A Dress for the Wicked by Autumn Krause

Photo by Emboss & Spine
Litjoy exclusive cover 

Title: A Dress for the Wicked

Author: Autumn Krause

Genre: YA,Fantasy,Historical Fiction

Publisher: HarperTeen

Release Date: August 6th,2019

Summary:

"Nothing much happens in the sleepy town of Shy in Avon-upon-Kynt. And for eighteen years, Emmaline Watkins has feared that her future held just that: nothing.

But when the head of the most admired fashion house in the country opens her prestigious design competition to girls from outside the stylish capital city, Emmy’s dreams seem closer than they ever have before.

As the first “country girl” to compete, Emmy knows she’ll encounter extra hurdles on her way to the top. But as she navigates the twisted world of high fashion she starts to wonder: will she be able to tailor herself to fit into this dark, corrupted race? And at what cost?"

Review:

A Dress for the Wicked is a beautifully written book that will transport you to Victorian Era times with a dash of spunk and grit! Not only is this a wonderfully written book, but it taught me so much about style, fashion and technique! It is so easy to go about your wardrobe with comfort and familiarity, but A Dress for the Wicked has completely changed the way I look at my clothes, and fashion as a whole. Why would I wear a basic black T shirt, when I can wear a Black lace baby doll top with lace trim? Did that confuse you as much as it did me? Then pick up this book and start learning the lingo!  

Emmy is our MC who gets the opportunity of a lifetime to fulfill her  dreams at becoming a fashion designer by entering a competition run by the most prestigious fashion house. Leaving the comfort of her home in Shy and entering the unknown of city life, Emmy is in for a surprise as this dream life of hers isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Filled with schemes, manipulation and sabotage, Emmy must pick herself up time and time again and keep fighting for what she believes in, and the life she ultimately wants. I really loved Emmy as a character because she is what all of us were once, or maybe still are?  Vulnerable, hopeful, and full of aspiration. Why should we let others knock us down and determine what our fate should be? And if there is a life you dream of, fight for it and don’t let anyone get in your way or stop you. In a tough world, we should all find the light in it and not let the hardships get us down. 

A Dress for the Wicked should be on everyone’s TBR list if you haven’t read it already. Krause connects to readers on a personal level and will have you wanting all of her designs to be real! Countless times I found myself wanting to feel chiffon fabric in a dusty rose color with contrasting cords and enamel buttons! No detail is left unfinished and will bring you right to the front steps of the Fashion House! 


 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ~ 5 Stars ~ MUST READ

The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern

Photo taken by Emboss&Spine

Title: The Starless Sea
Author: Erin Morgenstern
Genre: Fantasy, Fiction, Adult
Publisher: Doubleday Books
Release Date: November 5th, 2019

                                                                 
                                                                              Summary :

"Zachary Ezra Rawlins is a graduate student in Vermont when he discovers a mysterious book hidden in the stacks. As he turns the pages, entranced by tales of lovelorn prisoners, key collectors, and nameless acolytes, he reads something strange: a story from his own childhood. Bewildered by this inexplicable book and desperate to make sense of how his own life came to be recorded, Zachary uncovers a series of clues--a bee, a key, and a sword--that lead him to a masquerade party in New York, to a secret club, and through a doorway to an ancient library, hidden far below the surface of the earth. 

What Zachary finds in this curious place is more than just a buried home for books and their guardians--it is a place of lost cities and seas, lovers who pass notes under doors and across time, and of stories whispered by the dead. Zachary learns of those who have sacrificed much to protect this realm, relinquishing their sight and their tongues to preserve this archive, and also those who are intent on its destruction. 

Together with Mirabel, a fierce, pink-haired protector of the place, and Dorian, a handsome, barefoot man with shifting alliances, Zachary travels the twisting tunnels, darkened stairwells, crowded ballrooms, and sweetly-soaked shores of this magical world, discovering his purpose--in both the mysterious book and in his own life."

Review :

 The Starless Sea is unlike any book I've ever read. Many times while reading I would think to myself "I got this figured out" and then I would be proven completely wrong. There are so many twists and turns and moments that make you step back and reread the paragraph that you just did because it was written in such a peculiar way that it makes you think you're the one who is odd.

