The Upside of Falling by Alex Light – 🌟🌟🌟🌟

Book: The Upside of Falling

Author: Alex Light

Genre: YA Contemporary

Rating: 4/5

Pages: 416

Release Date: 18th February 2020

Purchase Link: Book Depository

Synopsis:

It’s been years since seventeen-year-old Becca Hart believed in true love. But when her former best friend teases her for not having a boyfriend, Becca impulsively pretends she’s been secretly seeing someone.

Brett Wells has it all. Being captain of the football team and one of the most popular guys in school, he should have no problem finding someone to date, but he’s always been more focused on his future than who to bring to prom. When he overhears Becca’s lie, Brett decides to step in and be her mystery guy. It’s the perfect solution: he gets people off his back for not dating and she can keep up the ruse.

Acting like the perfect couple isn’t easy though, especially when you barely know the other person. But with Becca still picking up the pieces from when her world was blown apart years ago and Brett just barely holding his together now, they begin to realize they have more in common than they ever could have imagined. When the line between real and pretend begins to blur, they are forced to answer the question: is this fake romance the realest thing in either of their lives?

I have been reading quite a bit of contemporary lately and I’m trying to get my hands on my more so I was absolutely pumped when I saw this was on the Harper360 YA newsletter! I was even more excited when I found this on my doorstep a while later!

I loved that the story gave both Brett and Becca’s points of view! It’s a small thing but I hate not knowing everything behind the scenes and having to wait until it’s explained by the character later. Furthermore, I adored that this wasn’t just a story about Becca and Brett’s relationship! I loved seeing Becca with her friends and healing a few rifts as well! There is definitely room for another book from a different characters POV with how this one ended.

One thing I didn’t like was the thing Brett’s father which I won’t get into. I understand how and why it was there but I wouldn’t find myself ever excusing that so that was a no-go for me.

I loved how Becca dealt with the issue of her father and that I liked a lot more! It was exactly as it should have been and she shouldn’t have been the one to initiate at that as well. It was great!

Overall, the book was a great, light and easy read and I can easily see myself reading more from the author! I hope there’s another book with the other character’s (you’ll know who if/when you read it ;)) POV as there’s so much that can be built upon and strengthened.

A Curse so Dark and Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer – 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Book: A Curse so Dark and Lonely (Cursebreakers #1)

Author: Brigid Kemmerer

Genre: YA Fantasy (Retelling of Beauty and the Beast)

Rating: 5/5

Pages: 484

Release Date: 29th January 2019

Purchase Link:

Synopsis:

Fall in love, break the curse.

Cursed by a powerful enchantress to repeat the autumn of his eighteenth year, Prince Rhen, the heir of Emberfall, thought he could be saved easily if a girl fell for him. But that was before he turned into a vicious beast hell-bent on destruction. Before he destroyed his castle, his family, and every last shred of hope.

Nothing has ever been easy for Harper. With her father long gone, her mother dying, and her brother constantly underestimating her because of her cerebral palsy, Harper learned to be tough enough to survive. When she tries to save a stranger on the streets of Washington, DC, she’s pulled into a magical world.

Break the curse, save the kingdom.

Harper doesn’t know where she is or what to believe. A prince? A curse? A monster? As she spends time with Rhen in this enchanted land, she begins to understand what’s at stake. And as Rhen realizes Harper is not just another girl to charm, his hope comes flooding back. But powerful forces are standing against Emberfall . . . and it will take more than a broken curse to save Harper, Rhen, and his people from utter ruin.

This retelling was absolutely amazing and I loved it! The characters were amazing and I loved the character arc for Harper and Rhen. Grey was the absolute best and I can’t wait to see more of him in the sequel ‘A Heart so Fierce and Broken‘. Especially since it will be from his and Lia’s perspective!

The book was great and I loved how Harper, who has cerebral palsy, did not let that become a weakness for her in any way. She refused to let it stop her from doing anything, and she gave as good as she got. It’s just a part of her and she never let it become this big thing she was constantly thinking about or even letting it limit what she could do. This book got brownie points for that alone. But seeing how fiercely protective she was of those she loved, how she wanted to be seen as she was, instead of someone less because of her CP was amazing. I loved seeing how she took control and pulling Grey and Rhen out of some situations. And the way she fell into her role of Princess of Disi made me cackle and love her all the more.

Rhen had an amazing character arc and I can’t wait to see what happens in the sequel with Grey, especially after the bombshells dropped on us in the last few chapters of the book! It’s going to be entertaining, and maybe even heart wrenching and I cannot wait! The storyline was a bit confusing at the start with how the seasons worked but it is explained a bit more clearly towards the middle of the book, and I had my light bulb moment when I realised how it worked.

