Review: Blood for Blood by Ryan Graudin

My rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

What a book and what a duology. This sequel had me on the edge of my seat as much as the first and had just as many exciting and unexpected twists and turns. At first, I read this book quite slowly because I didn’t want my time in this world to end, but I raced through the last 150 or so pages as each development meant this book was simply unputdownable. There were parts that made me smile, parts that made me want to cry (especially chapter 49) and parts that left my mouth hanging open in shock. I couldn’t recommend this duology highly enough and am just sad that I didn’t read this book sooner.

[Goodreads parallel]

Review: Crescent City by Sarah J. Maas

My rating: ⭐⭐⭐

This book succeeded in being intriguing and it was definitely a story that I wanted to follow through to the end. To say that it was 800 pages, it didn’t feel that long, but I do remember getting to page 200 and thinking that I was going to be in for a long ride. Deciding how I feel about this book has been difficult, in part I think due to its length because over so many pages, a lot happened. But, overall, there were aspects of this book that I didn’t like and certainly dampened my enjoyment of the story.

Firstly, and because it plays such a key role within the story, I didn’t like the relationship between Hunt and Bryce. I felt like them eventually getting together was too obvious even though they started off their relationship as ‘enemies’. As their relationship developed, it didn’t make me feel anything more for them, both as individuals and as a pair. Maybe it’s because, in typical Sarah J. Maas style, I assume they won’t remain together in the next book and that expectation has made me wary of wanting them to be together.

Secondly, whilst I enjoyed the final fight for Crescent City and found the fight scenes enjoyable to read, I didn’t like how Bryce’s firstlight fixed the city, repairing buildings and healing the injured. Whilst I’m glad the dead stayed dead, it felt like too much of a happy ending after this book trying to be more gritty and real by having main characters killed off and accepting the darker sides of life. Personally, I would have enjoyed it more if Hunt had died, especially as he was literally described as having been almost blown apart. Maybe that’s because I don’t like the relationship between Hunt and Bryce that much, but still.

As well as that, I thought Hunt’s betrayal and the whole storyline with the synth deal on the ship was poorly done. Throughout the book we had Hunt’s perspective and from that, I didn’t get the indication that he would want to start another rebellion, especially after how the last one had gone. It seemed to appear out of nowhere and be for the sore purpose of separating Hunt from Bryce for the final showdown.

So, why didn’t I give this book a lower rating? Because the story still kept me engaged throughout the bits that I didn’t like, because I wanted to have an answer to some of the mysteries and because of Ruhn. To me, he was one of the best characters in the book and I was hoping to see a lot more from him than we actually did. In the initial stages of the investigation, we got some chapters from his perspective and I thought that would be a continuing theme, but then they seemed to drop off until the end of the book. Still, I held out hope that we would hear more from him because even though he was treated badly by Bryce, I cared about him and what would happen to him.

[Goodreads parallel]

Books and Music

I’m someone who can’t read in silence. There needs to be some other noise, preferably music, but if that isn’t possible then the sounds of other people or rain outside is a must. Something about having to force my mind to focus on the book instead of the music helps me to read, though if the plot is particularly complex then the low-fi beats are what I choose.

Sometimes though, I end up listening to one song on repeat while reading and whenever I read that book or hear that song, I think of the other.

This has happened memorably with three books and songs.

The first was The Iron Fey series by Julie Kagawa. Reading this series as a teen, I was deep in my Panic! at the Disco phase and so the whole time I read this series I was listening to ‘The Only Difference Between Martyrdom and Suicide is Press Coverage’ from their first album. Does this relate to the series in any way? Not really, though I suppose connections can be made by the story that the song tells and it saying to not trust those in power which the series explored to some extent. Still, whenever I hear that song, I think of the Iron Fey series.

The second was The Grisha Trilogy by Leigh Bardugo, and while I was reading those three books I was listening to ‘Bloom’ by The Paper Kites. To me, the song is quite magical, and it put me right into the historical, Russian-esque setting. Despite all the action in those books, listening to that song and having it as my reminder of them makes my memory of the series take on a calm and relaxing nature. I’m sure if I reread them, I would be taken aback by how unlike that they are.

And finally, and most recently, while I was reading Wayward Son by Rainbow Rowell, I was listening to Harry Styles’ Fine Line album, which soon switched to just my favourite song from that album, ‘Golden’. Now all I can think of when I listen to that song is Simon, Baz and Penelope taking their road trip across America. I think of all the songs that I’ve made a connection to books with, this one holds the strongest connection in terms of fitting the themes of the book. To me, it symbolises how Simon and Baz think of each other, how they’re scared of being with each other and how much they really like each other. I think without this connection to the song, I wouldn’t have enjoyed the book half as much and it makes me more invested in their relationship than I was before.