Just trying to think and figure out a cohesive way to write this review leaves me a bit uneasy because there is no real proper way to explain The Starless Sea. The words spin and flow so effortlessly in their whimsical and strange way, it's almost like reading another language that you somehow know but can't explain how you do, you just know. It's a sense of feeling lost but knowing you'll end up where you belong. That is who Zachary Ezra Rowlins is. He doesn't feel like he belongs, like a part of him is missing, until he finds his way into the Harbor of The Starless Sea. This is when the beginning of the end starts for Zachary. His journey throughout the book was his destinations all along, there are just so many doors along the way that he got detoured.. many times.. and it just took longer than he thought to reach his ending.

One thing I really loved about this book was the alternate chapters between stories of The Starless Sea. Stories about the past and the future and the stories that got lost and found in The Starless Sea. Stories of people caught in different times trying to find the door that will bring them together at the same time. The sun and the moon and the man who loves the one he cant have. So many dimensions happening at the same time and morphing right in front of your eyes you sometimes don't even realize it's changed. There is just something so smooth and strange about Morgensterns writing that it makes you think, if she can confuse you while reading and also make sense at the same time, what is her mind like and how is she able to formulate these wild thoughts into words?

The only complaint I have about The Starless Sea is that there was too much description of things at times. I found myself rolling my eyes or sighing at the extent of her explaining. There is only so much you can say about a desk in a room, or a pen and a jacket. Because of this, it took me over 200 pages to really invest myself into the book. Prior to that I would pick up The Starless Sea casually or when I needed something to read on the train in between other books I might have been reading. Boy am I glad I got past it though because once I couldn't put the book down I knew I was in trouble. Finishing The Starless Sea left me questioning so many things about myself! One would think the ending of a book would make you think more of the characters and life you just were transported into, but no, not this one. It makes you wonder if you are seeing the world the way it should. If you should be looking at things so literally and to look more closely at objects you might find mundane, like a door. 

                          ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ~ 5 Stars ~ MUST READ

Sometimes while reading I find myself listening to music, and while reading The Starless Sea I only played music by Half Alive and for me one song in particular called Maybe. Anytime I hear their songs my mind immediately reminisces on moments from The Starless Sea. Click here to take a listen to their song!

🔑

I have a giveaway going on my bookstagram right now to win my ARC copy of The Starless Sea! My handle is @embossandspine head on over for a chance to win!

A Treason of Thorns by Laura E. Weymouth

Title: A Treason of Thorns
Author: Laura E. Weymouth
Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult
Publisher: HarperTeen
Release Date: September 10, 2019

Summary:

"Violet Sterling has spent the last seven years in exile, longing to return to Burleigh House. One of the six great houses of England, Burleigh’s magic always kept the countryside well. And as a child, this magic kept Violet happy, draping her in flowers while she slept, fashioning secret hiding places for her, and lighting fires on the coldest nights to keep her warm.

Everything shattered, though, when her father committed high treason trying to free Burleigh from the king’s oppressive control. He was killed, and Vi was forced into hiding.

When she’s given a chance to go back, she discovers Burleigh has run wild with grief. Vines and briars are crumbling the walls. Magic that once enriched the surrounding countryside has turned dark and deadly, twisting lush blooms into thorns, poisoning livestock and destroying crops. Burleigh’s very soul is crying out in pain.

Vi would do anything to help, and soon she finds herself walking the same deadly path as her father all those years before. Vi must decide how far she’s willing to go to save her house—before her house destroys everything she’s ever known."

Review:

A Treason of Thorns was utterly magical of a story. I had never read any of Weymouth's other books before, but after reading this, I am a fan. 

What I loved most about this book was the life that was given to Burleigh house. If a person gets cut, they bleed. When Burleigh house is hurt, it seeps mortar. Violet is connected to Burleigh house through blood, and so when she is sad, the house feels it. If she is happy, Burleigh will sprout flowers from vines into her hands. They breathe as one. It is an intense connection they share, but also a dangerous one. 

Violet's best friend, Wyn, who has lived in the house with Vi since she was a child, is just so selfless and caring, it makes my heart ache knowing all he has done for her. Their chemistry in Treason of Thorns is just so raw and genuine it makes me yearn for them and want only the best. 

