The Girl from Everywhere by Heidi Heilig

Rating: ★★★☆☆

Synopsis

It was the kind of August day that hinted at monsoons, and the year was 1774, though not for very much longer.

Sixteen-year-old Nix Song is a time-traveller. She, her father and their crew of time refugees travel the world aboard The Temptation, a glorious pirate ship stuffed with treasures both typical and mythical. Old maps allow Nix and her father to navigate not just to distant lands, but distant times - although a map will only take you somewhere once. And Nix’s father is only interested in one time, and one place: Honolulu 1868. A time before Nix was born, and her mother was alive. Something that puts Nix’s existence rather dangerously in question…

(from Goodreads)

Thoughts

I was really excited to read this book for the longest time. First of all – time-traveling pirates. That’s the best thing imaginable. Secondly – the cover is just so incredibly beautiful (I know, I know, don’t judge a book by its cover), that it drew me in. In the end the book may not have quite lived up to my expectations, but it was still an enjoyable read.

The concept of this story is spectacular and unique. It’s such a cool idea that a person would be able to navigate to any map, be it real or imaginary. My first thought when the characters described how they travelled between times was of course: “So if they had a map of Hogwarts or Narnia, they could just go there?” That made me very excited. Do you have any idea how often I’ve dreamt of being able to do that? However, navigating, as they call it, it a bit more complicated. The map has to be hand drawn and made in the contemporary time, so a map of India in 1774 must have been drawn in 1774. And in order for them to travel to a mythical or imaginary land the person who drew the map must believe the place is real. This makes it sound like mythical maps are extremely rare, but apparently not. On the ship the crew has a bunch of magical objects from different myths, such as a bottomless sack from an Irish story and luminescent herring from a Scandinavian myth explaining the Northern Lights. They even have a crew member from an imaginary city.

The crew is able to navigate to these strange and magical places all thanks to Nix, our main character. The girl is like a walking encyclopaedia of myth and history. I am myself a big fan of mythology, but there was still so much mentioned in this book that I had no idea about. Still, you could keep up with the story without knowing all the facts beforehand. And for the very curious (like me) there is a handy dandy author’s note in the back detailing the origins of most of the myths and objects mentioned in the story.

The story mostly takes place in Hawaii in the 1800’s. I have always wanted to go to Hawaii, so learning more about its history was really fascinating. This was a story I had never heard before in my life. I am starting to realize what an interesting history Hawaii has, and would really like to learn more.

I found the main character to be extremely smart, but a bit hard to relate to. She keeps herself at arm’s length from the other characters, and also from the reader. The rest of the characters in this story are very diverse, which always makes a story better in my opinion. The ships motely crew come from all over the world and from all different times, which makes a very interesting mix.

This is most of all an adventure story, but from the blurb I thought it would also have quite a bit of romance in it. I mean, the front reads “A journey through time. A journey to love.”. In spite of that, I do not think this was a love story at all. Sure, there was some romantic tension between a few characters, but not at all enough to call it a romance. This turned out to be the complete opposite of most YA, where there is usually more romance than you expected. Instead, this book focuses more on the love within families, which is refreshing.

I really enjoyed this story. It had plenty of adventure and lots of myth and history. I adore the time-traveling concept, and I look forward to seeing where the author takes the story in the next book (I believe this is a duology?). I recommend it to all history- and mythology nerds out there or to anyone looking for an entertaining adventure story. Also, how could you say no to time-traveling pirates?

//love from L

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The Custard Protocol series by Gail Carriger

This is a spoiler-free series review of the first two books in the Custard Protocol Series: Prudence and Imprudence. In case you were wondering/confused.

Rating: ★★★★☆

Synopsis

From New York Times bestselling author Gail Carriger comes a new novel in the world of the Parasol Protectorate starring Prudence, the daughter of Alexia Tarabotti.

