ARC REVIEW: Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon

My disease is as rare as it is famous. Basically, I’m allergic to the world. I don’t leave my house, have not left my house in seventeen years. The only people I ever see are my mom and my nurse, Carla.

But then one day, a moving truck arrives next door. I look out my window, and I see him. He’s tall, lean and wearing all black—black T-shirt, black jeans, black sneakers, and a black knit cap that covers his hair completely. He catches me looking and stares at me. I stare right back. His name is Olly.

Maybe we can’t predict the future, but we can predict some things. For example, I am certainly going to fall in love with Olly. It’s almost certainly going to be a disaster. 

Published: September 1st 2015

Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers

Rating: 2.5 stars

Thank you to Netgalley for the eARC! And to Danielle who gave me a signed copy JUST as I finished. How cool was that?!

I am so conflicted about this book it's UNREAL. There are parts that I love and others that I absolutely loathed. I ended up finishing the book thinking both WTF did I just read AND awwh, that was sweet! Everything, Everything was wrong with this book for me.

Right. Maddy is a girl who is house-bound. She has one of THE rarest illnesses in the world called SCID. Basically, she is allergic to everything and anything. Her brother and father are dead, so it's just her and her mother. And they are VERY close. Like cross your fingers close.

Everything changes for Maddy when Olly moves in next to her. Yes, the boy-next-door-syndrome is back with a vengeance! I for one found Olly extremely cute, even if he did remind me of a guy I once knew back at school. That was weird on level 1000. Olly has his own issues, but none come close to Maddy's, of course.

I love the way the book was set out. There were drawings, diagrams, texts, emails and graphs. And more! I had great fun looking at these and they really added feel to the story. For the first 50% of this book, I had only a few quarrels, but I thought that was the worst of it. Nope, they weren't the only ones.

For me, sadly, the story took a dip into WTF-ville when Maddy decided to do something extremely stupid. Like I-could-die stupid. Annnnd... no one stopped her. Surely if Olly loved her THAT much he would have prevented this THING from happening, damn how much Maddy would have protested and been angry at him. Surely her safety should be a priority, not just her happiness? I never got the I MUST ESCAPE THIS PLACE!!! vibe from her before Olly appeared. Everything, Everything changed because of Olly appearing. (Excuse the puns. This book title is TOO perfect for them!)

Before I started this book I created a mental list of things I was expecting to happen in the novel. REALLY predictable things. In this type of novel, they're bound to happen. And sadly, yes, each and every one happened. The MASSIVE twist in the book was on my list as well. I'm actually still laughing awkwardly that that one WAS REAL! I was hoping for a new The Fault in our Stars, a new favorite book about a life-threatening illness, but it didn't come close to the way that book made me feel. And for that, I'm very disappointed.

I'll write up a few GOOD things about this book now. It's all sounding kinda morbid...

• Olly was THE most adorable thing. Also in his messages, he typed like every young guy I've ever known: without capitals and punctuation. He felt REAL. (But I did have ONE issue with it. See below) And did I mention that he's ADORBS?!
• The GORGEOUS AND BREATHTAKING COVER! Isn't that cover so pretteehhh?!
• Maddy is half Japanese and half African-American. WHOOO, DIVERSITY!
• The writing itself was captivating. I devoured this book in just a few hours, eager to finish.
• Maddy is a reader! And she blogs! There's a number of books she's mentioned that I'd like to read now. Such as Flowers For Algernon. 

But yes, there were more bad things than good for me in EVERYTHING, EVERYTHING, sadly. I won't list them as most are spoilers, but there are plot inconsistencies and moments that you just want to headbutt a brick wall from frustration. There were many aspects of Maddy's life that grated on me SO MUCH. Like the fact her entire life seems to be clinical white? Even her food is white. Like... is she allergic to color or something? But as she buys clothes in different colors later in the book, she can't be. So what's up with that? 

But I will talk about something spoilery. MEGA spoilery. If you don't want to read these MEGA EPIC WORLD-ENDING SPOILERS, don't highlight below!

