synopsis

Darrow is a Red, which is the lowest caste in colour-coded society. He works all day along with his people, making sure that Mars is habitable for the next generations. He does everything willingly, hoping that his children will have a better life than he has. However, soon he discovers that his caste had been lied to for years and that humanity had been living on Mars for generations. Darrow, angered by the lies and driven by his wife’s lost love, agrees to infiltrate the Institute, a ground whether all the Golds can prove themselves. He will have to become somebody else in order to defeat his enemies and bring justice to the world. Even if has to become one of the people he hates.

review

I’m not a big fan of science fiction, usually, I’m more of a fantasy kind of girl. But I really liked ‘Red Rising’, though the world and the rules that govern its society were so confusing for me. At first, I had no idea what kind of world it was all happening in. Or in what time action was taking place (though I guess that’s one of the genre traits). I had no idea how society is divided, all I understood was that the Golds are the highest class and the Reds are the lowest.

At the beginning of the reading, I thought that ‘Red Rising’ was going to be another dull, and overrated book. But around page 150 it surprised me. It baffled me – I was not expecting it to suddenly become so exciting and full of action. I couldn’t put it down so I stayed up reading until 3 am. And even then I couldn’t sleep thinking about the plot. There are a lot of plot twists, and my favourite one involves a certain Mustang and Darrow. My favourite scene of ‘Red Rising’ is the one where Darrow has to learn how to speak and act like a Gold, because his responses are pure gold (see what I did here?)

My favourite thing about ‘Red Rising’ was the characters, especially the main one. Darrow was everything a protagonist should be – he has a great backstory, he is strong, both book smart and street smart, and has a flair for tactics. He is not whiny, he is fast-thinking, and can be ruthless, but also know when to show mercy. I have a lot more to say about Darrow, but that would involve spoilers, and I’m trying to be a better person and not spoil books for anyone. When it comes to other characters, I like how complex they all were. I could never tell what kind of person a character is, because every single one of them surprised me, whether it was with their kindness or brutality. I liked Cassius, yet he baffled me. I thought Mustang was going to be an ambitious smartass, yet she surprised me. I didn’t expect to like Sevro one bit – I thought he was going to be a total weirdo, but he ended up being one of my favourite individuals in that book. So I guess the characters are as surprising as the book itself.

This book is not soft, definitely not. I don’t know what I mean by that, I just know it’s full of brutal scenes, death and ruthlessness. And I loved it. The only flaw of this book, in my opinion, is the complicatedness of the world in which it’s held. But I guess that’s because it’s a science fiction book and not fantasy. I’m still not sure whether I’m going to read the second book, but if I do it would be only to get more Darrow in my life.

‘Vicious’ V.E. Schwab
★★★★

I’m not sure how I feel about this book just yet – the beginning was too dull for me. It took three months to finish it, but when I finally decided to read it, I did it in one day. I definitely did not like the beginning, but the rest was so capturing and intriguing. I couldn’t stop thinking about what was Victor planning. Schwab’s writing was incredible, and her idea for this book was uncanny so I can’t wait to read her other works.

‘The Last Namsara’ Kristen Ciccarelli
★★★

Dragons! Any book about dragons automatically has my attention, and ‘The Last Namsara’ was no different. My favourite part of the book (apart from dragons) was Asha. She was fierce and quite frankly terrible, but she was honest, and she wasn’t idealized. And the plot twists – so many times I thought I knew what was going to happen, but every time I was surprised. Also, did I mention all of the dragons?

‘One Dark Throne’ Kendare Blake
★★

I was really amazed by the first book, ‘Three Dark Crowns’, but it was enough for me to reach for the second part, which really disappointed me. There was barely any action in this book, even fewer plot twists and intrigues – everything was cumulated at the end of the book. I really struggled to finish it – it took me almost three months. I definitely won’t read the third part. A lot of people say that this series gets better and better with each book, but for me, it got worse.

‘On The Come Up’ Angie Thomas
★★

I’m so disappointed with that book. It wasn’t half as good as ‘The Hate U Give’ was, and I didn’t like the main character. And, to be honest, I’m not a big fan of rap so it was difficult for me to get into the book, into the plot, and into Bri’s motives. I really don’t have anything more to say about ‘On the Come Up’ since it was really bland. While reading this book, I felt nothing, which really surprised me since Angie Thomas’ first book was so emotional.

