Young adult book
Book Review: Daughter of the Burning City by Amanda Foody
Top Ten Tuesday: Books I Can’t Believe I Read and Loved!
Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme created by The Broke and the Bookish.
It has now been moved over to That Artsy Reader Girl.
This week’s theme is pretty broad you can do any spin on it that you can think of! It’s books you can’t believe you read, I decided to go with an easy one and just do a list of books that are kind of out of my comfort zone that I ended up enjoying.
I will include reviews if I have them, these aren’t in any particular order.
10.) Queens of Geek by Jen Wilde
Normally I do not read contemporaries, ESPECIALLY if they’re romance focused so “Queens of Geek” didn’t seem like a book I’d enjoy. However, I was very surprised by how much I loved it! The romances were adorable, the anxiety rep was amazing, and the diversity is off the charts. Fantastic book overall and I’m so happy I gave it a read.
You can read my full review here.
9.) The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee
I don’t usually read historical fiction, I find it can be a little too slow paced for me but this was an exception because it’s very fast paced and FUN! Definitely a book I didn’t think I would read!
You can read my full review here.
8.) Paper Princess by Erin Watt
If I was listing these in an actual order this would probably be #1 because it is so far from what I normally read, I didn’t think I would EVER read this but I borrowed it from the library to give it a try. I was surprised by how addicting this story was and how much fun I had reading it, it’s like reading a soap opera!
You can read my mini review here.
7.) Heartless by Marissa Meyer
This is only on the “can’t believe” list because I didn’t love “Cinder” and I could not understand what the big deal with this author was. So when she released this standalone back in 2016 I wasn’t sure if I’d like it or not, but I’m a sucker for Alice in Wonderland retellings so I gave it a go. I was pleasantly surprised by how enjoyable it ended up being in the end!
You can read my full review here.
6.) The Winner’s Curse by Marie Rutkoski
So…a YA Fantasy with a girl in a ballroom gown on the front, I NEVER would have guessed it would have been as amazing and badass as it was. Kestrel, the MC, definitely matches the cover but she isn’t a damsel in distress either, loved her!
You can read my full review here.
5.) The Forbidden Wish by Jessica Khoury
As I already kind of mentioned, I don’t go for books that appear to be romance-heavy either by the cover or synopsis and “The Forbidden Wish” kind of appears to be romance-heavy. However, while the romance is a big part it’s such a “ship-worthy” romance and also the women in this book are total badasses! Very glad I read this one!
You can read my full review here.
4.) Lips Touch: Three Times by Laini Taylor
This is a book that you shouldn’t judge by it’s cover because honestly, the cover makes it seem very cheesy. But the three short stories within are very unique, well-written, and just downright awesome and I’m glad I made time for them!
You can read my full review here.
3.) The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
This book comes very hyped and very recommended by tons of people but normally slow paced, atmospheric books are not my jam. I’m glad I made an exception for this one though because it’s beautiful and very much worth my time.
2.) The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater
I have to say that I completely misjudged this book and I blame the synopsis, which makes it sound like this book is all about true love, insta-love, and kissing boys. Which is why I DIDN’T want to read it but I am so glad I finally caved because this book might be about a kiss but that really isn’t even half of it, there’s magic and mystery and some amazing characters! I could rave all day.
You can read my full review here.
1.) The Wrath & The Dawn by Renee Ahdieh
Once again, a book that SEEMS like it’s all about that romance (which it kind of is) but is actually filled with badass women and magic too. Definitely loved this book a TON and didn’t think I would at all!
Have you read any of these as well? What did you think?
What are some books you can’t believe you read (positive/negative)?
Let me know in the comments!
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5 Star TBR Predictions
I saw a video on Regan’s channel Peruse Project that was “5 Star TBR Predictions” and it looked like so much fun so I thought I would give it a shot as well! Basically I will be picking books off of my TBR that I believe will be 5 star reads for me, I don’t rate a ton of books 5 stars they have to be PERFECTION for that. Hopefully I won’t be setting the bar too high for these and will still enjoy them when I get to them!
