After finishing The Cruel Prince, I couldn't wait to start the second book in the series, The Wicked King. This book tells the story of Jude as she serves as the High King's Seneschal, but in all reality, she is the one ruling the kingdom. Jude has moved into the palace to keep a close eye on Cardan, and she is the one who is making all of the decisions about what he does as king. In addition, she has been intercepting messages from Balekin, Cardan's brother, who murdered their father in an effort to take the crown, but Jude tricked Cardan into being king before Balekin had a chance.
As Jude goes to the jail to meet with Balekin, she meets Cardan's mother, and she learns more about her own mother from Lady Asha. Also, she learns that Balekin is plotting with the Queen of the Undersea, Orlagh, to take the crown away from Cardan.
Meantime, her stepbrother, Oak, is living in the mortal world with her sister, Vivi, and their twin sister, Taryn, is preparing for her marriage to Locke. Locke appoints himself the Master of Revels, and he makes sure that all that is happening in the kingdom is one party after another. Jude is worried at first about Locke's intentions, but she realizes that she can't take the title away from Locke if she wants to make it seem like Cardan is really the High King and acting on his own decisions.
When Oak returns to the kingdom for Taryn's wedding, Jude and her stepfather, Madoc, are ready for an attack from the Undersea, which surprisingly doesn't come the way they expected. Instead, Jude is lured away from the wedding and captured by Queen Orlagh and Balekin. She is held in the Undersea Kingdom for almost a month before Cardan is able to negotiate for her return. In exchange for Jude though, he allows Queen Orlagh to attack the Court of Termites and orders them to not retaliate. When she returns to the land, Jude has to figure out a way to please Cardan, Madoc, and the Court of Termites without starting a war. She pretends to be glamoured by Balekin in order to get back into the palace, and he attempts to frame her for poisoning Cardan.
The end of the book is just as much of a twist to me as the first one was. I won't tell you what exactly happens, but Jude does kill Balekin, and Cardan is able to remain on the throne as the High King of Elfhame. Taryn, her twin sister, marries Locke, and Oak is returned to the mortal world safely.
I feel like the best part of this book is the relationship between Jude and Cardan. In the first book, he admits that he can't stop thinking about her, but he hates it because she is mortal, and he doesn't want to be attracted to her. In this book, however, the two of them act more on their feelings of attraction for one another, and it turns out to be exactly what Jude shouldn't have done. The entire time I was reading, I kept thinking that it would be Taryn and Locke who betrayed her, and I was shocked at the end to see who was the real person behind her betrayal. Holly Black has done a spectacular job of building the kingdom of Elfhame along with believable and lovable characters. Now that I have seen that Cardan and Jude really do care for each other, I can't wait to see how the series comes to an end.
Thursday, April 9, 2020
The Four Tendencies by Gretchen Rubin
So, this is a book that I would have not picked up on my own. I work with a wonderful librarian where I teach, and she started a faculty book group last year, and this was the read that we had for this past month. The book talks about four personality profiles, and it gives suggestions about how you can be a better person by understanding your own profile and the profiles of other people.
The very first chapters give a little summary of the four different profiles and contain a quiz for you to complete to figure out your own personality profile. I was not surprised really to learn that I am considered an obliger, a person who upholds outer expectations well, but I am not great with keeping inner expectations. However, I felt like there are times when I am a little bit of an upholder who meets with inner and outer expectations at times (but those times are few and far between).
I first started the book in March, and I left it on my desk after taking the quiz and figuring out what my own tendency was. I thought it was interesting to know that I am an obliger, but I really didn't have a great desire to keep reading and find out about the other tendencies. In fact, the reason why I finished it was because the quarantine called for us to complete the meeting online, and I felt like I shouldn't join if I hadn't finished the book (showing that I am definitely an obliger). So, I finished the book, and I was actually surprised to see how reading it will now help me as a teacher, spouse, and parent. Through most of the book, I just kept thinking about how it would help me with my family, but then Gretchen mentions how teachers can use this knowledge to help the students in their individual classrooms, and I started to think of different students who fit into the different personality types. I can definitely name at least one student from each of the tendencies, and I'm thinking about how I can use this knowledge now, especially since my teaching is all online, and I am not meeting with my students face to face.
