Monthly Round Up (3)

Monthly round up is a journal where I record my reading progress, reviews, and my favourite books/biggest disappointments of the month.

Reviews:

The Mirror King
Reign of Shadows
Assassin's Heart
Da Vinci's Tiger
The Pyramids of London
The Steep & Thorny Way
DNF: Steal The Sky

ALSO:

Download 3 bookish bookmarks to celebrate my new blog design!!!

What I've read this month:

I wanted to get through more books this month, and I'm happy with how many I read. Still some DNFs though. Sigh. Sword & Verse was a let down, and Steal the Sky was less about skies and more about a drawn-out theft that probably didn't happen until the last 5%.

I'm continuing to reread Harry Potter (a chapter per day or less) and I read WAY more this month than I thought. Pretty darn pleased. Wanted to finish Red Witch, but just didn't have the time. Next month, definitely though!

Favourite book:

Fowler is everything.

Biggest Disappointment:

Where was the gods damned ship??????? The cover tricked me into thinking it'd be set on an airship but I got around 50% in and nope. Still bitter about it.

ARC Review: The Mirror King

The Orphan Queen: The Mirror King | Jodi Meadows

Published by: Katherine Tegen, April 5th 2016

Genre: YA, High Fantasy

Pages: 544

Format: Ebook

Source: Katherine Tegen Books, via Edelweiss

Wilhelmina has a hundred enemies.

HER FRIENDS HAVE TURNED. After her identity is revealed during the Inundation, Princess Wilhelmina is kept prisoner by the Indigo Kingdom, with the Ospreys lost somewhere in the devastated city. When the Ospreys’ leader emerges at the worst possible moment, leaving Wil’s biggest ally on his deathbed, she must become Black Knife to set things right. 

HER MAGIC IS UNCONTROLLABLE. Wil’s power is to animate, not to give true life, but in the wraithland she commanded a cloud of wraith mist to save herself, and later ordered it solid. Now there is a living boy made of wraith—destructive and deadly, and willing to do anything for her.

HER HEART IS TORN. Though she’s ready for her crown, declaring herself queen means war. Caught between what she wants and what is right, Wilhelmina realizes the throne might not even matter. Everyone thought the wraith was years off, but already it’s destroying Indigo Kingdom villages. If she can’t protect both kingdoms, soon there won’t be a land to rule.

In this stunning conclusion to THE ORPHAN QUEEN, Jodi Meadows follows Wilhelmina’s breathtaking and brave journey from orphaned criminal on the streets to magic-wielding queen.

It has been two whole months since I read this book, and I know only one thing about it: it ruined me. I loved it, so so much, but it ruined me. And I've forgotten everything I wanted to ramble about it. What I did do, helpfully, was make notes, so this review is just going to be my notes, nonsensical or otherwise.

- Hella cool world. (It really is. I love Jodi's worldbuilding. It's unique and detailed and just awesome.)

- Wilhemina continues to be badass. (Seriously. S E R I O U S L Y. Total badass. One of my fave lady characters.)

- Everything that could go wrong DID go wrong. (And it was torture.)

- Tobiah/Wilhemina OTP (It took so so long but we got there. That list at the end!! *silently crying*)

- Loved James, poor James (and THAT plot twist. Hell.)

- The rebellion made things more complicated and interesting, really ramped up the stakes and the whole book

- Patrick's a dick (this was the entire note and nothing more needs to be said.)

- I even wound up feeling bad for the Wraith boy

- Emotional, deep, entertaining, with a compelling world, exploration of the consequences of magic, and characters you can't help but fall in love with

- It broke me (Into tiny, tiny James-shaped pieces.)

- I need so many more books set in this world. So many!!

Characters ★★★★★

Setting/world-building ★★★★★

Writing ★★★★★

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3 Bookish Bookmarks (Free download) + New Blog Design

It's about time I redesigned this blog. It's been around 2 years with my old design, so definitely time for something new. To celebrate Syntax Reviews's makeover, I've designed three bookish bookmarks with quotes from some of my favourite books. Happy downloading!