Strange The Dreamer by Laini Taylor
So I have read two other books of Laini’s and ADORED them so with that alongside the fact that the synopsis sounds amazing for this book I can pretty much guarantee I’ll love it. The writing will be A+ because ya know….it’s Laini Taylor and she writes so beautifully plus her unique world building and mythology is always good too so really I can’t think of a single reason why this book wouldn’t be a five star read for me.
The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson
I’ve honestly heard nothing but good things about this book (and series) and I KNOW Sanderson is a fantastic fantasy author and I’m positive this book will include a great magic system and a unique plot and world. For me a good fantasy book will have great world building and I just feel like Sanderson will deliver that. Therefore I have a pretty good feeling I’ll end up rating this a full five stars.
The Child Thief by Brom
“Peter Pan” is pretty much my FAVORITE fairy tale/ story and I’m pretty much down for any kind of retelling of it. I also LOVE dark retellings and “The Child Thief” is definitely a very dark retelling. I’m really hoping it’ll be a great, unique retelling with a creative spin on Peter Pan and also full of dark happenings. If that all proves true I’ll probably be rating it 5 stars!
Eon by Alison Goodman
Not only have I heard quite a few good things about this book/duology but the premise just sounds like something I know I’ll love: dragons + a badass female protagonist. I also cheated a bit and started reading part of it and really enjoyed what I read!
Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
I think the idea of a “retelling” of “The Iliad” is very creative and unique so I’m all for it! I also like that it’s a M/M romance between Achilles and Patroclus, honestly I just know everything from the setting to the characters will more than likely be 5 stars for me.
Now I Rise by Kiersten White
I absolutely LOVED the first book, I thought the characters were absolutely fantastic and all of the political intrigue was fascinating. I expect nothing less from the sequel!
Little Monsters by Kara Thomas
I really loved Thomas’s book “The Darkest Corners” it was so suspenseful, dark, and twisted. I think this one sounds just as twisted and I’m super excited to read it, if it’s as dark as the other book I will more than likely be giving it a full 5 star rating!
Golden Son by Pierce Brown
If you’ve read “Red Rising” you’ll understand why this is going to be a 5 star read. Bring it on, I’m ready to be emotionally destroyed again.
Kinslayer by Jay Kristoff
“Stormdancer” was A-MA-ZING with all of the plot twists, world building, and badass characters! Honestly I’m expecting the sequel to at least be just as good, and if it is it is a definite 5 star rating from this girl!
Dear Martin by Nic Stone
I’m very, very excited to read this book especially since it seems similar to “The Hate U Give” which I thought was an amazing, powerful book. I expect nothing less from “Dear Martin” I’m extremely confident that I will love it. I’m actually going to be reading it here within the next two weeks as I got it from the library!
Have you read any of these books? What did you think?
What are some books on your TBR that you think will be 5 star reads?
Let me know in the comments!
Top Ten Tuesday: Great Reads That I’m Thankful For!
Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.
Since U.S. Thanksgiving is this coming Thursday this week’s theme is books/bookish things we are thankful for! There are plenty of books out there that I’m thankful for but these are a few that just really stick out for me!
I will link reviews for each title if I have one and these are in no particular order!
10.) Stormdancer by Jay Kristoff
This was the first book I read by Jay Kristoff and I am thankful for it because I found him and he’s now one of my favorite authors! He’ writes very beautifully but also NEVER fails to throw in a ridiculous amount of shocking twists and turns, and he also knows how to write a badass female protagonist! “Stormdancer” has great world building, a badass heroine, a talking animal companion, and an intense/action packed plot. What more can I ask for?
You can read my full review for “Stormdancer” here.
9.) The Diabolic by S.J. Kincaid
I’m thankful for “The Diabolic” because it’s a book that really got me interested in reading more YA sci-fi, which I was always interested in but now it’s a favorite genre of mine! This book also had tons of action, another badass heroine, political intrigue, and a romance I could actually ship!
You can read my full review for “The Diabolic” here.
8.) Vicious by V.E. Schwab
This book is unlike anything I’ve ever read before and I highly doubt there’s anything even close to it out there in the book world either. It’s got morally gray characters with super human powers along with an “edge of your seat” plot line, I need the sequel desperately. Schwab’s writing is absolutely fantastic and I will pretty much read anything and everything she writes. I’m thankful for her because she puts out so much unique and creative content!
