Book Review | The Unexpected Everything by Morgan Matson

The Unexpected Everything

By: Morgan Matson (@morgan_m)

Published By: Simon & Schuster on May 3, 2016

Genre: Contemporary

Pages: 517

Goodreads // Book Depository

Andie had it all planned out.

When you are a politician’s daughter who’s pretty much raised yourself, you learn everything can be planned or spun, or both. Especially your future.

Important internship? Check.

Amazing friends? Check.

Guys? Check (as long as we’re talking no more than three weeks).

But that was before the scandal. Before having to be in the same house with her dad. Before walking an insane number of dogs. That was before Clark and those few months that might change her whole life.

Because here’s the thing—if everything’s planned out, you can never find the unexpected.

And where’s the fun in that?

“Because believing you’re not alone is the cruelest trick of all.”   

I was so freaking excited about TUE, as I loved Matson's SYBG and the synopsis sounded so interesting. Alas, I was slightly disappointed about the read. TUE follows Andie, a politician's daughter who's father has just been involved in a 'political scandal.' Andie is used to following a plan, so when her entire summer goes awry, she has to find the unexpected. (everything)

Andie wasn't a very relatable character, and her choices were especially unbelievable. Towards to end of her character arc, I started to find her less irritating, but for the majority of the book, I just couldn't stand her. On the other hand, TUE features a very amazing and swoon-worthy romantic interest - Clark. As soon as they first met and it mentioned the nerdy t-shirt, I was hooked. He's like awkward and nerdy, but adorable overall. They work out. I ship it so hard. *fangirl squeals*

Friendship was such a major portion of this book - Andie's squad (Palmer, Toby, Bri, Tom?) of friends were different yet similar and they each were funny in their own way and brought different aspects to the book. My favorite has got to be Palmer (with Toby at a close second though); she's like the mother of them all. Andie's relationship with her father was also great, I loved how they started out extremely awkward but eventually became really close.

My main problem was this book was overly predictable, as I felt like Matson follows a formula as I talked about it here, so the ending wasn't as satisfying for me. The ending of summer is sort of like the climax in her novels, and I was expecting what had happened to happen.

As always, I enjoyed most parts of this book and would recommend it to anyone looking for a fun, easy, light summer read. However, I would advise you to read her other books first, as Matson drops tons of easter eggs in her story. Overall, TUE was a solid, lighthearted enjoyable summer read. 

Let's discuss! What did you think about The Unexpected Everything?

Final Rating: 

❄❄❄❄

Book Review | Truthwitch by Susan Dennard

*image via endpages on instagram

Truthwitch (The Witchlands #1)
By: Susan Dennard (@stdennard)
Published By: Tor Teen on January 5, 2016
Genre: Fantasy
Pages: 416
Goodreads // Book Depository

In a continent on the edge of war, two witches hold its fate in their hands.

Young witches Safiya and Iseult have a habit of finding trouble. After clashing with a powerful Guildmaster and his ruthless Bloodwitch bodyguard, the friends are forced to flee their home.

Safi must avoid capture at all costs as she's a rare Truthwitch, able to discern truth from lies. Many would kill for her magic, so Safi must keep it hidden - lest she be used in the struggle between empires. And Iseult's true powers are hidden even from herself.

In a chance encounter at Court, Safi meets Prince Merik and makes him a reluctant ally. However, his help may not slow down the Bloodwitch now hot on the girls' heels. All Safi and Iseult want is their freedom, but danger lies ahead. With war coming, treaties breaking and a magical contagion sweeping the land, the friends will have to fight emperors and mercenaries alike. For some will stop at nothing to get their hands on a Truthwitch.

"Sometimes justice was all about the small victories.” 

Truthwitch was the highly, highly hyped up novel of January 2016. I wasn't particularly impressed with Dennard's other novel, Something Strange and Deadly, but the amount of buzz that came with Truthwitch was just literally insane. Sarah J. Maas blurbed this book, which I do suppose is because she is Susan Dennard's BFF or something. 

