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Genre: Fantasy, YA, Time Travel, Romance
Number of pages: 416
ISBN: 9780063024748

ASIN: 0063024748

Format: Hardcover, eBook (Kindle, Kobo, Nook), Audiobook (Audible, Kobo, B&N)
Publication date: August 19, 2025
Publisher: HarperTeen
Type: Novel, Series

Series: Trilogy

Previous books: Once a Villain (#1), Never a Hero (#2)

Thank you to HarperCollins and Edelweiss+ for giving me an e-ARC of Once a Villain by Vanessa Len. I receive no compensation whatsoever, and I write this review willingly.

This adventure all started when I read the first book of the Monsters trilogy: Only a Monster. I must say, it had the best world-building and time travel and angst I had seen in a long while. I became hooked. So much so I’d pre-ordered the second one, Never a Hero, with ALL the goodies (this included a gorgeous bookmark and a few postcards of a few scenes in the book), which I still cherish. Of course, I HAD to pre-order the last one, Once a Villain. But, little did I know that my enthusiastic request for an ARC on Edelweiss+ would be kindly granted by HarperCollins.

Here I am, reviewing the last volume of a trilogy that means so much to me, thanks to HarperCollins giving me the e-ARC of Once a Villain. I can’t thank them enough!

Once a Villain was the book I was most anticipating this whole year!!

Spoiler? It did NOT disappoint. At all. It succeeded my expectations (and trust me, they were high due to my love for this series expertly crafted by Vanessa Len).

How about jumping through book traveling with me to learn about all the ways this book (and trilogy) is really worth your time?

Here we go!

(I swear, you’ll wonder how you didn’t pick it up sooner!)

Blurb

The finale in the contemporary fantasy Only a Monster trilogy from Vanessa Len—which New York Times bestselling authors Holly Black, Chloe Gong, and Stephanie Garber called “delightful," "captivating,” and “unputdownable”—will take Joan into the darkest timeline in the monster world, as she fights to restore the world she remembers.

Joan has failed to stop Eleanor.

Now, Eleanor rules ruthlessly over a new London in which monsters live openly among humans, preying on them and subjugating them.

Only Joan, Aaron and Nick remember that there was once a better timeline. And now, wrenched between love and rivalry, they must negotiate their fractured pasts as they fight to survive the new world and fix the broken timeline.

But how will they defeat a whole world of monsters with power over time itself?

The sweeping love and high stakes of Divine Rivals meets the intricate worldbuilding and propulsive thrills of This Savage Song in this high-octane, cross-genre finale to the Only a Monster trilogy—where a breathless race against time is the only chance for Joan, Aaron, and Nick to restore the world they love.

The Positive Points

For starters, I really love that all this series is about a mismatched team pulled together due to circumstances. Plus, they all become friends, some warier than others, but the banter is fun and their friendship shows despite their intentions. They clearly care about one another and their team’s survival, although a few of them won’t admit this. It’s cute and much like a found family. It pleases me greatly and reminds me of the lovely Six of Crows gang by Leigh Bardugo (a high compliment on my part). Also, it’s worth noting how each character brings their own skills and thoughts, ideas, and opinions to the gang. Like, they’re ALL useful and interesting in so many different ways. They’re not just… filling up the space, which is usually the case in most stories.

Plus, Tom and Jamie?! DAWWWWW, they’re so freakin’ cute, I love and ship them so much. They remind me of Malec in Shadowhunters by Cassandra Clare, and there’s no gay couple I love more than Malec, so it’s a compliment right here. But wow, the heartache poor Jamie goes through (I love this character so much, he’s sweet, intelligent, caring, and poised)… and what about their marriage?! Ugh, anyways, I loved going on a roller-coaster ride with Tom and Jamie, they’re so sweet and loving.

On a another romantic note, the intensity of Nick and Joan’s love is something I love and crave, while the softness, kindness and loyalty of Aaron’s love is so beautiful I could cry.

I have to agree with Joan on a point: Nick is an excellent hero. (But so is Aaron; I always believed he was and could.) I hurt when something happened to Nick… because I might side with Aaron on their love triangle, I still really love Nick’s character. And Nick’s love, devotion, passion and intensity for Joan is unmistakable.

The fact the new horrible timeline and all the other timelines function as characters and worlds of their own. It’s amazing, impressive, and so immersive. It makes me giddy.

Also, this story took a dark turn and kept turning. It’s very good though, but yewwwww, it was nauseating at some point, yep, poor them.

Ah why not kill me again?! THAT’s when Aaron gets his chance?! Aaron is so achingly good and pained and sensible in this desperate situation. Why now, why why why?! Aaron deserves better. But now Aaron’s pain hurts me, so just kill me again yeah?! And wow, finally, for fuck’s sake she admits she’s got feelings for him. I’ve been waiting for three books. She’s not quick on that when it’s not Nick, is she? I know she tried to never think about difficult feelings, pushing it all down, but wow… Aaron really does get the shit end of her thoughts and feelings, right? Also, is she a player?! Because minutes ago she swore her life to Nick and kissed him, and then something really bad happens and she seeks solace with Aaron. And then, ONLY then, does she realize she loves him too and wants him right after that?! She sounds like a cheat to me or just a fucking player. I hated her for most of the book because of this. She does seem to play with Aaron… and I hate it. Gurl, give him to me! I’ll treat him well, like he deserves.

However, Aaron is the first to get a go at something important for her? Sounds about right. That’s redeemable for her. And iiiiiih, I bit my nail and squealed. Yes! Maybe my ship will sail! I spent most of the book being angry at Joan though, while hoping she wouldn’t just go back to Nick like “yeah, it was nice Aaron, but Nick’s back now, so ok bye?” It would have broken Aaron. And NO ONE hurts my baby!

I could ship Nick and Aaron in this new dark timeline, and I kept thinking that (and developing fanfic ideas of them together) while reading a specific chapter. I mean, they were close somehow, and Joan died as an infant there. And also the first word of the cipher is one of their names? Please, babe, we all know you’re in love. And OMG, my SURPRISE. I almost cried with tears of joy and iiiiiih cute feels. It’s beautiful and heart-wrenching. Heeeeeeeeeeeelp! This is glorious! My feels. I ship it. I can smell the fanfics!!! I already have two ideas for fanfics with that Nick and that Aaron, so, yep, I’m ready! All of this is pure gold, thank you very much, Miss Len!

A fun thing is I love that somehow, the dead Nick and Aaron in this dark timeline will help save our beloved gang via what’s left of them. Their messages, plan, etc. It’s awesome, like two timelines helping each other out. It’s brilliant. Plus, I love how neatly the author ties the first volume and timeline to this dark one in ways we hadn’t thought of and which seem so subtle or useless until they matter a lot. Like a certain accessory… What is fun about this series is that the information from the other books is well interwoven into the story. It’s not overwhelming, nor delivered through info dumps. And it’s so lovely to see how actions or details from past events and characters really come through and back in ingenious ways and uses in each sequel, and mostly the last one. There’s an impressive progression for the characters (all of them) as well as the events and possibilities.

Honestly, it’s really fun and satisfying to see Joan get more and more comfortable and at ease with her Grave power. A lovely arc progression. The need to feel the emotions to better control one’s power reminds me so much of a writer who needs to feel in order to write. It’s a crucial part. Power in the monster world and art are so similar. And feeling one’s emotions is at their center.

I love that there was some kind of arc with the Curia Monstrorum (the Monster Court) where we learned of them in the first book, got a glimpse of them. Then, the second volume was more involved with them, but still we couldn’t really see them. And in Once a Villain, THEN we see them. It felt satisfying, like a natural progression and curiosity of “when will we really get to see them and all their powers?” The title, Once a villain, is very fitting to a certain someone. Poor her, though. I understand her suffering and her deep love for her family and how she wanted to bring them back and protect them at all costs. I believe she is the child from the myths of the end of all times who tears into the void looking for their parents, dooming all of the timelines and people… She worked so hard to save her family that she is destroying the timeline, everything.

As for the villain herself, Eleanor is so powerful and so brilliant. She’s a genius strategist; a scary and intimidating villain. One who makes you believe Joan’s gang won’t win against her… It’s perfect. She’s an excellent villain. One of the best I’ve seen. Motivated by love, family, and ego, yet exceedingly cruel and ruthless and brilliant. Plus, I love Eleanor’s plan with Nick’s unpredictability. It adds even more substance to the timelines, and an element of surprise, like and that anything can happen at any moment with and around him.

It’s great that we get to see the Graves’ house. When we first saw it in this new, dark timeline, I hoooooped we’d get to go inside, or at least meet other Graves. Plus, I’m so glad Gran was in this volume too. She’s always been so awesome and kickass. I love her so much. I feared we wouldn’t see her again, but oh yes, we do, thank you! Annnnnd there’s a sweet Grave surprise, which is quite touching. Speaking of which, the “windows” part (you’ll see) just got me going awwwwwww so many times, my mom looked up at me quizzically from her phone. This scene is so touching and sweet. And omg, we do learn why Joan has always had the worst fadeouts ever out of the whole gang. So many explanations now, it feels rewarding as a reader. There are so many surprises, I love it!

A detail I’m so happy about is that this series has parents and grandparents and cousins… Like they matter, like they’re active parts of the story. So beautiful and so rare. Somehow, it’s always teenagers and, at rare moments or in rare series like Shadowhunters, it’s the parents too. But grandparents and other relatives? Fucking rare and I love to see it here. It’s utterly lacking in YA. Just like in movies and TV shows…

And awwwww yes, Aaron is me and I am Aaron. We’re always everyone’s second choice; I’ve been proved it, too. So, I feel him, deeply. His doubts, his jealousy, his low self-esteem of how much he matters to Joan… It’s so sad, yet relatable. And yet again Aaron is me and I am Aaron. I, too, believe I am a piece of shit. Sad truth. I felt for him so much throughout the whole series, but this book almost killed me with feels and emotions for him. I almost couldn’t stand it.

