Gifted & Talented by Olivie Blake:

I write this right now note my initial reaction upon finishing the book. I suspect my feelings may change as I turn it over in my head.

This book emotionally resonates with me. The story is fantastical to be sure, but the emotions expounded feel real.

I’m reading Gifted & Talented by Olivie Blakely right now. She has this wonderful way of ordering words and organizing thoughts. It’s like I’m in a HIIT class. Her sentences read at a frenetic cadence, and yet, when I find myself out of breath, there’s a brief respite. I am exhausted and addicted

Idolfire by Grace Curtis:

A character driven epic that rivals my favorite childhood books. Grace tells a complete tale succinctly. I need time to digest this book, but I can already tell that it will remain dear to me.

City of Bones by Martha Wells:

A compelling story in a world that refused to crystallize in my imagination. I don’t think it’s Martha’s fault. I suspect that I have not traveled enough to paint the image she described with the words that she used. I will likely reread this book at a different time.

Crown of Midnight by Sarah J Maas:
Holy hell did I had to fucking slog through this. By far the book I enjoyed the least from her so far. The characters don’t feel complex or nuanced, they feel confusing. The hook at the end to open up the fantasy epic is intriguing, but I need a fucking break.

The Atlas Six by Olivie Blake:
Pages 1-134
I am such a sucker for a “Sum Greater than its Parts” kind of story. Olivie creating delightful characters that each have their own narrative hooks is just pure decadence. Quite the palate cleanser from SJMs morally unambiguous characters.

Throne of Glass by Sarah J Maas Chapters 1-23:
It’s so interesting to compare her later and earlier work. You can clearly see her incredible talent to communicate emotions here. I felt like she struggled to evoke emotions like love or even a crush unlike in acotar.

A Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J. Maas

Chapters 1-23:
Not all of Nesta’s traumatic puzzle pieces are put together yet. Sarah’s set up Nesta’s power so much at this point that I’m not sure she’s even capable of cashing in on that expectation. God _damn_ does she bring it hot and heavy when needs

A Court of Frost & Starlight by Sarah J. Maas:

As a whole, I’m unsatisfied with the ending of A Court of Wings & Ruin. ACOFS soothes that disgruntlement enough. I’ll work my way through ACOSF next, but as a whole, if this is the end of these protags stories, I am satisfied.

A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J. Maas

A Court of Mist and Fury
Sarah J. Maas

Got lost in the sauce and forgot to live post this one. Abaddon’s Gate by James S. A. Corey. Slow with a gentle ratcheting of tension until I couldn’t put the book down. More emotionally poignant than I remember the first two books of the expanse being. Less body horror, more dismemberment.

ACOTAR:
Chapters 1-3:
Depression isn’t usually the hook that pulls me into a story…