BOOK REVIEW: Only Ever Yours by Louise O'Neill

Only Ever Yours

Author: Louise O'Neill
Published: 3 July 2014 by Quercus
Genres: Young Adult, Dystopian, Science Fiction
Format: Paperback
Source: Purchased
Links: Goodreads

Synopsis:

frieda and isabel have been best friends their whole lives.

Now, aged sixteen and in their final year at the School, they expect to be selected as companions - wives to wealthy and powerful men. The alternative – life as a concubine – is too horrible to contemplate.

But as the intensity of the final year takes hold, the pressure to remain perfect becomes almost unbearable. isabel starts to self-destruct, putting her beauty – her only asset – in peril.

And then, the boys arrive, eager to choose a bride.

frieda must fight for her future - even if it means betraying the only friend, the only love, she has ever known...

Rating:

My Review:

In the space of one book, Louise O'Neill has gone from an unknown author to one of my favourites. Her books will now sit on my bookshelf in that special section that I reserve for authors whose words have truly affected me and changed my life. I rarely fangirl over anything these days, but O'Neill's Only Ever Yours is an undeniable force of nature, compelling a full-blown emotional response from anyone daring to read a book about a topic such as this one.

Only Ever Yours is set in a futuristic, dystopian-esque world where men rule the world and women are created for the sole purpose of pleasing these men. They are crafted – scientifically generated – to be absolutely perfect. They are then raised in the School as eves, where they are trained to one day enter the world primed and ready to please men. The eves are illiterate – only able to communicate verbally or visually – because academic traits are unappealing to men. The eves are emotionless, void of personality or feelings, because this is unappealing to men. The eves follow a strict regime to ensure they are at a target weight, because anything more or less is unappealing to men.

The ultimate goal is to become a companion – a wife to a man, and the bearer of his future sons (giving birth to daughters is strictly forbidden). If an eve is not selected for companionship (this society creates three times as many eves as sons born each year, so only one third will be selected as companions), she will become a concubine – a prostitute, living for the purpose of sexually pleasuring men beyond their companion. If an eve is unfit for either of these roles, she is destined to become a chastitiy – assisting in raising of eves, eternally sexually chaste, and with the role of chastising any deviant eve behaviour.

This book is not one that can be read lightly. Its subject matter is deeply confronting and extremely difficult to read at times, but it is a worthwhile read. It tackles issues such as eating disorders, body image, mental illness and suicide with a feminist poignancy that really hits home. There is nothing uplifting about this book, nothing to really make you happy. Rather, it is a book that sends a message, a warning about beauty culture and patriarchy and the future of our society if we become so obsessed with perfection that we lose our humanity. The focus of this book is on delivering this message – O'Neill doesn't care whether you like her characters or whether you approve of the world she has created – and it does so in such a beautiful, tragic way that will stay with you forever.

"All eves are created to be perfect, but there is always room for Improvement."

The characters in this book – the eves – are all vapid clones of one another. They might have different hair colours, different heights, different skin tones, but in the end they were all created to be identical in their service of pleasing men. It's impossible to like any of them, because (1) we never get to know them as individuals, and (2) they're all equally as annoying as the next one. But that's not to say that they're uninteresting. Quite the opposite. The creation of these characters, their role, the training they receive at the School is all so engrossing and fascinating that it's hard to not become invested in their story. They are pawns of men, their stories tragic and depressing, their fate unfathomable. Yet it is so easy to see ourselves in these girls, their emotions, their ways of thinking. And that's the whole point; this abhorrent dystopian world isn't so far removed from our own.

A lot of the negative reviews for Only Ever Yours stem from readers' dissatisfaction with the characters, their lack of development, and even their flatness – but I would argue that this is the whole point of the book! The eves are crafted in this world to be vapid clones of each other, no personality, nothing distinct about them. It serves as commentary on the world in which they are created, that men think this is the ideal role of women in society. I did not take a liking to any of the characters in this book, and I got confused by the amount of side characters because they were all so similar and blended together so easily. And that is the whole point! You will not like any of the characters that you come across, and you're not supposed to. These characters only serve the purpose of exposing us to this unfathomable world, and they serve their purpose wonderfully.

It is a confronting book to read, however, and if you're interested in reading a book set in a dystopian-esque world such as this one, I would recommend you pick up Uglies by Scott Westerfeld first. Uglies offers a similar critique of beauty culture, but in a significantly less confronting manner. It's one of my favourite series, and having read it first definitely helped to guide my expectations of Only Ever Yours and the way in which I approached this book.

I think this is such an important book to read. It is one that will definitely stay with me for many years to come, and I'm already looking forward to possibly re-reading it before the end of the year to go back and see what I missed my first time around. This is one that I'm sure will be classified as a modern classic one day, and one that I will forever appreciate for changing my outlook on many issues that we currently face as a society.

BOOK REVIEW: Obsidian by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Obsidian

Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout

Series: Lux, #1

Published: 12 March 2015 by Hodder & Stoughton

(first published 2011 by Entangled Teen)

Genres: Young Adult, Paranormal, Science Fiction

Format: Paperback

Source: Purchased

Links: Goodreads

Synopsis:

There's an alien next door. And with his looming height and eerie green eyes, he's hot... until he opens his mouth. He's infuriating. Arrogant. Stab-worthy. But when a stranger attacks me and Daemon literally freezes time with a wave of his hand, he marks me. Turns out he has a galaxy of enemies wanting to steal his abilities and the only way I'm getting out of this alive is by sticking close to him until my alien mojo fades. If I don't kill him first, that is.

When Katy moves to West Virginia right before her senior year, she's anticipating a whole lot of boring. The last thing on her mind is getting involved with her sexy, exasperating neighbor – and then finding out he's guarding a mind-blowing secret.

Rating:

Review and Discussion:

[Just a head's up, there are some mild spoilers sprinkled throughout this review.]

The first time I read this book, I was too much of a snob to enjoy it. I was sticking my nose up at it the whole time, too busy comparing it to Twilight to enjoy the story itself. I didn't give it a rating.

The second time I read this book, I went into it with a more open mind, and I came away obsessed. I fell hard for Daemon Black, and I didn't really care about anything else. I inhaled the rest of the series, because I was totally hooked. I rated it four stars.