Maddy didn't seem, well, THAT mad at her mother for what she'd done?! This woman basically locked her daughter away and stole her life away from her. Stole her childhood, stole everything. EVERYTHING, EVERYTHING. SHE STOLE EVERYTHING, EVERYTHING. Maddy was never ill. NEVER. But... why didn't her nurse pick up on her mother? Surely her nurse would have known the symptoms for SCID if she was with Maddy? And her NEW NURSE! Two chances at someone having a clue what the symptoms for SCID was but nope! And how the hell does Maddy's mom PAY FOR EVERYTHING?! I know there was a payout because of her husband and son's death but... not enough to live on for all of those years with a 'sick' child. Also, the police should have gotten involved when the truth about Maddy came out. She should have been arrested for what she did! Or put in the loony-bin for a while. But no... she's still in the same house as Maddy, trying to TALK TO HER AND MAKE UP WITH HER!! Urgh, it made me so mad! Her mother IS going to places for a mentality check but things still don't happen. I don't care how ill you are and how much you 'love' your daughter, you shouldn't be allowed around her now. That's just my opinion but GAH. URGH. ASFDSLG *ANGRY NOISES*  And how the frickity frack could Olly ALLOW Maddy to run away! I get the crap about wanting to live, but running until you quite literally get ill and drop dead? Umm... Olly, the fuq dude? Also with Olly, he seems very well educated but can't spell for crap or anything. What's with that as well? We never did find out what happened to Olly's family, if that nutjob of a father left. (Or did he? I skimmed the last 10 chapters or so?)

So yeah. I loved part of this book and hated the rest. Maybe not Everything, Everything was wrong with this book, but most of it. Most, Most. You'll either love this book utterly and completely or hate it. There's no inbetween.  But if Nicola Yoon publishes another book, I'd definitely read it. I can easily see her writing some super-duper books in the future! This one was just a hit and miss with me.

So sadly:

REVIEW: THE WITCH HUNTER by Virginia Boecker

The Witch Hunter by Virginia Boecker

Sixteen-year-old Elizabeth Grey doesn't look dangerous. A tiny, blonde, wisp of a girl shouldn't know how to poison a wizard and make it look like an accident. Or take out ten necromancers with a single sword and a bag of salt. Or kill a man using only her thumb. But things are not always as they appear. Elizabeth is one of the best witch hunters in Anglia and a member of the king's elite guard, devoted to rooting out witchcraft and bringing those who practice it to justice. And in Anglia, the price of justice is high: death by burning.

When Elizabeth is accused of being a witch herself, she's arrested and thrown in prison. The king declares her a traitor and her life is all but forfeit. With just hours before she's to die at the stake, Elizabeth gets a visitor - Nicholas Perevil, the most powerful wizard in Anglia. He offers her a deal: he will free her from prison and save her from execution if she will track down the wizard who laid a deadly curse on him.

As Elizabeth uncovers the horrifying facts about Nicholas's curse and the unwitting role she played in its creation, she is forced to redefine the differences between right and wrong, friends and enemies, love and hate... and life and death.

Published: June 4th 2015

Publisher: Orchard Books

Rating: 4.5 hearts

Thank you to the publisher for sending me a copy!

"I was afraid of being alone.” My voice is quiet, small. I don’t know if they can hear me over the sound of the men shouting on deck or the waves lapping against the ship’s hull, but I keep going. “Of dying alone. Caleb says we all die alone, but I don’t think that’s true, not really. It’s different to face it alone. To know that no one is coming, that no one will ever come. To know it’s just you and that’s all it’ll ever be—”
I break off then , turn around to find the four of them staring at me, a chorus of horror and fear and sympathy on their faces.

First of all, what does The Witch Hunter have to offer?

• A kickass heroine 
• A romance to die for
• More cute guys than you can shake a stick at (seriously!)
• An extremely compelling and well-thought out storyline
• Spellbinding magic and scenes that will literally take your breath away

There is SO much more, but if I wrote them all down, I'd end up writing the entire story. Basically, if you like your heroines tough and your storylines all heart-in-your-mouth, get this book. Immediately.

