2.5/5 stars. I'm sorry to say I was bored out of my mind reading this book. The second book was a vast improvement over the first, so I had good hopes2.5/5 stars. I'm sorry to say I was bored out of my mind reading this book. The second book was a vast improvement over the first, so I had good hopes for this one but nope, this was a disappointment for me.
To start off, neither one of the main characters were very likable to me. Sure, this is a villain romance or whatever, but there still needs to be something to draw you to them, and with these two, I just felt like they were both so over the top dramatic and angsty. They both gave me 'ooh I'm so dark and different' vibes and I just couldn't take them seriously. Eveline had some interesting backstory, but it remained pretty vague throughout the story, and Nick... Well we barely know a thing about him really. We know some facts, but on an emotional level I still feel like he's a stranger to me.
Speaking of superficial characters. That was literally every other character in the book. I feel like we've barely scratched the surface of these people's personalities. It made reveals feel empty and betrayals not feel like betrayals, because we just didn't know enough about any of them. I especially feel like we needed to know more about Dorothy and Cody, now these characters and they stories just fell flat.
Now on to the story. The premise sounded intriguing, but the execution left me wanting. There was never a point in the story where I truly believed the romance growing between these two characters. The drug business story was very limited and didn't have the importance I thought it would have based on the premise. Drugs are a big no no for Nick and yet I'm supposed to believe he can just ignore all that because he fell in love? His sister at one point compares herself to Evie, making the point that he doesn't hate her so why should he feel guilty for loving Evie, but I mean, there's a big difference between dealing some drugs as a junkie while basically living on the streets and being the literal mastermind behind a big drug operation.
The story about Nessa and her death was also kind of left to the side? The resolution to that was so quick and boring. I really wasn't a fan of (view spoiler)[Eveline killing Dorothy and her father. There was zero tension and it was all over so quickly. Also how dramatic can you be, dangling your sister above a vat of acid (hide spoiler)]...more
Okay this one is miles ahead of the first Never After novel, it's a much more coherent story and the romance is sufficiently fucked up.
The world buildOkay this one is miles ahead of the first Never After novel, it's a much more coherent story and the romance is sufficiently fucked up.
The world building in this one is surface level, but pretty good! I always like a map in the beginning, gives the story a sense of scope. I feel like we got enough information to understand the motivations of both our main characters at the start and it was interesting to see how their goals changed over the course of the story/their relationship. Speaking of the relationship, it was properly toxic and insane. These people are crazy for each other, literally. They would watch the world burn to be together and in fiction, I'm all for it. In reality, I would call the cops and get a restraining order, but here? Give it to meeeeee. I liked how they could both be truly themselves with each other though, they didn't have to hide their dark sides. Especially Sara may seem like a good person at first, but really, she's just as fucked up as Tristan. She cares for people, no doubt. But how blasé she is about killing people and seeing people die, is very telling lol.
My favourite parts of the book were when we got to see Tristan with Simon, and I loved Tristan's talent for drawing (I'm kind of sad that was just a tidbit that wasn't featured more) I liked how the Simon storyline ended, even if it felt a bit abrupt in the end.
I do still have some more negative remarks, some parts of the story were a bit too rushed for me... (view spoiler)[when Tristan was still captured and Sara got the rebels on board with her plan to save him, what actually happened there? We didn't get any plan on how they were saving him or what they were doing. Why did she get captured? Couldn't she have also gone to the tunnels with Tristan? That was all so rushed and vague. (hide spoiler)]. Also, while I enjoyed the sex scenes in the book, at one point I was more invested in the story with taking over the kingdom and felt like we were wasting precious time on these scenes. Sure, it was hot, but like is that really their priority? Apparently, the answer to that is yes, that's how obsessed they are with each other ...more
4.5/5 stars! Can't say much more than what I've already said. I love these books so much, they bring me so much comfort, I love the characters and the4.5/5 stars! Can't say much more than what I've already said. I love these books so much, they bring me so much comfort, I love the characters and the twists are something else. I've pre-ordered the fancy edition with goodies of the final book and I genuinely cannot wait until November to read the conclusion of this epic story. So so happy I decided to give this series a shot....more
What a fascinating world! I jumped into this pretty blind, and I was pleasantly surprised. I liked the investigative part in the beginning, curious toWhat a fascinating world! I jumped into this pretty blind, and I was pleasantly surprised. I liked the investigative part in the beginning, curious to see how much of that we'll have in next volumes.