When Prudence Alessandra Maccon Akeldama (Rue to her friends) is given an unexpected dirigible, she does what any sensible female would under similar circumstances - names it the Spotted Custard and floats to India in pursuit of the perfect cup of tea. But India has more than just tea on offer. Rue stumbles upon a plot involving local dissidents, a kidnapped brigadier’s wife, and some awfully familiar Scottish werewolves. Faced with a dire crisis and an embarrassing lack of bloomers, what else is a young lady of good breeding to do but turn metanatural and find out everyone’s secrets, even thousand-year-old fuzzy ones?

(from Goodreads)

Thoughts

This is such a funny series. It takes place during the reign of Queen Victoria, in a steampunk/supernatural world. This is a parallel universe to our own except with dirigibles or airships galore and vampires and werewolves living in plain sight in high society. The vampires live in hives, with one queen and several drones. They have a great influence in regard to fashion and etiquette. The werewolves live in packs with an Alpha. They have close ties to the military. Both groups are immortal, can’t be out in daylight, and have a big role to play in her majesty’s government. This may seem like quite a complex world to grasp, and it may be so, because this is the third series Gail Carriger has written about this world. The first series was the Parasol Protectorate (with this series main character’s mother as the leading lady) and the second being the Finishing School series (which takes place before the events of the first series), which I have read and reviewed before. You do get the basics of the world in the first book of this series, but if you would like to completely understand this world you should read the other two series as well.

The main character Rue is the daughter of Alexia Tarabotti, the main character from the Parasol Protectorate and Lord Conall Maccon, Alpha to a powerful werewolf pack. She is also the adoptive daughter of Lord Akeldama, one of the most influential vampires in England. Confused yet? As far as I understand it, this arrangement was put into place to make sure Rue would not be partial to one species of supernatural over the other, because she herself in very powerful. She is a Metanatural, meaning she can steal the supernatural shape of anyone she touches, turning herself into a vampire or werewolf while also nullifying the supernatural person in question into a mortal, for a limited time. This ability means she gets to live quite a different life from your normal British aristocratic lady during the Victorian era.

The characters are what makes this story so entertaining. On her airship Rue assembles a crew with some of her best friends, the Tunstell twins Primrose and Percy, whose mother is a vampire queen, and Quesnel Lefoux, slightly irritating and very charming French engineer. Together the four of them get up to some crazy adventures, but nothing that can’t be solved with Rue’s special abilities or a nice cup of tea. Seriously, these people drink tea like it’s the answer to everything. Also, they of course abide by the proper manners of their time-period. It makes me want to start drinking tea with my pinkie high up and speak like a proper lady. It’s hilarious to see how meticulous they are about etiquette and proper dress. They are a great and quirky group that work of each other beautifully. My only complaint is that the two ladies are nicknamed Rue and Prim which constantly makes me think I’m reading the Hunger Games.

I liked both books, but I feel like the second was even better as I had gotten to know the characters and the world a bit better. I realize this series might not be everyone’s cup of tea (see what I did there?), but I hope you will still give it a go. It may very well surprise you. I was not sure about it at first either, but I ended up loving it. I’m very excited to read the next book in the series when it comes out (there are two more in the works). It’s such a hilarious read and really takes your mind of things. It’s light and fluffy and just plain whimsically funny.

//love from L

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Ignite Me by Tahereh Mafi

Part threeof the Shatter Me trilogy. Parts one and two here.

Rating: ★★★★☆

Synopsis

Omega Point has been destroyed. Juliette does not know if her friends or any of the rebels are still alive. The only thing she knows for sure is that she will no longer sit by and watch when she has the power to change things. She will do whatever it takes do bring the Reestablishment down, and she will do it with Warner’s help. The person she never thought she could trust. The person who saved her life. If Juliette is to discover the true strength of her gift, she will also have to face the truth about her feelings.

