Anthology of V.

Review: It Ends With Us / Colleen Hoover

August 3, 2016by Anthology of V2 Comments

I received an ARC of It Ends With Us from the publisher, but this in no way swayed my honest opinion about the book.

*This review is semi-spoiler free—meaning I won’t give away major events but I will be mentioning many facts pertaining to well beyond chapter one.

I feel as though I should start off by disclaiming that I’ve never read a book by Colleen Hoover. I’ve heard about her other novels, and how wonderfully painful they are, but contemporary just isn’t my type of genre to read. Often I will try to pick up a contemporary novel, but most of those times I wind up just setting it back down. This time, however, I was captivate from the first page until the very last. I finished It Ends With Us in less than four hours. Honestly, I wasn’t paying attention to anything else around me but this plot and these characters and how terrifyingly relatable their story was.

Lily recently graduated from college and moved to Boston where she began her own business. Her childhood was never easy, and she’d come to conclude that staying in Maine would never allow her to be free from those dark memories. One night while perched atop the roof of an apartment complex that isn’t her own, she meets Ryle—a neurosurgeon with a darker past than her own. They bond, tell each other naked truths, and begin a slowly burning flirtation that inflames to a deadly obsession.

However, Lily can’t seem to stay away from her old letters written about her missing friend, Atlas. Suddenly Lily begins to see a side of Ryle that she’d never noticed before, and it has nothing to do with the reappearance of Atlas…although he certainly doesn’t make things any less complicated.

“As I sit here with one foot on either side of the ledge, looking down from twelve stories above the streets of Boston, I can’t help but think about suicide. Not my own. I like my life enough to want to see it through. I’m more focused on other people, and how they ultimately come to the decision to just end their own loves.”

This book is about person growth and self respect, and it embodied those themes beautifully. A bit on the darker side in regards to the lethal relationships, It Ends With Us is so much more than I’d thought it to be.

Hoover’s writing is something I wasn’t accustomed to, but that didn’t hinder the experience in the slightest. She has such an easy flow to go along with, as well as a certain prolific voice. I finished this book in one sitting and I rarely ever read contemporary.

The plot wasn’t my usual cup of coffee (because there weren’t any mythical creatures, inanimate objects that speak, realms that are hard to pronounce, bloody wars etc), but there was certainly a type eerie peculiarity that I picked up on right away. We aren’t only reading about Lily, we are inside of her mind. When she’s happy, you’re happy. When she’s upset, you’re upset. When she’s in denial about the people most important to her, you’re…well, needless to say I might have thrown this book across the room a few times.

Perhaps it was just my personal experience with foul relationships that made me bias, but I couldn’t love Ryle ever. Not even once. Not even when he was meant to be the tragic lover who was better off as a dream than a reality—because Hoover wrote him to be a synonym for the phrase “ugly truth.” Which is ironic, considering a big motif between Ryle and Lily was there occasional confessions which they called “naked truths.” For starters, when Lily first met Ryle he was kicking the hell out of a metal chair because his anger had gotten the better of him. Their relationship is in line with Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn, just without the psychopathic behavior on our protagonists part. However, the physical and mental abuse is 100% present in both books.

It’s all lilies (no really, there were actual lilies) and sunshine to cover up the scars and the naked truths that were more like screaming matches. All of the signs were there, right from the beginning. After their foreboding first meeting, he takes a photo of her without knowing her for more than an hour and blows it up to frame inside his house. Then he starts grabbing things from her, insisting upon things without asking, and the use of the word “shoving” to describe their sexual encounters sent many trigger warnings through my mind. Of course, this meant I wasn’t surprised when the physical abuse really became a definite thing that could no longer be overlooked by pretty dreams.

Lily is a strong protagonists, even when she might not think so herself. After watching her father abuse her mother, and hearing the horror that came from Atlas’s own background, she was wary of men from the beginning. While she falls in love with Ryle, she does notice his abusive behavior almost immediately after their first time together. And while the readers might think that she should leave him at the first sign of bad intentions, Lily doesn’t do this for two reasons:

1. she is truly in love with Ryle and wants to help him control his anger because she understands that he is compassionate but his compassion can never make up for his mistakes.

2. she wanted to love her father as a daughter should, but she couldn’t do so without wishing him dead. She doesn’t sympathize with her father, but she understands that he was a human and he made some very hideous mistakes.

Her benevolent nature is essentially what keeps her and Ryle together for so long. This doesn’t make her weak, it makes her bold and brave. She gives him chances, but when he messes up she lest him know he was wrong. In the end…well, I won’t say much because of spoilers but I will tell you that Lily makes the right choices.

Not only were these characters so complexly written, but their names were also carefully thought up, and I appreciate that small objective immensely. Lily Blossom Bloom is an obvious metaphor for something small and fragile that will eventually go through change and morph into something bold and beautiful. Atlas, Lily’s childhood friend, although not being in the picture for nine years, was a steady part of Lily’s life. Whenever she needed someone to tell her the harsh reality of her situation, or someone to protect her when she couldn’t see that she needed protection, Atlas was there. Atlas also happens to be the name of the Greek god who held up the universe upon his shoulders—and both men carried a great burden that often times wasn’t theres to withstand.

The meaning behind this title also happens to be a quote in one of the very last pages of the book. Who the “Us” is will have you sobbing your heart out. I didn’t expect that coming, and it was such a bittersweet moment for me because it truly hit home. I don’t cry a lot when reading, but I definitely cried while reading this book.

I’m certainly going to be reading more of Hoover’s books in the future.

Rating: 5 of 5

Read this review on Goodreads.

reviews

Review: The Raven Boys / Maggie Stiefvater

July 25, 2016July 27, 2016by Anthology of V4 Comments

There’s something stuck between your ribs—a sticky thump of adrenaline each time you miss a step. You’re running through a field of wheat stalks past an abandoned junker car, shoes unlaced, dusk settling around your shoulders like a shroud. The breath that mists in front of your lips burns like the incense in your mother’s palms. Your eyes are wide, full of fear and full of wonder. To your left resides a dead king. To your right lies a path of speaking trees. This isn’t the beginning or end of your story—this is the moment before the climax. And it feels that way throughout the entire ride.

Because this is The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater—a lesson in nostalgia and wanderlust.

And this scenario is exactly how I felt while reading her series.

“Aglionby Academy was the number one reason Blue had developed her two rules: One, stay away from boys because they were trouble. And two, stay away from Aglionby boys, because they were bastards.”
I read this series a while ago; in particular I read the first book a year ago. But I realized after recommending this book for the billionth time that my old, half-assed review couldn’t justify how I feel about this series. I’m sure this “new” review won’t either, but hey it was worth a shot.