And now I have just finished reading this book for the third time, a good eighteen months after my second read. This time around, whilst I enjoyed it immensely, I also read it more objectively. This time, I have rated it three stars.

The greatest thing about this book (and the series overall) is how addicting and fast-paced it is. Things are a little shaky and awkward in the beginning, but in no time the story moves into action-packed scenes and heart-racing excitement. The characters are snarky and entertaining, and the whole concept aliens being on Earth is just so intriguing that it's hard to not enjoy Obsidian.

But it is problematic, and I can acknowledge that.

Katy's character is fantastic, and it is easy to love her for her witty remarks and book nerdiness. She is entertaining, kick-ass, and whole-hearted, but she also has her setbacks. Whilst she is strong and independent, she also makes idiotic decisons concerning her life and the safety of those around her. She is proud, and this comes in the way of her common sense at times. She has a number of hobbies, including gardening, reading and blogging, but they are superficially explored that they seem like flat additions to her character in an attempt to make her seem more well-rounded. And although she is logical at most times, her internal monologue is sometimes so sketchy and unrealistic that it's hard to truly see her as a genuine, whole character.

Her friendships are similarly undeveloped. Though she is seen to make friends with two humans in this book, Lesa and Carissa, it is hard to really see them as a substantial part of her life. Katy often talks about going shopping with them, eating lunch with them, or hanging out with them on the weekends or after school, but we rarely see these scenes. And when we do, they are glossed over as Katy hurries to get her story back to the more exciting aliens in her life. Lesa and Carissa have so much potential as characters, but I feel that they are neglected by the author; despite creating them to give the story a grounding in humanity, it's hard to be convinced by this device when the characters are so flat and poorly developed.

Katy's friendship with Dee is a complete 180-degree turn. Dee is very involved in Katy's life from the beginning of the book, becoming her instant best friend, and in a way, this is more annoying than the typical YA trope of insta-love. Their insta-friendship was hard to swallow, because it just wasn't developed in any real or meaningful way. The friendship was somewhat developed, but Dee's character remained flat and unexplored. The friendship was more believable than her character. It was frustrating to hear that they were willing to sacrifice so much for each other, when I had no idea why they were doing it. They didn't read like best friends to me, and so it was hard to be convinced.

The title of Most Problematic Character, however, must be awarded to none other than Daemon Black, the fictional boyfriend who can set my heart racing just as quickly as my rage. Though I love to hate him, I do, without a doubt, adore his character anyway. His arrogance, cockiness but undeniable sweetness makes it impossible for me to not love him. But at the same time, these attributes are his downfall, and I can completely understand and agree with people's criticisms of him. Daemon is not a nice character, and for most of the book, he is awful to Katy. The brief reprieves of his niceness do not excuse his awfulness.

Daemon is rude, vile, controlling, demanding, and abusive at times. He is outright rude to Katy, controlling of who she can go to the school dance with, demanding that she do as he say, stalking her home from school, and just being unnecessarily cruel. I understand this, and I see why he is problematic, but because I have read the whole series before, I find myself able to look past this, because he does significantly develop as a character. Though his arrogance does remain, his other problematic traits are overcome and he develops into a wonderful, well-rounded character who can have my respect. He earns it eventually, but it's hard to give him the time of day when he is so blatantly awful in this first book.

Aside from the characters, there are also problems with the plot and the premise. I've already touched on friendships, but another plot issue I had was the occurrence of seemingly irrelevant and unconvincing events. Katy and Dee going to the restaurant in town, gardening, going for random walks with Daemon to a secluded and random lake for no reason, the constant on-again-off-again raining that seemed to happen, the sudden school dance, and the truck just coming out of nowhere. A lot of what happens in this book is unbelievable, unrealistic and plain eyeroll-worthy. There was no build up to these events, they all just happened suddenly, so it was difficult to see them as something relevant to the plot when they were so clearly superficial plot devices to bring out a brief soft side to Daemon or reveal something about a character. These scenes, without a doubt, were entertaining, but they just had no substantial purpose. It all felt like filler.

I had similar feelings about the paranormal/alien elements of this story. The concept itself is incredibly interesting and exciting and thrilling, and I don't deny that for one second. But I feel that it could have been developed and revealed in a better way. The way aliens are revealed to Katy read like a news broadcast, or a page from a history book. It didn't read like a conversation. It was definitely more for the reader's benefit than Katy's, and it was hard to ignore this. Every explanation was so formal and dull, when they should have been more interesting. And some explanations weren't even given, they were just accepted, which was even more frustrating. It made it seem like the author didn't know her own aliens, and that doesn't sit well with readers. I really wish the aliens could have been developed more in this book, but they are explored in more depth throughout the series if you continue on.

This review must make it sound like I despise this book, but I honestly don't. I love the series because it is so ridiculous and so much fun. It is fast-paced and full of action, and that is what I love most about this book and the series. And whilst I overlooked its problems in my previous reads, I feel that I have developed myself as a reader and am able to have a critical eye on issues, acknowledge them and discuss why they are problematic, but also still enjoy them. As the saying goes, "your fave is problematic", but that doesn't mean they can't be your fave. Acknowledge their mistakes, but don't let that prevent you from enjoying the story overall.

BOOK REVIEW: Risk by Fleur Ferris | Aussie Bloggers Book Club | #LoveOzYA

Risk

Author: Fleur Ferris
Published: 1 July 2015 by Random House
Genres: Young Adult, Contemporary, Australian
Format: Paperback
Source: Purchased
Links: Goodreads, Aussie Bloggers Book Club

Synopsis:

Taylor and Sierra have been best friends for their whole lives. But Taylor’s fed up. Why does Sierra always get what – and who – she wants? From kissing Taylor’s crush to stealing the guy they both met online for herself, Sierra doesn’t seem to notice when she hurts her friends.

So when Sierra says Jacob Jones is the one and asks her friends to cover for her while she goes to meet him for the first time, Taylor rolls her eyes. 

But Sierra doesn’t come back when she said she would.

One day. Two days. Three . . .

What if Taylor’s worrying for nothing? What if Sierra’s just being Sierra, forgetting about everyone else to spend time with her new guy? 

