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Reviews

Come Closer Review

by amyleighreadsLeave a Comment on Come Closer Review

*SPOILERS AHEAD*

A recurrent, unidentifiable noise in her apartment. A memo to her boss that’s replaced by obscene insults. Amanda—a successful architect in a happy marriage—finds her life going off kilter by degrees. She starts smoking again, and one night for no reason, without even the knowledge that she’s doing it, she burns her husband with a cigarette. The new voice in Amanda’s head, the one that tells her to steal things and talk to strange men in bars, is strange and frightening, and Amanda struggles to wrest back control of her life. Is she possessed by a demon, or is she simply insane?

I thought this book was highly engaging and very entertaining. Amanda comes across as quite ordinary and bland at the start of the book and then we start to see the gradual descent into acceptance that she is definitely being possessed. I feel like she goes through all the different stages of grief before she is truly taken over and loses all control.

I liked how almost realistic this book was. Amanda tries to come up with all of these excuses and explanations as to why she’s blacking out or how she might just be crazy and there isn’t a demon inside her. Matthew prompting her to get help and her actually trying and seeking a way for her to get better.

I think it was the perfect length to tell this story and the pacing was just right. It started off quite slow and unassuming and then as the plot continues and all these horrific acts occur you really start to feel the panic and overall manic nature of her descent into possession.

⭐️3/5 stars This was intense!

Reviews

Nettle & Bone Review

by amyleighreadsLeave a Comment on Nettle & Bone Review

After years of seeing her sisters suffer at the hands of an abusive prince, Marra—the shy, convent-raised, third-born daughter—has finally realized that no one is coming to their rescue. No one, except for Marra herself. Seeking help from a powerful gravewitch, Marra is offered the tools to kill a prince—if she can complete three impossible tasks. But, as is the way in tales of princes, witches, and daughters, the impossible is only the beginning.

I quite enjoyed Marra’s character. I think at the start she came across as quite naïve at times and refuses to see the world for what it is hidden away in her convent but as she became more aware of what was happening to her family and the hold the northern kingdom has on them she evolves and decides to take action. She is very much devoted to her course and won’t let her fears of other people and how she is being perceived stop her from trying to help.

The gravewitch was definitely my favourite of the characters. Her rapport with everyone around her was very entertaining and I appreciated how candid and straight out she was with Marra. She didn’t sugar coat anything and would call each of them out respectively when they were pushing themselves to much. Her knowledge of the magic within this world was highly necessary and a great way for us as the reader to learn more about it but I do wish we could of seen her wield it a lot more throughout the course of the story.

Fenris was just an ok kind of character for me. He felt a little cliché but I can appreciate how his presence was necessary to the plot line and how the story played out. He was just a little too nice and placid for me, I think if we would of seen him in action a bit more I would of liked him better. Agnes on the other hand was a pleasant addition for me. I liked how upbeat and carefree she seems and the fact that she lied about doing curses because she didn’t want to be affiliated with them even though she could be very powerful.

Overall I just needed a bit more development and time with each of the characters and on the journey. If this had maybe 100 more pages with exposition I would feel so much more grounded in the world and create more of a connection with all of the different characters. I loved the premise and the quest portion of the story but I found that I didn’t really care about the outcome because I wasn’t all that invested.

⭐️3/5 stars felt like a classic fairytale with a demon possessed chicken lol

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✨Grishaverse Reread✨

by amyleighreadsLeave a Comment on ✨Grishaverse Reread✨

I finally finished my reread of King of Scars and I am a bit ambivalent to be honest. I don’t know if it’s because I am in the midst of a reading slump or this duology just isn’t my cup of tea. Nikolai has never been a favourite character of mine and being that the majority of the book surrounds him and the political plight he is having to pull Ravka out of just isn’t gelling with me. I liked that we got more of an in depth look into Zoya’s character and the reasoning behind some of her decisions from the Shadow and Bone series. The second time around I can see the rumblings of a romance between her and Nikolai that I thought was just fun banter the first time I read this and I kind of don’t want that to eventuate but we shall see. I loved Nina’s character from the Six of Crows duology and her perspective really got me through this book. I was intrigued, the stakes were high and I liked the introduction of Hanne and the surprise twist of who her father is. My rating has definitely gone down from the first time I read this book, I think I rated it a 4 but I’m more inclined to a 2.5 though I might round it up to 3 for nostalgia purposes. This was my last reread of the Grishaverse, I haven’t read Rule of Wolves before and I am so excited to see how this book wraps up this duology and the universe as a whole.