Stealing Snow - Danielle Paige

Began reading: 19.2.2017
Completed reading: 23.2.2017
Overall rating: 4 stars

She will bring down the world.

Snow barely remembers a time before she was locked in a psychiatric hospital. But when the love of her life disappears in the night, Snow must follow a mysterious stranger into a magical frozen world to find him.

Amidst witches, thieves and spells, secrets unravel as Snow discovers she is heir to this world's corrupt and twisted king.

And she has great ice powers of her own.

Now Snow faces choices that will decide the fate of a kingdom - and if she can ever return to the life she knew before.

Stealing Snow by Danielle Paige is a young adult retelling of Hans Christian Anderson’s The Snow Queen, and contains fantasy and romance. This book was meant to be my Christmas read, but I found a more suitable novel so this one was put off until now. I was hesitant to read this series, especially since I’m not much of a fan for Paige’s Dorothy Must Die series, but I was impressed!

After attempting to walk through a broken mirror with her friend Becky, Snow was placed in the Whittaker asylum. Here, she met and fell in love with Bale – a boy who enjoys seeing things burn. When Bale is kidnapped through a mirror in his room, Snow escapes into the woods, where she meets a witch and her apprentice who teach her how to control her frosty powers in order to fulfil the prophecy – defeat the king and save the snowy kingdom by taking the throne, or assist the king by giving him unrestrained powers. As Snow meets new people in the strange world on the other side of the Tree, her love for Bale and desire to return to her old life in New York will be tested. Will Snow stay loyal to Bale, or will the discovery of her powers persuade her to stay and fight for the frozen kingdom?

The novel was well-written, especially in regards to pace and detail. Paige utilised a range of literary techniques to better describe characters and situations, including similes, imagery and sarcasm. I found it easy to imagine being with Snow and the other characters, especially when Snow crosses the Tree. Everything was described in detail, so I never struggled to picture a situation. There were also a couple of great quotes, including:

It was her job to check, not to trust. And it reminded me every day that even though she was the only person who really talked to me, she was paid to be here (p. 10).

‘Sometimes saying something is harder than not saying it. […] out there in the world people spend most of their lives afraid to say what’s really on their minds’ (p. 41).

‘Mirrors reflect what we want to see, or sometimes they reveal what you really are or what you really want. You have to be very careful with a mirror’ (p. 124).

…if you changed your identity over and over and never stood still, how did you ever know anyone? (p. 202).

…maybe, just maybe, it didn’t matter how you looked going into battle. It just mattered that you went (p. 334).

More quotes from the book can be found here.

I’m a fan of retellings, especially because they provide a new perspective on a tale that we already know. This was one of the reasons why I purchased this book, and I wasn’t disappointed. Honestly, prior to seeing Frozen, I didn’t know very much about the tale of the Snow Queen. From what I found online, I could see that Paige had incorporated some characters from the original tale, and then added concepts from other stories to make the narrative more interesting. I wouldn’t say that it was unique, but I still thought that the plot was enjoyable.

The use of plot twists assist with keeping the plot flowing and prevent the story from becoming dull. I like when a book contains a few plot twists, but not too many. Too many twists make the plot unrealistic and confusing. In this case, this novel had a decent amount of surprises. They were unexpected, related to the story really well, and has me anticipating the sequel. Unexpected turns in books should blow my mind, and the ones in this book successfully did this. My favourite twists in this book were when Snow met her paternal family members, as well as her mother’s alliance. Anyway, I look forward to having my mind blown in the upcoming books in the series!

                               

I love a good conclusion, with or without a cliff-hanger. In my experience, it is difficult to find an agreeable conclusion, especially because the endings leave some questions unanswered. However, that was not an issue for this novel. The conclusion provided adequate closure, especially for the main plot line. At the same time, the conclusion created eagerness for what will happen next. When a book doesn’t end with a cliff-hanger, I believe that this is how it should end. It appeared to be well thought out, as opposed to an abrupt stop, so I believe that Paige did a good job.

A bit of romance is always a good thing, especially if it’s mature and realistic. I thought that Paige did a great job in injecting some romantic interest into the plot. The only issue that I had with it was that there were three romantic interests – a love square – which seemed unrealistic and a bit much for a first book in a series. I understand that it is good to introduce these characters early on in a series, but still. I’m hoping that Snow will pick one guy (PLEASE LET IT BE JAGGER) and build on that relationship! That way, things will be a little more realistic. Overall, the romance made the plot more intriguing, which was great.

                                

Another issue that occurred was the confusing plot lines, in particular Kai and Gerde. I considered these two characters particularly significant, as they were part of the original story of the Snow Queen. However, they were only present in the beginning and towards the end. I had no idea what happened to either of them after the Duchess’ ball, so I was left with a few questions: what was the point of Snow and Kai’s romance? Did Kai recognise Snow when she disguised as the Countess? I know that these questions will be answered later, but I thought that it was confusing that they disappeared after the ball and weren’t heard from since.

                                           

My favourite character was Snow – she was compassionate, loyal, courageous and sarcastic. She has the potential to be a ruthless killer, but refuses to become one. Despite being admitted to a mental institution, she is admirable and special. Jagger and Gerde were notable characters.

