Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King Book Review

Rawr Reader,

   I felt that since I was already in the world of Middle-earth I might as well continue on its journey. The synopsis of The Return of the King is from the back of the book:

    As the Shadow of Mordor grows across the land, the Companions of the Ring have become involved in separate adventures. Aragorn, revealed as the hidden heir of the ancient Kings of the West, has joined with the Riders of Rohan against the forces of Isengard, and takes part in the desparate battle of the Hornburg. Merry and Pippin, captured by Orcs, escape into Fangorn Forest and there encounter the Ents. 

    Gandalf has miraculously returned and defeated the evil wizard, Saruman. Sam has left his master for dead after a battle with the giant spider, Shelob; but Frodo is still alive -- now in the foul hands of the Orcs.

    Meanwhile, the armies of the Dark Lord are massing as the One Ring draws ever nearer to the Cracks of Doom.

Reference:

From the second book!

Review:

(no spoiler section so contains some spoilers)

   I finished the Lord of the Rings. YES. I've been wanting to do this for several years now so I feel pretty accomplished right now! Alright, enough of that. To the review! (It will include favorite characters/moments over the series at the end.)

   The conclusion to this epic adventure couldn't have been accomplished any other way. Frodo succeeds in destroying the one Ring to rule them all and more comfortably travels back home to the Shire afterward. In fact there was still 100 pages left after Frodo destroyed the Ring at Mount Doom and I was curious to see why there was so much. In the movie it's Mount Doom---coronation of the king in Gondor---Shire----Grey Havens---end. Boom bam fin. But no, Frodo and his "Company" (the other three hobbits in the Fellowship) accompanied by Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli, and Gandalf go to Gondor then chill there for a couple months then head to Isengard then to the Shire. And when they get to the Shire, turns out there was Chiefs and "Shirriffs" taking control over the Shire. I loved how the hobbits, particularly Pippin and Merry were like "HELL NO," snapping their fingers and forming a coup to overthrow them. I was dreading this chapter because it was really long and remembering how I dreaded the Shire chapters in The Fellowship, I was genuinely surprised I liked how it turned out to be this epic hobbit battle. While I understand why Tolkien decided to show how the hobbits could return home changed and more mature hobbits, I'm a little glad they took this part out of the movie. It would've made the movie too long as if three hours and twenty minutes isn't enough. Because if they did, I would've just been complaining on why they didn't include Tom Bombadil (I really wish I could've seen an actor play him). The ending wraps up all of the hobbits lives and couldn't have been done any other way without still maintaining an epic title. Well-- it may have still done so, but it wouldn't have been as good.
   Okay, couple things I'd like to talk about. First of which is Eowyn. Three words: What a BADASS! She don't take orders from no man, including the king! Going into the scenes with Theoden and the King of Angmar, I knew Eowyn was the one to save him, but still when it was revealed this Dernhelm turned out to be a woman, but not just any Rohan woman, the LEADER of Rohan while its king was away in battle, my jaw just dropped. Particularly the scene in which the King is about to kill Theoden and says no man can defeat him and she's all "I'm not a man, I'm a woman!" Booyah wasn't expecting that weren't ya! I mean she's never been in a battle, and yet her first foe is the General of the enemy's army and she succeeds in killing him. Way to go girl! I mean, who were the ones to destroy the great evils in this book? King of Angmar? Eowyn. The Lord Sauron? Frodo (a little hobbit from the Shire.) Saruman? Wormtongue. (Betrayal will be evils downfall.) It isn't Aragorn, Gandalf, Tom Bombadil, or even Eomer to be the one to make the final blow. I just see Tolkien sitting in a chair, raising his glass to all the little people, or all the people that don't get enough credit where credit can be due. Tolkien = father of amazing.
   Now, continuing on with Eowyn and Faramir. Before reading this and solely relying on the movie, I always guessed and wished that they got together (since they were standing next to each other. because people standing next to each other = couple apparently...). xD But reading that around the time the armies of Rohan and those of Gondor and those of the Rangers were at the Black Gate, Faramir and Eowyn were making googly eyes at each other made me happy for them. I'm a little glad though that Tolkien didn't include any of the romance stories the movies did over the course of the movies, but revealed them at or near the end of the final book. Does anyone else agree? Tolkien just concentrated on the adventure and the battles and the fantastical creatures (Ents and Eagles woohoo!) and I think it was better overall that way. 
    I don't think I've ever been so close to crying in a book as I did in one scene in this book. And that was, drumroll please, when Denthor told Faramir that he wished that Boromir switched places with him. Seriously, tears were there, they just didn't come out. I remember in the movie Faramir is tearing already when he asks the question, already knowing what his father's answer was going to be, but hoping that he wouldn't say yes-- and then he says yes. Just. Sad. And Gandalf tries to reassure him that Denethor didn't mean it, but I wouldn't have believed him either. Actually, Gandalf wasn't a favorite character, since I didn't really believe him sometimes when he spoke, but this was one of those moments I really admired him.
   Alright, Sam lost some points from me in the beginning. In the second book he wasn't my favorite like he was in the first book, but I still liked him. But in this book, at least in the beginning I was shaking my head. By the end I just realized that it wasn't foolishness, it was purely loyalty at its finest. Sam can only be guilty of having too big a heart, and over the scan of the series, he is definitely one of my favorite characters. 
  Continuing on favorite characters, I've already said Sam was on that list. But then there's Treebeard, Gollum (he was the reason I loved the second half of the Two Towers), Faramir, Boromir, Eowyn (I wish she had more speaking parts), Tom Bombadil and the Legolas and Gimli duo. I wanted to include Aragorn but I don't like him as much as I do in the movies, like Gandalf, he had too many ambivalent moments-- I couldn't tell what I should've been feeling after reading his dialogue. I'm surprised that I loved Faramir and Boromir so much because in the movies they don't really blow me away. I mean, their acting is good, but they didn't really stand out to me as much as in the book.
  Favorite moments and scenes: The Mines of Moria, the Mines of Moria, the Mines of Moria. Seriously, the movie does not do it justice. It's great, but not to the caliber I wish it could've been. Love that scene so much! Alright, Rivendell, Lothlorien, the meeting of the Ents, the battle at Isengard, the "voice of Saruman" chapter, the entire last half of the Two Towers because Gollum. (Just, Gollum is such a fantastic character to read about.) In the final book: the Denethor/Faramir scene (sad but still an amazing moment), the battle at the Pelennor Fields and when Eowyn kicks serious Nazgul and Ringwraith booty, Faramir/Eowyn chapter, and when the Eagles come (I love Eagles so much from The Hobbit),  and the Grey Havens (though I wish Tolkien wrote more about them.) 
    Overall, these books are just almost as fantastic as their movie counterparts, though they still are amazing! I'd recommend them to any fans of the movies and those who wish to get a better look into the world of the Shire and really get a look into the world of Middle-earth-- because Tolkien didn't hold back in describing this world. A great thing but also a boring thing, it cannot be helped. And these characters are a set of characters that couldn't be duplicated, from the wandering wizard to the uncrowned king to the multiple personality villain to the remarkbleness of hobbits and many, many others. Elves, dwarves, wizards, ents, eagles, orcs, trolls, nazgul, hobbits, uruks, Tom Bombadil's, and other creatures I can't remember. Oh and men! Wow duh, I can't believe I left out my own species. >_<
   This is an adventure you don't want to be left out on! 

