sara_berlin's reviews
270 reviews

This was such a well-rounded and good book. I was hooked from chapter 1, as a good thriller should do, and I was not let down. Personally I had pretty high expectations, having heard about the representation, and they were more than fulfilled. It tackles so many things from different perspectives, I mean you have two main characters who are black and queer, with pretty different life circumstances. It's fascinating. Also, it's not just the representation that's good (although honestly even if it was I would probably still give it 5 stars) the emotion in the writing was conveyed so well, and the plot was interesting without being convoluted. There's a reason I finished it in three days (would've been two but I fell asleep at ~380 pages, not because it was boring but because I was extremely exhausted). To be completely honest I don't have much to say because I can't think of anything I didn't like about it. Maybe that I found Chiamaka's backstory a bit underdeveloped at first, compared to all the exposition we got with Devon, although that may just be because of their differing personalities. Anyway, highly recommend to anyone who is looking for a diverse, riveting contemporary/thriller book.  

I think this was a very interesting look into the faith of Ravkans and the art is also stunning. I'll read as much of the Grishaverse as I can get.
A few of my favorite stories were the stories of Santka Vasilka, Sankt Lukin the Logical, and the Saint of the Book. 

Olivia Prior does not want to die. She has only just begun to live. (and I had only just begun to enjoy this book)


It was really slow to start, but once you get into it the going gets a bit easier. It also wrapped up okay but didn't do the circle back thing that I like for books to do, when they reference in the end something that was significant near the start, and gives you a kind of closing feeling by reminding you of the difference between what the character felt at the beginning and at the end. The middle section was the best in my opinion, but in general it was a bit disappointing. I didn’t have super high expectations for this book because people seemed to not like it too much, so I wasn’t super let down but still. Also, definitely on the younger side of YA, but I didn't mind that. I think because of it feeling younger, as well as being third person, you don’t get as connected to the character as you might in more new adult/older YA books. 
I think the book’s main flaw is that it didn't really have a focus/main theme. At first you think it's kind of a coming of age story maybe, where Olivia is finding her place (or lack thereof) in the world around her and deals with grief and that sort of thing, but by the end it's more about family and building a home? It was just kind of all over the place. Also, Olivia is kind of a Mary Sue character. She rarely messes up, and most of her problems are caused by her circumstances or other characters. It’s clearly not a character driven book, but it’s only somewhat more plot driven, and writing isn’t enough to carry a story. The book is also unfortunately kind of meh in every way, except concept and writing. I actually really liked the writing and it made me even more excited to read V. E. Schwab’s other books. 

Have you ever laid awake at night, unable to sleep, staring at the walls? 

Maybe you’ve glimpsed a shadow, or a strange shape, that sends your thoughts down a certain illusory path. Maybe some part of you eventually figured those thoughts were inane and you shook yourself out of the stupor. Yet, the feeling continued until you drifted into sleep. You probably forgot it, come morning. 

Maybe the reason you were lying awake before was caused by one of your many late night ponderings of your mental state, wondering if you’re just making it up or if something truly is wrong. Doubted yourself, every step of the way, as it seemed that everyone around you claims that people are making things up left and right, and thought that maybe those feelings are perfectly sane. Maybe everyone feels off for no apparent reason sometimes… 

If you have, then you’ll probably like this story. 

            –                   –                  –

The Yellow Wallpaper is a short story about a young woman feeling trapped by her situation and own inability to cope with life, which she starts to project onto the wallpaper in her room. I think everyone has seen faces in abstract patterns, art, random objects or even nature, but the narrator of this story (she’s left unnamed) takes it multiple steps further. She pictures a whole story for “the woman in the wallpaper” and we see that from her perspective, she already feels disbelieved by and somewhat ostracized from everyone else, so when she picks up the habit of studying the wallpaper in her room and starts noticing things, nothing about it feels unnatural to her. It’s just an extension of her preexisting circumstances. We the readers see how the woman she sees in the wallpaper can be read as a metaphor for how she feels, but because she doesn’t think that it’s a strange thing to see, she doesn’t question it and doesn’t realize that perhaps the woman is her. 

It’s one of those stories that makes you question everything. It asks, “what if?” What if the woman in the wallpaper was real, and truly trapped? What if the narrator is clinically insane? Or, worst of all, what if we all have the potential to think like this and won’t notice if we do? 

I loved it. A wonderfully written finale to the duology. Different real world topics were covered in this series, which I really appreciate (oppression, war, trauma, community, etc.). I don't have much to say that I didn't already say about the first book. I will say the pacing could use some work, but, especially for a debut series, it was really good. I'm excited to see what Nina Varela writes next. 

"One raven for uncertain peril. Six for danger sure to arrive. A dozen for death, if not avoided. The enchantment is sealed."