I really despise Ora for putting Snow in the hospital when she wasn’t even insane. I felt sorry for Snow because both of her parents are horrible people. I can’t wait to see Snow avenge both of them. I think it will be glorious!

My favourite parts of the book include Snow’s time at the Claret with Jagger, and her final battle with King Lazar. I enjoyed the Claret section because the place sounded beautiful and antique. Also, the lessons she learnt and the potions were very interesting. I enjoyed the final battle because it was dramatic and oozing with suspense. There were two plot twists following this fight, which I thought was unexpected and fascinating.

Recommendation time! If you like Firstlife by Gena Showalter, Vassa in the Night by Sarah Porter, the Frostblood saga by Elly Blake, and Hunted by Meagan Spooner, you will love this book. Also, I recommend this book to anyone who likes Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Alice Through the Looking Glass, Frozen, Snow White and the Huntsman, and The Huntsman: Winter’s War.

I will also be reviewing the rest of the series when the books become available. Keep an eye out for that!

Happy reading!

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The Diabolic - S.J. Kincaid

Began reading: 14.2.2017
Completed reading: 18.2.2017
Overall rating: 5 stars

A Diabolic is ruthless.

A Diabolic is powerful.

A Diabolic has a single task: kill in order to protect the person you've been created for.

Nemesis is a Diabolic. Created to protect a galactic Senator's daughter, Sidonia. The girl who has grown up by her side and who is as much a sister as a master. There's no one Nemesis wouldn't kill to keep her safe. But when the power-mad Emperor summons Sidonia to the galactic court as a hostage, there is only one way for Nemesis to protect Sidonia.

She must become her.

Now one of the galaxy's most dangerous weapons is masquerading in a world of corruption and Nemesis has to hide her true abilities or risk everything. As the Empire begins to fracture and rebellion looms closer, Nemesis learns that there is something stronger than her deadly force: the one thing she's been told she doesn't have - humanity. And, amidst all the danger, action and intrigue, her humanity might be the only thing that can save her, Sidonia and the entire Empire...

The Diabolic by S.J. Kincaid is a fictional young adult novel that contains science fiction and fantasy. I fell in love with the cover instantly, and it took me forever to decide whether to buy the white cover or black cover – eventually, I chose the white because it made the butterfly stand out. This book exceeded my expectations, and has become one of my favourites. There were absolutely no flaws, which is rare.

The story is told from Nemesis’ perspective – a dangerous and ruthless Diabolic, designed to protect Sidonia Impyrean. After Sidonia’s father is caught trying to aid a rebellion against the Empire, Sidonia is summoned by the Emperor to be a hostage at the Chrysanthemum. For her safety, Nemesis impersonates Sidonia and interacts with the royal family, while discovering that she has the ability to feel – something that she was taught to believe doesn’t exist among Diabolics. While trying to blend in at court, Nemesis develops a close relationship with the Emperor’s nephew, Tyrus Domitrian, who shows her that the galaxy will perish unless the pious Emperor and his deadly mother are killed. As the two most powerful individuals in the galaxy grow suspicious of their motives, Nemesis and Tyrus must learn to work together to demonstrate to the court that religion will not save the Empire, which creates a number of dangerous enemies and plots to end their lives. Nemesis will have to believe that humanity, despite being told it’s impossible, can grow in Diabolics and has the power to influence who ends up on the throne.

The book was well-written, perfectly paced and impeccably structured. Furthermore, the use of various literary techniques assisted with adding depth and detail to the narrative. For example, the use of foreshadowing was utilised in the tale of the frog and the scorpion. Usually, it would take me a while to recognise foreshadowing, but Kincaid did an excellent job with emphasising the importance of that tale. There were also some great quotes in the book, including:

Of course I would die for Sidonia. She was my entire universe. I loved nothing but her and valued nothing but her existence. Without her, there was no reason for me to exist.

Death would be a mercy compared to that (p. 17).

…sometimes fate did not offer the choices we preferred, but rather the ones we must accept for lack of better alternatives (p. 107).

‘All of us are fated to return to the same oblivion. And you can choose what happens between now and that final hour. No one else can’ (p. 187).

A strange idea struck me: now that I had learned to see it, I might glimpse beauty anywhere. Even, perhaps, in another’s face (p. 253).

I knew my role as Sidonia’s Diabolic: to avenge this hideous betrayal. To tear out his heart as he’d torn out mine. To rip him apart (p. 379).

The pale-eyed Domitrians surveyed each other like foes over a devastated battlefield (p. 384).

More quotes from the book can be found here.

I LOVED the idea behind the plot, as it was interesting and creative. Yes, there are books and films out there that share similar ideas, but this book definitely stood out for me. I’m not much of a galactic-living reader, mainly because it doesn’t seem too realistic or relatable BUT this text challenged my prejudice. I enjoyed reading about space, especially the stars and how they dictated life in the Chrysanthemum. Also, impersonating Sidonia made the plot more suspenseful, as I was often wondering if Nemesis will reveal her true identity or if she’ll be caught. The plot was just so creative, making the story more interesting for me.

