When Women Were Dragons - Kelly Barnhill

 

Book: When Women Were Dragons

Author: Kelly Barnhill

Releasedate: 3rd of May 2022

Well, let me say. I saw this book in my local bookstore and was instantly intrigued. I mean, women and dragons? I’ve read several books containing dragons, but this looked like a whole new take on the subject and I was absolutely right.

You really feel the time it is set in. So many ambiguous people and definitely something people would do when they encounter something they don’t understand. Just hide it and don’t talk about it.

Well, I do need to talk about this book. I really like it! I find it fascinating and you can almost believe it has happened in the past, weren’t it for the fact that there are no dragons in real life. 

For the better part of the book I did wonder how it was going to end. But as soon as it was nearing it’s ending, it totally made sense. Kelly’s writing style is easygoing with an academic touch to the story and I really admire her for that view she put in her story. So, if you’re into a fantasy filled historic story with a feelgood ending, this is your go to. And apparently several people agree with me since this book was nominated for the Best Fantasy in 2022! 

Gilded - Marissa Meyer

Book: Gilded
Author: Marissa Meyer
Releasedate: 2nd of November, 2021

Long ago cursed by the god of lies, a poor miller's daughter has developed a talent for spinning stories that are fantastical and spellbinding and entirely untrue.

Or so everyone believes.

When one of Serilda's outlandish tales draws the attention of the sinister Erlking and his undead hunters, she finds herself swept away into a grim world where ghouls and phantoms prowl the earth and hollow-eyed ravens track her every move. The king orders Serilda to complete the impossible task of spinning straw into gold, or be killed for telling falsehoods. In her desperation, Serilda unwittingly summons a mysterious boy to her aid. He agrees to help her . . . for a price.

Soon Serilda realizes that there is more than one secret hidden in the castle walls, including an ancient curse that must be broken if she hopes to end the tyranny of the king and his wild hunt forever.

Ooooh boy... If you have been following my reviews for a while, you must know that I love the way Marissa alters the fairytales and makes them into her own splendid versions. And she has done it again!

This story has the base of the fairytale of Rumpelstiltskin. And it took me quite some time to figure out how this fairytale fitted in her story, but as the story progresses the puzzle pieces slowly fall into their place. We see Marissa conjuring up a story with so much more detail and worldbuilding then the original story beholds and I think that is magnificent.

The only, really only thing that bugged me was... Why did she use German and Dutch names as a mix in this story? Isn't the story of Rumpelstiltskin of German origin? I am aware, as a Dutch person myself, that Americans tend to mix up Germans and Dutch people, which is still highly affronting for most of us. *cough WWII* So I was confused to read German and Dutch names in the story. I don't know if it was done deliberilately, because I can't imagine not getting your research straight if you start writing. 

But, overall, I really loved it and I am genuinly frustrated that I need to wait until November to read the next book! She left us on such a cliffhanger! Her writing style is easy as always and it was really hard for me to put the book down.

Remember the Butterfly - Rebecca L. Marsh

Book: Remember the Butterfly
Author: Rebecca L. Marsh
Releasedate: February 10th, 2022 

I was and am thankful for Rebecca that she involved me in her tour to tell you about her latest  book 'Remember the Butterfly'. So really, really thank you, Rebecca! 

--

What if you had to give up what you treasured most?

Something unexpected changes the course of Jillian’s life.

After witnessing her sister’s murder, she’s been tormented by survivor’s guilt. Her desperate longing for a child compounds her grief, while endless fertility treatments weigh down her soul.

Just when hope seems beyond her grasp, her dream of motherhood comes true. All Jillian’s pain is washed away and joy fills her heart.

But when someone shows up threatening to take it all away, Jillian must choose between holding on to her newfound happiness or giving it all up for the sake of someone she loves.

--

First and foremost; if you're going to read this book, prepare to get heartbroken. The emotions I felt whilst reading this book were all over the place. I felt endeared, shocked, angry, happy and satisfied. And that all in one book. Rebecca has done it again to capture my emotions and drag them along through the story she's written. We get to know Jillian and what heartbreaking decisions she has to make for love, for herself, for everyone around her. I really felt for her after reading what happened with her sister. And even more so when they failed to conceive. 

I have to be honest. I have debated to throw out my ereader out the window several times. And not because I didn't like the book. No, because what it did to me. At points I was so sad, and so angry at what happened. It is a form of art to take hold of someones emotions and take them with you in the book just through words. As always Rebecca's writing style is easy to read and that makes it even harder to put the book down. 