Overall, it was a fun, fast read. I find it informative, and I shared it with my husband (who didn't agree with the tendencies at all, and he claims he is an obliger as well, but then he started questioning the tendencies before even reading the book). I told him he actually needs to read it and then see if he still feels like he is an obliger (I personally think he is a questioner). Anyway, I think it's a fresh look at the different personality types, and I am excited to apply what I learned from the book in all aspects of my life, not only in my classroom.
The very first chapters give a little summary of the four different profiles and contain a quiz for you to complete to figure out your own personality profile. I was not surprised really to learn that I am considered an obliger, a person who upholds outer expectations well, but I am not great with keeping inner expectations. However, I felt like there are times when I am a little bit of an upholder who meets with inner and outer expectations at times (but those times are few and far between).
I first started the book in March, and I left it on my desk after taking the quiz and figuring out what my own tendency was. I thought it was interesting to know that I am an obliger, but I really didn't have a great desire to keep reading and find out about the other tendencies. In fact, the reason why I finished it was because the quarantine called for us to complete the meeting online, and I felt like I shouldn't join if I hadn't finished the book (showing that I am definitely an obliger). So, I finished the book, and I was actually surprised to see how reading it will now help me as a teacher, spouse, and parent. Through most of the book, I just kept thinking about how it would help me with my family, but then Gretchen mentions how teachers can use this knowledge to help the students in their individual classrooms, and I started to think of different students who fit into the different personality types. I can definitely name at least one student from each of the tendencies, and I'm thinking about how I can use this knowledge now, especially since my teaching is all online, and I am not meeting with my students face to face.
Overall, it was a fun, fast read. I find it informative, and I shared it with my husband (who didn't agree with the tendencies at all, and he claims he is an obliger as well, but then he started questioning the tendencies before even reading the book). I told him he actually needs to read it and then see if he still feels like he is an obliger (I personally think he is a questioner). Anyway, I think it's a fresh look at the different personality types, and I am excited to apply what I learned from the book in all aspects of my life, not only in my classroom.
Wednesday, April 8, 2020
Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens
I am one of the first people to tell you that classics are essential to our culture, and we should definitely include the classics when we are teaching literature in public schools. However, after reading Oliver Twist I can say that this isn't a must read for everyone.
The story is the first novel written by Charles Dickens, and it follows Oliver, an orphan, as he runs away from the town he was born in to London. Once he arrives in London, Dodger takes him in and introduces him to Fagin. Fagin plans on teaching Oliver how to be a pickpocket and make him work for Fagin, but on one of the first times Oliver goes out, he is captured by the police and taken to court. Fortunately for Oliver, the man who was robbed, Mr. Brownlow, is a kindhearted man who takes pity on Oliver and takes him in.
Oliver spends a few days with Mr. Brownlow, and he then is taking books back to a bookstall owner when Fagin's gang spots him and kidnaps him. He is taken back to Fagin, and this time he cannot get away so easily. Fagin eventually sends him with Bill Sykes to pull off a house burglary, and this time Oliver is shot and left for dead. Once again, Oliver is taken in by the kind people he was trying to steal from, and he gains an education along with a family.
However, Fagin is still very upset by the fact that Oliver is no longer in his gang, and he is still trying to get Oliver back, but he is not able to. Meanwhile, the people who originally helped to raise Oliver and put him to work in his hometown are also taking advantage of their relationship with Oliver. A locket and ring that his mother gave to the lady who delivered him are sold to a pawnshop, and then they are returned to Oliver's half-brother, Monks, who wants to see Oliver as a thief because he wants to inherit all of their father's money rather than having to split it with Oliver. We soon learn that Monk is working along with Fagin, and Monks is the reason that Fagin tries so hard to keep Oliver as a pickpocket.
Of course, the story ends happily, and Oliver doesn't return to Fagin's gang, but the actions of the thieves and others in Fagin's group are horrifying. Bill Sykes actually murders Nancy, who is only trying to help Oliver without exposing the group of thieves. Fagin is portrayed as an evil man who cares about nothing but money, and Dodger is not a kind boy who takes Oliver in to help him survive.
I was actually shocked by the anti-semitic statements in the book, and I was very disappointed that Dickens had many of the Jewish characters be the villains in the book as well. I had no idea that he was so anti-semitic, and there were times that I was just angry at the way he portrayed the characters in Fagin's gang.
