April was destined to be the most important month of the year book-wise, because The Raven King finally came out. I'd been anticipating this book since August and I'd gotten myself so worked up about it that I was truly scared to read it. It did not disappoint. It was everything I wanted and needed and everything I didn't know I wanted and needed. I feel physical pain that it's over, and when I think of the last line I can't tell if I want to cry or throw up. Beyond incredible. Thank you, Maggie Stiefvater. Plus, I got it four days before the release date so I managed to finish it before it officially came out, which has got me feeling slightly smug.
Books Read:
1. 'V for Vendetta'- Alan Moore and David Lloyd
I read 'Watchmen', a graphic novel by Alan Moore, back in January which I really enjoyed, but, if it's possible, this one was even better. I absolutely loved every second of this graphic novel, it's such an intense and terrifying story, and the complete mystery of all of it keeps you hooked. My one issue with it was the fact that it's not very colourful and a lot of the authority figures looked very similar, so I was often quite confused about who was who, but I'm starting to think that that may have been somewhat intentional. It's such a clever and fantastic dystopian story, I can see why it often makes lists of 'books you must read before you die'.
2. 'Georgy Girl'- Margaret Forster
I hate to say it, especially since my mum got my this book and I always trust her recommendations, but I was really disappointed with this. I got such Bridget Jones vibes from the premise, but it was no where near as fun as I thought it was going to be. I've never read a book where I've absolutely hated every single character, though I do get the feeling that you're not supposed to like them, and overall I just didn't enjoy this book as much as I hoped and thought I would.
3. 'Scarlett-' Marissa Meyer
This book had the reputation of many second-books-in-series in that, though it's good, it's the worst book of the series. Though it wasn't my favourite out of the series, it wasn't nearly as slow as I'd heard it was, and the ending was so crazy and so good. I preferred the bits with Cinder in, I love her as a character and I found her bits slightly more interesting, but Scarlett is an awesome female character in her own right.
4. 'Cress'- Marissa Meyer
I was so glad I had this book to read straight after Scarlett, after Cinder all I wanted was to read the next one straight away, and I'd been more prepared this time. What I'm really enjoying about this series is how it takes place over quite a short period of time, and so the books are more or less following straight on from each other. This book was really interesting as you never get Rapunzel retellings, but I'm really enjoying the sci-fi take on classic stories and I really like Cress as a character. I'd heard really good things about this book, and they are actual squad goals living on the Rampion together. Great, great, great book, the next book is going to be amazing (800 pages of amazing, I may add).
5. 'Moranifesto'- Caitlin Moran
Everyone should know by now that Caitlin Moran is one of my favourite writers, I will literally read anything she publishes, and I can't believe I didn't know this book was coming out until recently. As predicted, this book was absolutely fantastic, Caitlin Moran is often a very controversial writer, but I love every single thing she says and I am nuts about her. Once again, as it happens every time I read a non-fiction book, I really want to read more non-fiction.
6. 'The Lost Hero'- Rick Riordan
It feels so good to be back in the world of Percy Jackson and Camp Half Blood. This is the spin-off series to the Percy Jackson series, which I read all of last year and absolutely loved; this is one of the only book series my brother is passionate about, and he's been on at me to read The Lost Hero for months now. As with all of Rick Riordan's writing, it did not disappoint. Rick Riordan is a genius when it comes to Greek mythology (which Percy Jackson has made me obsessed with), though I was slightly disappointed that mythology didn't feature as heavily as it did in the first series, though it's obviously still a major plot point. I missed Percy in this book, I didn't feel as connected to the other characters as I do to him, but it was a fantastic start to the series and I'm really excited to see where it goes.
7. 'The Raven King'- Maggie Stiefvater
Where do I even start with this one? I've briefly talked about my feelings earlier in the post, but there is no way for me to properly put them into words. I feel slightly dead inside that the series is over. I don't know what to do now, I've gone on an obsessive rampage and my Raven Cycle mug is currently in the post. As I've said, this was such a perfect end to one of my all-time favourite series. Everything was wrapped up so perfectly, and it was so wonderful and heart breaking and I have all the feels in the world. I'm so glad that this book is so perfect, though I don't know how I can live my life knowing that Henrietta and Aglionby and Blue and her boys are over. I honestly can't handle it; my heart hurts.
Rosie
Weeping tears over the Raven Cycle and my beloved boys
Weeping tears over the Raven Cycle and my beloved boys