The secondary characters in the book were noteworthy for a few reasons. A good supporting character needs to have an interesting backstory, are flawed, and help with the protagonist’s development. In this novel, the secondary characters had diverse personalities and varying agendas, reflecting a real-life situation. The way in which these characters interacted with each other and reacted to particular situations made the plot more interesting. It was obvious that the characters helped Nemesis develop, which is great. There was a mixture of likeable and unlikable characters, which gave me a range of people to relate to.

                     

Plot twists were meticulously placed at particular places in the book, ensuring that readers would be surprised. Not one of the twists was predictable, which was good. The plot twists made the narrative dramatic, shocking me in a positive way. I loved the unpredictability of the story, making it more entertaining and making me think, “Oh sh*t!” Like I said, the surprises were placed strategically, so I believe that Kincaid did a fantastic job with the writing!

The relationships within a novel can make or break a book, in my opinion. I enjoy reading about characters interacting with each other – if the relationship is weak, I’m not going to like it. However, the characters’ relationships in this book were on-point; Kincaid did an excellent job with highlighting the types of relationships that each character had. Similarly, there was a good amount of romance. The book did not make love a primary theme, so it was there but wasn’t prominent. I’m not mushy, so I thought it was a nice little plot line to add a bit of intrigue to the story.

                      

Cliff-hangers are a great way to build up anticipation for the next book, but this novel did not leave me shocked. The book did not end with a cliff-hanger, but still left me wanting more! The conclusion wrapped everything up, but implied that there will be a lot of action in the sequel. There was quite a bit of drama and tension, which means that there will be some juicy things to come!

My favourite character had to be Nemesis – I knew it before I even read the book. Nemesis is formidable, fierce, loyal, compassionate and a badass. I loved that she remained ruthless throughout the book, no matter what she went through. The way she punished Devineé and Salivar when she first arrived at court was brutal, as was her fight with Elantra. I LOVED IT!

                      

This book had everything, including characters that we loved to hate. Elantra and Cygna were really flawed and made the book more interesting. They kept their cruel personalities throughout the book, and I hated them for what they did. Still, they were well-developed, and I’m glad that they got what they deserved. I like Tyrus, but I’m still somewhat suspicious about him. I’m just hoping that Cygna was lying about him.

I LOVED the entire book, but my favourite parts were when Nemesis and Tyrus were together, and Tyrus’ disavowment with ‘Sidonia’. These two together were incredible! I just couldn’t get enough! There were so many fangirl moments, including these two:

I shook my head. ‘How would I possibly stand by your side at all these occasions you suggest? If everything you say is true, the Emperor will never allow you to have a bodyguard, so how will you explain keeping me with you?’

‘Because you’ll be my wife’ (p. 185).

When I looked up, his keenly intelligent eyes seemed to pierce me, to stare into my very depths. ‘You are extraordinary,’ he said softly. ‘Is it selfish that all I can think now is that I want you for myself?’

I stuttered around the words. ‘Want me…how…?’

An odd smile curved his mouth.

And then he kissed me (p. 270).

I also liked when Tyrus disavowed ‘Sidonia’ because it was extremely dramatic, even though we knew what was really going on. I just like dramatic scenes, such as that one.

Recommendation time! If you like the Arc of Scythe series by Neal Shusterman, Metaltown by Kristen Simmons, Valentina by Kevin McDermott, and the Throne of Glass series by Sara J. Maas, you will love this book. Also, I recommend this book to anyone who likes Elysium, Oblivion, In Time and Gattaca.

I will also be reviewing the rest of the series when the book become available. Keep an eye out for those!

Happy reading!

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This Raging Light - Estelle Laure

Began reading: 10.2.2017
Completed reading: 14.2.2017
Overall rating: 3 stars

Can the best thing happen at the worst time?

Her dad went crazy. Her mom left town. She has bills to pay and a little sister to look after. Now is not the time for level-headed seventeen-year-old Lucille to fall in love. But love—messy, inconvenient love—is what she's about to experience when she falls for Digby Jones, her best friend's brother.

This Raging Light by Estelle Laure is a contemporary young adult realistic fiction novel that contains romance. I had put this off for a bit, but decided to read it for Valentine’s Day. Overall, I thought that it was gritty and realistic, but there were some flaws that affected my rating. We’ll explore that as the review progresses.

The story is told from Lucille’s perspective – a seventeen-year-old girl, who is forced to look after herself and her sister after being abandoned by both parents. As she cares for her sister, Lucille struggles to maintain her grades and pay for the bills without letting anyone suspect that she and her sister are alone. Amidst this, Lucille has to learn about loyalty and trust, especially when her best friend’s brother begins to show interest in her – the problem is that he’s not single. More and more people begin to question Lucille’s story, but can she keep the lies coming, or will she tell the truth at the risk of being separated from her sister?

The novel was well-written, especially in relation to tone and the description of characters. The tone set the atmosphere, as it was realistic and somewhat sombre. It was clear that Laure wanted readers to comprehend the difficulty of having to mature quickly while also trying to experience life as a teenager. There were some great quotes scattered throughout the book, including:

I did the piles of laundry, folded mine, hung up Mom’s, carefully placed Wren’s into her dresser drawers, but it turns out none of her clothes fit right anymore. How did she grow like that in two measly weeks? Maybe because these fourteen days have been foreverlong.

