I went into this thinking it was going to be a horror book, but this is 100% a historical romance with paranormal elements. Luckily, that is still a gI went into this thinking it was going to be a horror book, but this is 100% a historical romance with paranormal elements. Luckily, that is still a genre I vibe with, so I had an amazing time myself. Totally get why people were disappointed with this, though. It's nothing revolutionary, and yes, there is a HUGE lack of actual horror here, but if you like a lot of angst in your romance... this could be for you....more
A one-liner review: This was WAY too shallow for what it could have been.
Ann Liang tends to work with familiar tropes, which can still make for an amaA one-liner review: This was WAY too shallow for what it could have been.
Ann Liang tends to work with familiar tropes, which can still make for an amazing book, which can still be great if it delivers on compelling characters and/or a focused plot� but I Am Not Jessica Chen failed at both of those things.
This book felt incredibly superficial. The narrative touched on some themes I was able to resonate with, but didn’t delve deeply enough to truly make me feel a genuine connection with the story or the characters.
The book promised to focus on everyone’s obsession over the smart kids, fancy schools, and privileged families, which, as someone living in Asia, I can tell you is a prevalent reality for some. The book kind of painted it in a really simplistic way, like everyone just automatically worships those people and their lifestyles. It missed out on showing the other sides of it � the jealousy, the ostracization, or even just people who don’t care either way. There are layers to people, society, and expectations. The story lacked any real layers or complexity.
Then there was this whole shift where, one minute, Jenna was obsessed with being Jessica, and then suddenly it was all about her crush on Aaron. It felt a bit out of nowhere. We’re constantly told that they have a history and that he’s really sweet, but he didn’t seem like a big enough deal to suddenly become Jenna’s main focus. It made the second half of the book feel disconnected and clunky.
The characters were extremely flat. Jenna’s whole life revolved around wanting to be Jessica so badly that she didn’t really have a personality of her own. Jessica and Aaron were too perfect and unrealistically flawless. Jenna didn’t even seem all that interested in actually understanding Jessica or what her life was like. It made it harder to really care about the main conflict and get a sense of how much both characters could have been dealing with.
And the ending? Even though Jenna went through all this stuff, it didn’t really feel like she grew or that anything was properly resolved. Nothing that happened in the book had any impact on how it ended, apparently.
I was betting my soul on this book. Unfortunately, there really isn’t anything positive I can say about it. The two-starFiled under: porn-without-plot
I was betting my soul on this book. Unfortunately, there really isn’t anything positive I can say about it. The two-star rating? Those are pity stars....more
2.5. This entire book gave off the same vibes as that one scene in Aladdin where Jasmine pretended to seduce Jafar, and it made me feel the same way I2.5. This entire book gave off the same vibes as that one scene in Aladdin where Jasmine pretended to seduce Jafar, and it made me feel the same way I feel whenever I watch that scene—oddly hypnotized, but also kind of uncomfortable.
� The story�
I would argue that this book's true intention was to be a romance above all else. It's a fantasy-romance and not a romantic fantasy.
That being said, if you're going to read this for action and plot... look away. The plot didn’t really pick up until around 70% in. We don't really get scenes with the FMC (Rune) saving witches, or the MMC (Gideon) hunting witches. A lot of this book was just scheming and playing cat-and-mouse. None of the twists were particularly shocking, either.
The world-building? Practically non-existent. The idea behind the magic system was interesting, but not thoroughly explored. I know nothing about the setting as well.
The romance, though, I thought was actually done pretty well. I enjoyed the push-and-pull between the two MCs, and I found the tension between them to be quite sexy. I liked the blurred lines between the MCs thinking that they were both just playing each other, and the MCs genuinely getting into the flirting. Was it deep and was it love? No. It was attraction. It was a fun time if I think about it like this.
In my mind, I blocked out the love triangle thing. See my little rant section below bc I explained my thoughts on the third member of the love triangle there.
