I realise this a bit of a change from the bi-monthly reviews I write. However, between tweaking my new website and reading new material, I realised I neglected to write a few reviews in addition to needing to write my bi-monthly update.
Thus, we’re going to break from tradition a bit. The following reviews are for two series I’ve read. And as always, spoilers!
Malediction Trilogy by Danielle L. Jensen
I stumbled across this series thanks to Elise Kova, who was instagramming about Danielle coming to visit her. In said post, she mentioned Danielle’s Malediction Trilogy, which I proceeded to check-out, both via online and my local library.
When I read the description, I was a bit hesitant. On the one hand, it seemed slightly reminiscent of this other duology I had just read and wasn’t too impressed with; on the other, it seemed completely unique. I decided to take the chance, and I’m so glad I did.
You may or may not remember my rant about teen fiction, the lack of romance I found within recent pages and, ultimately, a lack of hope.
Reading this series was like the breath of fresh air I needed in a stale vacuum of plots overstuffed with treachery, deceit, and lies.
The story essentially is about two people who find themselves in the throes of Fate, or a vengeful witch, and the hope and love they come to share, which unites them in a fight for peace. It was this theme of hope which drew me into the story of the human girl wed to a troll prince in a feeble attempt to break a 500 year-old curse.
Sure, there were the usual elements: drama, intrigue, plot twists, provoking characters, a strange world full of fascinating creatures, romance. However, any story can have all these elements. It was the central hope the two main characters shared, their fight for restoration, for peace, which kept me dreaming (and reading) with them.
The ending especially was heart-wrenchingly beautiful and poignant. Jensen gave me exactly what I wanted, and I’ve never read a series which ended with such exquisite, gripping precision.
I also thoroughly enjoyed Jensen’s use of switching character perspectives. It kept me on my toes to analyse and guess what could be happening next by what she would reveal through another’s eyes. It also wasn’t as jarring as I’ve read in other works.
Overall, I think it was a brilliant, entertaining work of fiction, and the elemental plot-twists were sometimes harrowing. (I almost threw the book across the room at one of them.) More importantly, though, this story was inspiring. Authors could learn from Jensen’s intertwining pathos and ethos, and how their influence can encourage readers to keep coming back to their stories of hope.
A Court of Thorns and Roses series by Sarah J. Maas
As I said earlier, I neglected to write some reviews. This series would be those said books. (Although, I have reviewed the first.) What prompted me to realise my negligence was not only “synchronizing” my website with my new Goodreads account, but also reading the much anticipated novella A Court of Frost and Starlight. Which, by the way…
THAT REVEAL AT THE END OF THE NOVELLA? THE SERIES WILL CONTINUE?! *GASP* [insert screaming emojis]
I am beyond thrilled at such news. Here’s why:
The ACOTAR series is fascinating. What began as a loose adaptation of Beauty and the Beast turned into a heart-pounding, page-turning, plot-twisting, cheek-flushing epic. I was flabbergasted by how Maas just exploded her world into creation with the second book, A Court of Mist and Fury.
Of course, I saw the foundational elements slipped into the first book, and while the trajectory was predictable, what stunned me the most was the depth of her world’s creation.
Too often whenever I read a series, I feel as though it is more action-packed and events driven, trepidatiously wading in shallow waters. With this series, I was given a rich, historical world full of culture and life unlike most I’ve recently read.
Prythian felt real.
There was always some new bit of history, of mythology Maas was introducing in her novels, which I voraciously devoured amongst the spine-tingling drama, keeping me reading much later into the night than I should have.
Additionally, the underlying romance of the main characters – their support, trust, and acceptance for one another – was inspiring. Maas writes her characters well-flawed, multi-faceted, and their acceptance of each other, darkness as well as light, is the core of her story and resulting depth. Without them, this series would be similar to the others on the shelves: hollow.
More specifically, the journey of the main character, Feyre, to fully accept herself, all of herself – which Maas meticulously, strategically integrates as a key plot element – is motivating, and message we all need to hear and consider. The method Maas employs to deliver such a message, especially to an audience of young adults and teens, is inspiring to aspiring authors such as myself.
As far as the novella is concerned, A Court of Frost and Starlight was a beautiful vignette into these beloved characters’ everyday lives, and it was as though I were reading canonised fan fiction. I savoured every moment, every page. Unfortunately, I just know this means Maas is setting us readers up for some serious nail-biting drama and consequential pain in the next editions to the series.
Regardless, I cannot wait to read what happens next!
A Small Beginning
No One is Alone
Hope for the New Year
The Hidden Power of Yud