Overall, the book was great, with beautiful world-building and even better characters. Brigid seamlessly introduced plot points that could or will be relevant in the sequel and the plot twists were dropped at the perfect point to put you in shock for a moment or two. I cannot wait to see where the sequel will take us! And of course, to explore more of Emberfall and neighbouring kingdoms!

The Candle and the Flame by Nafiza Azad ARC Review

*This is an ARC review. I received a copy of the eARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review and all thoughts/opinions in this blog are purely my own*

Book: The Candle and the Flame

Author: Nafiza Azad

Genre: YA Fantasy

Rating: 4/5

Pages: 416

Expected Publishing: 14 May 2019

Purchase Link: Amazon US (ships to the UK and is the cheapest option)

Synopsis:

Fatima lives in the city of Noor, a thriving stop along the Silk Road. There the music of myriad languages fills the air, and people of all faiths weave their lives together. However, the city bears scars of its recent past, when the chaotic tribe of Shayateen djinn slaughtered its entire population — except for Fatima and two other humans. Now ruled by a new maharajah, Noor is protected from the Shayateen by the Ifrit, djinn of order and reason, and by their commander, Zulfikar.

But when one of the most potent of the Ifrit dies, Fatima is changed in ways she cannot fathom, ways that scare even those who love her. Oud in hand, Fatima is drawn into the intrigues of the maharajah and his sister, the affairs of Zulfikar and the djinn, and the dangers of a magical battlefield.

I loved this book! At first it was hard for me to get into, but around 20-30% (basically when I saw the first piece of action) I was hooked! From then, it took me a day or two to finish off the book and then quietly reflect just to realise I wanted more. I want to see more of Fatimah Ghazala and Zulfikar!

One of my favourite parts about this book is the way it just brings the cultures to life and the seamless introduction of this place that has so many religions and cultures just living together. I also loved seeing so many of my favourite sweet treats and many items that I still use the Urdu term for just being casually mentioned because it’s so normal for me.

Another thing I loved is the importance of names. In Islam (Or at least as my family believe in it… not too sure what different sects take on this) but we believe that names are important. More often than not, we tend to notice that people we know with similar names have similar personalities and it was so nice to see that in this book! Here are some of my favourite quotes that may not be in the final copy but I loved them!

S

o as a fun extra… my name is Anisha and it means deep-thinker, sensitive and high. For me… this is more than true as I am sensitive to a lot of things around me and honestly hate a confrontation because I’ll take things too seriously? I don’t know but I’m very sensitive about a lot of things. Deep-thinker… I hate this about myself but I’ll dig myself a hole by overthinking and this is one of those where I will randomly at times just think too deeply on the most common issue. I’m not sure where high fits into all of this but there was a period from the age of 11-15 ish where I was far too hyper (we don’t talk about that here 😂).

Now onto a thing I didn’t like… it was the lists.. this may be me just being picky and nit picking but I did reach the point where I ended up skimming t the listed items when they came up. Aside from that, there’s not much I didn’t like.

And here’s my younger sister, Bellatrix (aka Ruqayyah), cosplaying a scene from the book!

In summary… Nafiza wrote a masterpiece that shares culture and religion in such a beautiful, harmonious way! I loved being able to see a reflection of a part of my family life within some of these characters! I hope to see Fatimah Ghazala and Zulfikar in the future again!

Nocturna by Maya Motayne | Day 5 of Blog Tour

*This is an ARC review. I received a copy of the ARC from Hodder and Stoughton in exchange for an honest review and all thoughts/opinions in this blog are purely my own*

Book: Nocturna (A Forgery of Magic #1)

Author: Maya Motayne

Genre: YA Fantasy

Rating: 4/5

Pages: 480

Expected Publishing: 2 May 2019

Purchase Link: Book Depository

Synopsis:

Set in a Latinx-inspired world, a face-changing thief and a risk-taking prince must team up to defeat a powerful evil they accidentally unleashed.

To Finn Voy, magic is two things: a knife to hold under the chin of anyone who crosses her…and a disguise she shrugs on as easily as others pull on cloaks.

As a talented faceshifter, it’s been years since Finn has seen her own face, and that’s exactly how she likes it. But when Finn gets caught by a powerful mobster, she’s forced into an impossible mission: steal a legendary treasure from Castallan’s royal palace or be stripped of her magic forever.

After the murder of his older brother, Prince Alfehr is first in line for the Castallan throne. But Alfie can’t help but feel that he will never live up to his brother’s legacy. Riddled with grief, Alfie is obsessed with finding a way to bring his brother back, even if it means dabbling in forbidden magic.

But when Finn and Alfie’s fates collide, they accidentally unlock a terrible, ancient power—which, if not contained, will devour the world. And with Castallan’s fate in their hands, Alfie and Finn must race to vanquish what they have unleashed, even if it means facing the deepest darkness in their pasts.