The Story

When I read the summary, I went into TWH with a clear picture on how this story was going to go. But I was wrong! So very wrong. In a good way, thankfully. TWH was fast-paced, instantly hooked my attention and reeled me in. And for someone who doesn't usually like witch-related books, I knew I was going to love this book.

The story revolves around a girl named Elizabeth Grey who is, you've guessed it, a witch hunter. From the moment we meet her, we are thrust into Boeckers magical version of  the Reformation of the 16th century. Her vision of this era is nothing short of genius. The plot is intricately woven together, not a single moment of the story is dull. Although a few scenes were devoid of that extra-special 'spark', I enjoyed this book enough to put it on my favorites shelf.

TWH had all of the elements I love the most: hot guys, pirates, romance, mystery, magic, witches and even a beautiful masquerade ball. I'm not sure how historically accurate the book was, but from what I know of the 1500's, it was very close. Although, I am still put-out that we were never told exactly WHY magic was banned. I might have missed it in the book, but from what I've seen in other reviews, I think there was no explanation? Also, there was no in-depth discussion about how everyone is able to perform magic. Fingers crossed that in book 2 we get more information on what makes a witch a witch.

The Characters

First of all, I'm not quite sure what Elizabeth saw in Caleb, exactly. For the first 3/4 of the book, I wasn't interested in him at all. Surely if you were THAT close, you would have defied orders and gone in to save her despite what was planned. I guess there's a lot about Caleb and Elizabeth we just don't know.

(Spoilers below. Highlight to read)

I wasn't particularly bothered when Caleb died. In my eyes he hadn't redeemed himself enough to warrant tears.

Elizabeth Grey is easily one of my most favorite of heroines despite her few flaws in the book. She is a character that grows and changes as the book progresses. Her transition from being a tough witch hunter to something she never could have imagined is beautiful, truly. Through the pages you can see for yourself how her frame of mind changes, and how she acts around the people she once would have called her enemies.

Which brings us to...

Nicholas Perevil's crew.

These were my favorite characters of TWH. Each one is so likable and well-crafted. I started out hating a certain female character in the crew, but by the end of the book I loved and adored her. The love-interest sneaked up on me, that's for sure! I barely noticed him when we first met him, disregarding him almost instantly. Actually, I thought Elizabeth's love-interest was actually George! And I'm still kind of gutted that it wasn't him - he was a complete cutie-patootie. Plus he's absolutely hilarious, which made him so very lovable. Each one of the crew -especially Nicholas- has a killer background. I can't wait to read more about these characters in the next book!

Overall Thoughts

Wow, after reading back what I've wrote so far, this has come out very mixed. I feel the need to stress that I personally adored this book. But while I loved Boecker's stunning new take on witches, I think that there will be a majority that don't. This book is one of those that you'll either love intensely or simply hate. It's a matter of personal taste, not the writer's storytelling ability. But as I practically leap at books set in historical eras and times, I LOVED The Witch Hunter. This review is the hardest I've had to write in a long, long time. I will never be fully satisfied with this review, and I've rewrote it three times over two days. It's just... so difficult to fully express how I feel about this beautiful book!

"Your greatest enemy isn't what you fight, but what you fear."

Finally, I should also add that this book is a treasure-trove of meaningful quotes.

Rating: 4.5 hearts

REVIEW: The Falconer by Elizabeth May

Title: The Falconer

Author: Elizabeth May

Genre (s): YA, Faeries, Historical, Romance.

Publisher: Orion Publishing Group

Stars: 5 massive ones! 

Summary: One girl’s nightmare is this girl’s faery tale. 

She’s a stunner.

Edinburgh, 1844. Eighteen-year-old Lady Aileana Kameron, the only daughter of the Marquess of Douglas, has everything a girl could dream of: brains, charm, wealth, a title — and drop-dead beauty.

She’s a liar.

But Aileana only looks the part of an aristocratic young lady. She’s leading a double life: She has the rare ability to sense the sìthichean — the faery race obsessed with slaughtering humans — and, with the aid of a mysterious mentor, has spent the year since her mother died learning how to kill them.