I give this book 4/5 stars. The second book was my favorite.
I give this series 5/5 stars because, well, it's Middle-earth. How couldn't I?

Author's Quote:

"I will not say: do not weep; for not all tears are an evil."
-Gandalf, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King

"Orcs, and talking trees, and leagues of grass, and galloping riders, and glittering caves, and white towers and golden halls, and battles, and tall ships sailing, all these passed before Sam's mind until he felt bewildered."
-J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King

"The Road goes ever on and on
Out from the door where it began."
-Bilbo, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King

My Goodreads:

http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/7170636-nicole

Next To Read:

The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie

Until Next Time,
Nicole Ciel

The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers Book Review

Rawr Reader,

    Has it really been over three weeks? I'm sorry.  I studied for my finals for two weeks and this past week I've just been relaxing and hanging out with family. But I've missed discussing books and so glad to finally have finished this one! This is The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers by J.R.R. Tolkien. The synopsis was typed from the back of the book: 

Frodo and his Companions of the Ring have been beset by danger during their quest to prevent the Ruling Ring from falling into the hands of the Dark Lord by destroying it in the Cracks of Doom. They lost the wizard Gandalf in a battle in the Mines of Moria. And Boromir, seduced by the power of the Ring, tried to seize it by force. While Frodo and Sam made their escape, the rest of the company was attacked by Orcs. 

Now they continue the journey alone down the great River Anduin — alone, that is, save for the mysterious creeping figure that follows wherever they go.

Reference:

   I heard of this book from the first book! 

Review:

(no spoiler section so below contains some spoilers!)

   I'd like to start off by saying that I'm waiting to rewatch these movies until after I finish the book. So as we speak I'm watching the 2nd movie and I'm so excited! (Even if it's about my 50th time watching it.) ^^

   The Two Towers was structured a little differently than its predecessor. With the fellowship divided, the attention doesn't alternate between Aragorn's party, the two Orc-napped hobbits and Frodo and Sam like it does in the film's adaptation. The movie was structured for all the events to occur ultimately simultaneous. However Tolkien decided to separate the book into two separate parts, the first concerning Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli and at some times Pippin and Merry and the second part centering on how Frodo and Sam fare. 

   On the grand scheme of things, I have to respect this book. The locations and sometimes the character names are off-putting and confusing since they can look so similar, but this is Middle-earth and therefore Tolkien made it just as geographically and politically accurate as someone would Earth. The slow parts are when he is describing the adventure aspect of the book, such as the day-to-day events and the descriptions of the landscape of the marshes or the stairs of Cirith Ungol, but I'd have to say none of it is disappointing.

