title: In Five Years
Author: Rebecca Serle
Publication Date: March 10, 2020
Publisher: Atria Books
Pages: 255
Add to Goodreads
Amazon | Bookshop.org

Where do you see yourself in five years?

When Type-A Manhattan lawyer Dannie Kohan is asked this question at the most important interview of her career, she has a meticulously crafted answer at the ready. Later, after nailing her interview and accepting her boyfriend’s marriage proposal, Dannie goes to sleep knowing she is right on track to achieve her five-year plan.

But when she wakes up, she’s suddenly in a different apartment, with a different ring on her finger, and beside a very different man. The television news is on in the background, and she can just make out the scrolling date. It’s the same night—December 15—but 2025, five years in the future.

After a very intense, shocking hour, Dannie wakes again, at the brink of midnight, back in 2020. She can’t shake what has happened. It certainly felt much more than merely a dream, but she isn’t the kind of person who believes in visions. That nonsense is only charming coming from free-spirited types, like her lifelong best friend, Bella. Determined to ignore the odd experience, she files it away in the back of her mind.

That is, until four-and-a-half years later, when by chance Dannie meets the very same man from her long-ago vision.

Brimming with joy and heartbreak, In Five Years is an unforgettable love story that reminds us of the power of loyalty, friendship, and the unpredictable nature of destiny.

In Five Years is another case of “bookstagram made me buy it”. After seeing this book flood instagram this past year, I just knew it had to be one of my last books of 2020. I don’t read book reviews and I also try not to read book summaries. I don’t like to have preconceptions about the book I’m about to dive into, so I went into this book blind.

Dannie is a woman who lives her life by the numbers. You date someone for 24 months before moving in with them. You get engaged at 28. You get married by 30. She is a meticulous, Type-A person who knows what she wants in her life. After acing the job interview at the law firm of her dreams and accepting the marriage proposal from her boyfriend, she goes to sleep knowing she is right on track.

When Dannie wakes up from her sleep, she is somehow exactly five years in the future. She’s in a beautiful apartment with a man she’s never seen before and she gets the briefest glimpse of what her life will be in the future. When she wakes up again, she’s back in her apartment with her fiance and she spends the next few years trying to ignore the hour she spent in 2025, until she meets the man from her vision four-and-a-half years later and he’s dating her best friend, Bella.

It takes a lot for a book to surprise me. I’ve read so many books and watched so much television that I can usually predict how something will turn out at the end, but I still enjoy the journey of getting there. That’s what I thought I had with this book; I thought I had it figured out by the middle of the book, but I’m happy to admit I was wrong.

This isn’t the romance novel I thought it would be. I was expecting love triangles and betrayal and heartbreak but we didn’t really get that, not completely. To me, it’s overall a book about love and self discovery. It’s about the love between two childhood and lifelong best friends. It’s about Dannie’s journey of self discovery. It’s about the little choices we make every single day that make up our life’s story. It’s about the impact that we and our love have on those around us. For me, my favorite part of this book was Dannie and Bella’s friendship. I’m 26-years-old and I still have childhood friends in my life so their friendship and the love they have for each other really hit home for me.

I know that a lot of people don’t believe in soul mates, but I do. And I don’t think they’re necessarily always romantic. To me, Dannie and Bella are soul mates. They have a bond that goes deeper than simply love, friendship, or even sisterhood. They have a soul tie that can never be broken.

It is a heartbreakingly, moving, beautiful tearjerker. It is also a quick read that can be finished in a day. Overall, this was a 3.5 star read for me. The first half of the book was better for me than the second half. I found myself getting lost and confused in some parts and having to re-read them. I also found myself reaching a part of the book where I just wanted to hurry up and get it over with which is extremely rare for me.

Would I read this book again? Absolutely not. Would I recommend this book? I would! We all interpret books differently and after reading a few reviews, it is clear that this was one of those hit-or-miss books for people and for me, I would consider it a hit.

Book Review: Crave by Tracy Wolff

Title: Crave (Crave #1)
Author: Tracy Wolff
Publication Date: April 7, 2020
Publisher: Entangled Teen
Pages: 592
Add to Goodreads
Amazon | Bookshop.org

My whole world changed when I stepped inside the academy. Nothing is right about this place or the other students in it. Here I am, a mere mortal among gods…or monsters. I still can’t decide which of these warring factions I belong to, if I belong at all. I only know the one thing that unites them is their hatred of me.

Then there’s Jaxon Vega. A vampire with deadly secrets who hasn’t felt anything for a hundred years. But there’s something about him that calls to me, something broken in him that somehow fits with what’s broken in me.

Which could spell death for us all.

Because Jaxon walled himself off for a reason. And now someone wants to wake a sleeping monster, and I’m wondering if I was brought here intentionally—as the bait.