� The characters�
The main characters were extremely flat and dry. Again, the book clearly focused too much on the romance between them that it didn't have time to develop them as individuals. We got bits and pieces of Gideon's history with witches, and even less hints at Rune's upbringing. I can't even describe their personalities outside of the generic brooding bro (Gideon) and righteously naive (Rune).
I wish I could tell you about the side characters, but I've forgotten them all already.
� The writing and the atmosphere�
The writing was very simplistic, and while that made it very easy to read and very easy to get into the right vibes, this book won't win any points for brilliant writing. It borderlined on choppy sometimes.
� Now let me rant about this one thing� (minor spoilers for this section!)
This book was vile for its use of Alex as a plot device. This character had no point in the book other than to be used as a catalyst for actions that the MCs had to do. He had no real personality aside from being "the nice one". I was genuinely pissed at how his character played into the ending. ...more
I’m surprised that this came out in 2020, bc it read like something I would have devoured in 2013.
2.5!
� Nothing new in terms of the story. I feel likeI’m surprised that this came out in 2020, bc it read like something I would have devoured in 2013.
2.5!
� Nothing new in terms of the story. I feel like I've read this plot a thousand times already. This goes the same for the world as well. � Characters are fine. I didn't feel super attached to them, but I also didn't dislike any of them. We have a bit of diversity in terms of both race and backstories, though, which is always appreciated. � As always with Marie Lu, this was incredibly easy to read. I feel like I've been slogging through my previous reads, so I was surprised that I was able to fly through this one pretty quickly. � It's been a while since I've read anything by Marie Lu, but if my memory serves me correctly, I do know that she's pretty great at making you think politically. I think this one needed a bit more depth with this. � This read a lot younger than I was expecting. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, but it is something I like to consider before I start reading a book.
Not bad, but also not something I haven’t read before. I hope the next book is better!
All of my feelings about this book contradict each other. The story was unique, yet the flow was ordinary. The characters had some depth, yet I felt nAll of my feelings about this book contradict each other. The story was unique, yet the flow was ordinary. The characters had some depth, yet I felt no attachment to them. The beginning was slow, but the ending was rushed. I'll try to break things down as best as I can.
� GORGEOUS world-building and lore I'm not familiar with Slavic folklore at all, so this was a fresh dive for me. The mythology was so interesting, and I loved learning about the creatures, the magic, the world. I can't vouch for this book at all in terms of accuracy of anything, so we'll have to look to other reviewers for that. But from a newbie's perspective -- love!
� Okay main characters with lots of trauma Objectively, our main character Liska is great. She's kind but cunning, afraid but determined. The Leszy, I feel, could be a hit-or-miss as a male lead. He's your typical uber-powerful, cold magical boy with white hair. I get that most readers find this type of character to be sexy and attractive, but I'm personally more of a smiley boy type of reader. ANYWAY. On paper, I appreciated both characters, but I didn't really feel any strong connection towards any of them.
� Lovable side characters!! Now, the side characters, on the other hand... LOVED them. I was really interested in their personalities... I mean, we have a sentient house, a couple of spirits, a kid that's not really just a kid... a fun cast with distinct personalities. I wish we'd gotten a bit more of their backstories, but the bits and pieces that we got were definitely interesting.
� Pacing isn't great The story was incredibly slow for the first 70%, then BAM everything hits you right in the face. There was a lot of build up in the beginning, which is fine, but then the climax was much too rushed in comparison.
� Ending is crazy! The ending was impactful and emotional, albeit a little predictable, but also kind of perfect for this book? While not completely satisfying, I feel like any other ending would have felt off or inappropriate. Anyway, prepare your hearts!
Favorite Quotes
Look toward the light, she reminds herself. Then you will not see the shadow behind you.
“What is fate but an excuse to surrender responsibility?�
“There is a thing we do, where we rearrange ourselves, cutting off pieces here and there to fit a mold that was never meant for us. [...] If the world has not prepared a place for you, you must take up a hammer and chisel and carve one out for yourself.�
Also � pretty much the same thoughts on book 1 and this one! I think I liked this just a biiiit more because of the strong AlicTHERE’S A THIRD BOOK?!