She’s a murderer.

Now Aileana is dedicated to slaying the fae before they take innocent lives. With her abilities and her knack for inventing ingenious tools and weapons — from flying machines to detonators to lightning pistols — ruthless Aileana has one goal: Destroy the faery who destroyed her mother.

She’s a Falconer.

The last in a line of female warriors born with the gift for hunting and killing the fae, Aileana is the sole hope of preventing a powerful faery population from massacring all of humanity. Suddenly, her quest is a lot more complicated. She still longs to avenge her mother’s murder — but she’ll have to save the world first. 

                           

First thing first; I hate faerie books with a burning passion. My experience with them (except Julie Kagawa’s Iron Fey) have been anything but pleasant. But THE FALCONER… well, I’ve officially been blown out of the water with how amazing this book was.

Set against the backdrop of 19th century Scotland, this book opens with our heroine Aileana Kameron (or Kam as Kairan calls her) trying in vain to ignore the lies and gossip of her peers, then going up against a faerie that has infiltrated the ball she’s at. She dispatches the beastie in style, but only just.

By day she’s an heiress, but at night, Kam slays faeries that cross her path along with the mysterious fae Kairan. Revenge on the faerie that murdered her mother is all she thinks about. She creates ingenious contraptions to aid her in her quest, ignoring what others think of her. 

Juggling two lives is not easy for her. Especially when you have a little pixie called Derrick living in your drawing room causing all kinds of mischief, occasionally venturing out and about on your shoulder. Kam is an exquisitely wrought character that is rare to find in YA books these days. She may be a huntress out for revenge, but she is still trapped by everyday occasions such as marriage, balls and social etiquette. Her secret nightly endeavors not only cause her agony in the form of gashes, blood and bruises, but it also affects her day to day life. Even though she does such great things as a Falconer - a woman destined to kill faeries - Kam still suffers from the pain of 19th century life where good breeding and wealth and reputation are held above everything. Her family is broken, yet still she holds her head up high. Truly one ofthe strongest YA heroines I’ve read in a long, long time.

Her hunting partner is also her tutor; the faerie Kairan. Mysterious, deadly and more than a little scary (sexy), he’s an intriguing character. When we first meet him, you can’t help but feel shocked at the fact Kam of all people is hunting with a faerie. But Kairan is not of the normal sort. Lies, secrets and inhumanness surrounds him like a cloud of smothering fog. His character is beautiful, much like Kam. Their friendship of sorts, their passion for fighting and banter makes for an amazing pair that I could not help but love and cheer for. Romance is not a main feature in this book, but there is enough to guarantee that you won't be bothered by that fact. The little romance is just urgh, beautiful. Elizabeth May is so talented.

This book is a whirlwind adventure full of dark monsters, explosive scenes that take your breath away, characters that swiftly become favorites. A vein of fiery passion snakes itself through the scenes, darting from page to page until the chilling conclusion. 

The fact this is a trilogy, not just a standalone is the best news ever. But sadly the next book is not due to be published for quite a while yet. *Now picture me falling to my knees screaming WHYYYYYYYYY* I need more Kairan and now would be amazing. Thank you very much.

Scintillating read. Read it in one go, completely forgot about breakfast, lunch and dinner. Uh, think I should get onto making something to eat before I shrivel up from hunger and starve and never see the sequel. *Runs to kitchen*

REVIEW: Trial By Fire by Josephine Angelini

TRIAL BY FIRE (Worldwalker #1)
Josephine Angelini

Love burns. Worlds collide. Magic reigns.

This world is trying to kill Lily Proctor. Her life-threatening allergies keep her from enjoying many of the experiences that other teenagers take for granted...which is why she is determined to enjoy her first (and perhaps only) high-school party. But Lily's life never goes according to plan, and after a humiliating incident in front of half her graduating class Lily wishes she could just disappear.

Suddenly Lily is in a different Salem - one overrun with horrifying creatures and ruled by powerful women called Crucibles. Strongest and cruellest of all the Crucibles is Lillian . . . Lily's identical other self in this alternate universe. This new version of her world is terrifyingly sensual, and Lily is soon overwhelmed by new experiences.

