Tag: ya review

Reviews

Impossible Times Series Review

by amyleighreadsLeave a Comment on Impossible Times Series Review

This week I completed Mark Lawrence’s Impossible Times Series! Each book was only around 250ish pages so I figured instead of reviewing each book individually I would do a series review! I’m not going to go too in depth as I don’t want to give any spoilers!

39792427._SY475_One Word Kill – This was probably my least favourite of the three books although it was crucial in terms of establishing all of the scenes that will eventually become so important later in the series. I found it a little hard to get into personally, especially with all of the science/time travel/mathematical jargon that is used frequently throughout the book. Being how short it actually is I think Mark Lawrence did an excellent job adding depth and personality to each of the characters. I was a little bored at times but I was intrigued enough that I definitely had to continue on! ⭐️3/5 stars

41771517._SY475_Limited Wish – I really liked that there is a jump in time and Nick is a little bit older now. The setting is a lot more interesting as well and I found it very easy to fall back into the storyline. This book went a lot more in depth in terms of all the science and mathematics behind the time travel. At times I did find myself kind of skimming most of those conversations and trying to stay focused on what was actually happening. I liked the introduction of the new characters and we are given a lot more answers in this book to some of the questions that are set down in One Word Kill. I highly enjoyed the new setting and the development of the characters and their devotion to each other and to D&D. ⭐️4/5 stars

44806008._SY475_Dispel Illusion – This was fantastic! I liked that we jump from the different timelines and see kind of behind the scenes of what Nick was actually seeing all those years ago. The intricacies that Mark Lawrence had to put together and seeing the seeds sown in the first book ultimately come to fruition was highly engaging and super satisfying! Definitely took a turn I did not expect but better than what I had imagined was going to happen. Completely unpredictable and so much more fulfilling in a way. All of Demus’s secrets come to light and there are so many twists that bloomed unexpectedly that you cannot put this book down! ⭐️4.5/5 stars

 

Reviews

The Afterlife of Holly Chase Review

by amyleighreadsLeave a Comment on The Afterlife of Holly Chase Review

33843251._SY475_This was fantastic!

This is a retelling of the classic A Christmas Tale but with a bit of a modern twist. Holly is visited on Christmas Eve by the ghosts of Christmas past, present and future however she does not heed their warning and she dies. But she is brought back to life and is chosen to work in a top secret company called Project Scrooge as the new ghost of Christmas past and visits others like herself once a year to try and change them for the better.

I loved Holly’s character and the development that she undertakes throughout the course of the story line. She really is the true epitome of a scrooge and I loved the way she has resigned herself to her new role as the GOCP and how she had to deal with how unpampered her life is now in comparison to what it was. She has a subtle transformation and when she is given that second chance I like that she goes for it and is able to change so many lives.

I thought the plot was cleverly written and each character played a major role in the story line. They were all distinct, diverse and necessary in the grand scope of the tale. One of my favorites was definitely Stephanie. She seems unassuming but was a key factor in terms of Holly’s transformation.

I honestly couldn’t predict anything that was going to happen. As the story went on I had my thoughts on which direction the plot would go and I was never right which definitely kept me engaged. I thought all of the twists were perfectly timed and highly entertaining.

I am surprised really how much I enjoyed this book. I’ve been putting it off for a while now and I really regret just how long it took me to pick it up.

⭐️4.5/5 stars A perfect Christmas Read!

Reviews

Queen of Nothing Review

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26032912._SY475_Better!

Queen of Nothing continues pretty much straight after The Wicked King ended. Jude is still banished but she is currently doing odd jobs for the local Fae to try and make some money, until her sister turns up with some information that could lead her back into Faerieland.

I liked that Jude had some time to dwell on herself and come to the conclusion that she isn’t the smartest and she was ultimately tricked and beaten by Cardan. She actually admitted that she wasn’t as good as what she thought she was and I really appreciated that growth from her. That was really the only thing that I didn’t enjoy about this series, how pretentious and unlikable Jude was and I think she has redeemed herself a little in this book!

The pacing was a lot better in my opinion in this book than the rest of the series. I feel like everything has already been established and we just jumped straight into the action which I enjoyed! It kept me engaged and wanting to read on to see what will happen next.

