Nichole

CAWPILE Breakdown:
Characters: 6
Atmosphere: 3
Writing: 5
Plot: 7
Intrigue: 5
Logic: 5
Enjoyment: 6

This installment suffers from second book syndrome a bit. The first book is definitely more exciting and this one mostly sets up the rest of the series and works on solidifying Katy and Daemon's relationship.

I ended up finishing this before the rest of the ACOBAF group because with the Reading Rush happening this week, I didn't want to have to juggle being in the middle of too many books. This one has probably been my favorite of the series so far. All the characters really grew in this book and the story has gotten really intense in terms of the fight against the Strigoi and how Rose and Lissa are dealing with it.

CAWPILE Breakdown:
Characters: 7
Atmosphere: 5
Writing: 7
Plot: 8
Intrigue: 9
Logic: 7
Enjoyment: 8

CAWPILE Breakdown:
Characters: 5
Atmosphere: 8
Writing: 10
Plot: 8
Intrigue: 8
Logic: 6
Enjoyment: 9

I've gotten so used to listening to audiobooks, this one took me forever to read the hardcover copy of. I really enjoyed this book. I love the worlds Jessica Cluess makes. I wasn't super in love with the characters of this book, but the premise and plot were fascinating. I cannot wait to see what happens to our band of 5 dragon riders in the final installment.

CAWPILE Breakdown:
Characters: 3
Atmosphere: 2
Writing: 1
Plot: 4
Intrigue: 4
Logic: 5
Enjoyment: 3

I just could not get into this book. It seemed very convoluted and I did not feel like each character truly had their own voice. I feel like more world-building and explanations were needed to help actual explain the world and get a better understanding of the characters. The premise was interesting but the execution was poor.

This book was so enjoyable and was so real with the current state of the world. I do not know how Hank successfully crafted this story to fit so well with 2020 and the issues we as a world face. This story has always been about social media and how it impacts our lives, but Hank takes it to another level and adds this slight science fiction aspect. I loved how this installment expanded the POVs and we got to see the same cast of characters but actually get into their heads.

I've decided to start using the CAWPILE rating system to improve my ratings and make them more consistent across books.

CAWPILE Breakdown:
Characters: 7
Atmosphere: 9
Writing: 10
Plot: 9
Intrigue: 10
Logic: 9
Enjoyment: 9

Overall: 5

2020 Re-read
I actually enjoyed this book so much more this time around. I think I went into it with way less expectations and as a result I enjoyed it more. It also helped that I was reading it with a group of awesome ACOBAF people. I cannot wait to continue to read the rest of the series this month.

Vampire Academy is one of those series that everyone talks about. It is always compared to Twilight and other vampire series. I have been told by multiple people how much better Vampire Academy is. So I decided I would finally get around to reading the first in the series. I went into it with high hopes that it would be good, if not great story. And I have to admit that while I didn't love Twilight, I was a part of the craze surrounding it when it first came out. I went to the midnight releases and discussed the series with others. So back to Vampire Academy, I was really looking forward to this book and the characters within. I have to say though that I'm slightly disappointed.

While I enjoyed Rose's narrative and the story that was being told. I really struggled with continuing to read. I think I just couldn't get myself fully absorbed in the narrative to binge read this book like I do with many others.

That is not to say that this is a bad book, I just don't think it is as compelling of a story for me. I love the mystery surrounding the Moroi and dhampirs. And I have to say I did not see the twist coming. I was pleasantly surprised by who was behind the attacks on Lissa.

The interactions with Dimitri were as expected for a YA novel. They left you wanting more between them, but at the same time you loved every moment they were together.

I thought the ending was a bit rushed with two major attacks happening in the last 30 pages or so. But I guess that allowed for a semblance of a conclusion before the next book.

Overall, this book did not live up to the hype for me. I just couldn't get into it like I wanted to. I definitely am not dying to read Frostbite, but I may in the future.

This was underwhelming for me. I really liked the magic system and the different powers characters had but I found the story lacking and was not able to really connect with the characters.