    In fact, I really admired Frodo in this book. He had more of a spine in this book than in The Fellowship of the Ring in regards to standing up to Gollum and when meeting Faramir and then defending Gollum. When I figured out how the first part of the book would be split between Aragorn and the Orc-napped hobbits and the last part would be solely on Frodo and Sam, I was worried. On the second page of the last part Frodo was already complaining. I already didn't like him so I was already tired reading about him when there was still 150 pages left. However I'm glad that Tolkien let him change from his childish dependent character as was in the first book into a more independent hobbit. While the development wasn't gradual, at least there was a change and I'm content with that.

    Aragorn wasn't really one of my favorites in this book. I don't see how he could develop into the next book as taking the throne as king. He doesn't seem as humble to me as he did in the movies and I don't see how it would be chosen as the name for the last book.

   Actually it's ironic, most of the scenes in the first part of the book I was excited to read about turned out boring (Helm's Deep and Edoras) turned out boring while the parts that I found were my favorite were the chapters with Treebeard, Saruman and Gollum. (Though I will argue that I prefer Treebeard's introduction in the movie a hell of a lot more. ("Gnawing, biting, breaking, hawking, burning! Destroyers and usurpers curse them!") xD

    As for my favorite character, it'd have to be Gollum/Smeagol. Every scene that concerned him was so enjoyable to read and I found his diction so characterized, if characters were genres, he'd be his own. Sometimes characters no matter what book you read can begin to blend together that you need to read back to remember who's speaking, but Gollum is so unique. Before reading this book and being introduced to Gollum I didn't really take note of his character other than that he was the creepy bad guy. But in the book I felt I sympathized for him (ex: at the pool before Faramir catches him and after when he feels he was betrayed by Frodo), well at least for the Smeagol part of him. I belive Andy Serkis's performance in the movies did an incredibly fantastic job emulating Gollum/Smeagol and I now respect his character 1000x more for it. Actually, I'd say Gollum/Smeagol becomes one of my favorite literary character of all the books I've read. 

    Alright, my favorite scene/chapter in the book was with the Ents. Oh my gosh I love how badass they are. Particularly when Treebeard and the other Ents decide to attack Isengard. I was just fist-pumping the air cheering them on. And I also enjoyed the chapter when Aragorn, Gandalf, and King Theodan come to Isengard after the battle of Helm's Deep and they speak with Saruman. He was always just a character out of sight and I was happy Tolkien gave him at least one chapter to act and think.  
    Final thing, I was surprised when I learned that the title wasn't referring to what I had always thought it was. For near a decade now, "Two Towers" had always been in my mind the tower in Isengard and the other tower in Mordor. But in the book I believe when Frodo, Sam and Gollum reached the Black Gates of Mordor, Tolkien described them as the Two towers of Teeth. So unless I'm just looking too much into it, I was surprised.

    If you've read this book, you'll know that the book is very different compared to the movie. And if I had to pick, I honestly prefer the movie for the structure (and also it's hilarious). However one thing that bothered me from the movie was in the beginning when Legolas said "The Uruks have turned north-east. They're taking the hobbits to Isengard!" Yeaaahhh, no. Geographically, whether in the movie or book, they were northeast of Isengard. So no matter what he should have said they're taking them south-west. But only I would be bothered by that. ^^

   

I give this book 5/5 stars. I liked it a little more because it didn't take half of the book to start getting good. (Fellowship of the Ring *cough* *cough*)

Author's Quote:

"I'll look for thee, and wait for thee, until we meet again:"
-Treebeard, Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers

My Goodreads:

http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/7170636-nicole

Next To Read:

The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King by J.R.R. Tolkien

Until Next Time,

Nicole Ciel

City of Ashes Book Review

Rawr Reader,

   I've had this book for several weeks and I've wanted to read it immediately, but I had other books I needed to read first. But it doesn't matter because I finally got to reading this! Yay! Alright, in all honesty I wasn't blown away with City of Bones, but that cliffhanger made me really want to know what happened with Clary, Jace and Simon (ahh Simon, I love you). This is City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare, and this synopsis is provided by Goodreads:

Clary Fray just wishes that her life would go back to normal. But what's normal when you're a demon-slaying Shadowhunter, your mother is in a magically induced coma, and you can suddenly see Downworlders like werewolves, vampires, and faeries? If Clary left the world of the Shadowhunters behind, it would mean more time with her best friend, Simon, who's becoming more than a friend. But the Shadowhunting world isn't ready to let her go — especially her handsome, infuriating, newfound brother, Jace. And Clary's only chance to help her mother is to track down rogue Shadowhunter Valentine, who is probably insane, certainly evil — and also her father.
To complicate matters, someone in New York City is murdering Downworlder children. Is Valentine behind the killings — and if he is, what is he trying to do? When the second of the Mortal Instruments, the Soul-Sword, is stolen, the terrifying Inquisitor arrives to investigate and zooms right in on Jace. How can Clary stop Valentine if Jace is willing to betray everything he believes in to help their father?

Reference:

   I heard about this book from the first book. Obviously, right? :P

                                                                          Review:

(safe for those who haven't read this book yet)

   Okay, because I have an uncontrollable need to finish interesting series, I got this book because I admit, I liked the atmosphere of this world. I simply liked the first book, but this book I felt delivered a lot more and for that I gave this book one more star.