When Taylor finally tells Sierra’s mum that her daughter is missing, Taylor and her friends are thrown into a dark world they never even knew existed.

Can Taylor find Sierra’s abductor in time? Or should she be looking for a killer?

Rating:

Review and Discussion:

This review comes to you today from two perspectives: the first, my reactions as myself, a reader and lover of young adult fiction; the second, and probably more important, will be my recommendation to read this book as a future secondary school teacher. I hope that by exploring both of these perspectives will give you a greater understanding of what this book is about, and whether you will choose to pick it up for yourself.

I experienced a number of mixed feelings whilst reading this book, some good and some not-so-great. I found the first half of the book to be the most enjoyable, because that was where most of the mystery played out; the second half was definitely a lot slower, and for me, less enjoyable. Whilst I definitely kept a critical eye whilst reading Risk, I was able to still enjoy it overall.

It has been a huge six years since I read anything set in Australia, written by an Australian author. My last Aussie read was the Tomorrow series by John Marsden, a staple for anyone in high school. Since then, I've read The Book Thief by Markus Zusak, which is about as far removed from an Australian setting as the mainstream USA-based young adult literature. So I went into Risk with positive vibes, knowing that, no matter what, I would love it because it would be relevant to me and I would be able to relate to it, and it definitely delivered on these fronts. It was so easy to relate to this book, its characters, because everything was so familiar to me. Brighton Beach, the St Kilda Marina, high school culture, family relations, everything. It was such a wonderful feeling to finally be able to relate to a book so easily, to know exactly what the characters were seeing, experiencing and feeling. With a few bonus references to the hotness of Chumpy Pullin, I was well and truly in love with this book.

The story itself was an important one to tell, and something that I haven't really been exposed to in YA before. Online predators are a very real danger in society today, and one that we regularly hear about in the news. It is something that I was warned about throughout high school, and though I dabbled in a few online chatrooms in my time, I was lucky enough to be unharmed. But the dangers were definitely there, and I wasn't ignorant to them. Some people aren't so lucky, and Risk tells one such story. But I'll get to more of that later.

The first half of the book, as I've mentioned, was the most enjoyable. I enjoyed meeting all of the characters, getting to understand their complex friendship dynamic, and the mystery and suspense of the novel. I was able to closely relate my own experiences to theirs, understood their attitudes and behaviours towards school, friendships, family and their online identity. I think that Ferris did an excellent job in portraying the emotions and mentality of Australian teens, their complexity, and their not-so-politically-correct manner. I was particularly intrigued by Taylor's conflicting, constantly changing thoughts on her friendship with Sierra in the beginning. We've all gone through fights with our best friends, and it's one of the worst experiences anyone can go through; Ferris captures that sense of inner conflict and frustration, and is able to convey those feelings and experiences to readers in a relatable, unashamed way. In this way, I was able to strongly connect with the characters. I didn't necessarily like them – every character has their fault, and I struggled to really like any of the characters in this book – but they were easy to connect to. I think we can relate to them because they embody our worst decisions at times, and we can understand them, but it certainly doesn't mean we have to like them.

I didn't enjoy the second half as much. What I thought would be the plot for the entire book took only the first 150 pages or so, and from there, I somewhat lost interest in the plot and character developments. It was interesting to see the fall-out from what happened, but I felt it was much slower and repetitive than the first half. So, essentially, my main qualm with this book was that it wasn't long enough. I really believe that it could have been significantly improved had everything been explored in more detail, if we were shown details rather than simply told them, had Taylor not changed her mind on everything so quickly, had conflicts not been resolved over two pages, had we had more time to explore Taylor's conflicting emotions in detail, and really understand her struggle.

But I understand that it was written the way it was, because that's exactly how fifteen-year-olds think and process. Perhaps that was my main issue, that the book was targeted to a younger audience, an audience that I don't fit into anymore. It's been many a few years since I was fifteen-years-old myself, and though I can relate to the character, I struggled to not become frustrated by her thought processes and actions. At times, her emotions felt superficial, and I couldn't fully appreciate them. At other times, her speech or blog posts felt too mature, too monotone and formal, for a fifteen-year-old experiencing the range of emotions that she was. The teens' voices were often indistinguishable from the adults, and it took away somewhat from the believability of what was happening in the story. I think this book was definitely targeted to a younger audience than me, and if I had been able to read it six years ago, I would have rated it five stars without a doubt.

And so despite being unable to enjoy this story to its full potential myself, I will not be deterred from recommending this book to my students in the future.

Which brings me to the second element of my review, where I talk from the perspective of a future teacher. I am currently in my third year of university studies to become a secondary school teacher, on track to graduate as part of the Class of 2016. I am constantly thinking about my own teaching philosophy, what teaching methods I will adopt, and the things I will want my students to gain from being in my classroom. I want them to know about the issues they will face in the world, and how to protect themselves without compromising their own freedoms. Online safety and building a positive online identity for themselves is something that I will endeavour to impart with my students.

And for this reason, I will surely be recommending that my students read Risk, study it, and learn about the real threats that they face from online predators. I think Risk is a hugely valuable resource for teens in high schools around Australia and the rest of the world, and it would be amazing to one day even see it listed as a text on school reading lists. I think that young teens can take a great deal from this book, and so I would like to see as many students reading this book as possible. Reading is a great way for teens to learn about major issues in a non-confrontational way. They don't have to discuss it aloud with their peers or teachers or parents; they can read it in their own privacy, take whatever they want from it, and perhaps discuss it in a manner that is most comfortable for them, when they feel the time is appropriate.

Though the book should not be taken as gospel or the unequivocal truth – it has many issues that teens should be cautious about, such as body/fat shaming and slut shaming – it is a great way for teens to learn about major issues. If guided by schools and responsible educators, I feel that students can learn incredibly important lessons, and are exposed to vital information, from reading Risk. I feel that it's going to be one of those staple books for teens growing up in Australia.

"There are heaps of missing people when you go looking."

I read this book as part of the Aussie Bloggers Book Club, and if you're interested in reading and discovering more Australian literature than what the mainstream promotes, I would definitely recommend checking out their Goodreads page. It's certainly exposed me to a huge range of Australian literature that I didn't know existed, and I can't wait to read more in the future.