I absolutely loved this book!! I was hooked, pretty much straight from the beginning and devoured the book in a much shorter time frame than I anticipated! I loved Finn and Alfie, pretty much as soon as I met them, and I truly felt for them both!

Finn… She’s basically the Delilah Bard of Nocturna! I loved her sass, her humour and how she used it to hide her true feelings, but more than anything I hated having to read about what she’s suffered through! She has such a tragic backstory, you can’t help but feel for her!

Alfie… I didn’t think I’d like him as much but he wasn’t the type of Prince I was expecting! I was expecting someone who had been mischievous, who was maybe hardened? But the solemn, open book that he was… it was heartwrenching having to see him suffer through the guilt and insecurities plaguing him!

There’s also a lot of similarities to A Darker Shade of Magic and Six of Crows! It’s perfect for fans of Leigh Bardugo and V.E. Schwab!

The characters were well developed and the pacing of the book was great! It wasn’t predictable for me so I was discovering certain parts with the characters and pretty much on parr with the emotions!

The plotline was great, it ended on a surprising note and yet it has me craving for the second book already! It’s amongst my favourite reads of 2019 so far!!

The author managed to tie together the plot, character development and pacing very well! The book sunk it’s claws into me from page one and I just couldn’t shake them off! This is a gem of a debut from an amazing new talent and I’m hoping you guys love it too!!

Through the White Wood by Jessica Leake (ARC Review)

*This is an ARC review. I received a copy of the ARC from Harper360YA in exchange for an honest review and all thoughts/opinions in this blog are purely my own*

Book: Through the White Wood

Author: Jessica Leake

Genre: YA Fantasy

Rating: 4/5

Pages: 416

Expected Publishing: 9 April 2019

Purchase Link: Book Depository

Synopsis:

Katya’s power to freeze anything she touches has made her an outcast in her isolated village. And when she loses control of her ability, accidentally killing several villagers, she is banished to the palace of the terrifying Prince Sasha in Kiev.

At the castle, though, she is surprised to find that Sasha is just like her—with his own strange talent, the ability to summon fire. Instead of punishment, Sasha offers Katya friendship, and the chance to embrace her power rather than fear it.

But outside the walls of Kiev, Sasha’s enemies have organized their own army of people who can control the very earth. Bent on taking over the entire world, they won’t stop until they’ve destroyed everything.

Katya and Sasha are desperate to stop the encroaching army, and together their powers are a fearsome weapon. But as their enemies draw nearer, leaving destruction in their wake, will fire and frost be enough to save the world? Or will they lose everything they hold dear?

I loved this book!!! It was everything I wanted and more! I did have a tiny bit of doubt going into reading this, thinking it’d be similar to Beyond a Darkened Shore but it absolutely was not! This book is set in the same world as Beyond a Darkened Shore but it can be read as a standalone.

One thing I adored was the build up of the plot! There was the main plot but there were so many things in between! All of them had an influence on the story in different ways, and Katya’ s growth as a character is amazing! I also loved seeing Ciara and Leif again! It’s nice to see what they’ve been up to since the ending of Beyond a Darkened Shore!

Another thing I loved was the open ending. This may not be the same in the final book but I love how it wasn’t just concluded and there was the hint of a chance for more adventures with Katya and Sasha! Furthermore, I loved how certain emotional conflicts were easily resolved because the characters were communicating! I find it annoying, in most cases, when a character makes an assumption and doesn’t talk it our leading to so many more problems but there was none of that here.

Something I didn’t like as much was the reaction to a certain plot twist. It was… too calm. There wasn’t enough shock factor and everyone just seemed to accept it as fact.

Overall, it was a brilliant read and I can’t wait to read the final copy of the book when it’s out! I loved every moment of it! Jessica managed to capture so many emotions onto the pages, many of which had me eager to continue! I devoured the book and finished a lot sooner than I had planned!

If you pre-order, you could sign up for the pre-order goodies by checking out the author’s Instagram page and following the instructions on the image with the goodies.

Feminism and Islam

So this is quite compared to what I usually post about but I really want to address this. First of all, thank you to Teensgate YA for the meet up in January that was set on feminism and the amazing goodie bag they gave us! It’s amazing and I’m slowly making my way through the big book! I would also like to thank DK for hosting it this time and giving us the amazing books to share.

The question was “Who is Your Feminist Icon?” And I know people probably picked characters on screen or people well known but I wanted to share those that aren’t as well known and who were held in such high esteem when Islam was first being spread around the 6th and 7th centuries.

So I have 3 answers for this question. I know feminism isn’t limited to women so you could also pick males who do a lot for feminism and the rights of females but here are my 3.