Thoughts

This was by far my favourite book of the series. I waited for two book for this to happen, and I’m so happy we got there: Juliette has finally realized what a badass she is and it is awesome! She is so sure of herself now, and it makes me so happy for her. The cross-outs that were so frequent in the first book are all gone by the end, which really shows her brilliant character development. Another character who has had some extreme development is Warner. I don’t believe I’ve ever changed my mind about a character as completely as I have with Warner. It really shows how important perspectives are for how you view a story. Another character that I fell in love with in this book is Kenji. At first I just thought he was the comic relief but in Ignite Me he becomes such an amazing friend to Juliette. Any scene with him in it made me happy. Now, as you can probably tell by my ramblings, my favourite part of this book was the characters. They are all so broken and twisted in so many different ways, and we get to see them break down and pick themselves back up again, and it’s really great. I really loved the relationship between Juliette and Warner, as well. I mean, how can you not! They are adorable and they complement each other so well. Also, how beautiful is this cover!? It goes so well with the symbolism of Juliette’s character development. I flew though this book, I loved it even though the ending was rather abrupt, and it is one of the most interesting series I’ve read.

//Love from L

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Unravel Me by Tahereh Mafi

Part two ofthe Shatter Me series, part one here.

Rating: ★★★★☆

Synopsis

At the end of Shatter Me, Juliette, Adam, James and Kenji all manage to escape to Omega Point, the rebel base where people with all kinds of abilities like Juliette’s live together, hiding from the Reestablishment. In Unravel Me, we pick up with a Juliette who is still afraid of her own power. She still feels like an outsider. Escaping was supposed to set her free, but now she has to battle her own demons. She needs to face her past and learn to control her powers. Most of all, she needs to stop running. Before it’s too late. Before the war arrives.

Thoughts

Juliette is still a very problematic character. She is overreacting and shutting other people out. She has the power to literally crush walls, but she is too afraid to see it, which is very frustrating. Her relationship with Adam is getting increasingly unstable, which is not making things easier for her. Thankfully, she gets some extreme character development, which is one of my favourite parts. Unravel Me really picked up about halfway through, when the really exciting things started happening. It had some great plot twists that left me so incredulous. That’s what really kept the story going for me, the constant twists and turns and the urge to know what would happen next. It deals with some pretty deep motives of ethics and morals, which I was not expecting but loved nonetheless. The best part of this novel, however, was that it made me realize that villains are often the most interesting and complex characters. If you read this, I would recommend keeping the next part of the trilogy, Ignite Me, close at hand. This ending will leave you desperate to know what will happen next.

//Love from L

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Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi

Rating: ★★★★☆

Synopsis

Juliette hasn’t spoken to another human being in almost a year. She is locked up in an asylum for a crime she did not intend. They locked her up to keep everyone else safe. Juliette’s touch is lethal, and no one knows why. Isolated since childhood, Juliette has never known affection, warmth or any kind of human contact. She has almost lost what little hope she had to begin with, but everything changes when she gets a cellmate. The Reestablishment, who promised everyone to fix this broken world, has plans for her. Plans to utilize her powers as a weapon. But Juliette has plans of her own. Plans to fight back.

Thoughts

I didn’t have very high expectations for this book when I picked it up, but it surely surprised me. Reading it was a thrilling ride and after the first hundred pages I was unable to put it down. Juliette was a really interesting character to me. She has been isolated her entire life and has zero experience of other people, so seeing her respond to the events that take place made this novel even more capturing. Some might say she is overly dramatic and naïve, but I’ll have to put that down to her imprisonment. When you have never felt anything but your own loneliness every experience and emotion is bound to hit you like a tidal wave. In the beginning she is very fragile, but she goes though some serious character development when she discovers the truth about her fatal touch. My favourite part of this book, however, was the prose and the writing style. The whole book is filled with crossed out sentences. These are the things Juliette is trying to stop herself from thinking or saying, and it gives an entirely new perspective of her. The prose reminded me a bit of Matched. It’s very poetic. It takes some getting used to, but it is absolutely beautiful and makes the story flow. Shatter Me is in many ways a dystopia, but it is also very focused on romance. We get to follow the very first relationship Juliette forms, and as it is the first everything is very intense. To me the romance in this novel was not so much about two people, but a portrayal of what it feels like to fall in love for the very first time. The poetic prose really makes these scenes come alive. Juliette’s discovery of the freedom that comes with this love and the strength that comes with her powers really makes this an unforgettable read.