BOOK REVIEW: Night of Cake and Puppets by Laini Taylor

Night of Cake and Puppets

Author: Laini Taylor

Series: Daughter of Smoke and Bone, #2.5

Published: 26 November 2013 by Little, Brown

Genres: Young Adult, Fantasy

Format: Kindle ebook

Source: Purchased

Links: Goodreads

Summary:

In Night of Cake & Puppets, Taylor brings to life a night only hinted at in the Daughter of Smoke & Bone trilogy—the magical first date of fan-favorites Zuzana and Mik. Told in alternating perspectives, it’s the perfect love story for fans of the series and new readers alike. Petite though she may be, Zuzana is not known for timidity. Her best friend, Karou, calls her “rabid fairy,” her “voodoo eyes” are said to freeze blood, and even her older brother fears her wrath. But when it comes to the simple matter of talking to Mik, or “Violin Boy,” her courage deserts her. Now, enough is enough. Zuzana is determined to meet him, and she has a fistful of magic and a plan. It’s a wonderfully elaborate treasure hunt of a plan that will take Mik all over Prague on a cold winter’s night before finally leading him to the treasure: herself! Violin Boy’s not going to know what hit him.

Rating:

Review and Discussion:

I cannot think of any words appropriate to express my absolute love of this novella. Zuzana and Mik are definitely my favourite characters from the entire Daughter of Smoke and Bone series, so it was lovely to have a story dedicated to just them, told from their points of view. It was a precious little insight into their love story, and I really appreciate that Taylor gave us this gem.

"Here we go. I have scuppies in my pocket and lust in my heart. Tonight's the night."

What I was most surprised by with this novella was that it was written in the first person—I had totally expected it to be told in third person, like the series—and yet Taylor was still able to portray the sense of wonder and magic and mystery through her writing. I didn't think it was possible for such beauty to be conveyed via first person narrative, but then again Taylor is a writing genius.

"Mik is one of those people you can look at and totally imagine as a kid. You know how some people were absolutely never children, but just came from a catalog fully grown, while other people you don't even have to squint to imagine them charging down the stairs in Christmas morning in superhero pajamas? Mik's the latter. It's not that he's 'boyish,' though I guess he is a little—but only a little—it's just that there's something direct and real and electric and pure that hasn't been lost, the intense, undiluted emotion of childhood."

Both Zuzana and Mik have distinctive voices in this novella, and I loved them both. Usually when stories are told from dual perspectives, I'm bound to get bored by one of them, but that wasn't the case with this novella. I loved them both, and I loved switching from each perspective. It made me want to read both at the same time, even though that would have been impossible! I wanted to know Mik's reactions to Zuzana's clues in real time, I wanted to know whether Zuzana was freaking out or totally cool, calm and collected. That sense of urgency and the desire to find out how these beloved characters were reacting on this beautiful night was what made this story so magical.

"But first things first: Make him aware I exist."

It was real, it was precious, it was engaging, and it was fulfilling. I cannot fault this novella in any way; it was absolute perfection, by my standards. I wish I could read more about just these two characters, but then again that might take away some of their magic and mystery.

"I want to do mysterious and improbable things alongside a fierce and beautiful girl who looks like a doll brought to life by a sorcerer."

BOOK REVIEW: Ms. Marvel, Volume 2: Generation Why by G. Willow Wilson, Adrian Alphona and Jacob Wyatt

Ms. Marvel, Volume 2: Generation Why

Author: G. Willow Wilson
Artists: Adrian Alphona and Jacob Wyatt
Series: Ms. Marvel (Marvel NOW!), #6-11
Published: 7 April 2015 by Marvel
Genres: Young Adult, Superheroes, Comic
Format: Trade Paperback
Source: Purchased
Links: Goodreads

Synopsis:

Who is the Inventor, and what does he want with the all-new Ms. Marvel and all her friends? Maybe Wolverine can help! Kamala may be fan-girling out when her favorite (okay maybe Top Five) super hero shows up, but that won't stop her from protecting her hometown. Then, Kamala crosses paths with Inhumanity for the first time--by meeting the royal dog, Lockjaw! Every girl wants a puppy, but this one may be too much of a handful, even for a super hero with embiggening powers. But why is Lockjaw really with Kamala? As Ms. Marvel discovers more about her past, the Inventor continues to threaten her future. The fan-favorite, critically acclaimed, amazing new series continues as Kamala Khan proves why she's the best (and most adorable) new super hero there is!

Rating:

Review and Discussion:

I am confused by the direction of this comic series. When I first picked it up, I was expecting superheroes, but I had hoped the focus would be on Kamala's identity and a mixture of her reality and being Ms. Marvel. Instead, the focus is 95% on superheroes, and I think it has allowed me to confirm that superheroes aren't really my scene. I can appreciate them and what they stand for, sure, but it's all a bit too cheesy for my liking.

What I do love about this series is its contemporary flair. The pop culture references, the internet culture, and the struggles of the 21st century teenager are all expressed beautifully. These elements are wonderfully intwined with the story, and add a lovely touch of humour and 'humanness' to the superhero plot. But this is where my positive comments have to end.

I am not a fan of the art style, but I suppose that is down to personal taste. I just find the art styles — two, in the case of this volume — to be very unclear and difficult to read. This was especially difficult in action scenes, where it was sometimes hard to follow the frames because they were in a strange order, or the artwork was blended or unclear as to what was happening. This was frustrating, and it meant that I ended up skimming many of the scenes.

The writing, too, lacked the punch of the previous volume. I felt like Kamala was much more juvenile in this volume, a complete change from the strong young woman in volume one. She seemed like a totally different character, and that was disappointing. I feel that Wilson had to take away much of her personality for the sole purpose of having the story follow a cliche superhero trope. The plot was predictable and simple, and altogether disappointing.

This second volume was definitely not as good as the first. It was enjoyable, but simplistic and weak at many times. The focus shift was disappointing, and I would like to see the story focus more on Kamala's life as Kamala, and not simply as Ms. Marvel. There seems to be potential for this in the next volume with the events that happened to her best friend, and I hope that the third volume can convince me to continue on with the series. The next volume will be my test to see if I can love the series, and if not, I will be disappointed but not surprised. There was so much potential with the first volume, but everything just fell flat in this one.