1. Khadija (RA)

Khadija (RA) was not only the first to convert to Islam, but she was also the first person the Prophet (pbuh) went to for comfort when he didn’t understand what was going on. Not only that, but she was a businesswoman who was supporting her family. She provided the income.

This is part of a misconception a lot of people have when it comes to Islam because they seem to think Muslim women are not allowed to work. Yes, they are and nothing in Islam forbids it. People confuse this with the culture of some countries and call it Islam because the countries seem to predominantly Muslim.

2. Aisha (RA)

Aisha (RA) was another wife of the Prophet. She is one of the greatest scholars of Islam, who is narrated in many of the Hadith books, including Sahih Al Bukhari, Sahih Al Muslim and Sahih Al Tirmidi. A Hadith is basically something that shares the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) alongside the Qur’an. So it covers the topics in depth and how we should handle certain situations.

Again, another misconception (by cultures) that women are supposed to be at home, cooking and cleaning. No, they are not. Islam does not forbid women from seeking an education, and it does not state that the woman must cook and clean. The Prophet (pbuh) used to help his wives with the household chores, so I’m not too sure where this came from.

3. Khawlah Bint Al- Azwar

Khawlah was a warrior. She fought in many battles alongside the army and held her own through several battles. Amongst these was the battle against the Byzantine Army in 636 AD. She continued to fight in a battle when her fellow soldiers and warriors began to turn. This more than anything, shows that a woman can be anything she wants.

This is it from me but I’d like to take this time to mention that there are many, many instants where Islam is thought to oppress women when Islam was the first to offer women these rights. Before Islam, people in Saudia Arabia used to bury their daughters alive because they weren’t considered useful. The Prophet changed this with the message of Islam and stated that any man who has 3 daughters, the doors to Heaven are open for him. This elevated the status of having a daughter in a world where people prayed for sons.

Thank you so much to anyone who’s read this far because I had to try and limit my words since I kept going on and on lol.

Meet the Blogger

Heyyy!!! So I’ve had my blog for while now but I never actually introduced myself, so here it is! The picture above isn’t me, but my younger sister who is always excited to take part in picture taking! She is my favourite model and honestly very helpful (when she wants to be!)

So a little more about me! I’m going to share pretty much general information about me and the events I’ll be attending soon 🙂

Okay to start with… my full name is Anisha Bi and I’m 18! My birthday is on the 21st August, and my best friend, although in the same year of school with me is basically a full year older than me (benefits of being a summer baby loool)

I am currently a Neuroscience student in the University of Manchester, and I can honestly say that the first year is a bore because majority of the stuff isn’t relevant to my degree programme… it’s just general information, half of which I won’t use for my degree.

My hobbies are painting (I’ll attach a few of my paintings), reading (of course!), baking and annoying my younger siblings because it’s fun lol!

And here are the paintings:

Hope you like the art as much as I enjoyed making it!

And of course.. I am a Muslim! I know it’s probably not as much as to others but this is a huge part of who I am. I feel like people misunderstand me based on a very, very incorrect pieces of information, so if you ever have a question please send me a DM on Twitter or Instagram (@bookanishgirl on both) and I’ll answer to the best of my ability 🙂

Now I’m going to two different events this month (March) which are NYALitFest and the Yasmin Mogahed event in Manchester! I’m undecided for the months after but there’s a maybe for YALC!

Grace and Fury by Tracy Banghart

Book: Grace & Fury (Iron Flowers #1)

Author: Tracy Banghart

Genre: YA Fantasy (maybe Historical if you think on it)

Rating: 5/5

Pages: 320

Purchase Link: Book Depository

Synopsis:

In a world where women have no rights, sisters Serina and Nomi Tessaro face two very different fates: one in the palace, the other in prison.

Serina has been groomed her whole life to become a Grace – someone to stand by the heir to the throne as a shining, subjugated example of the perfect woman. But when her headstrong and rebellious younger sister, Nomi, catches the heir’s eye, it’s Serina who takes the fall for the dangerous secret that Nomi has been hiding.

Now trapped in a life she never wanted, Nomi has only one way to save Serina: surrender to her role as a Grace until she can use her position to release her sister. This is easier said than done. A traitor walks the halls of the palace, and deception lurks in every corner. But Serina is running out of time, imprisoned on an island where she must fight to the death to survive and one wrong move could cost her everything.

This book had me at the dedication… the dedication was beautiful and so damn perfect!

For every woman who has been told to sit down and be quiet… And who stood up anyway.

Isn’t that just perfection?! I loved it, maybe more so because it’s a lot more personal for me, as a Pakistani Muslim, who’s family seems to continuously have this war between culture and religion. To sum it up, religion (Islam) gives women equal rights to men (even more in some cases) whereas the toxic culture of Pakistan… doesn’t. So this was like yes! This book is partially for me and the women in my family who have gone so far!