‘The Foxhole Court’ Nora Sakavic
★★★★★

I don’t think I will ever get bored of rereading that book. I mean, my baby boy Neil finally getting a family, and doing what he loves? Count me in! Also, this time I had more appreciation for Andrew, and now I love him even more than before. Basically, I love all of the Foxes, and I just want to protect them. I think it says a lot about this book if I reread it twice in the span of two months. ‘All For the Game’ series is going to steal your heart, break your heart, and then it’s going to patch you up with bandages, so go and read it right now. You are definitely not going to regret that.

‘They Both Die At The End’ Adam Silvera
★★★★

I mean, the title really says it all. But I still was hoping for some twist – I didn’t really expect the author to kill his characters as he said? Anyway, I was prepared for death, and yet I still cried. Mateo and Rufus were so adorable, and mostly I just wanted to give them a hug (or for them to give each other a hug). If you haven’t read this, you definitely need to but get ready for lots of crying.

synopsis

To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before is the story of Lara Jean, who has never openly admitted her crushes, but instead wrote each boy a letter about how she felt, sealed it, and hid it in a box under her bed. But one day Lara Jean discovers that somehow her secret box of letters has been mailed, causing all her crushes from her past to confront her about the letters: her first kiss, the boy from summer camp, even her sister’s ex-boyfriend, Josh. As she learns to deal with her past loves face to face, Lara Jean discovers that something good may come out of these letters after all. (synopsis via goodreads.com)

This review may contain spoilers.

review

‘To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before’ is a nice book to read in one sitting, perfect for a Saturday night in. It’s an easy read that keeps you glued to the story of Lara Jean, her high school dramas, but also her thoughts and feelings. I decided to read the book only after I have watched and loved the movie. Now I think I should have read the book first, because now I’m a bit disappointed in the book (especially it’s ending), even though it was still great. The book quickly caught my full attention, and I spent a pleasant afternoon reading about Lara Jean’s life, and her dramatic relationship with Peter. The book kept me on my toes, despite the fact that I knew the ending – and in some situations, it definitely surprised me.

I liked Lara Jean’s character – she was one of the characters I could identify with, which is rare in the YA world full of brave, kick-ass heroines. She was shy and anxious, but she could also be unpleasant. As much as I like badass characters, sometimes I love to read a book with a normal teenager, who has everyday struggles, just like I do. I could identify with her imagined boyfriends, her fears (especially the one about driving), and I could understand why she acted one way or another.  I didn’t like Margot in the book – she was rude, and distanced from her family. She left for Scotland and instantly stopped contacting Lara Jean, and they were so close before she left. Obviously, I love Peter Kavinsky – and I think it might be problematic because he is so adorable I just couldn’t help smiling when I read about him. Sure, he can be a complete asshole (excuse my language), but he really cared about Lara Jean, and he did so many cute things – it was clear he cared for Lara Jean from almost the beginning. I did feel sorry for him when he couldn’t get over Gen, who by the way is a total jerk. While I liked Josh in the movie, book Josh struck me as indecisive and simply jealous of Peter, even though he claimed he was in love with Margot.

I really liked the small details in the book – for example, the fact that Peter’s friends actually liked Lara Jean, or the trip to the antique sale (it was a really nice touch, which showed how much Peter and Lara Jean enjoyed each other’s company). Also, reading the book from Lara Jean’s perspective made me understand her, and her motives better. I also like how the book gives Lara Jean and Peter time to get to know each other again – nothing felt forced or rushed. The relationship between three sisters was a little bit weird for me – how they can just stop talking to each other, especially how close they were before.

I cannot decide whether I liked the book or the movie more. I like how different the details were – for example in the movie Josh didn’t kiss Lara Jean (which, by the way, forced me to put down the book for a while). After seeing the movie, I felt a bit disappointed by the book’s ending – I was expecting a grand kiss at the end. I really wish got to see Peter and Lara Jean sort out their argument in the book. But it definitely made more excited for ‘P.S. I love you’. Despite the disappointing ending, I think that both the book and the movie are great, and I can’t wait to both read and watch the second part.

‘Anne of the Green Gables’ L.M. Montgomery
★★★★★

I have so much fondness for this book since it was the book that got me into reading when I was little. I remember having to read the entire series in one weekend because I couldn’t wait to see what was going to happen. Going back to this book, it’s still as amazing as it was when I was twelve. And, quite frankly, every book that manages to make me cry deserves five stars from me.

‘To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before’ Jenny Han
★★★★

That book was such a fun read! I love both the book, and the movie – I kind of like how different they are. I like the difference in the details, though after seeing the movie I was a bit disappointed with the ending. Now I can’t wait to read the rest of the series, but it seems that I will have to wait a while for it. Also, now I’m in love with Peter Kavinsky, and that’s a real problem.