Comment below or use the hashtag #SyntaxReviews if you download!

Just save the above image, print it out, and cut along the shadow lines for three bookish bookmarks.

And let me know what you think of my new blog design :)

~Saruuh

ARC Review: Reign of Shadows

Reign of Shadows: Reign of Shadows | Sophie Jordan

Published by: HarperTeen, February 9th 2015

Genre: YA, Fantasy

Pages: 304

Format: Ebook

Source: HarperTeen, via Edelweiss

Seventeen years ago, an eclipse cloaked the kingdom of Relhok in perpetual darkness. In the chaos, an evil chancellor murdered the king and queen and seized their throne. Luna, Relhok’s lost princess, has been hiding in a tower ever since. Luna’s survival depends on the world believing she is dead.

But that doesn’t stop Luna from wanting more. When she meets Fowler, a mysterious archer braving the woods outside her tower, Luna is drawn to him despite the risk. When the tower is attacked, Luna and Fowler escape together. But this world of darkness is more treacherous than Luna ever realized.

With every threat stacked against them, Luna and Fowler find solace in each other. But with secrets still unspoken between them, falling in love might be their most dangerous journey yet.

With lush writing and a star–crossed romance, Reign of Shadows is Sophie Jordan at her best. 

This book stole my heart. Well, I should say Fowler stole my heart. He's perfect and swoony and a total grump with a heart of begrudging gold. I love him so much.

More things I love about this book:

- A princess who is realistically naive after being locked in a tower her whole life, but who has survival skills and a savvy mind. She can fend for herself but she doesn't rely on masculine strength - she's very much feminine, which is a win.

- A world that is SO new and SO exciting, with dark dwellers (monsters) and a world of complete darkness except for one hour per day. Can't wait to discover more of this world in the next books.

- Survival! I don't say it enough but I LOVE survival stories, especially if they come nicely packaged in a fantasy world with a romance that makes me swoon.

- It's fast paced from page one, and wholly thrilling.

- And Fowler. I don't know if I mentioned Fowler already.... :|

Things I hated:

-THAT ENDING. Cliffhanger, why??? My precious in danger, why???

Reign of Shadows is everything. Trust me. Read the book.

Characters ★★★★★

Setting/world ★★★★★

Writing ★★★★☆

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ARC Review: Assassin's Heart

Assassin's Heart: Assassin's Heart | Sarah Ahiers

Published by: HarperTeen, February 2nd 2015

Genre: YA, Fantasy

Pages: 420

Format: Ebook

Source: HarperTeen, via Edelweiss

In the kingdom of Lovero, nine rival Families of assassins lawfully kill people for a price. As a highly skilled member of one of these powerful clans, seventeen-year-old Lea Saldana has always trusted in the strength of her Family. Until she awakens to find them murdered and her home in flames. The Da Vias, the Saldanas’ biggest enemy, must be responsible—and Lea should have seen it coming. But her secret relationship with the Da Vias’ son, Val, has clouded her otherwise killer instinct—and given the Da Vias more reason than ever to take her Family down.

Racked with guilt and shattered over Val’s probable betrayal, Lea sets out to even the score, with her heart set on retaliation and only one thought clear in her mind: make the Da Vias pay. 

Bloody and unforgiving. I LOVED it.

I wanted to read this because of the Italian vibe of the setting and the revenge story. I love a good fantasy revenge, and Assassin's Heart didn't let me down. In a world where murder is legal and Clipper Families 'clip' someone's life short for money, Lea was a fascinating character. A kind of assassin I'd never seen before, and when she went on her revenge mission, she was formidable and unforgettable.

As well as a great story, an inventive world, and the realistic and uber cool inclusion of Gods and Goddesses, there's romance that's all at once sweet, hot, and captivating. Les, the love interest, is caring and reliable and dangerous, and I loved him. Lea, the main character, is everything I want in a lady. And the two of them together just work.

A unique world, a dark revenge story that excels, and some romance to brighten it up. Will be reading Sarah Ahieh's next book for sure.

Characters ★★★★★

Setting/world ★★★★★

Writing ★★★★☆

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