REVIEW: Harry Potter and the Cursed Child

ASDFGHJKLPOIUYTREWQZXCVBNM. Incoherent babbling due to overwhelming amounts of excitement.

Let's try again.

I AM SO HAPPY THIS BOOK EXISTS AND NOW I SHOULD TELL YOU WHY!

The Short Story:

If you read the Harry Potter series at any point in your life and still have a great and sincere love for it, PLEASE. READ. THIS. BOOK. If you haven't read Harry Potter, DO NOT READ THIS BOOK. Spoilers out the wazoo. Yes, it is slightly odd to read as a script, but if you really love the series, it shouldn't hinder your love for this book!

The Long Story:

This story picks up precisely where the epilogue of Deathly Hallows ends: Albus Severus Potter's first year at Hogwarts! And the shenanigans start immediately. Albus forms and unlikely (or seemingly unlikely) friendship with Scorpius Malfoy, who lives a difficult life. Fortunately for both Albus, he can relate to having a famous father and how it feels to live in the shadow of what that father did in his own life. I can't give more plot details without spoiling, I think, but these boys embark on a fully ridiculous adventure and it is so fun to follow.
Albus and Scorpius' friendship is one of my favorite things of all time!! They are so fantastic together, and hilarious and supportive. Scorpius cracks me up and Albus is the perfect balance to Scorpius' geekiness.
I loved seeing Harry, Ron, and Hermione in their new roles (EEEP) as adults in the wizarding world! Seeing their jobs and family life and married life, oh boy, so satisfying. And not just them, but other characters from way back in the good ole days returned in awesome ways! Holy guacamole, I got so excited every time we met another character.
Some people are saying they saw the plot twist coming, but wow, I don't know how, because that twist hit me like a fastball to the face! I had to read that section a few times before I realized it actually happened and that really was the right thing. Sheesh.
The writing was so great for this, especially with it being a script book. There were just enough cues and descriptions to fill in the blanks where the dialogue couldn't go. For the most part, it was easy to get a visual because we've had eight movies and seven books to get a picture in our head of these settings and characters! And then we have enough experience with the world that the action and new characters come to life in our minds fairly easily. At least that is how it worked for me.
I highly recommend reading this. If you're feeling nervous because it is a script or because you aren't sure it can live up to your expectations, give it a try anyway. If nothing else, it is a new story in the Harry Potter world! I really think you'll like it :)

6/5 stars. Yes, I know what I typed. That extra star is for nostalgia.

Happy reading!

REVIEW: The Unexpected Everything by Morgan Matson

It is hot. It is humid. And it is the most summery of summer weather, which means stay inside or in the shade and read for hours and hours... and hours.
So when the world is trying to melt me, I do just that! While I'm not a "seasonal reader," I looked at The Unexpected Everything and I was like YES SUMMER YES.
And you guys, it did not disappoint AT ALL! This book is summer in a book, perfect and fantastic and all the things yes.

The Short Story:

If you like stories about being spontaneous and finding yourself and REAL friendships, (and dogs), read this book. The dogs were some of my favorite characters, the romance is very well done (albeit a smidgen insta-lovey), and the growth in all of the characters is great. This is truly the quintessential summer novel. Please read!

The Long Story:

Andi is the daughter of a now-infamous politician, and scandal has turned her world (and plans and summer and life) upside down. As a type A person and a constant planner, Andi couldn't be more thrown by being forced to change her summer plans at the last second. And she definitely could not have guessed she would become a dog walker. Or meet a dorky boy. Or have to hide secrets from friends and family. Or anything else that happens in her summer, but the craziness might just be what she needed all along.
Andi is such a relatable character for a lot of people, especially in high school, who are always on the lookout for ways to better their resume or look more impressive to universities. Morgan Matson lets you see every bit of Andi and her motivations and fears and goals. This makes you really want to keep reading just to get to know Andi better.
I love the relationships in this book (except to a point, which you'll probably understand when (yes I said when and not if) you read it)!! Family relationships and friendships and romantic relationships. THEY MAKE ME SMILE! This book has so many genuine characters and their relationships with one another are so enjoyable to read about.
I'll be honest and say I saw the plot twist (is it a plot twist? the surprise? sure..) coming a mile away. But that didn't affect my reading the book; it just made me want to read more and more. I thought the author wrote this conflict very well and in a way that seemed accurate to real life.
My favorite part: the romance. So. It was unbelievably amazing for me! If you like sugary sweetness, this might not be your favorite romance. But if you like hilarity and a couple just having the best time together, this is a great one!
Again, the dogs. THE. DOGS. Bertie. ASDFGHJKL. I loved how much attention was given to the dogs because it made them into important characters! I have two dogs and reading about how the dogs were acting made me laugh because I knew exactly how dogs are.
Overall, this book was funny and clever and sweet and sad and emotional and relatable and REAL. Highly recommend!