Originally, this series caught my attention because of the affinity towards pagan lore and necromancy. It’s hard to come across a good ‘witchy’ book that doesn’t trail along the path of clichéd paranormal romance. The flirtation was so carefully constructed that I found myself whiplashing between friendships and intrigue. Maggie Stiefvater made her characters strikingly potent and dynamic. I could sympathize with them all and understand their individual quests in the grand scheme of the plot.They weren’t bland, they were vibrant. And no matter how many main protagonists there were, each one was unique and maintained that vibrancy.

Blue Sargent isn’t the typical carbon-copy of a YA heroine. She butchered the hell out of her hair, dresses like she sieged a thrift shop with a pair of knives, and speaks her mind freely with little remorse or patience for ignorance. She’s quirky, and has moments where she appears vulnerable, but if you get on her bad side she’s quite a force to deal with. Her sass is astounding, as is her huge role as a feminist (and she doesn’t let the other four MALE protagonists forget that). Blue comes from an incredibly dynamic home of psychics, all of whom have told her that if she were to kiss her true love…he would die. Blue doesn’t let this bother her as much as the fact that she cannot see the future as the rest of her family can. She has incredible potential but is lost as to where she should/can begin. In this, I think we can all relate to Blue to some degree. I thought she was strong in a way that I’d never read about before.

Although the characters are built in their own autonomous ways, that was largely due to Stiefvater’s writing. On the contrary, they all need one another in some peculiar way or another. I can’t say much on this because then I’d be giving away huge spoilers, but there does come a play on energy vs. necromancy in which two characters desperately need one another (not in a romantic way, mind you). Although seemingly about a group of high school friends attending the prestigious Aglionby Academy in Henrietta, VA and the non-psychic girl they befriend after she nearly cut off the balls of one of their friends for insinuating that she was a prostitute…this book also has:

1. Dead Welsh Kings
2. Witches
3. Ghosts
4. Speaking Trees
5. A Moving Forest
6. Ley Lines
7. Magical Black Market
8. Star/Tree People
9. A Boy Who Can Pull Things Out of His Dreams
10. A Raven Named Chainsaw
11. Hipster Loft Apartment
12. Plant Aesthetic

And so, so much more.
I’ll admit that the writing is a little strange. It’s probably one of the biggest reasons some people say that they couldn’t get into the first book—because Stiefvater’s writing style, although following all the guidelines and being grammatically correct, is a bit peculiar. Personally, I thought it went nicely with the flow of the story. Once you get half way through the first book, you’ll be so accustomed to her style that you’ll expect that Fanfiction to be written in Stiefvater-eqsuq diction. It’s fast-paced, but has a choppy flow that will eventually fade into the back of your mind because the plot of this book will overshadow everything else.

Speaking of plot—The Raven Boys took a few chapters to really turn the cogs in the grand scheme of the story. The phrase “and so the plot thickens” doesn’t exactly come into context until…well, until the last quarter of the novel. For some this may be a problem, but for me I honestly didn’t mind much because I was too focused on the character development of these amazing teens. Much of the first book is spent introducing us to their ways of life, their struggles, and the relationships they have with the other four members of this mini cult. Bear in mind that there are four books in this series. I promise you, the plot quickens/thickens in the sequel. Especially after the cliffhanger ending in the first book! (Don’t skip to the last page. You’ll want to experience every last drop of it chronologically.)

There’s something about this particular book series that takes me back to a time I’d thought I’d forgotten about. No, I wasn’t off chasing dead kings with a group of tightly-knit school boys or drag racing with a ghost ridding shotgun. But the ambiance of this series can be summed in with one word: nostalgia. These books will definitely make you feel bitter-sweet, and adventurous.

Fans of mystery, folklore, and fantasy will love this one. And now that the whole series is published, you can read the first novel without fearing a year-long wait for the other books! Now if only they would turn this into a TV show.

recommendations

Book Recommendations / part I

July 7, 2016July 7, 2016by Anthology of V4 Comments

The only thing worse than being in a book slump is having the time to read but not knowing which book to pick up. It doesn’t even matter if you own the book and haven’t started, because odds are you probably already have (at least) a genre you want to delve into for the time being, or at least an idea of what you’re currently interested in reading. A quick way to solve this would be to search for the book on Goodreads and check the similar recommendations section, but honestly most of the time those recommendations are far from what I’d perceive as “similar.” So, here’s the next best thing! “If you like this, then you’ll like this.” All synopses taken from Goodreads. Commentary from yours truly.

The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater

Scholarly boys/ Campus setting
Murder
Everyone is secretly gay
Corrupt and complex characters
Philosophy
Stags
TSH is TRC in the future 100%
Angst

The Secret History by Donna Tartt

Under the influence of their charismatic classics professor, a group of clever, eccentric misfits at an elite New England college discover a way of thinking and living that is a world away from the humdrum existence of their contemporaries. But when they go beyond the boundaries of normal morality they slip gradually from obsession to corruption and betrayal, and at last – inexorably – into evil.

The Grisha Trilogy by Leigh Bardugo

Russian/ “Ravkan” setting
Dark romance
Strong heroines
Whimsical themes
Epic fantasy
Alarkling = Koschei x Marya
(No, literally, The Darkling was inspired by Koschie the Deathless.)
THIS BOOK WAS LITERALLY INSPIRED BY THAT BOOK. SO READ IT.

Deathless by Catherynne M. Valence

Koschei the Deathless is to Russian folklore what devils or wicked witches are to European culture: a menacing, evil figure; the villain of countless stories which have been passed on through story and text for generations. But Koschei has never before been seen through the eyes of Catherynne Valente, whose modernized and transformed take on the legend brings the action to modern times, spanning many of the great developments of Russian history in the twentieth century.

Deathless, however, is no dry, historical tome: it lights up like fire as the young Marya Morevna transforms from a clever child of the revolution, to Koschei’s beautiful bride, to his eventual undoing. Along the way there are Stalinist house elves, magical quests, secrecy and bureaucracy, and games of lust and power. All told, Deathless is a collision of magical history and actual history, of revolution and mythology, of love and death, which will bring Russian myth back to life in a stunning new incarnation.

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

Circus setting
Eerie plot
Romance
Fantastic writing
Historial/Fantasy

Wonder Show by Hannah Barnaby

Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, step inside Mosco’s Traveling Wonder Show, a menagerie of human curiosities and misfits guaranteed to astound and amaze! But perhaps the strangest act of Mosco’s display is Portia Remini, a normal among the freaks, on the run from McGreavy’s Home for Wayward Girls, where Mister watches and waits. He said he would always find Portia, that she could never leave. Free at last, Portia begins a new life on the bally, seeking answers about her father’s disappearance. Will she find him before Mister finds her? It’s a story for the ages, and like everyone who enters the Wonder Show, Portia will never be the same.