‘Anne of Avonlea’ L.M. Montgomery
★★★★

As always, the second book wasn’t as good as the first one. For me, this one was more boring than ‘Anne of the Green Gables’. I think I remembered there being more Gilbert and Anne relationship, but I wasn’t disappointed by how their friendship developed throughout the book.

‘Esme’s Wish’ Elizabeth Foster
★★★

This book is perfect for young kids who are just starting their journey with fantasy – it has a different world, dragons, and magic. For me, it was action-lacking and boring. I think I’m too old for this book – I especially got angry at Esme (who is the main character) at the beginning, when she was just being a problematic kid.

‘Cristiano and Leo: The Race to Become the Greatest Football Player of All Time’ Jimmy Burns
★★★★

The first part of the book bored me – I was really struggling to continue it, but I have read enough biographies to know how difficult it is to write them. The second half of the book captured me completely, hence the four stars. In the Jimmy Burns made me curious what was going to happen next, even though I knew was going to happen. I recommend this book for anyone who loves football.

‘Sea Witch’ Sarah Henning
★★★

I’m torn between giving this book 3 and 4 stars. It didn’t capture my heart, but it was nice to read – a retelling of the little mermaid. It was a decent book, but I was expecting something different – like for example less teenage drama between two princes fighting for a girl. But somehow ‘Sea Witch’ made me want more – I wanted to know what happens next, and that’s really the point of a good book.

‘The King’s Man’ Nora Sakavic
★★★★★

That book honestly broke my heart, like all of the books in ‘All For the Game’ series. The ending made me want to cry because Andrew and Neil definitely didn’t deserve that. As I reread this, I realised that writing is not as good as I thought it was. Nonetheless, it’s a five-star read for me because any book that makes me wanna cry and smile at the same time is an incredible piece of literature.

‘Stalking Jack the Ripper’ Kerri Maniscalo
★★★★

I liked this book a lot, though I didn’t like the slow pace of solving the murder. What I liked the most was the complexity of the characters – Audrey Rose who was both girly and brilliant, Thomas Cresswell who probably the most confusing character I have ever read, and finally Jack the Ripper, but I’m not going to say anything about him because I don’t want to spoil the book for anyone.

‘The Avengers: The Ultimate Guide to Earth’s Mightiest Heroes’  Scott Beatty, Alan Cowsill, Alastair Dougall
★★

I had no idea that superheroes could be as boring as they were in this book. There were too many details, too many characters for a reader to keep up with them. I wanted to find out more about the Avengers, but after reading this book I’m just more confused. I wouldn’t recommend it unless you are an ultimate fan who has already read the comics.

‘A Discovery of the Witches’ Deborah Harkness
★★★★

Technically, this book deserves 4,5 stars from me. I loved it so much, but in the end, there were parts when I was like ‘What? Why?’. But the writing was really, really good – it was both descriptive, and interesting. I even liked Diana, and Matthew, which is surprising because I almost never like the main character. I recommend both the book and the tv show.

‘Fire and Blood – part 2’ George Martin
★★

In Poland, this book was divided into two, which really annoyed me. In my opinion, the second part of ‘Fire and Blood’ was much more boring than the first part. I thought that the part about Dance of Dragons would be interesting, but it really wasn’t. Overall, I’m really disappointed with both ‘Fire and Blood’ books.

synopsis

Lira is a daughter of the Sea Queen and is determined to prove to her mother that she is worthy of being her daughter. But Lira makes a mistake and now she has to pay for it – she must deliver the heart of the infamous siren killer or she will remain a human (a creature she hates) forever. Elian is a prince, but he is also a siren killer who travels across the sea with his own crew and kills every single of them he can get his hands on. He has no idea who had he met when he recuses a woman from the sea. She seems to know a lot about sirens and she promises to help him destroy siren kind forever. But should he trust her?

review

Where do I even start talking about this book? It was amazing and it was everything I’ve never known I needed – who doesn’t love a good siren story mixed up with incredible characters and a marvellous plot. Lira is one of the best character developments I’ve ever read –  we meet her as a prince-killing siren and, well, we end up with somebody with a conscious. Elian is now on my endless list of bookish boyfriends. But let’s move on into my review, shall we?

I have to admit, at first I was a bit weary. Lira was a terrible human being (or rather a siren, but all sirens were terrible), and I could not see this plot going anywhere. But then I was totally blown away by how Alexandra Christo managed to connect Lira and Elian’s story. I have loved all those connections that came to a conclusion. The story is compelling and it keeps you on your toes for the entire time you are reading it. I felt like every chapter is a new surprise and I had absolutely no idea what was going to happen next. Rarely does a book surprise me, but this one certainly did. At some point, I totally forgot that it was a ‘Little Mermaid’ retelling. Really. This was so far from the ‘Little Mermaid’ as it could have been. It was dark, twisted and I absolutely loved every minute of it.