5/5 stars, no doubt.

Happy reading!

REVIEW: Septimus Heap series by Angie Sage

Guys, the heavens have opened, the angel choirs are singing, and I'm basking in the glorious light of I FINALLY FINISHED THE SEPTIMUS HEAP SERIES AND I CANNOT EVEN BELIEVE IT HAPPENED!!! 

I started this series over 2 years ago (which is why none of you would have any clue as to why I'm so excited about this) on a whim. I was getting ready to head off on a long car trip with my boyfriend and his family and I wanted to bring a book... but hadn't brought my own. So I grabbed Magyk off his shelf and began this rough and tumble ride of 2 years. 
I feel like I want to breathe a sigh of relief big enough to bowl over a few small trees. Golly gosh I'm excited!
Bonus content for why I'm so pumped: it took me about 2 and a half weeks to read the seventh book, Fyre. I started it as an audiobook and hardly touched it for a week, then tried an e-book and read a little...then went on a week-long trip with no Wi-Fi... and finally, I've finished it. I feel so accomplished. Somebody bake me cookies. Please. :)
ANYWAYS, I really liked this series. And I'm going to tell you why. Which might maybe take a little while because this series is humongous and ridiculous. 

The Short Story:

This series has highly developed characters, complex and intense plot lines (yes, that is VERY plural), and a super fantastic and unique magic system. It is middle grade, and on the younger end of middle grade, but that does not discredit it as a series. It resembles a younger-reader Harry Potter to some degree and I would recommend it for HP fans. My only complaint, which is actually somewhat big, is that the series felt like it could have ended after every book. It is a good SERIES, but each book feels like a fine standalone. Still highly recommended, especially for a middle school reader.

The Long Story:

Septimus Heap has the most complicated life on the planet. In a world of Magyk, mistaken identities and long-lost Magykal artifacts seem commonplace! This series follows Septimus through his life, from about 10 years old until (I think) 17. Each book is a new adventure with some new characters and some stick-with-you-through-it-all best friends. The Heap family is wonderful and a little Weasley-ish. Marcia Overstrand must be the fiercest book woman ever in her purple python boots. Spit Fyre, the Drummins, and Marcellus are just a few more wacky characters you get to meet while living with Sep. This series is so all-encompassing and entertaining. It also has a Rick Riordan feel to it, with lots of humor and silliness. The plot is always thick and filled with details that you won't realize are important until they are and it blows your mind. You grow with the characters as they face each and every obstacle and DEAL WITH IT. 
Maybe this won't be such a long story after all. I honestly cannot give many details without spoiling important moments in any of the books. Trust me, it is okay to go in blind. I get nervous sometimes when people tell me to do so because I want to know what it is about, but for this series it really is the best choice. PLEASE give it a try. Like I said in the Short Story above, my only problem with this series is it seemed to go on for too long. But that doesn't totally diminish the last few books. If you read this and get to the middle books and want to give up, I really think the last book, Fyre, makes sticking it out worth it. It was an amazing conclusion to such an epic series. 

Series rating: 4.25/5 stars. 

Happy reading!