BOOK REVIEW: Heir of Fire by Sarah J. Maas

Heir of Fire

Author: Sarah J. Maas

Series: Throne of Glass, #3

Published: 2 September 2014 by Bloomsbury

Genres: Young Adult, Fantasy

Format: Hardback

Source: Purchased

Links: Goodreads

Synopsis:

She was the heir of ash and fire, and she would bow to no one.

Celaena Sardothien has survived deadly contests and shattering heartbreak—but at an unspeakable cost. Now she must travel to a new land to confront her darkest truth...a truth about her heritage that could change her life—and her future—forever.

Meanwhile, brutal and monstrous forces are gathering on the horizon, intent on enslaving her world. To defeat them, Celaena must find the strength to not only fight her inner demons but to battle the evil that is about to be unleashed.

The king's assassin takes on an even greater destiny and burns brighter than ever before in this follow-up to the New York Times bestselling Crown of Midnight.

Rating:

Review and Discussion:

I debated long and hard before deciding on a 2-star rating. I almost gave it 3 stars for its slight redemption towards the end, but I couldn't deny myself the truth about this book: it was entirely underwhelming, disappointing, and enragingly boring.

The other books in this series were amazing, and set up for what I had hoped would be an amazing series... which only made this book so much more disappointing. The series had hyped it up, and I had extremely high expectations. I went into this thinking I would rate it a full five stars at the end, but obviously I didn't get to that point. Let me explain to you all the things that derailed this series for me in this trainwreck of a book.

For one, I hated the unnecessary, excessive plot lines that were explored in this book. There were at least seven plot lines in this book, with many of them interwoven throughout and blended into one at times, and it was just too much for me to keep up with. There were storylines from Celaena (obviously), Chaol, Dorian, Adeion, Sorscha, Rowan and Manon, and all together in an almost-600-page-book was just overwhelming. I couldn't keep up half the time, and the focus shifted so frequently that I lost interest in each story very quickly.

Related to this, I felt that there were too many new characters, and that Maas was trying to get me to care about them. But I just couldn't. I had no interest in all these unnecessary, additional characters; all I wanted was to read about Celaena being a badass and claiming her world.

Manon's storyline bored me in particular. I could tolerate, and at times appreciate, the others, but I had no interest in Manon or what she was doing, and ended up skimming most of her chapters. I particularly didn't appreciate the animal fighting scenes that were present in much of her story, and I get that it's part of her character and what-not, but I hate the normalisation of animal violence. I cannot stomach it, even in fiction. It's a personal thing to me, but it just makes me uncomfortable and ultimately swayed my perception of Manon and her story. Not a fan at all. Not even in the end. Especially not in the end, actually! I was hoping that her story would be made relevant to the rest of the story by the end, with some detail linking her to Celaena or Chaol or Dorian or whatever, but that never came. So in the end, it just felt like unnecessary filler to increase the page count.

Which brings me to my next point: this book could have been amazing if it had been 200 pages shorter. It was unnecessarily long. This book had no suspense, no excitement, no drive for me to read it. I really had to force myself in the beginning, and by the time I got to the halfway mark, I was reading quickly just to get it over and done with. There were too many boring characters introduced that I just could not care about, and boring plot lines for them to exist. This book really just offered nothing, and it felt much more like a filler book than a book deserving of the "number one bestselling" title. Maas's writing was great, but the dull story just couldn't be saved by any amount of her skill.

As for some of the characters...

I didn't care anything for Rowan, and can't understand why the world has gone crazy for him. Rowan is hugely over-rated, and that annoys me because people aren't seeing him for what he really is: he is selfish, manipulative and cruel, and has absolutely zero good qualities about him. Maybe some people like that sorta guy, but I'm not interested in idolising fuckboys. The ridiculous thing where he was wordlessly communicating with Celaena was also ridiculous. Everything about him is stupid and I hate him and I can't stand that he is a part of Celaena's life now. I just want him gone.

Sorscha was the only new character that I liked, even though her storyline bored me to death. Her character was interesting, and I enjoyed learning about her. I just wish Maas would have given her a storyline more fitting for her awesomeness. Her character deserved so much better than developing a forbidden romance with the Crown Prince. And in the end, the potential of her character was ultimately wasted. Which was hugely disappointing, again.

Celaena lacked the badass punch she brought in the previous novels. Perhaps it's because she's in a new land or in her Fae form or whatever, but she just wasn't the same. She felt like a completely different character, one whom I hardly knew. Her identity as Aelin didn't really interest me, except for when she was talking about her history. I have come to adore Celaena, not Aelin, and I really hope that Maas can respect readers' favour for Celaena and not try to force us to love Aelin. I get that Aelin is a part of Celaena, but ultimately I feel that Celaena is her true identity. We are the makers of our own destiny, and she has made herself as Celaena for so many years that it would be a betrayal to neglect her and go back to being Aelin.

Which leads me to consider the question of whether I am interested enough to continue on with the story now. After Crown of Midnight, I thought I would undeniably love this series for anything and everything it offered. Heir of Fire proved naive me so very, very wrong. I definitely won't be pre-ordering Queen of Shadows, but I do still think I will read it eventually. At this stage, I won't be reading it in 2015. I will let its release day come and go, read some reviews from bloggers and reviewers that I trust, and pick it up when the mood strikes me. I think it's time for me to take a break from YA fantasy and read more of what I natually enjoy before forcing myself through another unecessarily long book.

BOOK REVIEW: Ms. Marvel, Volume 1: No Normal by G. Willow Wilson and Adrian Alphona

Ms. Marvel, Volume 1: No Normal

Author: G. Willow Wilson

Artist: Adrian Alphona

Series: Ms. Marvel (Marvel NOW!), #1-5

Published: 30 October 2014 by Marvel

Genres: Young Adult, Superheroes, Comic

Format: Trade Paperback

Source: Purchased

Links: Goodreads

Synopsis:

Kamala Khan is an ordinary girl from Jersey City — until she's suddenly empowered with extraordinary gifts. But who truly is the new Ms. Marvel? Teenager? Muslim? Inhuman? Find out as she takes the Marvel Universe by storm! When Kamala discovers the dangers of her newfound powers, she unlocks a secret behind them, as well. Is Kamala ready to wield these immense new gifts? Or will the weight of the legacy before her be too much to bear? Kamala has no idea, either. But she's comin' for you, Jersey!