Also � pretty much the same thoughts on book 1 and this one! I think I liked this just a biiiit more because of the strong Alice in Wonderland vibes, so this is a bit of a 3.5? Maybe?
I mostly just liked everything, but didn't really love anything. The characters were very caricature-y (which is a given bc this book's literally callI mostly just liked everything, but didn't really love anything. The characters were very caricature-y (which is a given bc this book's literally called Book Lovers, duh), so it was hard to get attached to anyone. Still pretty cute, though. I get why everyone loves this.
3.5! The opening and the ending were fantastic. Everything in between was nice. I think the romance would have felt more organic if we got more of Rom3.5! The opening and the ending were fantastic. Everything in between was nice. I think the romance would have felt more organic if we got more of Roman's POV, though.
Right and wrong. Sin or virtue. Monstrous and holy.
This book was incredibly flawed and often read like fanfiction� but I ATE IT UP! The vibes were
Right and wrong. Sin or virtue. Monstrous and holy.
This book was incredibly flawed and often read like fanfiction� but I ATE IT UP! The vibes were Battle of the Labyrinth meets The Hunger Games, with a sprinkle of yearning, a dash of religious critique, and a cast of autistic characters.
☀ The story was A LOT. The pacing might throw you off because the story starts out really simple with a clear goal and a clear way to get to said goal, then suddenly, towards the end, there are a bunch of "twists" (I'm putting this in quotes because personally, I wasn't too surprised by any of it) that do get kind of crazy. By that point I was already invested in the book enough that the sudden bombardment of events didn't dampen my enjoyment of the book.
☀ The setting? The monsters? Yes yes yes. When I started reading this book, I was picturing the bright sun over a quaint hill where the heroine was, well, fighting a fish-man-monster, then a couple of chapters later, we're literally thrust into hell and I was ALL for it. The atmosphere was dark and gritty, and I had such a blast reading about all of the deadly creatures (should I be saying this?) our MCs encountered.
☀ The characters truly made me love the book despite all of its flaws. I loved being in both Alesta's and Kyr's heads. While they (mostly Alesta) were difficult to like at some points, they were both realistic and relatable characters. Both of them were both weak yet strong, unsure yet determined, selfish yet righteous. It was empowering to see them battle with their own thoughts (and, well, monsters that were physically there) and try to come to terms with who they are.
Maybe the only difference between a monster and a hero was the color of a soldier's uniform.
I think I've discovered a new favorite author. Allison
Maybe the only difference between a monster and a hero was the color of a soldier's uniform.
I think I've discovered a new favorite author. Allison Saft writes such beautiful fantasy romances with heavy doses of political intrigue and genuine character development. �
Things I loved:
� I had to make an entierly new ŷ shelf because I love politics, apparently (which is a topic that stresses me out SO MUCH in real life). Allison Saft incorporates themes of duty, loyalty, and patriotism, and mixes them up with the characters' needs of self-preservation, belongingness, and love... and she does this SO WELL that she had my brain churning 'til 2 in the morning thinking about everything.
Wren wasn't a girl made to be alone; solitude armed her with too much to worry about.
� I saw myself in Wren Southerland more than I saw myself in any character before... which was a bit jarring, but also incredibly eye-opening. We've had our fair share of "badass" heroines recently, so it was a breath of fresh air to read from the perspective of someone who sees herself as weak. My emotions were a mess as her character developed throughout the book.
� HAL CAVENDISH.
� I feel like we have a good mix of characters -- we have those who are the softest of the soft and wouldn't hurt a fly, some that are calculating and ruthless, and a few that are in the grey area in between. That being said, not all of them were likeable...
Things I thought could have been better:
� I wasn't as attached to the characters as I was with A Far Wilder Magic. I don't know if I wasn't in the right headspace for it, or if it was because I was too similar to the MC that I felt weirdly like I was just an outside observer... so this may just be a me problem.