Now to get onto the actual storyline… I loved it! The twists and turns, the character development and more the revelation on how you shouldn’t judge a book by it’s cover (I totally did when I started reading this… I’m sorry!) I loved Nomi and Serina, two polar opposite sisters, who are thrust into a situation well beyond their control. Not only that, but they use that to their advantage, they freaking rule!! Now the best part wasn’t just Serina and Nomi… it was Malachi as the heir, and his brother, Asa. Their storyline is just as important, if not more because that freaking plot twist!! Where is book two!??

Now for something I didn’t like.. the cliffhanger and the length of the book… where’s my 1000 page book with a happy ending? (Yes this is me nitpicking because I have no other problems with this book.. it’s perfection!) I need Queen of Ruin in my hands like yesterday! Pssst…. Team BKMRK…. if you have any ARCs incoming… please send one over! (Yes this is a rare thing for me to do but I am in a very desperate situation here!)

Tracy Banghart managed to hook me into this world with a wonderful dedication and two strong women, who show that it’s never good to give up… you should always keep trying and fighting despite the odds fighting against you. Thank you so much for this beauty! I’ll treasure it always.

Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo

Book: Crooked Kingdom (Six of Crows #2)

Author: Leigh Bardugo

Genre: YA Fantasy

Rating: 5/5

Pages: 536

Purchase Link: Book Depository

Synopsis:

Welcome to the world of the Grisha.

Kaz Brekker and his crew of deadly outcasts have just pulled off a heist so daring even they didn’t think they’d survive. But instead of divvying up a fat reward, they’re right back to fighting for their lives.

Double-crossed and badly weakened, the crew is low on resources, allies, and hope. As powerful forces from around the world descend on Ketterdam to root out the secrets of the dangerous drug known as jurda parem, old rivals and new enemies emerge to challenge Kaz’s cunning and test the team’s fragile loyalties.

A war will be waged on the city’s dark and twisting streets – a battle for revenge and redemption that will decide the fate of the Grisha world.

Where do I even start with this? If you want to avoid spoilers please avoid this review because I need to vent out all my frustrations… and I can’t do that without giving away spoilers.

First, Kaz and Inej 😭😭 They broke my heart into a thousand pieces and I’m hopeful, but both have such tragic pasts! I’m hoping we get to see them a bit more with the King of Scars Duology, and they’re in a better place… or even better, I hope there’s another book in the works for them. Also… that scene in the print was everything! I have hope for both of them!

Second, Jesper and Wylan… “I told you I liked your stupid face.” They’re so cute! And Jesper’s time to face his demons! It was amazing and I love we get to see a happy ending (sort-of because Leigh is an evil genius) but that twist! I’m not gonna spoil this because this was a happy twist for me 🙂

And finally, Nina and Matthias 😭😭😭 Matthias broke my heart into a thousand tiny pieces, and what broke me even more is that if Nina still had her original powers… he would have survived… or even if Genya was still there… but no 😭😭 I don’t know how to handle this because Nina was just broken after that… even the crew was shocked… Jesper’s “we were all supposed to survive” was basically how I felt… they were supposed to survive… and what pains me even more is that they would have if the damned Drüskelle hadn’t come after Matthias even when the damned leader didn’t!

That’s my thoughts on the ships… now the storyline was amazing! I love how not every second of that storyline was spent getting Inej back… the main aspect was still on Van Eck and his betrayal. The way the Dregs managed to take him down and the ending when Inej took care of Pekka… it gave me even more hope for my Kanej heart! I’m just hoping it’s not too long before I see these two again because I don’t know how to handle this… this… obsession!

If I had to nitpick (let’s admit it… Leigh’s work is amazing… I can’t find mistakes within this duology!) one thing I would point to not liking is Kaz’s constant denial for his feelings… at this point pretty much everyone knew what was happening… I felt if he accepted his feelings, it could’ve been better… but this in no way means I meant for him to just do a reversal of his revulsion with skin on skin contact! I loved the addition where he doesn’t just automatically overcome it because it’s Inej… but it’s her voice that brings him back from the brink. And the ending when they hold hands without him wearing gloves… PERFECTION! Normally, this would be me wanting closure with something like “just kiss him/her”… but him holding hands with her was “HE DOES LOVE HER!!! ALL WILL BE WELL!”

Also… I feel with Kaz not having told Inej what lead to him having this revulsion with skin touching him or him touching skin (whichever way you want to word it) leaves a lot more room for their relationship to develop in future books.

So to sum it up, I love Leigh Bardugo’s books. I don’t think I’ll like the Grisha trilogy as much as I love this duology.