Violet has taken it upon herself to be the caretaker of Burleigh house in a deal with the King in a short amount of time before the King appoints someone else to, whom would destroy Burleigh and not care for it like Violet would. Without the key to Burleigh to control the magic of the house, Violet relies on her connection to Burleigh to do as much as she can for it, without draining herself and causing the destruction of the house. That's where Wyn comes in. *sigh* I love him. Everytime I think of his name I just have to pause and collect myself. Wyn does everything he can to help Violet and to take some of the pressure off of her, while also manually repairing the house as best he can.

A Treason of Thorns is a perfect blend of magic and story telling. It flows so beautifully and really connects to you as a reader. I read it in one sitting because I absolutely couldn't put it down. The selfless love between Wyn and Vi kept me on the edge of my seat. The moments when Burleigh would stitch itself back together, or make it snow, or the thunder claps that would erupt when it was angry was too vivid to not imagine yourself right there on the property. For a fictional novel, this story felt all too real. I could imagine myself traveling to England and finding a series of Manors all connected to eachother and the land, controled by magic with human emotions. 

If you need an escape from reality, but still want to feel like your feet are on the ground, go buy A Treason of Thorns on its release day. It's one of those books that you will be thinking about long after you finished it.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ~ 5 Stars ~ MUST READ

Sorcery of Thorns by Margaret Rogerson

                                                                                         Photo taken by Emboss&Spine 

Title: Sorcery of Thorns
Author: Margaret Rogerson
Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books
Release Date: June 4th, 2019

                                       Summary :
"All sorcerers are evil. Elisabeth has known that as long as she has known anything. Raised as a foundling in one of Austermeer’s Great Libraries, Elisabeth has grown up among the tools of sorcery—magical grimoires that whisper on shelves and rattle beneath iron chains. If provoked, they transform into grotesque monsters of ink and leather. She hopes to become a warden, charged with protecting the kingdom from their power.

Then an act of sabotage releases the library’s most dangerous grimoire. Elisabeth’s desperate intervention implicates her in the crime, and she is torn from her home to face justice in the capital. With no one to turn to but her sworn enemy, the sorcerer Nathaniel Thorn, and his mysterious demonic servant, she finds herself entangled in a centuries-old conspiracy. Not only could the Great Libraries go up in flames, but the world along with them.

As her alliance with Nathaniel grows stronger, Elisabeth starts to question everything she’s been taught—about sorcerers, about the libraries she loves, even about herself. For Elisabeth has a power she has never guessed, and a future she could never have imagined. "

Review :

  Sorcery of Thorns by Margaret Rogerson leaves me thinking of one word; wow. I have not been able to stop thinking about this book and it's amazing story.  I have fallen in love with the world of magical libraries, the personalities a Grimoire can have, and the main characters.

  Elisabeth is accused of a great crime and is put into the hands of Sorcerer Nathaniel Thorn and his demon servant Silas. Nathaniel is such a well written character, from his witty one liners to the emotional underlining of what makes him the man he is, I couldn't help but lean into the book eager for his dialogue. Then there is Silas. Just thinking his name I can't help but sigh because I love him. Silas has served the Thorn family for hundreds of years, and since the death of Nathaniel's family, Silas is all Nathaniel has. Silas makes an amazing cup of tea, and has a killer sense of fashion and a moral compass no demon should have. I know Elisabeth and Nathaniel are the main characters on a mission to figure out who is behind the releasing of the most dangerous Grimoires - turned monster - when set free, but I would be so happy to have a novella all about Silas. To me, he is the character that you read about and can't help but connect with, want to protect and have more of in a story.

  One thing I really loved about Sorcery of Thorns was how each Sorcerer had their own main color that represented them.  Nathaniel's is emerald green, a lot of his attire would be emerald, whenever he performed magic, it would glow green and leave a glittering emerald residue wherever it touched. Nathaniel would sometimes perform magic that would bring marbeled statues to life, his emotions sometimes would control the weather and whenever he would perform, emerald sparks would flicker from his finger tips. Another thing I really enjoyed about the story was whenever Rogerson would connect you up close with a Grimoire. From scratching one's spine and making it pur, to having them spit ink at you, they each had their own individual personalities. It really made me think "How would my books act if they could come to life?" 