You can read my full review of “Vicious” here.
7.) Night Film by Marisha Pessl
It’s a perfect blend of horror and mystery and thriller, seriously this book was like winning the jackpot for me. There was plenty of suspense and I just adored it to bits and pieces, I am really hoping Pessl will release something just as good soon!
6.) The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
I don’t think I need to explain why I’m thankful for this gem, this is such a powerful and beautifully written book and I think it deserves to be read by everyone.
You can read my full review of “The Hate U Give” here.
5.) Red Rising by Pierce Brown
I’m thankful I finally read this amazing book! It’s such an awesome blend of some of my favorite genres such as fantasy and sci-fi, but it’s also full of great characters (that I became overly attached to) and shocking plot twists. THIS BOOK IS AMAZING!
You can read my full review of “Red Rising” here.
4.) An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir
This is a brutal book full of some great world building and even greater characters, there are some magical elements as well. This BOOK kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time and it’s just great, I need to read the sequel!
You can read my full review of “An Ember in the Ashes” here.
3.) Every Heart A Doorway by Seanan McGuire
I honestly don’t know how to describe how great this book but it’s about children who came back from other worlds (similar to the Chronicles of Narnia) via different doorways and learn to cope at a home with other children. After reading books such as the Chronicles of Narnia or Harry Potter as a child I found this book extremely relatable and very magical as well.
You can read my full review of “Every Heart A Doorway” here.
2.) The Wicked + The Divine Series by Kieron Gillen
One of my absolute favorite graphic novels series I am SO thankful I found! The plot is intriguing, the characters are all amazing, and the art is stunning!
You can read my full review for Volume 1 here.
1.) Queens of Geek by Jen Wilde
I’m very thankful for this beautiful book right here not only because it’s incredibly diverse and has a TON of pop culture/geeky references but because the anxiety rep was so spot on. I thought it was so great to see a main character with anxiety being represented so well, since it’s something I suffer from as well and it was just very relatable.
You can read my full review of “Queens of Geek” here.
What are some books you’re thankful for?
Have you read any of these, what did you think?
Let me know in the comments!
The Thanksgiving Book Tag!
I figured I’d get a little bit ahead of the game and do my Thanksgiving Book Tag a couple days early! This tag was created by Erin & Becca and I found the tag over on Mama Kat’s Losin’ It.
(I also have reviews up for all of the books mentioned)
1. Bread- What book is purely fluff, and has no real plot line?
As much as I adored and worshiped “Queens of Geek” it really is the kind of book that’s all fluff and no plot, the plot is some friends going to a convention but mostly the book focuses on the characters themselves and romances. I loved it though, this book is seriously amazing.
2. Turkey- What book made you want to fall asleep?
So, so, so boring/ I’m sorry but when you market a book as an origin tale for Blackbeard I expect some action and PIRACY! Not a hist-fic romance full of tropes and a love interest that is borderline abusive. No. This was so slow that you’re dang right I would have rather been sleeping.
3. Gravy- What book makes the whole series worth reading?
This series is worth reading all the way through…well at least up until the latest issue since it’s not finished yet! Everything is well done from the world building to the characters and the art is seriously gorgeous!
4. Stuffing- What book is stuffed full of action scenes?
Once you get past the first couple of chapters that set up the story it’s non stop action from there! Tons of plot twists, seriously, tons. This book will have you on the edge of your seat the entire time you’re reading it!
5. Mashed Potatoes- What book looked good, and then wasn’t?
This cover is insanely gorgeous but the book was just really slow and confusing as hell. I still don’t really know what the whole point of the book was or what even happened.
6. Cranberries- What book has the sweetest romance?
There’s actually a couple romances that I like but I would have to say Aladdin and Zahra are one of my absolute favorites. Their romance was slow burn and forbidden which are two big things I look for in bookish romances. They are so adorable, also the rest of the book is fantastic as well!
7. Corn- What’s the corniest book you’ve ever read?
I don’t tend to go for books that can end up being corny, but I suppose one I kind of consider corny is “Paper Princess” since it really isn’t a story I take seriously. It’s one of those stories I read for the entertainment and shock value.