//Love from L

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The Little Paris Bookshop by Nina George

Rating: ★★★☆☆

Synopsis

On a barge on the Seine, Jean Perdu runs a bookshop, or rather a ‘literary apothecary’, for this bookseller possess a rare gift for sensing which books will soothe his customers’ troubled souls.

The only person he is unable to cure, it seems, is himself. For twenty-one years he has nursed a broken heart - and never dared open the letter his love left behind. But the arrival of an enigmatic new neighbour inspires Jean to unlock his heart, unmoor the floating bookshop and set off for Provence, in search of the past and his beloved.

(from Goodreads)

Thoughts

I went to Paris a few months ago and fell in love with quite a few bookshops over there. I had not heard anything about this book before – I picked it up solely based on the title. It just seemed like the perfect combination. It was both that, and a lot of other things I did not expect.

As the blurb said, this story is about a man going on a journey to heal his broken heart. As the title suggests, it is also a story about books. However, it has less to do with Paris than you would expect. The story starts out in the city of light, but pretty soon it becomes a road trip story taking place on a boat through the French country side. Along the way Jean Perdu meets a bunch of unique and hilarious people, who all bring something vital to the story. The most prominent of these being Max; the young author of a bestseller, now on the run from his publishers and fans who demand he write something just as great this time. However, Max has had writers block for years. Out of all the characters, he is the one I could picture the most clearly in my head (namely Ben Whishaw as Q).

This was a surprisingly sad story. I won’t give away details, but the story takes a turn for the melancholy after a little while, which I rather think a reader should know before picking this book up; especially as it was marketed as a feel-good. However, this book manages to mix the sad parts with hilarious and thrilling adventure in a beautiful way. And all the while there is the underlying focus on books and their healing powers. This is as much a story of the power of literature as it is of lost love. As a certified bookworm, I loved the bookish parts especially.

This was a bittersweet read, both gloomy and uplifting. As it is not YA which is what I usually read, I found it a bit harder to relate to the characters and their issues, as they are all quite a bit older than me. I would recommend this book to all the booklovers out there who believe in the magic of reading, and are looking for a slower read.

//love from L

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A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J. Maas

This is the third part of the A Court of Thornes and Roses series, so beware of spoilers. I have reviews for the first and second books here.

Rating: ★★★★★

Synopsis

Feyre has returned to the Spring Court, determined to gather information on Tamlin’s maneuverings and the invading king threatening to bring Prythian to its knees. But to do so she must play a deadly game of deceit—and one slip may spell doom not only for Feyre, but for her world as well. As war bears down upon them all, Feyre must decide who to trust amongst the dazzling and lethal High Lords—and hunt for allies in unexpected places.

(from Goodreads)

Thoughts

I finished this book a few weeks ago but I just had to get my thoughts together before I was even close to being able to write about it. So much went down in this book and I just love this series so much!