Sorcery of Thorns is a beautifully written and magical story that will enchant it's readers from the moment they open the book. Packed with intense action scenes and heartfelt moments, this book is hands down one of the best reads so far of 2019.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ~ 5 Stars ~ MUST READ

  

Nocturna by Maya Motayne

Photo taken by Emboss&Spine (Litjoy edition)

Title: Nocturna

Author: Maya Motayne

Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult

Publisher: Baltzer + Bay

Publication Date: May 2nd, 2019

Summary :

" Set in a Latinx-inspired world, a face-changing thief and a risk-taking prince must team up to defeat a powerful evil they accidentally unleashed.

To Finn Voy, magic is two things: a knife to hold under the chin of anyone who crosses her…and a disguise she shrugs on as easily as others pull on cloaks.

As a talented faceshifter, it’s been years since Finn has seen her own face, and that’s exactly how she likes it. But when Finn gets caught by a powerful mobster, she’s forced into an impossible mission: steal a legendary treasure from Castallan’s royal palace or be stripped of her magic forever.

After the murder of his older brother, Prince Alfehr is first in line for the Castallan throne. But Alfie can’t help but feel that he will never live up to his brother’s legacy. Riddled with grief, Alfie is obsessed with finding a way to bring his brother back, even if it means dabbling in forbidden magic.
But when Finn and Alfie’s fates collide, they accidentally unlock a terrible, ancient power—which, if not contained, will devour the world. And with Castallan’s fate in their hands, Alfie and Finn must race to vanquish what they have unleashed, even if it means facing the deepest darkness in their pasts  "

Review :

  First, the magic in Nocturna is amazing! It wasn’t just ordinary magic, it was elemental. So I was getting a lot of Avatar the Last Airbender vibes while reading it. Yes, that amazing. The other extension of magic comes from a person’s Propio which is in the form of their shadow. Each Propio is unique to an individual and blossoms from something in them. The main character Alfie, has elemental magic of water but his Propio lets him see magic in different shades and colors and is able to tap into another person’s color of magic and copy it. The other main character Finn has stone magic. Her Propio lets her change her and other people’s faces to whomever she wants them to be. 

  The plot of this book makes sense but the way it started doesn’t really make any. Dark evil magic that has been suppressed for a long time gets released and Finn and Alfie go on a journey to capture the evil and stop it from bringing the world back into Nocturna. But everything before the moment the magic gets released doesn’t really fit into the rest of the story. It felt like two different parts and I think more editorial time could have been spent cutting to make the story line cohesive. But that’s just me.

  Lastly the topic of Finn and Alfie I am on the fence about. I’m all for enemies-turned-lovers and broody sarcastic banter, but their whole story felt like a snail running a race. I knew the story was coming to an end but my god I could only read about tension between two characters for so long. 

I think having a comfortable friendship base is important in a relationship as a beginning stage but to have these characters just stare at each other, each think about their feelings toward the other, hug a couple of times, and hold hands one moment is ridiculous. They hit each other, get on one another’s nerves and maybe find a second when neither are angry to hold hands. It was juvenile and not at all a young adult type of romance. 

  Also the amount of times Finn says ‘Maldito’ is utterly ridiculous. It’s in almost every sentence she speaks. Seriously, did Maya’s editor not get annoyed or think it was too much? Imagine if a character said the word ‘like’ in every sentence. It would cheapen the character. That’s how I felt about Finn. Her character was written with too much force. We get that she is a badass thief but reading her felt like I was being forced to repeatedly remember she is tough. 

  Though the plot of Nocturna could have been arranged a bit differently, Finn could’ve been written a bit better, and the chemistry between Finn and Alfie could have been improved from the level of watching kids in kindergarten try to flirt, I most definitely will be looking forward to the sequel because I loved the magic in this book and Alfie as a character. 

⭐⭐⭐⭐ ~  4 Stars ~ Good Read!

House of Salt and Sorrow by Erin A. Craig

                                                                                             Photo taken by Emboss&Spine

Title: A House of Salt and Sorrow

Author: Erin A. Craig

Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult, Retelling

Publisher: Delacorte

Publication Date: August 6th, 2019

Summary :

"In a manor by the sea, twelve sisters are cursed.