A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J Maas

Retellings
Strong heroines
Ferocious romance
Hades + Persephone vibes
(Essentially TSTQ is both halves of the Nigh Court)
Nightmares
Complex characters and settings
Fantasy

The Star Touched Queen by Roshani Chokshi

Fate and fortune. Power and passion. What does it take to be the queen of a kingdom when you’re only seventeen?

Maya is cursed. With a horoscope that promises a marriage of death and destruction, she has earned only the scorn and fear of her father’s kingdom. Content to follow more scholarly pursuits, her whole world is torn apart when her father, the Raja, arranges a wedding of political convenience to quell outside rebellions. Soon Maya becomes the queen of Akaran and wife of Amar. Neither roles are what she expected: As Akaran’s queen, she finds her voice and power. As Amar’s wife, she finds something else entirely: Compassion. Protection. Desire…

But Akaran has its own secrets—thousands of locked doors, gardens of glass, and a tree that bears memories instead of fruit. Soon, Maya suspects her life is in danger. Yet who, besides her husband, can she trust? With the fate of the human and Otherworldly realms hanging in the balance, Maya must unravel an ancient mystery that spans reincarnated lives to save those she loves the most…including herself.

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

Psychotic main characters
Not quite sure who is the protagonist
Everyone has a morbid build-up
Melancholy backdrop
Thriller
Feminism

Girls on Fire by Robin Wasserman

Girls on Fire tells the story of Hannah and Lacey and their obsessive teenage female friendship so passionately violent it bloodies the very sunset its protagonists insist on riding into, together, at any cost. Opening with a suicide whose aftermath brings good girl Hannah together with the town’s bad girl, Lacey, the two bring their combined wills to bear on the community in which they live; unconcerned by the mounting discomfort that their lust for chaos and rebellion causes the inhabitants of their parochial small town, they think they are invulnerable.

But Lacey has a secret, about life before her better half, and it’s a secret that will change everything…

The Wrath and the Dawn by Renee Ahdieh

Indian folklore
Retellings
Romance
World-building
Corrupt empires

The Architect’s Apprentice by Elif Shafak

In her latest novel, Turkey’s preeminent female writer spins an epic tale spanning nearly a century in the life of the Ottoman Empire. In 1540, twelve-year-old Jahan arrives in Istanbul. As an animal tamer in the sultan’s menagerie, he looks after the exceptionally smart elephant Chota and befriends (and falls for) the sultan’s beautiful daughter, Princess Mihrimah. A palace education leads Jahan to Mimar Sinan, the empire’s chief architect, who takes Jahan under his wing as they construct (with Chota’s help) some of the most magnificent buildings in history. Yet even as they build Sinan’s triumphant masterpieces—the incredible Suleymaniye and Selimiye mosques—dangerous undercurrents begin to emerge, with jealousy erupting among Sinan’s four apprentices.

A memorable story of artistic freedom, creativity, and the clash between science and fundamentalism, Shafak’s intricate novel brims with vibrant characters, intriguing adventure, and the lavish backdrop of the Ottoman court, where love and loyalty are no match for raw power.

Uprooted by Naomi Novik

Strong heroines
Folklore
Nature
Romance
Villagers vying for a stranger’s affection
Mysterious (handsome) stranger
Compassionate leads

The Rough-Face Girl by Rafe Martin

This moving adaptation of the classic children’s story Cinderella tells how a disfigured Algonquin girl wins the heart of a mysterious being who lives by the lake near her village.

The powerful Invisible Being is looking for a wife, and all the girls in the village vie for his affections. But only the girl who proves she can see him will be his bride. The two beautiful but spoiled daughters of a poor village man try their best to be chosen, but it is their Rough-Face-Girl sister, scarred on her face and arms from tending fires, who sees the Invisible Being in the wonder of the natural world.

The dramatic illustrations reflect the vibrant earth colors of the native landscape and the wisdom and sensitivity of the protagonist.

reviews

June Wrap-Up

July 1, 2016July 1, 2016by Anthology of V8 Comments

I read six books this month, and while I did so I also packed up an apartment and worked a job at a bookstore as a barista for five days a week. I’m fairly happy with myself! Hopefully next month I will get to all of the books I’ve been craving to read. My next blog post will most likely be my July TBR, but as for now…enjoy my June Wrap-Up! I reviewed almost all the books I read except one (which I’m currently in the process of writing). You can read more of my reviews on my Goodreads here.

Girls on Fire— Robin Wasserman
Queen of Hearts—Colleen Oakes
A Court of Mist and Fury—Sarah J Maas
Milk and Honey—Rupi Kaur
This Savage Song—V. E. Schwab
Gabriel— M. A. Abraham

My Goodreads 2016 book challenge is to finish at least 300 books this year. So far…I’m about thirty books behind schedule. Yeah, yikes. Then again, I’d be astonished if I actually conquered my set goal (and will most likely throw a small celebration with raspberry cake and confetti streamers). I probably should’ve set a lower goal considering this has been one of the most hectic, most emotionally trying years of my life. But doesn’t that seem only right to be reading all these books to help me get past my stress? The poetic part of me says: yes, Viktoria, yes. The realistic part of me says: are you out of your goddamn mind?? Ditch the books and focus on your job/ parents/ school work! Idiot! The struggle is very real.

June 1—June 30

This Savage Song by Victoria Schwab
Rating: 4 of 5

In flawless Schwab fashion, this book kicked ass.

If West Side Story met Supernatural and decided to conceive a semi-dystopian semi-fantasy baby…this would be it. The premise behind this book is the consistent struggle of wondering who plays the part of the protagonist and who is the antagonist. It’s a complex read full of interesting and very hellish characters (no pun intended).

In the city of Verity there resides two sides— the Flynn territory, where compassion for the damned obstructs the hunt for real monsters, and the Harker territory, where everything seems content and peaceful until you unravel the true cause for such false prosperity. It isn’t until Harker’s tamed monsters being to cause an upset in power that Verity’s pretense of crumbling walls becomes a full scale war. And stuck amidst this battle are Kate Harker and August Flynn, our two main characters. While Kate is as human as they come, she puts the savage in the title meanwhile August is our song. No kidding, considering the boy can devour soul’s by merely playing his violin.

