Welcome to my first blog post of 2024! What better way to kick off the new year than with a book review?
I recently had the pleasure of becoming immersed in The Girl Behind the Glass, a fantasy retelling of Snow White with a dark twist.
Told in a dual narrative style, we’re introduced to Winnie, daughter of the Mayor of Cranwick and Princess Frost, daughter of the King of Icefall. Both characters are fierce and willing to do whatever it takes for the ones that they love. I did say this was a twist on the traditional Snow White fairytale so of course we also have a stepmother and plenty of high-stakes secrets and plotting.
I absolutely adored the world-building and the dual narrative; admittedly I did struggle initially to understand the inner workings of the world and conflict with the witches but the more I read, the more familiar and addictive it became. The Girl Behind the Glass is a book with strong, sassy female protagonists and themes of family, identity and belonging that you’re guaranteed to get hooked on.
I can’t wait to see more of what this world brings!
What are you waiting for? Go pick up a copy now! Available on Amazon and Kindle Unlimited now.
“Kindness leaves you vulnerable, Tessa. I learned that lesson years ago.”
Rating: 3.5 stars.
Would I recommend? Heck yes if you love a healthy amount of political intrigue and scheming!
Brigid Kemmerer, queen of YA and my heart, definitely did not miss with yet another YA fantasy masterpiece. Defy the Night is set in the fictional kingdom of Kandala, a kingdom where a deadly sickness has spread through the land which has lead to conflict between members of each sector.
The story is based on the classic tale of Robin Hood and sees our protagonist, Tessa Cade, working alongside fellow outlaw Wes to deliver a Moonflower elixir to members of the public who would otherwise have no access to the only medicine that can safeguard against the sickness ravaging the land. At heart of the kingdom, King Harristan and the King’s Justice, Prince Corrick, are thrust into the spotlight and forced to brutal roles to secure the peace of the kingdom in light of their parents’ assassination.
Defy the Night is an addictive political fantasy that most definitely was not what I was expecting. On the one hand, the people are hopeless and helpless at the hands of the sickness and the lack of Moonflower petals available promises the threat of violence. This backdrop sees determined, selfless Tessa to risk being caught and punished in order to help her people. We’re also introduced to the royal scheming that takes place at court through Prince Corrick’s point of view. Corrick isn’t too pleased by the savage role he must play but he has no choice but to play the role to ensure his brother’s safety.
Tessa and Corrick are both fiercely loyal and determined characters who are willing to do whatever it takes to help those around them, all of which are admirable qualities that never go amiss. Corrick, for me, was the type of character that I just love getting an insight into. As dedicated he is to his brother, he is also aware of how much he sacrifices each time he becomes the lethal King’s Justice yet he doesn’t relent or back down. The complexity of his character was definitely a highlight for me.
For a young adult fantasy, I found the world-building intriguing and for once, it was nice to become discombobulated by all the info dump and terms that we usually receive in books like this. If Game of Thrones ever decided to make a young adult version, it would be this for sure.
MAJOR SPOILER INCOMING!
In a major plot twist that some readers may have predicted (I was not one of them, unfortunately)Tessa’s outlaw friend Wes is revealed to be the one and only Corrick. This was reminiscent of the plot twist in From Blood and Ash (which I did predict, yay for me) and only created more divisions between Tessa and Corrick. I, for one, enjoyed this twist and it only made me appreciate the development both characters go through in trusting each other and seeing their ravaged land through a different perspective.
You might be wondering why I didn’t opt for a five star rating when all I’ve done is raved and fangirled about this book thus far. Consider this, I read this book a few months ago and sadly, it didn’t stick with me. As addictive as some parts were, there were also parts where I was waiting for a deeper emotional connection with the characters that just didn’t arrive and that was quite a big letdown for me. I know that’s not a fault of the book and lies more on me having ridiculously high expectations but other books have managed to meet those every now and then so it does have to be considered.
“I suppose a fire that burns that bright is not meant to last.” | Allegiant, Veronica Roth.