After the prelude I do admit I was expecting Guo Changcheng to be more of a main character, but he's definitely more there to be the token scared human of the group ...more
4.5/5 stars! This was so so good. Might be my favourite in the series, but not 100% sure. This book took me on a ride, showed Xie Lian at his most vul4.5/5 stars! This was so so good. Might be my favourite in the series, but not 100% sure. This book took me on a ride, showed Xie Lian at his most vulnerable and explained a whole lot of things. Like all the other books, I loved it.
It was exciting, mysterious and funny, but this one even more so than the others had a lot of serious drama and delved into the mental state of Xie Lian over the course of his long life. It broke my heart to read about some of the things he went through. Not sure how we're gonna deal with the White No-Face issue, I feel like there is just still so much we don't know there, but like every other book, that makes me more excited to see where the story takes us next. I wonder if the next book will pick up where we left off here, or if it will go back to the present ...more
I'm so sad this series is over. Everything felt very full circle in the end, but I'm sad we won't be getting any other stories in this hug4.5/5 stars!
I'm so sad this series is over. Everything felt very full circle in the end, but I'm sad we won't be getting any other stories in this huge world Megan Derr has created.
I'd been really looking forward to reading Chass' story, especially having him paired up with Desmond, which seemed like an unlikely match. The story shows us however, that the Chass we've caught glimpses of is not the true Chass. I loved seeing his journey, finding out more about how his life went in comparison to Allen's. It was fascinating and heartbreaking, but what I loved most was that this book didn't tell us Chass was not a bad guy. He was. What this book shows us is how he came to be that way and how he wants to be better, because he knows.
I really liked the slow development between him and Desmond. They fit really well together, felt so close on a spiritual level. Where in the other books, we get some very sexually active characters, here it's almost an afterthought. Not that I thought it was out of place, but it just showed a different kind of build up to a relationship and I appreciated that.
Desmond was a really fun character, he felt so real and honest. I enjoyed reading him trying to figure everything going on, including Chass. I was happy that the topic of choice was such a big one in his and Chass' lives, however different, they understood each other and sympathized with each other like no-one else could. Add to that the religious aspect and you've got a super interesting and full book about two people who's lives are truly better having each other in it.
It took me a bit to get used to the open relationship(s) we've got going on here. I liked Aria, but wasn't sure how this was gonna turn out once Desmond and Chass found each other, but it was done very well in my opinion. I do wish we'd have met Aria's wife though, as it seems she's very much a part of this situation. I liked seeing a different type of relationship once more, similar to the last book but very different. Megan Derr keeps showing how good solid relationships can be all sorts of shapes and sizes and I appreciate that. Even if this kind of arrangement wouldn't necessarily be my cup of tea ...more
This book was very weird. The concept is interesting, but I feel like it would have been cooler if it was more about the disease...
There is a lot of sThis book was very weird. The concept is interesting, but I feel like it would have been cooler if it was more about the disease...
There is a lot of smoking and drug use in this book, a little too much for me if I'm honest. It made the story even more confusing, because the entire cast of characters was out of it 90% of the time. You could say there are two main characters, Keith and Chris, but neither is very likable. It made it hard to really care about what was happening. Speaking of what was happening, that was never really explained. Especially with the weird dangerous dude in the woods, at times he was literally a zombie and other times he's suddenly having an entire conversation? That was the case with a number of these 'infected' people. It was unclear whether this disease hits some people harder, or if it's something that continuously gets worse? Everyone also had different symptoms, like a second mouth on your throat or peeling skin, or a fucking tail? It was so confusing, and it didn't really make sense. Doctors are also never mentioned, so it's just this thing that exists and if you get infected? Well tough luck, go and live in the woods with the rest! So yeah, weird.
