A Torch Against The Nightby Sabaa Tahir Book Review

Title: A Torch Against The Night

Author: Sabaa Tahir

Publisher: Razorbill; Penguin Random House

Publication Date: August 2016

Genre: High Fantasy

Rate: 4.5/5

Synopsis:

After the events of the Fourth Trial, Martial soldiers hunt the two fugitives as they flee the city of Serra and undertake a perilous journey through the heart of the Empire. Laia is determined to break into Kauf—the Empire’s most secure and dangerous prison—to save her brother, who is the key to the Scholars' survival. And Elias is determined to help Laia succeed, even if it means giving up his last chance at freedom. But dark forces, human and otherworldly, work against Laia and Elias. The pair must fight every step of the way to outsmart their enemies: the bloodthirsty Emperor Marcus, the merciless Commandant, the sadistic Warden of Kauf, and, most heartbreaking of all, Helene—Elias’s former friend and the Empire’s newest Blood Shrike. Bound to Marcus's will, Helene faces a torturous mission of her own—one that might destroy her: find the traitor Elias Veturius and the Scholar slave who helped him escape...and kill them both.

           

I received a review copy of this book from Penguin Random House Global. So much thanks for sending me a copy of the book I requested. As I always love and cherish their books to the deepest parts of my heart.

            How could I even begin to review a book I loved so much as this one. It’s really hard to summon the words. But I must.

            I love the voices of Laia, Elias and Helene in my head while reading this book. They are so real and vivid. As if I’m really hauled to the Empire and Serra and witnessing everything with my own two eyes. The heartbreak and hopelessness that leaks on every page is so palpable I really can’t honestly find the air to breathe. I’m awed and at the same time loathed the brutality of it all. I hated like I’ve never hated anyone before the antagonist, the Commandant, the Emperor, and the Night Bringer.

            I was so frustrated throughout the whole book though because Helene just doesn’t deserve that too much pain. My heart is breaking all over again for her just as I’m writing this but I know she’s stronger than any character I’ve ever read and she’s going to withstand it all, have her revenge, and finally be loved. She needs to be loved. She must be. For all she’s gone through. All those power, authority, fierceness, and loyalty spent on the wrong things and wrong people are too much to handle even for me.

            Bleeding hells. I love Elias Veturius too much, it hurts. He’s so committed and loyal to the girl (shh it’s Laia lol) who honestly is too stupid sometimes but I can’t really blame her because one can be desperate for care and love especially in dire times. It was Elias’s fault in the first place so how could I hate Laia, she just loved and care too much which is definitely the flaw on her armor.

Fault me perhaps but I needed more Laia and Elias from the beginning of the book. I was definitely starving for the both of them but circumstances just couldn’t keep them together. It hurts. I’d say this book is a too excellent sequel except for the romance part because I definitely felt deprived. Well crafted, well organized an definitely make you feel the feels! Btw look out for plot twists! They’ll gonna catch you unguarded,

Sabaa is a very very very good author and writer and I really really really hope to meet her in person one day (and Renee Ahdieh as well, her soul sister). I just love them and their books so much. Hope you come to the Philippines soon. Seriously if you haven’t picked up An Ember in The Ashes and A Torch Against The Night, you’re missing out the best books of the year. So go on then! Read these first before the others on your TBR list!

I made some fanarts for A Torch and An Ember and they're actually available on my RB shop! Just click the images below.

 

Rose & Thorn by Sarah Prineas Book Review

Title: Rose and Thorn

Author: Sarah Prineas

Publisher: HarperTeen; HarperCollins

Publication Date: October 2016

Genre: Retelling

Rate: 4/5

Synopsis:

           

After the spell protecting her is destroyed, Rose seeks safety in the world outside the valley she had called home. She’s been kept hidden all her life to delay the three curses she was born with—curses that will put her into her own fairy tale and a century-long slumber. Accompanied by Griff, the handsome and mysterious Watcher, and Quirk, his witty and warmhearted partner, Rose tries to escape from the ties that bind her to her story. But will the path they take lead them to freedom, or will it bring them straight into the fairy tale they are trying to avoid?