Annaleigh lives a sheltered life at Highmoor, a manor by the sea, with her sisters, their father, and stepmother. Once they were twelve, but loneliness fills the grand halls now that four of the girls' lives have been cut short. Each death was more tragic than the last—the plague, a plummeting fall, a drowning, a slippery plunge—and there are whispers throughout the surrounding villages that the family is cursed by the gods.

Disturbed by a series of ghostly visions, Annaleigh becomes increasingly suspicious that the deaths were no accidents. Her sisters have been sneaking out every night to attend glittering balls, dancing until dawn in silk gowns and shimmering slippers, and Annaleigh isn't sure whether to try to stop them or to join their forbidden trysts. Because who—or what—are they really dancing with?

When Annaleigh's involvement with a mysterious stranger who has secrets of his own intensifies, it's a race to unravel the darkness that has fallen over her family—before it claims her next. "

Review :

  Magic, Gods, Death and Romance embody The House of Salt and Sorrow. If you arent afraid of ghosts, get ready to be, because the spirits of the Thaumas Sisters will haunt you long after you finish reading this retelling of The Twelve Dancing Princesses.

  The House of Salt and Sorrow had me on the edge of my seat. I couldn't put the book down; I had to know what would happen next. The bond between the Thaumas Sisters is undeniable through the point of view of Annaleigh. As the Thaumas Sisters start dying one-by-one "accidentally", Annaleigh goes on a mission to find out if her sisters did die by accident or if there is a murder in their mist.

  Coming from a clan of five sisters myself, I was able to connect to what the bond is like between sisters, especially the dynamic amongst different siblings and the relationship they have between them. Having to be the nurturing and soft sister to the youngest sibling to the voice of reason to the eldest, the one thing they all have in common is the strength and love they have for one another.

  The one thing I wasn't fond of was the romance in House of Salt and Sorrow. I understand as the eldest, Camille, felt she had to find and suitor and marry, but she came off as desperate and whiny to me, and though Annaleigh finds the perfect guy, the "sparks" from their inital meeting and future encounters felt very cliché and overly dramatic. It didn't feel natural or enticing. What I did love was the world building and the description of the island on the sea: the smell of salt and brine, sea turtles hatching on a beach, and bathtubs in the shape of clamshells! Apart from the Thaumas curse and people dying, it seems like a beautiful place to live!

  What happens when you can't tell your dreams apart from reality? What happens when your dreams are actually nightmares in disguise? These chilling thoughts inspired by the book will make your skin crawl. Read House of Salt and Sorrow in the middle of the night at your own risk, because let's be real, you will have a hard time getting rest once you pick it up!


               ⭐⭐⭐⭐ ~  4 Stars ~ Good Read!

The Merciful Crow by Margaret Owen

                                                                                             Photo taken by Emboss&Spine

Title: The Merciful Crow

Author: Margaret Owen
Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult 
Publisher: Henry Holt (BYR)
Publication Date: July 30th, 2019

Summary :

A future chieftain

Fie abides by one rule: look after your own. Her Crow caste of undertakers and mercy-killers takes more abuse than coin, but when they’re called to collect royal dead, she’s hoping they’ll find the payout of a lifetime.

A fugitive prince

When Crown Prince Jasimir turns out to have faked his death, Fie’s ready to cut her losses—and perhaps his throat. But he offers a wager that she can’t refuse: protect him from a ruthless queen, and he’ll protect the Crows when he reigns.

A too-cunning bodyguard

Hawk warrior Tavin has always put Jas’s life before his, magically assuming the prince’s appearance and shadowing his every step. But what happens when Tavin begins to want something to call his own?

Review :

  The Merciful Crow has been one of my most anticipated reads of 2019 and after finishing it, it is all I am able to think about! From the setting and world building to the dialect Fie and her people speak, I was enamored by it all. Margaret Owen easily spins readers into Sabor and it's lifestyle, especially the lives of all the different caste systems.

  In The Merciful Crow, we walk alongside the main character Fie, and her life as a Crow. The Crows are the lowest caste in Sabor and reading all the hardships and trouble Fie and her fellow Crows go through in their day-to-day is heartbreaking. You can't help but to see the injustice and want to cheer her on to persevere through her quests.