All in all, the art was cool, if sometimes hard too read/see what was going on, but the story was kind of boring, because there is genuinely no resolution. We just follow these kids for a while and that's it. Basically, I wouldn't recommend this book, sorry....more
Okay so this is the only edition of this book to be found on Goodreads for some reason... I read the Dutch translation of this dark comic, which I fouOkay so this is the only edition of this book to be found on Goodreads for some reason... I read the Dutch translation of this dark comic, which I found in the library, called 'Tussen Vier Muren'.
This book is very interesting. The art is really cool, my favourite part really, and the story is captivating enough, though difficult to follow. Because I had no idea who this guy was beforehand, I was very confused by some things, especially the way it jumps in time. I kept forgetting what happened when and who is on the main character's side and who isn't. I feel like more could have been explained to make it all easier to understand, and I genuinely don't know what the reasoning was behind the non-chronological storytelling. It didn't really seem to serve a purpose besides confusing me...
Having said all of that, it does seem to start to come together by the end, but then it just ends very abruptly? I didn't know there was a second part to this book (it isn't mentioned anywhere that the story will continue), so it feels like we're in the middle of it all, and then it's just over. I was a bit annoyed by that to be honest. This story simply doesn't feel complete. Not just in the ending, but throughout. It was hard to follow the main character's motivations, it was more just showing what he was doing and not really telling us why he was doing it all, which is what I was hoping for, sadly.
What is cool, besides the art, is the documentation at the end, about Jean-Paul Pautot. Like pictures, news paper clippings and other documents. It forces you to see how real it all is, very interesting....more
Like many books I've been reading lately, this has been sitting on my e-reader FOREVER. I saw some of the sequels at the book store and thought it wasLike many books I've been reading lately, this has been sitting on my e-reader FOREVER. I saw some of the sequels at the book store and thought it was probably time to pick this up!
It started off really well for me. It definitely set the dark tone I was looking for. I really liked James as a character, liked seeing his motivations in the way he treats people. Like the book warns in the beginning, he's a bad guy. A villain. Someone who won't suddenly turn good by the end of the book and to be honest, that's kind of what I want when I'm reading a dark romance. I don't want someone who's just misunderstood and actually a good person deep down, that defeats the point. Anyway, that expectation was met, so yay! He did then turn around and do some incredibly dumb stuff... (view spoiler)[if he's just asked what the woman looked like who came for money at that bakery or whatever, he would have been able to exclude Wendy from the list of suspects?? But no, he kidnaps her and doesn't believe her when she's fucking confused about it all lol (hide spoiler)].
I wasn't sure what to think of Wendy. I liked her relationship with her brother and that she wanted to work at the coffee shop. She is also kind of stupid though, not gonna lie ...more
To be completely honest with you, I'm a little overwhelmed right now. This book was a rollercoaster and turns out I never had a4.5/5 dark, dark stars.
To be completely honest with you, I'm a little overwhelmed right now. This book was a rollercoaster and turns out I never had a clue what was going on. I don't even feel stupid, because I just know that's exactly what C.S. Pacat intended. Now, I realise this book is called Dark Rise and that would imply the story is quite dark, but for some reason, even having read Captive Prince by Pacat, I still didn't expect how dark and twisted this would get. I admit, I underestimated her, and let her lure me in with these youngsters who want to fight for a better world. Not that that's not in the book, but man, I didn't expect this. I'm genuinely feeling a little anxious for how this story will continue.