One of the main things that sold me in this novel was the friendship aspect. Fantasy is missing this friendship aspect, and I'd like to see more of it! Our two main characters, Safiya (Safi) and Iseult, are Threadsisters, meaning that they are like BFFs. I like to refer to Threadsisters sort of like parabati. Safi is just plain stubborn and reckless. She often put the two into loads of trouble (even from the beginning) and just got on my nerves. Iseult, on the other hand, had more maturity and was more badass and actually did things with a purpose. Her chapters were also more enjoyable and fun.

Dennard doesn't seem to have the elegant writing style that some authors do, but she does have a fast-paced, compelling style that I seem to enjoy. She also writes extremely snarky and wonderfully sarcastic dialogue that I just can't help but fall for. Safi has a bold personality, which may be the reason for her recklessness, and whenever she and Iseult are talking, I'm bound to be laughing at one of her comments.

Sadly, the world building was horrific. I think I've read enough fantasy novels in which there is an elemental magic system (fire, water, air, earth, aether), and none of them seem to be my cup of tea. This book had so many complicated names and places, it got hard to follow. If there was a guide in the front, perhaps, explaining everything, maybe I'd be okay. ALSO - number of different witch types were absurd. There were like SO MANY and I'm just the type of person who needs to know them ALL. Again, I'd like a book separate just explaining. The magic system also wasn't explained very well. How does one become a witch? Is everyone a witch? There also did happen to be a map in the front although it didn't help much. It was pretty, though! :)

I like Prince Merik, and I enjoyed the romance in this novel, but I just felt like it romance was a bit random. It wasn't exactly instalove, but it was close, as when they first meet, they sort of catch each other's eye and stuff. I adored their love-hate relationship, although it's a bit strange. I'm still rooting for #SAFRIK? #MERFI? It might even be a love triangle with that other guy. *cough*

Overall, Truthwitch was a highly entertaining novel with great pacing. It's not the perfect fantasy, but it's tolerable and enjoyable. I can't wait for the sequel!!

Let's discuss! What did you think about Truthwitch?

Final Rating: 

❄❄❄❄

Book Review | Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe
By: Benjamin Alire Sáenz (@benjaminaliresa)
Published By: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers on February 21, 2012
Genre: Contemporary
Pages: 359
Goodreads // Book Depository

A lyrical novel about family and friendship from critically acclaimed author Benjamin Alire Sáenz.

Aristotle is an angry teen with a brother in prison. Dante is a know-it-all who has an unusual way of looking at the world. When the two meet at the swimming pool, they seem to have nothing in common. But as the loners start spending time together, they discover that they share a special friendship—the kind that changes lives and lasts a lifetime. And it is through this friendship that Ari and Dante will learn the most important truths about themselves and the kind of people they want to be.

“Words were different when they lived inside of you.”
Maybe I was a bit too late to this bandwagon, of course, this book was published over almost 4 years ago, and maybe the hype was too much. Nevertheless, this book was enjoyable, especially the characters. 

The characters were where this book shone, of course. Aristotle and Dante are just two teens, and I really love how their dialogue together actually showed how stupid and confusing this world was. I honestly just felt so bad for Ari. He didn't have his shit together, and he was confuzzled on the prospect of his life, while Dante was all cheery, looking at the world in ways that Ari never imagined. My favorite scenes between them were the swimming scenes. <3

My problem was the pacing. It felt slow, and while others liked it, I didn't find it very amusing. I got bored a few times, and the fact that Sáenz set it over a course of 2 year just made me squirm in my chair. I don't particularly like long periods of time change (unless it's a prologue or an epilogue, of course). 

THE PARENTS. Oh my god. I'm so freaking sick and tired of authors purposefully killing off parents to make the reader focus on the main character, and I'm beyond delighted that Sáenz didn't kill of Dante's or Ari's parents. I especially loved Dante's parents. They just seemed so real and lovable, and while Ari's parents were a bit more guarded, I loved how they changed their ways in the end. Both sets of parents truly cared about both of them, and it just warmed my heart. Good times. 