Rating:

Review and Discussion:

This volume was a pure delight. I was not too sure what to expect from this comic series, as I have never consumed Marvel media in the past, but I was pleasantly surprised. I have no experience with superheroes, and very limited exposure to comics, but I'm confident in saying that Ms. Marvel looks to be a promising series that embraces diversity and celebrates feminism.

My favourite thing about this volume was the humour. I can strongly relate to Kamala's sense of humour, her sarcastic wit, and the good nature of her humour. She is smart and funny, and these qualities really drew me in and allowed me to strongly connect with her character. Her friendships were also a delight to read, and her family was an absolute joy. I think her brother is my favourite character so far, but it's hard not to love everyone.

Though this was a hugely enjoyable first volume, I did have an issue with the clichés and stereotypes. As I mentioned, I am not familiar with any superhero stories, but Kamala's beginnings just felt like a cliché. Sneaking out of home, randomly getting superpowers, embracing those powers without really figuring out why she suddenly has them, having a family who doesn't understand, and a best friend who you argue with but then make up with who helps and supports you. It felt like I had read it so many times before, just with characters changed here and there.

And although the diversity is wonderful, I worry that perhaps Kamala's family, friends and religion are somewhat stereotyped and oversimplified. From my perspective, Kamala's diversity was presented in a positive light with an entertaining twist, but it is easy to see how her brother's character, her parents' over-bearing concern, and the emphasis of her religion may have been stereotyped. I'm hoping that future volumes will explore more of Kamala's diversity and allow us to explore all the characters to give them a purpose beyond their stereotypes.

I'm also hoping that some of the confusion I have (such as how she even got her powers in the first place) are explored in later volumes. But so far, this first volume was wonderful, and I can't wait to see how everything else develops.

BOOK REVIEW: Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas

Crown of Midnight

Author: Sarah J. Maas
Series: Throne of Glass, #2
Published: 27 August 2013 by Bloomsbury
Genres: Young Adult, Fantasy
Format: Hardback
Source: Purchased
Links: Goodreads

Synopsis:

From the throne of glass rules a king with a fist of iron and a soul as black as pitch. Assassin Celaena Sardothien won a brutal contest to become his Champion. Yet Celaena is far from loyal to the crown. She hides her secret vigilantly; she knows that the man she serves is bent on evil.

Keeping up the deadly charade becomes increasingly difficult when Celaena realizes she is not the only one seeking justice. As she tries to untangle the mysteries buried deep within the glass castle, her closest relationships suffer. It seems no one is above questioning her allegiances—not the Crown Prince Dorian; not Chaol, the Captain of the Guard; not even her best friend, Nehemia, a foreign princess with a rebel heart.

Then one terrible night, the secrets they have all been keeping lead to an unspeakable tragedy. As Celaena's world shatters, she will be forced to give up the very thing most precious to her and decide once and for all where her true loyalties lie... and whom she is ultimately willing to fight for.

Rating:

Review and Discussion:

Firstly: this book was incredible. I read this non-stop between work and sleep, but even with all the interruptions, I was angry at myself for reading it too quickly. It was fantastic from beginning to end, and it left off on such a teasing cliffhanger that makes me so grateful to already have Heir of Fire sitting on my shelf waiting to be picked up and read straight away.

Secondly: I have no idea how much of a review this post is going to be; I strongly suspect that it will, instead, be one massive gush fest over Crown of Midnight, Celaena Sardothian and Chaol Westfall. With an appropriate excess of question marks because I have so many questions as to where the story will go on from here.

And so, without further ado...

U.K. Edition

How the heck can anyone prefer Dorian over Chaol?? Chaol is perfect for Celaena, and Celaena perfect for Chaol. Though he does have his many faults—blind loyalty to the king being the main one—he is completely excused because he has never known any better. His whole life, he has been conditioned to blindly serve the king. This ultimately causes his relationship with Celaena to fracture, but I think that served as a huge wake-up call for him. He is coming to re-assess his loyalties, and figure out what he wants for himself, and what is best for the kingdom. I understand that he and Celaena cannot be together for the time being, but by the end of the series, I hope that he will sort out his priorities and find his way back to Celaena's heart. #Chaolaena <3

And just to justify why I am not on board with Dorian and Celaena ending up together... Dorian is the king's son, and that can never change. Though Dorian may change his heart and mind on matters and choose to not align himself with the king's agenda in the future, the fact of the matter is that Dorian has been there, supporting the king, throughout the king's reign. Even if Dorian does 'rebel' and attempt to rise up against the king, he will always be the son of an awful tyrant, and is therefore ineligible for Celaena's heart (in my most humble opinion).

Okay, okay, okay. There is so much more to this book than Celaena's romantic interests. They were just the first thing on my mind because my favourite part of any book is the romantic side of things.

Celaena was incredible in this book. Seeing her as the King's Champion was pure delight. It was similar to the side of Celaena we saw in The Assassin's Blade, yet so much more badass. She is more mature, more aware of herself and her role, and is thus able to wow me with her incredible skills. There were so many scenes that filled me with such pride for Celaena: the opening scenes, the warehouse scene, the scenes with Grave and Lord Mullison, and of course, the whole chunk at the end. She went through some amazing character development in this novel, and I was completely blown away by how wonderful she is. I will always be in this story for Celaena; her love interests and dramas are just an added bonus.

And it wasn't just Celaena's character development that amazed me. Chaol, Dorian, Nehemia, Kaltain, and even the king to a certain extent, all underwent considerable character developments that really helped to progress the story. I felt a little underwhelmed by Dorian and Nehemia in Throne of Glass, but I really came to love them in Crown of Midnight. Kaltain showed promise in the previous book, and I am devastated by what her fate has been so far, but I truly hope that she can reach her full potential in the rest of the series. I am quietly rooting for a strong friendship to emerge between Celaena and Kaltain, and that Celaena can be a strong mentor for Kaltain through all the horridness she would have to overcome.