Margaret Rogerson never disappoints. Her writing style is wonderful, as always. It's simple enough to not require much concentration or energy, but also transportive and beautifully atmospheric, perfect for readers like me who enjoy escapism. However, my favorite aspect of this book was definitely the juxtaposition between the humans and the fae. On one hand, the fae are practically immortal and the lives are humans are less than a blink to them. On the other hand, the fae leave nothing behind once they are dead (as one of the characters points out), while humans have their Craft. Mortals, as the fae call them, are viewed as beneath them and strange, fragile little creatures with their emotions, meanwhile everything the fae have that matters to them is vain, frivolous and completely fake. This fundamental difference of fae being immortal and extremely powerful but essential empty and meaningless, while the humans are small and weak but feel so much in their however short lives and have so much to live for, is a reoccurring theme throughout the book and essentially carries the plot as well. Also, keeping in mind this was my first fae book, I think it portrayed the whole inability to lie and politeness aspects very interestingly, and in keeping with the juxtaposition. They're so surface-level polite and courteous, but when you go even a little deeper fae often have more insidious motivations and feelings. It has an added layer of intrigue to me because there are some humans, in real life, who I know are like this, so seeing it shown as an inhuman characteristic is definitely thought-provoking. In general the book has encouraged me to go read some other fae stories. 

Much like Sorcery of Thorns, I thought the magic system was very unique. That's clearly something Margaret Rogerson is good at, and I highly value. I think especially readers who are artists will appreciate the character of Isobel even more. Also, it adds to the previously mentioned juxtaposition; fae magic is all about strength and appearances, particularly glamour, while human "magic" Craft is about embracing something that is part of who you are and what you are made to do. We see this up close in how Isobel (the main character) marvels at Rook's capabilities, while he, and other fae, seem utterly entranced and confounded by human craft, despite their nature that encourages them to show no doubt lest it be seen as a sign of weakness.

I mentioned Sorcery of Thorns in that last paragraph, and I admit I did enjoy that book a bit more. I found the main character slightly more endearing and, frankly, more human (Isobel's flaw is that sometimes she's almost too perfect), as well as the whole book-related magic system really fascinating. Also, I think you can tell that Rogerson's writing has matured, because emotions are conveyed even more directly in Sorcery of Thorns than in this book, and it's even more immersive, and generally more polished, I'd say. I did still really enjoy this book and can't wait to read Vespertine, and whatever she has coming next. Happy reading! 

Goddamn, the emotions hit. But still, at the end of the day, I am glad it's over. If it was really good I'd be sadder about it. I think I can admit the flaws of this book and series while still enjoying it. It's fun, emotional and I really like the writing style. It's not really a dystopia and the plot gets repetitive and convoluted at certain points, and the stakes don't really mean much by the end because you know that they'll be okay. Also, I might be a bit biased because it’s been a while since I read the rest of the series. However, I still appreciate what Tahereh Mafi has done and I'm excited to read some of her other books. Cheers.

P.S. We 💗 Kenji

In one word: overrated. 
I can admit that it wasn’t as terrible as I thought at the start, but it’s definitely not a masterpiece or one of the best books ever. Honestly I considered dnfing it but I wanted to finish it so I could a) say I’ve read it and b) properly trash it. 

If this was released today and critiqued as a piece of literature, I don’t think it would get good reviews. I will never understand how this is some people’s favorite book. 
The actual process of reading it was not fun and not worth what little I got out of it. Sure, there’s some interesting (although in my opinion pretty basic) reflections, and Holden is a somewhat interesting character, but beyond that, there wasn’t much substance.
I feel like if it was at least fun to read I would’ve given it a pass for not have any like “lesson” or “deep meaning”, although I would still not consider it one of the best books of all time. I probably just have very high standards for classics, I mean something had to make it so popular and everlasting. but this was not that good. Honestly I only actually liked the last part, but the rest of the book was quite a bore. I dunno, I kind of get the point of it, but it wasn’t for me. 

 (Buddy read with @venus_o)
 

I hope the anger emanating from me haunts him. Let him wake at night. sweating, from his dark dreams. Let him feel fear too. 

In my opinion it's not Marie Lu's best work, but it's still pretty good. Reminded me of if Red Queen and The Hunger Games were combined. It's pretty tropey but the tropes are well done, and it's exploration of war and trauma was interesting and emotionally got across pretty well. The majority of the characters, including the main antagonists, are well fleshed out and multi dimensional. Also some lines and paragraphs are just beautiful to read, but I've always liked Lu's writing style. 

My main problem with this book was the pacing. It takes about 40-50% of the way through for the story to really pick up and hook you, the first half is harder to get through. I think if you like these themes and tropes (trauma, rebellion, family and found family, the sci-fi elements of body modification, etc.) I would recommend it, but for everyone else; it's probably not worth it. Also, bonus points for side M/M relationship. I would kill for Marie Lu to write a main queer plotline in a science fiction setting ngl. We have Gearbreakers by Zoe Hana Mikuta but it doesn't hit the same. 

I changed my mind. The second book was pretty terrible and I have no motivation to read this. Bye.