These are all things Mom did while nobody noticed. I noticed her now (p. 9).

Sometimes, […] something slow happens fast and you can’t quite grasp the moment, whether it was an important one, whether it actually happened or you made it up (p. 28).

I like to think that the things we talk about here are safe, that words drip from our mouths into the earth and grow trees that guard secrets in their leaves (p. 52).

Eternity lives in pauses (p. 204).

Maybe we’re all breakable. It’s just a question of what breaks us (p. 225).

Explain to me what the point of living is if you aren’t willing to fight for the truths in your heart, to risk getting hurt (p. 307).

More quotes from the book can be found here.

The plot is what made me purchase the book. There was something about the likelihood of the situation happening in real life that piqued my interest. The idea of Lucille trying to hide her mother’s disappearance from the community was interesting, and made me want to know what happened next. It’s difficult for a teenager to socialise and act like a teenager when they also have to grow up quicker and care for someone. People who are in this situation should be admired, and Laure made me want to admire Lucille and all of her hard work to keep her sister happy. I think that Laure did a great job of portraying the harsh reality of growing up quickly.

                     

Good backstories always make characters more complex and intriguing, even secondary characters. I was pleased to learn background information about various characters, as they had more substance than previously expected. For example, I learned about Lucille’s dad’s past and what drove him to insanity. Similarly, we learnt a bit about Aunt Jan, and how she had to look after Lucille’s mother when they were abandoned by their parents. Not a lot of authors put effort into shaping secondary characters, so it was refreshing to see such developed characters again.

I’m a sucker for a good cliff-hanger, primarily because it builds up anticipation for the sequel. This book did just that: there was a massive obstacle involving Eden, and then ended with something that gives us hope for her. Because of that ending, I want to read the next book now. To hell with Lucille, I’m here for Eden! The conclusion could also be seen as a little abrupt, but I choose to see it as an effective cliff-hanger. I need to know what happens next!

                       

One of the issues that I had with this book was the lack of likeable characters. When I’m reading a book, I tend to relate to every character before picking my favourite. Unfortunately, when there is a lack of likeable characters, I tend to lose some interest in the story. There was a lot to hate about pretty much every character: Lucille was whiney and ungrateful, Digby was a cheater, Lucille’s parents were irresponsible, and Elaine was a complete b*tch. I need a range of characters with some likeable traits. I’m hoping that the next book does this for me!

Another problem that I had with the book was the range of random obstacles or plot lines. Usually, a book will have one primary plot line, and maybe a few subtle ones to keep the narrative flowing. However, there were way too many plot lines in this novel, which made it very distracting and confusing to follow. From the blurb, the main plot would be that Lucille struggles to care for her sister while keeping her missing parents a secret from the community. As I read, there was another major complication that rivalled the main issue. I was left wondering what the actual primary complication was – the secret or Eden’s incident? I can see why there were a few more plot lines added, but I believe that two big issues clashed. It was confusing and off-putting.

                      

My favourite character is Eden, as she was loyal, fun and intelligent. I loved that read quoted literature a lot, and was there for Lucille and Wren whenever they needed her. She even gave Lucille money when she was struggling. She was such a good friend, and it bothered me that Lucille wasn’t grateful for everything Eden did for her.

That brings me to Lucille: I really wanted to like her, but she made it so difficult. Like I said, she was ungrateful and whiney. She didn’t appreciate her friends enough, especially when Eden and Digby watched Wren while Lucille went to work. She just irritated me, so I couldn’t like her as much as I’d wanted to.

Speaking of irritating, I did not like most characters in this book, and I have a lot of opinions on that (which I will keep to myself). Most of all, I did not like Elaine, especially when she confronted Lucille at her house. She was so rude, and I just wanted to throat-punch her.

                      

And Digby! What the heck? How could he do that to Lucille? I didn’t understand why he couldn’t end things with Elaine sooner. I know he planned a future with her, but seriously. Pull yourself together!

My favourite parts were when Lucille cared for Wren. She took responsibility for her sister, and matured quickly for Wren. As I mentioned earlier, I think that it’s admirable and sweet. It demonstrated how much those sisters love each other. Even Wren did things to show her love for Lucille – cooking dinner and not wanting to be separated from her.

Recommendation time! If you like Don’t Fail Me Now by Una LaMarche, Risk by Fleur Ferris, Where’d You Go, Bernadette? by Maria Semple, and Homecoming by Cynthia Voigt, you will love this book. Also, I recommend this book to anyone who likes Missing Parents, The Outsiders, Gracie’s Choice, and Homecoming.

I will also be reviewing the rest of the series when the books become available. Keep an eye out for those!

Happy reading!

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Cleopatra's Shadows - Emily Holleman

Began reading: 5.2.2017
Completed reading: 10.2.2017
Overall rating: 5 stars

Three royal sisters.

One powerful throne.

Abandoned by her beloved older sister Cleopatra and an indifferent father, Arsinoe, a young Egyptian princess, must fight for survival in the bloodthirsty royal court after her half-sister Berenice seizes power.