But above all, I loved the main characters and their chemistry. What am I saying, I also loved the minor characters? Basically, I adore all characters, maybe besides Yukiko and the Sea Queen (they are both terrible characters and I hate them, thank you very much).

In conclusion, go and read that book right now. It is absolutely dashing, I love coming back to it and every aspect of it was perfection. ‘To Kill a Kingdom’ is a perfect Young-Adult read and it was one of my favourite reads of 2018, if not of my entire life. But seriously though, go read it. Like now.

Hello, beautiful people! February is already over (how the time passes by), so it’s time for another wrap-up. This month was an amazing reading month for me, because all of my exams were over, and because at the beginning of the new university semester there isn’t much to do. I managed to read eleven books, and I started another four, which is a really good score for me.

’Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald – The Original Screenplay’ J.K. Rowling
★★★★

I feel a little bit like I’m giving stars for the movie, rather than the screenplay. As much as I love the Harry Potter universe, reading screenplays is just not for me. What made reading it a bit easier, was the fact that I have already seen the movie and I could imagine the scenarios in which the scenes were written. I gave it four stars mostly because it’s ‘Harry Potter’ – it’s like coming home after a long break.

‘Fire and Blood’ George Martin
★★★

In Poland, this book was divided into two, which really annoyed me. ‘Fire and Blood’ is about the history of Targaryen’s – one of the main houses in ‘Game of Thrones’ series. I liked going back to Westeros and learning a bit more about its history. What I didn’t like though was the number of difficult names and details which were unnecessary for the story. I think this book came out too early, definitely too early to be a ‘Similarion’.

‘The Heart of a Changeling’ Caitlyn E. Lloyd
★★★★★

I’m so in love with this book, and I’m not just saying that because it had fae in it. It really is incredible – the plot is remarkable, the characters have an amazing development and are badass, and the world-building is just so good. Nora is such a good heroine, she is sassy and funny. The fae is just breath-taking, and so is the entire book. Just read it. It’s going to take over your life, but it’s totally worth it.

‘Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda’ Becky Albertalli
★★★★

I read that book, and then I saw the movie – the movie is horrible compared to this book. ‘Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda’ is just perfect for a cosy, Saturday afternoon spends in the bed with a book. It is just a cosy read, about friendship and coming out. Simon is a total cinnamon roll, and in general, this book is worth reading. It’s not going to take over your life, but I can guarantee that it’s going to make you smile for an entire afternoon.

‘The Kane Chronicles’ Rick Riordan – ‘The Red Pyramid’, ‘The Throne of Fire’, and ‘The Serpent’s Shadow’
★★★★★

So I might have reread this series in one weekend, but oh well – I have no self-control when it comes to good because about mythology, especially if they were written by Rick Riordan, who is probably the funniest author I have ever read. ‘The Kane Chronicles’ are full of jokes, sibling squabbles and Egyptian gods, so if you are a mythology freak you should totally read it. Or if you are a fan of good books. Either one works.

‘Nocturnal Meetings of the Misplaced’ R.J. Garcia
★★

The beginning of the book dragged on unmercifully – I was really bored for the most part of the book. I was listening to an audiobook, but it felt like some part of the book was missing – like an author skipped an important part of the book, like it was cut out. What I liked the most was the sibling love between Izzy and Tommy, and instant friendship between Finn and Tommy. Also, I liked the small town vibe – it’s a very good background for a murder. Basically, I think I could have liked this book if I was younger if the beginning wasn’t so dull, and if I read it in print.

‘King of Scars’ Leigh Bardugo
★★★★

That book is so good, as is anything written by Leigh Bardugo. I’m so glad I got to read about all of my favourite characters again – Nikolai, Nina, Zoya are just the best characters ever, and they are so confident. The only reason I didn’t give ‘King of Scars’ five stars is a certain situation on a Fold, but I won’t say more since I don’t want to spoil the book for anyone. The book is definitely worth reading, and I loved it.

‘Girls of Paper and Fire’ Natasha Ngan
★★★★

I’m not sure how I feel about this book if I’m being honest. It was definitely something different from what I have read. I wasn’t expecting it to be so brutal, and low-key I was expecting the king to turn out to be a nice guy. It made me think a little bit of ‘Grace and Fury’, but ‘Girls of Paper and Fire’ were much better. I liked the world-building, the characters (Wren is such a badass), and the love story. It’s high time we got a book set in another realm that had such an amazing relationship between two girls. Yet, I don’t feel fully satisfied with this book, but I don’t really know why.

