The Twilight Saga by Stephenie Meyer - video review

The complete series review of The Twilight Saga by Stephenie Meyer.

This video is also available on my YouTube channel Wicked Ideas. There is also a written review available under 'Written Reviews' on this blog.

Thank You for watching!

Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas (2012)

Title: Throne of Glass
Author: Sarah J. Maas
Series: Throne of Glass #1
Pages: 404
Published: Aug 2nd 2012
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Childrens


It's taken me so long to get to read these books. And is been all over booktube and bookstagram. When I finally got to it though I read half of it in a day (I know, not in one sitting) but I was crazy obsessed.

I absolutely loved the genre!! For those of you who have read high fantasy such as A Song of Ice And Fire series by George R.R. Martin (aka Game of Thrones) there's always loads of politics, dual narratives and characters. But this book managed without crazy complications. There we're enough characters and narratives to keep track of. Nothing got confusing but not once did I get bored because it wasn't enough.

The characters were really strong. I liked that Celeana wasn't just a badass assassin without emotion or girly aspects. She may have had boyish aspects but she loved her dresses and shoes and she liked reading!! Her sass was amazing. This is probably why I like Tyrion so much in A Song of Ice and Fire. All the witty remarks!!! I haven't read much about the love aspect of Throne of Glass online because I didn't want my views of he characters to be affected by other people's opinions but personally I am more of a Chaol person. Why was she attracted to Dorian so much? I love his kindness and the fact that he has a library etc but Chaol is the one! I can't express how much I love his character. The only thing that bothers me is his incredible loyalty to the King, but his loyalty still makes him a good and loyal person. I can't find anything bad except for the fact that he can't admit that he has feelings for Celeana and it's crystal clear that he has. I just think Celeana should be with Chaol an I don't understand why she chooses Dorian. Nehemia's character was another good addition for Celeana's girlier side. She was clearly involved in the greater plot and I thought just like Celeana for a moment that she might be responsible for the murders.

I thought Throne of Glass was almost like a mix between The Hungergames, Divergent and A Song of Ice and Fire. The Hungergames because there was a competition where there could only be one winner and she had to train for it. Also, archery. Divergent because people was eliminated, but not necessarily killed and similarly trains for it. If Celeana had fallen for Chaol it would have been incredibly similar. And of course A Song of Ice and Fire because of the fantasy and magic and similarity in setting.

As most of you will know Throne of Glass is inspired by Cinderella, as implied by the title. She also dresses up for a masquerade even though she's not allowed to go and dances with the prince.

The magic is very cleverly interwoven with the narrative and the involvement of several other characters. The link to the past Queen is also a great satisfaction as it creates two challenges for Celeana that she has to solve or achieve.

Plot Summary:

Meet Celeana Sardothien.
Beautiful. Deadly.
Destined for Greatness.

In the dark, filthy salt mines of Endovier, an eighteen-year-old girl is serving a life sentence. She is a trained assassin, the best of her kind, but she made a fatal mistake. She got fought.

Young Captain Westfall offers her a deal: her freedom in return for one huge sacrifice. Celeana must represent the prince in a to-the-death tournament - fighting the most gifted thieves and assassins in the land. Live or die, Celeana will be free. Win or loose, she is about to discover her true destiny. But will her assassin's heart be melted?

- as on the back of the book

Favourite Quote:

"I can survive well enough on my own - if given the proper reading materials." - Celeana from 'Throne of Glass' by Sarah J. Maas

My Rating:

10/10
Completely hooked!

Other Books in this Series:

The Assassin's Blade (Throne of Glass Prequel)
Throne of Glass (Throne of Glass #1)
Crown of Midnight (Throne of Glass #2)
Heir of Fire (Throne of Glass #3)
Queen of Shadows (Throne of Glass #4)
Empire of Storms (Throne of Glass #5)

Other Books by this Sarah J. Maas:

A Court of Thorns and Roses (A Court of Thorns and Roses #1)

A Court of Mist and Fury (A Court of Thorns and Roses #2)

A Court of Wings and Ruin (A Court of Thorns and Roses #3)

The Wolves of Mercy Falls by Maggie Stiefvater - video review

The complete series review for 'The Wolves of Mercy Falls' by Maggie Stiefvater. A written review is also available for each separate book on 'Written Reviews'.

This video is also available on my YouTube channel here.

Thanks for watching!

Beautiful Broken Things by Sara Bernard (2016)

Title: Beautiful Broken Things
Author: Sara Barnard
Pages: 430
Published: Feb 25th 2016
Publisher: Macmillan Children's Books UK


I got this book as part of Zoella's book bundle from WHSmith, hence the change in cover. When I went to Sweden for five days with my friend (who also got the bundle) she chose this book while I chose 'Carry On' by Rainbow Rowell. Halfway through the trip, when we had both finished our respective books, we switched and I read 'Beautiful Broken Things' by Sara Bernard. I therefore ended up crying on the plane home at midnight.

This book covered a good subject and I think it was good that it wasn't all about boys but rather friendship and family. It brought up things in teenagers everyday life such as drinking, parties, school and grades, parents, and, sex. However, no matter how good the subject of plot was, I felt that the characters were week at points and I easily got upset or angry at them.

To begin with, the protagonist Caddy got extremely annoying at moments. I could understand her feelings, but they did not excuse her actions. She cared more for how much she was allowed to know than what Suzanne actually wanted to tell her (Suzanne's own secrets). She had no respect for other people's personal space or lives but rather what rights she had in knowing. Suzanne was a troubled person and in need of love, but she also had no respect for the trouble she caused others (even if she apologised for it). Rosie seemed to be the only sane person to stay out of everything, but she also got ridiculously angry and behaved immaturely.