The love story kind of left me feeling a little unfulfilled. There wasn’t really enough of a buildup of tension for me and all of their interactions were way too brief for me. Their reunion was way too anticlimactic and there isn’t enough depth in their relationship for me to truly believe in it! They hardly spent any time together and we only get one scene where they really express themselves and how they feel for each other.

I can never really anticipate or predict what is going to happen in these books which I like in a fantasy. Sometimes I can get a little too predictable and I lose interest in the plot but that never really happens. It got a little too political and not quite fantastical for me at times. All of the strategy talk and the movements of the armies bore me , if it would of cut out a lot of the planning and extending the schemes and action I think I would of liked this book a whole lot more!

⭐️3.5/5 I liked this lot more than the previous books, still didn’t blow me away though!

Reviews

Five Dark Fates Review

by amyleighreads1 Comment on Five Dark Fates Review

35391237._SY475_After the battle with Katharine the rebellion has fled back to Sunspool to recoup. Jules’s legion curse has been unbound after her mother’s death, leaving her out of her mind. Arsinoe has been keeping her quiet using her poisoner and low magic skills. Mirabella has disappeared and Katharine’s reign over Fennbirn still remains intact but it’s tenuous at best.

I thought all of the character development that occurred throughout the series really shone in this book. Just seeing how different the triplets are from one another yet still there is that undercurrent feeling of love and hope between them. I think that is what Mira is banking on when she ends up abandoning the rebellion and trusting Katharine not to kill her, also why Arsinoe doesn’t want to believe that Mira defected. They say time and time again that it would be easy to kill each other yet when it comes down to that moment they always pause and hesitate. The dead queens are really the ones who do all of the killing, Katharine is merely the vessel that they have been using to further along their plot to take over Fennbirn.

The previous books did such a good job establishing the world and the overall tone of the series that this book just launched straight back into the plot. Even though it has been over a year since I read the last book it was very easy to fall back into this world. The characters are all so distinct and varied and the plot was defined and easy to follow along with. The fantastical elements were incorporated quite organically into the story line and it was very engaging.

I thought the ending was very fitting for the series. I wasn’t able to predict anything that was going to happen and I was left feeling very fulfilled. It definitely didn’t blow me away by any means but I highly enjoyed my experience reading it!

⭐️4/5 stars action packed, fast paced, fitting ending to this series!

Reviews

Four Dead Queens Review

by amyleighreads2 Comments on Four Dead Queens Review

40367270Four Dead Queens follows a few perspectives, we have the four queens who preside over different quadrants in the nation. Each quadrant has different rules and regulations and is strictly separated from each other. Keralie is a thief who steals a valuable item off a messenger to sell in her quadrant’s black market and is swept into a conspiracy to kill the four queens.

Keralie’s character was a little stale. I found she isn’t the most likeable of characters out there. She has many flaws and doesn’t really learn from her mistakes a whole lot. I just wasn’t that big a fan of hers I guess. Varin I did really enjoy. I like that we are given a lot more background and context about his quadrant and the way they live. I thought it was really interested how he contrasts with Keralie. She is very outspoken, tenacious and a little impulsive, whereas he is quite focused and quiet and rigid. I like that we see him thaw out and become a little more conformative over the course of the plot line and I found him a lot more interesting than Keralie.

I thought the Queens were all very distinctive and diverse. I wish we got a little more time to get to know them individually before they died. In the short amount of time we are given we do learn a lot about each of them and how they are all kind of leading their own lives despite how controlled they are by the laws.

The way the book was structured was quite unique. The dual timelines and the flashbacks were all very engaging. I was very much invested in the plot and I had multiple predictions in my mind about who the assassin was. When the identity of the killer came out I was definitely a little confused. Like I said I had my theories and she was one of them but I didn’t know how it would be possible. The way it was explained I guess made sense but I thought it was a little too predictable. There were some good twists thrown in and in the end I was satisfied.

I liked the world, I could of used a little more context and explanations regarding the history. Overall I was thoroughly entertained, the pacing was quite fast, I haven’t read anything like this before, I just kind of wish this was a duology and was spread out a bit more and went a little more in depth.

⭐️3.5/5 A pretty decent YA fantasy