Corsai, Corsai, tooth and claw,
Shadow and bone will eat you raw.
Malchai, Malchai, sharp and sly,
Smile and bite and drink you dry.
Sunai, Sunai, eyes like coal,
Sing you a song and steal your soul.
— The three types of monsters in Verity.

One of my favorite things about V. Schwab. is her writing style. It’s almost always fast paced and focused to the point where I’ll loose track of time and have finished an entire novel in one sitting. But I say almost because in this case, This Savage Song was a bit hard to get into at first. The preliminary chapters are centered around the world building as well as introducing a multitude of characters without allowing the reader time enough to thoroughly enjoy/absorb a single character at a time (or at least a chapter). However, the book does switch between Kate and August’s point of views, which I found helpful. Yet it still took me a good seven or eight chapters to truly get into the story, and I still found certain aspects confusing.

The romance in this book is akin to that of any Schwab book: watered down. Of course, I understand that is due to the attention on individuality and action-fueled plots, however in the case that the synopsis seems to be promising an eventual romance…I felt kind of let down. But only kind of, because Kate Harker being such an empowering heroine made up for that. She’s feral.

The ending suggests that there will be more on this topic in the second book, but it looks like I’ll just have to wait another year to find out. (In other words, commence the fanfiction.)

Even if surviving wasn’t simple, or easy, or fair.
Even if he could never be human.
He wanted the chance to matter.
He wanted to live.
— August F.

As a final note, I must say that although I enjoyed this book, it wasn’t a favorite of mine like Schwab’s other novels. Then again, it will always be hard to write something that can outshine a series like A Darker Shade of Magic. That book is too unique for it’s own good.

P. S.— I still have no clue what genre to categorize this book. Oops.

A Court of Mist and Fury (book #2) by Sarah J. Maas
Rating: 5 of 5
~~This review contains semi-spoilers for A Court of Mist and Fury (with major ones hidden). Do not read if you haven’t already read A Court of Thorns and Roses.~~

But I met his stare as I clinked my glass against his, the crystal ringing clear and bright over the crashing sea far below, and said, “To the people who look at the stars and wish, Rhys.”

He picked up his glass, his gaze so piercing that I wondered why I had bothered blushing at all for Tarquin.

Rhys clinked his glass against mine. “To the stars who listen— and the dreams that are answered.”

And to me, the dumbass who locked herself in her bedroom for 48 hours without sunlight or food just so she could finish this book only to feel guilty once I realized I’d have to wait a year for the third installment…so perhaps I shouldn’t have devoured it so quickly.

I truly don’t know how to properly review this book, what with all the turmoil and ravaging emotions and throwing shit across my room at 2am, so I’ve decided to break it down into categories, starting with the most important.

I Transition

A Court of Mist and Fury, in the same regard to A Court of Thorns and Roses, is a slight spinoff on a classical tale. Whereas the first book takes certain themes from Beauty and the Beast, this sequel is full of the Hades and Persephone mythology— complete with raining stars, a hidden city, and a vicious romance. We follow our heroine huntress, Feyre, in book one as she tries to free Prythian from Amarantha’s curse while also saving the High Lord of the Spring Court and reclaiming her heart. However, through many traumatic trials, Feyre shatters more than just her bones as she winds up breaking her own heart. After being forced to murder two Fae youths, watch as her lover looks on in defiant ignorance, and beat the agonizing tasks set forth by those seemingly much stronger than she, Feyre is becomes the savior of Prythian, and a High Fae, but at the cost of her own sanity…and heart.

We begin A Court of Mist and Fury three months after the events in the preliminary book, where Tamlin and Feyre are about to be wedded as a symbolic gesture for the rebuilding of the Courts. Everything is supposedly wonderful, but Feyre is nothing more than a husk of her previous self. Gifted with abilities beyond her control, and a body she doesn’t feel comfortable merely walking in, Feyre finds that she is isolated from the rest of the world, in more ways than one. Not only is she struggling to adapt psychically, but the overbearing actions of her fiance, Tamlin, are driving her mad. Distressed, she silently wishes for someone to save her…and who better than to make a dramatic appearance on her wedding day than the High Lord of the Night Court? A mere few chapters in, and we’ve got what we’ve been theorizing since book one.

Enter— Rhysand.

Many fans have been quick to assume that the last encounter between Rhysand and Feyre will be incredibly vital to their development in this book…and we were all right. In fact, that small moment between the pair at the end of book one has become a major plot device for this sequel (not to mention it explains why we jumped three months ahead of time). All that we’ve been nervously awaiting has come alive in this ferocious second installment. We get the answers we desperately needed—and then some. Prepare yourselves. If it’s a Maas book, you know your heart is about to be wrecked.

II Plot

The plot in this second book was very steady. Unlike the first book where we jump back and forth between turmoil and travesty, this type of heartache was consistent from the prologue to the epilogue. We follow Feyre as she is taken to the Night Court and faced with the devastating truths that Tamlin and Lucien had been hiding from her, truths that she had secretly known to be real.

Rhys jerked his chin towards the map on the wall.

“What do you see?”

“A World divided in two.”

Ah, yes. And there it is. With everything that has happened in the first book, it’s no wonder that the King of Hybern will be looking to make an appearance in this sequel. If we thought Amarantha was bad, and she was merely his general, you can imagine how awful this encounter is going to be. How terrifying it actually was to read. All of those creatures that had been Amarantha’s servants Under the Mountain will return to invoke their leader’s wrath once more, but this time Feyre has more than just strong will and a few jagged Wyrm bones to defeat them. As we had theorized the brewing romance between Rhysand and Feyre, we’ve also entertained the thought that Feyre, who’d been resurrected by the power of all seven Lords of Prythian, will also harbor a small amount of each individual Lord’s abilities. And we were correct.

As Rhysand trains her to control her mental abilities, new characters will step in to help Feyre train to wield blades and hone her body into a weapon. All of this is in preparation for the upcoming war, however it is hinted that Hybern may not be their only enemy to watch out for. Seeing as the King of Hybern wishes to tear down the Wall between the mortal and Fae realm, the quickest way to do so would be to march through the Spring Court. The news doesn’t sit well with anyone, but after officially leaving Spring due to her awful treatment there, Feyre begins to understand why Rhysand and Tamlin have hated each other so deeply.

Betrayal, amongst other nefarious things, is a huge affair in this book.

While studying and growing stronger, Feyre begins the slow progress towards rehabilitation with the help of Rhysand and his friends. As she stars to develop many new emotions, we get to see a side of characters in the first book that we perhaps didn’t think possibly existed. At the heart of it all is a city kept untouched for five thousand years, and a realm that Feyre can finally consider home. But just as she mends her broken soul, the plot takes a steep curve and we are once more thrown into the sways of warfare and fury. Nothing is safe, no one is true, and there’s more blood and wings than flowers and laughter in this second installment of the trilogy. Needless to say, A Court of Mist and Fury will leave you with such an agonizing plot twist, fans of Mass’ other series will think that this book surpasses the suspense at the end of Crown of Midnight. I certainly feel that way.

