I'm the type of person who reads way too many books at a time. Currently, I'm reading three (which is actually less than usual for me). Why would I do that to myself? Well, because I'm also the type of person who gets bored really easily and can rarely commit to finishing something that I've started. So, yes, I'm reading multiple books at once... all of which will take me about a year to finish.
However, the good news is that because I've started so many books, I'm great at recommending (or not recommending) them to people! Here's a quick list of the books I'm currently reading, and whether or not I'm going to finish them. Hint: two of them are good, and one of them is... not.
1. From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout
(Recommended by booktok)
This book was recommended to me by booktok (if you don't know what booktok is, it's the part of tiktok that's specifically for readers, where people make videos about their favourite books, authors, and tropes). I don't often read books popular on tiktok because I find that they're often overhyped. HOWEVER, after hearing so much about From Blood and Ash, it definitely sounded like a book meant for me. And after reading the synopsis, I was definitely hooked. It's a YA fantasy filled with action, plot twists, scary monsters, and of course *spicy romance.* Currently, I'm on page 148 out of 611 and so far, it's GOOD! The first chapter begins with a mystery surrounding ferocious beasts attacking soldiers, a young woman sneaking out to an underground club, and that same woman being *seduced* by one of her own guards—a man named Hawke. If that wasn't cool enough, the main character (who goes by the nickname Poppy) also has the unique ability to feel people's emotions.
After all that, I was sold.
The writing is pretty good; it very much reminds me of Sarah J. Maas for both its style and content. As for the characters, they aren't really anything new or special, but the plot is enough to keep me interested on its own. I'm hoping that the characters, as well as the world building, develop more as the book goes on. If I had to give it a rating right now, I'd probably give it a 3.5/5.
2. Empire of the Vampire by Jay Kristoff
(I stole this book from my mother)
Hi, mom! If you're reading this... I still have your book. And I'm not giving it back. This book is great. For those of you who know of my deep, unending love for vampires, the fact that I'm reading this book will not surprise you (which is why my mother recommended it to me in the first place). It's an adult fantasy book set in a world where vampires have waged war against humans. The main character is Gabriel de León, a member of the Silver Order, a holy brotherhood whose purpose is to hunt and destroy vampires. But when the sun sets—and never rises again—he is suddenly the last of the silversaints and humanity's only hope against the creatures of the night.
This book is unique because its plot is largely told through Gabriel, who has been imprisoned by vampires, and recounts the story's events while being interrogated. It's told in a similar way as Interview with a Vampire was, where the story's main events take place in the past. So far, it's a very addictive read. My only critique is that the author has a tendency to over-describe everything. There's about three adjectives before every noun. Once Gabriel begins his story, the obsessive description gets a little better, but it definitely took me a few pages to get past. Otherwise, I'm obsessed with this book! It's not recommended for young adult readers, but honestly, it has the same amount of mature themes as Sarah J. Maas' books do, so if you're old enough to read her, you're old enough to read this. So far, it's definitely a 4/5 for me.
And speaking of Sarah J. Maas, I present to you my third and final book...
3. Crescent City: House of Earth and Blood by Sarah J. Maas
(If Sarah J. Maas wrote it, I have to read it)
It's no secret that I'm a big fan of Sarah J. Maas. Her Throne of Glass series were the books that introduced me to the world of YA high fantasy and romance (and morally-grey, magically superior characters that double as assassins and secret princesses). A Court of Thorns and Roses was actually the book that helped inspire some of the elements in my book Kill the Gods. She's my favourite author...
Or, she was.
For all of you fans of Sarah J. Maas, what you're about to read is going to hurt your feelings. The entirety of the next 200 words is going to be a rant. Ready?
Sarah J. Maas has disappointed me.
I know that sounds terribly harsh, but after the flop that was A Court of Frost and Starlight (it was absolutely awful. Don't bother reading it. It will ruin your whole day), I was a little discouraged. Crescent City is her newest series, featuring a half-human, half-fae girl named Bryce and a fallen angel named Hunt who are basically trying to solve a series of murders. The concept and book synopsis really interested me, and even after the disastrous ending of the ACOTAR series, I gave it a chance.
I shouldn't have.
When I say I couldn't even make it past Chapter 3, I mean it. One thing I love about Sarah J. Maas is her characters and their unique worlds. She really has a great imagination. However, there is a such thing as too much imagination. Every other sentence was yet another info-dump of this or that. It was impossible to follow along. I was confused after the first page. Don't believe me? Here's a quick excerpt:
"There weren't many who'd dare piss off the Archangel of Crescent City, but Danika wouldn't hesitate. And given that all seven Heads of the City would be at this meeting, the odds of that happening were high. Things tended to escalate swiftly when they were in one room. There was little love lost between the six lower Heads in Crescent City, the metropolis formally known as Lunathion. Each Head controlled a specific part of the city: the Prime of the wolves in Moonwood, the Fae Autumn King in Five Roses, the Under-King in the Bone Quarter, the Viper Queen in the Meat Market, the Oracle in the Old Square, and the River Queen—who very rarely made an appearance—representing the House of Many Waters and her Blue Court far beneath the Istros River's turquoise surface. She seldom deigned to leave it. The humans in Asphodel Meadows had no Head. No seat at the table. Philip Briggs had found more than a few sympathizers because of it. But Micah, Head of the Central Business District, ruled over them all. Beyond his city titles, he was Archangel of Valbara. Ruer of the entire [insert swear word here] territory, and answerable only to the six Asteri in the Eternal City, the capital and beating heart of Pangera. Of the entire planet of Midgard. If anyone could keep Briggs in prison, it would be him" (Maas, 9-10).
Confused yet? Bored? Me, too. That was only Chapter One, page nine—I have no idea who any of those people are or what places she's referring to. And this goes on for about another page. And then it starts again a paragraph later and continues for another two pages. The info-dumps do. Not. Stop. I wanted so badly to like this book, but reading it reminds me too much of the nights I spent at my kitchen table Googling math tutorials because I couldn't figure out my homework. In other words, reading this book feels like a chore. I'm sorry, Sarah J. Maas. And after hearing about her new book A Court of Silver Flames, which is a continuation of the ACOTAR series (yes... what was supposed to be a trilogy is now up to five books. This one is about Nesta and Cassian, my two LEAST favourite characters in that series. Sigh.), I have to stop. If she starts a new series that sounds interesting, I might give it a try because I'm loyal to authors. But as of right now, I need a little break from Fae males and long, unpronounceable fantasy names.
Goodbye, Crescent City *throws book*.
Well, that's it for now! If you're curious what books I've read in the past and whether or not I actually managed to finish them, I left a link to that post below so check it out! Also, let me know if you want any full length reviews for these books when (or if) I finish them.
Happy reading!
Yours truly,
Kelsey Gatis
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