‘I’ll Be There for You’ Kelsey Miller
★★★★

I loved returning to FRIENDS, especially in the book form. The book was full of interesting tidbits, and facts about the cast of the tv show. What I didn’t like was the amount of space the author dedicated to sexism and another social issue that apparently took place in the FRIENDS – I know these are important topics, but I fell that discussing that is like missing the point of what that tv show is. FRIENDS were supposed to be a soft, funny tv show made strictly for entertainment, and that’s also what I wanted that book to be. Sadly, it was something else.

synopsis

Nora’s entire life has been marked with bad luck and horrible accidents. With so much tragedy in her past, all she dreams of is a normal life. But when a camping trip is cut short by a brutal attack and a kidnapping that nearly costs Nora her life, she is thrown headfirst into Avalon—a world where magic thrives, and the creatures of myth and legend all vie for dominance. This is the world of the Fae, and this dark realm claims Nora as one of its own. She’s a Changeling of unknown origin—a Fae child hidden at birth in the human world…

The synopsis is much longer, and the full synopsis is on Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40674201-the-heart-of-a-changeling)

review

I have so many feelings about this book! It was completely amazing, and now I am in love with it. I loved how the fae were presented, and the characters were so interesting. For me it was like ‘A Court of Thorns and Roses’ and ‘The Cruel Prince’ meets the Darkling from ‘Grisha Trilogy’, and I am here for it. It has been two months since I was grinning throughout the whole book, and I can’t remember the last time the main protagonist made me actually like her.

Nora is sassy and does not take shit (excuse my language) from anyone, even the Autumn Princess and the Winter King. She is fearless, and even when she is scared (which does not happen a lot) she does not show it. And Nora is actually funny, which so unusual for the main protagonist. But my heart was absolutely stolen by the fae – Serkhele and Carrious. Carrious is your typical asshole friend, who actually cares a lot. I am a sucker for asshole best-friends, both in real life and in books. And Serkhele – Oh. My. God. He is absolutely dashing, and I love his cold heart. I think he is my new book boyfriend (boyfriend #3). Serkhele have me serious the Darkling vibe, but without all the psycho stuff (which put me off in the Darkling). Serkhele’s backstory absolutely killed me (in a good sense).

I love how the fae are presented in the book – the world is very well-planned, and I really liked how the author implemented explanations into the story. That’s what I usually don’t like about fantasy books – the worlds are usually too complicated and are not explained well. This was not the case here – everything was clarified throughout the book. The Winter Court is so freaking incredible that I think I now have a new favourite court. Also, I kind of loved all the Shakespeare reference with Titania.

I know it sounds too good to be true, but I loved absolutely everything about this book. I loved all the fae, the world-building, the characters, the plot twists, and I even loved the ending, even though it absolutely broke my heart. I cannot wait to read the second book in the series, which comes out in the spring of 2020 so keep your eyes open for it!

Disclaimer: I was provided with an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

2018 is coming to an end! So in the tradition of my monthly wrap-ups (when I say tradition, I mean I did like four times, but shh), I’ve decided to do a yearly wrap-up! But instead of listing every book I have read this year (an outstanding number of 67), I have listed 10 of my favourite books I’ve read this year. But I am a cheater, so some books are trilogies. I’m sorry, but there are too many amazing books to choose just ten, but I’m gonna do my best, pinky swear. Also, I’m not counting rereads in this one, because then ‘Harry Potter’ and ‘Six of Crows’ would have absolutely dominated.

The order of listing is random, except for the first one, because ‘To Kill a Kingdom’ is a masterpiece.

1) ‘To Kill a Kingdom’ by Alexandra Christo

Number one just had to go to this absolutely amazing debut by Alexandra Christo. I’m so in love with this book I’m honestly considering marriage. It has everything a book needs to have: sassy characters, an amazing relationship dynamic, a good plot and SIRENS. Sirens are a must-have unless there are dragons. Dragons and sirens are a must-have. Also, ‘To Kill a Kingdom’ has pirates so it’s basically winning at life.

2) ‘The Hate U Give’ by Angie Thomas

This is such an important book! And it is also so good? I cried, I laughed, and (if I’m being honest) I struggled with the language since Angie Thomas used more common language than I’ve been taught at school. But that language change worked incredibly with the plot, and it the end it helped me understand the meaning behind the book better.