It goes without saying but the very nature of this blog post implies that there will, of course, be an array of spoilers regarding the highly controversial endings to some series I’ve read over the years. If you’ve yet to read these books or intend to anytime soon and hate spoilers, kindly see yourself out now 🙂
1. Allegiant by Veronica Roth:
Have I inadvertently chosen violence by kicking off with this ending? Perhaps. I’m more than aware it’s been many years since Allegiant was released so I’ll remind you what happens at the end: in a snap decision that surprises absolutely no-one, Tris attempts to disseminate the memory serum instead of letting her brother Caleb do the deed. Of course, this leads to Tris’ inevitable doom which had my fifteen-year-old self utterly shook. I had never read a book in which the main character simply…kicks the bucket. I went through all the stages of grief: from denial all the way to reluctant acceptance.
Now, hear me out. I’ve had years to digest the tragic events that led to Tris’ death and how broken it left my boo, Tobias, and I’ve arrived at the slightly tentative conclusion that I am not completely opposed to this ending. I’ll be a frank, I despise happily-ever-afters. I can hear your exclamations of shock through the screen but allow me to explain. HEA’s tend to become a bit bland after all and so I appreciated that Veronica Roth took the plunge and decided to shake things up a little. That doesn’t mean that I’m still not absolutely saddened by the fact that Tris grew so much as a character, overcame obstacles with her family and Tobias to die at such a young age.
2. Requiem by Lauren Oliver:
Now this ending REALLY rubs me up the wrong way. Lena joins the resistance and bears the alleged lose of Alex only to find that he’s been alive all along. She grows so much as a character and I was fully rooting for her to dismantle the wretched system that declares love as a disease and sure, she manages to accomplish this and reunites with an estranged Alex only for the book to end. Sorry, do I have ‘clown’ plastered all over my forehead? In what world is that an acceptable ending of any kind? I know I just said that I don’t like HEA’s and whilst that’s true, the real enemy that I loathe with every fibre of my being are unresolved endings. An epilogue, even the teeny tiniest glimpse into the future of Lena and Alex would have had me sated. Alas, it was not meant to be.
3. An Emotion of Great Delight by Tahereh Mafi:
This is a fairly new release but that won’t stop me from absolutely ripping this book to shreds. This book literally ends mid-conversation. I wish I was exaggerating and flirting with hyperbole as I often do in this blog but it’s the simple truth. How on Earth can two characters be engaged in a deep conversation, sharing their feelings with one another and then the book just ends? Dear Tahereh, please pick up the nearest dictionary and look up the definition of the word ‘resolution.’
4. A Vow So Bold and Deadly by Brigid Kemmerer:
Brigid, I adore you and your incredible books but I will never forgive you for this. How dare you viciously strip away Rhen’s title and leave him a mere heap of a human? Please look me in the eyes and explain how you could be so heartless. To those of you who are familiar with this wonderful series, you might murmur soothingly, “But, what about the other characters? They all got the ending they deserved.” Yes, you are correct, they did which only makes it infinitely worse that Rhen is left to suffer. I won’t be forgetting about this anytime soon. *Old western music plays in the background whilst tumbleweed drifts across the screen*
This list is admittedly very short because I have a very bad habit of never finishing series that I’ve started many moons ago. Sigh.
Would I recommend? If you like an imaginative and cute romance, yes.
Spoilers may make a surprise appearance, proceed with caution.
Why oh why am I always so late to the bandwagon? Seriously, if someone can answer this you will be rewarded handsomely. *For legal reasons this is a joke*
The Fine Print has waited patiently on my overloaded shelves collecting dust whilst I experienced a very long, intense book slump but alas, here I am now.
One of my favourite elements about this book was the way Lauren Asher sets the premise for the entire series. We are introduced to the Kane brothers; Rowan, Declan and Cal. The book at hand focusses on the ruthless, cold-hearted Rowan who has a formidable reputation and is known for making selfish decisions which have led to those around him fearing his very presence. The Rowan we meet at the beginning of the book resembles a human version of the Grinch; he absolutely detests people and can only be described as a functioning workaholic. Enter Zahra, the human equivalent of a bright ray of sunshine who has her own traumatic past and aspires to become a Creator at Dreamland.