Honestly, the romantic development of this trio is really interesting. I won’t spoil it for you because it’s so worth it, and it satisfies me. It’s unusual, but great to see. And there’s no tearing apart between the two of them… I sided with my favorite (Aaron) all along, but you know what? I’m glad of this ending, of this resolution of their love triangle. I was ready to be mad, hurt, or whatever… (I honestly didn’t believe she would choose Aaron, because he DOES seem like a second choice to her, always beneath Nick…, but in a way, a big one, I was pleasantly surprised!) In the previous books, I had wondered sometimes whether this could happen, and I am so glad the author took that road for her main trio. I support! This endgame is the best Miss Len could ever have written for these beloved characters.

The paaaaaaain near the end, though. I screamed in silence with a hand over my mouth and tears in my eyes (I read the ending in bed at night). I knew he could save the whole world, but no please, no, not him! Not there in the void. No no no, there won’t be another version of him ever. Awwwwwwww, it’s making me nauseous, my feelings. No, why my favorite? Why why why? + Honestly, the emotional pain of what happens to my favorite is so paaaaainful, it’s similar to what I feel in real life when this happens to people I love. This fucking hurts. On a later side note (let’s call it this), the fucking RELIEF I felt. My heart just swelled and I squeezed my eyes shut, tears rolled down my cheeks, and I grimaced a smile. Thank you! The timeline reacted exactly as I thought it would, which is super duper appreciated on my part. And it was rather cute.

Speaking of the timeline itself, Joan did the right thing at the end with it. I hoped she would do exactly that. The good heart of my baby Joan didn’t fail—it never does, and I love her for it. 🙂

Also, the fact that Joan’s power awakened in its worst and most powerful iteration when a specific tragedy happened towards the end makes me really happy. She reacted most violently and heartbreakingly with him than in all the previous times where she used her powers involuntarily whenever she lost someone dear to her. Yes, I took a side, and that makes me pretty happy to see her react this way for him.

Look, this was the culmination of a FANTASTIC story. I devoured all of it. I had so many emotions and feelings (I still do, and always will). I loved the Monsters series SO MUCH so that it now stands beside my favorite series, which is Shadowhunters by Cassandra Clare (all of them). I mean it in a metaphorical way—no series could ever surpass Shadowhunters to me, I never even thought one would sit beside it in my heart, but here we are with the Monsters series by Vanessa Len. I talked to my people SO MUCH about it, and cared and loved and hoped and… felt deeply personal with these characters. I love that world. I love them. So, yeah, that’s how much that trilogy is amazing. Now, I’ve got two series I adore and which mean so much to me: Shadowhunters by Cassandra Clare and Monsters by Vanessa Len. This is NOT an easy feat. I’m very, veeeeeery picky with favorites. But Monsters just blew my mind, awed me, grabbed my heart, wrenched it, put it back, made it melt, and more. So, it’s won its spot fairly.

On top of that, this Monsters series is SO thrilling and emotionally loaded, and it has so much potential to explore other stories from both the monsters and humans’ point of views, along with historical events in that world, that I would take AT LEAST 15 books of this world! I NEVER say this about any series, except for Shadowhunters (and I’ve been lucky with that one, because Cassandra Clare DID explore a lot of stories within her Shadowhunter world); yet, this series by Vanessa Len deserves the same opportunity. I WANT to know what happened before, what happens next, what happens to that side character or another I haven’t met yet… Please, give me 15 more books of Monsters! Usually, I find most series end where they should, that there isn’t much potential for other stories within that world… But Monsters? Please, YES! I NEED MORE!

Speaking of ending, I love the very end of Once a Villain; it’s like it echoes the “true timeline” (the very first, the OG timeline), and it’s beautiful. Almost poetic.

Lastly, this book (and series) was filled with lovely and crucial themes: Hope, love, family, friends, fairness, sacrifices, grief, survival, despair, evil vs good isn’t black and white, courage, and coming into oneself. What more can you ask for?

The Negative Points

Surprisingly, there are negative points, but they are very few and do not impact my rating.

First, I noticed a big inconsistency: At some point, Jamie was out walking the dog, Frankie, but then he’s back without any notice or mention of his return, and he’s suddenly close to Joan and talking like he never left; he’s way too aware of the conversation going on for someone who was out a minute ago. We didn’t even know he’d been back.

Second, and this one is rather funny, it’s something that the author does in all three books… but in this one, she really went all in with “she released the breath she didn’t know she was holding”, with a variation for Nick at some point. I counted at least three occurrences throughout the book. I mean, it’s not bad, it’s just a tiny bit annoying and so tropey.

I thought it was still worth mentioning, although like I said, they don’t impact the rating.

In Conclusion

Overall, Once a Villain by Vanessa Len mesmerized me (the whole trilogy in fact!), and caught me so tight by my feels. For all the emotions, the awe, the thrills, the amazing world-building, the angst, and the perfect resolution, I give this fantastic book a rating of 5 stars out of 5. I would give it much more, but, well, I can’t go higher. So, a perfect rating it is for a much beloved adventure!

On a side note, I highly recommend reading the series from the beginning (you can start with Only a Monster, then go to Never a Hero, and finally Once a Villain). Otherwise, it could be confusing—very confusing. However, if you’re not too much into series, keep in mind it’s only three books, and it’s sooooo amazing, I urge you to read it!

If you want to learn more about the author, Vanessa Len, you can head over to her website. She also has an Instagram account. You can also follow her Author Page on Goodreads. Don't forget to add Once a Villain–and the whole trilogy while you're at it!–to your cart, your bookshelves, or your wishlist!

The Booklover’s Library by Madeline Martin: A Book Review

Book Reviews April 12, 2025 Leave a comment

by Madeline Martin

Madeline Martin's website

Goodreads (Add it to your bookshelves!)

LibraryThing

Fable App

Genre: Historical Fiction
Number of pages: 432
ISBN: 9781335000392

Format: Paperback, Hardcover, eBook (Kindle, Kobo, Nook), Audiobook (Audible, Spotify, B&N)
Publication date: September 10, 2024
Publisher: Hanover Square Press
Type: Novel, Standalone

Thank you to Hanover Square Press and NetGalley for giving me an e-ARC of The Booklover’s Library by Madeline Martin. I receive no compensation whatsoever, and I write this review willingly.

I loved The Last Bookshop in London so much I am thrilled to be able to review her newest book! Thank you!!!

Please note: I received this e-ARC right before my open-heart surgery, so it took a while for me to get this review ready due to my recovery. However, it does not at all reduce my enthusiasm for this title.

Blurb

A heartwarming story about a mother and daughter in wartime England and the power of the books that bring them together.

In Nottingham, England, widow Emma Taylor finds herself in desperate need of a job to provide for herself and her beloved daughter, Olivia. But with the legal restrictions prohibiting widows with children from most employment opportunities, she’s left with only one option: persuading the manageress at Boots’ Booklover’s Library to take a chance on her.

When the threat of war becomes a reality, Olivia must be evacuated to the countryside. In her daughter’s absence, Emma seeks solace in the unlikely friendships she forms with her neighbors and coworkers, as well as the recommendations she provides to the library’s quirky regulars. But the job doesn’t come without its difficulties. Books are mysteriously misshelved and disappearing, and her work forces her to confront the memories of her late father and the bookstore they once owned together before a terrible accident.

As the Blitz intensifies in Nottingham and Emma fights to reunite with her daughter, she must learn to depend on her community and the power of literature more than ever to find hope in the darkest of times.

The Positive Points

Ah! The beginning is so poignant and heart wrenching. I love the literary comparison to describe the characters and what's happening. It already puts us right into major elements of this book: love and family tied with a bow of literature.

I’ve got to say, Emma’s father's love for her is resounding and touching. It reminds me of my own mother and her sacrifices and kindnesses for me. The fact that Emma lost everything she knew and loved is touching and I can relate after having lost my grandparents due to natural causes, and the rest of the family because of stupid drama. At least I got my mom, my aunt and my cousin. It's hard, Emma, I know. What a hard but striking beginning.

Also, the vocabulary is respectful of the times with "bob" for "shillings" and “chemist" for pharmacist. And as always with a Madeline Martin book, all the feels. The FEELS, I’m telling you. I cherish her books because of the historical accuracy, their ambiance, and mostly, the feels—and The Booklover’s Library is no exception to that. You can never go wrong with a Madeline Martin book!

The story revolves around Emma, a single mother, who wants to protect her daughter from the oncoming war while also providing for them both by working at the Booklover’s Library. We get to experience her ups and downs, and the hard decisions she has to make.

For example, what a heart-wrenching decision to make for a mother: to send your child away with strangers for an unknown period of time or keep her with you and put her in harm's way. A nightmare. But that’s exactly what Emma has to decide. I still have goosebumps as I remember a few of the scenes, wow.

I particularly loved how Emma pulled her daughter closer into her arms, wishing deeply and feeling as though love could be enough to shield Olivia from all harm, including the war’s.

Such a beautiful way to put it and so genuine. It’s really like that, when you hug someone or keep them close to you, and you want the best for them and feel that your love ought to be enough to protect them! So touching, I can’t get over that part of the book. It resounded to my core.

On another topic, I really like the friendships between the women at the Booklover’s Library. There is one that is sweet and easy and profound and the other one is more difficult, which really shows the range of getting to know people and befriending them.