    Since I already knew the characters and places, I guess I didn't find this book as overwhelming, and I felt more attached to the characters. Or when something happened to them, I reacted more. The first book I felt had a bunch going on and while a lot does in this too, it isn't as fast-paced. (What? I'm complaining about pacing?) Also, nothing was revealed in this book like it was by the end of the first book. (See spoilers below for my guess at a possible revelation.) Overall I was very pleased with this book and I can't find much to complain about.

    Oh! Actually, there is something that bothered me. I felt that these people were cut off a lot. Specifically Clary. Like every time she tried to speak--

    She'd get cut off.

    Annoying isn't it? Maybe it's just a pet peeve of mine, like let the characters talk already! It was affective in some moments, but it became to recurrent and consistent in Clary's character. No me gusta.  

    The cliffhanger wasn't very cliffhanging in my opinion. I thought it'd be more dramatic, since I think this was initially a trilogy. Now, well years ago when they decided to continue on with the series, that it's become six-seven however many books there are so far, I want to see how this story has stretched out.

     What keeps bringing back to this story I think is ultimately the humor between the characters. In reality, teenagers are smart***es and I think that the author emulated that well in her characters.

    And if you're thinking I'd end this review without saying anything about my favorite, you were cleverly mistaken. Yes, I still love Simon.

I give this book 3/5 stars. I found this one more enjoyable than City of Bones.

Author's Quote:

“I'll just have them change the entry in the demonology textbook from 'almost extinct' to 'not extinct enough for Alec. He prefers his monsters really, really extinct.' Will that make you happy?” 

― Cassandra Clare, City of Ashes

My Goodreads:

http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/7170636-nicole

Next To Read:

The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers by J.R.R. Tolkien

River Song's Spoilers:

(unsafe for those who haven't read this book yet, so don't read this section)

     Alright I accidentally read beforehand that Simon would turn into a vampire. So unfortunately I wasn't that surprised. 

    I'm just waiting for Jace and Clary to turn out not to be related. I mean, I would kind of feel disappointed since clearly Jace and Clary still care for each other. On page 417, when Clary is telling Valentine about how his first child, Valentine cuts her off and says "I wasn't talking about--" Whhhaaaat???? Is he implying something? That maybe he was referring to another child? I mean Jocelyn never confirmed Jace was her kid, so maybe she isn't his mom. And while I haven't read the next book yet, I read the synopsis and it is going to introduce another Shadowhunter: Sebastian. (How convenient it's a guy...) And he's mysterious? Hmm, I wonder if he has a lost childhood and no memory of a family. I wonder if he'll have resembling eyes or hair or smile or mannerism that reminds Clary of someone. I wonder if it turns out he is her older brother.   :o

     I may be totally wrong and way off the mark, but hey, worth a guess. Can't keep your plots too predictable. I just really need to know what happens. Grrr series.

Until Next Time,

Nicole Ciel

The Summer Prince Book Review

Rawr Reader,

   This is The Summer Prince by Alaya Dawn Johnson. The synopsis is provided by Goodreads:

The lush city of Palmares Três shimmers with tech and tradition, with screaming gossip casters and practiced politicians. In the midst of this vibrant metropolis, June Costa creates art that’s sure to make her legendary. But her dreams of fame become something more when she meets Enki, the bold new Summer King. The whole city falls in love with him (including June’s best friend, Gil). But June sees more to Enki than amber eyes and a lethal samba. She sees a fellow artist.
Together, June and Enki will stage explosive, dramatic projects that Palmares Três will never forget. They will add fuel to a growing rebellion against the government’s strict limits on new tech. And June will fall deeply, unfortunately in love with Enki. Because like all Summer Kings before him, Enki is destined to die.

Reference:

   I believe I entered a giveaway contest for this book on Goodreads and they never got back to me. So I really hope I didn't win because then buying this would've just been a waste. 

Review:
(safe for those who haven't read this book yet)

   What first drew me to this book was honestly the cover, it's stunning. My favorite colors are blue and brown, but green is close second and with the shine effect (in the physical copy) it has when tilted in the light just draws me in. But then I read the synopsis and it had to do with this exotic yet futuristic Brazil and I knew I couldn't resist. Oh yeah, and it incorporates art. I don't think this book will be colorful at all... from the world or characters or language or anything...  (Haven't read this book I'm just guessing; and being sarcastic-- I need to stop doing that.) Also when you open the front cover, inside the first page is this ridgy, bumpy paper and it feels nice to rub your fingers over. 