So, if this book has left such a deep impression on me, why not give it full marks? Well, because I struggled in the beginning. All the different perspectives, not really having a sense of time, it was confusing and made it hard for me to get into the story and most of all, care for the characters. I do think that on a second read, the way the first 15% is written wouldn't bother me as much, because I'd be able to pay attention to the little details (as I'm sure there are many) not be confused as to who all these people are and who's side they're all on.
Overall, a book that has left me very tense and on edge, with a fascinating world and amazing characters I both can't wait and am scared to read where the story goes in the next installment. To be honest, I don't mind that it will be a long time before the next one gets released, because I really need a minute after this....more
This is good. Painful, but good. In my last reading update, I said I had been anxious reading it, well, that never stopped being the case. 4.5/5 stars
This is good. Painful, but good. In my last reading update, I said I had been anxious reading it, well, that never stopped being the case. The further you get into the story, the more on edge you are.
The thing with prequels is, you're always a bit scared to read them. Why? Because there's always a chance that something in a prequel happens, that (at least in your mind) doesn't add up. Moments that don't match the original story as you pictured it. Now, I have to admit, I didn't re-read the entire trilogy before starting this, but I was obsessed with them for a while there (as I'm sure a lot of people were). Having said that, in my mind, it adds up, it makes sense. Which is why it's so painful sometimes. I cried too. Not bawling my eyes out or anything. Just quiet tears, rolling over my cheeks as the feeling of dread got bigger and bigger.
Reading this and seeing how everything is slowly falling into place and the way this books gets you to sit on the edge of your seat the entire time... it really reminded me of how good of a writer Suzanne Collins is. So honestly, bravo, what a comeback.
Okay, so why did I not give it full marks. Sometimes it's just a teeny bit long. Some scenes feel like they don't really add much more besides driving home some points, which can be important, sure, but also made reading it go a bit slower. This is just sometimes, though, so it's all good.
I have a lot of opinions about Coriolanus Snow. I'm sure I will be thinking about this book and everything that happened in it for quite a while, because trust me, a lot of it is very complicated. I don't really want to say anything else, because I also really believe the best way to get into this book is how I did, basically not knowing anything. I didn't really do that on purpose, though, I just wasn't expecting this book to take me by surprise as much as it did. So much happened, on such a small period of time too, now that I think of it.
So any friends of mine out there, hurry up and read this, so we can talk about it.
P.S. I just looked up if this was going to be a movie, because I was thinking it could be a really good one (maybe even more than one, so much is going on), and yup, an adaptation is in the making....more
Ooh this was nice. Unexpectedly, exactly what I needed right now.
The whole alpha asshole thing is not always something I'm into reading, sometimes it Ooh this was nice. Unexpectedly, exactly what I needed right now.
The whole alpha asshole thing is not always something I'm into reading, sometimes it even gets on my nerves so much that I have to stop reading. This was not the case here. I guess it was the entire situation, which was honestly nothing like anything I've read in this genre. Sure I've read hate-to-love stories and I've read stories involving the mob, but not like this. Oh no.
What I really liked, is that both characters needed to grow and learn from the other. No one ended up "always being right" and the other being submissive the whole time. There is nothing wrong with those things, of course, but I thought it was a nice change. Also, the love between Francesca and Angelo wasn't something that was immediately forgotten. I really appreciated that, because it made it more real. The sadness, the despair, her genuinly losing the tiny bit of control she had over her life, namely marying a boy she really cared about and even loved.
So yeah, like I said, I liked the character development, or even the reveal of their characters, because they really were just closing big parts of themselves off and not showing others the kind of people they were. Both Francesca and Wolfe. I also love how their respect for each other grew stronger with everything that happened. Respect is a big one in this story. I really enjoyed that aspect.
Something I don't think I've mentioned before that I enjoy in books in general as well, multiple pov's. Yes please. I like knowing where we stand with everybody.
Okay, on to what I didn't like (or maybe just liked a little less). Pregnancy, man. Always gonna be a minor point of annoyance for me, not really sure why. It's not that I hated it, it served a purpose in the story, which I can appreciate.