We also explored more of the castle and the fantasy world in Crown of Midnight. Whereas we were quite limited in Throne of Glass, this novel allowed Celaena to explore more of the castle and Rifthold, which was fantastic. Through others' perspectives we also get to hear a little more about the rest of the world, such as Eyllwe and Terrase and Wendlyn, etc. Also learning about the different types of magic, how they came to an end ten years ago, and the way it is being used today was all an incredible learning journey, and I feel so immersed in this world that I might just never want to leave. It is what leaves me most excited for Heir of Fire; seeing more of the world in a completely different kingdom, with different perspectives on everything. It is so, so, so exciting!

But, above all, the most exciting part of this book for me was the surprise element, in that I never knew how it was going to end. Every twenty, fifty, hundred pages, my predictions of how the book would end changed drastically. Whereas the plot of Throne of Glass was hugely predictable, Crown of Midnight was full of surprises. It started off on a blank slate, and I had no idea where it was going to go. The surprises, twists and turns, and new characters kept me guessing the entire time, and compelled me to read the story as fast as I possibly could. The ending was completely unexpected, and such a cliffhanger, so I'm keen as a bean to read Heir of Fire as soon as possible.

And although I did absolutely love this book, I had a few minor issues that kept me from rating it a full five stars. My main concern was that there was just so much going on all at once, so many different plot lines, that I was easily confused at times, and wasn't able to fully engage with each line. Perhaps if the multiple plot lines had been streamed a little differently, I might have enjoyed it all a bit better, but alas, I was somewhat confused at times, which took away from the reading experience.

The death of a certain precious character was also not okay. I am still heartbroken, and although I can accept why that character had to die, I can't see at this moment why it was completely necessary.

I was also frustrated with Celaena's to-and-fro with Archer. It was reminiscent of the idiocy that we saw from Celaena in The Assassin's Blade, which had me all kinds of angry and frustrated. So much death and unnecessary heartache could have been avoided had Celaena not been so caught up in her past alliances and taken action on her own accord.

Despite these little setbacks, I did thoroughly enjoy this sequel, and I enjoyed it far more than Throne of Glass. This book left me feeling all kinds of excitement for the rest of the series, and so I'm going to conclude this review here and get into reading that lovely tome!

BOOK REVIEW: Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

Throne of Glass

Author: Sarah J. Maas
Series: Throne of Glass, #1
Published: 7 August 2012 by Bloomsbury
Genres: Young Adult, Fantasy
Format: Hardback
Source: Purchased
Links: Goodreads

Synopsis:

When magic has gone from the world, and a vicious king rules from his throne of glass, an assassin comes to the castle. She does not come to kill, but to win her freedom. If she can defeat twenty-three killers, thieves, and warriors in a competition to find the greatest assassin in the land, she will become the King's Champion and be released from prison.

Her name is Celaena Sardothien.

The Crown Prince will provoke her. The Captain of the Guard will protect her.

And a princess from a foreign land will become the one thing Celaena never thought she'd have again: a friend.

But something evil dwells in the castle—and it's there to kill. When her competitors start dying, horribly, one by one, Celaena's fight for freedom becomes a fight for survival—and a desperate quest to root out the source of the evil before it destroys her world.

Rating:

Review and Discussion:

I now feel that I can rate this book four stars with much more conviction than when I read it the first time around. Then, I had forced myself to love it because of the hype. Now, I feel like I am able to honestly express my appreciation for this book and rate it the four stars it deserves. I now feel much better about the characters and this fantasy world, and am now legitimately excited to dive into the rest of this series.

“She stood not ten feet from the King of Ardalan. Freedom or death lay at his table. Her past and future were seated on a glass throne.”

Reading The Assassin's Blade is what allowed me to enjoy Throne of Glass to its full potential. The prequel novellas allowed me to get to know Celaena Sardothian as Adarlan's Assassin. I was able to know who she was as herself before she became the Crown Prince's Champion. I feel that Throne of Glass, on its own, does not adequately explore Celaena's character. It alludes to her past, but doesn't give any details, yet uses her past as a significant driving force for her actions, her morals and her ambitions. The first time around, it was incredibly frustrating to not have enough information given about Celaena's character. After reading The Assassin's Blade, however, I feel that I was able to appreciate and understand her character on a whole new level.

U.K. Edition

Admittedly, this is a negative critique of Throne of Glass and its feasibility to serve as an adequate first novel in a high fantasy series. It falls short in a lot of ways, but it presents the reader with so much potential for what the rest of the series could be. Readers shouldn't have to read The Assassin's Blade before reading Throne of Glass, but in my experiences, if they want to get as clear a picture of the characters and the world of this fantasy series, it is an absolute requirement. Which is hugely disappointing, because the prequel novellas should not be required reading to enjoy the actual series.

Another shortfall of Throne of Glass is its lack of world exploration. The world building is excellent, but I found that the book itself didn't explore enough of the world to enhance the building that took place. We hear of all these places in Erilea—Bellhaven, Skull's Bay, Terrasen, the Red Desert, Eyllwe, etc—but none of them are explored. We are restricted to the castle at Rifthold, and very briefly, the death camp in Endovier. With so much of the world alluded to, it was disappointing that we explored so very little of it. The Assassin's Blade definitely compensates for this, and it allowed me to better appreciate the world when reading Throne of Glass.

Thus, without having read The Assassin's Blade, I know I would not have enjoyed Throne of Glass to its full potential. Given a full appreciation of the world and Celaena's incredible character, Throne of Glass becomes a fantastic read. It is epic, thrilling, mysterious, intelligent, witty, hilarious, wholesome and inspiring.

I definitely enjoyed the first half of the book much more than the second half, mostly because the love triangle really starts to emerge and I have no time for the ridiculous love triangle forming. I also found that the double plot was almost too much for this one novel, and could have been explored a bit more than what was allowed. I was definitely more interested in the competition story line than the mysterious murders story line, but alas, they were both entertaining enough to keep me hooked.