Moreover, there is always a little something happening… a hinder, a setback or an issue. It’s small, and at other times it can be big, but there is always a new obstacle or event even if small. It’s interesting and it keeps the tale going.

Also, I love that we have subplots with all the characters in Emma’s surroundings. They don’t feel like furniture (which is a rare thing in novels!), but like real people she interacts and lives with. We get to learn about them as Emma does, and it’s heart-warming. Like Mrs Pickering, the landlady; Mr Sanderson, a mysterious and gruffy tenant; Margaret, her kind friend at work… it makes the story a living, breathing book. And I love it there!

There is a glorious uplifting surprise too! I won’t spoil it for you, but I was in a wild emotional state a few days before my second open-heart surgery in October and here came the surprise from The Last Bookshop in London, a novel I just adored and devoured from the library! (I swear I talked—and still do—so much about it my entourage knows it well, haha!) It made me so genuinely happy I forgot about my troubles for a little while. I was meeting with old friends, ok? That was the feeling. And it was wholesome.

I remember very well that my eyes were wet with emotions (lovely feeling in my chest) at the end of the book. If that’s not telling, I don’t know what will.

Honestly, The Booklover’s Library should be retitled: A mother’s love. It’s the true underlying current of this story.

The Negative Points

Alas, there are two downsides to this book (if you’re like me), yet they encompass strengths of their own when you look closely. Unfortunately, it’s rather slow (at 28% of the read and we were still not in the war…). Nonetheless, I think it shows the depth of the characters notably, Emma the main character, and how she behaves and deals with loss and grief, and her job as well as the people around her. Just when I think it’s getting boring there is a little something happening I mentioned earlier, and there we go again into the story!

As I mentioned previously, the war doesn’t happen until later on (after a good 50% of the book), so don’t expect it to like I did. It will slow down your reading experience and seem boring when it’s not; it’s just a different pace to really encompass the life of Emma, her daughter, and her neighbours, and the impact of the stress and the decisions to make in the face of the oncoming war.

When you’re not aware of this, the story does seem way too slow; otherwise, it’s a really good read set at a different pace that serves to show other aspects of the war that are not often deeply tackled in books.

In Conclusion

I give The Booklover’s Library an emotional rating of 4.5 stars out of 5! It took me a long while to get the subtle plotline so I found it to be a bit long. However, it’s also an emotional, cozy, and heart-warming read! I highly recommend it to people who love a character-driven story with a lot of emotions and coziness and being left with a fuzziness in their heart.

If you want to learn more about the author, Madeline Martin, you can head over to her website. She also has an Instagram account. You can also follow her Author Page on Goodreads. Don't forget to add The Booklover's Library to your cart, your bookshelves, or your wishlist!

The Day I Left You by Caroline Bishop: A Book Review

Book Reviews February 18, 2025 Leave a comment

Caroline Bishop's Website

Genre: Historical fiction, Women's Fiction, Romance
Number of pages: 368
ISBN: 9781668047279

ASIN: B0CL5FNMF3

Format: eBook (Kindle), Paperback
Publication date: February 18, 2025
Publisher: Simon and Schuster Canada
Type: Novel (Standalone)

A BIG thanks to Simon and Schuster Canada and NetGalley for an e-arc of this book! I receive no compensation whatsoever, and I write this review willingly.

The cover is so pretty and elegant, but I admit it was the title that got me. The Day I Left You, hmmmm, so intriguing, and clearly romantic. Curious, I went to read the blurb, and saw it was about an East German woman leaving her British husband abruptly in the time of the Berlin Wall and Cold War. Say no more! As a huge historical fiction lover, this sounded like my cup of tea! (yes, British… tea… I made a tiny pun, see?)

Honestly, it was my cup of tea!

And if you want to know more, it’s perfect because I’m here to spill the tea!

Just keep reading, loves!

Blurb

For readers of The Secrets We Kept and Jill Santopolo comes an epic love story about Greta and Henry, who by chance meet in 1982 East Berlin and find a love that’s meant to last a lifetime—until Greta vanishes.

I’m sorry. I can’t stay.

East Berlin, 1982. When Greta Schneider meets Henry Henderson, she is instantly smitten. An engineer on a work visa from Britain, Henry offers Greta a taste of the world beyond the Iron Curtain, a world that she yearns to explore as a translator once she finishes university. For Henry, Greta is simply perfect—bold and beautiful, her lively and inquisitive nature adding a vital spark to his everyday life.

But their time together is limited. Henry can’t stay once his visa expires, and Greta is forbidden from going beyond the Berlin Wall. It’s only been a few weeks, but they know how they feel about each other, so when Henry proposes, Greta accepts—and is given permission to start a new life with Henry in England. And for a time, everything is perfect. Until, one day, out of the blue, Greta walks out the door of their Oxford home, leaving a simple note behind.

Decades later, Henry still has unanswered questions. Greta loved him, and he loved her. They surmounted the odds to be together, and in his heart, he knows their marriage was happy. So why did she leave? How well did he really know his wife? When a young mother visits Henry’s antique restoration shop, she unknowingly brings with her a clue that sends Henry on a journey to find out what happened to the love of his life all those years ago.

Set against the backdrop of the Cold War, The Day I Left You is a gorgeous, spellbinding story about the nature of love, the memories we cling to, and the hurts we must leave behind to move forward.

The Positive Points

This book is heavy on love and how to go through grief and abandon, as well as how to find yourself and happiness again. It’s sweet. I had the impression this story is a quest for answers and love, and for love. It’s not a coming-of-age story, but it’s one of coming into your own person as you grow older and try to find answers and deal with grief. An interesting take that I rarely see.

The Day I Left You felt much like life. A tale of life, it felt while reading it. It was as though Greta and Henry were at a coffee shop with me, telling me their stories. I loved it!

Something fun is that I love how we see two different ages: when they are young in their twenties; and then in their sixties or so. It’s a real change from only twenty or forty years old in most adult novels. I love this! Also, I love that the present is told in third person, and that the past with Greta is more personal in first person, like we must feel her and understand her more deeply to make sense of her decisions and actions. For it to have the right effect on us, and it does, I can assure you that. And awwwwww, Part 2 really surprised me with a new and modern POV! I wondered if we’d get to see that aspect of the story, and we do! But no more, because no spoilers ;).

I felt like the surprises kept coming and it’s all so much more intricate and entangled than I saw at first. And much deeper, too. Wow! Plus, Greta’s reasons for leaving are totally understandable in her situation. I feel for her. And it shows all the ramifications of the Cold War, too…

This story fits the expression “all in due time” in several ways. I hope you’ll see for yourself. In the end, it was a very rewarding read. It resolves pretty nicely for both of them in very different but plausible ways.

What impresses me is that the structure of the book is so well done; everything makes sense and flows properly. All the chapters fit like building blocks put together correctly. The overall structure follows the internal structure—I mean that while the characters gradually deal with what’s happened between them and the Berlin Wall falling, the overall structure of the chapters and the different POVs reflect that perfectly! It’s a work of art so neatly weaved together, bravo!

My first impression was that the prologue is very gripping and intriguing. Why does Greta have to leave if she doesn’t want to? What’s in her past? It’s emotional too, although the use of the “you” POV for her lover surprised me, but it’s good—it’s more immersive in a way. It is personal, the prologue and the Greta’s chapters in the past. And not because the first person POV in Greta’s past, although it helps, but because of the way she describes her lover and her actions. There is a proximity, a certain closeness in the way she describes things. Like it shows she cares and loves.

Moreover, it’s really fun that we get to see both POVs. One in the past Greta, and now modern Henry. Wait until for a surprise modern POV later… It all adds a little something of enjoyment to the story.

I noticed some language tricks. For example, there are psychological tricks, like how telling a lie or anything in another language feels less committing. I love such details about the complexity of the human mind and heart! In addition to this linguistic aspect, I enjoy that some affectionate words are in German, and product names like wine or celebrations, as well as a few swear words and expressions are in German. I think it’s fun to come across these words and it helps with immersion in Greta’s world and memories. And as a polyglot, I always love to see languages sprinkled in stories.

Now, what about the characters? Honestly, I enjoyed my time with them! I’ll start with Henry because he’s the one I felt for the most. He is so romantic and cute in his feelings for Greta. A lovesick puppy; I want one like him! Henry is lovable and endearing because he thinks about others and injustices, and also, he is calm, intelligent. He is a kind and good soul, it’s lovely. I also find interesting that Henry is a furniture restorer. It’s very different and little heard of in stories.

Lucy Kenny! Ah, my favorite character of the story. I really like Lucy and her rambling and her energy. I really love Lucy Kenny, she reminds me of myself, haha! She’s so proactive, helpful, and kind. And most of all: she’s a real chatterbox with a lot of energy! Can you see that in my writing? I hope you can! Plus, I like that Henry and she develop a sort of friendship, it’s rather cute!

I also really like Ros, Lucy’s mother. She’s funny and down-to-earth and lively as well. I also enjoy her views and opinions on the children and her ex-husband who’s her best friend.

And Greta? I like her; however, sometimes she made me feel sour with her. She is intriguing and interesting, and her dreams and hopes are perfectly valid. Greta, I think, did the best she could with what she had to deal with, honestly. I can’t say any more—I don’t want to spoil the story for you! But know she had her reasons and tried her best in her situation.

As per the story, I love how Greta’s homesickness is tackled and described because it must really feel like that. And also, how everything is not perfect or necessarily greener in Britain than in the GDR (German Democratic Republic). It’s interesting to see that and natural for a young woman raised in East Berlin with the wall to see positives to her old life and be homesick while feeling lost and lonely in Britain and not liking everything like capitalism and always being short on money. The character also said that you’re as free in the West as your wallet allows, and it couldn’t be truer (unfortunately). She feels disconnected from life in Britain and in the West in general. Understandably so what with her background of different experiences under communism.