  But that's where it stops being amazing. Clearly the cover design people were trying to make up for how bad the story inside is. I had such a difficult time with this book. I'm not a fan of the characters or the structure of this book. The world is a cool concept, but the author used words I was so unfamiliar and honestly didn't know was a real word like waka, spiderbot, fono, nanohook boots (what the hell?), kiri, mods, pod, vat, filha, orixa, and others I can't remember and don't even know what they mean. (Except for waka, which took 40 pages into the story to define...) I guess the author assumed her intended audience was going to understand it, but authors need to acknowledge that sometimes the people not-intended to reach can find this book, too. Especially if it's in the young adult section which is quite popular... The only thing I liked about this was the world and how it was unique. However I didn't understand the scenes because of the unfamiliar words and couldn't picture this world.
   At times, I felt the author randomly opened the book, then decided to put a random fact about June just to confuse the reader more. Also I didn't like the little "monologues" that are italicized that are in the point of view of Enki, not June. It took me three of those random monologues to get it wasn't June... They did nothing to the immediate present scenes and then
   The characters. I didn't like any of them. They're so inconsistent and irritating. They say one thing then several pages later contradict themselves. (For example June says she won't dare touch Enki, then literally the next page: "I touch his hand.") Grr I literally didn't appreciate or get to understand any of these characters. Another example, there's this girl name Bebel which the author painted as a *itch, but then 100 pages in the author makes her sound like a really cool girl. No! You don't go years thinking one way of someone then one day for no reason see them in a whole new light. She didn't even do anything. Nothing should have changed June's mind. Enki is basically just a tease and June is a girl who claims to love art and she's a strong character when that is the focus, but acts pathetic and needy when Enki comes into the picture and is then turned into a weak character. Seriously, consistency is a major problem in this book. I don't see why it got published...
   I hated how the "antiques" that some people had, like the "21st century fountain pen which  must be worth at least a million reals" June's principal had. In this world, they have changed a lot from their belligerent past, which now doesn't have any wars or major disasters. So why would these "priceless items" only be from this century. I would've been lenient if it was one thing, maybe another priceless item from the sixteenth century, or maybe the 23rd century. But no, it was just this one. Well now we know when the author wrote it.
   Honestly I don't even know what's going on for most of this book. And when big things happen like explosions or kiss scenes, they're described so subtly I didn't even know they were there.
   The ending is failed to deliver for me and was predictable at least 100 pages before the end. I heard the ending was great and I was waiting for it to make me change my mind about really disliking this book--but nope. Still don't like it. Honestly, most of this review I wrote about half way before finishing it and was tempted to stop. Most of the things I liked/disliked didn't change from that point on. (Wow, that's sad how that was the thing that didn't change... Which is not why we read books! We read to learn and understand if we cannot care about these characters.)
   Also the book title has no significance. Enki throughout the book is referred to as the Summer King, not the Summer Prince. Only once he's called the Summer Prince, and even then, it's not a big deal.
   All-in-all, this book had potential, but it went the wrong way with it.

I give this book 1/5 stars. I wouldn't recommend it and would definitely not read it again. 

Author's Quote:

(the only line I liked in this book)
"To love light, you have to love dark. I'm not trying to be profound, I know you'll understand. I don't mean that you have to hate to love, or that you have to die to live.
I mean that sometimes, you turn out the lights just to turn them back on."
-Alaya Dawn Johnson, The Summer Prince

My Goodreads:

http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/7170636-nicole

Next To Read:

City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare

River Song's Spoilers:

(unsafe for those who haven't read this book yet, so don't read this section)

   No spoilers because I really didn't like this book, and I could go on and on about what didn't work, but I've already wasted enough time reading this book. 289 pages took me about I'm going to guesstimate 12 hours. I've read books twice as long in almost half that time. Grr.

Until Next Time,

Nicole Ciel

The Archived Book Review

Rawr Reader,

   Hi, I hope your day is going well. And I'd like to thank my mom for getting this book for me. This review will be on The Archived by Victoria Schwab. The synopsis is provided by Goodreads:

Imagine a place where the dead rest on shelves like books.
Each body has a story to tell, a life seen in pictures that only Librarians can read. The dead are called Histories, and the vast realm in which they rest is the Archive.
Da first brought Mackenzie Bishop here four years ago, when she was twelve years old, frightened but determined to prove herself. Now Da is dead, and Mac has grown into what he once was, a ruthless Keeper, tasked with stopping often—violent Histories from waking up and getting out. Because of her job, she lies to the people she loves, and she knows fear for what it is: a useful tool for staying alive.

Being a Keeper isn’t just dangerous—it’s a constant reminder of those Mac has lost. Da’s death was hard enough, but now her little brother is gone too. Mac starts to wonder about the boundary between living and dying, sleeping and waking. In the Archive, the dead must never be disturbed. And yet, someone is deliberately altering Histories, erasing essential chapters. Unless Mac can piece together what remains, the Archive itself might crumble and fall.

Reference:

     I saw this book at the bookstore and the cover was really pretty, but I didn't decide to read it until I heard booktubers reading it and liking it. 