I will fully admit that Crave was not a book high on my to-read list. In fact, I had no plans to read this book that has been pitched to me as more Twilight for Twihards who miss Edward and Bella. But then the paranormal binge happened and a friend sent me a copy and now I'm hooked. Oops.

While I wouldn't call Crave another Twilight, it definitely hits the same. This story is about Grace who finds herself attending a remote boarding school in Denali, Alaska, after the death of her parents. The school is full of supernatural creatures, but she doesn't know that at first. She ends up falling for Jaxon, a vampire and the school's resident bad boy. He's a tortured hero with a dark past who goes through the "I'm not good for you" motions, but who I still ended up liking a lot. 

Not much happens in this first installment. Crave is primarily about the school and its day to day (albeit dangerous) activities. Throughout the story Grace learns about vampires, witches, dragons, and werewolves, and takes it like a champ. Honestly, one of the most unrealistic parts of the book is that she doesn't bat an eye when she finds out that one of her friends is a literal dragon. Thankfully, there is a tiny bit of action towards the end, but this is truly more romance novel than anything else. Not to say I didn't enjoy it, because I definitely did! 

As I'm sure you've assumed, Crave definitely has its issues. Since not much happens, some parts of this book do drag. (Thankfully book two, which I've already read, is much more action packed.) The world building is a bit suspect and the depiction of Alaska drove my Alaskan husband nuts! My main problem with Crave is the annoying slang that will age this book in a really disappointing way. Grace uses language like AF and FML constantly. 

Despite its issues, Crave was a fun read and I immediately wanted to pick up Crush upon finishing it. Grace is a better heroine than Bella Swan and this book is thankfully devoid of abstinence only and pro-life propaganda. I'm desperately hoping that the success of Crave, along with From Blood and Ash, mean that publishers will finally get back to blessing us with more vampire romance! 

Book Review: The Light We Lost by Jill Santopolo

Title: The Light We Lost
Author: Jill Santopolo 
Publication Date: May 9, 2017
Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons
Pages: 328
Add to Goodreads
Amazon | Bookshop.org

He was the first person to inspire her, to move her, to truly understand her. Was he meant to be the last?

Lucy is faced with a life-altering choice. But before she can make her decision, she must start her story—their story—at the very beginning.

Lucy and Gabe meet as seniors at Columbia University on a day that changes both of their lives forever. Together, they decide they want their lives to mean something, to matter. When they meet again a year later, it seems fated—perhaps they’ll find life’s meaning in each other. But then Gabe becomes a photojournalist assigned to the Middle East and Lucy pursues a career in New York. What follows is a thirteen-year journey of dreams, desires, jealousies, betrayals, and, ultimately, of love. Was it fate that brought them together? Is it choice that has kept them away? Their journey takes Lucy and Gabe continents apart, but never out of each other’s hearts.

The Light We Lost is the second book I’ve read this year that incorporated the events of 9/11 into the plot; and coincidentally, they’re both romance novels. I probably won’t write a review on it, but The Girl He Used to Know by Tracey Garvis Graves was a five star read for me this year that I highly recommend!

The Light We Lost is a book about fate, love, and life. I purchased this ebook on sale thanks to BookBub and as soon as I started it, I was hooked. Lucy and Gabe met on 9/11 at Columbia University. On the roof of Columbia University, watching the smoke rise and the destruction that happened on that tragic day, they both made a promise to make their lives mean something; to make sure that what they do helps other people.

“There are moments that shift the trajectory of people’s lives.” We are taken on a journey of Lucy and Gabe’s fated lives through the first person POV. It reads as one big love note from Lucy to Gabe. I will be honest: this isn’t your typical romantic story and there are moments and themes in this book that will make you want to rip your hair out and throw the book across the room, but that’s what I loved about it. It’s easy to go pick up your typical romance novel that has predictable twists and turns and a predictable ending. Those are the easy stories to read because they’re what people want out of life. This is one of the hard ones because it’s full of jealousy, hatred, betrayal, and constant bad decisions, but that’s real life. It’s messy and it’s complicated and we make mistakes that can never be fixed and we find a way to move on.

They say you never forget your first love and that is evidenced in Santopolo’s alluring and affecting book. This was an absolute five star read for me. If I had a machine that allowed me to unread a book just to experience it for the first time all over again, this is one of the books I would choose to unread. Lucy and Gabe, along with the other people in their lives, are anguish personified and I highly recommend this book. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll internally scream, but if you’re like me, you’ll also smile.

Book Review: Kingdom of the Wicked by Kerri Maniscalco

Title: Kingdom of the Wicked (Kingdom of the Wicked #1)
Author: Kerri Maniscalco
Publication Date: October 27, 2020
Publisher: JIMMY Patterson
Pages: 448
Add to Goodreads

Amazon | Bookshop.org

Two sisters.