III Relationships

I supposed I’d been granted that fit once—and had used it up and fought for it and broken it. And I supposed that Rhysand, for all he had sacrificed and done…He deserved it as much as Cresseida.

Even if…even if for a moment, I wanted it.

I wanted to feel like that again.

And…I was lonely.

I had been lonely, realized, for a very, very long time.

Let me start off this section by disclaiming that, as you can tell from my first review of A Court of Thorns and Roses, I’d been a hardcore fan of Tamlin and Feyre’s relationship. So much so that I had even proclaimed it my “Mother of All OTPs.” So, as a prior captain of that armada, I can say without any shame that, through reading this book and coming to understand many terrible and exciting things, I’m definitely no longer a part of that ship.

All I ever want for a female book character is for her to find happiness, and even before I had wanted Rhysand and Feyre to come together, I knew that Tamlin could no longer be an option for her. She’d be better off without any man, in fact, rather than staying with him and suffering as the pliant wife. As for Tamlin…well, I’ll mention what I feel about him in the section below (character development at it’s strangest). Although I adore the compatible relationship between our two main characters, I must include that the other sprouting romances had me quite tantalized as well. (In other words, Mass clearly knows how to really fuck over someone’s heart).

What I loved most about Rhysand and Feyre’s relationship was how he would always allow her to take the lead and make her own decisions while also encouraging her. He wasn’t controlling in the slightest, and he would always make certain that Feyre was treated the way she deserved. His concern for her while she’d return from Spring frail and thin made my heart clench. And Feyre’s concern for him, as she soothed him admit his nightmares, practically solidified my love for this coupling. They compliment each other so nicely, and although he is the strongest High Lord in Prythian’s history, I never saw him as more than her. Those two are wicked together, and their understanding of good and evil will make them a feral sight to behold when they revolutionize the realm together, as equals. They’re both dreamers, hence why it makes sense that they will rule the Court of Dreams as a united front.
Along with our new characters comes new relationships, and I mean that in more ways than just romance. For starters, and simply because I need to get it off my chest immediately, Lucien finally finds himself a mate…and it’s with someone we’d suspected! I was over the moon because of my unexplainable adoration for his character since book one. While Feyre’s sisters remerge into this story, both of them seemingly get paired off with characters I’ve come to love. I really can’t wait to see where that leads, especially since one of their relationship’s will most likely become a plot device in the third book.
Also, and somewhat irrelevant, I’m dying to find out what happens between one of our new characters, Amren, and her (what I like to call) platonic-playmate in the Summer Court, Varian. They’re both very distant and aloof with everyone around them, even their families, and yet they’re always seen toying with one another like a cat and a mouse. It’s quite adorable, but also terrifying all considering.

IV Character Development

The character development in this story was the very essence of revolutionary. To begin with, Feyre makes a complete transformation from the gloomy carcass she had been in the first few chapters. Since the events from Under the Mountain in book one, Feyre had been slowly deteriorating. In this book we see her replenishing her mind, body, and soul through mystifying ceremonies. She is the same character we fell in love with, but it’s as though she’d been a coin and someone (Rhysand, mostly) polished off the coverage of dust and grime from months of mistreatment and now she’s brighter and happier than ever before. Which leads me to my second favorite transition…Rhysand!

He is still the sarcastic, somewhat narcissistic man that we were introduced to, however we finally get to remove his many carefully crafted masks to reveal the person beneath. He is just as broken as Feyre, and his treatment towards her once she arrives at his Court is anything but what most of us had expected. Instead of being distant and calculating, Rhysand is upfront about (most) of his emotions, especially the ones regarding how strongly it enrages him to see her being cast aside and left to rot in Spring. Of course the two bicker, mainly in regards to their well-beings, but throughout the length of this novel, they help one another reach a climatic development.

Tamlin, on the other hand, shows his true self in this installment. Whereas he was slightly pushy and passive aggressive in the first book (even I noted that, and I still adored him and Feyre together), he’s beyond overwhelming in this second book. His “protectivness” over Feyre ensures that she essentially becomes the silent, cowardly wife who is locked away inside his manor and is expected only to breed children and plan festivities. At one point, Feyre even notes that the person she’d been before Under the Mountain would have roared in outrage at such treatment. Although this does occur, in Tamlin’s mind he is doing the right thing. This doesn’t excuse what is happening, but I feel as though it leaves room for potential development in another direction. It’s as though those tiny scars we’d seen in the first book have been ripped open to reveal a massive void of depravity that has become Tamlin. He is turning into his beast, and I wonder if he knows it. However, I don’t neccissarly believe he is completely “gone” just yet.

Judging by his reaction to certain events at the end of the book (view spoiler) I have a feeling that we are going to see him redeem himself in the third book…or becoming what everyone has feared. Worse than his own father. Not to mention, in regards to my theory about Tamlin being redeemed, Rhysand, although stating that Tamlin is one of his worst enemies, has mentioned a few times that he and Tamlin used to be friends. The particular scene when Rhys recounts that he and Tam simultaneously looked at each other, surrounded by their slaughtered families, and become High Lords….I believe that may be some type of foreshadowing. If not for Feyre and Lucien, it will be Rhysand who makes Tamlin realize his mistakes.

Similar to Tamlin’s downward development, Lucien, who’d been one of my favorite characters, also shows a side of himself that had been hinted at in the first book, but never quite so firmly. He is, in the most basic regard, misunderstood. We all knew from the many happenings in AcoTaR that Lucien was a bit of a coward, and prone to running to Tamlin’s side when things got rough. Yet, that wasn’t the case for the entirety of the book, because he still remained a strong individual in my mind. Even from the first few chapters of AcoMaF, Lucien is seen to be wary of Tamlin…because it is finally stated that he fears his friend. My heart broke when I read that. Lucien is so terrified of Tamlin, of what his friend’s crumbing sanity will do, that he cannot help Feyre escape Spring, not even when Tamlin performs some pretty atrocious tasks that Lucien knows are awful. I’m hoping that with the establishment of his mate, and after seeing the outcome of the second book once leaving Hybern, Lucien will band together with Feyre to either help Tamlin regain his composure, or to leave for the Night Court and reunite with the people they deserve.