Review:

(safe for those who haven't read this book yet)

   Okay, what drew me to this book? The cover. And thank the book gods I judged this book's cover, because it deserves to draw any curious readers into its world. The jacket sleeve is beautiful and feel nice too, but once you open it, the design in the front and back is gorgeous and matches the haunting atmosphere inside. A manifestation of the world inside and just simply beautiful, but the 19th century, haunted mansion, regal beautiful. Yeah, I think I've made my point.
   What I first saw in this book was confusion and no-making sense plots (how am I in college?). While the cover drew me in, the synopsis tossed me into this world where I was so very, very confused. But once I started reading and learning about the Mackenzie and her place in the world, it was easy to understand the jobs: Keepers, Crew, Librarians to the places: The Archive, the Narrows, and the Outer (the real world).
   Another reason why I love this book is the murder mystery. Well, not literally, but it has murder and it has mystery. This is my kind of book, adn if you like those kinds of stories, you should read it, too! ;D
   Victoria Schwab's writing is elegiac and haunting and beautiful and Gothic (not literally even though there's a "goth" guy in the story) but the sort of haunting Gothic you see in 19th century literature. Her writing drew me into the story (despite it having a slow start). And it was consistent, once it started to get really good and into the plot, it had the snowball-hill effect. It just kept getting better and better and better. She creates this world in this old hotel which gives the hotel a real eerie atmosphere, but hinted with tastes of comical relief to give this world more than one layer. Heck, this world, the one that exists in the hotel Coronado, is as much a character as Mackenzie, Wesley, Roland, etc. This story takes place half of the time in the Archive and the other half in her new home which conveniently portals to her job. So even though she doesn't travel far, it still feels an adventure. I love it when authors can have adventures occur in stationary places. It sounds impossible to make them into great stories, but the best stories are capable of overcoming that, and Ms. Schwab did a remarkable job.
   Okay, I wasn't expecting romance in this book, but since it technically a young adult, I shouldn't have been surprised. However, it isn't a romance story, if anything it's a paranormal/mystery/murder/suspense (a little)/ then romance story. It isn't concentrated on Mac and a guy, though there are some charming guys introduced. Specifically the first guy she met, Wesley. Oh yeah, I'm in love with a fictional character. All I'm going to say is he's a charmer.
   Continuing on that note, I'll have to say Wes was probably my favorite character. However, Mackenzie was a close second. (And you know how I feel about main characters-- if you don't know, they rarely ever become my favorite.) Or Owen. Loved Owen. Mackenzie was a strong female lead character who created distances with others in this book not because of stupid reasons, but real reasons. I won't say what they are, but she was justified and I could sympathize with her because the author gave me reason to. She put the reader in the world of Mackenzie and she let the reader feel/see/hear everything Mackenzie was going through, but in a different style, more deeper and personal than other first-person stories. It's hard to say which characters I didn't like because Schwab builds them up wonderfully. All of them are realistic, though in the beginning I found the forced relationship between Mackenzie and parents a little off.
   While I didn't find the parent-daughter relationship believable, I love Mac's relationship between her and her grandfather, and between her and her brother. Her and her grandfather are the only little flashbacks, but the fact that throughout the story Mac tries to become closer with her brother who died a year before, I felt like it showed the realest part of her. There's a bunch of things she has to keep to herself (her job being the absolute non-negotiable one), but also, and I feel the one she has to but shouldn't be quiet about, is the fact that her brother is gone (there are others but I won't reveal any spoilers in this section). Her family doesn't like to talk about Ben because it's so painful, but the very fact she can't with the only people she should be able to without any constraints makes it even, well, sadder.
   I just want to live in this world. Schwab does such a phenomenal job. It's so creative and new and fresh and I haven't read anything like it. I can't find anything I could argue against in this book (and if you read my reviews you probably can tell I'm not shy about complaining about what doesn't work in books for me).
   The only thing I don't like is the fact that I have to wait a year for the next book! And honestly, I don't care if this book is in a series, there could be 100 books and I'd read every single one of them gladly. I need to read another Victoria Schwab book in the meantime I guess. Such a fantastic writer! The Archived and Victoria Schwab would definitely rank in top book and author all in one.

I give this beautiful book 5/5 stars. Seriously an amazing read, of course I'll recommend it to anyone and I'd read this book multiple times and still wouldn't get tired of it!

Author's Quote:

“Because the only way to truly record a person is not in words, not in still frames, but in bone and skin and memory.” 

― Victoria Schwab, The Archived

My Goodreads:

http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/7170636-nicole

Next To Read:

The Summer Prince by Alaya Dawn Johnson

River Song's Spoilers:

(unsafe for those who haven't read this book yet, so don't read this section)

    I love the irony. Of the dead wanting to come back to the Outside. Of the living, wanting to come to the Archived to see the dead.
   I'm so happy that Wes didn't die at the end. I would've knocked down a star probably if she had, but if this is in a series, it makes sense. We need some Wes in future books. ;)
   Owen turning out to be the bad guy surprised me. As I was reading I was trying to see who the culprit was so when it turned out to be him I almost twisted the book like I would twist a towel to squeeze out the liquid. Owen and Carmen. I admit I suspected Roland because he sometimes gave little hints like he was giving Mac too much information to get her into trouble, but then in the end it couldn't be him. I knew it couldn't be Patrick, he just acts annoying and really by-the-rules but that was the extent of it, I knew he couldn't be bad. And Wes of course, he just became a Keeper, he had no ulterior motive. However I didn't know much from Carmen so I sort of felt a little out in the open about that reveal.
    The only thing I didn't really get was near the end when Owen admitted to taking care of Robert. But every time he told Mac about him, he made it sound like he got away. So he didn't get away then? He just lied to Mac about him getting away and actually killed him?
   I can't wait for the next book! January needs to come faster!