REVIEW: The Dragon Princess by E.D. Baker

Last week I reviewed The Salamander Spell by E.D. Baker (spoiler alert: I loved it!!). So I immediately dove into the next Frog Princess book, The Dragon Princess. While The Salamander Spell follows Emma's aunt as a young girl, The Dragon Princess follows Emma's daughter, Millie. I love when authors write books like this. I love following children of main characters because there are always references to the adventures of the main characters and getting to spend time with those characters at a different point in their life is so fun for me. Well, let's get into it, shall we?

The Short Story:

As with all of the books so far in E.D. Baker's Frog Princess series, friendship and adventure abound in this book. There are silly characters as well as scary ones, strong relationships and good examples of friends and family ties. The writing is simple, yet still attention-grabbing. If you like magic and fairytales and good lessons, you should try this series.

The Long Story:

In this book, we follow Princess Millie, daughter of Emma and Eadric, who has a very interesting problem in her life. Most of the time, she is a princess, a young girl who has best friends and likes to learn and seeks adventure. However, when something upsets her (and, at her age, anger just happens sometimes... hormones, you know), she turns into a dragon. Yep. This is obviously an issue of convenience but especially an issue of secrecy and fear. People don't generally like dragons and Millie is the only child of Emma and Eadric, therefore their only heir. It doesn't help that Eadric's parents, Millie's grandparents, are wholeheartedly against magical things and creatures of any kind. Millie desperately wants a way to stop this change from happening or at least to gain control over it. With a temper like hers, who knows what can happen! So Millie and her friends set off to find a way to control her anger. And there is magic and craziness along the way.

Like I said in the short story, the writing in this series is so simple. This is a middle grade, and probably young middle grade at that, series, so the writing should not be flouncy and fancy. But it doesn't detract from the story. In fact, it makes it easier to follow and quick to read. 

Millie is awesome. She is such a protective friend and a great mix of her parents. I love the way her dragon magic works: her mother spent too much time as a dragon when she was pregnant with Millie. Zoe is a great friend to Millie as well, and serves as a way to show Millie's compassion. Francis... oh, man, I love this guy. He's Millie's cousin and he is adorkable (note the "k", of course) and determined and encouraging and very sweet. I stinkin' love him. I also love that most "trios" in YA and middle grade are two boys and a girl, but in this book it is two girls and a boy. Just a weird thing I noticed and enjoyed!

Overall: magic, great friends, DRAGONS (I cannot resist a dragon book), more magic, adventure, and self-discovery. Big fan.

5/5 stars.

What is your favorite magical creature to read about??

Happy reading!

REVIEW: TheStickerAlley Bookmarks!

Perhaps this title was a little bit misleading... sorry about that. This is a review, definitely, BUT not of a book! I recently placed an order from The Sticker Alley shop on Etsy and she makes bookmarks and stickers and such. I had been following her for quite awhile on Instagram (p.s. I'm @the.storied.shelf on Instagram) and drooling over her adorable designs, so when I saw she was having a SALE (boy, oh boy, is that a word that draws me in instantly) I absolutely had to buy something. 

And when they appeared in my mailbox, I squealed a little and jumped around in a totally awkward fashion. 

THEY ARE SO CUTE.

THEY. ARE. SO. CUTE.

I ordered her "4 random princesses" package with a note asking if she could try to include Belle (as she is my very favorite) and she did and I was so happy!! I also got Aurora (Sleeping Beauty), Pocahontas, and Snow White in my random four and I love each of them!

I also ordered a "pick your own mini" and I chose her BB-8 bookmark. Fun fact about me: I'm obsessed with BB-8. Another fun fact about me: I've never seen a single Star Wars movie in my life, but I plan to. 

So these are her mini bookmarks and I chose the mini size because I've found when magnetic bookmarks are larger, they feel too heavy on the pages. I really like the size and weight of these bookmarks because they're very light and small but not so tiny that you lose them. 

The designs are PERFECT. I wouldn't change a thing. The little smiling faces on the princesses are adorable and their dresses are super accurate and gorgeous. The colors are splendid and bright and true to reality on both BB-8 and the princesses. They're all a little "sketchy"-style and that is something I LOVE in cartoon designs.

