Brooke Reviews

YA Book Blog

Brooke Reviews: A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas

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Brooke Reviews: A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. MaasA Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas
Published by Bloomsbury USA on May 5th 2015
Genres: Action & Adventure, Fairy Tales & Folklore, Love & Romance, Young Adult
Pages: 432
Format: eBook
five-stars
A thrilling, seductive new series from New York Times bestselling author Sarah J. Maas, blending Beauty and the Beast with faerie lore. When nineteen-year-old huntress Feyre kills a wolf in the woods, a beast-like creature arrives to demand retribution for it. Dragged to a treacherous magical land she only knows about from legends, Feyre discovers that her captor is not an animal, but Tamlin — one of the lethal, immortal faeries who once ruled their world. As she dwells on his estate, her feelings for Tamlin transform from icy hostility into a fiery passion that burns through every lie and warning she's been told about the beautiful, dangerous world of the Fae. But an ancient, wicked shadow grows over the faerie lands, and Feyre must find a way to stop it . . . or doom Tamlin — and his world — forever. Perfect for fans of Kristin Cashore and George R. R. Martin, this first book in a sexy and action-packed new series is impossible to put down!

Sarah J. Maas has done it again – completely swept me off my feet. ACOTAR is a beautiful, compelling, and steamy retelling of Beauty and the Beast. I absolutely loved it.

If you’ve also read Throne of Glass, I’d be willing to bet that you opened this book with high expectations. I certainly did. I thought it was great that ACOTAR features Maas’ distinct storytelling style, but has a completely different tone/feel than Throne of Glass. The book delves deeper into the realm of the Fae, and Maas has carefully crafted a unique story world and plot.

First of all, I’m a sucker for fairy tale retellings. And I’m quite fond of Beauty and the Beast, simply because Belle is an avid reader. And also because it’s all about focusing on what’s on the inside rather than on outward appearance. I enjoyed following along with Feyre’s story and comparing it to Belle’s. Of course, while there are many similarities, Maas has given the beloved fairy tale a new twist and incredible depth.

And can we talk about Feyre’s absolutely steamy and swoon-y (is that a word?) romance?? There were several scenes (if you’ve read it, YOU KNOW WHAT I’M TALKING ABOUT) that made my heart pound and my cheeks flush. And THAT is a testament to Maas’ skills with pacing and character development.

I care so deeply for each and every character (even Rhysand!), and so when terrible things happened to them it felt like my heart was being ripped to shreds. (Because unfortunately terrible things happen to them. And it’s painful.) What I’m saying is, this book gives you ALL the feels.

The first half of the book is definitely slower-paced than the second half, but I never found myself to be disinterested or bored. I couldn’t put it down. The ending ties things up quite nicely, but there are a few loose ends that raise interesting questions for book 2. Excellent, excellent read. I enjoyed every minute of it (when I wasn’t having an emotional breakdown, that is).

Read the book. And I’ll give a quick shout-out to Throne of Glass, too. 😉

HAVE YOU READ THE BOOK? SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS! LET’S CHAT!

 

Brooke Reviews: Fairest by Marissa Meyer

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Brooke Reviews: Fairest by Marissa MeyerFairest by Marissa Meyer
Published by Macmillan on January 27th 2015
Genres: Fairy Tales & Folklore, Science Fiction, Young Adult
Pages: 272
Goodreads
four-half-stars
Mirror, mirror, on the wall. Who is the Fairest of them all? Pure evil has a name, hides behind a mask of deceit, and uses her "glamour" to gain power. But who is Queen Levana? Long before she crossed paths with Cinder, Scarlet, and Cress in The Lunar Chronicles, Levana lived a very different story - a story that has never been told . . . until now. New York Times - bestselling author Marissa Meyer reveals the story behind her fascinating villain in Fairest, an unforgettable tale about love and war, deceit and death. This extraordinary book includes a special full-color image of Levana's castle and an excerpt from Winter, the exciting conclusion to The Lunar Chronicles.

I was simultaneously disappointed and excited when Marissa Meyer announced the publication of Fairest. Disappointed, because it meant I’d have longer to wait for Winter. And excited, because I knew the book would add depth to her story world and to her villain, Queen Levana.

I will praise Marissa Meyer until the end of my days. Fairest exceeded all expectations. It is the tragic story of a girl who longs to be loved.

The book begins with the murder of Levana’s parents. The only family young Levana has left is Channery, her older sister and heir to the Lunar throne. But Channery is selfish and vain and cares nothing about politics. And she is cruel to Levana. She continually reminds Levana of her ugliness and her worthlessness.

Surrounded by the mentality that beauty is everything, Levana’s glamour becomes her shield. And eventually, her source of power. I was eager to discover the reason for Levana’s fear of being truly seen. Readers of the Lunar Chronicles know that Levana despises mirrors and wears a veil whenever she communicates via netscreen. It’s obvious that Levana is insecure about her appearance and wishes to maintain the facade of being exquisitely beautiful, but Fairest reveals that there’s much more to it than that.

The timeline of the book covers much of Levana’s life – beginning with her teenage years and ending just before the events of the first three books (Cinder, Scarlet, Cress). The passage of time is smooth, organic. I was carried along by the flow and rhythm of the story.

It’s an engaging read. I appreciated how much backstory (for all the characters!) Meyer was able to weave in without slowing the pace.

As for Levana’s character, she is sympathetic but not altogether likable. My heart ached for her, even when I knew she was making poor decisions. It is an incredible feat for an author to make an antagonist sympathetic AFTER readers have encountered her in previous books. And I think I speak for all fans of the Lunar Chronicles when I say we have very strong feelings of hatred for Levana. But not anymore. So huge props to Marissa Meyer!

Levana’s transformation and downward spiral is painful. The book is emotional and sorrowful. But it’s so compelling, and I know it will make my reading experience of Winter infinitely more impactful.

Have you read this book? Share your thoughts!