Until Next Time,

Nicole Ciel

Eon Book Review

Rawr Reader,

     Yay reading books. Lots of the books that I love and they love me. I have friends...
    Alright in this review I'll be discussing the book Eon by Alison Goodman which is the first in the very rare duology Eon series. I think I loved it more just because it didn't fall into the convention of a trilogy or 4/5/6/7 series which apparently every writer simply must copy. I'm alright, I'm alright. Here we go, this is the synopsis provided by Goodreads:

Sixteen-year-old Eon has a dream, and a mission. For years, he's been studying sword-work and magic, toward one end. He and his master hope that he will be chosen as a Dragoneye-an apprentice to one of the twelve energy dragons of good fortune.
But Eon has a dangerous secret. He is actually Eona, a sixteen-year-old girl who has been masquerading as a twelve-year-old boy. Females are forbidden to use Dragon Magic; if anyone discovers she has been hiding in plain sight, her death is assured.
When Eon's secret threatens to come to light, she and her allies are plunged into grave danger and a deadly struggle for the Imperial throne. Eon must find the strength and inner power to battle those who want to take her magic...and her life.

Reference:

    My eyes have slipped over this book spine more than once or twice when walking down the bookstore aisle for probably over a year, so one day I said to myself, "You know what Nicole? Enough, just read it already!" So thank you feisty Nicole for your persuasiveness. I'm finally getting to reading this. 

Review:

(safe for those who haven't read this book yet)

    I would like to start this review by really praising whoever created this book cover. It's soo pretty. I just want to pet it, oh lookie there, yes I'm petting it. Like a pet. Okay I'll stop. But seriously so pretty!

    This book, my feels right now after finishing it: ahhhh. I haven't read a genre fantasy book in a really long time and it was nice to take a step out of young adult and romance atmospheres and into another world. Literally! Okay, I have to say I didn't have a complaint about this book until about 100 pages before the end, when I started to get bored (but I blame that on reading 400 pages nonstop, so I may be slightly biased). But this isn't what I'd classify as a fast-paced story, so it actually didn't bother me as much as other books. Goodman took her time creating this world and her characters and I actually want to live in this world of magic and dragons! I love the dragons!
    If you're looking for romance, there isn't any. So don't start reading this expecting anything. Maybe in the next book, but not in this one. 
    I felt a connection with Eona's character and it may partially be because I just like the plot behind the story (a girl pretending to be a boy to try and be a Dragoneye since girls aren't allowed) and the fact it's in this fantastical world, made me sympathize with her character. And the fact she was crippled didn't shine her in a new light for me, she was just a girl trying to make her way and be accepted. That's a different kind of strength any reader should have respect for.

    Hmm, choosing my favorite character is quite difficult since there are so many great rounded characters. I'd have to say Eon, I think Goodman did a phenomenal job with creating her character, I sort of have to say it. Eon is just a badass, how could I not love her?
   Goodman's writing style itself was spectacular. While I wouldn't be able to pick up a book at random and automatically tell it's her writing like I would Neil Gaiman or J.R.R. Tolkien, however I found she can mold words to create a world that feels as real as the one we live in and that in itself is spellbinding. I think creating the world was a major part in making this story not only believable (as much as any fantasy can become) but an epic, a journey that only few in all of time take part in. I felt the customs, traditions, and habits of the people in this world as if I were in Eon's shoes and I felt all the good along with the bad and I understood as if it were the customs/traditions/habits of my society. 
   This ending pushed this story to another level, I was genuinely surprised. I feel the pull to go my local bookstore and get the next and final book in this duology (which makes me love this book even more since it's not stand-alone and not a 3+ series), I can't wait to see how it ends! But I have other books to read, so I'll just have to wait. :)
    But you can go. Go get this book and read it! It's fantastic!!!!

I give this epic book 5/5 stars. I'd recommend this book and I'd definitely read it again.

Author's Quote:

“I found power in accepting the truth of who I am. It may not be a truth that others can accept, but I cannot live any other way. How would it be to live a lie every minute of your life.” 
― Alison Goodman, Eon: Dragoneye Reborn

My Goodreads:

http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/7170636-nicole

Next To Read:

The Archived by Victoria Schwab

River Song's Spoilers:

(unsafe for those who haven't read this book yet, so don't read this section)

    I knew it! I knew the Mirror Dragon's name was going to be Eona! When the words "Eona" were being said in the ceremony in the beginning,  I didn't think much of it. But once Dillon asked her if she heard the dragon say it's name, I chuckled at myself being all like, "watch the dragon's name be Eona, and Eona (Eon) think the dragon was calling for her(Eon) to just say her(Eon's) name." I was right!! Ah when it was revealed it was the dragon's name at the end, I just patted myself on the back (mentally). Good job Nicole, and good job to anyone who guessed at it early, too. ^^

    I suspected that Master Heuris Brannon loved Eon since one of the early chapters. I think Goodman made it obvious those first several chapters. So when Eon found her "needle tube" (which someone explain to me what that was please) and she learned that he loved her, I wasn't reacting the same as Eon. I'm sure I'm not the only one who read this book who caught Brannon's subtle hints at affection (which I'm assuming you have since you're reading this section, and if not--sneaky sneaky). This older man-younger woman relationship reminded me of Memoirs of a Geisha and I actually thought it was going to turn out like that, but that idea went out the window as soon as Brannon died. Then my attention turned to Prince Kygo, so I wonder if Goodman will develop that relationship in the next book. 

