I haven’t been prioritising any of my library books this month which is kind of a shame. I’ve only read one out of the four I currently have loaned out and that was Girl, Serpent, Thorn by Melissa Bashardoust, I am going to try and get to the other though as soon as I can!
Born with a gift for music, Nannerl Mozart has just one wish—to be remembered forever. But even as she delights audiences with her masterful playing, she has little hope she’ll ever become the acclaimed composer she longs to be.
I can appreciate the journey of self-acceptance that Nannerl goes on throughout the course of the book, but I wasn’t all that attached to her. She seemed petty and jealous of her brother and his talents even though he is so dedicated to her and appreciates her talents above all else. It would be difficult as a young woman growing up in this time and how frustratingly sexist the people are and it is really displayed in the plot.
Wolfer again I wasn’t very attached to. Sure he profited off Nannerl’s composition when their father stole her work and passed it off as his but he always praised Nannerl and was just trying to emulate her. Their whole familial relationship was centred around their musical talents and putting so much pressure on children so provide for the family is a little problematic in my eyes.
The secondary plotline surrounding the Kingdom was what really kept me reading on. I wanted to find out what the three tasks where that Nannerl needed to complete to get her wish and how that shifted over the years she and Wolfer visited the Kingdom. Hyancinth was definitely an interesting character but in the end it was just a tad too predictable for me.
The prose was well done and the pacing was pretty consistent. I went into this book with pretty low expectations as I have found I am not the greatest fan of historical fiction, even if it has a fantastical twist and this stayed true. Unfortunately, I didn’t really enjoy this book at all, there was nothing inherently wrong with it and I don’t have any untoward feelings towards the tale I was just bored most of the time.
⭐️2/5 I can see why so many people love this book, just not for me…
I did this tag at the end of last year and I felt like this is a fun tag that I could potentially do around this time every year!
I am going to interpret this as a series I started this year that I need to finish and for that I am going for The Empire of Gold by S.A. Chakraborty!
I don’t really have seasonal books that I read every year, that’s just not how I function. But as we are going into summer here in Australia I am going to try and pick up some more contemporaries. So for that I am going to pick A Song Below Water by Bethany C. Morrow!
I am highly anticipating Lightbringer by Clarie Legrand
Blood and Honey by Shelby Mahurin, The Toll by Neal Shusterman & The Girl and the Stars by Mark Lawrence
I still haven’t read The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Scwab and I just have a feeling that I am going to LOVE it!
No…One this I did more this year was just mood read throughout the months and just pick up book when I was in the mood for reading, so I think I will definitely be continuing that for 2021!
Figured it was time for another WWW Wednesday
Legendborn by Tracy Deonn
The Toll by Neal Shusterman
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab
It’s been three years since Rowan and Citra disappeared; since Scythe Goddard came into power; since the Thunderhead closed itself off to everyone but Grayson Tolliver.
I really enjoyed how we see the story unfold over various timelines within the three years since Endura sank. There was a lot you kind of had to wade through and at times I did find it a bit dense but still captivating and engaging me in a way that propelled me to keep reading.
I just loved the way Citra and Rowan have evolved over the course of the series and how they started off as quite innocuous characters to being some of the most beloved and infamous people in the world. I loved how we see how the decisions they make over the course of the storyline has such an impact on their society and the Scythedom. They are separated for the majority of the series so when they are reunited it almost feels like fanservice because it what I have been craving for so long.
We are again introduced to a plethora of new characters and a few different perspectives that kept the narrative fresh and interesting. We spent some time outside of MidMerica and we get to see how some of the other factions within this world operate and how they all differ from one another whilst still maintaining this social order, it was compelling. Also seeing how everyone is scrambling to try and survive without being able to communicate with the Thunderhead to do their unsavory statuses was entertaining.
I have to admit the Tonists and Greyson’s perspective was my least favourite out of them all. I honestly wasn’t all that invested in their religion or how it operated. I was curious as to why the Thunderhead chose Grayson out of every to still communicate with but I was way more interested in what was happening with Rowan and Citra as opposed to The Toll though he was a defining character in the grand scheme of the book.
I think this was meticulously planned and put together in a way that really captivates you from the start and has you questioning every single detail. Wondering what the Thunderhead was planning and how it was able to get around his rules to keep humankind safe but still continue to not meddle in Scythe business. I had my doubts about him since the start, I don’t know why but I never trust AI in books but this time I was pleasantly surprised!
⭐️4/5 stars a very gratifying ending, definitely exceeded my expectations!
Amy Leigh Reads 