REVIEW: Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor - 4 stars

The beginning, the setting, Karou and Brimstone and Issa, and the quality of the writing blew me away. As soon as the truth about Karou was foreshadowed with a heavy hand, I felt sad. Like something beautiful was being ripped apart.

I never really warmed up to the truth about Karou, but the writing compelled me to keep going, despite the occasional abuse of five-dollar words. The world building is amazing. And again, Karou! I was so annoyed by her name at first, a lot of the names actually, but I completely fell in love with her. The truth was an intruder.

I am still looking forward to reading the next one. And Daughter of Smoke and Bone is well worth reading despite its flaws.

4 Stars

REVIEW: Croak by Gina Damico, 3.5 stars

Croak by Gina Damico

This debut novel is a really fun time. The dialogue is fresh and snappy, and the central characters are quickly developed.

I often had a hard time suspending my disbelief though when it came to the world-building and the explanations of how the reaping worked and how the town of Croak was run. There were a lot of overly long explanations that didn't always all hang together. Sometimes it left me wishing the author had used these interesting characters and wonderful dialogue in a different kind of story. The running jokes with the dead presidents and other famous historical people in the afterlife entryway jarred me right out of the story.

I was interested in Lex and how she develops, but I never really felt for her. Even when something horrible happens to her, I was mildly surprised but not upset. However, the way the kids interacted and the wacky but totally realistic things they say and do, were really enjoyable, and I definitely plan to read more in this series.

Dreamcasting Shadow and Bone

I'm excited to see Leigh Bardugo's Shadow and Bone on the big screen. It's currently in development, so it's easy to imagine whoever I'd like being cast!

Mia Wasikowska as Alina

Since Jensen Ackles is 10 years too old, we'll have Colton Haynes as Mal

Colin O'Donoghue as The Darkling

Deborah Ann Woll as Genya

The Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson

3.5 of 5

The Girl of Fire and Thorns started wonderfully, and the overall world-building is really well done. While the idea of a Godstone in her belly button was sometimes a little awkward and almost silly, I did really like that spiritual elements were incorporated nicely. There were no pat answers about God or religion. No agenda pushing really. It was just part of the world, part of the character. A nice exploration of faith and doubt.

There was a little too much focus on how much Elisa was eating, exactly how fat she was, and how much others looked at how much she was eating and exactly how fat she was.

I liked the political intrigue and how suddenly the story shifts when Elisa is kidnapped. However, toward the ends, things are suddenly wrapped up. The pace was nice for about two thirds, and then the last third feels like just being told what happened rather than really living though it with Elisa.

I'm surprised to learn that this is the first in a trilogy (or series?) It seemed almost overly final. There was a lot more there that could have been explored with two of the characters in particular. Elisa's relationships could have changed with them in really interesting ways.

I don't really see where the story can go. For trilogies/series, I like when a main plot line is wrapped up but you're still left with a sense of something continuing. Overall though, promising and ultimately only slightly disappointing.

Hello

Welcome to my little corner. If you love young adult and teen fiction, you're in the right place!