    Alright, when Ido turned good I was caught of guard (maybe my mind was exhausted from reading 400 pages...) but it seemed to happen to suddenly. But for some reason, this didn't bother me as much as I know it would have if this book had been a young-adult paranormal romance. I had to reread those couple pages again because I was so thrown off. Anyone else feel that way?

   Almost every book has their slow moments, and for me ironically it was when the action was occurring. Specifically when Ryko was trying to get Eon into the palace to find Lady Dela to see if she could read the red folio. It went on for like 50 pages or it sure felt like it and in all honesty I don't really know what happened. All I remember is Ryko killing guards then running into his resistance friends, Solly, etc. I'm horrible I know. But I got the point after 20 pages.

Until Next Time,

Nicole Ciel

Cinder Book Review

Rawr Reader,

   I've heard nothing but good things about this book so I had to read it. Even though I wasn't interested because of the cyborg aspect, it's a nice refresher to read something I don't typically read about. This is Cinder by Marissa Meyer, and the synopsis is provided by Goodreads:

Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, the ruthless lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth’s fate hinges on one girl. . . . 

Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She’s a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world’s future.

Reference:

    I've seen this book in the bookstore, however the reason I decided to actually read it was because of all the good reviews I've read from book blogs.

Review:

(safe for those who haven't read this book yet)

   I love the world-building in this novel. The exoskeleton molds the countries and alliances to the modern continents/ countries of the modern world but puts its own twist to them (a new calendar which makes this dystopian/non-dystopian world seem to be the Earth in a parallel universe. so cool!)

   Yes, I'll admit that this book was hard to get into... try 167 pages hard, but once the boring first chapters were out of the way, the story really began to develop and open itself into the tensions between Cinder and those around her. And yes, the technical, mechanical aspects of this story were really hard to get into and understand (especially to a mechanical baby I am) but by the 167 page point I got used to it and it was a little easier to understand. If this book didn't take quite as long to get interesting, I would definitely have rated this 5 stars, but alas.

   I have to say, I actually enjoyed Cinder's as the main character. As you may or may not know, I don't usually take well with the main character since in my opinion they tend to be overdramatic, but I felt Cinder was unique since she was a cyborg and had to deal with that side of her over the human side. And then Kai, what a babe! No wonder 200,000 girls fawn over him, he's not even real and I did! And the fact that he was so persistent with Cinder made it even more adorable. I found his humor in the story not only a defense mechanism, a greater look into his character, but it also kept an upbeat tone to the story where it seemed only anything wrong could happen to Kai or Cinder. Well, that isn't exclusive to Kai, Cinder and Iko were hilarious too, but it emulated his true personality more.

    As for Ms. Meyer's writing style, I felt it paralleled with Cinder's character. It was mechanical, it was concise, it was clean and cut and right to the point (redundant and I apologize). Not that that's a bad thing, it's not, I felt it blended well with this futuristic world. I also enjoyed the structure of the story, separated into four books, each with it's own little "poem." It reminded me of the Night Circus. 

   But boy oh boy that ending! There's no doubt about it, I must get Scarlet, the sequel to this book! There isn't much I can say about this book, but it'd definitely be worth a read, just get past the first 167 pages first. ;)

I give this book 3/5 stars. I'd recommend it and I would read it again.

Author's Quote:

“Even in the Future the Story Begins with Once Upon a Time.” 

― Marissa Meyer, Cinder

My Goodreads:

http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/7170636-nicole

Next To Read:

Eon by Alison Goodman

River Song's Spoilers:

(unsafe for those who haven't read this book yet, so don't read this section)

   Can someone explain to me the part near the end when Cinder dances with Kai and he "understands" what was wrong with Cinder, but then it turns out he didn't, he thought it was something else? Was it that Peony had died? Because it didn't make sense if you look back at their conversation.

    When Peony died I nearly teared, I was like nooooooooooo! I was devastated and I loved when Cinder kept trying to get her to drink it. I think that was the moment that Cinder began to become more and more human. The grief that she was feeling wasn't hers to feel since she wasn't related to her by blood and had no obligation to her, but the fact that she cared so much to take out her ID chip because it belonged with her family, knowing that she could be arrested for such actions, really proved that she loved her. Oh and when Iko was disabled and taken apart, that was another tear-jerking moment. They were too close together.
    Alright, when I read about the Princess Selene, I knew for a fact that it was Cinder. I read the sentence and 2.5 seconds later I was like, "watch it be Cinder." And lookie there in one of the last chapters look who it turned out to be, I'm so smart. ;)

    

Until Next Time,

Nicole Ciel