In the end of the story, Oliver is still living with Mr. Brownlow, and he is better off than he was in Fagin's gang. However, Fagin, Bill Sykes, and Dodger are all in prison or dead due to the crimes they committed throughout the story. I understand that they were evil, but I really did not like how evil Dickens portrayed them. The characters who were poor and less-fortunate were all portrayed as people who were willing to do whatever it took to gain money while the only characters who were genuinely good were those who came from money and upperclass families. It would have been nice to see some of the less fortunate characters have redeemable qualities as well. Dickens portrays those in poverty as people who are pure evil.
Overall, the story of Oliver is a nice story to show how there are good people in the world who will take in those less fortunate and help them, but it is not a story that I feel everyone should read. It definitely does not have the same redeeming and lovable characters that are in later stories by Dickens, and the plot isn't really super exciting. There are a lot of holes in the story, and the time skips around so much that you aren't ever really sure if the events are happening sequentially or with weeks and months in between.
I wouldn't really recommend that anyone read this book. In all reality, the musical of the story is much better and more worth your time than the novel.
The story is the first novel written by Charles Dickens, and it follows Oliver, an orphan, as he runs away from the town he was born in to London. Once he arrives in London, Dodger takes him in and introduces him to Fagin. Fagin plans on teaching Oliver how to be a pickpocket and make him work for Fagin, but on one of the first times Oliver goes out, he is captured by the police and taken to court. Fortunately for Oliver, the man who was robbed, Mr. Brownlow, is a kindhearted man who takes pity on Oliver and takes him in.
Oliver spends a few days with Mr. Brownlow, and he then is taking books back to a bookstall owner when Fagin's gang spots him and kidnaps him. He is taken back to Fagin, and this time he cannot get away so easily. Fagin eventually sends him with Bill Sykes to pull off a house burglary, and this time Oliver is shot and left for dead. Once again, Oliver is taken in by the kind people he was trying to steal from, and he gains an education along with a family.
However, Fagin is still very upset by the fact that Oliver is no longer in his gang, and he is still trying to get Oliver back, but he is not able to. Meanwhile, the people who originally helped to raise Oliver and put him to work in his hometown are also taking advantage of their relationship with Oliver. A locket and ring that his mother gave to the lady who delivered him are sold to a pawnshop, and then they are returned to Oliver's half-brother, Monks, who wants to see Oliver as a thief because he wants to inherit all of their father's money rather than having to split it with Oliver. We soon learn that Monk is working along with Fagin, and Monks is the reason that Fagin tries so hard to keep Oliver as a pickpocket.
Of course, the story ends happily, and Oliver doesn't return to Fagin's gang, but the actions of the thieves and others in Fagin's group are horrifying. Bill Sykes actually murders Nancy, who is only trying to help Oliver without exposing the group of thieves. Fagin is portrayed as an evil man who cares about nothing but money, and Dodger is not a kind boy who takes Oliver in to help him survive.
I was actually shocked by the anti-semitic statements in the book, and I was very disappointed that Dickens had many of the Jewish characters be the villains in the book as well. I had no idea that he was so anti-semitic, and there were times that I was just angry at the way he portrayed the characters in Fagin's gang.
In the end of the story, Oliver is still living with Mr. Brownlow, and he is better off than he was in Fagin's gang. However, Fagin, Bill Sykes, and Dodger are all in prison or dead due to the crimes they committed throughout the story. I understand that they were evil, but I really did not like how evil Dickens portrayed them. The characters who were poor and less-fortunate were all portrayed as people who were willing to do whatever it took to gain money while the only characters who were genuinely good were those who came from money and upperclass families. It would have been nice to see some of the less fortunate characters have redeemable qualities as well. Dickens portrays those in poverty as people who are pure evil.
Overall, the story of Oliver is a nice story to show how there are good people in the world who will take in those less fortunate and help them, but it is not a story that I feel everyone should read. It definitely does not have the same redeeming and lovable characters that are in later stories by Dickens, and the plot isn't really super exciting. There are a lot of holes in the story, and the time skips around so much that you aren't ever really sure if the events are happening sequentially or with weeks and months in between.
I wouldn't really recommend that anyone read this book. In all reality, the musical of the story is much better and more worth your time than the novel.