  Pa is the chief of the Crows for the group that Fie is part of. Pa decides to help Prince Jasimir, whom after faking his own death, needs help getting to his allies. In return for Pa's help, Pa wants the future of all Crows to be one of protection and safety, once the Prince becomes King. Fie as the chief-in-training sees this as a terrible idea, but Pa and Jasimir make the deal in the form of a blood oath. Once this oath is made, Fie's life doesn't get easier, if anything, it get's much worse.

  To me though, nothing could be truly horrible with the King's bodyguard, Tavin, in the picture. Hunky, muscular, beautiul Tavin. I'm sure I'm single because fictional characters like Tavin exist and the real world is just such a letdown! I don't know how many times I was swooning or smiling or clutching my book to my chest because of how perfect he is. Trust me, once you read The Merciful Crow, you will understand.

  For all the worriers out there who think this is just another book about a lead female caught in a love triangle, it isn't! Margaret Owen burns you in a slow simmer of romance and intrigue. I was left wanting more! Don't fret, Fie is one badass who over the three parts of this book becomes the chief she has been training to be.

  Even though The Merciful Crow is set to be a duology, there is no cliffhanger at the end of book one.  Thank goodness because I'm sure I can't be the only one who has ever thrown a book across a room or was utterly numb and left staring at the ceiling for twenty minutes after a cliffhanger. Book one is a perfect story arc of a steady beginning, escalating middle and strong end. I was fulfilled with the world I was transported to, but can't wait to see it continue!

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ~ 5 Stars ~ MUST READ

I was lucky enough to be able to speak a bit with the author of The Merciful Crow, Margaret Owen!

Q: If you could be in any caste, which would it be, and why?

A: " If I could pick a caste to join, it'd probably be the Doves.We don't see much of them in book 1, probably because there's only 100 of them alive. They're all witches, and they're all master craftworkers."

I highly recommend everyone to pre-order this book and add it to your goodreads because this will be a book you don't want to miss! If you would love to see Margaret Owen go on a book tour for The Merciful Crow, please contact your local and favorite bookstores and request for her to do an event there!

Finale by Stephanie Garber

Photo taken by Emboss&Spine

Title: Finale

Author: Stephanie Garber
Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult 
Source: Hub City Bookstore
Publisher: Flatiron Books
Publication Date: May 7th 2019

Summary:

"Welcome, welcome to Caraval...all games must come to an end.

It’s been two months since the last Caraval concluded, two months since the Fates have been freed from an enchanted deck of cards, two months since Tella has seen Legend, and two months since Legend claimed the empire’s throne as his own. Now, Legend is preparing for his official coronation and Tella is determined to stop it. She believes her own mother, who still remains in an enchanted sleep, is the rightful heir to the throne.

Meanwhile, Scarlett has started a game of her own. She’s challenged Julian and her former fiancé, Count Nicolas d’Arcy, to a competition where the winner will receive her hand in marriage. Finaly, Scarlett feels as if she is in complete control over her life and future. She is unaware that her mother’s past has put her in the greatest danger of all.

Caraval is over, but perhaps the greatest game of all has begun―with lives, empires, and hearts all at stake. There are no spectators this time: only those who will win...and those who will lose everything. . . "

Review:

  I have been enamored with the world Garber has spun since the debut of Caraval. She’s created magic, transporting readers to a gambling den and a marbled palace dripping in crystals and jewels. With Garber, enchantment is never far away.

  Finale was written with great attention to detail and description. I was able to vividly imagine the color of magic (how is that even possible?!) and the shimmering scales of a mermaid’s tail! As I read, I kept stopping and wishing that I could be a part of this world that’s full of magic, whimsy, and a sprinkle一or rather a handful一of mischief and trouble. 

  Finale is told in the alternating point of view of Scarlett and Donatella. Each sister is on their own journey to overcome obstacles. I must admit that when I first started reading the Caraval series, I wasn’t a huge fan of either sister. I thought Scarlett was easily influenced by other people and Tella was stubborn and always causing trouble, but by this third book, I have grown to love each of them individually. Scarlett has grown into an independent woman who isn’t afraid to make her own choices and follow her heart. Tella, who I found most relatable, is torn between two men who offer her completely different things. Legend, whom she loves, and Jacks who always seems to be there when she needs. I always have gravitated to Tella’s storyline because it had more action, but Scarlett’s path really took me by surprise in Finale. She is fearless, bold and independent. She stands up for herself and the ones she loves despite the risk. I loved seeing them stick by each other’s side no matter what. It was liberating and admirable. 

