Book Thoughts: Shadow and Bone

Title: Shadow and Bone
Author: Leigh Bardugo
Series: Grisha #1

After the first chapter of this one, I was reeling trying to keep track of all of the Russian-influenced words and place names. I’ll give it one more chapter, I told myself, and then I will put it down for the night.

The next time I bothered to check anything, I was several chapters and 53 pages into the book. I just had to know what would happen to Alina, what the Darkling’s secrets were, and whether they really could brave the Shadow Fold.

Leigh Bardugo creates in this series a fascinating world, obviously influenced by Russia but something entirely its own. And the Grisha are just a fantastic new twist on elemental magic. I thought I was going to be super confused trying to keep the details straight, but the writing makes it actually very easy to keep up. The story is unabashedly honest, dark, and twisty — and also beautiful. I put it down only to sleep. After the first chapter, I didn’t think I was going to like it, but keep going, because by the end of the book? I was turning pages hungrily and waiting desperately for the sequel.

Book Thoughts: Throne of Glass

Title: Throne of Glass
Author: Sarah J. Maas
Series: Throne of Glass #1
*Imported from tumblr.*

At seventeen, Celaena Sardothien was the world’s most feared assassin. At eighteen, she is broken after a year spent slaving in the salt mines. But now she has the chance to fight for her freedom and become the King’s Champion — assuming whoever (or whatever) is murdering the competition doesn’t kill her first.

I never thought I would so love a protagonist with so few qualms about killing, but Celaena’s hard, tough sass is matched by her innocent appreciation for beauty and youthful femininity. She’s one of the most fun leading ladies I’ve encountered lately, and one of the most human.

Also, the world this is set in is so cool! Magic has fled the kingdom… but maybe not as much as the magic-fearing King would hope. I can’t wait for the next book (releasing this August) to find out more about the history of this world!

Fans of high fantasy and/or sass, mystery, determination, and a little romance should definitely check this one out.

Book Thoughts: The Princess Bride

Title: The Princess Bride
Author: William Goldman

Princess Bride is one of the rare cases where I watched the movie before I read the book. I didn't even know the movie was based on a book until I'd been watching and loving the movie for years. It is still one of my favorite movies. So when I found out it was a book, of course I had to read it.

And I was not disappointed.

The witty and sarcastic narration, the hilarious shenanigans, the larger-than-life characters -- it's all here. TPB is one of the most faithful book-to-film adaptations I've ever seen: it truly captures the heart and soul of the book and even manages to keep a lot of the dialogue identical while still translating well to film.

But they're different, too. There were scenes from the book (as there will be with any book-to-film transition) that didn't make it into the film. It was like getting extra adventures with Inigo and Fezzik!

If you've seen and enjoyed the movie, read the book. So, so, so worth it. And if you haven't seen the movie -- read the book anyway! And then watch the movie after.

I love this story so much, you guys.

Book Thoughts: The Demon King

Title: The Demon King
Author: Cinda Williams Chima
Series: Seven Realms #1

I read this at the prompting of both my roommate and my brother and was not disappointed. It has the air of a typical fantasy novel: small villages and ornate palaces, swordfights (no gunpowder), and a mysterious history riddled with magic. And of course, there are evil wizards (and not-so-evil wizards).

I can't give this book a summary that does it justice (seriously, check out the Goodreads link), but I can tell you that I was sucked into both the lore and the story and very much drawn to the characters. Raisa is an awesome mix of kick-ass and the more typically feminine traits, and Han is a wonderful hero as well.

Fortunately, my brother has the second and third books in the series, so I'll be stealing borrowing those soon!

Book Thoughts: Magic Under Glass

Title: Magic Under Glass
Author: Jaclyn Dolamore
Series: Magic Under #1

This was such a good book. Beautifully written, like Jane Austen infused with sorcery, and it's so poetic and magical and it's a wonderful love story and it's so great.

Nimira is a dancing girl in a poor city, seeking her fortunes after her father's fall from grace. She gets the opportunity to go live with and work for a sorcerer, Mr. Hollin Parry, and sing with his automaton. But the automaton is more alive than anyone realizes, and Nimira may be the only one who can save him. MAGIC UNDER GLASS is a beautiful love story about a girl torn between "a man she does not love and a man she cannot have" (from the jacket cover) and it was so good and so sweet and oh my goodness everyone should read it because it was fantastic.

Book Thoughts: Mistwood

Title: Mistwood
Author: Leah Cypess

This one took me longer than I liked to get into it, but once I did, it was excellent. I absolutely recommend it. Read it.

MISTWOOD is about Isabel. Isabel is the Shifter - the legendary creature formed from mist who can shift into anything and is sworn to protect the royal family. She is anything but human. Loyalty is all she knows. Her life does not matter. Only the safety of the king is important to her.

But all of a sudden, Isabel has emotions. After ten years alone in the Mistwood, not having served the previous king for a reason that Isabel cannot remember, she is called back to her duties by Prince Rokan, and this time, things are different. And when a disputed succession challenges everything she thought she knew about herself and her loyalties, Isabel has to determine what it really means to be the Shifter.

MISTWOOD was very well-crafted, and Isabel's character is so easy to relate to even though she's not human. The perspective was very different from the norm - we get the world through the eyes of someone not human - and it just makes you want to read more. Also, there's a lot of talk about the various relationships between people and what it means to love, but it is in no way a sappy romance novel. Like, at all. This is a great book, you guys.

Book Thoughts: The Color of Magic/The Light Fantastic

Title: The Color of Magic (book 1), The Light Fantastic (book 2)
Author: Terry Pratchett
Series: Discworld #1 and 2

Rincewind is a failed wizard. Twoflower is the Disc's first tourist. The Disc? It's a flat world carried through space on the back of a giant turtle.

It sounds strange, but bear with me. Brilliant satire. Intelligent, laugh-out-loud humor. Bizarre adventures. Excellent writing.

Not to mention some ridiculous shenanigans involving a Spell that has lodged itself in Rincewind's mind, a magical picture-box, some barbarians, RP-ing gods, and of course, the Luggage that has a mind of its own. The Luggage may be my favorite character. (Unless Death is my favorite character.)

There is some seriously awesome world-development going on here, plus some stories that you will not want to miss. They're very difficult books to describe to anyone, but they are definitely worth reading.

Book Thoughts: The Hobbit

Title: The Hobbit
Author: J.R.R. Tolkien

The first time I read The Hobbit, I was in... fifth grade I think? Maybe sixth? I was young. I loved it then because it was an adventure story and I loved the characters and I ate up anything to do with fantasy and adventures and elves and goblins and dwarves and all of that.

Rereading it as a college sophomore, I was still captivated by the adventure, but it meant so much more. I was processing it with a more adult mind, I was understanding things on a whole different level, I was appreciating the writing and the storytelling and not just the adventure of Mr. Bilbo Baggins -- but I still loved it. (Also, I like the writing style of this one way more than the actual LotR trilogy.)

It's hard to put into words what makes this such a fun story. Adventure, danger, dragons, dwarves, goblins, battles, yes; but also something about Bilbo's indignation about the whole thing and his reluctant but outstanding heroism. Bilbo Baggins is a character who makes me want to read more about him.