3) ‘Grisha Trilogy’ by Leigh Bardugo

I’m physically unable to choose just one book written by the queen so I’m putting an entire trilogy here. Honestly, I’m so mad at myself for not reading this earlier? I love ‘Six of Crows’, and I was so scared this trilogy wasn’t going to meet my expectations. But, luckily, I was so wrong. I ADORE THIS SERIES SO MUCH. Also, Nikolai is a cinnamon roll and he needs to be protected (meaning he is my new favourite character).

4) ‘Lost Boy: The True Story of Captain Hook’ by Christina Henry

Do you know those books that you read and they stay with you for weeks? This is one of them. Honestly, it was so brutal and I don’t think I will ever look at captain Hook the same way. I don’t even know how to describe this book other than breathe-taking and thought-provoking. (By the way, my high school English teacher would be so proud of me for using vocabulary from her tests.)

5) ‘Everless’ by Sara Holland

I admit, this was a total cover buy – I couldn’t resist the sprayed edges. But it worked! I bought it for the cover and it turned out to be freakin’ awesome. I mean, using time as a currency? What a great idea. The main character mightybe a bit annoying, but in the end I had a soft spot for Jules. But my favourite part of the whole book was the plot twist that exposed who the villain is. No spoilers, but I was so shocked.

6) ‘Daughter of the Pirate King’ by Tricia Levenseller

Pirates are the best! Female pirates are even better. Alosa became one of my favourite female characters in the first ten pages, because not only is she a badass but she is also cunning. Also, the plot is incredible – most of the times you have no idea who is onto whom, which makes the ending so much sweeter. Just go read it, and then tell me how much you loved it.

7) ‘The Cruel Prince’ by Holly Black

I know, I know – everyone says it was one of their favourite reads of 2018, but this book is pure magic. I love fae, and I liked Holly Black’s portrayal of them. Also, I love a good anti-hero, and Cardan is definitely one. He is not Kaz Bekker level, but I adore him nonetheless.

8) ‘Children of Blood and Bone’ Tomi Adeyemi

I did not know what to expect from the synopsis, and this book was definitely a slow-burn for me. But when I got into it, I loved all of the character. Zelie is a badass, Amari winds relatable character, Tzain wins best brother award and Inan is one of my favourite villains ever. Also, can we appreciate me remembering all of their names? (I usually suck at names, so this book must have been really good). No spoilers, but the ending will break your heart which makes waiting for a sequel a torture.

9) ‘The Belles’ Dhonielle Clayton

To be honest, this book made it to my ‘Top 10’ list only because of the last three chapters. The amount of plot twists in that book was overwhelming. Also, the message was one that filled my heart with joy – I think we need more books showing girls that beauty is not everything, and that it comes in different shapes. ‘The Belles’ also show how obsessed people are with beauty, and how tremendous results that obsession can have.

10) ‘Catwoman: Soulstealer’ Sarah J. Maas

Let’s get one thing straight: I am, and always will be, a Marvel girl. But DC had a really good idea when they have decided to create a series DC Icons. They took my favourite authors and asked them to write about superheroes, and it ended up being amazing. I have only read ‘Catwoman’ so far, but I love Selina’s character, I love Harley and Posion Ivy, and I even love Batwing. So I need more books asap.

If you listen closely, I bet you could hear my wallet screaming in the distance. There are so many amazing books coming out in 2019, and I’m pretty sure I’m going to discover more during the year. But here are the continuations of series’, and some new books by my favourite authors. Let me know which book you are most excited for in 2019!

‘The Wicked King’ Holly Black
release date: January 8th

Number 1 just had to be ‘The Wicked King’ by Holly Black. To be honest, at first I was a bit disappointed by ‘The Cruel Prince’, but I’m not sure what I expected. But the more I think about that book, the more I love it. What I’m most excited for in this sequel, is the chemistry between Cardan and Jude. I saw a few spoilers on Instagram, and I have a feeling their cooperation is going to be full of emotions. I only hope that Cardan is not going to do anything stupid.

‘The King of Scars’ Leigh Bardugo
release date: January 29th, 2019

How can somebody who has read ‘The Grisha Trilogy’ not be anticipating this book?! How? Honestly, tell me your secret, because I feel like I might actually die from wanting to read it! Nikolai is just so dreamy, and cute, and dangerous. Basically, he is many things and I love him so much. I’m so glad he got his own duology and I’m even more glad that Nina Zenik is going to be in it.

‘Evermore’ Sara Holland
release date: December 31st, 2018

I know, technically it’s out in 2018, but I’m going to get my hands on it in 2019 so it counts, okay? Besides, I wanted to mention it, because I freakin’ adore ‘Everless’. I cannot wait to follow Jules in her escape, and I’m curious about what the main villain is going to do next (see, I’m trying to go spoilers free). What is even more exciting, ‘Everless’ is going to be a duology – which means that ‘Evermore’ is going to be full of action.