The only downside on these bookmarks is the quality of the paper. These are basically just paper, anything you'd have in your printer at home. It's easy to rip and therefore these bookmarks are quite delicate. This bugs me just a little because I like them so much and I'm afraid I'll break them by using them. But maybe I'm just a little too rough with my bookmarks...

On the very bright side, this sale I mentioned earlier? She was getting rid of stock using this paper quality so she could fill her shop with her new paper!!! I'm sure it is a vast improvement and I'd love to get my hands on some of the new ones so I can compare. 

Overall, I really love these bookmarks and I'd say they are worth a try if you like magnetic bookmarks and are okay with them maybe being slightly less durable (though I cannot speak for the new ones, which will presumably be more durable) and therefore a more affordable option. Check out https://www.etsy.com/shop/TheStickerAlley :)

4/5 stars.

Happy reading!

(This post is not sponsored. I purchased all products with my own funds and without prompting from the shop. All opinions are my own.)

REVIEW: The Salamander Spell by E.D. Baker

I mentioned in my 6 Favorite Series of All Time post the Frog Princess series by E.D. Baker. I read the original four-book series in middle school but it has stuck with me until now and I still love it just as much.
I recently found out that there are four more books that are part of this series! Imagine my excitement knowing the magic has yet to end! These books do not follow the same plot and characters are the first four, but instead are prequels and future stories.
The Salamander Spell is the first of these newer books and it is a prequel to the original series. So, if you read this review and feel interested in this book, you can definitely read it before reading the others. And then tell me all about it because I need someone to geek out about it with!

The Short Story:

This book is sweet and charming, magical and delightful. If you like middle grade, fantasy, magic, perfectly innocent romance and friendships, and a little bit of mischief, give this series a try. If you need to get out of a reading slump, this should be your go-to choice!

The Long Story:

This book follows Grassina, the aunt of the main heroine in the original series. Grassina is present in that series as well, but here she is a young girl of 13. Her older sister, Chartreuse, is in training to become queen and the Green Witch. The Green Witch of Greater Greensward is the protector of the entire kingdom, the kindest magic-wielder, and the most powerful witch there is. Unfortunately, Chartreuse has not come into her magic yet and a whole lot of problems are happening in Greater Greensward. Grassina and Chartreuse's mother has been struck by a family curse and not-so-friendly  magical creatures have come to reside in the forest surrounding the kingdom. It starts to appear, to everyone's dismay, as though Grassina is possibly the only one who can fix anything. Along the way of trying to undo the wrongs and defeat the dangers threatening her life and her family, she meets several great friends and learns that love is stronger and friends are true.
Now, doesn't that just sound like the most sugar-sweet little book you've ever heard about? (Answer: YES). And it is such a satisfying read. It moves so quickly without feeling rushed and keeps you interested. The characters are charming and well-crafted. Perhaps they could be more complex, but this is a middle grade story and not a very long one at that. It reads just like a fairytale and is perfect for fans of Disney movies and retellings. 
My one and only thought that isn't entirely positive is that the romance went from zero to one hundred in about three pages. BUT the author justified the insta-love and I was happy with it. 
If you like fantasy middle grade that is light and easy to read, please give this series a try. Start here OR start with The Frog Princess, I don't think it matters and you'll love either one!

5/5 stars.

Happy reading!

REVIEW: Worlds of Ink and Shadow by Lena Coakley

Like many of you, I'm sure, I got to (read: was forced by threat of a failing grade) read novels by the Brontes in high school. To put it nicely, I did not enjoy them. They were hard to read and strange in a way I wasn't sure I could get into. So when I received an OwlCrate box containing a book in which the main characters are the Bronte siblings, I was... less than overjoyed. 
However, I am not one to DNF ("did not finish") a book without even trying! I'm no quitter! Most of the time, anyway. And this attitude meant that I tried the book. The plot sounded interesting, but the characters made me wary. BUT. Guys. This book was actually very good. I'm shocked myself, but I thoroughly enjoyed reading it!

The Short Story:

Three words for this book: atmospheric, mysterious, mystical. I would say magical, but mystical feels more appropriate, if I can create a difference between them. This novel involved between-worlds travel, lack of certain reality, and ghosts... of sorts. If you like darker books or books about writing, you'll probably like this one. Give it a go!

