And just like that, it is nearly the end of 2017 and the start of a new year! I haven't written a blog post in ages but with work, life and reading, I just never got around to drafting one.
Back to my favourite topic... I have been on quite the reading marathon this year! Mainly YA fantasy, which to be honest, can be a lot faster to read. There are however so many wonderful and exciting YA fantasy series available and constantly being released, it's a wonder why I haven't run out of books to read. So I thought I would pull together my thoughts on some of my favourite books or series I have read in 2017. Here is instalment 1.
The Shades of Magic Series
Author: V.E. Schwab
Genre: Fantasy
I started A Darker Shade of Magic last year. While I enjoyed the first book, I didn't quite love it. I felt Schwab spent a lot of this book building the world(s) and maybe the characters got lost a bit in it. I loved the concept of the different Londons and how magic has impacted each London. Character-wise, I admit Kell wasn't the perfect character, however I loved him for his conflicting emotions - part of the royal family but an outsider at the same time. Lila and Rhy bugged me though. I just could not love them. BUT... ADSoM was intriguing enough to keep me invested and I am totally glad I did.
This is truly one of those series where the next book completely surpasses the previous. A Gathering of Shadows was fantastic. Not only was it a continuation of the ADSoM, but there was much more depth in the characters. They came to life and I understood their part in the story better. The tournament and magic portrayal was fantastic. But the cliffhanger of an ending had me wanting more...
A Conjuring of Light continued right off the back of AGoS. I waited for this with anticipation and it did not disappoint. Did I mention that each book surpassed the previous?! Schwab is brilliant at creating villains. She is also brilliant at making you love or sympathise with 'bad guys'. When I started ADSoM, I never would have thought I could like Holland as much as I did by the end of AGoS. I was heartbroken in the end - he was a guy shaped by his circumstances and he had to endure a lot more than any other character.
Overall, I enjoyed this series immensely. I initially thought this was the end of the series but I believe there will be more to come and I can't wait!
Genre: Fantasy
I started A Darker Shade of Magic last year. While I enjoyed the first book, I didn't quite love it. I felt Schwab spent a lot of this book building the world(s) and maybe the characters got lost a bit in it. I loved the concept of the different Londons and how magic has impacted each London. Character-wise, I admit Kell wasn't the perfect character, however I loved him for his conflicting emotions - part of the royal family but an outsider at the same time. Lila and Rhy bugged me though. I just could not love them. BUT... ADSoM was intriguing enough to keep me invested and I am totally glad I did.
This is truly one of those series where the next book completely surpasses the previous. A Gathering of Shadows was fantastic. Not only was it a continuation of the ADSoM, but there was much more depth in the characters. They came to life and I understood their part in the story better. The tournament and magic portrayal was fantastic. But the cliffhanger of an ending had me wanting more...
A Conjuring of Light continued right off the back of AGoS. I waited for this with anticipation and it did not disappoint. Did I mention that each book surpassed the previous?! Schwab is brilliant at creating villains. She is also brilliant at making you love or sympathise with 'bad guys'. When I started ADSoM, I never would have thought I could like Holland as much as I did by the end of AGoS. I was heartbroken in the end - he was a guy shaped by his circumstances and he had to endure a lot more than any other character.
Overall, I enjoyed this series immensely. I initially thought this was the end of the series but I believe there will be more to come and I can't wait!
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