8. Green beans- What book is too long and needs to be shortened?
Seriously! Why was this book 488 pages?! Why?! It has no business being that long! It’s a slow, hist-fic romance with a very boring mystery that’s hardly a mystery. So yeah it really doesn’t need to be 488 pages of a little plot and a lot of filler.
9. Pumpkin Pie- What book do you read to get out of a reading slump?
I don’t really re-read books ever so I don’t have a “go-to” book for reading slumps but I usually try and read something I know I’ll love. However, if I was going to re-read something it’d probably be a graphic novel such as “Nimona”.
10. Dog/Cat- What’s your favorite Thanksgiving food that you would steal from the table?
Stuffing, definitely stuffing. I could sit and eat nothing but stuffing and be perfectly fine. I also adore cranberries too though…just saying.
Tag! You’re It!
I tag anyone who wants to give this Thanksgiving Book Tag a go! Just be sure to tag the creators and where you saw the tag (here)!
And Happy Thanksgiving!
(Here are the questions for your copy and pasting convenience!)
1. Bread- What book is purely fluff, and has no real plot line?
2. Turkey- What book made you want to fall asleep?
3. Gravy- What book makes the whole series worth reading?
4. Stuffing- What book is stuffed full of action scenes?
5. Mashed Potatoes- What book looked good, and then wasn’t?
6. Cranberries- What book has the sweetest romance?
7. Corn- What’s the corniest book you’ve ever read?
8. Green beans- What book is too long and needs to be shortened?
9. Pumpkin Pie- What book do you read to get out of a reading slump?
10. Dog/Cat- What’s your favorite Thanksgiving food that you would steal from the table?
ARC Review: The Empress (The Diabolic #2) by S.J. Kincaid
****SPOILERS FOR “THE DIABOLIC” BELOW!****
It’s a new day in the Empire. Tyrus has ascended to the throne with Nemesis by his side and now they can find a new way forward—one where they don’t have to hide or scheme or kill. One where creatures like Nemesis will be given worth and recognition, where science and information can be shared with everyone and not just the elite.
But having power isn’t the same thing as keeping it, and change isn’t always welcome. The ruling class, the Grandiloquy, has held control over planets and systems for centuries—and they are plotting to stop this teenage Emperor and Nemesis, who is considered nothing more than a creature and certainly not worthy of being Empress.
Nemesis will protect Tyrus at any cost. He is the love of her life, and they are partners in this new beginning. But she cannot protect him by being the killing machine she once was. She will have to prove the humanity that she’s found inside herself to the whole Empire—or she and Tyrus may lose more than just the throne. But if proving her humanity means that she and Tyrus must do inhuman things, is the fight worth the cost of winning it?
**** Huge thank you to Simon & Schuster for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review!****
**** All of my reviews are spoiler free but if you haven’t read “The Diabolic” you may not want to continue. If you have read it then continue as you will not be spoiled here!****
Right when I didn’t think S.J. Kincaid could blow my mind any more, she did it again! I think it’s safe to say my mouth was open, jaw on the floor the entire time I was reading and that I’m also dying for the third book now. I NEED IT NOW! Prepare for a review that will probably mostly be me fangirling.
If you were worried, like me, that “The Diabolic” should have remained a standalone and the sequel wouldn’t live up to it: don’t be worried. I was very satisfied with this book and now I’m happy that it turned out to be a series because what would I do if I didn’t have more of Nemesis?! I think this one is equally as enjoyable as “The Diabolic” but parts also weren’t as great, however, seeing as how we really waste ZERO time setting anything up it was better in that sense. Kincaid throws us right into the nitty gritty immediately.
Extremely fast pacing, I’m talking about the kind of pacing where you can’t turn the pages fast enough to keep reading! I am a sucker for fast pacing and “The Empress” did not disappoint whatsoever, as I mentioned we are thrown into a breakneck speed at the start and it doesn’t let up until the last page. There wasn’t a single dull or boring moment!
And the twists! The twists! There are so many ridiculously good twists in this book and I fell for every single one! At one point during the story I think there were about 3 major twists on ONE PAGE. So yeah you definitely will not be bored with this book! There is a ridiculous amount of action and I felt so many emotions while reading, mostly I got so enraged by the antagonist that I wanted to crawl into the book and pummel him…but hey that’s how you know they’re doing their job and the author is a fantastic writer!