V Overall

After reading this book, I’m going to need to revisit the story a few more times before I can start theorizing for the third installment, simply because there was so much to take in. Overall, I’m incredibly pleased by the events in this story. No matter how long it was, I will always want more when it comes to Maas! The character were heartbreaking, the plot was terrifying, and the writing was, per usual, incredibly well done. I honestly don’t know how I’m going to make it until next spring for the last installment of this trilogy, specifically due to the cliffhanger ending in this book. Oh well, I figure that’s what Fanfiction is for?

If you for some reason haven’t read A Court of Thorns and Roses (and read this review for it’s sequel?) well then, get to it! Just be prepared for some massive plot twists. I have a feeling book three will be longer and more calamitous than anyone is ready for. It can’t arrive soon enough.

Queen of Hearts by Colleen Oakes
Rating: 2 of 5

Alice and Wonderland might not be my favorite childhood tale, but I do love retellings. Queen of Hearts by Colleen Oakes follows the early life of a villain we all know, THE Queen of Hearts—rewritten as Princess Dinah, as she faces travesties on the long path to her coronation. Of course, we already know how her story will end much like we know the type of ruler she will unfortunately become. It was an interesting approach, I give her that much, but I feel that it failed in all other aspects.

Within the first chapter the main character’s royal title was announced at least ten times in the short span of a few pages, as though we could forget who she is when it’s also the title of the book. Right away that threw me off…and not in a good way. It was more in the sense that I’d experienced characters like her in other books, while not necessarily negative that they are 1. powerful 2. in woe of their pressing responsibilities 3. tragic in all general aspects, this character also seemed to be the only character that was given any heed while the rest were merely secondary…which made me see her as fairly narcissistic. I know that wasn’t the goal, but unfortunately it’s what I read.

The writing was fast-paced, which usually means it’ll be a quick page turner, but in this case I found myself skimming through the chapters. Perhaps it was just me, but I found myself zoning out and having to re-read paragraphs because the story really didn’t do much to hold my attention. Although written well enough, it felt more like this could have been an excellent Fanfiction. There’s nothing wrong with that. This just wasn’t the book for me.

I feel it also necessary to add that while I’m not the biggest Alice enthusiast I still know plenty about the original tale because of all the movies and reworking it has undergone, and I just couldn’t find any other details about the book that suggest this was in comparison to Wonderland. I know it was a short read, so not all characters were complex and to judge it based upon the “vibe” of the setting wouldn’t be all too reasonable, but because it’s heavily promised in the synopsis that this tale is about the Queen, I felt betrayed. There was hardly anything about Wonderland that made me feel nostalgic.

I probably won’t be reading the sequel but I am intrigued at where Oakes will be taking the main character next. It was interesting to see her side of the story pre-Alice, but I’m not in love enough with either original tale or remaking to want to find out what happens. That’s just my biased view. But all stories are different for readers, so give this one a try if you truly adore the world of Wonderland! Maybe it’ll be a better experience for you.

Milk and Honey by Rupi Kaur
I jumped on the bandwagon and recently picked up a copy of Rupi Kaur’s brilliant little book of poetry, Milk and Honey. What is it about, you might ask? Everything important, I’d respond. Especially to girls who are still growing—essentially, all of us women.

This collection of poems concerns trauma, loss, healing, and femininity. Much like it’s cover and title, the whole aesthetic of the book was very minimalist. Each page hosted a different story, and each story was short-spoken yet carried such a imperative reminder. I believe anyone who has gone through pain will be able to relate to Kaur, no matter the gender, age, or scenario. I found myself reading through this book just for the pretty diction. I didn’t think I’d get so nostalgic over old wounds.

It’s rare to find a piece of writing that truly grips your heart, as if to say look how similar we are!

One of my favorite poems is on page 95:

i didn’t leave because
i stopped loving you
i left because the longer
i stayed the less
i loved myself

I recently broke up with an amazing boy for the sole purpose of needing to recollect myself before I could give my mind, body, and essence to someone else. This book couldn’t have landed in my hands at any better moment.

It is broken up into four parts, taking us through a journey with Kaur as our narrator. Each chapter tells a different tale of sorrow, but like most awful things there tends to be a self-revolution towards the end. That section (Healing) worked better than any therapy, medicine, or tear stained pillows ever could.

Literature has proven once more to be the best remedy for heartache.

Gabriel by M. A. Abraham
Rating: 3 of 5

I’m always looking for fantasy-romance books, particularly ones with faerie elements, so of course the synopsis appealed to me. But to be fair—that was all that appealed to me once I downloaded the ebook. I tried very hard to enjoy this book, but it was such a disappointment.

1. Big let down for women.
2. Abusive relationships.
3. Boring characters.
4. Basically no plot.

The writing wasn’t awful and the sex scenes were pretty nice, but other than that…this was sadly a big waste of my time. If you’re looking for a book like this, perhaps try The Lord of the Fading Lands by C. L. Wilson.

Girls on Fire by Robin Wasserman
Rating: 4 of 5

Review pending…

Synopsis:

But Lacey has a secret, about life before her better half, and it’s a secret that will change everything…

reviews

Review: Uprooted / Naomi Novik

June 30, 2016June 30, 2016by Anthology of V4 Comments

“Our Dragon doesn’t eat the girls he takes,
no matter what stories they tell outside our valley.”

Forget everything you think you know about folklore and enter Novik’s realm of dark fantasy in this stunning debut full of lush and terrifying fiction. Uprooted is easily a unique masterpiece with plots and characters unlike any others in its genre. I started off reading this book as one would begin a thrilling but harrowing task. I’m never one to be put off by the size of a book, however at first glance Uprooted seems like a monstrosity of small fonts and lengthy pages, something that can make any reader feel threatened.

Do not let this fool you, for once I began to invest my time into the chapters, the pace quickened so much so that I devoured two-hundred pages over the course of a few hours (which for me was remarkable)! In a strange way, I felt that the book was almost too good for my brain to keep up with everything…if that even makes sense. I like to thoroughly take in every detail of any story, and Novik is a wordsmith goddesses, so of course I was bit overwhelmed by my own sheer exuberance. There’s enough space between her phrases to leave room to the imagination, a feat that I respect when it comes to how an author writes his/her story. But in my case, I was just so excited to read the book that I wound up thinking about reading the book…instead of actually reading the book…(yikes). Nevertheless, this piece of fiction is exceptionally crafted and brimming with strong protagonists. This is all I want in an epic fantasy, and I have a feeling you will want it too.

“It comes, I suppose,” I said thoughtfully, speaking to the air, “of spending too much time alone indoors, and forgetting that living things don’t always stay where you put them.”