As Arsinoe struggles to establish herself in an uncertain new world, the usurper Berenice has her own demons to confront. Shadowed by the ever-present threat that their father and Cleopatra will return from exile, Berenice fights to hold the throne as the first queen of Egypt in a thousand years.

Cleopatra’s Shadows by Emily Holleman is a historical fiction novel that explores the lives of royalty in ancient Egypt. I fell in love with this book when I saw it on Book Depository, and I knew that I had to have it! Overall, the book was incredible! I was so addicted – I even had dreams about some of the characters. I hadn’t read much historical fiction in a while, so this was a great book to get back into that genre.

The story is told in two perspectives: Arsinoe – Cleopatra’s younger sister, who wakes to find that her parents and siblings have abandoned her as her older half-sister Berenice stages a coup and claims the throne; and Berenice – Ptolemy’s eldest daughter, born from her brother-sister parents, who believes that she is the best replacement for the throne. Both sisters face endless threats to their survival: Arsinoe has to learn to live in the royal court, knowing that Berenice could end her life at any time, while Berenice’s reign and life depends on her father’s return for the throne. Although they face different obstacles, the sisters learn from each other on how to avoid danger, as well as the importance of loyalty and justice. As the possibility of Ptolemy’s return grows, will these lessons be enough to stay alive and keep order in Egypt?

The book was really well-written, with a few spelling and grammatical errors. The pacing was on-point, as was the structure and use of literary techniques. My favourite was the use of dreams as foreshadowing life situations. For example, Arsinoe’s dream about the wolf and the foxes translating to the assassination of two soldiers loyal to her. I found a heap of great quotes throughout the novel that added depth to the situation. These include:

Her sister’s absences sucked the joy from the palace. Sometimes she wished that her own might have the same effect. But no one would notice if she vanished into air (p. 7).

While epics and plays pulsed with life, histories were for the dead (pp. 8-9).

…kindness was softness, and softness was death (p. 34).

‘You, my queen, are wise beyond your years.’

She disliked that particular compliment. Nothing in her life had convinced her that age brought much in the way of wisdom. Her father grew more a fool with each passing day, and her mother died a withered shadow of her former self, vulnerable and soft. Wisdom unchanged (p. 136).

‘I know you think it great fun to make a spectacle of yourself, to remind the people of the Piper’s forgotten daughter,’ he whispered. ‘And perhaps it is great fun for now: you are but a girl, and many things might be forgiven. But one day you’ll appear a true threat, Arsinoe, and on that day you’ll go too far’ (p. 151).

More quotes from the book can be found here.

I thought that the plot was really interesting and unique. I loved the idea of reading about coups and royal life through two different perspectives. We all know about Cleopatra, so it was creative to hear about her through two lesser-known princesses. Both perspectives were very intriguing, and they each had their own obstacles to overcome, which was insightful. Prior to this book, I knew very little about Arsinoe and even less about Berenice. I was glad to be able to see ancient Egypt through their eyes. I think Holleman did a fantastic job, and I can’t wait to read the sequel!

                   

Another factor that I thought was creative was the uncertainty throughout the book, which made me suspicious of all characters. There was a lot of mystery surrounding who supported Berenice and who were traitors, which kept the narrative compelling. Furthermore, the plot twists in the conclusion made situations more dramatic. For example, how Arsinoe was rescued from the agora, as well as her reception when she returned to the palace, was unexpected. The mystery and unpredictable twists made the plot more interesting, which is always a good thing!

As I have mentioned, I loved having both perspectives in the novel, as they provided differing views of Berenice’s rule. Holleman did an excellent job with concluding the book from both sides, as they contrasted well. The ending was bittersweet, and toyed with my feels. *WARNING: SPOILER* I didn’t want Berenice to be executed believing that Arsinoe betrayed her, so I was relieved when she realised that Arsinoe stayed loyal to her. The conclusion provided closure, yet makes us want to know what happens next. Like I said, it was bittersweet and I loved it!

I really like books that have diverse characters, as it makes the book more realistic and it allows us to see how they react to particular situations. This novel definitely had its fair share of diverse characters, including Arsinoe and Berenice. The secondary characters added detail to the plot, as they had varying stances on issues including Arsinoe’s future, Berenice’s coup, marriage and rulers. The diversity in personalities meant that characters argued, were suspicious of each other, and were driven to extreme measures to have things go their way. Obviously, this made things more fascinating for readers, which is great.

                     

The conclusion, as I said, provided closure; however, I did end up wondering what happened to Alexander, Aspasia and Hypatia following Arsinoe’s disappearance. Upon Ptolemy’s return, I wonder if the children fled with their families or if something more horrible happened? It sometimes irritates me when books don’t provide all the answers, but I’m hoping that this one will be answered in the next book.

Even before reading the book, I knew that I would like Arsinoe’s character. She was loyal, wise, clever and determined for such a young girl. What I didn’t expect was that I would also wind up liking Berenice. She was responsible and a badass:

‘The sun’s risen.’ Berenice shrugged. ‘Soon my maids will come to bathe and dress me for court, where I dictate how my lands are run. A word from me and my guards will arrest you. At night, I may keep the secrets of this marriage bed, but once dawn breaks, the world changes. If you lift a finger against me in the light of day, I will scream. And I promise, you don’t want to see what happens when I scream’ (p. 203).