Lily realizes that what makes her weak at home is exactly what makes her extraordinary in New Salem. It also puts her life in danger. Thrown into a world she doesn't understand, Lily is torn between responsibilities she can't hope to shoulder alone, and a love she never expected.

But how can Lily be the saviour of this world when she is literally her own worst enemy?

Published: 28th August 2014

Publisher: Macmillan Children's Books

Genre: YA, Witches, High Fantasy

My goodness! What a ride! 

First of all, let's take a look at that STUNNING cover for a moment! How gorgeous is that?! I was worried that the UK cover wouldn't top the US one... but I think it just about does! (Excluding the brand-new covers! Which blow both covers out of the water with their beauty.)

I have attempted Josephine's work before with Starcrossed, but unfortunately I never got to finish it. Plain and simple, I was not keen on her writing style and characters. But NOW? WOW! Just... WOW! Josephine has improved beyond recognition. When I bought this book, I was extremely apprehensive in case it was another Starcrossed. But it is completely different to that trilogy. I'm kicking myself for not picking this up off my shelf for so long!

This story is a gem in the parallel universe/alternate world genre. I have never been a fan of the genre, but TRIAL BY FIRE has changed my mind. The moment I finished, I went searching for more like it. 

In the story itself, the plot is so well thought out and exquisite. I could almost reach out and touch Lillian's world. Each character is masterfully crafted. Too well in the case of Lillian. Lillian is a terrifying character because... well, she is completely against nuclear power like her counterpart, but where Lily just wears a t-shirt with a slogan on and protests, Lillian is at the complete other end of the spectrum with the whole "Whoo let's hang a school that I created!" Yes love, nuclear power IS bad and I agree with that, but you don't run around and kill thousands of innocent people! She's doing something good by doing something beyond bad. I want Lillian to die a painful death, but I also love her. I am so conflicted!

And while we're on the subject of nuclear power and stuff, the mixture of magic and science in the book is absolute genius! The bioluminescent trees that act as streetlamps, the Woven, which are creatures that have been spliced and combined, the way heat turns into energy and power. It completely captured my imagination and left me in awe of Josephine Angelini's writing skills. 

The romance in this story was perfect. Not too much that it turns into a cheese-fest, or two little that we feel unfulfilled. The relationship between Lily and Rowan is more than beautiful, it's an acorn. An acorn that has only just sprouted. In the coming books, that tiny sapling is going to grow into a majestic oak tree. Lily did not spend the book 24/7 thinking "he's SO hot," which is a breath of fresh air. She was easily one of the most likable character's that I've ever met. Cannot wait to see where her story goes after that ending!

Speaking of that ending... how EVIL! EVIL I TELL YOU! I turned over the page, my heart in my mouth and desperate to see what happened... and there was nothing but the acknowledgments! Ack! I need the next book so terribly bad!

In short, this book is completely BEWITCHING. Yes. There had to be at least ONE witchy pun in this review!

Rating? A magical 5 hearts!

REVIEW: The Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson

Once a century, one person is chosen for greatness.

Elisa is the chosen one. 

But she is also the younger of two princesses, the one who has never done anything remarkable. She can't see how she ever will. 

Now, on her sixteenth birthday, she has become the secret wife of a handsome and worldly king—a king whose country is in turmoil. A king who needs the chosen one, not a failure of a princess.

And he's not the only one who seeks her. Savage enemies seething with dark magic are hunting her. A daring, determined revolutionary thinks she could be his people's savior. And he looks at her in a way that no man has ever looked at her before. Soon it is not just her life, but her very heart that is at stake.

Elisa could be everything to those who need her most. If the prophecy is fulfilled. If she finds the power deep within herself. If she doesn’t die young.

Most of the chosen do.

Published: September 20th 2011

Publisher: Greenwillow 

Hearts: three

I was VERY excited to read this book after hearing so many good things about it, but unfortunately, it just wasn't QUITE up to scratch.

