BOOK REVIEW: "GIRLS OF PAPER AND FIRE"

SPOILERS (AND RANT) BELOW:⁣

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So I loved the writing style of this story, and I could totally envision the lovely surroundings. I really wanted to love this book, but I had issues...⁣

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The MC Lei had so much potential to actually be the courageous heroine we need, but fell way short. Now Wren, on the other hand, was everything I want in a heroine: self-sacrificing, determined, and purposeful. ⁣

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Lei was characterized as "brave" for "standing up to the King" when all she did was run away from him because she was scared. The other girls were scared too, but because they knew that disobedience would harm their families, they BRAVELY and selflessly suffered. Lei had no plan, she just gave in to blind fear, which was justified of course, but I wouldn't characterize her as brave and the others as not.⁣

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Also, she never did analyze her situation trying to make a plan for escape, and she was actually angry when Wren revealed that she had one!!🙄 Lei was sooo reactionary. And she demanded that everyone trust her, yet she almost blew the secret at least twice because she couldn't control her emotions!⁣

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And their relationship was so Insta-lovey!😣 I have no idea why they were attracted to each other, other than looks. I would have wanted more depth to the other girls too.⁣

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Anyway, I wish that Wren had been the MC. Lei had me so frustrated that I really didn't connect with her at all.⁣

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I don't know if coming fresh off the Nevernight Chronicles affected my perception, but it is what it is.⁣

BOOK REVIEW: "The Weaver"

I really like the concept of an author's characters coming to life, then coming after her in order to change their story.

It started off with lots of action and an interesting relationship between the 2 main characters. But then nothing really happened except that they attended college, engaging in juvenile high school level drama clique stuff (jocks & popular girls vs smart nerds) and went to lacrosse games and dances.

At 40% of the book, the paranormal aspect becomes the focus, and the action picks up. But I felt it was rushed, and the explanations lacked depth, like it needed to be fleshed out more but the author had to hurry and end the book. I still don't really have a good sense of the recluse club members. And the ease with which everyone just accepts the paranormal phenomena , without any questions, was unbelievable.

I also found myself rereading sections that didn't make sense, like right after the MC runs terrified out of the dark woods after hearing someone chasing her, she stops to check her mail before going into her dorm and safety.  And in some action sequences the detail was minimal and I lost track of where some of the characters were spatially, so it was hard to envision the scene.

I really liked the concept, but I was pulled out of the story with too many questions while I was reading, so it didn't really suck me in and keep me there. I wish the author would have spent less time on the beginning YA drama (and sorry, but a 19-year old is not a "man"), and had focused more on that great Weaver premise.

This book was released in August, and is the first in a trilogy. ⭐⭐⭐

Thanks to NetGalley for a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

BOOK REVIEW: "Fireborne"

I really enjoyed this book!

The plot seems pretty straightforward at first, with a child of a murdered family seeking revenge, but it is so much more than that! The characters have situations they must really think through, as they are steeped in morality and have far-reaching consequences. I liked the growth in their complex relationships.

There are a lot of political machinations mixed in with the action of dragon riding, so although it's not non-stop action, the pace moves the story along nicely.

I ended up staying awake until past 2am reading the last 3/4 of this book because I couldn't wait to see what happened next!

Fireborne will be published on October 15.

Thanks to NetGalley for this free ARC in exchange for my honest review.