I also really, really enjoyed that Kincaid expanded a lot more on the world building for this series, seeing as how in “The Diabolic” we didn’t get much. It’s definitely really interesting and also a bit of a shocker too!
If you’re a fan of political intrigue, you’ll definitely love this. Trust me. Trust me!
Kincaid’s writing packs the usual punch, and by that I mean it was fantastic and made me an emotional roller coaster the entire time I read this book.
Also that cliffhanger ending will destroy you so be prepared!
Really the only characters I continued to love were Nemesis and Tyrus and that’s simply because they’re really the only characters with any substance. They’re complex and develop A TON during the course of this story and really learn their limits. They both continue to be badasses out smarting everyone, which is all I will say!
There were a couple other secondary characters that were okay and came into the story a couple of times but they weren’t very complex or developed, in my opinion. Still they were there and definitely progressed the plot…..a lot.
The antagonist was pretty dang good though too in the sense that I wanted to choke them out the entire time…..just means they were well written because that’s what the author wanted you to think!
I burn. I pine. I perish for this romance! I will always and forever be a big fan of Nemesis/Tyrus especially since I’ve been rooting for them since “The Diabolic” so of course their wonderful romance continued on in this book and made my heart happy.
Overall, I was very impressed with this sequel! Usually sequels, specifically in trilogies, suffer from middle book syndrome in which they really drag on and are mostly there to set up the last book. However, “The Empress” suffered no such syndrome! It packed a huge punch and still managed to set up the last book magnificently!
What I Loved:
- Can I say literally everything?
- Twists and political intrigue
- Fast pacing, non stop action!
- Great writing
- Great main characters
- The romance
- Did I mention plot twists?
- Great additional world building
What I Didn’t Love:
- I kind of wish the secondary characters were a bit more important, but they did serve their purpose! (hence the 4.5 instead of full 5 star rating)
If you read “The Diabolic” and enjoyed it but aren’t sure if you want to read the sequel…do it. Just do it! It’s fantastic and I promise you, you will not be disappointed!
Links: Goodreads / Amazon / Book Depository
My Votes Are In! 2017 Goodreads Choice Awards
100% credit for this post idea goes to the wonderful Melanie @ Mel To The Any so be sure to go check out her post as well as her amazing blog!
This post is pretty straight forward in that I’ll just be sort of discussing my votes in the Goodreads Choice Awards. If you haven’t gone and voted already be sure to go check it out, voting ends November 27th and the winners are announced December 5th!
I will only be discussing the categories I actually submitted a vote in, there are PLENTY of categories with nominees that are on my TBR but since I haven’t read them I didn’t feel it was very fair for me to vote for them (with one exception I will discuss below).
Best Horror
My Vote: Lost Boy: The True Story of Captain Hook by Christina Henry
I will probably always and forever vote for Christina Henry’s horror books because they’re so well done and well written and just everything in general is fantastic about them. This is a retelling of Peter Pan from the POV of a young James Hook and serves as an origin story for the classic villain. I loved how Henry put such a unique, dark and twisted spin on the original tale it was so well done and utter perfection in my opinion.
You can read my full review of “Lost Boy” here, if you’re interested!
Best Young Adult Fiction
My Vote: The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
There were actually a few I wanted to vote for in this category but “The Hate U Give” is such an important, powerful, and well written story I couldn’t stand the idea of NOT voting for it! This book is perfection, PERFECTION! It deserves to win every award and if you haven’t read this book already I highly, highly urge you to do so because it’s game-changing and powerful.
You can read my full review of “The Hate U Give” here, if you’re interested!
Best Debut Goodreads Author
My Vote: The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
As I said, SHE DESERVES EVERY AWARD! When I was reading “The Hate U Give” I was blown away by her writing, it didn’t feel like I was reading a debut at all but more like the billionth book of a seasoned pro. I am very confident this book will win in both these categories!