The Long Story:

This book is about the four Bronte siblings: Charlotte, Branwell, Emily, and Anne. They write, of course, and they live their lives as siblings, bickering and still loving each other. The book takes place after the loss of the elder two Bronte daughters: Maria and Elizabeth. The author took historical fact, real true stories from the Bronte house, and then took a whole lot of liberties with it. She merged old folktales and fables with dark moor stories and then added a special magic all her own. 
In this story, Charlotte and Branwell are the real writers of the family. They write constantly about these fantastical world they created and their stories really come to life. But there's a problem with this liveliness: these young authors are able to physically transport themselves into the world about which they write. However, with this apparent gift comes a more apparent curse. Not only are the siblings being driven apart and isolated from one another, but the price to pay for world travel is beginning to be much too high. And then everything gets crazy.
I liked the premise of this story, travelling to created worlds through writing. I love that idea and anytime it's used in a novel, I'm almost guaranteed to read it. And Coakley did it really well! She wrote a magic system that works because it is based in old wives' tales and legend and that system was perfect for the moorish setting of the book. 
The characters... hm. I liked Anne the best, as she was the youngest and made the most sense to me as the book went on. She was sweet and loyal, loving and kind, unlike some other Brontes. I was not so sure about the rest of the siblings. If you like books where you might not be able to trust the narrator at any given time, you should like this style.
As for the style of the world building and storytelling, I was confused in the beginning. I wasn't given all the information up front, nor was I given many details at all about things! But when I realized that was how the book would go, learning as each character learned, I got into it more and I really enjoyed it. It kept me on the edge of my seat because I never knew exactly what was happening; I only knew what the characters decided to tell me then.
Overall, I liked this book. I did not love it, but I did have fun reading it and would recommend it to Bronte fans or darker fantasy fans.

3.5/5 stars.

Have you read this? Let me know your thoughts! Or let me know your favorite classic novel; I'm always looking for good classics :)

Happy reading!

REVIEW: The Crown by Kiera Cass

This shall, without a doubt, be one of the most emotional book reviews I ever write. The Selection series has come to a spectacular, fireworks-display of an ending, and I don't know what to do with myself. I spontaneously picked up the first book when it had just come out and I was so hooked. I read the next one, and the next one, and thought it was over. And then it wasn't. And I was so happy. This series is addictive in the most fantastic way. Let's just get into this finale because boy oh boy was it a good one.

The Short Story:

I obviously cannot give too many details because spoilers are too easy to give away in the case of a final book, but I can say I never knew where the story would go until it got there, I laughed out loud, I cried actual tears, and I swooned HARD. I don't care what people think of Eadlyn as a character, I think she got everything she deserved. Long live the Schreaves!

The Long Story:

Let me take a breath here. 

I waited a year for this book, pining over these characters and waiting, needing, to know what became of them (especially due to the CLIFFHANGER OF THE CENTURY in The Heir, sheesh) and when this book finally was in my hands, it was everything I wanted. Kiera Cass never once let me believe I had figured out the ending of this book. Never once! Every time I thought I had a wavering guess, she shot it down quicker than I could think it. And that quality in a book makes me keep reading and keep loving it. She creates characters that make you want to love them... or throttle them, whichever it appropriate at the time. Overall, Kiera made a world I could have stayed in forever. 

I was happy with the ending. Happy is actually not a strong enough word. I kicked my legs and squealed and laughed and cried and LOVED EVERY WORD. I know some people question the way the story and the relationships went, but I think it had to go this way and I'm so glad it did. Everything wrapped up in such an amazing and heart-wrenching way, but everything really did wrap up. I feel no loose ends, no questions, just closure. 

Kiera Cass, thank you for giving us Selection fans everything America and Eadlyn needed. We wish we could have Maxon, America, Eadlyn, Marlee, Erik, Brice, May, Aspen, and all their friends in our heads forever like you will. 

5/5 stars. No, 6/5 stars.

Now I need to add a spoilery section because I can't NOT for this book. Please stop scrolling now if you haven't read The Crown and plan to.