I cried at the ending of the book and not many books can do that to me. I was really satisfied with how it ended. Remember the Butterfly is a real pageturner filled with emotions you didn't know you could experience them through words. 

Good Omens - Terry Pratchett & Neil Gaiman

Book: Good Omens
Authors: Terry Pratchett & Neil Gaiman
Releasedate: November the 28th, 2006

It's been a while since I've read this one but I HAD to write a review about it, because I am beyond enthusiastic how great this book is!

I've seen the TV series first on Amazon, at least three times, so I had to buy the book to see if that would be even better. Because I LOVE the TV series. I absolotely love it. And not just because David Tennant stars in it! It has this bizarre, British humor kinda feel and I really like that. The casting is awesome, the story telling is awesome and I just don't have any negative things to say about the TV series. I am really looking forward to season 2!

So, I have bought the book. Because they usually say that the book is better then the movie or TV series. There are definitely differences between the book and the TV adaptation, but I don't think it's annoying that they did that. After reading the book I really got the same vibe the TV adaptation gave me. This whimsical, funny and bizarre story just left me giddy after reading. I was like so many times 'this is amazing'  and 'it really feels the same way'. You can absolutely pciture what happens alongside the TV adaptation. It even gives it more depth and I can honestly say that the TV adaptation is worthy of the book. It must've helped that Gaiman himself helped adapting the book for the TV series. That's why I have faith in the second series, because there will be elements in the series that Gaiman and Pratchett discussed what they wanted for a sequel. 

So, if you like the whimsical, funny British humor with a touch of insanity, I would recommend reading this book and also watching the series. You will enjoy it! 

The Heir, The Crown - Kiera Cass

Books: The Heir, The Crown
Author: Kiera Cass
Releasedates: May 5th, 2015 - May 3rd, 2016 

Well, you've probably read what my thoughts were on the Selection series, so you can imagine my hopes weren't that high for the last two books.

Fortunately, these books were way better then the first series. I don't know what happened or if Kiera had a stroke of inspiration to do it well, but these ones were so much more fun to read. It has more depth, you really get to know Eadlyn and how she works and it gives her an honest persona. 

At first I found a detail that was really predictable, so I was like 'here we go again', but fortunately it worked out well. 

I liked The Heir and I couldn't put down The Crown. Especially the last book was definitely the best and it is such a shame that it took Kiera until the last book to finally write something worthwhile. (Sorry)

So, if you don't mind having a guilty pleasure in the Selection, then it's definitely worth it to keep reading on to the last two books.  

I really, really wasn't sure who she would choose during the books. Who does she end up with. So I definitely switched between favorites and the ending was really fulfilling though. She added a minor detail in some family drama in the books, that wasn't really necessary for me to be honest, but I did enjoy the Crown a lot. It was sweet, honest, an easyreader and it put a smile on my face once I was done reading. And it wasn't a smile as in 'Finally, I'm done', but I was content when it finished, because what happened in these books, I don't know why these books are better then the first three she wrote, but I'm glad she did! 

The Selection, The Elite, The One - Kiera Cass

 

Books: The Selection, The Elite, The One 
Author:  Kiera Cass
Releasedates: April 24th, 2012 - April 23rd, 2013 - May 6th, 2014

Okay, usually I review the books I've read per book, but I couldn't do this for this series. 

To be honest, I had very high hopes for this series. I've read on several pages that this series was a 'must read' if you liked YA. So, I brought the first book along with me from our amazing bookstore and started reading.

For me, it's a compliment to the author if I own a book of yours and it ends up in my bookcase. For book 2 and 3, I've bought them as an epub so I could read it on my e-reader. Catch my drift?  

I really, really wanted to like this series and in a way it is entertaining, but it was so incredibly predictable. It lacked the immersion I usually enevelop myself in when I start reading a book. Yeah, it was fun to read, but it wasn't very good if I compare to several authors I've previously written. And that is a shame, because it had the potential to be something great. 

So I kept on reading through the books in the hope that it got better, but it didn't. Even the ending was sloppy, easy and hasty in my opinion. There could've been so much more! So, if you like an easy read, without much depth, then this series is just right up your alley! Just don't get your hopes up too high. 

I... I just don't have much words more for it without it being too spoilery. The idea is really nice, yet predicatble. I had hoped it was a Hunger Games gone royal kinda vibe, but it fell through. Alas, I can't read everything and expect it to be great.