“Zahra’s it for me. I know it with everything in me, and my intuition has never been wrong before. There’s nothing in the world I’ll find more beautiful than her. Not the sun. Not the moon. Not even the entire galaxy compares to the light she radiates wherever she goes.”
Let’s start with Dreamland. While I initially wanted to scoff at the name, I found myself quite liking that this book was set in a theme park and showed us the inner workings and behind-the-scenes content of what it must be like to create and conjure unique concepts. The descriptions were incredible and I could imagine myself visiting somewhere like Dreamland so kudos Asher.
The grump x sunshine trope in this book is truly immaculate. Zahra somehow toes the line between bubbly and optimistic without becoming annoying and her personality is both infectious not only for Rowan but also the reader. You just can’t hate the girl. Rowan, on the other hand, is as cold as ice and refuses to drop his guard for anyone. I will say, the whole ‘I refuse to let my guard down for anyone’ cliche is a bit…tedious but given the cold, mechanical childhood Rowan experienced at the hands of his father, I could get behind it. Even more so when the premise of the romance relies upon Rowan realising that love isn’t as dangerous and manipulative as he thinks it is.
Life’s too short to hide who you are because you’re afraid of getting hurt.”
Rowan’s character development was the highlight for me not only because this was a romance book but because of some of the other changes it led to. The way he views the world, the way he views other people besides Zahra and comes to the realisation that his place of privilege has enabled him to access wealth and resources which the majority of his employees could only dream of. Zahra’s presence and involvement in his life, if anything, encourages Rowan to become a better version of himself and although this is driven by his love for her, it inspires change for the better across all areas of his life.
“You’ll learn that the best rewards come with the biggest consequences. Because nothing that great is given for free.”
Why the 3.5 stars you may be asking? Well, don’t get me wrong. A romance book with much-loved tropes like grump x sunshine and “I hate everyone but you” is bound to resemble other books utilising the same tropes but I just found the conflict towards the end to be…far too predictable. Look I get it, it’s a romance book. Readers want to see the main characters falling in love and living happily ever after but hear me out. You’re telling me Zahra, the same woman who had her heart wrenched out of her chest by her ex, the same woman who fell into a crippling depression because of this, was somehow able to trust Rowan after all the lies he told? And yes, I appreciate the lies were for the best and whatnot but part of me was reading this thinking, “there’s no way you’re taking this guy back, right?” Answer: wrong!
I refuse to allow this to taint my view of this book and despite this, I am definitely looking forward to Terms and Conditions!
Would I recommend? No. Please, save yourself. (I’m messing, even if it wasn’t to my taste, you’re more than welcome to try it of course).
Oh boy, here goes nothing! Before I start, I’d like to say that I’m by no means a reader who enjoys, or has ever enjoyed, bashing a book just for the sake of it. I don’t even enjoy having to say anything that isn’t positive but there are just some books you read (cough, this book) that are filled with sheer idiocy and you just can’t hold it in any longer. Which brings me to this review which will most likely end up being one of the harshest, most brutal reviews I’ve ever written. If that is too much for you, please kindly exit now and I hope to see you on another blog post.
Where should we start? Let’s start with Travix Maddox. Now I would be a hypocrite if I didn’t admit that I’ve often enjoyed reading about some of the darkest, most depraved characters out there. Zade Meadows anyone? I’ll own up to it. But here lies my issue; on the one hand we have authors who make us aware that they have created a character who isn’t suited to everyone’s palate and then you have a character like Travis who is presented as you as someone who is madly in love and is a character we should root for.
Why would I root for someone who falls in love with the main character almost instantly and monitors her every move? This guy gets a tattoo of HER NAME for goodness sake. I have nothing against tattoos but my guy, you are NOT in love with her! Oh how I detest the insta-love trope. He controls everything she does and gets irrationally jealous of her interactions with other men. Red flag much? If this were a dark romance or a mafia romance or anything along those lines where the author pre-warns us that what we’re about to read is designed to shock us, I would accept it. Of course I don’t agree with what takes place even in those books but I understand the value of shocking and surprising readers. What I don’t understand is indoctrinating us to believe that a boy who is known for his player tendencies would suddenly change his ways with absolutely no effort on his part and commit himself to you. I know this is fiction but I’m sorry, that’s where I draw the line.