The story revolves around a chubby princess called Elisa who, in her navel, bears the Godstone. What a Godstone is, I don't think anyone really knows just yet. I certainly don't. I kept seeing it as one of the tacky navel-piercings the girls from my old college used to have. They creep me out so much it's UNREAL.

*SHUDDERS*

If you dislike whiny princesses, steer clear of this book. 

When Elisa isn't complaining about/thinking about how she's fat, she's whining about something else. But her character did improve as the book went on. I actually grew to like her a little when I was nearing the final few pages. But 90% of the book I spent wanting to punch her in the face. You're fat. So am I. GET OVER IT.

My problem with this book isn't Elisa, but the plot. More specifically, the pair of deaths. Far from simply shocking me, they made me mad. There just didn't seem to be ANY reason why the pair needed to die! I've no intention of reading the next two books now they're BOTH dead. They were the only ones I was slogging through the book for. There were holes in parts of the book and bits that most certainly didn't need to happen, which put me off a little more. I'm so gutted because half of this book I DID enjoy, which is why the rating isn't 2 hearts.

I did enjoy the world-building and the characters. Each one was crafted very nicely, the world intricate and vast. It's a shame that I won't be reading any further, but I don't think I can force myself through another book like that.  I am so very conflicted about this book, because bits I loved, bits I hated. Gah.

So sadly, three hearts.

Okay. One more funny picture.

Elisa is that you at the beginning of the book????

REVIEW: Starborn by Lucy Hounson

Death and destruction will bar her way...

Kyndra's fate holds betrayal and salvation, but the journey starts in her small village. On the day she comes of age, she accidentally disrupts an ancient ceremony, ending centuries of tradition. So when an unnatural storm targets her superstitious community, Kyndra is blamed. She fears for her life until two strangers save her, by wielding powers not seen for an age - powers fuelled by the sun and the moon.

Together, they flee to the hidden citadel of Naris. And here, Kyndra experiences disturbing visions of the past, showing war and one man's terrifying response. She'll learn more in the city's subterranean chambers, amongst fanatics and rebels. But first Kyndra will be brutally tested in a bid to unlock her own magic.

If she survives the ordeal, she'll discover a force greater than she could ever have imagined. But could it create as well as destroy? And can she control it, to right an ancient wrong?

Publishing date: April 23rd 2015

Publisher: Tor UK

Pages: 400

Rating: half a heart

I saw this book on the shelf and was instantly drawn to it. The description, the intriguing first chapter, I bought it on the spot. I hurried home itching to delve into this beautiful sounding world and no-doubt exquisite storyline.

OH, HOW I REGRET IT.

Starborn was, sadly, one of the most disappointing books I have ever read. I am bitterly regretting not looking at reviews before making my purchase. I barely got to page 100 before deciding that this book was going onto the DNF pile. 

The world-building was beyond lax, the characters so flat I could iron my clothes on them and the storyline... there was so much wrong with it. So much wrong with the characters too. Kynder was easily one of the most dullest heroines I have ever read about. There was so much that didn't make sense that in the end, I basically just gave up. I am saddened that TOR would publish this and actually promote the book as one of the most anticipated books of the year! Very saddened. 

I feel like a total b*tch with this review, but I honestly cannot find anything to like about it except the cover. (I'm sorry!) 

REVIEW: The 100 by Kass Morgan

No one has set foot on Earth in centuries -- until now.

Ever since a devastating nuclear war, humanity has lived on spaceships far above Earth's radioactive surface. Now, one hundred juvenile delinquents -- considered expendable by society -- are being sent on a dangerous mission: to recolonize the planet. It could be their second chance at life...or it could be a suicide mission.

CLARKE was arrested for treason, though she's haunted by the memory of what she really did. WELLS, the chancellor's son, came to Earth for the girl he loves -- but will she ever forgive him? Reckless BELLAMY fought his way onto the transport pod to protect his sister, the other half of the only pair of siblings in the universe. And GLASS managed to escape back onto the ship, only to find that life there is just as dangerous as she feared it would be on Earth.

Confronted with a savage land and haunted by secrets from their pasts, the hundred must fight to survive. They were never meant to be heroes, but they may be mankind's last hope. 