Sorcery of Thorns by Margaret Rogerson
If you love fantasy and strong female heroines along with romance then you will definitely enjoy this one. I received this through my LitJoy crate subscription, and it took me a good while to get around to reading it. My 12-year-old son, who is a huge Harry Potter fan, was actually trying to find a book to read, and I handed him this one because it was so late, and he didn't want an e-book. He read it, and immediately told me that I need to read it as well.
The story begins with Elisabeth, who is an orphan, helping the warden at the library transport a grimoire to the vault of the library. In the world Elisabeth lives in, the majority of books are grimoires, and they have the ability to turn into maleficts (monsters). At this same time the library receives a visit from a sorceror, Nathaniel Thorn, whom Elisabeth believes is evil. However, she meets him while spying on him, and she is left with the impression that maybe he is not as bad as she assumed.
After a few weeks, Elisabeth wakes up in the middle of the night, and she realizes that something is wrong. She rushes to the vault, and she realizes that the grimoire she put there weeks before has turned into a malefict, and she discovers the warden is dead. Elisabeth fights off and destroys the malefict, but of course, she is accused of killing the warden because she was the only one who was awake during the time.
Elisabeth is locked up, and the Collegium sends Thorn to escort her back to the city for her trial. Along the way, she learns that Thorn is not the evil person she thought he was, but she also realizes that his servant is a demon, so there must be some evil to him. Eventually, Nathaniel and Elisabeth reach his home in the capital, Brassbridge, they are attacked by fiends outside of his home. Fortunately, Silas, the demon, helps fight them off, and they are sheltered safely inside Thorn's home. From Thorn's home Elisabeth is taken to the home of Oberon Ashcroft, who is the Chancellor of Magic. Nathaniel leaves assuming she is safe because she has been exonerated from the accusation of murder since another library was attacked while she was in custody. However, while at Ashcroft's, Elisabeth is manipulated by his demon, and she learns that he is the magician who is attacking the libraries.
Fortunately, Elisabeth escapes and makes it back to Thorn's where she convinces him to join her in the fight against Ashcroft. While they are preparing, Elisabeth learns about sorcery, and she and Thorn of course develop a relationship. In addition, Elisabeth becomes friends with Silas, the demon, and she starts to see that there is more to sorcery than she as grown up believing. As they work together to learn what Ashcroft's plans are, Elisabeth learns about some of her own powers, and she is determined to stop Ashcroft no matter what.
The story builds up to a climactic end where Elisabeth and Nathaniel both almost lose their lives, and Silas shows that he may not be the evil demon he is always telling Elisabeth that he is. The end actually ends with the reader not being sure about Nathaniel, Elisabeth, or Silas's futures, but it does end with a hopeful ending. My son tells me that it ends in such a way that there has to be a sequel, but in my mind, it ends with a happy ending. The reader is left to decide what really happens, and it would be nice if there were a sequel, but it's not really necessary.
Overall, the story is a great fantasy that lovers of books will enjoy. I loved that the setting was in libraries and in a world that basically worshiped literature. I also enjoyed the power that books had, and the fact that they were able to transform into monsters and also communicate with Elisabeth was so much fun! For those who have often thought it would be fun to live in a library, this story makes it seem even more unbelievable. As I read about Elisabeth and the books, I couldn't help but wish that I were there with her taking care of the books and learning from them.
Another thing that I really loved was the character of Silas. Yes, he is a demon, and he reminds Elisabeth of that many times, but he is also so much more than a demon. He becomes, in my opinion, the hero of the story, and he is so lovable and easy to accept. I love how he works to help Nathaniel as a servant, but also as a friend. Rogerson creates the relationship between Nathaniel and Silas almost as a child and parent relationship. I couldn't help but cheer for Silas, and throughout the story, I agreed with Elisabeth when she kept thinking that there was more to Silas than he was letting on.
The final part of the book that I of course loved was the relationship between Nathaniel and Elisabeth. The fact that she starts out not trusting him, but quickly learns to love him was a little bit cheesy, but also, so fun to read! I loved that the two of them worked together to save their world and the libraries, and Elisabeth wasn't always the damsel in distress. There were times where she saved Nathaniel just as much as there where times where he saved her. I actually thought the romance would be a detraction for my son, but he told me that he enjoyed the fantasy part of it so much that the romance wasn't a problem at all.
This is one that I am excited to share with my students after this whole Covid 19 quarantine is over. I know that fans of Harry Potter and other fantasy books will definitely love Sorcery of Thorns.