Really. Please come back later :) Happy reading!

SPOILERS TO COME:

I am so over-the-moon happy Eadlyn chose Erik, er, Eikko. When I was reading The Heir, I considered this as a possible ending but thought it would be too predictable of a plot twist. I thought it was Kile. I wanted it to be Henri because he's cute like a baby duck. Then I thought Hale (AND BOY WAS I WRONG ABOUT THAT GUY). Then Marid appeared and I stopped in my tracks (once again, WRONG WRONG WRONG). I never thought it was Ean and I was so glad when his story took another turn. Eadlyn and Erik is so right. They balance each other, but they also challenge and complete each other. I loved Eadlyn's moment with her dad in those last seven minutes at the end of the book, where she drops all pretense of being a queen and asks her dad for help in this matter of the heart...and politics. I just loved it. Eadlyn made all the right choices and I'm ecstatic at the end of this epic story. Feel free to discuss in the comments, I'd love to chat with you about it!!

REVIEW: A Whole New World by Liz Braswell

If I love anything as much as I love books, Disney would be that thing. I may be graduating from college and heading off into the "real" world, but play any Disney song and I revert into a five-year-old singing every word and quoting every line. 

So you can imagine how I reacted when I saw someone had written a retelling of Disney's Aladdin. There was a lot of squealing and fangirling and magic-carpet-riding and what not. And upon finishing said book, I had "A Whole New World" and the end credits music running through my head (yes, I even recognize the credits music, because it's amazing so there). 

BUT that is not fitting for this "Twisted Tale". Let me tell you a thing. Wow.

The Short Story:

This book is unexpected, shocking, romantic, epic, magical, and hilarious. Be prepared for exact quotes from the movie. The story will take you on a journey you absolutely do not see coming and characters will tackle moral dilemmas much larger than in the movie. If you liked the movie, I think you'll like the book, too. I certainly did!

The Long Story:

The tagline for this book is "what if Aladdin never got the lamp?" Just think for a second. What happens if that question is true? BAD THINGS, that's what. This book, guys. This. Book. It was not what I was expecting but it was also everything I wanted. This story follows the movie extremely closely up to a certain point...at which it simply skips to "and the bad guy wins" and everything goes bananas. Aladdin and Jasmine meet in the marketplace, have the same goofy flirty banter, and things go along as we Disney movie viewers expect. Then the story takes a turn and the characters are forced to turn with it. This does mean that the characters grow in a different way than in the movie. 
This book is a huge adventure. Aladdin is our goofy and golden-hearted main character and Jasmine is our fierce and vivacious princess. The synopsis tells us that Jafar gets the lamp. Jafar is not meant to rule and his flaws are well-executed and really weave into his motives. There are many other characters who have such huge personalities that I can hardly call them side characters. Agrabah falls to pieces under Jafar, as anyone would expect, and it is up to the underdogs, the Street Rats, to fix it. But goodness knows, there are some issues with just "fixing it".
I wish I had known ahead of time how much certain parts would parallel the movie because it made it hard to separate the two while reading. Certain relationships and back stories were a little hard to follow or seemed irrelevant and I wish we had gotten more about Jafar because he is such a ridiculous villain. Since I am a wuss, there were some scenes that were too graphic for my taste and I wish I had been prepared for that. They don't call it a "twisted" tale for nothing, apparently.
If you like heist stories or political stories or Disney or fairytales in general, try this book on for size. I think you'll enjoy it. I really liked this book and retelling fans will, too.

4/5 stars.

Let me know if you've read this book and what you thought of it! 

Happy reading!

REVIEW: Black Widow: Forever Red by Margaret Stohl

When The Avengers came out several years ago, I'd never seen a single superhero movie willingly. Then something crazy happened and now I can't get enough! SOOO, of course, when I saw this beauty on the shelf at Target, I just about lost my mind and I couldn't buy it fast enough. 

Black Widow is one of the most mysterious of the Avengers and that probably has something to do with the fact that she doesn't have her own individual movies (yet, I hope). But she's fantastic. Hence, this book was fantastic. Just let me tell you. 

