Book Reviews

The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern

The Guinevere Deception by Kiersten White

Once upon a time, a young boy found a painted door, which led to a hidden world called The Starless Sea, with rooms and rooms of stories. (Of course, the boy was not aware of this then.) To open it or not? Years later, that boy, grown-up, finds a book telling his story and so, embarks on a journey of endless wonder.

The Starless Sea was like a shrewdly crafted quilt with each piece adding something to the whole picture or like puzzle pieces thrown here and there and you had no idea where they fit in until you brought all of them together. This story with its countless smaller ones, interlocked together, dazzled me.

That very first story at the beginning of the book broke my heart a little, even with that clever dash of humor. Each story that followed stoked my curiosity further and kept me focused on the marvelous trail with its winding corners.

The main and side characters delighted, infuriated and saddened me with their choices and reactions. The author did a fantastic job with the vivid writing that brought them to life in my mind. The world-building was excellent and added a lot of depth to the whole.

The Starless Sea was a tale in a tale in a tale, of missed opportunities and lost love, with a heartbreaking and apt ending, leaving you with the undeniable conclusion that every ending is also a beginning, the start of something new. When Kiersten White announced her new novel, The Guinevere Deception, I was super excited to read it. I love stories that put a new spin on the classic King Arthur tale, and this one was no exception. Guinevere has come to Camelot, a place where magic has been banned and Merlin banished, to wed king Arthur. She must protect him from a new magical threat, but she must also keep her true identity a secret or risk everything she’s worked for.

White’s writing was once again phenomenal. The book quickly sucked me in and wouldn’t let go. The writing was smooth and flowed well, making this an easy read. The characters stood out for me the most in this book. I loved reading the story from Guinevere’s point of view, it painted familiar characters such as Arthur and Lancelot in a whole new light. Reading about familiar characters in a new setting is what makes me so fond of retellings.

The biggest complaint I have about this book is the plot and pacing. It felt slightly disjointed and I struggled to piece things together in the beginning. Guinevere is very unsure of herself and there are large gaps in her memory, making her narration a bit unreliable. The plot moved slowly and was convoluted at times, making it hard to keep up with everything.

Overall this was an enjoyable read and I definitely recommend The Guinevere Deception if you’re a fan of retellings!

Twice in a Blue Moon by Christina Lauren

Shadow Frost by Coco Ma

Christina Lauren’s Twice in a Blue Moon is a unique, fun, and easy rom-com read! I read this in one day and would have read it in one sitting if life allowed me to.

A story about a young Tate falling in love while on her short vacation to London and then finding him again 14 years later and having to overcome what pulled them apart. Twice in a Blue Moon is about self-growth, friendship, family and betrayal.

Throughout Tate’s journey, I realized how much I saw myself in Tate and although I did not see myself in her romantic situation, as the story was told with a 14-year difference, I learned a lot about my own life.

I was worried Twice in a Blue Moon would not live up to the amazing The Unhoneymooners, but it did! This book is very different from The Unhoneymooners, but still has a funny tone and I could not help but smile throughout the whole read and maybe even tear up a bit as my heart melted and broke throughout the story.

For those who enjoy anything Christina Lauren or Waiting on Tom Hanks, I recommend Twice in a Blue Moon! Pair this read with Halsey’s Love You for a Long Time and you will not want it to end.

Photo and Review by Shannon Grace @ bookishshan Shadow Frost was one of my most anticipated releases of 2019 by debut author Coco Ma. Set in a unique fantasy world, Shadow Frost follows Asterin as she is faced with a terrible threat. The story is told from multiple perspectives which provide a well-rounded view.

The book had a strong beginning as it does a great job of introducing a unique world surrounding elemental magic and what seems like an intricate political system. The middle fell a little flat and needed more movement to match the pace of the beginning and end. The last couple of pages will have you itching for the next installment.

The cast of characters are diverse and often provide humorous moments that will have you chuckling out loud. I loved the various relationships that were explored in this book but felt as if some of them were created for convenience. However, I also think that relationships played an interesting role in the progression of the plot.

I liked Asterin as our main character but felt as if she lacked the depth needed to be the incredible heroine we want her to be. I enjoyed how she interacted with the other characters and the humor she brought to the book creating an accessible environment for all readers.

Shadow Frost is an enjoyable YA Fantasy that will have you smiling at the friendships, swooning at the romances and creating endless ships between the characters.