We start off our journey with Agnieszka, a young peasant living in the quant village of Dvernik which borders the deadly, malevolent Wood. Her dearest friend, Kasia, emits strong beauty and bravery―qualities of which the Dragon sees fit enough for a new servant. The Dragon is an immortal wizard who protects the villagers against the dark magic of the Wood, yet each decade he takes the most promising girl to live with and serve him for the next ten years of her life. He des not harm the girls, and each one never returns to their meager lifestyle in the valley once they are put back into the world―instead going off to greater cities pluming wealth and prosperity. Kasia has known since she was a child that she is more than likely to be chosen by the Dragon. Agnieskza has known as well, and the thought of losing her aquatinted-sister is maddening. Until the day of the harvest comes, and the Dragon does not choose Kasia.

The plot was enchanting with all its twists and turns, especially considering the abstract idea of the antagonist―and I only say idea because this antagonist was not a person, rather it was a forest more eerie than the one found in Snow White. The Wood, as it is known amongst the characters, is a giant shadow of land that lurks within reach of the village inhabitance, constantly picking off children and others who wander too close.

It spreads like disease and can corrupt those who’ve never even been to the outer reaches of the valley, simply by plaguing someone and sending them back without seemingly any traces of evil. Novak has created such a compelling image of darkness, and it is all the more ingenious because this wickedness does not reside within a single person. The antagonist is not governed by what most living antagonists are contrived of―no, this antagonist is literally Mother Nature in full fury.

To defeat such a villain, Agnieskza must learn quickly of who she was destined to be, and with the begrudging help of her mentor, the Dragon. The most shocking of all the subplots was undeniably the stories that came from the Wood and it’s origin. You’ll meet characters so wonderfully crafted, and they’ll tear your heart to pieces. This is not your average folktale. It’s so, so much more.

But the best thing by far were the characters and the relationships held between each of them. For starters, Agnieszka is not written as some beautiful damsel with a fate that will make or break the becomings of the universe― she’s simply a peasant girl who cannot go ten minutes without ripping her skirts or getting dirt in her hair. Her bravery, cunningness, compassion, and humorous whit are what makes her character so compelling. I fell in love with her, and that’s not very common for me and the main protagonists because I usually find some flaws that cannot be cast aside to be unnoticed. Raw and so wildly familiar, Agnieszka is all I’ve ever wanted in a strong heroine.

What makes her even better is the relationship she shares with her dearest friend, Kasia. I cannot begin to express how pleased I was that Novik didn’t touch upon two jealous friends who bicker over boys and beauty. I’m so disgusted with the trope of girls unnecessarily loathing one another, and this book was such an overwhelming breath of fresh air that their sisterly friendship actually did bring me to tears on a few occasions. Also, Kasia wasn’t left behind in the grand scheme of the books commencement. I won’t tell you what becomes of her because that would involve spoilers, but it’s pretty freaking awesome. Kasia is a courageously loyal friend, and a sharp sword when needed be.

The Dragon, much like Agnieszka, is not the average brooding male protagonist you might have expected. He’s refined and well-spoken, but also incredibly sarcastic and exasperated with the nonsense he has to put up with. Wizards, especially those who’ve been lingering for more than a century, have grown cold to the ways of endearment. The Dragon cares about the health and safety of his people, and those outside of his borders, but that doesn’t mean he wishes to tether himself to them in fear of being hurt through their inevitable deaths.

What I love most about him is how he treats everyone else around him, even those who we’d consider enemies. He’s not malicious or hot-headed, in fact he’s quite the opposite. The Dragon (and you will find out his true name int he book!) is very wise and very alone. Agnieszka enters his realm of brick towers and barriers and forces them all down in a heartbreakingly, amusing adventure full of bickering, snipping and name calling. I’m a sucker for platonic friendships, but I’m downright obsessed with those friendships that flourish into platonic romances (which then harvest into something even more beautiful as time goes on). So to surmise, Uprooted, although not heavily focusing on romance of any sort, enraptures all I want in a perfectly imperfect OTP (One True Pairing).

This story, although making my heart swell, was nonetheless dark and complicated. I don’t know if I’d truly classify this one as YA because there are moments where violence and explicit content are used as the foremost points of development. Perhaps it’s better as a NA novel? Regardless, I wouldn’t mind the rating at all so long as some of these entities don’t disturb you. I’m not quite certain what thrilled me the most; the romance, the battles, or the Wood. Every aspect of this novel was carefully delivered with an underlying tone of bitter darkness that halfway reminded me of tree rot or moss…not that I’m being nostalgic or anything (I totally am). I’ve studied forestry for a while and the organic diction and prose of this story had me swooning. The setting was delightful, and the writing style was one of the best I’ve ever come across. It kept me engaged from prologue to epilogue.

But for all the emphasis I put on the world-building and characters, one of the best things about this story was truly the aesthetic of wizardry and witches. I didn’t know I’d be reading about witches, specifically ones arranged so whimsically. The spell-language, as the Dragon called it, is lyrical even though my tongue tripped over the strange words more than a few times. The magic is so vividly described that it makes you feel as though you can brew the potions and cast the spells as well. This book presented a look inside the makings of wizards in such a new and darkly romantic angle, and I couldn’t have been more pleased.

Uprooted is brilliant beyond words, an old artwork that had been lost but newly found and restored to life. It was everything I had hoped it would be and MORE. I’m proud to say that Naomi Novik is now one of my favorite authors and I can’t wait to see what else she’ll gift us in the future. I recommend this book to everyone! It deserves all of the stars, the moon, and the planets.

5 of 5 moons. Recommended: everyone.

meta, personal

Bookstagram Tips

June 26, 2016January 27, 2022by Anthology of V6 Comments

I recently posted a poll on my Twitter account asking you guys what you’d like to see next on the blog, and “Bookstagram Tips” won by a landslide. I hope this can help at least one person! Let me know if it does! // Instagram: SeelieKnight.

Lighting— this is almost as important as what you’re taking the photo of, because not only does it help the quality of the picture, it also makes the whole image seem a thousand times more pleasing to the eye. Dusk and dawn are the two best times to take photos, whether it be inside or out. Those times of day offer a hazy light that intensifies the HQ of your photo without even needing a filter. Also, even if you are taking the photo indoors—utilize the sunlight. Open some windows and take advantage of the natural lighting. Otherwise using devices such as lamps can cause the photo to turn a yellow/orange tone. I might love those colors when it comes to aesthetics, but not in that context.

