‘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.

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.

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.

Synopsis

Alosa, a daughter of the pirate king and a pirate herself, is send on a mission. She allows herself to be kidnapped by a hostile pirate crew in order to retreat an ancient map. But that task seems to be more difficult than she expected it to be. Especially when the first mate, Riden, seems to be as witty as Alosa. But can anyone stop the daughter of the pirate king?

Intro

This book is amazing. Honestly. I was not expecting it to be so good and I was pleasantly surprised by it. I was expecting a book for children, but it turned out to be a proper young-adult book. It had an amazing plot – at first it sounded a bit cheesy, but it turned out to be well-planned and it was clear that an author had a good idea for a story. The daughter of a pirate king on a mission to steal a map? Sounds so cliché and, to be honest, so simple. But it was anything but simple. The story kept getting more and more complicated and I was getting more and more intrigued.

Characters

Tricia Levenseller created a badass female character, Alosa, who stole my heart within a first chapter. She is one of the wittiest characters I have ever encountered in a book. Even when she doesn’t seem to have a plan, she actually does which is incredible even for a book character. I love an intelligent character who can also fight well and has a smart mouth. To be honest, I’m not sure what are the intentions of any of characters which keeps me on my toes. Riden is such a complicated character which instantly made him one of my favourite ones (I have a thing for troubled guys in books). My least favourite part of this book was the villain, Draxen, who in my opinion was a bit blunt and, let’s be honest, stupid. I couldn’t shake the feeling that he is unable to do anything without his first mate and brother, Riden. As any booklover I love a good villain (especially one with a good history and a witty character), and sadly Draxen wasn’t one. If I had to say I think Riden makes a better villain than his brother does, which makes a story a bit complicated. But I loved it because of its complex plot and constant plot twists. I just wish that the villain could be better built.

Narration

At first, I was wary about the first-person narration – I’m not usually a fan of it. But in this case it turned out to fit just right into the story, especially with Alosa’s sassy character. First-person narration is what helps to keep the reader on their toes – the reader has only the access to Alosa’s scheming which allows them to think that everyone is just following her plan.

Conclusion

In conclusion, I really loved this book and I read in one sitting. Ordering a sequel was the first thing I did after finishing ‘Daughter of the Pirate King’ and I cannot wait to read the continuation of Alosa’s history. I think this book is going to be one of my favourite books I’ve read in 2018 and I honestly would love to read more books from Tricia Levenseller.