The Short Story:

This book reads like a movie: the action is dynamic and the relationships are larger than life. Natasha Romanoff is a force to be reckoned with and the one thing she cannot reckon with is her past. But you'll want to be there when she has to. Black Widow is intense, plot-twisty, and unexpected. Be prepared for a ride.

The Long Story:

This book is not solely about Natasha herself (as one might guess), but about two teenagers who get tangled up in her life: Ava and Alex. They all have a special connection that cannot be severed and, for the sake of safety, should not be. Ava is an orphan, Alex is a seemingly innocent bystander, and Natasha is a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent famous the whole world over. Some fun, well-known characters make a guest appearance, one of whom is Agent Coulson and the other is an avenger who banters like none other. There are so many actiony and adventurey scenes (yes, those are words now) that, as a reader, it is almost hard to keep up. The villain in this story sends shivers up my spine; he is very well-written and I won't be forgetting him any time soon. The story is frequently interrupted by official reports and interview documents taking place after the events of this book, making the story even more complicated than at first glance. The characters are likable and charming; even Natasha has her moments of charm (though anyone can see it kills her). I found myself not only smiling to myself but also laughing out loud as I read this book. Then other times I found myself wondering how Margaret Stohl could rip my heart out without so much as a second thought. "Emotional rollercoaster" is an understatement.
As much as I wish it were, this book was not perfect. The relationship was VERY intsa-lovey. Now, I'm a person who doesn't usually mind insta-love. But in this book, it seemed almost forced. It seemed to come out of nowhere and if the relationship had not been as prominent as it was, the story still would not have changed much. To each his or her own on insta-love, but I still liked and believed the relationship. 
Overall, I recommend this book especially to those who like superheroes and superstories and Marvel in general. It's creative and shocking and sad and hilarious.

4.5/5 stars.

Happy reading!

REVIEW: Soundless by Richelle Mead

Hi again, everyone! I literally just finished (as in... fifteen minutes ago?) Soundless by Richelle Mead and I knew I needed to write this review straightaway so it would be authentic. Y'all... this book is great.

[I have a quick little spiel to give on how I'll write reviews on this blog, just so nobody is confused. First, I'll give the short story. This is for those readers who want to go into a book with little to no information about it, simply a general feel and reaction. Second, I'll give the long story. This is for those who want to really know what a book is about. I won't include any spoilers because come on, nobody likes a spoiler, but I will give a more detailed explanation and more of my thoughts.]

So without further ado...

The Short Story: 

This book is simple and magical. It reads like a classic fairytale and the romance is everything you could want in a YA Fantasy. The main female character is strong, intellectual, and passionate. This book is a great short stand-alone read for rainy daydreamy days.

The Long Story: 

Our main character, Fei, is an artist in a remote mountaintop village in which every inhabitant is deaf. This has been the case for her entire life and for generations before. But now the villagers are at risk of losing something else. Just as this tragedy is striking in fuller force, Fei wakes up able to hear. This is more important and vital to hers and her friends' lives than anyone could possibly imagine. It takes her on an epic journey to discover a whole bunch about her life and her town than she ever could have guessed.
This is the only book I've ever read in which the characters all speak sign language. It almost makes the book feel quieter somehow, and when Fei regains her hearing, the reader can gain the sounds of her village with her. The main male character, Li Wei, is also passionate, like Fei, but in a way that makes him reckless where she is more steady.
There is also a family element to this book that is very well done. Family is often less of a focus in YA but this book tells about close families, with their struggles and triumphs.
Magic abounds in this story; the entire book feels like you're waiting for something. The mysticality (is that a word? magicalness? I'm sure you know what I mean) is subtle. It does not overwhelm the plot or the characters but weaves flawlessly through the threads Richelle is writing.
I had very few problems with this book and the only one I can name without spoiling is the beginning was a little hard to get into. It was a little slow and I was confused, but when the plot really started to pick up, I couldn't put it down.
I highly recommend this book for those who like magic (which, in my opinion, should be everyone).

5/5 stars.

Let me know what you think of this style of review with the short and long stories! I'd really appreciate feedback, positive or negative.

Happy reading!