‘Children of Virtue and Vengeance’ by Tomi Adeyemi
release date: March 5th, 2019

Okay, I might have been skeptical a little bit about ‘Children of Blood and Bone’ until I have read it. I’m totally in love with Zelie’s strong character and her temper (which gets her in trouble so much) and other characters, and the plot. Basically, it was amazing and reading it felt like magic. I cannot wait to see what Tomi Adeyemi has in store for the second part.

‘Ninth House’ by Leigh Bardugo
release date: June 4th, 2019

Let’s be honest, I would read anything by Leigh Bardugo. Not only is this book written by one of my favourite authors ever, but the synopsis is also amazing – a story about a female character with a criminal past who is a freshman at Yale University where she has to observe Yale’s secret societies. Am I the only one with the feeling that I’m gonna love the main character, Alex Stern, as much as I love Kaz and Nikolai?

‘The Tyrant’s Tomb’ by Rick Riordan
release date: 2019

The fourth part of ‘Trials of Apollo’ is coming our way and honestly, I’m so happy – I have loved Rick Riordan’s books for what seems like a forever now. I was so sad when ‘Percy Jackson and the Olympians’ series ended, but luckily Rick Riordan is apparently a book-producing factory so we got a lot of more books from him. ‘Trials of Apollo’ immediately captured my heart, mainly because Apollo is my favorite Greek god, but also because the idea of a god being human in a modern setting is incredible.

‘A Curse So Dark and Lonely’ Brigid Kemmerer
release date: January 29th, 2019

Honestly, I was going through Goodreads and this title caught my attention. Then I read the review and decided that I need to read this book ASAP. I mean, c’mon, a retelling of ‘Beauty and the Beast’ with a modern setting and a magical world? Count me in, please! Also, I’m just so curious about the details of the curse in this book, because it sounds so different from the original story.

‘Broken Throne’ Victoria Aveyard
release date: May 2019

I’m usually not a big fan of short stories, but I got so excited when Victoria Aveyard announced ‘Broken Throne’ on her Instagram. I cannot wait to read more about Mare, Cal, and Kilorn. I do not know for sure when its action is going to be suited in, but I suspect it will be some kind of continuation of ‘War Storm’. Probably, a collection of stories in a new realm. I certainly hope we will get some Mare and Cal romance – it would be such a disappointment if they didn’t end up together.

‘Into the Crooked Place’ Alexandra Christo
release date: October 2019

After reading (and falling madly in love with) ‘To Kill a Kingdom’, I will read anything written by Alexandra Christo. Even if it was a 300-page conversation between Lira and Elian. I’m serious. But I have read the synopsis of ‘Into the Crooked Place’ and I’m getting a ‘Six of Crows’ kinda vibe which, combined with an author behind it, guarantees my endless love for this book.
‘Into the Crooked Place’ is going to be about four young crooks (get it? ‘Into a Crooked Place’!) who go on a mission to take down their leader after they discover his newest plot. The book also involves magic which I fully support.

‘Two Can Keep s Secret’ Karen M. McManus
release date: January 8th, 2019

I adore ‘One of Us is Lying’ and, while browsing Goodreads, I came upon this new book by Karen McManus and apparently it is going to have a Riverdale vibe. I have a weakness for books which action is set in small-towns – they always have the most outrageous stories, and I live for drama. The title of the book makes me think of TV show ‘Pretty Little Liars’, and whether it’s a PLL or Riverdale vibe, I have a feeling I’m going to love this as I love ‘One of  Us is Lying’.
‘Two Can Keep a Secret’ is about Ellery, who has to move to small Echo Ridge to live with her grandmother. The town has a history of a missing girl and a murder during prom night. Now, somebody promises to make it all happen again. Ellery quickly learns that everybody in Echo Ridge has their secrets, and it’s safer to keep them to yourself.

October was such a good reading month for me! Honestly! I have managed to read 10 books which, compared to September, is a lot. My favourite read of this month was ‘Everless’ (I don’t include ‘Harry Potter’ in that, because ‘Harry Potter’ is ‘Harry Potter’). Here is my October wrap-up!

