Snow, Glass, Apples by Neil Gaiman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I love how creepy it is and how some aspects from the original story was still there. This book doesn't disappoint.

This is no lovey-dovey retelling. it's from the Queen's point of view and precious little snow-white and her prince are not exactly normal.

"At first the prince seemed excited. He bade me remove my shift, and made me stand in front of the opened window, far from the fire, until my skin was chilled stone-cold. Then he asked me to lie upon my back, with my hands folded across my breasts, my eyes wide open – but staring only at the beams above. He told me not to move, and to breathe as little as possible. He implored me to say nothing. He spread my legs apart."
--------Dude, the prince has a fetish


"Her fingernails must have been as sharp as glass: she opened her breast with them, running them over the purple scar. Her chest gaped, suddenly, open and bloodless. She licked her heart, once, as the blood ran over her hands, and she pushed the heart deep into her breast."
-----snow white needs some mani-pedi


lets' not forget the part where "She straddled him, and she fed. As she did so a thin blackish liquid began to dribble from between her legs…" creeeepppyyyy!!





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The Looking Glass Wars by Frank Beddor
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

It's Alice In Wonderland re-imagined with more maturity if you will, in a game-like (RPG?) setting? I read the first book when I was in High school and maybe it's the reason why I got a teeny tiny bored with the book. Anyway, I know the original story was already complex what with its metaphors and allegories; in this version, the author made it complex in a way that government, politics, ethics and racial and gender prejudice is involved. Frank Beddor is what you might call a "feminist" and those are the elements why I like this book, aside from the art of course.

Queen Genevieve
"It's all in your head," the queen sighed. "Remember that, love. Whatever happens, it's all in your head."


Alyss Heart
“I've finished running from you, Redd. It's time for you to run."


Hatter Madigan


Bibwit Harte
"My dear, you can't imagine everything because you don't know everything there is to imagine"


Card Soldiers




Redd Heart
“Off with their heads!”


The Cat


King Arch of Borderland
“Boaderland: Where women could be given away by their husbands to pay debts.....


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The Demon in the Wood by Leigh Bardugo
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

That was it? I NEED more!!!



I am pleased that there is a short story about The Darkling's past and I hope there would be more. His life was tragic. Living in an era were Grisha were in hunted down, always in hiding , moving from one place to another . His mother was ambitious, beautiful and ruthless but in this book we get to see more how much she really loves him.

He closed his eyes. "I`m sorry."
She gave him the barest shake, forcing him to look at her. "I'm not. Do you understand me? I would burn a thousand villages, sacrifice a thousand lives to keep you safe. It would be us on that pyre if you hadn`t thought quickly."

In the end he was just a boy who wanted to enjoy life, to make friends and leave a mark on the world before he leaves it.






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The Tailor by Leigh Bardugo
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I've always had an inkling that Genya is/was sacrificing something for the fate of Grisha (The others have too). She knew she would have to betray a lot of people and be despised for it; but did it anyway because she believed it would be for the better.

"I can promise you safety," he said. "Or I can promise to see your suffering repaid a thousandfold."

Genya is not only beautiful,but strong with steel for a spine. She's definitely no wimp.

"Because I am a doll, and a servant. Because I am a pretty thing and a soldier all the same"







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Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I love it!

For me the plot was well written. Every twist and turn of the story was thought about.
The chapters are by the characters point of view, though there were times that I'd forget whose point of view I was reading. Also I like how the dealt with the stigma and stereotype of being different (Grisha) .

Characters
As the summary says:

A thief with a gift for unlikely escapes.

A spy known as the Wraith.

A Heartrender using her magic to survive the slums.

A convict with a thirst for revenge.

A sharpshooter who can't walk away from a wager.

A runaway with a privileged past.

By the end of the book the characters have grown to some extent. They've become, even if just for a tiny bit, a better version of themselves. I just wish there was a point of view for Wylan (Maybe in the next book?)

If you want adventure, almost impossible missions,friendship and a love story that's not sappy and all over your face then you should read this!


Pic from ©marty-mc.tumblr.com

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Ice Like Fire by Sara Raasch
My rating: 5 of 5 stars


" I will fix this, I promise them. Whatever it takes. Whoever I have to be. I will not let this world fall " - Meira

What???? NO!!!!...Damn Cliff Hanger!!! How could you leave me like this? September 2016 feels soooo faaaar awaaaaay!


Meltdown over. The second instalment of Snow Like Ashes series focuses on rebuilding and healing Winter after they regained their freedom from Spring. Meira learns to navigate the world of politics, intrigues and lies. She's torn apart between to being the wild orphan soldier girl who saved Winter to being the cautious Queen of Winter who must be thoughtful of her actions because her people depends on her. Aside from dealing with issues on identity, Meira also deals with another threat to Winter's newly acquired and fragile freedom. This book has a more mature tone to it. It shows the after effects of war and slavery. The Winterians try their best to heal, some opt to ignore the hurt and the past while others try to face it.

" We're all-he paused, rotating the snowflake-wildfower carving to show the script on the back-"the Children of the Thaw. Our own hybrid of the past and future. " - Mather




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Snow Like Ashes by Sara Raasch
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

No matter what happens, no matter who turns on me, no matter what pompous swine thinks he has power over me, I am still me. I will always be me

I saw this book way back and I remember not picking it up because it might be just another case of your usual YA where the world revolves around two teens in love or a love triangle etc. But after giving this a try, I know realized I was wrong.

Setting: set in a world where there are 8 Kingdoms; 4 of them called Seasons whose land as the name imply are in perpetual Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter. The other 4 are the Rhythms. Cordell, Ventralli , Paisly and Yakim who experience all four seasons (thus rhythm because they cycle through the normal rhythms of nature.)

Story: the story is told in Meira's point of view and orphan girl and soldier in training. Trying to prove her worth to Sir ( the man who's as close to a father as she has ever known) and trying to figure out her place in this mission to save their people, their home and their kingdom which she has no memory of .

Love Triangle: Yes. But not the usual "girl is in love with good/sensitive guy and bad/reckless/dangerous boy type".

Characters

Meira: Tough as nails but still a believable character who has insecurities and doubts. I love the part where she throws rocks at Sir and Mather out of anger and I like how Sarah Raasch doesn't focus or emphasize on looks, like how beautiful Meira is. The characters looks are described and there are mentions of beauty but it's the type where you choke on it because it's empahsized in every chapter.


Mather: Meira's childhood friend and "future king" of Winter. Mather is really good in hiding his emotions in a mask which frustrates Meira since she can't really be sure what Mather is thinking or feeling.


Sir: The man who raised and trained Mather and Meira. He hopes to raise Winter from destruction and free the Winterians who are now slaves. He almost never lets Meira go onto missions except for scouting for food, which frustrates Meira.


Prince Theron: Prince of Cordell one of the Rhythm kingdoms. He stands in the shadow of his father and would rather be a writer than a king. He often disagrees with his father on how to he treats the Winterians and his plans.


Angra: King of Spring. He destroyed Winter and enslaved its people except for 25 Winterians who escaped



Winter


Appearance:
white hair, pale skin, and striking blue eyes.



Spring


Appearance
blond hair, green eyes, and skin a few shades darker than Winterians.


Summer


Appearance:
Red Hair ,liquid brown eyes and tan skin


Autumn


Appearance:
hair hung in tendrils as dark as the night sky,coppery brown skin and dark colored eyes


P.S That's the closest pictures I could find to show how I imagine they would look like

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