Crooked Kingdom

Title: Crooked Kingdom
Author: Leigh Bardugo
Genre: YA Fantasy
Release Date: September 27, 2016
Dates Read: 10/9/2017-10/14/2017
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Series: Six of Crows (book 2)

Crows remember human faces. They remember the people who feed them, who are kind to them. And the people who wrong them too. They don’t forget. They tell each other who to look after and who to watch out for. 

To be honest, I don't know how to write this. It's probably going to be incoherent rambling since I finished 5 minutes ago and haven't recovered.

I'm not going to give a summary of the book, since it would spoil Six of Crows. Crooked Kingdom does, however, pick up just a few days after the events of Six of Crows. I have mixed emotions about this one. On one hand, I loved some things, but on the other, I didn't like some things.

I loved how the characters were portrayed in this book. Is just as good, if not better than their portrayal in Six of Crows. Sometimes, in series, the character development tends to go downhill, but not in this series.

I also grew to like Matthias more. I didn't like him very much in Six of Crows, but now I like him.
My favorite quote, though, is a little familiar from book one.

“Where do think the money went?" he repeated.
"Guns?" asked Jesper.
"Ships?" queried Inej.
"Bombs?" suggested Wylan.
"Political bribes?" offered Nina. They all looked at Matthias. "This is where you tell us how awful we are," she whispered.
He shrugged. "They all seem like practical choices.” 

There was only one thing I didn't like, however. That was the storyline. It started off very fast paced, but it dragged through most of the story until the end. This is not enough to deter a reader, but it doesn't have the action like Six of Crows.

I don't want to let these characters go, but I'm glad to see it end, as we get a feel of justice and finality. Who knows, maybe she will write a third one ;).

August 2018 LitJoy Crate

This is my first LitJoy crate, and I certainly was not disappointed! I loved this book so much! You can find my review of it on here and on Goodreads. I'm sad to see this series end next year. This crate was so cool. It came with a Harley Quinn bath bomb, cat nail decals, and cat socks. It also came with a jewelry dish shaped like a cat the says "Meow" on it. My favorite thing by far was the Poison Ivy themed candle. It smells so good! This definitely will not be my last LitJoy crate!

Six of Crows

Title: Six of Crows
Author: Leigh Bardugo
Genre: YA Fantasy 
Release Date: September 29, 2015
Dates Read: 9/21/2017-10/5/2017
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Series: Six of Crows (book 1)

No mourners. No funerals. 

If I could, I would give this book 1,000 stars. Queen Leigh deserves all the stars.

I was nervous about reading this since I didn't finish her Grisha trilogy. I'm glad I decided to read it. I didn't finish the first time I read it, but thankfully I read this masterpiece, finally. I just wish I didn't have to wait to get Crooked Kingdom.

Kaz Brekker has just been offered the deal of a lifetime. To get it, however, it would almost cost him his and the 5 other members of his team. He must break into the most impenetrable place in Fjerda, kidnap a man with the world's target on his back, and make it back alive.

~The Plot
The plot was engrossing and engaging. Though at first, it seems boring, as it does with most first-of-series novels as they must have worldbuilding, the story soon becomes "unputdownable" (I don't even know if that word exists but I don't care).

The Characters
So, I think I just found my six new best friends.

-Kaz
I practice the art of "pull his shirt over his head and punch till you see blood." 

-Inej
She was not a lynx or a spider or even the Wraith. She was Inej Ghafa, and her future was waiting above. 

-Jesper
If any of you survive, make sure I have an open casket....The world deserves a few more moments with this face. 

-Nina
Who wears white to a knife fight? 

-Wylan
I may not have had your … education, but I’m sure I know plenty of words that you don’t. 

-Matthias
We are all someone's monster. 

I loved the banter between the six of them. Some have known each other for a while, whereas a couple are "newbies"

Kaz leaned back. "What's the easiest way to steal a man's wallet?"
"Knife to the throat?" asked Inej.
"Gun to the back?" said Jesper.
"Poison in his cup?" suggested Nina.
"You're all horrible," said Matthias. 

I also loved the banter between Kaz and Inej, and Nina and Matthias.

Overall, this was an amazing book. Please read this!! You will NOT regret it!