Berenice was a formidable queen, but I really admired the way she tried to break from her father’s shadow, and to be a just ruler. She was loyal to her people, and she was never soft:

‘I haven’t come to taunt you, Berenice. I’ve come to offer you your last chance. Your father means to execute you. If you don’t leave, you will die.’

The truth – she could still recognise that. And she would have to cleave to it.

‘Then I will die. And I will die a queen. I’m no eunuch – my womanhood was not cut away. I will not be remembered as the Ptolemy who fled, who abandoned her subjects to the sword’ (p. 367).

I have so much respect for her, unlike Seleucus. He was so horrible to her! I felt so bad for Berenice, and I wanted to protect her. Even when she was being tormented, she stayed strong. I’m so happy that Seleucus got what he deserved in the end.

My favourite parts of the book include when Arsinoe and Berenice interacted with each other, and Berenice’s monologues. I loved the whole book, but these parts were the highlights. Firstly, I feared that Berenice would hate Arsinoe and try to kill her. But I liked that she trusted Arsinoe and cared for her, as well as defend her whenever Tryphaena wanted her dead. Arsinoe had Berenice’s back, and I loved that! Secondly, Berenice’s monologues were incredible. They radiated power and confidence. She sounded like a real ruler, which was great!

                                                     

Recommendation time! If you like Daughter of the Gods: A Novel of Ancient Egypt by Stephanie Thornton, The Empress of Rome series by Kate Quinn, and the Numinous World series by Jo Graham, you will love this book. Also, I recommend this book to anyone who likes Exodus: Gods and Kings, Cleopatra, Agora and Pompeii.

I will also be reviewing the rest of the Fall of Egypt series when the books become available. Keep an eye out for those!

Happy reading!

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Of Neptune - Anna Banks

Began reading: 31.1.2017
Completed reading: 5.1.2017
Overall rating: 3 stars

Emma and her gorgeous boyfriend Galen are desperate for some time alone, away from their underwater sea kingdoms of Poseidon and Triton.

They visit the small town of Neptune, which they are shocked to find is home to land-dwelling, fresh-water Syrena. But there's an undercurrent of tension between the Syrena of Neptune and those from the sea. Soon they are caught in a power struggle that threatens the future of both their ocean kingdoms. Neptune holds another threat too: a charming Half-Breed named Reed, who can barely disguise his feelings for Emma.

Of Neptune by Anna Banks is a young adult fiction novel that contains fantasy and romance. I couldn’t wait to see how this book would conclude the series, especially with the introduction of a love triangle. Overall, I enjoyed this book but I didn’t like it as much as Of Triton. I’ll explain why as we go. But first, let me just say that one of the characters had my name – which is very uncommon – so I was happy!

                                               

After being given immunity from the council, Emma and Galen agree to spend some time together in Neptune, a secret town suggested by Emma’s grandfather Antonis. Emma can’t help but feel like she belongs, especially after meeting Half-Breed Reed and other locals. Galen, on the other hand, does not feel that this place should remain a secret from the kingdoms, and tries to alert Grom. After a disagreement, Galen leaves Emma to visit Grom and becomes trapped by a group of locals who realise that he isn’t any ordinary Syrena. Emma needs to find a way to free Galen, while also deciding whether Neptune is a place for her and should be accepted by the kingdoms. Can Galen accept a town filled with ‘abominations’ as a place for Emma, or will Emma have to move on and find someone who can accept her for who she is?

I discovered a few spelling and grammatical errors, which was something that the previous books didn’t really have. Aside from this, the novel was well-written, in terms of structure, pace and literary techniques. As usual, Banks did a great job with her attention to detail, adding various techniques to strengthen the plot. For example, caricature was used to emphasise some of the character’s features, imagery to assist with picturing particular scenes, and tone to highlight Emma’s and Galen’s perspectives on particular events. Some great quotes were also used throughout the narrative, including:

I know what it’s like to have so much heartache you come to despise the air that keeps you alive (p. 2).

…sometimes stories aren’t just crevices and holes waiting to be filled in. Stories, real-life stories, have layers, too. Layers built on foundations laid centuries and generations ago (pp. 18-19).

‘Now I know why humans bring cameras everywhere they go. You never know when perfection will sneak up and show itself to you’ (p. 40).

I’ve always felt that the dynamics between us are like a musical snow globe. Wound tight sometimes, shaken and shaken, but never broken. Always intact and really something to behold on the inside.

It would help if Galen showed me a sign that he still loves me. That our snow globe isn’t leaking. Or worse, shattered (p. 125).

Some questions can’t be answered, some shouldn’t, and some weren’t questions to begin with (p. 172).

More quotes from the book can be found here.

I thought that the plot was interesting, especially with the introduction of new Syrena and Half-Breed characters. Previously, we knew the primary characters with a smattering of secondary characters, and they were spread through the first two books. Now, we have a whole new collection of characters, while the secondary characters from the other books are given a lesser role in this plot (I’ll explain this a bit later). There was more action and drama than the other books, which created a heightened level of suspense. I believe that the main complication should have been introduced sooner in the series, but it was still creative and interesting.

