Book Review: A Torch Against the Night by Sabaa Tahir

A Torch Against the Night by Sabaa Tahir (An Ember in the Ashes #2) / My rating: ★★★★1/2

One sentence summary: Laia and Elias begin their journey to Kauf Prison to free Laia’s imprisoned brother from the Martial Empire, and Helene must capture Elias and execute him.

“I thought you told me you loved stories. Have you ever heard a story of an adventurer with a sane plan?”

“Well…no.”

“And why do you think that is?” 

I am at a loss. “Because…ah, because-“

She chuckles again. “Because sane plans never work, girl,” she says. “Only the mad ones do.” 

Book Review: An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir

An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir (An Ember in the Ashes #1) / My rating:★★★★☆

One sentence summary: Laia enters slavery as a spy in order to save her brother Darin, who is taken by the Martial Empire, while Elias is a soldier who desires freedom, but is chosen to enter The Trials to become emperor of the Martial Empire.

Life is made of so many moments that mean nothing. Then one day, a single moment comes along to define every second that comes after. The moment Darin called out—that was such a moment. It was a test of courage, of strength. And I failed it.

Book Review: The Secret History by Donna Tartt

The Secret History by Donna Tartt / My rating: ★★★★★

One sentence summary: Richard Papen leaves California to go to a quaint college in Vermont where he studies Ancient Greek and partakes in murder.

“Do you think they’ll start looking tonight?” 

“They’ll look for him, certainly. Whether they’ll look in the right place is something else.”

No one said anything for a moment. Charles, thoughtfully, rattled the ice in his glass. “You know,” he said, “we’ve done a terrible thing.” 

Book Review: Carry On by Rainbow Rowell

Carry On by Rainbow Rowell / My Rating: ★★★ 1/2

One sentence summary: Simon Snow is the most powerful magician in the world but he isn’t very good at magic, and is enemies with his roommate, Baz, but he isn’t very good at staying enemies.

Just when you think you’re having a scene without Simon, he drops in to remind you that everyone else is a supporting character in his catastrophe.

Book Review: Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli

Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli / My rating: ★★★★★

One sentence summary: Simon Spier exchanges anonymous emails with another closeted gay boy in his high school, “Blue” – and risks both of their secrets when his email is seen by the wrong set of eyes.

The way I feel about him is like a heartbeat – soft and persistent, underlying everything. 

Book Review: Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta

Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta / My rating: ★★★★★

One sentence summary: There’s a boy in a tree in Taylor Markham’s dreams, she’s her school’s leader in the annual territory wars, and as she uncovers the mysteries of the kids who started them she begins to unravel her own past.

I ran away one day. He was running in the same direction.

Book Review: Know Not Why by Hannah Johnson

Know Not Why by Hannah Johnson / My rating: ★★★☆☆

One sentence summary: College student Howie Jenkins gets a job at a craft shop with the intention of meeting girls and ends up falling for his (male) boss instead.

I remember, in the dim corner of my brain that hasn’t been switched off yet by Arthur’s touch, this poem I had to read for a class ages ago, one I liked the concept of, something about liking your body with someone else’s body because suddenly it’s so new a thing. I can’t believe I’m thinking about poems right now. Then again, maybe these are the moments that poems are for. 

Book Review: Magnus Chase and the Sword of Summer by Rick Riordan

Magnus Chase and the Sword of Summer by Rick Riordan (Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard #1)/ My rating: ★★★★★

One sentence summary: Magnus, sixteen year old son of a Norse god, goes on a quest to keep the wolf that killed his mother from going free and setting doomsday into motion.

“You sacrificed yourself to save a lot of people.” Her words sounded like a compliment. Her tone sounded like she was calling me an idiot.

Book Review: Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater

Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater (Wolves of Mercy Falls #1) / My rating: ★★☆☆☆

One sentence summary: Grace is in love with a wolf boy, Sam, whom she finds human and wounded on her doorstep, and romance ensues as they try to find a way to keep him from turning back into a wolf.

It tore my heart out, because I heard his voice. The wolves sang slowly behind him, bittersweet harmony, but all I heard was Sam.

Book Review: Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo

Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo (The Grisha Trilogy #2) / My rating: ★★★★☆

One sentence summary: Sun Summoner Alina Starkov meets a peculiar privateer, makes new allies, tries to make the best choices to protect herself, her friends, and to save her country, and can’t escape the shadow of the Darkling.

“Weakness is a guise. Wear it when they need to know you’re human, but never when you feel it.”