August 2018 OwlCrate

This was a great box! Grace and Fury is one of my most anticipated reads of 2018, but I was planning on picking it up because I didn't like the cover. I love the OwlCrate exclusive cover! The tea towel is really cool. It says, "She had often wished for adventure, for old spells and wicked kings." It's a quote from Throne of Glass. The Cruel Prince inspired tin is so cool! It has three quotes on it. There is a pocket mirror inspired by The Belles by Dhonielle Clayton. My favorite thing from this box, however, is the magnetic bookmarks. It's minis of the Red Queen, Maleficent, and the Evil Queen. Next month's theme is "Masters of Disguise" and I am so excited for it!

Catwoman: Soulstealer

Title: Catwoman Soulstealer
Author: Sarah J. Maas
Genre: YA fantasy; YA superhero
Release Date: August 7, 2018
Dates Read: 8/30/18-9/2/18
Rating:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Series: DC Icons #3

Cat-woman was a good way to describe her. The ears on the dark helmet, the oversized lenses, the claws that she’d just retracted after that spectacular jump… Even her steps toward him oozed feline grace. 

I've been in a huge slump since I started school. I was at home sick this weekend, so I thought it would be a good time to read. I debated between several books, but I eventually settled on this because I love this series. Wonder Woman was amazing, but Batman was a little bit of a letdown. Nevertheless, this book delivered what Batman did not.

After a two year absence, Selina Kyle returns to Gotham City, but she doesn't return the same person. She returns as Holly Vanderhees, a rich, mysterious woman who no one can figure out. Soon she learns that Batman is away on a mission, and his partner Batwing is left to contain the criminals.

Luke Fox wants to prove to Batman that he has what it takes to be left alone. He wants to show that he is capable of being Batwing, with or without Batman. He sets his sights on the new villain in the city. He soon learns that he may be over his head. Catwoman may be too much for him to handle, especially with her two familiar allies.

Catwoman is one of my favorite characters from Gotham City. She's a morally gray character, which is my favorite kind of character. She will stop at nothing to get what she wants, no matter what's in her way.

Selina Kyle blew out a long breath as she lifted her chin and stepped into the sound and the light and the wrath.
Let the bloodying begin.

Scythe

Title: Scythe
Author: Neal Shusterman
Genre: YA Science Fiction
Release Date: November 22, 2016
Dates Read: 4/1/2018-4/3/2018
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Series: Arc of A Scythe (book 1)

Hope in the shadow of fear is the world's most powerful motivator.

I was hesitant to pick up Scythe at first. I had heard many great reviews, and I was afraid it wouldn't live up to my expectations. And, seeing that it was my first Neal Shusterman novel, I was afraid that it would ruin him for me. Thankfully, I was wrong. It was the opposite of what I thought. This novel blew me away.

Citra and Roman are two normal Mid-Merican teens. Citra comes from a small family, while Rowan comes from a large family. They live in a society where there is no pain, hunger, poverty, or even death...well, natural death. Enter, the Scythedom. The Scythes are in charge of keeping the population balanced. Citra and Rowan are both chosen as apprentices to Scythe Faraday, a fair scythe who has a compassionate way of life. It's not supposed to easy, but it's not supposed to be life-threatening either. Then the rules change and it suddenly becomes a game of life or death.

I can't wait to pick up Thunderhead!

Batman: Nightwalker

Title: Batman Nightwalker
Author: Marie Lu
Genre: YA fantasy
Series: DC Icons #2
Release Date: January 2, 2018
Dates Read: March 2018
Rating:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I honestly enjoyed this more than I thought I would. I’m not a huge Batman fan. I’ve seen the first movie, and that’s it. I thought I would be very confused. Surprisingly, I wasn’t. This book takes place after the murder of Bruce’s parents, but before he becomes Batman. 

We find Bruce just weeks away from his high school graduation. He’s slated to attend a charity event in his name, against his better judgment. He tries to escape the escape the paparazzi by ditching his own event but to no avail. He ends up covered by even more paparazzi. His little”stunt” lands him community service on the Elizabeth Arkham Asylum for the Criminally Insane. There he meets Madeline Wallace, a girl who supposedly has ties to the Nightwalkers. The Nightwalkers have been terrorizing the rich and famous of Gotham City lately. She’s a quiet girl who becomes mute when the police come. Then something happens and all of that changes.

This was a great read. I love the new DC ICONS series, and I love how it portrays the heroes before they became famous. If you're looking for the classic villains from the Dark Knight trilogy, you won’t find them here.