Best Young Adult Fantasy/Science Fiction
My Vote: Strange The Dreamer by Laini Taylor
So as I mentioned I usually don’t vote for books I haven’t actually read BUT I decided I need to make an exception and here’s why:
I love Laini Taylor’s books and I’m 100% confident I will love “Strange The Dreamer”. But another reason I wanted to vote for this book (besides the fact that I will love it when I do get around to reading it) is that I’m really tired of Sarah J. Maas’s books winning every year JUST because they’re Sarah J. Maas’s books. I’m sure her books are good but I’d like to see A DIFFERENT book and author win for once and so I wanted to help boost Laini Taylor because she deserves it.
Have you read any of these books as well? What did you think?
Did you vote for any of these books in the Goodreads Choice Awards?
What books did you vote for?
Let me know in the comments!
Top Ten Tuesday: Books I’d Like My Future Children To Read
Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.
This is kind of a broad topic because what age do I want my children to read these? My answer is whenever, they can be younger, teenagers, or adults for all I care but I’d really like if they read these books so I could geek out about them with my own kids! This is why I’m adding books that are more YA into the mix of Middle Grade as well.
These are in no particular order.
10.) The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
I want everyone to read this book, everyone, which coincidentally would also include my future children! If they’re anything like me they will appreciate the magical atmosphere this book has, it’s truly a beautiful story.
9.) The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
Not only is this just a fantastic, well written book it also tackles some very important issues and I think EVERYONE could benefit from reading this book.
8.) Every Heart A Doorway by Seanan McGuire
This is more of an adult book but it’s so magical and full of diverse characters, I wouldn’t have a younger child read this but a teenager? Sure, would!
7.) The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
So I was really torn between which Gaiman book I wanted to add to this list it was between “Coraline” and “The Graveyard Book” but ultimately I went with “The Graveyard Book” just because I enjoyed that one a little bit more! Gaiman’s writing is fantastic for all ages and this is a sort of coming of age story about a boy who is raised by multiple supernatural creatures in a graveyard.
6.) The Stonekeeper (Amulet #1) by Kazu Kibuishi
Once again I feel this can be for all ages but it is aimed at a more Middle Grade audience, it’s a fantastic series of graphic novels that follows a pair of siblings through a magical realm to rescue their mother. It’s adorable and adventurous and definitely something I would want my future children to read!
5.) Inkheart (Inkworld #1) by Cornelia Funke
This trilogy is very, very dear to me and I would be ecstatic if my future children read it, the whole trilogy is amazing and it’s one of those series that gets better and better with each book. Plus what person, especially a kid, doesn’t love the idea of their favorite book characters being transported into our world?
4.) The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
The writing is older so it could be a bit harder for a child to read it but I will definitely read it to them! “The Hobbit” is a classic and I’m a huge fan of everything Middle Earth so this is kind of mandatory.
3.) The Lion, The Witch, & The Wardrobe (The Chronicles of Narnia #1) by C.S. Lewis
By this of course I mean the whole series but since I have only read book one ( I know, shame on me) I won’t push the whole series. This book is one of the classics I think all children should have the opportunity to read it’s right up there with Harry Potter for sure!
2.) Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan
Another all ages book/series that I think everyone can enjoy! I absolutely loved this series and thought it was so much fun plus you learn a bit about Greek mythology along the way as well. I would be happy with my future children reading any Riordan books though.
1.) Harry Potter and The Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K. Rowling
HOW CAN I NOT HAVE HARRY POTTER ON THIS LIST? This series is literally my childhood and one of the biggest reasons I fell in love with reading so you’re damn right I hope my kids will want to read it!
What are some books you’d like your children or future children to read?
Do we have any of these books in common?
Let me know in the comments!
ARC Review: Gray Wolf Island by Tracey Neithercott
Right before Sadie died, she begged her sister, Ruby, to do the one thing she could never do herself: Find the treasure on Gray Wolf Island.
With just a mysterious treasure map as a guide, Ruby reluctantly allows some friends to join her on the hunt, each of whom is touched by magic: a boy allegedly born to a virgin, a girl who never sleeps, a boy who can foresee his own death, and a boy with deep ties to the island. Each of them is also keeping a secret—something they’ll have to reveal in order to reach the treasure.
As the secrets come to light, Ruby will have to decide: Can she make peace with her friends’ troubled pasts and continue to trust them? Can she forgive herself for doing the unspeakable? Deep in the wilderness of Gray Wolf Island, Ruby’s choices will determine if they make it out with the treasure—or merely with their lives.