Something else... I would have enjoyed a bit more background on Wolfe. I get why he became the person he is, but I would have liked a bit more on the brother and his wife and his parents.
Oh and I mentioned something similar in my review of Serpent & Dove, the cringy cheesy lines of romance. I thought I was going to be spared, it was going so well, there was enough romance and no out of place cheesy lines that didn't fit the characters. Until the epilogue. And it was just the one line too. Something about not getting what he expeccted, but getting something more important. Love. No thanks. It just felt soooo weird. I get that he softened up, but come on, not that much.
Okay that was all, I think. Overall, I genuinly really really enjoyed this. Like I said, just what I needed....more
Over the course of this series I laughed, I cried, I loved and I lost. I will forever cherish the moments I spent with these fictional characters. It'Over the course of this series I laughed, I cried, I loved and I lost. I will forever cherish the moments I spent with these fictional characters. It's been a long journey and it feels like I've arrived. And while the journey can be more important than the destination, what is it worth if you're not working towards something? Well, these characters worked and fought to get to this destination, and while I'm sad it's over, I couldn't be more satisfied.
This book, unsurprisingly, was so different to the others. It truly felt like the finale. The slow build up and yet at the same time the feeling that everything was coming together. It was so beautiful and so perfect. Where you could say that the other books were very clearly about a main pairing (obviously with a lot of other things going on, but still), this book was pack pack pack. It was a brothersong. Sure we have Carter and Gavin, but this book goes way beyond that. It being mostly from Carter's point of view was so perfect. I hadn't expected it to fit so well. I realised pretty quickly that we didn't really know Carter at all before this.
I feel like we saw a side of the pack we maybe hadn't seen before. It goes so much deeper into people's motivations and what the meaning of life is when you're born a certain way, with a certain destiny, or when you've been told something all your life. You'll be the alpha of all, you're gonna get shit all your life. It goes into choice and would you make the same choices knowing what you know now and would it even make a difference. I loved these conversations that came up. It shows their humanity. Especially with Gavin being the way he is, the conversation of wolf-side and human-side and which one is 'better' is threaded throughout the story. It's also definitely not just Gavin that thinks about this, the question is in everyone's mind at some point. It really makes you think, because before Ox became the human alpha, these were not really things people thought about. Humans and humanity were looked at in a very different way before.
Anyway, I feel like I'm kind of rambling. I just love this series with all my heart. Thump thump thump. I don't often read continuous series like this, where books cannot be read as stand-alones. The wait for the next one is always so long and I struggle with that. And yet, after I read Wolfsong, I knew this was a series I would wait years for if I had to. It's so special and I love T.J. Klune for bringing these characters into my life. I also just love that he ended the series with the first-born son. Everything about it felt like it came full-circle.
I'm sad it's over and I can never read these books for the first time again, full of curiosity for what's to come. But I know I will read this series again, because I know I'll still feel that love and heartbreak and joy, just like that first time....more
This was so good. I know I've said this about all of them, but they just all are. They're all soooo different as well. Different, but all ft perfectoh
This was so good. I know I've said this about all of them, but they just all are. They're all soooo different as well. Different, but all ft perfectly in this bigger picture.
Like I said in my update, this was not at all what I was expecting, not that I really knew what I was expecting, but you know. I also can't remember if I read the little blurb beforhand, I feel like I didn't. I also didn't reread ravensong. My point is, I went in pretty much blind and honestly, for this story, that was perfect.
I was super confused in the beginning and then suspicious, and then scared for Robbie and then scared for the Bennets ... a lot of feels were involved. The story was great, I kinda love how everyone is kind of out of touch with everyone, despite the love they all have for eachother. This book is really about reconnecting, and surprise surprise, not just Robbie and Kelly. It was intense and conflicting for all of them.