Okay, so we pick up with Feyre being an undercover agent in the Spring Court, pretty soon after the horrifying events at the end of the second book. For those of you who don’t quite remember (I didn’t when I picked this book up), this is pretty much what happened (SPOILERS FOR BOOK TWO COMING UP, THIS IS YOUR FINAL WARNING): Feyre and the Night Court went to Hybern to nullify the cauldron, the King of Hybern’s most deadly weapon. Their plan backfired spectacularly as they had been betrayed by both the mortal queens and Tamlin, who had also turned over Feyre’s two sisters Nesta and Elaine to the King. The whole incredibly intense and emotional scene ends with Ferye’s sisters being made Fey, Nesta being a total badass/bitch and promising to kill the King for hurting Elaine, Lucien realizing he and Feyre’s sister Elaine are mates, Cassian almost dying and getting his wings torn to scraps, the King severing the bargain bond between Feyre and Rhys (not the mating bond as everyone thought at first), Feyre tricking Tamlin into thinking that she had been bewitched into staying with and loving Rhys, and her being taken back to the Spring Court with him. Geesh. I was so emotional reading that ending. So, we start out in ACOWAR with Feyre at the Spring Court faking recovery after being “abducted” by the Night Court, Tamlin totally buying that story (because he’s dumb), Lucien being very suspicious of Feyre (because he’s clever) and also knowing that she is the only one who can help him get back to his mate. Meanwhile Rhys, the Night Court, and Feyre’s sisters have escaped back to the north to heal and plot. And that’s just the beginning…

This book very much centres on Feyre growing into her new role as High Lady (another last-minute reveal of the ending of ACOMAF). Her being back at the Spring Court shows how drastically she has changed and developed since the last time she was there. She is such a badass now I can hardly recognize the timid girl from the first book. She is so sure of herself and her powers, and is so beautifully in control in this plotline of scheming and intrigue. In fact, this book is mostly about political intrigue and gearing up for the big war with Hybern. Feyre is brilliant as High Lady in this storyline. Seeing her face down the other High Lords was a treat. I also loved learning more about the other Lords and their respective magic later on in the book. However, Feyre and the others can be a bit frustrating at times. I occasionally find myself wanting to shake them and scream “how could you think this was a good plan, you moron?!”. In spite of that, I do love them to bits.

Another big theme in this book is family. Throughout Feyre has to choose between her old friends (i.e. Lucien) at the Spring Court and her new family at the Night Court, but also a lot of focus is put on her relationship with her sisters, which was shaky at best before they both became immortal. It also focuses a lot on the relationships within the Night Court group, between Feyre, Rhys, Mor, Cassian, Azriel, and Amren (this group is one of my favourites of all time!). They are just wonderful together, but in this book we learn more about their history together before Feyre met them, which is quite extensive what with them being immortal and all. I especially loved learning more about Mor. I think character development is a big theme all around, as well as the political intrigue part. There is also a lot of history being revealed about Prythian and the wall, which I feel was pretty unexplored before.

This book is so full of intrigue and deception that sometimes you have trouble remembering who is on which side. In some cases, you never really figure out where their loyalties lie. I am still not sure whether some were double or triple spies. It keeps you on your toes throughout the story. All of the plotting eventually leads up to the big battle that we have been preparing for throughout the last two books. The final battle scenes were so well written that I flew through them. At times it felt like everything was happening in slow-motion and I was right there in the middle of it. It was quite a surreal reading experience.

I loved this book! I think it brought the story forward in a beautiful way, and kept the action going right to the end. It answered many questions while also creating new ones. I did not love it as much as ACOMAF, but then again that was one of my favourite books of all time so that’s quite hard to beat. As always with Sarah J. Maas the writing was beautiful, the characters were phenomenal, and the story was packed with amazing plot twists. I can’t wait for the next book to come out. And if you haven’t read this series yet (first of all, WHY ARE YOU STILL READING I WARNED YOU ABOUT SPOILERS!) please, please, PLEASE pick it up. It is one of the best fantasy series I have ever read.

//love from L

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Sidenote! I think I just read that this was the last part of a trilogy? I am in such denial. I thought this was going to be a six-part series! How have I not heard of this before?! According to this there are going to be three more books set before and after the “first series”. I just can’t process that this was the last book with Feyre and Rhys as the main characters, I just won’t stand for it *melts into a puddle*. Also the story feels far from finished. Someone please tell me if this is true or if you know more about this!