� This isn't a mystery/thriller by any means, but the twists did not twist. Everything was pretty easily predictable, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, but it would have been nice to have a truly shocking moment here and there.
I'm leaving you all with this quote, with the hope that we can all choose to be kind:
"It takes incredible strength to be kind in this world. To endure suffering instead of further it."
It gave Emily Wilde but for people with shorter attention spans (AKA me). It's really just a cutesy Fae read. Not a lot of substance.
Pre-read: The lasIt gave Emily Wilde but for people with shorter attention spans (AKA me). It's really just a cutesy Fae read. Not a lot of substance.
Pre-read: The last time I LOVED a Fae book was in 2011. Fae books have been okay, bad, or just good since then, so I need something to redeem Fae romances for me! ...more
Here's what I imagine happened: I believe that Rebecca Yarros wanted to write an edgy fantasy book with dragons targeted for a YA audience. She probabHere's what I imagine happened: I believe that Rebecca Yarros wanted to write an edgy fantasy book with dragons targeted for a YA audience. She probably had a word cloud of ideas and no actual details prepared. Fine, maybe there was a rough outline. Her characters were written on the fly, but she knew she wanted a heroine who was not like the other girls. In 2023, she finally decided that it was time to publish her book... but it was missing something... ah, spice is getting really big in the book world. She went back to make her characters adults and made them super horny. And BAM, Fourth Wing was born. �
THERE WILL BE SPOILERS FROM THIS POINT ONWARDS!
₊� ‿︵‿︵‿︵୨୧ · · � · · ୨୧‿︵‿︵‿︵ ˚�
Do you want to read a book about a bunch of adults (who act and speak like horny teenagers) running around trying to kill each other?
Maybe you do, and I don't blame you because that honestly sounds like a fun time. But personally, I need one basic question answered before I can enjoy this kind of plot: WHY are they trying to kill each other?
In the case of Fourth Wing, there is no point. This book supposedly features the best, the brightest, and the toughest kids adults (I'm going to have a problem with this) going through the dragon riders' quadrant of the Big Bad War College�. This is allegedly the most revered sector of the college, and those who are admitted here are trained in magic and eventually go to war... which is why it makes absolutely NO SENSE why it would be okay for the students to murder each other and lessen their work force. It's so dumb.
₊� ‿︵‿︵‿︵୨୧ · · � · · ୨୧‿︵‿︵‿︵ ˚�
This book features the laziest world-building I've ever encountered. It's wild.
Despite this being the most covetted quadrant, they waste space by conscripting the rebel kids (children of those part of some previous big rebellion I can't remember) into it, who they supposedly do not trust, where they'll be given access to dragons and magic? Make it make sense! Why not give them manual labor jobs if they can't be trusted? Why give them positions that everyone else wants to have?
And yeah, despite everyone supposedly having trained for years to get into this quadrant, nobody seems to know anything about it!The students talk about dragons, dragon riders and the quadrant in ways that make them sound so unsure about everything. If you're willing to risk your life to get in here, shouldn't you have done reseach? Or, if this was such a popular quadrant, shouldn't all of these things be common knowledge? A few examples:
“Pܲ, I've heard that riders are allowed to marry sooner than the other quadrants,� Dylan adds.
“True. Right after graduation.� If we survive. �I think it has something to do with wanting to continue bloodlines.� Most successful riders are legacies.
�I overhead a third-year say when a first-year survives Threshing unbonded, the quadrant lets them repeat the year and try again if they want.�
I study the map. The Esben Mountain Range is the highest along our eastern border with Braevick, making it the least likely place for an attack, especially since gryphons don't tolerate altitude nearly as well as dragons, probably due to the fact that they're half-lion, half-eagle and can't handle the thinner air at altitudes.
The author also opts out of ever attempting to explain anything the dragons do. Whenever someone has a perfectly reasonable question about the dragons, the response is always just about "respecting one's life" because if they try to ask, the dragons will kill them? (Again, why?) Anyway, this is just an excuse on the author's part because she doesn't want to think of a reasonable response. ...more
aimee (aimeecanread)
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