Completing series is something I really want to focus on this year! I’ve started the first book in a few series now and I need to continue on and get a good chunk of them read this year hopefully.
The five series I want to continue or complete in 2022 are:
Lightbringer series by Brent Weeks
Witcher series by Andrzej Sapkowski
Serpent and Dove series by Shelby Mahurin
The Poppy War series by R.F. Kuang
Shadow Game Trilogy by Amanda Foody
*DEFINITE SPOILERS BELOW*
After sacrificing her relationship with Roma to protect him from the blood feud, Juliette has been a girl on the warpath. One wrong move, and her cousin will step in to usurp her place as the Scarlet Gang’s heir. The only way to save the boy she loves from the wrath of the Scarlets is to have him want her dead for murdering his best friend in cold blood. If Juliette were actually guilty of the crime Roma believes she committed, his rejection might sting less.
I found Juliet in this book to be frustrating. I could tell straight away that something was happening behind the scenes with her father as he sent her to ‘work’ with Roma. But because she was so wrapped up in finding out who the blackmailer was and dealing with Roma directly again she was oblivious to what was happening around her until it was too late and she had to scramble. For someone who is supposed to be the heir to the Scarlett gang she is rarely ever with her father or privy to any of his meetings and plans I felt.
Roma was not all that impressive either to be honest. The first half of the book before he found out that Marshall was still alive was just him having conflicting feelings towards Juliet and not really getting anything done. Honestly he didn’t really add anything significantly to the book other than just being a Montagov. I didn’t really come away from the book having that much of a connection to him.
One thing I loved was the evolution of Benedikt and Marshall. Ben finding out that he was still alive and then their reunion where you could feel the tension stirring between them to the eventual declaration of their love! I found it to be incredibly heart warming and lovely to read. I also was very much surprised with Rosalind and Kathleen and how integral their roles were in the plot.
I think what really bogged down this story for me was all of the political talk about the revolution and the different factions within the city that came to a head in the end. I couldn’t find myself being that invested even though it took up so much of the storyline. I know what they were talking about was significant but it derailed the whole story so completely that I feel like the original premise was lost.
⭐️2/5 stars Fell flat for me!
*SPOILERS AHEAD*
When Eleanor West decided to open her school, her sanctuary, her Home for Wayward Children, she knew from the beginning that there would be children she couldn’t save; when Cora decides she needs a different direction, a different fate, a different prophecy, Miss West reluctantly agrees to transfer her to the other school, where things are run very differently by Whitethorn, the Headmaster.
Cora’s character is just so complex. I love that we get a brief background on her and her experiences in childhood with her weight and how ostracised she was by her peers. I think it’s quite tragic that she thought the only way she could escape would be to try and commit suicide but I’m glad she found her way through her door and to the trenches. I thought it was quite brave of her to approach Eleanor and request the transfer, she obviously knows how to advocate for herself and through her experiences recognise when she’s had enough.
I’m a little miffed at Eleanor for her reaction to Cora’s decision to go to Whitethorn. I think she definitely took it too personal and reacted when I think she should of tried to be a bit more compassionate and try to reason with Cora. I just feel like when she was aware of how serious Cora was she kind of shut her out and sent her on her way.
I was very much invested in Cora’s time at Whitethorn and how they try to break the girls and reset their minds. We are introduced to a few new characters and revisit some old characters which was fun to see. I almost didn’t recognise Regan at first but I loved that we get to know what happened to her when she came back through her door and her new abilities. The other characters weren’t as memorable to me, they all kind of blended together a little bit but I’m hoping we learn more about them individually as the series continues.
I think this book in particular is one of my favourites in this series. Cora feels a lot more relatable as a character and overall the plot and pacing were still quite fast but highly engaging. I would of loved if this was a full length book that could of delved a lot deeper into Whitethorn and the Headmaster and his decisions. But for being a novella I think there was the perfect amount of context, mystery and thrills!
⭐️4/5 stars One of my favs from this series so far!
Linus Baker leads a quiet, solitary life. At forty, he lives in a tiny house with a devious cat and his old records. As a Case Worker at the Department in Charge Of Magical Youth, he spends his days overseeing the well-being of children in government-sanctioned orphanages. When Linus is unexpectedly summoned by Extremely Upper Management he’s given a curious and highly classified assignment: travel to Marsyas Island Orphanage, where six dangerous children reside: a gnome, a sprite, a wyvern, an unidentifiable green blob, a were-Pomeranian, and the Antichrist. Linus must set aside his fears and determine whether or not they’re likely to bring about the end of days.
I really liked and appreciated Linus’s character. He is so realistic and straightforward with everything that he does, he realises his life might not be what he envisioned but he is comfortable and accepts it. But the evolution and growth he shows over the course of the plot was wonderful to read and to see him open up and develop feelings for not only Arthur but all of the kids was soo gratifying and beautiful.
I also liked the fact that we get a lot of information about each of the other characters and how they came to be on Marsyas Island. How they have been treated in the past and just how resilient and strong each of these children are by moving on and embracing the family they have now. Each one of them are so distinct and distinguishable and I loved the fact that we get enough interaction with all of them for me to form a bond and be fully invested.
Arthur I was curious about from the start because of how little we knew about him from his file. I had a feeling that there was something more to him than what we were shown because of how dedicated he was to keeping the children safe. There are definitely clues given throughout the book but I had no idea what it was. I liked the banter between him and Linus and to see how their relationship blossoms was just wholesome and lovely.
Overall l didn’t think I was that invested or even really affected by this book until Linus comes back and asks them if he can stay. That whole monologue really touched me and that’s when everything really just came together. This wasn’t anything spectacular or ground-breaking I feel but its more about the way it makes you feel. It’s about growth, acceptance, embracing yourself and coming to terms with your past trauma and moving on. This was a fantastic, quick, wholesome read that I would recommend to everyone!
⭐️5/5 I definitely cried lol
So there are still a few series that I have been meaning to start for multiple years now but hopefully this is the year I actually get to them all!
These are the 5 series I want to start in 2022:
The Green Bone Saga by Fonda Lee
The Gentleman’s Bastard Series by Scott Lynch
First Law Trilogy by Joe Abercrombie
The Diviners series by Libba Bray
The Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan
Amy Leigh Reads 