Also, I cried. Genuinly too. As always, my heart was broken and glued back together and I'm already preparing to get it broken again in August (I can't wait. 9 months, guys, 9 months...).
I really appreciate how much Rico was in this story as well and that how he felt wasn't ignored. A lot is going to change in his life too, but he's going to be so good. I can feel it. Oh and sweet Carter. I'm so sad for him and while I don't agree with his method, I get it. And I kind of love that all of that happening at the end, made him understand Kelly and his actions better. I hope they find their way back to eachother in the next one without too much pain (wishful thinking, I know).
Now to the beast. He's so dangerous and he keeps getting more dangerous. I can't understand all the things he's done. To his son, to Robbie, to the kids. Oh god, the kids. He just doesn't care about who he hurts. He could watch the entire world burn with a smile on his face. Still, I'm looking forward to what will happen in the next book now that the Livingstone as we knew him up until now is no more. We're in for a bumpy ride....more
Original rating 2018: 4.5/5 stars rounded up *** I'm sticking by my original rating of 4.5! I love this book, somehow this is the first time I've re-reaOriginal rating 2018: 4.5/5 stars rounded up *** I'm sticking by my original rating of 4.5! I love this book, somehow this is the first time I've re-read it ...more
I love everything about it and I've loved it for so long and I've read it so many times (more than the tThis is one of my favourite books of all time.
I love everything about it and I've loved it for so long and I've read it so many times (more than the two previous times I've registered here), it's hard to put it into words. It's the hardest thing, writing a review for an old favourite. I'll just say that TJ Klune captured my heart with this book years ago and this series is extraordinary. I cried my eyes out the first time I read it, and I shed a tear on every re-read, because the story demands to be felt. It won't be for everyone (no book is), it might not even be for all TJ Klune fans. But if you've read the blurb and are even a little bit interested, I'd say jump in. Maybe look up some trigger warnings to be sure, because this book is not easy, but if you can, go in blind and let Wolfsong take you away to Green Creek....more
I don't actually know why this book was not on my favorites shelf... Well, I've fixed that mistake now.
I know I usually write these really long, not vI don't actually know why this book was not on my favorites shelf... Well, I've fixed that mistake now.
I know I usually write these really long, not very structured reviews. In my head, no-one actually reads these so I'm the only person I'm really writing reviews for. But with this book, I just don't know what to write. I know I love it and I know I'll never forget that. I've re-read the entire series, just so I could enjoy this again, to the fullest. I'm not even really planning on continuing the re-read after this, at least not right now.
So, what can I tell my future self about this book that I won't already know? Nothing much, but I'll write down some of my favourite bits further down. Now, on the off-chance some stranger stumbles onto this review, here it goes:
You might be weary starting off. Chloe ended on an intense cliffhanger and doesn't paint the prettiest picture of Lucca. However, and I said this in my review of the previous book, you have to remember how little Chloe knows. You have to keep in mind that the only things we know about Lucca are assumptions from the girls and some comments in passing from the guys, who aren't Lucca's biggest fans to begin with. My point is, we know what these people know, but with the exception of maybe Nero a little bit, they don't fully know Lucca either. So keep an open mind.
Now I'm not saying Lucca is a good guy. I am saying that he's not a disgusting selfish creep. You just have to stick around a little longer to see past Chloe's fears. And even then, you won't fully know what's going on. Remember Chloe is still a very scared person at the end of the last book and won't immediately ask all the questions, because she knows she can't handle the truth yet.
It's also quite funny, but in my review of Chloe, I said that some things happening in that book between her and Amo and Lucca are problematic (go read that review for my jumbled thoughts on that and why I was okay with it). I stand by that. Now, this book is also a very dark romance, but at the same time, what's happening here is less problematic. I get that at first glance, it might seem like I've just lost my mind, but there is a lot less lying to Chloe in this book. Mostly because the person lying to her the most was Amo and his role in this book was significantly smaller. Chloe is treated with a lot more respect in this book than she ever was before.