Let’s not even go into the whole “Abby isn’t like other girls” trope. Seriously? There was nothing in that entire book to suggest that there was anything remotely unique about Abby. She doesn’t even exert an iota of self-control or common sense and dives head-first into whatever we want to call she has with Travis. I just wanted to grab her by the shoulders and shake the living daylights out of her and that’s saying a lot because I’m not usually a very violent person.
To make matters worse? America and Sheply just stand by and excuse Travis’ actions. What kind of friends allow and turn a blind eye to controlling behaviour? I had high hopes that America, of all people, could have talked some sense into Abby and helped her friend but looks like pigs might fly before that would happen.
I couldn’t for the life of me understand the primary conflict of this book because the pacing of the plot made zero sense to me and every other page was pretty much argument, make-up, argument repeat.
If there had been an enticing plot and some actual character development from Abby and Travis I would have absolutely loved this book, given it a few more stars even but here we are.
This book really was a disaster and it most definitely wasn’t a beautiful one.
“We have talked so much of travel,” James said. “I wanted to give you the world.”
Can you refund an entire year of your life? Asking for a Hannibal–obsessed book dragon.
First and foremost, happy new year folks. I’m not one for New Years resolutions and platitudes but I AM one for setting bookish goals and ensuring I stick to them. With that said, let’s take a dive into my TBR and see which books I need to get on top of this year shall we?
You Deserve Each Other by Sarah Hogle.
“I say it all the time, I just say it very, very quietly. I tell you when you’re in another room, or right after we hang up the phone. I tell you when you’ve got headphones on. I say it after you shut the door behind you. I say it in my head every time you look at me.”
Can someone treat me to this, pretty please? It’s not like it’s not been on my TBR since April 2022 or anything… This book right here ended up on my TBR as most of the books on my TBR do, an incredible twitter user posted a snippet of this book and the one scene I read was so darn cute that I had to run to Goodreads and add it to my list, stat! It’s marketed as an enemies-to-lovers, which are, without the shadow of a doubt, the best books out there (if you disagree go argue with a wall) and I can’t wait to meet Naomi and Nicholas (you know it’s going to be good when the main characters have matching names). If this book disappoints me I’m taking a long walk of a short pier, goodbye all *insert crying into ice cream gif here*
2. Terms and Conditions by Lauren Asher.
“I’ll give you anything you want—anything at all—so long as you give me a chance to make you as happy as you make me. A dog. A family. A home. I want it all. These are my terms and conditions, take it or leave it because I’m not open to negotiations.”
As much as I loved Rowan and Zahra’s story, I could hardly contain my excitement when I discovered that the sequel would focus on Declan and Iris. Oh how I love when authors reward us with a healthy dose of foreshadowing and a juicy little side romance. I have a strong feeling this sequel will outdo the first book for me and I cannot wait to swoon over Iris and Declan’s story! (Mind you, that quote up there is a tad…cheesy but fear not, I’m keeping an open mind).
3. Chain of Thorns…and Chain of Iron by Cassandra Clare (I didn’t get around to reading it last year leave me alone).
“Someone who broke your heart is often not the person who can mend it.”
So um…big books scare me. It’s the truth, I cannot lie to you all any longer. To sit behind this screen and tell you that I ENJOY reading a book over 500 pages would be dishonest and I may be many things but a liar I am not. I’ve yet to name a Cassandra Clare book I haven’t enjoyed so clearly I do have the courage to pick up big books but there’s just something about the world-building, hundreds and thousands of characters and multiple plot lines in a Cassandra Clare book that goes right over my head.