Environment—I get it. White bed sheets are very pretty to look at because they’re great for a minimalist background. But enough is enough! I wont hark on using your bedroom as your main source of photography (because I’ve recently moved and god only knows how many pictures I will be taking of my new home decor), but it’ll do some good to throw in an outdoorsy setting once in a while. A little “something” to zest up your Instagram feed. And if you post mostly outdoor photos…then perhaps try some indoor ones? They don’t necessarily have to be in your bedroom. They can be inside of a cafe, a kitchen, or even a bathtub. Go for it! Explore your settings and think creatively.

Zoom/Lens— not everyone takes their photography using professional cameras. I certainly don’t. It’s true that while I do own an old Canon that shoots just fine, I often take photos right from my iPhone 5se. What really makes a difference is the way in which you’re shooting the photo. In other words: use your lens wisely! I prefer when things are dead center with clean cut angles (but that’s just my own personal preference) so when I’m taking a photo, I like to adjust everything to my stance and the distance of the object to my camera lens. It sounds obvious, but believe me…I’ve seen things.

Quantity— this is an easy tip. Just take a ton of photos. Even when you’re shooting a picture of a book propped against a white wall, take at least ten photos from different angles so that later you can review all of them. This will help improve not only the quality of your photos, but also give you a better understanding of where you are as a photographer. The more you study these small, annoying details, the better you will be at avoiding the nuisances during your next shoot.

Aesthetic— now for the fun (and worst) part! An ‘aesthetic’ for those that have heard the phrase thrown around but never truly researched the meaning is essentially the way in which a group of things comes together to give off a vibe(s). For instance, you can have a plant aesthetic on Instagram if you post a bunch of greenery photos. I’ve even seen people come up with their own aesthetic terms such as “pale gold” and it’s actually wonderful. I really enjoy the whole concept! However, it get’s super aggravating when you try to stick to one aesthetic, because your photos are bound to look different each time you take them. Especially if you’re mixing seasons (autumn cannot come soon enough).

choose a tone (warm v cold)
find a pleasing color palette (lots of pink? green? rainbow?)
use basic colors (white, black, grey) to balance out the others
have fun

Filters— there are many filtering apps out there, but the best by far is VSCO. Almost everyone uses it, and with good reasoning. Much like keeping a consistent aesthetic is great to have, also using the same filter can help maintaining that theme. VSCO offers many filters, most of which you won’t have to touch up once you’re finished. It’s definitely worth getting. My personal favorite filters on the app are A6 and HB2.

Time— okay, so this “tip” has two parts. First, pace yourself. If you start feeling overwhelmed by the need to constantly be posting photos, then it’s time to take a slight break, otherwise known as a hiatus. Just tell your followers you need space to rejuvenate the creative flow, and they’ll understand. I can’t express how often I see this happening. // Two, I try to post my Instagram photos around a time when I know many people will be actively on the app. Usually class gets out around 2:30-4:30 in Est US. I figure that’s a good enough time gap to try and post something for everyone, even my international friends, to see. This also leads me to another reminder—don’t freak out if your photos isn’t getting as many likes as your previous ones. A lot of the time people don’t take into consideration that out of the however many followers you have, perhaps only half of them are active at the moment. Chances are when the others finally go on Instagram, their feed will be full of other photos from the present time, and they’ll have to find your post by scrolling all the way down through everything else. (This is why notifications are amazing!!)

Socialize— most of the above tips are about taking photos, but since this is a post on Bookstagram tips in general I figure it would be appropriate to throw this in as well. Of course tags are a great way to find other accounts, but socializing is what really does the trick. Comment a lot. Get to know other people. By default, those people will probably introduce you to their online friends..and thus group chats are formed and suddenly you’re being mentioned on five different accounts AND you’re getting to meet new people. This really cannot go wrong unless you make it a mission to invite trouble (so never create unnecessary drama. This is a community of readers for fuck’s sake).

Enjoyment—if you’re not having fun, you’re not doing it right.

P.S.

If you don’t love a particular book cover but feel inclined to post about the book because it was simply wonderful and you just can’t fathom why such a treasure got paired with such an awful cover…just post the title page! A white/beige tone will blend in with any theme. Better yet, you can post a photo of the center of a chapter with the title header at the top. As long as you mention the book in your caption, I don’t see the problem with not posting the cover image? Unless of course you’re promoting a book and the publisher specifically asks for clear coverage, in which case you can use the above methods while perhaps accommodating the tones of the cover (ex: bright yellow) with your surroundings (ex: pumpkins? A rundown barn? Rustic looking vintage car? Etc…) Bottom line: don’t feel pressured into posting the obvious. Do what you want and be happy about it!

If you happen to post a photo that literally doesn’t have a single thing relevant to books or reading…don’t freak out about it. Sure there will be those people who act like you’ve just posted a live video of someone being brutalized, but you can’t let them sway your inner artist. If you wanted to post it so badly, it’s because you know the photo is great. So don’t feel ashamed that ONE picture in every ten or so doesn’t include a book. If anything, I think it lets us see another side of the person behind the account.

personal

Prologue

June 11, 2016June 11, 2016by Anthology of V4 Comments

Onward and Upward—

After using Tumblr as my go-to site for blogging, then later a poor attempt at figuring out how to function Blogspot, I’ve finally joined WordPress…and seeing as you’re reading this, I’m going to venture that it’s working. Well, that only took a few months. Nothing a little procrastination can’t fix.

I wasn’t certain what to publish first, but an introduction seems satisfactory.

My name is Viktoria and I’m an eighteen year-old girl living on Long Island, New York. Some of you may recognize me from my Instagram @SeelieKnight or my original blog PaperCutPages. I joined the #Bookstagram community over a year ago and have come a long way ever since. Not only has my love for reading granted me access to things I’d never thought existed, but I’ve also made many new friends and interacted with others from far across the seas. I review and recommend books, and for the longest time that was all I had posted on my social medias. But my other passions, such as photography and traveling, are abundant. I hope to explore those with you, as I’ve explored the reading world over the past years.

Nothing will change; I will always love books and will always review them, but when asked “why do you read?” and your response is something along the lines of “to visit other worlds” then I’m going to invite you to join my journey of fiction v. reality and all that which can make a person who they truly are.

Essentially, I can’t tell you what I will post on here (aside from the obvious book related madness) because I don’t really know where my story will lead next. A little piece of everything, I suppose, gifted in a very Viktoria-Aesthetic type of style (whatever that may be). Just think: Books & Then Some. This past year has done its damage on my mental state, and reading has been medicinal. Certain things I’m not strong enough to speak about yet, but I hope to one day explore my story like it’s a piece of fiction…one that can, too, be rewritten and picked apart and revolutionized. Of course, it helps that I get to share it with all of you.

Thank you for reading the first of many. Stay different.

x Viktoria