The story begins with Elisabeth, who is an orphan, helping the warden at the library transport a grimoire to the vault of the library. In the world Elisabeth lives in, the majority of books are grimoires, and they have the ability to turn into maleficts (monsters). At this same time the library receives a visit from a sorceror, Nathaniel Thorn, whom Elisabeth believes is evil. However, she meets him while spying on him, and she is left with the impression that maybe he is not as bad as she assumed.
After a few weeks, Elisabeth wakes up in the middle of the night, and she realizes that something is wrong. She rushes to the vault, and she realizes that the grimoire she put there weeks before has turned into a malefict, and she discovers the warden is dead. Elisabeth fights off and destroys the malefict, but of course, she is accused of killing the warden because she was the only one who was awake during the time.
Elisabeth is locked up, and the Collegium sends Thorn to escort her back to the city for her trial. Along the way, she learns that Thorn is not the evil person she thought he was, but she also realizes that his servant is a demon, so there must be some evil to him. Eventually, Nathaniel and Elisabeth reach his home in the capital, Brassbridge, they are attacked by fiends outside of his home. Fortunately, Silas, the demon, helps fight them off, and they are sheltered safely inside Thorn's home. From Thorn's home Elisabeth is taken to the home of Oberon Ashcroft, who is the Chancellor of Magic. Nathaniel leaves assuming she is safe because she has been exonerated from the accusation of murder since another library was attacked while she was in custody. However, while at Ashcroft's, Elisabeth is manipulated by his demon, and she learns that he is the magician who is attacking the libraries.
Fortunately, Elisabeth escapes and makes it back to Thorn's where she convinces him to join her in the fight against Ashcroft. While they are preparing, Elisabeth learns about sorcery, and she and Thorn of course develop a relationship. In addition, Elisabeth becomes friends with Silas, the demon, and she starts to see that there is more to sorcery than she as grown up believing. As they work together to learn what Ashcroft's plans are, Elisabeth learns about some of her own powers, and she is determined to stop Ashcroft no matter what.
The story builds up to a climactic end where Elisabeth and Nathaniel both almost lose their lives, and Silas shows that he may not be the evil demon he is always telling Elisabeth that he is. The end actually ends with the reader not being sure about Nathaniel, Elisabeth, or Silas's futures, but it does end with a hopeful ending. My son tells me that it ends in such a way that there has to be a sequel, but in my mind, it ends with a happy ending. The reader is left to decide what really happens, and it would be nice if there were a sequel, but it's not really necessary.
Overall, the story is a great fantasy that lovers of books will enjoy. I loved that the setting was in libraries and in a world that basically worshiped literature. I also enjoyed the power that books had, and the fact that they were able to transform into monsters and also communicate with Elisabeth was so much fun! For those who have often thought it would be fun to live in a library, this story makes it seem even more unbelievable. As I read about Elisabeth and the books, I couldn't help but wish that I were there with her taking care of the books and learning from them.
Another thing that I really loved was the character of Silas. Yes, he is a demon, and he reminds Elisabeth of that many times, but he is also so much more than a demon. He becomes, in my opinion, the hero of the story, and he is so lovable and easy to accept. I love how he works to help Nathaniel as a servant, but also as a friend. Rogerson creates the relationship between Nathaniel and Silas almost as a child and parent relationship. I couldn't help but cheer for Silas, and throughout the story, I agreed with Elisabeth when she kept thinking that there was more to Silas than he was letting on.
The final part of the book that I of course loved was the relationship between Nathaniel and Elisabeth. The fact that she starts out not trusting him, but quickly learns to love him was a little bit cheesy, but also, so fun to read! I loved that the two of them worked together to save their world and the libraries, and Elisabeth wasn't always the damsel in distress. There were times where she saved Nathaniel just as much as there where times where he saved her. I actually thought the romance would be a detraction for my son, but he told me that he enjoyed the fantasy part of it so much that the romance wasn't a problem at all.
This is one that I am excited to share with my students after this whole Covid 19 quarantine is over. I know that fans of Harry Potter and other fantasy books will definitely love Sorcery of Thorns.