The ending however was really good. I was very nervous by the climax and I even had to put down the book at moments. I also think it was resolved well and I was satisfied with the outcome. 

I think, generally this was a good Young Adult book (since I don't read many contemporaries I don't have loads to compare to) but I don't think it was close to some of the really good ones I've read. I didn't laugh or cry as much as I've done in other books. I was moved, but it did not have as much impact on me as any other book. However, if you are up for an easy read about friendship and loss then this book is good.

Plot Summary:

Caddy and Rosie have always been inseparable. But that was before Suzanne.
Now Caddy wants to be more than just the quiet one. She wants something to happen.
I was brave...
Suzanne is trying to escape her past and be someone different. Someone free.
She was reckless...
But sometimes downward spirals have a momentum of their own.
We were trouble...
And no one can break your heart like your best friend,

My Rating:

6/10

At moments I felt like I was ranting more at the characters than actually enjoying the book. 

Other Books by Sara Barnard:

A Quiet Kind of Thunder

Lady Midnight (The Dark Artifices, Book 1) by Cassandra Clare (2016)

Title: Lady Midnight
Author: Cassandra Clare
Series: The Dark Artifices #1
Pages: 698
Published: Mar 8th 2016
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books


I got this as soon as I heard it was out. I saw it at WHSmith but didn't have money with me so when I went to Waterstones the day after I bought it. The Waterstones copy had fancy blue edges that I was very pleased with. And then I heard that the WHSmith had fan art in it which I had missed. I got slightly annoyed at myself but then I thought that there is an unlimited amount of fan art online.

It took my a while to adapt to the book. I had just fallen asleep crying the night before from the ending of City of Heavenly Fire and still recovering from it not to mention that Emma and Julian had been 12 years old in City of Heavenly Fire and they were all of a sudden 17. After a few chapters though, I was hooked.

I was afraid that the characters might be dull and the plot less unique after two series set in the same Shadowhunter world. But fear not! This book was sooooo good. All the characters were special and unique and had really strong personalities. I loved little details such as Ty's way of thinking, Dru's love for horror movies, Tavvy's need for a push animals, Liv's talent in maths not to mention Julian's passion for painting and Emma's fear for running and fondness for vintage clothes. The plot was crazy good, full of action and tension like in all Clare's books. 

I absolutely adore Mark Blackthorn and I started to ship him and Christina until Perfect Diego turned up and ruined it. I loved their moments of talking and from the beginning I thought Christina and Mark may develop a bond which he couldn't with his siblings or Emma. His torn emotions for his family and the Hunt was great. And I thought for a good while that he might choose the Hunt (it wouldn't have surprised me considering what Clare has done to us in the past) but I think it was evident after the whipping that he wasn't.

The whipping itself was an amazing scene. I'm just gonna leave it at that.

The plot surrounding the poems and Malcolm were all really clever. I must have been as confused as everyone else. And I like that no dramatic irony is created, but that we know just as much as the characters and find out with them.

Finally, I am so grateful that Clare keeps returning to her other characters and we get to catch up with their lives. Simon and Izzy getting married. OMG!!!! And Malec having children. Everything about it is just wonderful. That Jem and Tessa keep on turning up and the link to Kit Rook. The only pain is seeing Jem and Tessa without Will. Hopefully though we will get a glimpse of him in The Last Hours, the new trilogy that Cassandra Clare is coming out with in 2017.

The Infernal Devices will forever be my favourite series from Cassandra Clare because nothing can beat Wessa and I'm in love with Victorian London. However, this book had brought different values to the spotlight. In all her books, themes such as love, friendship and betrayal have been precent. But never has family been so important as in Lady Midnight. This plot surrounded around family and the importance of it and I feel like that aspect of life can often be overlooked in fantasy or science fiction. If you want to cover that theme you often have to turn to the YA contemporary genre, but this was interweaved so well in the plot and through the characters.

Plot Summary:

In a kingdom by the sea...

In a secret world where half-angel warriors are sworn to fight demons, parabatai is a sacred word. A parabatai is your parter in battle. A parabatai is your best friend. Parabatai can be everything to each other - but they can never fall in love.

Emma Carstairs is a warrior, a Shadowhunter. She lives for battle. Alongside her parabatai, Julian Blackthorn, she patrols Los Angeles, where vampire party on the Sunset Strip, and dearies - the most powerful of supernatural creatures - teeter on the edge of war with Shadowhunters. When bodies of human and dearies are found murdered in the same way Emma's parents were when she was a child an uneasy alliance is formed. This is Emma's chance for revenge and Julian's chance to get back his brother Mark, who is being held by the dearie Courts. All they have to do is solve the murders within two weeks... and before the murderer targets them.

Their search takes Emma from sea caves full of sorcery to a dark lottery where death is dispensed. And each clue she unravels uncovers more secrets. What has Julian been hiding from her all these years? Why does Shadowhunter Law forbid parabatai to fall in love? Who really killed her parents - and can she bear to know the truth?

My Rating:

10/10
One of the best. So looking forward for the next book.

Other Books in this Series:

Lady Midnight (The Dark Artifices #1)
Lord of Shadows (The Dark Artifices #2)

Other books by Cassandra Clare:

City of Bones (The Mortal Instruments #1)
City of Ashes (The Mortal Instruments #2)
City of Glass (The Mortal Instruments #3)
City of Fallen Angels (The Mortal Instruments #4)
City of Lost Souls(The Mortal Instruments #5)
City of Heavenly Fire (The Mortal Instruments #6)

Clockwork Angel (The Infernal Devices #1)
Clockwork Prince (The Infernal Devices #2)
Clockwork Princess (The Infernal Devices #3)