51miBYV+mkL

Now I Rise by Kiersten White

Posted on by Michelle Huss
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4 Stars (4 / 5)

The Conqueror’s Saga #2
If And I Darken was Lada’s book, then Now I Rise is Radu’s. While both siblings have their fair share of trials and tribulations in this book, it really was Radu’s journey that shined through for me. While behind enemy lines, his abilities of political maneuvering and manipulation are put to the test. Through this he sees the ugly side of war and has to make some difficult moral decisions, from which he will never quite be the same. He is still the devoted Radu, but it is no longer pure…it’s been tainted by the things he’s seen and the things he’s done. I can’t wait to see how these changes will affect the next book.

Lada doesn’t make the same strides as Radu, but by the end of the novel she is definitely embracing her vicious side. While I didn’t love Lada’s journey in this one quite as much as in And I Darken, it definitely sets things up for what is likely to be a brutal and bloody finale in Bright We Burn.

51miBYV+mkL

The Cruel Prince by Holly Black

Posted on by Michelle Huss
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4 Stars (4 / 5)

The Folk of the Air #1

“If I cannot be better than them, I will become so much worse.”

Holly Black never fails to surprise me when it comes to fey stories. Just when I think I’ve figured out what she will do, she comes up with something new and different and every bit as thrilling as what came before. The Cruel Prince was just as dark and bloody as I expected, but what I didn’t expect was how political the book would be. Really delving into the manipulation of fey politics was unexpected, but oh so interesting. There were so many twists and turns in this novel that I didn’t see coming, and that is more than most stories can boast!

Jude is quite the heroine…definitely not good, but not quite bad either. She straddles the line between, becoming the creature she needs to be to survive the machinations of the fey courts, and to learn to manipulate them herself. Cardan is not quite what I expected either, I look forward to learning more about him as the series progresses. And I can’t help but love his quirky wit. For fans of Black’s other fey novels, there’s also a the little cameo from your favorite characters to look forward to.

There is not much that I can say about The Cruel Prince without spoilers, but it is a must read for fans of Black’s work and faerie lovers alike. I’m very much look forward to seeing what the rest of the series holds.

51miBYV+mkL

Aerie by Maria Dahvana Headley

Posted on by Michelle Huss
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3.5 Stars (3.5 / 5)

Magonia #2
Aerie revisits our favorite character’s from Magonia and sets them once more on the path to saving the world. It’s hard to go back to normal after what our character’s went through in Magonia, but you come to find they are doing just that…well trying to anyway. Aza and Jason have jumped head first into their relationship, but Aza’s wanderlust and Jason’s paranoia of being left alone are a constant chasm between them. While somewhat disappointed, I’m not at all surprised by the extreme lengths we see Jason go through to “protect” Aza, even when he regrets them in the end.

Jason goes through quite the journey in this book, but its Eli that was really the stand-out for me. We don’t delve too much into her character in Magonia, but in Aerie we get a little glimpse into what Eli went through when she lost her sister, and what she’s prepared to do now to keep her. I was pleasantly surprised by and came to appreciate her new-found gusto. We learn a lot more about Zul’s past and how she became the destructive and hateful creature that she is, which sheds a great light on Aza’s history. Our ending is bittersweet, yet satisfying, as one chapter of Aza’s life closes and another is ready to begin.

Overall, Aerie is a story about love and loss; family both new and old. It’s about finding your place and learning your truth. It is beautifully written and a pleasure to read, with unique and exciting mythology. I look forward to more from this author.

51miBYV+mkL

The Case for Jamie by Brittany Cavallaro

Posted on by Michelle Huss
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4 Stars (4 / 5)

Charlotte Holmes #3
I have always been a big fan of this series, and while I still very much enjoyed A Case for Jamie, it just didn’t quite live up to its predecessors. I think that the greatest failing of this novel is that Watson and Holmes are kept apart for the majority of it. While it was interesting getting to see how the function and sleuth on their own, and while I very much liked getting such a large dose of Charlotte’s POV, I couldn’t help but miss the dynamic between the two characters that I found so captivating in A Study in Charlotte.

What I will say, is that this novel shows some excellent character development in both Jamie and Charlotte. And perhaps this somewhat discounts my previous complaint, but I think that the development we see here could only happen while the character’s are apart. Most importantly, the two learn to recognize the toxic aspects of their relationship and begin to try to repair them. After the cataclysmic events of The Last of August, its not surprising that the characters need some time to heal. But by the end of the novel, I feel like things are starting to move if a better and healthier direction.

The ending was hopeful and bittersweet. It felt so much like an ending, but also a new beginning, which leaves me very much uncertain as to where the series will go next. (Yes, there is at least one more. I thought is was going to be the end too!) Overall, while not my favorite story in the series, it definitely did a lot to grow our characters and set them up for a more exciting and adventurous future.

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Obsidio by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

Posted on by Michelle Huss
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5 Stars (5 / 5)

The Illuminae Files #3
I have so much love for this series, that it’s hard to see it end. From its unique style, to its crazy and epic storylines, to its unique characters and brilliant storytelling, The Illuminae Files does not disappoint! It is one of my top recommended series for a reason.

Obsidio, like its predecessors, is told in a unique style of chat logs, video transcripts, official reports, illustrations, and more. This book brings the main characters of Illuminae and Geminae together, with two new additions: Asha and Rhys. Rhys’s character is particularly interesting as he’s a BeiTech operative, allowing us our first glimpse behind the curtain. We’ve always seen BeiTech as this relatively faceless enemy and it was interesting putting ourselves in their shoes for a change. Quite an enlightening experience.

My only complaint about Obsidio is that I didn’t feel I really got to know Asha and Rhys the same way we did Ezra, Kady, Hanna, and Nik. But…when you are trying to wrap up a series that brings all these characters together, you don’t get to spend a whole book on just the set of characters. I also loved getting to spend some quality time with Ezra and Kady again (and Aiden), so I guess I can’t really complain.

This story is heartbreaking and nail-biting and leaves you wanting so much more. It’s a constant page-turner that you won’t want to put down. I can’t wait to see what Kaufman and Kristoff cook up next.