Should I probably re-read Chain of Gold because it’s been almost two years and I can’t remember a damn thing besides how much I freaking love Cordelia? Yes. Will I do that? No. Regardless, I can’t wait to dive back into the world of the Shadowhunters and experience all the angst that only someone as amazing as Cassandra Clare could write. Truly top tier angst, I once again ask, William Shakespeare WHO?
4. Twisted Series by Ana Huang.
“If you wanted, I would burn down the world for you.”
I’m reading this series by force this year and no-one can stop me. Not a single human out there can get in my way, I have the Darkling on speed-dial. Speed-dial I tell you! Anyway, back to the series at hand. I know the old saying cautions us against judging a book by its cover but the covers of these books look absolutely incredible so judge I shall. I’m either going to develop a new obsession or hate these books, only time will tell. More on this soon.
5. This Woven Kingdom by Tahereh Mafi.
“You have consumed my thoughts since the moment I met you,” he said to her. “I feel now, in your presence, entirely strange. I think I might fetch you the moon if only to spare your tears again.”
I am painfully late to picking this book up and this may sound trivial but I am furious at myself for not hauling a physical copy of this book. Alas the £2.99 on the kindle store was too hard to resist, sigh. I don’t know about you guys, but I wasn’t the biggest fan of the Shatter Me series but when I heard about this new fantasy series inspired by Persian mythology, I was instantly sold. I know I know, if I was that hooked by the concept I would have picked it up by now but oh well, that’s what 2023 is for right? A moment for that quote, good grief Tahereh are you trying to kill me with angst??
“You’re going to drive five miles just to give me a hug?”
“I’d run five miles just to give you a hug.”
Greetings and salutations readers and non-readers alike! It is with a heavy heart and a look of gut-wrenching regret that I sit to write this blog whilst coming to the realisation that another year has passed us by. My reading, and writing for that matter, has reached an all-time low this year but tis the price to pay when one is in the throes of capitalism. Despite this, of the thirty plus books I have feasted my eyeballs on this year, here are a few that stood out…
The Fine Print by Lauren Asher.
“I’ll never stop being greedy when it comes to Zahra. She will always be the exception to any rule and the one person I’m willing to screw the world over for. Because if she’s not happy, I’ll ruin whatever stole her smile, myself included.”
Kicking off the blog, ironically, with one of the last books I’ve had the pleasure of reading this year. The Fine Print is a dual POV romance which follows Rowan and Zahra, two individuals who couldn’t be further apart with their personalities. Where Rowan Kane is the formidable, cold businessman who behaves as if everyone and anyone is beneath him, Zahra is a ray of sunshine whose friendly and selfless demeanour is everything Rowan detests. I devoured (ahem, not literally) this book and it consisted of some of my favourite tropes: grump x sunshine, “I hate everyone but you,” a tinge of forbidden romance as Rowan is Zahra’s boss and a healthy age gap. Rowan’s character development from selfish to discovering there is a heart under that handsome exterior of his was the highlight of the book for me and the entire concept of the fantasy of Dreamland was refreshing and enjoyable. If you’re looking for a cute, spicy dual POV romance, this is the book for you.
2. It Starts With Us by Colleen Hoover.
“She’s my person, and I am hers, and that’s something I’ve known since the first week we met.”
Where do I begin? This book right here was my most anticipated read of the year and despite falling into a three month long slump, I still found myself enchanted by Atlas’ charm and the sheer cuteness of Lily and Atlas’ love story. Some readers have accused CoHo of falling prey to fanfiction culture and writing this purely to meet the demands of Booktokers and whilst I am inclined to agree, I would be lying if I said this wasn’t one of my favourite books of the year. There was something so precious about seeing Lily and Atlas making their way back to one another despite their individual trials.
It would have been unrealistic to expect Ryle to accept or own up to his actions and as infruriating as his sheer presence was throughout the book, I was glad to see CoHo explore what life looked like for Lily following the events of It Ends With Us. On a serious note, the urge to serve Ryle a knuckle sandwich throughout this book was immensely high. Do not even get me started on people who make excuses or defend that vile piece of… *deep breaths*
3. I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy.
“Why do we romanticize the dead? Why can’t we be honest about them?”