Let's discuss! What did you think about Aristotle and Dante?

Final Rating: 

❄❄❄❄

Book Review | The Wrath and the Dawn by Renée Ahdieh

image via outofthebex on instagram 

 The Wrath and the Dawn (The Wrath and the Dawn #1)
By: Renée Ahdieh (@rahdieh)
Published By: G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers on May 12, 2015
Genre: Fantasy, Romance
Pages: 388
Goodreads // Book Depository

One Life to One Dawn.

In a land ruled by a murderous boy-king, each dawn brings heartache to a new family. Khalid, the eighteen-year-old Caliph of Khorasan, is a monster. Each night he takes a new bride only to have a silk cord wrapped around her throat come morning. When sixteen-year-old Shahrzad's dearest friend falls victim to Khalid, Shahrzad vows vengeance and volunteers to be his next bride. Shahrzad is determined not only to stay alive, but to end the caliph's reign of terror once and for all.

Night after night, Shahrzad beguiles Khalid, weaving stories that enchant, ensuring her survival, though she knows each dawn could be her last. But something she never expected begins to happen: Khalid is nothing like what she'd imagined him to be. This monster is a boy with a tormented heart. Incredibly, Shahrzad finds herself falling in love. How is this possible? It's an unforgivable betrayal. Still, Shahrzad has come to understand all is not as it seems in this palace of marble and stone. She resolves to uncover whatever secrets lurk and, despite her love, be ready to take Khalid's life as retribution for the many lives he's stolen. Can their love survive this world of stories and secrets?

Inspired by A Thousand and One Nights, The Wrath and the Dawn is a sumptuous and enthralling read from beginning to end.

"You are not weak. You are not indecisive. You are strong. Fierce. Capable beyond measure. "

I'm not a huge kicker for romances. Usually, it's an insta-love or a love triangle, and I spend my entire review complaining about that. HOWEVER, Shazi and Khalid broke my heart and mended it in every way possible. Having read this after most people had, there was tons of hype and my interest was piqued. I still went into this book only knowing one thing...that it was a retelling of A Thousand and One Nights. I had no knowledge about this story until after reading The Wrath and the Dawn, and was pleasantly surprised. One thing I loved about this book was the diversity. Shazi and Khalid are of color, as well as Muslim. Overall, The Wrath and the Dawn is a wonderfully romantic, exciting story, but not without its flaws. 

The basic premise is intriguing from the beginning. Khalid, the Caliph of Khorasan, takes a new bride each night only to have her killed at sunrise. When Shahrzad (I'll call her Shazi in this review)'s best friend gets killed, Shazi is determined to take revenge. 

Shazi was a strong lead, who sort of reminded me of Annabeth? Shazi is confident, and a tiny bit reckless, but brave nevertheless. Sometimes her recklessness frustrated me, because she missed moments that she could have gotten revenge, and basically forgot her mission to avenge her friend with the end came, but that could be overlooked.

The romance part of this novel was spectacular. It was a love triangle, but the other dude (Tariq) is stupid and useless and conceited. Honestly, there's only one real contender. The romance part was really interesting, but frusterating at times where they wouldn't trust each other. URGH. 

Ahdieh's writing style is flawless. It's awfully descriptive, but not to the point where's it's overly descriptive. Shazi resides in a place for most of the novel, so of course the palace is exquisite, and Ahdieh describes that SO WELL. 

I had two issues with the book. The first The MAGIC wasn't developed enough. This could develop in the second book, of course, but I thought the magic part was sort of skimmed over and not that engrossing. The other issue I had was Shazi reading Khalid the story each night (to keep her alive) was a bit boring. I was hoping that Ahdieh could weave it in more smoothly. The parts with the story was a bit long and dull.

Overall, I highly enjoyed The Wrath and the Dawn. I'm sold for the second books. I'm excited to see where this romance is going, as well as the magic getting more details.

Thanks for reading this, guys. It made my day <3

Final Rating: 

❄❄❄❄

~Beatrice ♡