Saturday Sixes (Week 2)

I can’t believe I’m actually doing this second week in a row! (I am very good at delaying things). This week it’s all about favourites from 2018! And of course, it’s books… I’m going to try to keep this to books published in 2018, but I may slip since I read a few books last year that were published years ago.

6. Beyond a Darkened Shore by Jessica Leake

I know not everyone loved this book, but I truly enjoyed it! I read it twice and I may end up reading it again before Through the White Wood comes out this year. It was a mix of Norse mythology and Pagan beliefs from when Vikings were conquerors and Christianity was taking root. It had a dash of magic. I loved the characters, Leif and Ciara, and their development throughout the story, as they’re enemies who have to learn to trust each other. (Enemies to lovers trope right here for those interested!)

5. Hero at the Fall by Alwyn Hamilton

I read the entirety of this trilogy in June last year (or the end of May) and I loved it! Hero at the Fall tied up the trilogy in a perfect manner, leaving no cliffhangers, plenty of pain and an empty hole where a part of my heart was (just a part because I love other books as well… let’s hope they don’t leave a hole!) I will forever miss that one character and I will always be there for my Foreign Snake and Blue-eyed Bandit!

4. Onyx and Ivory by Mindee Arnett

Onyx and Ivory was a book I wanted to read solely because I saw it had been a part of the Fairyloot May 2018 box. I saw the black sprayed edges on sale in London during YALC and seized my opportunity to grab the book. However, I didn’t started reading this until around September/October but when I did… I fell for the characters hard! There is no Insta love and it’s partially enemies to lovers but more than that, there’s history you get to uncover with and about the characters, and it makes you see the imperfections but also their strengths. I can’t wait to see more of these characters in Shadow and Flame.

3. To Kill a Kingdom by Alexandra Christo

This was ‘The Little Mermaid’ retelling, I didn’t know I needed. It was perfect and I wish there was more! As much as I love standalones, I hate the feeling I’m left with after reading an amazing standalone and I realise… there’s no more freaking pages left. Where’s my endless story so I can stay in the world forever?! Definitely recommend this book!

2. Grace and Fury by Tracy Banghart

There is no need for me to explain how much I love this book as I’ll put up a review shortly but this book was amazing! I can’t wait for the sequel and all my gushing will be up with my review 🙂

1. Queen of Air and Darkness by Cassandra Clare

It’s probably no surprise this is number one for me since I’m so heavily invested in the Shadowhunter Chronicles but wow. That ending was not what I was expecting and I feel like I was cheated since I have to wait till about 2022 to see some characters make it up… not cool Cassie!! Spoilers coming up because I need to talk about this.

*SPOILER ALERT*

I love the exploration of the alternate dimension, where you get to wonder… what would have happened if they didn’t win in City of Heavenly Fire… and this book answers it. It also explores more of the dimension travel that was done in CoHF as they travelled to Edom there but Thule in this book.. I eagerly await the release of The Wicked Powers in 2022!

Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

Book: Six of Crows (Six of Crows #1)

Author: Leigh Bardugo

Genre: YA Fantasy

Rating: 5/5

Pages: 465

Purchase Link: Book Depository

Synopsis:

Ketterdam: a bustling hub of international trade where anything can be had for the right price–and no one knows that better than criminal prodigy Kaz Brekker. Kaz is offered a chance at a deadly heist that could make him rich beyond his wildest dreams. But he can’t pull it off alone…

A convict with a thirst for revenge.

A sharpshooter who can’t walk away from a wager.

A runaway with a privileged past.

A spy known as the Wraith.

A Heartrender using her magic to survive the slums.

A thief with a gift for unlikely escapes.

Six dangerous outcasts. One impossible heist. Kaz’s crew is the only thing that might stand between the world and destruction—if they don’t kill each other first.

First of all, wow. This book kept me tense pretty much through the full length! I wanted a hell of a lot more at the ending, especially with the cliffhanger!

The best thing about this book is that despite their very different personalities, the group had some amazing moments *cough* ghosts *cough* like… 6 dangerous outcasts? Nope… 6 cinnamon rolls who deserve all my love, and all the kruge in the world. I’m ready to sink and sail with all my ships in this book! Kaz & Inej just… my heart is soft for them. Nina & Matthias? That ship sailed a long time ago! Wylan & Jesper… “I don’t know, maybe I liked your stupid face.”.. need I say anymore?

Despite the book having all 5 stars, one thing I didn’t like so much is how we didn’t really get to know all the characters… Wylan was still a bit of a mystery (although this is addressed in the next book). That’s the only bit that left me hanging slightly.

And Matthias’ character arc was perfect! It’s not easy to change opinions and ideas you grew up with, but Matthias did this and he’s not perfect, but he’s trying!

I should have a review for Crooked Kingdom up soon as I’m already halfway through despite only having finished this last night lol!