This book right here. Truly one of the most powerful books I have ever read. I dare even say I enjoyed it because there is nothing to enjoy or like about a book like this. As a teenager, I was an avid fan of iCarly and I was particularly fond of Jennette’s aggressive and sarcastic character, Sam Puckett. Reading this book was an enlightening and heart-wrenching experience to say the least, the kind that has you experiencing second-hand rage and sorrow on someone else’s behalf. It was alarming to read about diet culture and myths, how her mother was responsible for constantly shaming and comparing Jennette to other budding actors and how she practically instilled the beliefs that led to Jennette struggling with eating disorders throughout her life.
4. Dear Aaron by Mariana Zapata.
“Not every injury is physical. People don’t realize that.”
Dear Aaron is the very definition of the word “cute.” The first half of the book is told through letters, iMessages and emails whilst the latter half brings our two lovestruck penpals together. There’s something so precious about two individuals who have never seen each other bonding and falling in love via letters; I’m a sucker for a mushy romance and this one truly made ME feel as if there was, in fact, a piece of thumping flesh in my chest (damn Shakespeare, take THAT).
I would personally love to see this as a film although that may be a tad tricky to recreate since half of the plot takes place over nonverbal methods of communication but hey ho, the directors of Hollywood can figure that one out. If you’re anything like me and you adored Punk 57, this is the book for you!
5. Reclaim Your Heart by Yasmin Mogahed.
“This world cannot break you—unless you give it permission. And it cannot own you unless you hand it the keys—unless you give it your heart.”
This book is a tad different to what I usually read, and feature on my blog for that matter, but as someone who would describe herself as a practising Muslim and as an individual who is constantly seeking to make herself better, I found this book spoke to me in ways I could have never anticipated. I would recommend this book to anyone who is spiritual and believes in some kind of higher power. There are some valuable lessons and ideas here about our connections with other people and becoming too attached to other people that resonated quite deeply with me. After all, the search for inner peace and serenity is something we all search for, is it not?
2022 has been a slow reading year for me but the books mentioned above were some of the ones that I found hard to forget and books I’ll definitely read again. Roll on 2023 folks.
This is certainly a first on this blog but I figured if Robert Pattinson could play Batman then I could venture into the world of film reviews. As you progress through this review, you’ll find riddles used by the Riddler in the film sprinkled throughout; why not see if you can figure them out as you read without giving in to the urge to open another tab and google the answer? *insert demonic cackle here*
*No spoilers were included in the making of this review but please proceedwith caution! You have been warned and I will plead the fifth if Batman is lurking in a dark street waiting to attack me*
Matt Reeves take on The Batman raked in around $128.5 million in the United States and Canada alone and a staggering $250 million across the world to date. This was undoubtedly one of my most anticipated releases and of course I have a lot of thoughts about it that I will attempt to breakdown for you.
Let’s start with Robert Pattinson’s portrayal of The Batman shall we? I’ll admit, I was equal parts apprehensive and intrigued at this casting choice. Like many, I could not fathom the idea of anyone else playing the crime-fighting vigilante than the incredible Christian Bale, whose performance in the Dark Knight trilogy has easily become one of my favourites. In fact, IMDB currently ranks The Dark Knight (2008) as number three in the top 250 movies of all time. Evidently, I was hesitant. That is, until I stumbled upon a snippet by director Matt Reeves in which he stated that the inspiration for this particular appearance of Batman was inspired quite heavily by Nirvana’s frontman, Kurt Cobain. As a part-time Nirvana fan, this revived my interest and I can safely say this inspiration shone through in the movie.
“What Does A Liar Do When He’s Dead?”
Where previous portrayals of Batman have focussed on the more playful, charming side of Bruce Wayne and the origins of the Batman persona, Matt Reeves’ Batman is presented to the audience as a throughly tortured, angsty individual who is shrouded in pure mystery. Robert Pattinson’s Batman is riddled with the pain of his parents death and hell-bent on the idea of enacting vengeance on those who dare disrupt the peace of Gotham. Though we hear parts of his personal diary, I still felt that he was an elusive figure who oozes an abundance of untapped potential that could be explored in future movies.