There, that was me trying to convince weary people to read this book and to not give up on Chloe and Lucca. It'll all fall perfectly into place by the end.
Okay, this is where I'm going to write down some bits I absolutely loved, there will be spoilers so I'll just hide this entire part.
(view spoiler)[ I loved how Lucca, all the way back at the beginning, after he's seen Chloe for the first time, says the only emotions he ever felt were when he was causing pain. Not even a full page later he's looking at pictures of Chloe from when she first got the scars, he realises they were made with a knife and he gets incredibly angry on her behalf and says the person who did it better be dead. I thought that was funny, because he doesn't seem to realise that him only feeling any emotions when causing pain is not true anymore.
The other thing I noticed was something that I already knew because I'd read the book before, but I'd forgotten that it's actually pretty clear early on. Lucca doesn't love the parts of Chloe he first notices. He's drawn to those things, but he sees the trauma and darkness behind them. Her being soft-spoken and unsure, it shows him that's she's actually constantly scared and that makes him angry. Lucca wants her to be her full self, not the broken shell she is when he meets her for the first time. I loved that.
I also in general love Lucca's approach when trying to help Chloe. He's sort of doing something like exposure therapy with her, but because she's so inside of her own head, she doesn't really notice until she's improved a lot and she's almost not sure how he's managed it.
The final thing I have to say that I absolutely adore and makes me love Chloe and Lucca together is the conclusion Chloe comes to in the end. She's not a weak little girl who needs Lucca more than he needs her. He doesn't just own her. They're in it together. He needs her just as much, if not more. He would be lost to his darkness if not for her. She owns him too. They're a beautiful nightmare neither wants to wake up from. They truly belong together. And I can't explain it better than the last couple of chapters do. If you weren't already convinced before that, the last couple of chapters make it abundantly clear and I love every second of it every time I read it.
You know what? I'm contemplating changing my rating to a 4.5/5 stars. I mean this is a real, proper deep dive into Chloe's mind and it's dark and scarYou know what? I'm contemplating changing my rating to a 4.5/5 stars. I mean this is a real, proper deep dive into Chloe's mind and it's dark and scary in there and it's written so well. I still wouldn't give it five stars, though, because it is still quite short and at the end 'large' bits are repeated word for word, making it feel even shorter. Trigger warnings for violence, abuse, alcoholism and severe anxiety (I think it's safe to assume PTSD?) I might be forgetting some, but these are the most graphic ones. This book deals with a lot of stuff.
A weird thing I noticed in my reading experience this time around … I didn't cry. I have this shelved on my shelf that is specifically for books that make me cry (usually a lot, I won't just put on any book that gave me a single tear). Now, does this mean I didn't find it sad or heartbreaking anymore? Not even close. My theorie is that, because I've already gone down this road and read all the dark and horrible stuff before, I automatically braced myself? Or maybe I've gotten a bit like Chloe and don't want to give the devil my tears.
Anyway. I know it's not the start of the review, but I do feel the need to put in a bit of a disclaimer. Some things Amo and Lucca do (in this book more Amo than Lucca, but then Lucca isn't all that present in this one) would be incredibly problematic in the real world. I am aware. However, as a reader who can separate fiction from reality and will not take this as an example for real life, I choose to look at this story in it's context. This is a story that is meant to be more dark and scary than romantic (this book in particular is not even close to a romance). A dark romance is almost never something that would be unproblematic in real life. Which is the reason I feel like they should never try to make movies or tv-shows based on them, because they will always end up being shit. These stories are meant to stay a fantasy and that's what makes them intriguing. Okay, disclaimer over, let's talk about my love for this book, while trying not to say too much about my fave, Lucca.