-

 Two very disappointed stars

I simply cannot believe how much I disliked this book when I am in love with the TV show. Too many POVs, seriously. I bought the book in January after watching season one and was positively hungering for more... and it's taken three months for me to read the entire thing. Won't say anymore in this review because it will turn into a rant. Two stars, not one. Because Bellamy Blake is epic in both show and book. It was very interesting to see the differences in the characters from the show and book. I do actually own the second book in the series (regretting the waste of money now...) so maybe one day when I'm beyond bored, I'll force myself to read it. For now though, it will sit on my shelf collecting dust. Never said this before but... watch the show instead! The story line is MUCH more compelling and the characters much more three-dimensional and real.

Dreams of Gods and Monsters by Laini Taylor review

Dreams of Gods and Monsters (Daughter of Smoke and Bone Trilogy #3)

Author: Laini Taylor

Genre: YA

Publication Date: 17th April 2014

Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton

Stars: Four stars

Summary: 

It began with DAUGHTER OF SMOKE AND BONE

It continued with DAYS OF BLOOD AND STARLIGHT

It ends with DREAMS OF GODS AND MONSTERS

Common enemy, common cause.

When Jael’s brutal seraph army trespasses into the human world, the unthinkable becomes essential, and Karou and Akiva must ally their enemy armies against the threat. It is a twisted version of their long-ago dream, and they begin to hope that it might forge a way forward for their people.

And, perhaps, for themselves.

But there are bigger threats than Jael in the offing. A vicious queen is hunting Akiva, and, in the skies of Eretz … something is happening. Massive stains are spreading like bruises from horizon to horizon; the great winged stormhunters are gathering as if summoned, ceaselessly circling, and a deep sense of wrong pervades the world.

What power can bruise the sky?

From the streets of Rome to the caves of the Kirin and beyond, humans, chimaera and seraphim will fight, strive, love, and die in an epic theatre that transcends good and evil, right and wrong, friend and enemy.

At the very barriers of space and time, what do gods and monsters dream of? And does anything else matter?

At a whopping 613 pages, this book was far from an easy read. With twists at every corner, it was an incredibly hard book to follow at times. New characters only added to the confusion. And some were unneeded, as if they had been carelessly thrown in as a page filler at the last minute to make the book as gigantic as it is.

Karou, our favourite blue-haired heroine is back, and she does not disappoint. An extremely strong and resilient heroine all the way to the climatic (and confusing) ending.  There will never be another YA heroine like Karou. She is one of those rare characters that  can never be compared to any other. She will never be forgotten. And since there seems to be a movie in the works, she might be resurfacing very soon! A face to the name we all know so well.

I adored Akiva in this book. Who doesn’t like Akiva? A beautifully crafted character that you cannot help but love. In this book we see Akiva and Karou’s disastrous relationship somewhat fixing itself piece by piece. After the zero-romance in Days of Blood and Starlight, I think everyone was hoping and praying we’d at long last see the couple reunite. 

I admit it, I was hoping and praying for Brimstone’s return throughout the book. If Issa had survived by the skin of her teeth, I truly wondered whether Brimstone had. But… alas, no. He’s gone. *weeps*

This trilogy has long been one of my favourites, the amazing world of Eretz more than inspiring. Karou has caused me to dye my hair blue on more than one occasion. I have zero regrets! 

Laini Taylor has one heck of an imagination. Seriously, can I crawl inside her head and live in there? The world building, the imagery and words… it’s like the books are exquisite poetry that flow and twist, dragging you into the book and world itself with chimaera claws hooked into you. DOGAM wasn’t as good as the first two, but still an amazing feat that not many authors could pull off.

And the cover! The US covers are beautiful, but the UK DOGAM blew me away! The blue, the birds… wow. Just wow! Whoever designed this cover -no, the covers of the entire UK hardback trilogy deserve a medal. Gorgeous covers for a gorgeous story.

The fact that there will be no more Karou and Akiva is agonizing. Thank you Laini for creating this beautiful, vibrant world and characters. It will be sorely missed by all.