**** Thank you to Random House Children’s for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review ****
I was absolutely blown away by how much I ended up enjoying this book, it was not what I was expecting at all in the best way! I’ll be giving it an odd rating at 4.5 stars because I loved it but for some reason it still isn’t a five star read for me.
“Gray Wolf Island” is so much more than a tale of friends going to find a long, lost buried treasure, so, so, so much more! This is a very character driven book that focuses on the character’s self discovery, forgiveness, and coming to terms with their problems but still has a strong plot as well full of twists and adventure. It also has a very magical realism feel to it, there are certain elements of the story that are..well… magical. I loved it I thought it added so much atmosphere to the story and overall made it so much more fun.
The pacing should have been slower considering, as I mentioned, it’s more of a character driven book but it never felt like it was slow or dragging on at all. There was always something happening and always something to look forward too, plus there are some fantastic twists at the end of the story that you will not see coming at all!
The story is also told in two different perspectives one being Ruby the main character and the other being a strange boy who woke up on Gray Wolf Island with amnesia. I really enjoyed reading through both POVs as they were both interesting and important to the plot, I also thought the boy’s perspective added a lot of mystery to the overall atmosphere too.
One thing about the plot that bothered me slightly is that I felt the conclusion was a bit confusing and not really explained, which since it’s magical realism I can see why leaving it a mystery makes sense though. There were also a couple of plot holes with the character’s backstories but that’s all that bothered me.
Neithercott’s writing is also another amazing part of reading “Gray Wolf Island” it’s beautiful and lyrical which is perfect for the type of atmosphere she created for this story. Pretty writing and magical realism go hand in hand in my opinion. This felt similar to “The Raven Boys” and “Daughter of Smoke and Bone” so I would say if you enjoy Steifvater and Taylor’s writings you may enjoy this one as well.
It really is such a beautiful, heart-breaking story and prepare to get emotional!
As I mentioned the characters are the most important part of this book and they were all wonderful, seriously all of them! Every character was complex and well developed, they overcame many things and changed over the course of the story. They were all truly fantastic and I loved all of them.
Ruby is the main character and one of the POVs, the whole reason she is undertaking this quest to find the treasure is that it was her sister’s dying wish. She keeps her secrets and feelings close to home and is trying to find herself as she moves on from her sister’s death. I really adored Ruby I thought she was a very complex protagonist and she was actually pretty witty at times as well.
Elliot is a part of an old family that has been hunting the Gray Wolf Island treasure for generations and insists on helping Ruby find it. He’s very intelligent but tries playing “the bad boy”. He’s also a love interest for Ruby and I honestly shipped them so hard! Elliot was a great character, I adored him.
Then we have Gabe (Gabriel) who is the son of a virgin mother and the townspeople think him either a demon or divine claiming he has cursed them or helped heal them on different occasions. He’s very suave but there’s a lot more to him than he shows on the outside.
Charlie is the daredevil, fun loving character who likes to live every day as if it’s his last, which it may very well be since Charlie had a premonition of his own death when he was younger.
Lastly there’s Anne who doesn’t sleep, ever. She’s a very dreamy, eccentric girl but is more than excited to go on an adventure and make some friends.
All of these characters bond and create some very lasting friendships as they quest for their treasure. I loved how positive the friendships were portrayed as well.
There is a bit of a side romance between Elliot and Ruby but I was secretly rooting for it the entire time, they were adorable! I also liked that it was slow burn and didn’t take over the plot whatsoever.
Overall I really did love this book so much, the plot was engaging, and I was 100% invested in the characters.
What I Loved:
- The atmosphere with underlying bits of magical realism
- Dual POVs that really added to the mystery of the plot
- Good pacing
- Fantastic plot twists
- Beautiful, lyrical writing
- Absolutely fantastic, complex cast of characters
- I shipped the romance and it was slow burn!
What I Didn’t Love:
- Some confusing elements of the story
- Couple of plot holes with the character’s back stories
I highly recommend checking this book out, I thought it was just beautiful and very well done. If you want a good adventure/coming of age type of story then check this one out! I also recommend checking it out if you’re a fan of “The Raven Boys”.
Links: Goodreads / Amazon / Book Depository
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