Thursday, April 2, 2020
The Luxe by Anna Godbersen
This book was suggested to me by a teacher friend about eight years ago. She knows that I am a lover of Historical Fiction, and I don't mind a cheesy romance once in a while, so she recommended that I read it shortly after it was released. Neither one of us knew at the time that it was a series, and we would have to wait until the series was completed to finish the story, but I'm so glad that she suggested the book to me! This was fun to read a second time during the quarantine because I am feeling so overwhelmed with the seriousness of this whole stay at home and teach/social distance period.
The story tells about the Holland family, who are "old money" in turn-of-the-century New York. Elizabeth, the oldest of the two Hollands, is in love with their carriage driver, Will Keller, but she is being forced to marry handsome Henry Schoonmaker, New York's most eligible bachelor because her family has lost all of their money since her father's death. Elizabeth obviously doesn't love Henry, and she wants to run away to California with Will, but she has always been taught to do what is best for the family so she stays in New York even though her heart is with Will.
While Elizabeth is dealing with her engagement to Henry and her relationship with Will, her best frenemy, Penelope Hayes, is trying to figure out how to get Henry to marry her instead of Elizabeth. In addition, Elizabeth's younger sister, Diana, finds herself following in love with Henry, and Henry finds he feels the same about Diana. To make things worse, Elizabeth's maid, Lina Broud, is in love with Will, and she wants revenge because Will chose Elizabeth over her. It really is the cheesy romance that most teenage girls will enjoy. Plus, in my opinion, it is tastefully done. Yes, the characters have intimate relationships outside of marriage, but Godbersen doesn't portray those scenes in a tasteless way. She does not go into great detail during the love scenes, and the language is very tame.
In addition, I love how the characters are developed in the story. Penelope Hayes is very much the stereotypical rich brat who comes from "new money" while Elizabeth is the stereotypical damsel in distress who has to choose between her true love and her family. Diana is portrayed as a romantic teenager who is looking for love, but in all reality, she is more independent and courageous than Elizabeth and Penelope are put together. I hate Penelope strongly, and I feel the same about Lina Broud. The two of them are super selfish, and I love how Godbersen portrays their personalities through their selfish thoughts and actions.
I am looking forward to rereading the entire series, since I have time to do that, and I highly recommend the series to those who are looking for a fun, cheesy romance to help take your mind off of the more serious matters in life.
The story tells about the Holland family, who are "old money" in turn-of-the-century New York. Elizabeth, the oldest of the two Hollands, is in love with their carriage driver, Will Keller, but she is being forced to marry handsome Henry Schoonmaker, New York's most eligible bachelor because her family has lost all of their money since her father's death. Elizabeth obviously doesn't love Henry, and she wants to run away to California with Will, but she has always been taught to do what is best for the family so she stays in New York even though her heart is with Will.
While Elizabeth is dealing with her engagement to Henry and her relationship with Will, her best frenemy, Penelope Hayes, is trying to figure out how to get Henry to marry her instead of Elizabeth. In addition, Elizabeth's younger sister, Diana, finds herself following in love with Henry, and Henry finds he feels the same about Diana. To make things worse, Elizabeth's maid, Lina Broud, is in love with Will, and she wants revenge because Will chose Elizabeth over her. It really is the cheesy romance that most teenage girls will enjoy. Plus, in my opinion, it is tastefully done. Yes, the characters have intimate relationships outside of marriage, but Godbersen doesn't portray those scenes in a tasteless way. She does not go into great detail during the love scenes, and the language is very tame.
In addition, I love how the characters are developed in the story. Penelope Hayes is very much the stereotypical rich brat who comes from "new money" while Elizabeth is the stereotypical damsel in distress who has to choose between her true love and her family. Diana is portrayed as a romantic teenager who is looking for love, but in all reality, she is more independent and courageous than Elizabeth and Penelope are put together. I hate Penelope strongly, and I feel the same about Lina Broud. The two of them are super selfish, and I love how Godbersen portrays their personalities through their selfish thoughts and actions.
I am looking forward to rereading the entire series, since I have time to do that, and I highly recommend the series to those who are looking for a fun, cheesy romance to help take your mind off of the more serious matters in life.
The Cruel Prince
My family knows, and some of my students know, but I love book subscription boxes! I actually received The Cruel Prince by Holly Black in one of my book subscriptions, and I read it right away. Of course, I was disappointed then because the series wasn't finished, so I set it aside and decided when the series was finished, I would read it. So, two or three years have passed, and the series is done. I borrowed the book from the online library because CoVid 19 quarantine is happening, and my copy is in my classroom, and I didn't want to go to the school to get a book I could read for free. It was much better reading this the second time, and I feel better about it than I did the first time round.