Henry and Greta both evolve as individuals. For Henry, it shows through his gradual openness with Lucy and her family and his realization that his repair work must not be perfect and still show some scratches and scuffles of life and love. He’s grown into his own after so long, poor guy. And Greta is finally confiding in someone and finding her own happy ending. I’m glad that in the end, Henry somehow gets a family he longed to have, albeit a bit differently than how he’d thought he’d have one. It’s funny that it’s through his search for Greta though, but I am glad. Henry deserves the peace and happiness, and a family of his own in a way. It’s cute. And he also needs a dear friend like Lucy.

I am rather pleased that the author, through Greta, explains how and why there is the Berlin Wall and how they got it with state socialism. It is very interesting and informative. And yes, she also explains what the Stasi are and their dangerous (if not deadly) surveillance. I had deducted it, but it’s good to have a better definition in Greta’s words.

I’m so into it. My emotions are gripped. It’s so poignant and I keep being outraged at what happened to Greta and the threats, and I keep telling my mom all about it in a flurry of emotions and indignation. It’s really good when I’m so gripped emotionally.

While I had an inkling of what Greta’d become, it became freakier as I kept reading! It was very gripping emotionally and felt like a whirlwind of intrigue and difficult choices. I am glad I got to read this book before publication-I had quite the adventure with it!

The Negative Points

The biggest point is that I found it so slow. For a book with such a huge question to answer (why did she leave so abruptly?), it’s really slow-paced, which makes it less thrilling than I thought it’d be (at least for the first half of the book). It’s still interesting, but it seems to take forever to receive a new “hint” at what might have happened. Ah, those hints trickled down every 4-5 chapters or so! They had me rolling my eyes a few times because they’re so few for a long while. (They’re exciting, but still!) After 50% of the book, it the pace picked up admirably and the intrigue took me in like a whirlwind, I’ve got to say!

Also, it annoys me that the person being left is always the one who suffers the most, huh? It shows in this book as well, I noticed… It’s not that I dislike Greta, it’s just unfair for Henry who’s been stuck on her since she left, and because of how she left. While Greta has her nomadic life and a new love… It makes me sour a bit towards Greta, oh well. However, towards the end, I understood more how it’s also been cruel and hard on her. It’s just she seems to move on so easily… But I guess she didn’t have much choice, did she? And that’s a problem: she never really did have a choice in the end.

Lastly, the necklace a certain Lucy wears from her mother is quite an intriguing and effective way to deepen and twist the plot a bit. It would have been more effective, however, if we’d known before that that Greta loved to make jewellery or at least more than implied. Because it’s a good moment, but it lacks a bit of the shocking effect as a reader.

In Conclusion

All in all, I give The Day I Left You a feelsy rating of 4 stars out of 5. Despite its slow start, I ended up loving the book and enjoying my time with the characters while learning more about the intricacies and ramifications of the Berlin Wall and the Cold War. Plus, if you enjoy slow-paced books, it’ll be a perfect read! I strongly recommend this book to anyone remotely interested in the Berlin Wall and the Cold War, as well as historical fiction lovers. To those who love their books with a good dose of intrigue, mystery, and surprises. Also, I recommend it to those who love a good book that gives you feels and grips your emotions tightly, and feels just like you were out for coffee with friends to hear their life stories.

If you want to learn more about the author, Caroline Bishop, you can visit her author website and follow her on her Goodreads Author account, as well as her Instagram account. Don't forget to add The Day I Left You to your wishlist, your cart, or your bookshelves!

My February Book Draw (Draw Challenge)

chit-chatting with Cat, Draw Challenge February 13, 2025 Leave a comment

Hello, lovelies!

I'm sorry I'm a bit late, but here's my Draw in the LuckyDraw app for the month of February. Just to remind you, I am doing a book draw challenge where I use an app to pick a number I wrote on one of six books, and I need to read that book for the month. I'm soon to be reviewing Teach the Torches to Burn by Caleb Roehrig, which was my random pick for January. So stay tuned for my book review!

Now, however, since it's a new month, it needs a new book… So, what did the LuckyDraw app pick as a number?

Here we go!

As you can see, it picked number 5. MAMBO NUMBER 5! No? Okay, sorry.

What is it, what is it?! Drum rolls

And we've got…

La casa de los espíritus by Isabel Allende! GREAT! 😀 Remember, I'd mentioned in the first Draw Challenge article that not all of my books would be in English and I'd added this one to the pile of the Draw Challenge since I do speak Spanish. 🙂 I think it does wonders for diversifying my reading and just keeping in touch with the language and culture, it's lovely. Also, if you'd like, you can watch my unwrapping video on Instagram.

Now, I got a funny story for you: I did read half of this book years ago when I was in university in my Spanish courses. And I thought it was a beautiful story! However, I never finished it… And I vowed to myself that whenever I'd find a copy in Spanish in Canada (I had it on my Kindle, and finding a physical Spanish book isn't easy here), then I'd buy it instantly and read it. So, one day before my surgery a few months earlier, I was at Renaud-Bray with my mother, just browsing the bookshelves aisles and having fun, when I stumbled upon the small but full Spanish section. My joy when I saw La casa de los espíritus!! I simply grabbed it and kept it close to my chest, and I ended up leaving with it. What luck! Spanish novels are so hard to come by here… Wow!

So, I'm ready to start reading it again and up till the end this time around. I've already started it and it's as touching as it was the first time, if not even more now that I'm older and can comprehend some nuances better as well as the language itself.

I can't wait to let you know my thoughts about La casa de los espíritus next month!

See you in March with my new draw and book review, lovelies!

What I’ve Read in January (Reading Wrap-Up)

chit-chatting with Cat, What I'm Reading February 6, 2025 Leave a comment

Hello, lovelies!

I figured it would be fun to share my January readings with you, and perhaps you'd find some inspiration for your own reading! A few days ago, in the end of January, I posted my Reading Wrap-Up on Instagram. However, surprise! I finished one more book on the very last day of the month. So, I adjusted the number here in this article, which is 6 books read in the month of January.

Ready to learn more about the books I've read?

Keep scrolling, dear!

(They're not in order of completion.)

Fairest of All (Villains, #1) – (In French: Miroir, Miroir)

I checked out Miroir, Miroir (the French version) from my local library. I was skeptical about liking this book since I don't like Snow White, although I loooove Disney in general. And unfortunately, I ended up giving the book a rating of 3.5 stars, which was "ok". I wouldn't read it again, and I couldn't wait to get farther in the Villains series to reach Ursula and other villains I prefer (like Gaston and Hades, too!)

Fun thing: the books get way better after this one, you'll see why I know that later on in this article!

The Bear and the Nightingale (The Winternight Trilogy, #1)

This book was a book club pick from the first book club I ever joined! 🙂 Not only did I have a blast reading The Bear and the Nightingale, I also had a lot of fun chatting with others in the club! I gave this intriguing, slow-paced story with strongly defined characters in a magical Russian wintry setting a rating of 4.5 stars out of 5.

You can read my review on Goodreads and Fable.

Now, I can't wait to read the other two sequels!!

The Godfather Lover's Guide to Sicily – ARC

I've had the pleasure to receive an e-ARC of this book from Pen and Sword Books and NetGalley! I've finished reading it in January, and you'll get to know all about it in my review on March 30th! For now, I can tell you that I thoroughly enjoyed it; it was like having a tour guide being friendly to me while taking me on a Sicilian and Godfather tour. I learned so many details relating to the movies, as well as information on Sicily, its towns and people and culture.

I might not be a big Godfather movies lover, but I sure am one of this book!

Stay tuned for a review on March 30th!

Teach the Torches to Burn – Draw Challenge

This book has been on my bookshelves for about a year now. A Romeo and Juliet gay retelling? I'm all for it!

So, I randomly picked Teach the Torches to Burn as the first book to read in my Draw Challenge!

I can't tell you much about it now, because I'll soon post the review, BUT it sure defied my expectations (both in good and bad ways) and it gave me my fill of gay romance as well as friendship. It was not what I expected, and I found it slow at the start, but then I began to enjoy it until I would gladly pick it back up to resume my reading. Needless to say, this book surprised me, and for a forbidden historical gay romance, it's really good!

Stay tuned for my review of Teach the Torches to Burn soon in February!

The Conjurer's Wife – ARC

This was the first short story I've read from Amazon Publishing, and it didn't disappoint! Sarah Penner wrote an intriguing plot with a strong main character, Olivia, that I still think about. The plot twist is mind-blowing in my opinion, and I'd definitely take a whole book on Olivia. Also, if you want an Italian historical setting, look no further, because this story takes place in Venice in the 19th century.

I gave this book a grand rating of 5 stars out of 5 in my review.

Honestly, I recommend it to mysterious fantasy lovers as well as fans of historical fiction.

The Beast Within (Villains, #2) – (In French: L'Histoire de la Bête)

Beast Within, The-Villains, Book 2 : Valentino, Serena: Amazon.ca: Books

And surprise! That's how I know the Villains series gets better after the first book. I'd checked it out from my library in French, too. I've finished The Beast Within on January 31st, and I didn't stop reading it for a whole week. I was simply pulled back in every time I wanted to read. It was crazy! Not only is this book very entertaining, it also gives us behind-the-scenes to the Beast's past and experience as a Beast. I loved the cameos, and his friendship with Gaston is so lovely AND tragic; it explains a few scenes in the movie, too. However, I do think the ending is too cheesy and well rushed… Still, this book is worth a 4.5 stars out of 5, easy.

P.S.: I'm now reading Poor Unfortunate Soul with Ursula, yay! And let me tell you, it's quite amusing and informative about her.