Speaking of suspense, plot twists kept the story progressing and gripping. From the previous books, Banks demonstrated that she could effectively incorporate unexpected and expected twists into the plot. The mysteries in the book kept me guessing until they were resolved, and many of them left me shocked. The main one was who wanted Galen kidnapped? When Kennedy said that Galen had met him before, I began to suspect Dr. Milligan, Reder and Jagen. I was surprised when Kennedy revealed who he really was, as I’m most readers were. Banks did a great job with weaving twists into the plot, making the narrative more unpredictable and suspenseful.

                     

This book was a great conclusion to the series, especially the epilogue. For me, this book had everything that made a good conclusion to a series: a resolved ending, a compelling and realistic closing scene, and no plot holes. Although I did not like the introduction of new characters so late in the series, I thought it worked out well in the end. I would have liked to have known more about Tyrden’s punishment, a bit more about Rayna and Toraf’s relationship, and why Reed had two female Syrena, but I don’t think the answers were important. When I closed the book, I let out a sigh and a squeal, so it was definitely a good conclusion.

I did not like the love triangle. AT ALL. After doing some research, I concluded that love triangles are effective when all three characters are well-developed and unpredictable. Don’t get me wrong, when a love triangle is good, I love it. Love triangles are meant to add tension and interest to the story but, unfortunately, I didn’t get that stuff. I found it irritating and predictable. I felt that Reed’s character was just used as a distraction, or a weak attempt at making Emma’s perspective more intriguing. Reed wasn’t all that well-developed, and didn’t really contribute much to the overall narrative (besides trying to seduce Emma and make her feel welcome in Neptune).  I was disappointed, considering Banks’ writing style and skill with developing characters.

                                         

What happened to the secondary characters? Yes, they were there at the end but they should have played a more significant role in the book. I’m so frustrated! It was as though they were cast aside for the new characters, which annoys me. I wanted to know how they reacted to Galen’s disappearance, how their relationships were progressing, and what they thought of Neptune. It was irritating because Rayna and Toraf are my two favourite characters, but they were hardly in the book! This definitely impacted on my overall rating, as I didn’t like that they were cast aside for duller characters.

My favourite character is still Rayna, as she was badass, humorous and courageous. I chuckled when she wore the coconut bra and grass skirt and insisted doing Emma’s makeup. My favourite part with Rayna was when she used her gift to stop Kennedy from escaping. Toraf is still a notable character. I loved how he showed up when Galen and Emma were about to get naughty. I just wished he and Rayna had more of a role in this book. I’m really torn up about it.

                      

Galen was still possessive, which bothered me. I’m glad that Emma’s mum wasn’t a crazy nut in this book, but I was hoping that Galen had gotten over his scary possessive behaviour. Speaking of weird guys, what the hell was with Reed? He came across as a stalker and a pervert, so I didn’t find his character appealing in the least. Still, Emma continues to bother me with her Ohmysweetgoodness, and her naivety. She was slow to pick up on Galen’s disappearance, which really annoyed me.

My favourite part of the book was the epilogue. It was a sweet and romantic way to end the series. All I could think of was: FINALLY! Finally, they’re together and they can be happy. It was nice to have the ceremony on the beach, in front of so many Syrena and Half-Breeds. I kind of wished I was there!

Recommendation time! If you like the Waterfire saga by Jennifer Donnelly, the Submerged Sun trilogy by Vanessa Garden, and the Twilight series by Stephanie Meyer, you will love this book. Also, I recommend this book to anyone who likes The Little Mermaid, the Twilight series, Once Upon A Time TV series, Aquamarine, and Splash.

My reviews for Of Poseidon and Of Triton can be found by clicking on the title.

Happy reading!

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Of Triton - Anna Banks

Began reading: 27.1.2017
Completed reading: 30.1.2017
Overall rating: 4 stars

Emma is a half-mermaid: a freak in the human world and an abomination in the Syrena realm below. But she’s in love with Galen – a gorgeous Syrena from the House of Triton, god of the sea. If Emma’s secret is discovered by the Syrena, she risks being put to death as a Half-Breed.

Emma’s heritage comes from her mother – a princess from the House of Poseidon who escaped the sea to live as a human. Aware of the danger her daughter faces, she is determined to keep Emma away from the Syrena. But her reappearance after so many years turns the underwater kingdoms, Poseidon and Triton, against one another.

How can Emma and Galen stay together when their two rival kingdoms, and two different worlds, just want to tear them apart?

Of Triton by Anna Banks is a young adult fiction novel that contains fantasy and romance. My local Dymocks store was always running out of this book, but luckily they had it in stock during their 20% off sale. I was surprised at how quickly I was able to read through it, despite being overwhelmed by final uni assessments.