‘Catwoman’ Sarah J. Maas
★★★★★

I was so excited to finally get my hands on one of the books from the DC Icons series. The authors that feature in this series are incredible – Marie Lu, Sarah J. Maas and Leigh Bardugo are among my favourite authors in the world. I stumbled upon ‘Catwoman’ in a small bookstore in Malta and I knew I had to have it instantly. I have read in one day, before and after classes, and I have loved it so much. The plot is incredible and all the decisions come to a perfect conclusion in the end. The characters are well-done and intriguing, especially the female ones – Selina, Poison Ivy and Harley Quinn. I adore this book and I will definitely order the rest of DC Icons books.

‘Daughter of the Siren Queen’ Tricia Levenseller
★★★★

I have to admit that I was a bit disappointed by this one. I love the first part of the duology, ‘The Daughter of the Pirate King’, and was anticipating the second part for weeks until it finally arrived. The plot felt forced and not very well-planned. The characters I have loved so much in the first book – Alosa and Riden – were so flat in the second one. They always seem to create problems where there were none. If ‘Daughter of the Siren Queen’ was a standalone, it would be a much better book. But as a continuation of ‘The Daughter of the Pirate King’ I have felt like it was missing something important.

‘Grace and Fury’ Tracy Banghart
★★

Ugh, I was so disappointed by this book. I’ve seen people fuss over it on bookstagram and I had great expectations of ‘Grace and Fury’. The plot was too simple, besides the plot twist at the beginning. The characters were too plain and I couldn’t help to think that the idea of two princes was taken from Victoria Aveyard’s ‘Red Queen’. The book was supposed to be very feministic, but I had an impression that Nomi and Serina, the main characters, were only depending on men.

‘A Whole New World’ Liz Braswell
★★★★

At first, I was excited for this retelling. After the first few chapters, I was disappointed – everything seemed to be written down from the Disney’s movie. And then, everything changed – the characters were different from the fairy-tale and I liked the storyline with the rebellion of Agrabah. Also, I think that writing the book from Aladdin’s point of view was a great decision. Now, I’m on to read the retelling of Mulan by Liz Braswell and I hope it will be as good as ‘A Whole New World’ was.

‘The Last Wish’ (‘The Witcher’) Andrzej Sapkowski
★★★★★

I love this book – I have read it four before so technically it is a reread of a reread of a reread. Or something like that. It is probably one of the few books written by Polish authors that I like. It is also my sister’s favourite book. The main hero is perfectly written and, even though I don’t usually like this form, this time the form of short stories was fitting. I strongly recommend reading this book, even if you are not Polish – I can guarantee that you will love it.

‘Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone’ J.K. Rowling
★★★★★

There is no better month than October for a ‘Harry Potter’ reread. Well, every month is good for that, but there is something about October and fall that just screams ‘Harry Potter’. I am a big Potterhead and it felt amazing to read the first book again – I have to admit I cried every time James and Lily were mentioned. And when Sirius was mentioned. I’m so emotional when it comes to ‘Harry Potter’. Well, now I need to watch the movie, don’t I?

‘Descendants of War and Magic’ Ruby Fitzgerald
★★★★

I’m torn whether this book should get three or four stars – I think I would settle on 3,5 ★. It was a good book and I liked it, yet it was nothing outstanding. It did not make me wanna cry, laugh or scream (maybe a bit scream when some people were mean to Xenos). The magic realm was well-written and organized, which I liked a lot. The characters were fine, but there were too many of them, and the book was too short for me to get attached to them. It is not a book to obsess about, but it is a good one to read in a tram.

‘Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets’ J.K. Rowling
★★★★★

It is my least favourite of all ‘Harry Potter’ books. But it still gets five stars, because it is Harry Potter. I do not know what to write here, because if I start discussing the book it would turn from being a ‘wrap-up’ to my monologue about ‘Harry Potter’. I have to admit though that my heart skipped a beat when Ginny was taken into the chamber, even though I knew the ending. ‘Harry Potter’ does make me emotional. Also, that Slytherin hate is breaking my heart.

‘Everless’ Sara Holland
★★★★★

I love this book so much and I cannot wait for continuation! It had me turning pages since the first chapter, and I have read it in two sittings! I was on my toes the whole time – I could never predict what is going to happen next. Jules is an amazing main character and I loved her nerve and wit. ‘Everless’ had me crying, smiling, putting down the book to stare into space blankly – basically it had everything one needs from the book.

‘True Fire’ Gary Meehan
★★★★

At the beginning I was sceptical about ‘True Fire’, but I appreciate a book that can surprise me, especially if it surprises me multiple times. And this one definitely did. Megan is not a heroine I had expected, since she is sixteen and pregnant. The plot twist that occurs at the end (I’m not going to say anything more, not to spoil the book) made me put this book down for a moment and stare at the wall. It missed a kind of swiftness which made it not easy to read, but other than that I recommend it strongly.