Like I said at the beginning. This book is a deep dive into Chloe's dark and shattered mind. You read about what exactly happened to this poor girl and how she dealt with it afterwards. Or rather, how she wasn't able to deal with it and didn't get any help to try to either. This girl has been tortured mentally and physically, and sadly not just by the devil who put those scars on her. So her mind does what our minds do best, and it shuts her down completely when she's triggered by something. The rest of the time, she's almost a shell of a person, except when she's alone with Elle and she forgets for a minute who she is and what her life is. She's going through the motions, waiting until she can run away and never come back. At first her running away was an appealing thought to her, a positive thing, but slowly throughout the book, she comes to the conclusion that she will always be the way she is and therefore she must leave so as to not make her friends unhappy as well. Her heart is definitely no longer in it, but she's so scared of staying and what that would mean, that leaving is the easier option.
I loved reading more about how Chloe and Elle's friendship started and I also really enjoyed Chloe's perspective from some of the scenes from Nero. The way the difference between Amo and Lucca is shown is also really interesting. Now, I don't hide the fact that Lucca is my fave and I have some very good reasons for that, but that aside, I think it's important to remember how much Chloe doesn't know. She's not aware half her friend group is in the mafia. She's so scared, she doesn't question all the weird things going on. All the violence and Maria needing a bodyguard. She seems to have convinced herself that not knowing will protect her. At the same time, nobody else in her friend group will tell her, because they're afraid of scaring her even more and making her mental condition even worse.
While we're on the topic of her mental condition. This girl needs serious therapy to try and start dealing with her trauma. However, because of how she's been freaking brainwashed, she doesn't seem to think this is an option. In her mind, something happened and now she's broken forever. Amo seems to think if he just waits long enough, she'll improve. Why he's so convinced by this is a mystery to me, because he doesn't even know what actually caused her to behave the way she does. Does he think it's the bullying? Lucca on the other hand, well, read the next book and you'll know. The point I'm trying to make is, one can't bear seeing her in pain and therefore tries to keep her comfortable. From what I've learned, though, working through trauma is never going to be comfortable. The other seems to want to make clear to her that sometimes if you want to move forward, you need to stop running and stay put.
Like I said, It's obvious who's side I'm on. The one who's not lying to her face. There, I said it. Now, If you'll excuse me, I'm going to start re-reading Lucca....more
So it's been a hot minute since I read these books, about 9 years. This story really left a mark for me, therefore I'm not surprised at how much I remSo it's been a hot minute since I read these books, about 9 years. This story really left a mark for me, therefore I'm not surprised at how much I remembered. Of course, the movies have helped with keeping certain things at forefront of my memory, I've seen them multiple times over the years and really love them. I would even go so far as to say that they're some of the best book adaptations out there, from the casting, to getting the essence of the story on the screen. Don't shoot me but there are some things I might even prefer in the movies, but those are mostly after the first one so that's a story for another day. Anyway, let's get on with my review.
The brilliance of this story is how real it feels. It's among the best of the best in the dystopian genre, because it's not that hard to imagine a world where things escalate to such a degree. The characters feel real and imperfect, they're kids who feel like kids pretending to be adults because their environment forces them to be. And by environment I'm not even talking about the games yet. Katniss is a fascinating protagonist to follow, because of her personality and outlook on life. The pairing with Peeta is brilliant writing, because of how different they are. They complement each other the way no-one else does. Speaking of the writing, it's so fluent and engaging, you fly through this book. The descriptions are so vivid, and again make me admire how well the movies portrayed everything. The story doesn't shy away from gruesome and I have to be honest, some of it properly scared me as a 15-year-old. Of course there is lots of action, but the thing that makes this story so special is the internal conflicts. A reluctant hero is exactly what this story required. Someone who doubts what to do, who is understandably selfish and doesn't want to fight the big fight, but the big fight is coming for her anyway.
I don't know what else I can say that hasn't already been said by someone probably more eloquent than me. If you missed the boat on this one years ago, I'd say now's the time to catch the next one, in time for the movie release of the prequel in November (which I thought was great, don't care what anyone else says!)....more