Celaena's character was definitely the highlight for me, and her character development is what has me keen to continue on with Crown of Midnight. Her love interests, the plot, the motivations of other characters are all the least of my worries; I am invested in Celaena's character, and she is my first interest in reading these books. Everything else now is just an added bonus.

I'm hoping the rest of the series won't now disappoint me, as I've worked so hard to finally enjoy this first book. Having heard tidbits over the years of the intense shipping rivalries, I'm nervous as to how that will impact the story, Celaena's character, and my enjoyment overall. I've also heard of some pretty significant backlash against Sarah J. Maas herself recently for her poor interactions with readers, which makes me nervous about investing my time in the series. Alas, I am keen as a bean to read Crown of Midnight, and I'll be sure to share my thoughts with you on that when I'm finished.

BOOK REVIEW: The Assassin's Blade by Sarah J. Maas

The Assassin's Blade

Author: Sarah J. Maas
Series: Throne of Glass, #0.1-0.5
Published: 4 March 2014 by Bloomsbury
Genres: Young Adult, Fantasy
Format: Hardback
Source: Purchased
Links: Goodreads

Synopsis:

Celaena Sardothien is her kingdom's most feared assassin. Though she works for the powerful and ruthless Assassin's Guild, Celaena yields to no one and trusts only her fellow killer for hire, Sam.

When Celaena's scheming master, Arobynn Hamel, dispatches her on missions that take her from remote islands to hostile deserts, she finds herself acting independently of his wishes—and questioning her own allegiance. Along the way, she makes friends and enemies alike, and discovers that she feels far more for Sam than just friendship. But by defying Arobynn's orders, Celaena risks unimaginable punishment, and with Sam by her side, he is in danger, too. They will have to risk it all if they hope to escape Arobynn's clutches—and if they fail, they'll lose not just a chance at freedom, but their lives...

A prequel to Throne of Glass, this collection of five novellas offers listeners a deeper look into the history of this cunning assassin and her enthralling—and deadly—world.

Rating:

Review and Discussion:

Last year, I read Throne of Glass, but I didn't exactly love it. I rated it four stars after my first reading, but ever since I have felt that my rating was too generous. I was caught up in the hype, and wanted to love it, but I came away from the book feeling confused and unsatisfied by the characters, the plot and the world-building. I could feel the series had potential, but I just wasn't able to appreciate it at the time.

I has been about ten months now, and I was finally in the mood to read some fantasy and pick up the series again. This time, however, I thought I would start with The Assassin's Blade so that I could learn more about this fantasy world, how it operated, Celaena's past as an assassin, etc. And on that front, this book did not disappoint.

U. K. Edition

From the very first short story that this collection offered, I felt that I had a much better grasp on Celaena's character than what I was able to gain from Throne of Glass. In this collection, we are exposed to Celaena's life as an assassin, her traits, her values, her actions, her manner of assassination. I felt that this understanding of her character was lacking in Throne of Glass, because the story starts right at the end of these short stories, and everything from Celaena's past is assumed, or revealed in short, unsatisfying snippets throughout the story. I am glad that I have now read The Assassin's Blade for it has given me more insight into Celaena's character, and it has made me appreciate her and her story a whole lot more.

Similarly, the short stories also give more insight into the world in which the series takes place. In Throne of Glass, we are only exposed to one very small region of this fantasy world, and limited in what we see of this world also. The Assassin's Blade, however, takes us all over the continent of Erilea. Whilst many different places are referenced in Throne of Glass, in The Assassin's Blade, we actually get to go there with Celaena and see more of her world. We get an understanding of the different cultures, the different mannerisms, the different lifestyles in each area of the continent, and I found that it was very helpful in getting a grasp on the world for the rest of the series.

The main reason why I read this book was to prepare myself for the rest of the series, and it definitely delivered on that front. I have a much stronger understanding of Celaena's character and her history, and also of Erilea. This book, therefore, served its purpose for me.

However, I did find the book to be a little flat at times; quite often I found that the plot was unexciting and slow, and riddled with plot holes or plot twists that came with no surprise. This was the most disappointing element of this book. While it was rich in world-building and character development, I felt that it really lacked in terms of its plot. Acts of betrayal from characters believed to be trusted could be seen from miles away, and it was somewhat frustrating that Celaena was so quick to trust without questioning motives or conspiracy theories. If she's the greatest assassin in the land, she should have been more skeptical of information provided to her and taken it upon herself to find truth and motives before believing those who had betrayed her previously. This was the main thing that bothered me in this book, because the plot twists were so easy for me to see, they should have been equally obvious to Celaena. If they had have been executed more myseriously, perhaps, these plot twists could have been epic and undeniably thrilling.

This collection can be read in one of two ways: as a single, episodic novel (as I read it), or as individual stories to pick up here and there whenever the mood struck. I would recommend the first method if you're looking to deepen your understanding of the fantasy world before or during your reading of the series. Otherwise, if you've read the series in its entirety, or have no interest in picking up the series until you get a small taste of it, I would recommend reading the stories as stand-alones. Granted, you would still have to read them in order to avoid being spoiled on earlier stories, etc, but they each have a conclusive ending that will leave you satisfied for the weeks between picking up the next story. They are enjoyable and beautiful in their own ways, each with their own message of bravery, strength, courage and determination.

My favourite of the short stories was definitely The Assassin and the Healer, which I've heard has been many people's least favourite. It is the shortest, and not much happens by way of plot, but I found it was undeniably beautiful. It showed the bond between two women who came together to support and each other up to their full potential. It was sweet and beautiful, and truly inspiring.

I think that the best story, however, was The Assassin and the Empire. This story packed the most punch, and it was most relevant to Celaena's background and how she ended up in her situation that begins Throne of Glass. It was mysterious and gripping, and though the plot twist was still predictable, not everything was made clear in the end, which still has me thinking and second-guessing everything each of the characters have ever said and done. This story definitely held my attention moreso than the others, and it definitely redeemed my opinion on the collection as a whole.

Alas, with mixed views on this book, overall I did enjoy it. It served its purpose of giving me a better insight into Celaena's character and the fantasy world of Erilea, and it was mostly enjoyable. I am excited to now move onto re-reading Throne of Glass with a better appreciation for the characters and the kingdom, before then reading the rest of the series with more enthusiasm.