The story follows Jude and her two sisters, who were taken to live in the land of the Faerie when her mother's first husband killed her mother and father. While growing up in the land, Jude is educated with the other children of the high court, and she is trained by Madoc (her stepfather/kidnapper) to be a knight within the court. As Jude reaches the age of 16, she decides that she will show the other royal children that she can belong in their world. However, when she asks Madoc for permission to become a knight, he tells her that she has to wait longer.
Fortunately, or maybe unfortunately, for Jude, the High Prince hires her to be one of his spies. While spying for him, Jude learns about more about his brother, Cardan, who is her same age and whom she despises. Along the way, Jude also finds herself falling for one of Cardan's friends, Locke, and she finds herself more involved with the royal family than she ever wanted to be. The story ends on a cliffhanger, and I don't want to ruin it for you, but if you enjoy fantasy with a bit of romance then you will enjoy this one.
The one thing I liked about the story, but also didn't like, was the relationship that Jude has with her stepfather/kidnapper/killer of her parents. Madoc isn't Jude's blood father, but he raises her as his own because of what he has been taught as a Faerie court, and he trains her well. At times, I found myself forgetting that he was the person who killed her mother and father and brought her to the land, but then he would say or do something that reminded me that he really wasn't the great person he seemed to be.
I also loved the relationship between Jude and Cardan. I have to say that the twist at the end of the book was a shock to me both times, and I can't wait to see how their relationship continues in the remainder of the series. They definitely have a love/hate relationship, and it's going to be fun to see how Holly Black continues their relationship.
The only thing I really hated about this one was Jude's stepmother (Madoc's second wife) and actually, Jude's twin sister, Taryn. I couldn't really stand either of them, and I feel like they both owe Jude more than they are willing to give to her. The two of them are super selfish, in my personal opinion, and I hope that Jude doesn't continue helping them, or at least that she won't help them as much in the next books.
Overall, it was a fun and different type of fantasy to read. Black's plot was not easy to guess, and like I said before, the twist at the end is a shock. This is a well-written fantasy that I know any lover of young adult fantasy will enjoy.
The story follows Jude and her two sisters, who were taken to live in the land of the Faerie when her mother's first husband killed her mother and father. While growing up in the land, Jude is educated with the other children of the high court, and she is trained by Madoc (her stepfather/kidnapper) to be a knight within the court. As Jude reaches the age of 16, she decides that she will show the other royal children that she can belong in their world. However, when she asks Madoc for permission to become a knight, he tells her that she has to wait longer.
Fortunately, or maybe unfortunately, for Jude, the High Prince hires her to be one of his spies. While spying for him, Jude learns about more about his brother, Cardan, who is her same age and whom she despises. Along the way, Jude also finds herself falling for one of Cardan's friends, Locke, and she finds herself more involved with the royal family than she ever wanted to be. The story ends on a cliffhanger, and I don't want to ruin it for you, but if you enjoy fantasy with a bit of romance then you will enjoy this one.
The one thing I liked about the story, but also didn't like, was the relationship that Jude has with her stepfather/kidnapper/killer of her parents. Madoc isn't Jude's blood father, but he raises her as his own because of what he has been taught as a Faerie court, and he trains her well. At times, I found myself forgetting that he was the person who killed her mother and father and brought her to the land, but then he would say or do something that reminded me that he really wasn't the great person he seemed to be.
I also loved the relationship between Jude and Cardan. I have to say that the twist at the end of the book was a shock to me both times, and I can't wait to see how their relationship continues in the remainder of the series. They definitely have a love/hate relationship, and it's going to be fun to see how Holly Black continues their relationship.
The only thing I really hated about this one was Jude's stepmother (Madoc's second wife) and actually, Jude's twin sister, Taryn. I couldn't really stand either of them, and I feel like they both owe Jude more than they are willing to give to her. The two of them are super selfish, in my personal opinion, and I hope that Jude doesn't continue helping them, or at least that she won't help them as much in the next books.
Overall, it was a fun and different type of fantasy to read. Black's plot was not easy to guess, and like I said before, the twist at the end is a shock. This is a well-written fantasy that I know any lover of young adult fantasy will enjoy.
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