In Conclusion

Tah dah! That makes my reading wrap-up hit 6 books in January! I think that's pretty awesome, since I usually read up to… two or three books. Of course, I have still been recovering from my open-heart surgery, and I was not working yet. So, that sure helps!

I hope these books have inspired you to try a few of them, or guide you into the direction of your next read, loves!

Is there one that caught your eye? Why? Do leave a comment!

See you next post, darlings!

The Darkling: A Character Analysis (Shadow and Bone Trilogy by Leigh Bardugo)

Character Analyses, chit-chatting with Cat January 25, 2025 Leave a comment

Hello, loves!

This analysis of the Darkling/Aleksander Morozova is based ONLY on the Shadow and Bone book series by Leigh Bardugo! I did not include King of Scars nor Rule of Wolves (also by Leigh Bardugo), nor the Netflix series. I wanted to stay true to what we’d first seen of him and how we got to love-and-hate him at first.

With that in mind, are you curious to discover perspectives or aspects you perhaps hadn’t thought about? And to delve deeper into understanding this essential and beloved (sometimes hated) character?

Then, read right on!

(In case you're trying to figure out how to read the Grishaverse in the correct order, I've got you!)

His Beginning

Aleksander Morozova wasn't always a villain. Okay, he was born with the Shadow Summoning ability, just like his mother, Baghra, but he wasn't heartless nor mean. In the short story and graphic novel Demon in the Wood, he was just a young man of 15, like any other teenager, and he dreamed of having friends and a steady place he could call "home". He rejoices at the idea of staying a few months in the same place, despite being hunted as a rare Grisha (and an amplifier!) with his mother. And when he started to befriend a girl, who seemed to like him, and he liked her back, ordinary adolescence stages came through: he fancied her, and he wanted friends. Does that sound mean to you? No.

He also entertained his friend's littler sister with his powers; and defended them from the village's bullies. He just yearned for a safe place. For himself, his mother, and the Grisha who had to live in desolate places and ruins, or secluded because of their powers. And they were hunted, constantly, every one of them.

It's quite reminiscent of the witches and witch hunts. Were the witches bad? No. But the hunters and the Inquisition sure were, burning and killing people (and even cats!) without an ounce of remorse. Most of the time, witches often helped people in the villages with their remedies… and they got killed for it. Which is similar to the Grisha, albeit their powers are more demonstrative.

When Aleksander saw his life being dealt between two Grisha teens to become more powerful and have a chance at survival (since he's an amplifier, and if they wear his bones, their powers will increase), he understood there was no safe place for people like them. They were driven to despair. His mother wasn’t even angry that these children tried to kill her son for it–she understood them because it's such a rough life. And so, Aleksander realized that someone needed to create this safe place for his own kind–and he vowed to be the one to do it. Because he’d experienced first-hand how despair drives the Grisha to do horrible things to each other, and how much they’re hunted and must live in fear.

So far, so (not) good.

Merzost and Losing Himself

However, he did spend centuries learning and climbing the social ranks, faking his death here and there to be born anew so no one would suspect him. He vouched for this safe place, and put all his knowledge and power and social ranking to this purpose that drove him. Sadly, the Darkling turned to merzost, which is the magic at the basis of all things, and forbidden because the cost is high. Using it, he created the Fold, a long and wide space full of people-turned-monsters, all darkness. He'd started losing his way by looking for such desperate means such as merzost from Morozova's books, but his intention was good. He wanted to help and protect his people, who were still hunted and despised.

But after the creation of the Fold, he became a general to the king of Ravka, where Grisha serve in the Second Army (the army of those with powers), where it's a bit more acceptable to be a Grisha, though still not entirely accepted. And he started losing himself quite a lot, by offering a preteen girl to the queen knowing full well how the king was dirty… by killing people and other Grisha, by manipulating his own and lying his way to power.

His Hope and Love for Alina (and His Mother, Baghra)

Then, Alina arrived.

He viewed her both as a hope, a grand hope for the Grisha, and a threat. Because if she was not on his side, she could fight him and that would be disastrous as it would threaten everything he ever fought for. And as a grand hope, because she could help him with the Fold, help him make it greater so he could create a haven for Grisha. Also, he saw her as an equal. Because besides his mother who also wielded the shadows, Alina was the only other like him, she’s a Sun Summoner, a rarity, like he was the only Shadow Summoner with merzost command. They were the strongest and the rarest of the Grisha.

The worst part is she was with an otkazats'ya, a commoner with no power. Exactly the kind of people who hunted and killed The Darkling's Grisha throughout the centuries, and why Grisha have been pushed to despair. So this was not only insulting, but a thorn on his side.

Another point that made it difficult for Darkling to bond with Alina was how reluctant she was about the whole Sun Summoner ordeal that befell her. I mean, I get her, she wanted a normal life making maps and being with her childhood friend, ok. But she was something else–she was a rare Grisha, viewed as a saint. Although, I admit, it's never easy to embrace one's destiny when it doesn't fit with what you wanted in the first place. Nevertheless, Darkling had to work harder to make her see she was truly that important. Just like when the Darkling told Genya to withhold Mal's letters to Alina, because she hoped for him to write to her… Why? Because the Darkling said Mal, an otkazats'ya, was part of an old life, one where Alina wasn't that important nor Grisha. In truth, he was not so wrong, because oftentimes Mal didn't understand how the people relied on her and looked up to her, nor how being Grisha means to love one's powers and be attracted to said power. Mal often tormented her by being untruthful, moody, lashing out at her, when all she needed was comfort and to be asked "why" she said that or acted this way. But he didn't, he just assumed things, bad things about her. When she was traumatized. Boo hoo, poor guy feels forgotten and useless… Alina was experiencing hell in Ravka and her mind, but sure, pout about it and make her feel worse. That's the way to go.

At least the Darkling always saw her. For her potential, yes, but also as an equal, another Grisha. Not one to be scared of, not like Mal. Mal doubted Alina here and there, and thought Grisha were scary and dangerous… But the worst part of his character was that he alienated Alina often, almost every time they talked. Why? Because he went with other women, and suddenly when Alina was important, AH, now he'd always wanted her. He also left her alone, not really worrying about her. And when the Darkling played with Alina's mind in quite direct ways, Mal pouted, snapped at her, stayed by her side as a guard but clearly resented her with his silence AND he kissed Zoya even though he was dating Alina. Just to get back at her, because Mister is so forgotten. But Alina lived through being the Chosen One, being played with, and was still being played with in her mind and she thought she was going mad, and she was afraid and traumatized. She needed support. And who wanted to be there for her? Albeit in a weird way, yet with open arms? The Darkling. He knew how lonely it can get, being this powerful.

But then after the Darkling's plan of which Alina escaped (thanks, Baghra!), Alina just wanted to defeat him. Yet, the Darkling was mad at her, but he wanted to force her into his arms and vicinity, until there was no shelter but him. That was not healthy affection, but he still reached out to her. But he also became angry and more violent, more desperate, because she wasn't on his side anymore, the right side, to help Grisha. This made her an enemy, and yet he tried to make her see that Mal wasn't good for her, nor common people. That she was siding with those who burned Grisha at the stakes for centuries and more. He was just trying to make her understand he was trying to help them, but since she didn't want to hurt people, and was hurt by his betrayal of his plan, she didn't give him reason. Sometimes, she felt attracted to him and his ideas, the power of it, but she fought against it. I love this side of Alina, which gives her a greater tangibility and reality. She's mostly white, but a lot of grey too. She, just like the Darkling, went to great lengths to protect those she loved. And that makes her more than his match in all the ways. She even lost her own power to end his reign. He made a lot of sacrifices, of people, of opportunities, of parts of himself, too… Just like her. And he was right, the only person to truly understand her was him, and she'd be left alone if she killed him.

I think the way Mal brooded against her didn't help her inclination to the Darkling. Because when she was at her most vulnerable, Mal was mean to her, and the Darkling came to discuss and somehow make her see how wrong she was about all of them. Darkling probably did this for himself, for somewhere he knew what it was to be reviled and wanted for something you were, like the girl he liked who tried to kill him to survive. With otkazats'ya, once more. Always the normal ones against the Grisha.

Despite all of this spite and fight between Darkling and Alina, in the end, the Darkling wanted her to be close as he was dying, and he offered her a piece of himself he held secret for centuries: his true name. That cannot mean that she was unimportant. He kept his real name secret for centuries, only to say it to one person only, the one rival he esteemed, the one woman he truly desired. And if he hadn't lost himself along the path to saving the Grisha by creating a haven for them, the one woman he'd have loved.

His mother, Baghra, when Aleksander was only 15 years old, had warned him to disclose his true name only to someone who was very meaningful to him. Because since they changed places often, he had to change names as well. And he felt like his true name, Aleksander, was getting lost among all those changes… But his mother told him his name was engraved on his heart. So, logically, only someone who was important to him or that he loved or both would get to learn his real name.

On a side note, which is essential to his character, Aleksander loved his mother, Baghra. He did mistreat her by making her blind, true, yet he always kept her by his side despite their differences on his grand plan for Grisha. When he was at the Little Palace, she was there. When she betrayed him by helping Alina, he made her blind to punish her, yet he did not kill her. He wanted his mother close and alive. They had lived so many centuries and survivre so many dangers together, this clearly meant something to him. And when Baghra jumped to her death, Aleksander rushed after her body, instantly focusing on her while not caring about Alina anymore. He became more vile and unstable after Baghra’s death. Although he was was dangerous and seemingly heartless, he deemed his mother important enough to keep her close and go after her as she fell to her death. Aleksander is complex, and he kills in the name of making a safe haven for Grisha—he sacrifices a few of their own as well, like poor Genya, giving her as a child to a mean queen with a dirty king he was well aware would take advantage of Genya—but part of that comes from having followed his mother around younger, when they had to hide their identities, lie their way through an ounce of safety at a time, and fighting anyone to stay alive. He grew up suspicious, terrorized. But he knew Baghra was reliable and trustworthy, and that she loved him enough to teach him how to survive against all odds. So losing her was like losing an old and steady pillar of his life—the only one to stand the test of time. Aleksander needed her; the boy within loved his mother to the end. Her death made an impact on him, and that’s part of what’s love’s about. And monsters can’t love. But Aleksander did.