  Most importantly, I have to touch on the topic of the man we have all swooned over! The man, the myth, the Legend himself! In Finale, we see how determined and selfless he can really be. In Caraval and Legendary, Legend was always been somewhat of a question mark. Why would he do that? Why won’t he kiss Tella? (Like, please kiss Tella already! We are all needing that intensity in our mundane lives.) Now we get to see a side of Legend we have all been waiting for. I have to say, I was always Team Jacks (I can’t help it, I like a bad boy) but by the end of Finale I was completely Team Legend!

  The whole of Finale is a perfect ending to a series. I didn’t feel like anything was missing一apart from my soul and the heartache that it had come to an end! Get ready to ride an emotional rollercoaster as you witness the complexity of Legend, the fearlessness of Julian, the courage of Scarlett and the selflessness of Tella in this spellbinding world of Finale!

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐~ 5 stars ~ MUST READ!

Please follow my Twitter and my blog Emboss&Spine as I will be hosting a Caraval themed giveway for the release of Finale as well as a celebration for the restart of my blog! Details soon to follow!

Replica by Lauren Oliver

I am a huge fan of Oliver's and when I was lucky enough to grab a ticket to her signing at BookCon, I jumped on it! Halfway through the line is the counter to purchase her books if you need one for the signing, and thats where I picked up Replica. I had no idea what the book was about but the cover was pretty cool so I took the chance.

  

  There is an author's note about the book when you first start reading it, stating that you can read each character through, chapter to chapter, or alternate one chapter at a time switching back and forth between Lyra and Gemma. The book flips over like a reflection, so if you go that route, be prepared to read one chapter and flip and twist the book to read the same chapter, but through the other characters POV.

  I went this direction because I thought it was fun and unique and I have to say I'm glad I did. It was nice kind of reading the same thing through different eyes, scene by scene, chapter by chapter. Some people may not like it and get annoyed; to each their own.

  Now, about the book! I have to say it is a awesome plot line and thought fully through. I understood each person that was mentioned and the environment they were in. The basis is that there is this place called Haven on an island that makes replicas of people to test different incubations and variations of mad cow disease. There is Gemma, who feels like she doesn't belong in the world, has only one friend and is trying to understand her place. Gemma is a heavy set girl and Olivers talk's about what thats like (in Gemma's eyes) which I think is great because in so many stories the main character is skinny and mysterious and has something unique about them that the author many times tries to portray as mysterious, but you sympathize with Gemma and can try to imagine what it's like to live her life. Then there is Lyra, who's whole story is told mainly from Haven, until she meets Gemma ( I don't want to give spoilers ) and my oh my where do I even begin with Lyra.

  Lyra is probably hands down one of my favorite characters I've ever read about. She is so raw and pure and I think what makes me love her so much is how she is portrayed in regards to her love interest,72. The whole point of the replicas in Haven is that they are science experiments. They breathe and bleed and have the same bodily functions as humans do, but they arent allowed to really learn, to read or have feelings/emotions, and the way Oliver describes Lyra's feelings and her thought process as her feelings develope for 72 are so beautiful. It brings me back to my first love. What it was like to actually feel that love grow and have yourself think to yourself from time to time "wow, so that's what this feeling is like!" It is so genuine and many times when I read Lyra's POV chapters, I found myself pouting my lip and wanting to hug Lyra. It really got to me unlike any other character has in a while. 

  I tolerated Gemma because I understood her vital role in the book, but I fell in love with Lyra's character so much, that I wish the whole book was just from her POV. I wanted more of her.  If I could turn Lyra into an emotion, it would be nostalgia. 

  I won an ARC of Ringer in a Goodreads giveaway, and am looking forward to reading it and writing a review for it so I can get more of Lyra's character. I recommend this book to anyone who wants to feel love again for the first time all over again.