I received an advanced review copy (arc) of this book from HarperCollins International. So much thanks for giving me the chance to read it before it can be released to the public. As I always love and cherish their books to the deepest parts of my heart.

            I’ve not yet read enough retellings (of the fairytales) to say I’m really into retellings. I’ve probably have read a two or more. This particular book is about a retelling of Sleeping Beauty in the most exact and realistic events possible that we could relate to this modern times. As it has been said it retells the story in a “big, bold way.”

            Yes, it does in fact. I’ve loved fairytales all my life but after reading this book I think I kind of understand something that I wasn’t able to before not yet reading this book. It is basically a story of a girl who had been protected and is now fighting against the default tale we know. Here the Stories (Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Beauty and the beast, etc.) is meant to happen again and again and again in an unending cycle experienced by different persons.

            Rose, our main character (MC) is trying and fighting to escape her destiny or might as well say it her enemy(the Story itself). She wants to make her own choices, make use of her will and love who she wants. She doesn’t want to be another girl who will sleep for another hundred years. The love interest here is my favourite kind; the guy who shuts people out because they think of him as unfeeling and is not capable of love. Find out how these two will find their way to each other.

            This book is just of the medium pace but I find myself wanting to read the following chapter after the next just because. This book has all the most significant and topics of this present time, abuse, sexuality, love. And yes I’ve never read a fairytale come to life retelling as bold as this one. Might as well grab one if you see it in a bookstore somewhere.

The Secret Heart of A Note by Stacey Lee ARC Review

Title: The Secret Heart of a Note

Author: Stacey Lee

Publisher: Katherine Tegen; HarperCollins

Publication Date: December 2016

Genre: Cute Contemporary

Rate: 4.5/5

Synopsis:

Sometimes love is right under your nose. As one of only two aromateurs left on the planet, sixteen-year-old Mimosa knows what her future holds: a lifetime of weeding, mixing love elixirs, and matchmaking—all while remaining incurably alone. For Mim, the rules are clear: falling in love would render her nose useless, taking away her one great talent. Still, Mimosa doesn’t want to spend her life elbow-deep in soil and begonias. She dreams of a normal high school experience with friends, sports practices, debate club, and even a boyfriend. But when she accidentally gives an elixir to the wrong woman and has to rely on the lovesick woman’s son, the school soccer star, to help fix the situation, Mim quickly begins to realize that falling in love isn’t always a choice you can make.

           

I received an advanced review copy (arc) of this book from HarperCollins International. So much thanks for giving me the chance to read it before it can be released to the public. As I always love and cherish their books to the deepest parts of my heart.

Did you know that heartbreak smells like Blue Berries and love smells something sweet and cold (but I won’t yet tell what it is) you’ll know it when you read it.

I never really thought the sense of smell and plants could be very, very interesting. That is just what Miss Stacey Lee did with her book. She put in the sense of smell as the top sense of a person (to be specific; an aromateur) and made the scents of plants as an indication of someone’s feelings and personality. I’ve read books in which the MCs (main characters) can see colors or auras of people and associated them with how they feel, but I’ve never really encountered a book like this one on the sense of smell except a bit on werewolves and some characters that could turn into some animal form. I adored this book because it was extraordinary and because I’m partial to reading very original concepts.

            So Mim here is like the girl in which the future generations are dependent to and their spider web-thread-aromateur linage. She’s her mother’s apprentice while having high school. She could smell your unique scent or notes (as called in this book). Their nose is like a thousand times more powerful than the ordinary noses. She’s fighting for the life she wants and what her mother and basically the whole universe is expecting her to live. It’s either fall in love or lose your power in her case her extraordinary sense of smell). I’ll leave it there for you guys to figure out. I wouldn’t want to spoil anything.

            This book has the perfect blend of fluffiness, lightness, romance and so much interesting facts about plants. This is another book you could read in one sitting if you’re industrious enough or no other stuff to do. It is also one of the most adorable books I’ve ever read in the history of YA. And right now I just so badly want to know what my scent is and what my heart notes are. Let me guess I probably smell like despair, broken dreams, and hopes and it could be like antiseptic or some banana or coconut lol. Anyway read this book when it comes out (on December!) You’ll love it as much as I did. I just know.