Upon dying, he disclosed his true name to Alina, asking her to say it one last time. He wanted to hear his true self reflected back to him upon dying. It seems like he suffered from having to hide constantly and being this all-powerful tyrant, when his basis was just a young man who wanted friends and a steady life. And he wanted to hear it said back to him, by someone he (probably) loved and who was meaningful to him. I think it's quite significative that he chose to tell it to Alina out of all people; he had collaborators, henchmen, and lovers… but never anyone who mattered enough to him to disclose his real name. Except Alina Starkov. Because she was like him, in a way. A soul lost in a world she just wanted to stop and live her life ordinarily. But she was nothing ordinary, she was the Sun Summoner. Thrust into the Grisha world, Aleksander had to win her over, otherwise she threatened all the order and safety he had earned for the Grisha. But she was of his own kind, an equal. Someone who could understand him.

No, he wasn't always fair nor kind to her. Like the letters from Mal he kept… to make Alina learn she wasn't "common" and that her place was among the Grisha, not those without powers. He viewed this relationship as dangerous because "common people" had been killing his kind for centuries, so it was a bit like a treason to see Alina with an otkaza'tsya.

Also, he did manipulate Alina to fall in love with him. But he did also try to protect her from others (and mostly from Mal and the otkazats’ya) here and there, and he gave her a few chances to join him instead of outright killing her. He liked her. Which is even further proven with the fact he took Mal's appearance to make out with her in bed. He wanted her, and that made him weak.

Even at the end, he wanted her to say his true name. When it comes to the Darkling, this is a big mark of respect and affection. Also, it means that just like the girl he liked when younger, he liked Alina enough to disclose secret parts of himself to her–because, in the end, he resorted back to his true self. A young boy scared of the world and in need of friends and in his own identity quest.

Perhaps he didn't love her, but he sure was sometimes protective, kind, honest, and he did not just want her but liked her. If he weren't so lost in his quest or his madness, he would have loved her for sure. If he'd stayed the good boy he once was. I think that that part of him loved Alina truly. But the rest wanted her powers for himself. But since he was so lost in his quest, he forgot how to love properly and loved her wrong. He lost himself on the way to protect his kind, is that truly evil? His intention was to help all of them… he got lost, ok, but he tried when no one else did. I think that makes him more of a morally grey character pushed to the extreme than a real villain or mean.

In the End

Taking all of this into account, of course, when put up against Alina, the Darkling does seem villainous. But hell is paved with good intentions… and he sure had one. Imagine a witch trying to create a haven for others like her. Would you say she's evil? No, of course not. She's just trying to save her kind. But if she began killing others and turning to black magic for this, then she'd have lost her righteous way… But the intention would stay the same, albeit more violent and desperate. That's what happened to him. His ways were too drastic, but his idea and intention and will were admirable. And at least, he tried when no one else would. In my opinion, this all doesn't make him evil; it makes him human, a human who suffered from his own kind's pain to a terrible level, and who tried and failed with the best of intentions.

What do you think? Does he make you think of a morally grey character? Do comment your opinion, and share this character analysis with someone who might enjoy it!

See you next post, lovelies!

The Conjurer’s Wife by Sarah Penner: A Book Review

Book Reviews January 15, 2025 Leave a comment

Sarah Penner's Website

Amazon CA

Goodreads (Add it to your bookshelves!)

LibraryThing

Fable

Genre: Fiction, Fantasy
Number of pages: 40
ISBN: 9781662526213

ASIN: B0D6RSVHLR

Format: eBook (Kindle), Audiobook (Audible)
Publication date: January 01, 2025
Publisher: Amazon Original Stories
Type: Short Story

A HUGE thanks to Amazon Publishing and NetGalley for an e-ARC of this book! I get no compensation whatsoever, and I write this review willingly.

The delightful cover which spoke of spectacle and ancient times what with the clothes and braid of the woman really caught my eye. But what intrigued me was the title, The Conjurer’s Wife! A conjurer? Interesting! And his wife… She’s clearly much more than what she appears to be at first.

I had to read this short story by Sarah Penner! Not only does it occur during the 19th century, but also in Venice, with a backdrop of illusionism and spectacles. I love everything magic and that relates to the arts of the scene.

So, I was kindly granted a digital copy, and honestly I read it so fast. When I had to do something else, I would keep thinking about the story and Olivia, the main character, until finally I could resume my reading.

This sounds like your cuppa too?

Keep reading, loves!

Blurb

In nineteenth-century Venice, a young woman’s marriage to an illusionist hides secrets that go deeper than his spectacular acts. The stage is set for transformation in a mesmerizing short story by the New York Times bestselling author of The Lost Apothecary.

In 1820s Venice, world-renowned magician Oscar Van Hoff confounds sold-out crowds with his astounding manifestations. Even his beautiful wife and assistant, Olivia, is mystified. Her job is to smile and recite her lines—onstage and in society. But the thankless routine is bringing out her rebellious side. Then, on the eve of what promises to be Oscar’s greatest performance yet, Olivia uncovers a secret with the power to shatter all her husband’s illusions. Now the finale belongs to her.

The Positive Points

The prose is straightforward and includes much information in short sentences and fewer words than one would think. I love it! You know all you need to in a swift and direct way. The descriptions are succinct, yet they tell everything you need to know: like how common the clearing of throat is before a show as a spectator, and how the theatergoers are drunk, notably before it happens in the holidays and on a Friday evening. The author doesn’t shy away from less-than-agreeable truths and descriptions, and I appreciate it.

Also, I love the integration of gaslight system which is from that time period—it is accurate and well-thought of.

Plus, you can feel the tension between Oscar and Olivia right from his entrance! He doesn’t seem wholly good… what has he done in the past? It seems Olivia thinks it’s high time for a little rebellion of her own. I am intrigued about what truly happened to Olivia before the injury and what Oscar might have done to her… used her for his shows? Lied and manipulated her to wed her?

As I kept progressing in my reading, something clearly didn’t seem right about this whole thing and Oscar, was Olivia the magician before and then he met her and used her talents to become popular? Maybe he stole magic by causing her head injury… Argh, I didn’t know, but something was definitely wrong in this picture! He seemed to have no trick to his shows… which as a magician is highly improbable! Almost impossible. So what gives?

I love the scene with Olivia and the painting. It is much more important than we know at the moment!

Omg, the plot twist was great! I wasn’t expecting that plot twist until the very last minute. Fantastic and chilling at the same time. A grand number in the author’s show! The ending is excellent and rebellious—just like Olivia in the beginning. dang how I love her character! I would read a whole book about her.

Lastly, this short story reads like a show. I mean, it’s like I am watching a theater play or a tv show—it’s really entertaining and captivating.

The Negative Points

How can she be sure that thing (no spoilers here) is magic? She simply assumed when she saw it. Perhaps Oscar plans his shows with it? This would be more logical than assuming it’s magic right away. This seemed a bit illogical and it bothered me, jumping to conclusion like that—the right one at that, and much less plausible than anything else!

In Conclusion

Overall, I give The Conjurer’s Wife by Sarah Penner a grand rating of 5 stars out of 5 for how excellent the storytelling is, how captivating and engrossing the story is, and also how much I love Olivia as a character and the amazing plot twist! Honestly, I would really read a whole thick book about Olivia! This story is genuinely that good.

I recommend this short story to all lovers of magic in all its forms, art, and spectacles, as well as those seeking to be captivated by a story and characters and taken aback by a plot twist cleverly crafted!

If you want to learn more about the author, Sarah Penner, you can visit her author website, and follow her on her Goodreads author account, as well as on her Instagram account. Don't forget to add The Conjurer's Wife to your wishlist, your cart, or your bookshelves!

The Draw Challenge: Choosing My Montlhy TBR Blindly

chit-chatting with Cat, Draw Challenge, What I'm Reading January 2, 2025 Leave a comment

Hello, lovelies!

Every month, I have so many books to read: ARCs, books for book clubs, books from my bookshelves, and so on. But oftentimes, my OWN bookshelves are put aside for the other readings. So, I decided to do a monthly draw challenge where I pick a book blindly for six months from my curated TBR list. This makes things a bit more fun, and ensures I read at least one of my own books per month, too.

I was inspired to do this by a certain book vlogger I just love to watch (she's my favorite, hiya!), Sarah Hafidh (a.k.a SarahsCozyCorner). I figured it would be the solution to my problem of not reading enough of the books I own, while being amusing, too!

So, I picked six books for January to June 2025 to choose from blindly:

Teach the Torches to Burn by Caleb Roehrig

The Modern Faerie Tales by Holly Black

La casa de los espíritus by Isabel Allende (Why not read also in Spanish when I can, huh?! So, to spice up this reading challenge, I decided to read in another language as well. As a polyglot, this is very helpful in keeping what I learned!)

The Witches of St. Petersburg by Imogen Edwards-Jones

Roseblood by A. G. Howard

Flowerheart by Catherine Bakewell

Then, I took out some brown paper to wrap them in, scissors, tape, and a Sharpie to number them. I would have preferred an ecological solution, but I didn't haven enough cloths lying around at home. So, I am trying with this method first, and another time if I repeat this endeavour, I will use cloth.