This one was a slight disappointment. I really enjoyed the magic system and some of the characters, but the story fell flat and I do not see the need for future books. This would have been perfect as a standalone.

I am finally finished with this book. It was such a struggle to get through. I don't know if my expectations were too high since I love the grishaverse and the premise of this one was fascinating or what. But I found this book to be very convoluted and it just did not spark my interest the way I was expecting. I also do not really care about what is going to happen next which is unfortunate.

This was somewhat of a let down after how much I enjoyed the previous books. I feel like there was all this hype for the final act in the story and it fell flat for me.

This world is so fascinating and I loved the addition of Tori's story in this installment. I'm super curious what happens in the next book and how everything ties up.

3.5 stars.

The ending of the book leaves much to be desired. I was really enjoying the book until the last 50 or so pages. I think Meagan Spooner took the easy way out and I did not feel like the conclusion fit with the rest of the story.

This was a good short, fun, hilarious novella. It doesn't add anything to the story but it was still enjoyable hence my 3 star rating.

I enjoyed this installment! It was even better than the first and it left me guessing until the end. I can honestly say I was not at all expecting the ending. While I was able to guess some of what happened throughout the book, the ending was still a shocker.

One complaint I have about this book is the lack of focus on Harper and Rhen. While Grey's story is vital to the overall story, we missed a lot of what happened with characters we came to know in book 1. I also do not feel like Rhen was written as I would expect based on his character in book one. There were many aspects of book 2 that just did not seem to fit how I see his character. I understand he has been going through a lot but he was almost seen as the villain in this book and I did not agree with that.

The Hazel Wood was one of those books that surprised me last year. I wasn't expecting to love it, but it transported me to a different world and I loved following Alice's story through the Hinterland as she searched for her mother.

I was expecting that same out of worldness with The Night Country, however, I was disappointed. I felt like the story was drawn out and did not seem to have a set path of where it was going. Then when it started to get more interesting toward the end, it picked up speed and then felt rushed as we went through the climax and conclusion to the book.

Overall, for me, this book suffered from second book syndrome that a lot of other books struggle with. I just did not feel like there was a good direction in the storytelling and then the ending was too rushed.

Really more like 3.5-3.75 stars.

There was too much focus in the middle of the book on the romance rather than the murders. I definitely enjoyed the murder mystery aspect of this series more than the romance and while the romance is a large part of the series, it took the forefront in this installment more so than in other books and I was not a fan.

This was incredibly disappointing. I probably should have DNF'd it, but I decided to power through. I felt like nothing happened and the plot didn't seem to matter. Very many aspects were also poorly explained and I felt as if the characters were not fleshed out enough.

2.5 Stars

This was super disappointing. I did not really connect with any of the characters and the story did not interest me. It is unfortunate because I really enjoyed Geekerella but this had none of the same charm I was expecting.

It took me a while to read this book, but I really enjoyed it. The magic system is fascinating and I really hope we get to learn more about it in future books. I also appreciate that this book did not end with a crazy cliffhanger. I definitely want to know what is going to happen next, but this installment had a nice story arc that feels complete to some extent.

This was amazing! Best one in the trilogy! I also cannot believe Marissa Meyer ended it that way!!!

This installment seemed to really drag for me. I still really love the world and the characters but this one seemed a little bit too much filler. Cannot wait for the final book next year though!

I'm finishing all the books today! I really enjoyed this one. It was super cute and I loved the group of characters surrounding Twinkle and Sahil. I really need to read Sandhya Menon's books sooner. I still have one more to go and she has two coming out next year!

4.5 Stars

This was going to be a five-star book but the “big reveal” at the end was too cliche so I had to dock 1/2 a star. I love this world and the characters and cannot wait for the next book and to see what this gang of witches and witch hunters gets up to!

Not sure what to rate this one yet. Very powerful important story though.

I thought I was ready for this book but alas I was not. Jay is a horrible horrible person and I can't believe how much his books mean to me. You know an author is brilliant when you both hate and love them.