Again, we are given the story in two perspectives – Emma and Galen. After learning that her mother is the missing Poseidon princess, Emma is kidnapped and dragged around towns by her mother for her safety. Once the pair is reunited with Galen and his brother Grom, Emma’s mother realises that she is in no danger, but needs to return to the underwater kingdom to prove that she is not dead. With her mother and Grom underwater together, Emma must search herself and figure out who she really is and where she belongs. The biggest obstacle she will face is whether she and Galen can be together, or will the assembly of Syrena decide she is an abomination and be put to death?

The book was well-written, and properly structured. Furthermore, Banks continued to employ literary techniques to create detail and depth to the narrative. For example, the use of similes, dialogue and humour were incorporated to make the story more enjoyable and realistic. Another feature that I thought was important was the use of notable quotes, including:

Options, options, options. Sometimes options are a luxury. Sometimes there is only one option, and usually that one option sucks (p. 44).

My dad always told me that holding a grudge is like swallowing poison and expecting the other person to die (p. 75).

…safe isn’t always better than sorry. Sometimes you need sorry to appreciate the safe. And sometimes safe is just plain boring (p. 125).

Better to ask to forgiveness than permission (p. 205).

He will fall into a spiral of remorse, into a self-made pit of regret.

And I silently promise him to catch him when he does (p. 239).

I wonder how many tears the ocean has swallowed, how much of the ocean is actually made of tears (p. 241).

More quotes from the book can be found here.

I really liked the idea behind the plot – how it picks up right after Galen accuses Emma’s mum of being Nalia, then having her verify her identity with the Archives and other authorities underwater. Banks successfully infused the plot with drama and suspense, especially after Emma’s existence is revealed to the Syrena. I also enjoyed reading about the negotiations that happened after the tribunal, as waiting for the authorities to decide on Nalia’s and Emma’s fate was very tense. I was expecting to encounter a plot twist where they refused Nalia’s existence or sentence Emma to death. Nevertheless, I thought that the plot was interesting and suspenseful. Banks did a great job!

                     

The plot twists kept the narrative interesting, and emotional towards the end. Firstly, I wasn’t expecting Emma’s mother to use chloroform on Emma and tie Rayna up. I also wasn’t expecting Grom to have such an effect on Nalia. Don’t get me started on the death towards the end, and the apparent betrayal by a significant character. In contrast, some twists were predictable. Although tense, I knew that Nalia would be accepted back into the Syrena community. I really liked hearing her perspective of how she disappeared, which was also unexpected. Unlike Of Poseidon, this novel did not employ a plot twist as a cliff-hanger, but I can accept that. I’ll go into more detail a bit later.

As in the previous book, Banks emphasised the importance of the secondary characters to the plot. I liked being introduced to more Syrena characters, such as Tandel, Jasa and her mother, Kana. We also got to read more about Paca and her alleged gift, which was interesting. My favourite was when Emma rescued Jasa, then her mother assisting Emma with rescuing Jagen and Musa. I thought that the communication between the main characters and the secondary characters stood out. The way in which the characters interact demonstrates how important every last one is for the narrative, which is great!

Now, let’s discuss the epilogue. In Emma’s words: Ohmysweetgoodness! It was very sweet and a perfect tribute to Chloe. I thought it was a great way to end the book, and I’m grateful that it added a bit of variety – the last book finished with a cliff-hanger, while this one did not. I felt that it was a quick add-in, as Emma only touched on wanting to go to prom once in the book, but it was still an impressive way to close the story.

The only issue I had was the lack of romance throughout the book. I’ve said it countless times, but I’ll say it again: I’m not a fan of fluff, but if I’m reading a book with romantic content, I expect a decent or tolerable amount of romance. In this series, one of the primary focuses is on the relationship between Galen and Emma. Because of this, I expect a bit more romance between these two. I understand that the focus shifted to Nalia in this book, but I still expected a bit more romance.

                   

My favourite character is still Rayna, as she was feisty, curious, badass, loyal and honest. I loved when she tried to use the harpoon on Galen and Toraf, as she had no idea how to handle it. I can’t wait to read more about her in the next book! Toraf is a notable character. Rayna didn’t play such a big role, but Toraf definitely appeared more in this book than the last. I want to see these two together in the next book!

Let’s get one thing straight: Nalia is batsh*t crazy. Why the hell was no one freaking out that she had kidnapped Emma and tied Rayna to a chair? I understand that she was worried for her and Emma’s safety, but was that really necessary? Also, Emma continues to be whiney and immature, so she really got on my nerves. I’m over the whole Ohmysweetgoodness, and I’m done with her complaining about how little time she spends with Galen.

    

My favourite part of the book was Emma’s entry at the tribunal. It was dramatic with all of the sea life, and demonstrated that she had the true gift. It proved that Paca was a fraud, which made it more interesting. I just wonder what happened to Paca after this, as well as what happened to his father after being rescued.

Recommendation time! If you like the Waterfire saga by Jennifer Donnelly, the Submerged Sun trilogy by Vanessa Garden, and the Twilight series by Stephanie Meyer, you will love this book. Also, I recommend this book to anyone who likes The Little Mermaid, the Twilight series, Once Upon A Time TV series, Aquamarine, and Splash.

I will also be reviewing the rest of the Syrena Legacy series: Of Neptune. Keep an eye out for that!

My review for Of Poseidon can be found by clicking on the title.

Happy reading!

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