I wrapped them up, then numbered them. I made sure that when two-three were done to mix them up on my table so I couldn't know which was which, and I didn't number them in order at all–only after I'd mixed them up. Otherwise, what's the point of choosing my next read blindly if I know which one it is in advance?

And tah dah, all done! Isn't it just beautiful?! Now, there's no book I can identify–besides the mega one, I know which one it is (it's The Modern Faerie Tales by Holly Black), but STILL! The rest is still a surprise, and it's fun just to pick the books blindly through an app.

Now, only one last step for January 2025: picking the actual book!

I chose an app called LuckyDraw, so that I could input six numbers and it won't pick the same number twice (great feature! It makes this draw challenge easier.) I turned the wheel, got the number 3, annnnnnddd…

January 2025 Read: Teach the Torches to Burn by Caleb Roehrig!!! YAY!!!!

I've been longing to read this book since I ordered it a few months back, and I couldn't be happier for the number 3 to have been picked! You can watch my happy unwrapping reel.

You can now expect a review of Teach the Torches to Burn towards mid-February, and a new pick at the beginning of February, and so on for the Draw Challenge! Fun, right?

Here's the blurb of this Romeo & Juliet LGBTQ+ retelling:

In Teach the Torches to Burn, a breathlessly romantic remix of Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet and seventh book in the Remixed Classics series, a queer teen boy discovers first love amid a bloody, centuries-old feud.

Verona, Italy. Seventeen-year-old aspiring artist Romeo dreams of a quiet life with someone who loves him just as he is. But as the heir to the Montague family, he is expected to give up his womanly artistic pursuits and uphold the family honor–particularly in their centuries-old blood feud with a rival family, the Capulets. Worse still, he is also expected to marry a well-bred girl approved by his parents and produce heirs. But the more Romeo is forced to mingle with eligible maidens, the harder it is to keep his deepest secret: He only feels attracted to other boys.

In an attempt to forget his troubles for just one night, Romeo joins his cousin in sneaking into a Capulet party. During a fateful encounter in the garden, he meets the kindest, most beautiful boy he's ever encountered, and is shocked to learn he's Valentine, the younger brother of one of his closest friends. He is even more shocked to discover that Valentine is just as enamored with Romeo as Romeo is with him.

So begins a tender romance that the boys must hide from their families and friends, each of them longing for a world where they could be together without fear. And as the conflict between the Montagues and Capulets escalates out of control, Romeo and Valentine find themselves in danger of losing each other forever–if not by society's scorn, then by the edge of a blade.

Reading the Grishaverse: The Correct Reading Order

chit-chatting with Cat, Reader Edition August 2, 2024 Leave a comment

The Grishaverse by Leigh Bardugo includes novels (one trilogy and two duologies), a comic book, two short story collections as well as individual short stories. It can be confusing when one wants to start reading in the Grishaverse, but fear not—I have been there, and I’m bringing you the reading order, and answers to some of the most common questions about the Grishaverse! Let’s demystify this together, then you’ll be ready to delve into those books confidently and with much pleasure!

The Most Crucial Question: Can I Read the Six of Crows duology before the Shadow and Bone trilogy?

Honestly? I wouldn’t recommend it. Because the powers, the Grisha, the legends and the world are established and described in the Shadow and Bone trilogy. You would miss out on basics such as how the powers and Grisha work, and where is what, and what happened to the Fold…

In other words, you’d be confused.

I get that you want to reach Kaz Brekker and Inej Ghafa (or any other of the Crows, but let’s be real, Kanej—the ship’s name), but it’s best for immersion and comprehension, and your whole experience to start with Shadow and Bone.

Last thing on this question, too: You won’t get the insane fun and thrill when encountering the cameos in SoC (Six of Crows) from the SaB (Shadow and Bone) trilogy. And that would be a shame because it made me giddy to see them again, and I hope you get the same delight.

So, I urge you to read Shadow and Bone, Siege and Storm, and Ruin and Rising before Six of Crows and Crooked Kingdom.

The Other Most Crucial Question: Can I Jump in Right into the King of Scars duology without Having Read the Six of Crows duology nor the Shadow and Bone trilogy?

That would be like jumping straight into Doctor Who with the latest Doctor (I did that many years ago and loved it, but that’s another story)—it’s mind-bogglingly confusing! Or any other series, really! Let’s say you catch a movie at the last 20 minutes; good, you’re there for the conclusion. Of what? With whom? Why? What for?

If you start with the King of Scars duology, it’s the very same—you’ll read the conclusion of the big Grishaverse before knowing anyone or what it’s even about.

So, don’t do that please, you’ll miss out on everything. The references, the characters, the backstory, the purpose of the story, the cameos, the relationships…. You won’t understand much about the characters and their situations, nor be thrilled to see them “again”—because it’s the first time you see them for you. And spoilers! Huge spoilers.

Honestly, be kind to yourself and start by the very beginning, Shadow and Bone.

What about the Short Story Collections and Individual Short Stories?

The two short story collections are The Lives of Saints and The Language of Thorns.

Personally, I jumped into the Grishaverse by checking out the only book available in the series at my library (all the others were checked out!): The Language of Thorns. It’s such a magnificent collection of stories about Grishaverse legends and myths! It was a fantastic introduction to that world. And while I couldn’t get all the little references, it didn’t hinder my reading—they’re not necessary to understand the stories and immerse yourself in the sheer beauty of this book. Besides Shadow and Bone, this collection, The Language of Thorns, would be another good way to enter the Grishaverse.

The Lives of Saints is quite special. It’s a reproduction of the Grishaverse’s book of Sains for uyour pleasure to read. It’s like holding a piece of their world in your hands. However, since it features saints (i. e. Grisha) found in the first trilogy of Shadow and Bone, and that they’re quite important spoilers about who they are and other references, I would suggest to wait before reading this collection. Read the first trilogy, then venture into The Lives of Saints safely.

As for the short stories, The Demon in the Wood, The Tailor, and The Witch of Duva, they’re available both as ebooks or with certain editions of the books.

For full effect, I recommend reading The Demon in the Wood after the Shadow and Bone trilogy for a maximum of feels and realizations. Otherwise, The Tailor can be read after the first SaB book, and The Witch of Duva is a companion to the first SaB so I suggest reading it after the first book as well.

Speaking of The Demon in the Wood, it’s also available as a comic book!

The Correct Reading Order of the Grishaverse

Now, with all we’ve learned about the Grishaverse, here is the correct order for reading the books (according to yours truly):

(The Language of Thorns, to your choice, or start with:)

1- Shadow and Bone

1.2 – The Witch of Duva

1.3 – The Tailor

2- Siege and Storm

3- Rise and Ruin

3.1 – The Demon in the Wood

4- The Lives of Saints

5- Six of Crows

6- Crooked Kingdom

7- King of Scars

8- Rule of Wolves

(And you can end with The Language of Thorns, if ever you didn’t start with it.)

In Conclusion

Phew! That was quite the adventure, right? But fear not, Grisha, you’re now ready and set to explore the Grishaverse. In the end, it’s best to start at the beginning and follow the order of the major novels, with the short story collections and individual short stories interspersed between them.

Are you looking forward to a particular book or character in the series? Did you find this article useful for your reading experience?

Leave a comment and share this post please!

See you next post, lovelies!

How to Choose Your Next Read: Mood Reader Edition

Reader Edition June 13, 2024 Leave a comment

As a mood reader myself, these are methods and techniques I experimented and found success with. I recommend using this article like a method bank because the same method won't always work. It hasn't for me because each "reading slump" brought by the end of the previous book is different and unique related to the story, characters, and the emotions and feelings it left me. So, I have to use either this one or that one at some time, and another time I have to try the other two again.

But the good news is that there's always one method that works—the trick is finding the right one at the right time for us, mood readers.

What I noticed is that this state of indecision and generalized bleariness towards each and every book seems to stem from boredom and routine.

So, let's explore my favourite methods to stave off that state and win over it!

Ready?

Okay, scroll!

Go with the Season

Okay, this one sounds like a given, but have you reeaaally tried it? I mean, not only with the holidays it includes, but the season and moods themselves. If so, a bit of reviewing the pros of this technique will help! If not, get ready to find a few new ideas.

Your Favorite Genre

Here's my favorite one: choose a book of your favorite genre which either fits the mood, the ambiance, or the holidays of that season.

For example, I was in October (Fall), and I loooove fantasy! I wanted something Halloween-like (holidays), yet familiar and cozy. So, I went with Long Live the Pumpkin Queen: Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas by Shea Ernshaw (you can see my bookstagram and read my review here), knowing Nightmare Before Christmas is my favorite Halloween movie (it's a tradition!), it's not that scary, and it fit all the boxes for the season all while being in my favorite genre.

Something You Love

Now, I mentioned this tip with the previous paragraph, but it's: choose a topic you love (like a TV show, or a book series), and try to find a book that is either set during the season in question OR that has the ambiance and vibes. Some will do special season books, or one of them is set during winter and that's what you're looking for, for example.

For me, it was during the month of December, and as a big Doctor Who fan, I wanted to read something about that TV show, yet I wanted to feel Christmastime and winter.

I looked up Doctor Who books and I stumbled upon Doctor Who: The Twelve Doctors of Christmas, and it was an instant purchase!

It did checked my favorite topic and seasonal boxes. The stories are warm and wintery, and perfect for Doctor Who fans!

Venture Out of Your Comfort Zone

This one is an old trick, but it is tough for a reason: it works. Not always, but it helps shake the routine and boredom.

For this one, I have two different methods: trying an unfamiliar genre and looking for a different trope.