One brutal murder.

A quest for vengeance that will unleash Hell itself…

And an intoxicating romance.

Emilia and her twin sister Vittoria are streghe – witches who live secretly among humans, avoiding notice and persecution. One night, Vittoria misses dinner service at the family’s renowned Sicilian restaurant. Emilia soon finds the body of her beloved twin…desecrated beyond belief. Devastated, Emilia sets out to find her sister’s killer and to seek vengeance at any cost-even if it means using dark magic that’s been long forbidden.

Then Emilia meets Wrath, one of the Wicked-princes of Hell she has been warned against in tales since she was a child. Wrath claims to be on Emilia’s side, tasked by his master with solving the series of women’s murders on the island. But when it comes to the Wicked, nothing is as it seems…

I will absolutely admit that I was skeptical of Kingdom of the Wicked. I read every book in the Stalking Jack the Ripper series, although I was unimpressed by all of them. Still, I was drawn to the promise of enemies-to-lovers romance with a Prince of Hell and could not resist. 

Kingdom of the Wicked is so completely different than Stalking Jack the Ripper and I couldn't be more pleased! While there is a murder mystery here, the fantasy elements of the Princes of Hell and their kingdom were at the forefront. Emilia is a strong (if reckless) heroine with a compelling story. I felt her devastation at the loss of her sister and sympathized with her desire to hold on to every piece of her. 

As usual, I was most concerned with the enemies-to-lovers romance, but I need not have been because this one was incredibly well written! The hatred between Emilia and Wrath was believable, as was Emilia's doubt as they grew to tolerate each other a bit more. Wrath was such a fascinating love interest! He managed to be both intimidating and gentle at the same time and I obviously ship it. The chemistry was SO good. We knew that it would be after Cresswell and Audrey Rose, but this was on another level. 

While the story was set in Italy, the witchy and Hell mythologies were incredibly well written. I am so hyped to see more of the Kingdom of the Wicked in the second book! Based on what was already introduced, I have a feeling the Princes' world is going to be amazing. 

I didn't realize until almost the very end that this book was the first in a series and promptly almost cried. The next book can't come soon enough! I am dying to find out what will happen after the cliffhanger this story ended on. I'll definitely be recommending this to all my dark-fantasy loving friends!

Book Review: Midnight Sun by Stephenie Meyer

Title: Midnight Sun (Twilight #5)
Author: Stephenie Meyer
Publication Date: August 4, 2020
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Pages: 662
Add to Goodreads

When Edward Cullen and Bella Swan met in Twilight, an iconic love story was born. But until now, fans have heard only Bella's side of the story. At last, readers can experience Edward's version in the long-awaited companion novel, Midnight Sun.

This unforgettable tale as told through Edward's eyes takes on a new and decidedly dark twist. Meeting Bella is both the most unnerving and intriguing event he has experienced in all his years as a vampire. As we learn more fascinating details about Edward's past and the complexity of his inner thoughts, we understand why this is the defining struggle of his life. How can he justify following his heart if it means leading Bella into danger?

When Midnight Sun was first announced, I most definitely made fun of it. I posted about how Stephenie Meyer has now written the same book three times and laughed at how anyone would choose to buy and read it. But then... the publication date drew nearer. The nostalgia took over. I caved.

Truthfully, I didn't read Twilight until 2009. Somehow I hadn't even heard of it before then. When I read it I was in the midsts of a really bad relationship and, truthfully, buddy reading Twilight with a coworker was a bright spot, so I assume that's where the nostalgia came from. In any case, near the end of July I definitely preordered a copy. Sue me.

Diving into Midnight Sun felt like jumping back into Twilight but more interesting and much more well written. I have to say, Edward's point of view was infinitely better. At first, I thought I was going to hate his whining and self-loathing, but that tapered off after a few chapters. For better or worse, his POV explained several of the weird and creepy things he did in the original series in a way that made them more palatable.

I loved all the extra information about Edward's backstory and time apart from Bella. I really enjoyed not having to be inside her head and hear her moping. Somehow, Edward's moping was a lot easier to read and sympathize with and I think a lot of that has to do with the fact that Stephenie Meyer is just a better writer now than she was in the early 2000s (thank goodness).

Of course, this is still the same angsty story about sparkling vampires that Twilight was and the more interesting POV can't take that away. I was still irritated by Bella and still found myself being angry with Edward for deciding what was best for her without asking for her input. The issues are still there, they're just more fun to read.

I definitely don't think you could read this without having read Twilight first, although I've seen others do it. I'm actually not sure why you'd want to read this book if you don't have any nostalgia for the original series. If you are feeling nostalgic, you should definitely pick this one up!