Enchantée by Rita Trelease

Picture Taken from Gita Trelease’s Instagram page, who took it from the publisher’s page.

I received this book as an eARC from Macmillan Children’s in exchange for an honest view. All views and opinions in this book are my own.

Book: Enchantée

Author: Gita Trelease

Genre: YA Historical Fantasy

Rating: 4/5

Pages: 480

Purchase Link: Book Depository

Synopsis:

Paris in 1789 is a labyrinth of twisted streets, filled with beggars, thieves, revolutionaries – and magicians . . .
When smallpox kills her parents, seventeen-year-old Camille is left to provide for her frail sister and her volatile brother. In desperation, she survives by using the petty magic she learnt from her mother. But when her brother disappears Camille decides to pursue a richer, more dangerous mark: the glittering court of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette.
Using dark magic Camille transforms herself into the `Baroness de la Fontaine` and presents herself at the court of Versaille, where she soon finds herself swept up in a dizzying life of riches, finery and suitors. But Camille’s resentment of the rich is at odds with the allure of their glamour and excess, and she soon discovers that she’s not the only one leading a double life . . .
Enchantee is a compelling historical fantasy and is Gita Trelease’s debut novel.

Firs thing I’m gonna say is, even though the book hasn’t actually been released yet, there was such a hype around it that I automatically became slightly wary. The usual questions of will it live up to all the reviews that are raving about Enchantée? Will it be true to the time that it’s set in? And the answer is, without a doubt, YES!

I absolutely loved the interactions between the characters, the way the characters are hiding their own secrets, for a range of reasons. More than that, I loved seeing the build up to what could have caused the revolution, when you see how the aristocrats behave. It adds to the story. Another thing is the hot air balloon! The wonder and amazement leapt off the page, which is so apt and perfect for the time period it’s set in, that it’s nothing short of breathtaking!

Furthermore, I loved the romance! It wasn’t rushed, it didn’t take away from the storyline and most importantly, it didn’t become the main plot of the entire book! It is so easy to find books where romance is just taking over so that other problems pale in the storyline, but this was perfection.

Now the reason I’m giving it a 4 is not because I didn’t love the story, or because of a problem with the actual book. The pacing just died off for me about 3 three quarters of my way in, and that is pretty much the only reason why the book isn’t 5 stars!

Gita Trelease has managed to weave together an important part of history with such magic and beautiful characters that I cannot help but be amazed! I wish I was with the characters, in the same wondrous moments as them and experiencing all this as amongst the first few ever. I highly recommend this book, especially to historical fantasy lovers!

Lady Midnight by Cassandra Clare

Book: Lady Midnight (The Dark Artifices #1)

Author: Cassandra Clare

Genre: YA Fantasy

Rating: 4.5/5

Pages: 688

Purchase Link: Book Depository

Synopsis:

In a kingdom by the sea…

In a secret world where half-angel warriors are sworn to fight demons, parabatai is a sacred word.

A parabatai is your partner in battle. A parabatai is your best friend. Parabatai can be everything to each other—but they can never fall in love.

Emma Carstairs is a warrior, a Shadowhunter, and the best in her generation. She lives for battle. Shoulder to shoulder with her parabatai, Julian Blackthorn, she patrols the streets of Los Angeles, where vampires party on the Sunset Strip, and faeries—the most powerful of supernatural creatures—teeter on the edge of open war with Shadowhunters. When the bodies of humans and faeries turn up murdered in the same way Emma’s parents were when she was a child, an uneasy alliance is formed. This is Emma’s chance for revenge—and Julian’s chance to get back his brother Mark, who is being held prisoner by the faerie Courts. All Emma, Mark, and Julian have to do is solve the murders within two weeks…and before the murderer targets them.

Their search takes Emma from sea caves full of sorcery to a dark lottery where death is dispensed. And each clue she unravels uncovers more secrets. What has Julian been hiding from her all these years? Why does Shadowhunter Law forbid parabatai to fall in love? Who really killed her parents—and can she bear to know the truth?

This book was amazing! There are no other words I can think of to explain it! It pushes on what we already know of the Shadowhunter world from previous series and expands! The main characters are just wonderfully complex and the plot twist was just… brutal in the sense that it hurts… it really hurts!

One thing I absolutely loved about the book was the Blackthorn family! They are an odd unit but one that fits together perfectly, with undeniably unconditional love tying them together because of Julian… their father/mother figure. A 12 year old who forced himself to fill the shoes of his parents to keep his family together and my heart is all for Julian right now. He is my baby!

One thing I didn’t like so much is I would have loved to be in the heads of even the most minor characters in this storyline, even the villain to feel what they felt. It’s a bit odd but I feel like that would’ve given this book the extra push it needed!