Try An Unfamiliar Genre

More often than not, we read what we love most and what we're familiar with. For example, I'm all about fantasy and romance, as well as documentaries. But, if I wanna shake up my world and try a different genre, I will choose a memoir, or a travel book written by someone who went to that country. See?

The first travel memoir—or memoir, for that matter—I ever read was Under the Tuscan Sun by Frances Mayes because it's about Italy. Enough said. No, but, truth is, I love the Italian culture and I speak Italian as a self-taught language since I was 14 years old. So, it was meaningful to me. And, thanks to this book, I found another genre to read sometimes: memoirs.

So, if you read mostly fiction, try a non-fiction by a researcher, or a writer you like, a memoir by a celebrity of some kind, something other than fiction.

If you read non-fiction instead, try a light novel, or a poetry book. Something that can grip you instead of always giving you information to feed on (which is awesome, I love that too, but you know, to shake things up a bit ;)).

Look for a Different Trope

A trope is a certain pattern that comes back so often it's common. For example, in Romance books I always go to enemies-to-lovers, but once in a while, if you're like me, try a friends-to-lovers, perhaps? Ok, not the same stakes, but that's what we're looking for here. These are both tropes, but since I'm quite the enemies-to-lovers gal, changing it up to friends-to-lovers will shake up my perspective and routine.

Another example is how I love morally grey characters (*cue April Jay's bookish song, Morally Grey*), then when I'm looking for a different trope, I'll try a goody-two-shoes.

I know, I know, these examples can seem rather daunting, but that's the point with getting out of your comfort zone!

Establish the Mood You Want with:

Put On A Playlist

Playlists are a great way to establish mood and ambiance, whether it's for reading, writing, cooking, and other any fun activities. Some prefer a classical playlist, others a moody one, and some others a lyrical playlist…

Here are a few suggestions, feel free to try them out to find the mood you're looking for:

Dark Academia Classical

Sometimes lyrics are too overwhelming and confusing as you read, but others will enjoy it. As for classical music, it's mostly great for thrillers and fantasy, I found from experience, or deep drama readings like the Six of Crows duology by Leigh Bardugo, or dark romance.

Did you know there are also playlists compiled by the authors themselves for specific books or series?

Why not try and find one (if it exists) for the book you're about to read?

For example, the If I Stay playlist by the author Gayle Forman.

The Splintered Series playlist by the author A. G. Howard (my favorite Alice in Wonderland retelling).

Oftentimes the authors will leave a link to their playlists on their website, or do a manual search in your music app.

Brew Your Favorite Beverage

An essential in my opinion is a beverage. But not any beverage; it must be your favorite, or at least held in the same esteem.

For example, I am a coffee gal, but mostly iced coffee. I'm all about iced coffee; from Tim Horton's, Starbucks, from my home Nespresso, and more. I need that iced coffee, and what better way to drink it than to pair it with a book for a perfect mood?

Exactly what I thought: there is no better way than that!

If you're not a coffee gal or lad, how about some tea? You can use a little tea infuser with tea herbs, or you can use a tea bag. Either way, as long as it's a taste you love to sip and smell.

And how about brewing your own coffee if you like that? This could get you into an enthusiastic mood with the smell and the movements, right before an interesting read!

Whichever drink you prefer, make sure to pair one of your favorites with a book. It never fails to delight!

Settle in a Pleasant Setting

Settings are as important in real life as in stories. For example, would the Shadow and Bone trilogy be the same without a Russian-inspired Ravka? Nope. How about Harry Potter without Hogwarts? Not the same feel at all.

Well, same goes for you!

Do you have a comfy chair? I call mine my "potato chair", because then I can become a potato on it and not move except for turning the pages and drinking my favorite iced coffee.

Perhaps it's a cozy or favorite room in your house or apartment? Go there!

If you prefer the calm and quiet of the library, or the cozy bustle of the coffee shop, why not spice things up by reading in these locations? I can lose myself for hours in a book in both the library and a coffee shop. Or if it's new to you, how about changing the pace of your reading and trying these places out?

In order for the reading to be more enticing and immersive, find yourself a pleasant spot.

Put On Comfy or Thematic Clothes

Clothes are often overlooked as a means to create mood. But sometimes, it can be the missing element!

If you want a cozy, calm and soothing reading experience, how about slipping on comfy clothes? Those baggy pants, or how about these leggings you bought last month? A big shirt or a tight tank top. Whatever your comfy is, make sure to aim for it. Clothes can put us in certain moods, and comfy is the one we're going for here for reading experience.

However, if you want to shake things up and be ready for the adventure at hand, let's say you're about to read a fantasy novel, how about putting on a Harry Potter shirt or scarf? If you have a shirt from Game of Thrones, it works, too! As long as it fits the topic/genre you're going to read, there's no trouble.

How about sexy underwear or cute pyjamas full of kisses or hearts for a romance book?

I mean, why not? It's all about the right mood!

Change the Routine–Make it Special!

Remember when I mentioned how it's all about routine? Yeah, exactly, so let's make it special! Because, routine is good for daily life, but it can become tiresome, even in reading for we go to our favorite genres, things we like, but it sometimes loses that sparkle. You know the one! That sparkle that gets us giddy before a read, like we're an enthused two year-old before a new toy.

That one, yeah!

How do we find it back? Here we go!

Enjoy yourself!

You know how routines can become… well, routinely. Boring. Tiresome. Same old, same old. This happens with our reading, too! When our "want" changes to "must" because we've been meaning to read that book for so long, or perhaps we have a bookstagram or review coming up… But thing is, "I must read" is no fun, it's routine–reading's become a chore. Yikes! The horror! We love reading mostly for escapism (except those unique ones who don't and I can't relate, but hey, welcome to the party!), so when it stops being escapism… No, that's too terrifying to consider.

So, the trick is to subtly change the "I must read my book" to "I WANT to read my book".

Start by changing the word in your thoughts and in conversations with people. That'll help. Then, try to view it as some me-time, to relax, to reappropriate your pleasure of reading.

Don't let it be tiresome–make it awesome!

These Are Not Just Words

No, I did not make a mistake. Books are NOT just words. The ever so practical will tell me : "Of course not, there is glue, paper, ink…." Yes, alright, but dear fellow, that's not what I mean, so sit down.

What I mean is books are much more than words. There are mental images, stories, knowledge… and the best of all: they give us friends! Come on, don't tell me you never loved a book character so much as to think of them outside of your reading time, and some of us go as far as purchasing items about them and writing fanfics, making fanvids, and more.

These friends we find in the pages of books are our friends and no one else's. Why? Because every one reads a bit differently, so every one has their own versions of said characters. And that makes it unique, because books contain more than words–they contain friends we yearn to discover and develop a friendship with in the first read, or reconnect with through a second or third reading.

The Ultimate .gif Database

And that, my dears, is beautiful.

Magic is what it is, I think.

Magic of the heart, and mind, and soul… Magic of the story!

So, keep that in mind to enthuse yourself about your read, ok? 😉

Friendship: Lessons from "Harry Potter"

Dance, Laugh–It's an Adventure!

Last but the funniest is please please please make it fun. Sometimes, to go back to my "tiresome routine" point, we can lose ourselves in the daily grind. But, reading is no simple feat (psychologically and emotionally). We immerse ourselves into these worlds or into that knowledge. At least, make it some kind of privileged time! A party, if that's what it takes.

For me, I do love to dance and laugh on music to psych me up before sitting down with a book. Perhaps you'd like to play a game to have a good mood before reading, or read jokes.

Geez, you're going on an adventure to discover and befriend people (fiction) or learn tons (non-fiction) on how the world or people work!

Don't make it something casual or too ordinary–reconnect with its fantastic nature! Put a movie in the background, or listen to classical music while reading.

Whatever you do, remember: reading is an adventure.

So act like it's one!

Round 3: Holiday Adventure - Monks - Nerd Fitness Rebellion

I hope you enjoyed this article and found it useful. Don't forget to try out these tricks any time you get stuck as a mood reader (which happens, let's be honest, every day!).

See you next post, lovelies!

Tag Archives: ad librum aeternam

Blurb

The Positive Points

The Negative Points

In Conclusion

Blurb

The Positive Points

The Negative Points

In Conclusion

Blurb

The Positive Points

The Negative Points

In Conclusion

Fairest of All (Villains, #1) – (In French: Miroir, Miroir)

The Bear and the Nightingale (The Winternight Trilogy, #1)

The Godfather Lover's Guide to Sicily – ARC

Teach the Torches to Burn – Draw Challenge

The Conjurer's Wife – ARC

The Beast Within (Villains, #2) – (In French: L'Histoire de la Bête)

In Conclusion

His Beginning

Merzost and Losing Himself

His Hope and Love for Alina (and His Mother, Baghra)

In the End

Blurb

The Positive Points

The Negative Points

In Conclusion

The Most Crucial Question: Can I Read the Six of Crows duology before the Shadow and Bone trilogy?

The Other Most Crucial Question: Can I Jump in Right into the King of Scars duology without Having Read the Six of Crows duology nor the Shadow and Bone trilogy?

What about the Short Story Collections and Individual Short Stories?

The Correct Reading Order of the Grishaverse

In Conclusion

Go with the Season

Your Favorite Genre

Something You Love

Venture Out of Your Comfort Zone

Try An Unfamiliar Genre

Look for a Different Trope

Establish the Mood You Want with:

Put On A Playlist

Brew Your Favorite Beverage

Settle in a Pleasant Setting

Put On Comfy or Thematic Clothes

Change the Routine–Make it Special!

Enjoy yourself!

These Are Not Just Words

Dance, Laugh–It's an Adventure!

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