Overall, I’d definitely recommend this book to fans of ADSOM andRebel of the Sands! This book explores the characters and their innermost feelings, what keeps them going, in a way I haven’t seen in a while! Not to mention that it explores the boundaries and rules set by the Clave that I’ve always wanted to know! Specifically the Parabatai being forbidden to fall in love ruling. That was one aspect I always questioned because why? Why would that be a problem? And this book answers that in a way that is heartbreaking!

Hero at the Fall by Alwyn Hamilton

Book: Hero at the Fall (Rebel of the Sands #3)

Author: Alwyn Hamilton

Genre: YA Fantasy

Rating: 4.5/5

Pages: 528

Purchase Link: Book Depository

Synopsis:

Once, in the desert country of Miraji, there was a Sultan without an heir.

The heir had been killed by his own brother, the treacherous Rebel Prince, who was consumed by jealousy and sought the throne for himself.

Or so it was said by some. There were others who said that the Rebel Prince was not a traitor but a hero…

In the final battle for the throne, Amani must fight for everything she believes in, but with the rebellion in pieces, and the Sultan’s armies advancing across the desert plains, who will lead, who will triumph, who will live and who will die?

This was… I don’t even know how to put it into words! I was just caught up in the lives of the Rebels, anxious to see where they would be led after the disastrous cliffhanger ending from Traitor to the Throne! I was routing for all my favourites and didn’t expect what happened!! At all!!

My favourite aspect of the book was *spoiler alert* not everyone survives! Furthermore, I loved that desperation and the need to make sure they won landed Amani in disastrous circumstances! The ending literally made me cry and I genuinely thought all was lost! Another spoiler coming up… Jin and Amani actually died! I know, that literally threw me into just closing the book for a few moments before I could continue… but this got me to respect Amani’s Djinn father as he kept his promise and does share that he knew about Amani but he was attempting to keep her safe… and I love him even more for that! (Another spoiler… they were brought back to life because Amani’s mother wished for basically Amani to survive and live etc… and we all know Djinn and Deimdji cannot lie!)

One aspect I didn’t like so much… how Rahim’s sister got away with her betrayal… she didn’t deserve to be let off, not after betraying her own brother and the people who were attempting to save lives, and especially not after being the reason why the Sultan got all those super soldiers who *more spoilers* are the reason that my Sam isn’t alive anymore 😭 he was just meant to be with Shahzad but no… he had to die 😭😭

Overall, I was blown away by the world Alwyn built and I await eagerly for her next book!! This was a perfect end to the trilogy and honestly, it’s one of those books that I just remember out of the blue and end up having all the feels for… so of course… it requires plenty of rereads! If you love books like The Rose and The Dagger by Reneé Ahdieh, and are a fan of Aladdin… then this is the trilogy for you! It’s a rollercoaster ride from start to finish!!

A Conjuring of Light by Victoria E Schwab

Book: A Conjuring of Light (Shades of Magic #3)

Author: V.E Schwab

Genre: YA Fantasy

Rating: 4.5/5

Pages: 640

Purchase Link: Book Depository

Synopsis:
As darkness sweeps the Maresh Empire, the once precarious balance of power among the four Londons has reached its breaking point.

In the wake of tragedy, Kell–once assumed to be the last surviving Antari–begins to waver under the pressure of competing loyalties. Lila Bard, once a commonplace–but never common–thief, has survived and flourished through a series of magical trials. But now she must learn to control the magic, before it bleeds her dry.

An ancient enemy returns to claim a city while a fallen hero tries to save a kingdom in decay. Meanwhile, the disgraced Captain Alucard Emery of the Night Spire collects his crew, attempting a race against time to acquire the impossible.

Oh. My. God! I love love LOVED this book!!! There was very little to hate and it shows such amazing character arcs, throws insight into so many relationships and there is just so much tension!!

One thing I absolutely loved about this (as a top favourite thing because there is so much to love!) was more into the relationship of Kell with the King and Queen of the Maresh Empire… there was so much detail and it highlights so much!! And the tears! I cried more than I ever expected to cry in this book for so many different characters! It’s been years since I cried multiple times in a single book but Schwab managed it like it was a simple snap of her fingers!

One thing I didn’t like so much was not getting to spend more time in the King and Queen’s head.. I would’ve loved to have their point of view on so many different aspects of the story and I just didn’t get to see that! Don’t get me wrong, I loved we got their perspective on a few parts of the book but in a 640 page book, I feel like we could’ve seen a tiny bit more!

Overall… I’d say this tied up the trilogy in an amazing position and I cannot wait to continue seeing more of these characters and meeting many more in the Threads of Power, set 10 years ahead with appearances from Kell, Lila and, hopefully, Alucard and Rhy as well!