“It Can Be Cruel, Poetic, Or Blind. But When It’s Denied, It’s Violence You May Find.”
When you think of the Batman what immediately comes to mind? (If you answered bats then kindly close this tab and proceed to exit immediately). What I’m eluding to can only be the key ingredient that makes for a successful Batman; the gravelly, deep voice. ‘But that’s not important!’ I hear you exclaiming and dear reader, I vehemently disagree. What good is an angsty, broody Batman whose very presence invokes the promise of death if he doesn’t have the signature voice to go with it?
Rarely do I watch a movie and appreciate the cinematography as much as I did watching The Batman but credit where credit is due I suppose. The dark, dreary scenery of Gotham truly added to the overall thriller feel that this movie induced. Dare I say I felt like I had accidentally stepped into a horror movie? Pathetic fallacy at its absolute finest.
Whilst we’re on the topic of thrillers and horrors, I’m going to come out and say it: I felt like The Batman was a part of the Saw franchise. Of course I don’t quite mean this in the sense of goriness before you scoff in disdain (although some of the Riddler’s murders did have me flinching just a tad) but more in the cat-and-mouse chase the Riddler led us on. If you haven’t been living under a rock, you’re probably more than familiar with the unhinged lunatic that is the Joker and slightly fed up with seeing him as Batman’s primary adversary. I cannot believe my fingers dare type this but I personally think the Riddler probably matched, and if not surpassed, the standard Heath Ledger and Jocquan Phoenix’s Jokers’ have set.
“If You Are Justice, Please Do Not Lie. What Is The Price For Your Blind Eye?“
While I unfortunately do not possess the intelligence to work through Riddler’s sadistic clues and games, I found myself utterly addicted to seeing what would come next in his nefarious ploy and found myself perhaps coming to an understanding of what had fuelled such murderous and unthinkable rage.
Gotham may be fictional but it painfully highlights the very real divide between rich and poor and the lengths the latter have to go through in order to attain a decent standard of living. It’s no secret that Bruce Wayne has always been presented as a billionaire playboy whose money and connections enabled him to step into the crime-fighting role that he so ardently enjoys inhabiting. The Riddler’s resentment at the Wayne family and those in positions of power who do nothing to help the disadvantaged definitely added to the dark, depressing feel of the movie and hinted at the climax of the movie. I just know fellow lovers of film and literature had a whale of a time dissecting the themes running through this almost three hour extravaganza.
“I Grew Up As A Seed, As Tough As A Weed. But In A Mansion, In A Slum, I’ll Never Know Where I Come From.”
Whilst many of us were excited to see Batman in action once more, more still were eager to see Zoe Kravitz’ portrayal of Catwoman/Selina Kyle. From the very limited screen time she had, I for one was utterly captivated and couldn’t fault a moment of her portrayal of the cunning con artist. Perhaps my one criticism of The Batman was the sheer lack of Selina Kyle in this movie. The scenes she did appear in felt aimless and feeble to me; I would have liked to see more of her abilities come across therefore I’m eager to see if this will be amended in a potential sequel.
If you asked me who I would recommend movies the Dark Knight trilogy and Man of Steel too, I wouldn’t hesitate to answer ‘fans of superheroes of course!’ When it comes to The Batman, I would say this is a movie that appeals to both DC and non-DC fans alike. The dark, grittiness of the world we are introduced to as well as Riddler’s sadistic machinations would fit just as neatly into a psychological thriller or horror than they would in the genre of action and adventure.
At the risk of strolling down spoiler avenue, I confess I am more than intrigued to see what a potential Batman sequel will present us with in regard to a certain clown we all know and love…
If anyone needs me, I’ll be in my feels listening to Nirvana’s Something in the Way.
“We never lose our demons, Mordo. We only learn to live above them.” | Doctor Strange.
It’s with a look of pure sheepishness and shame that I sit on this rainy evening and admit to you how disgustingly late I was to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Thanos should strike me down where I stand for even daring to type this but I always thought myself above the world of superheroes and villains. The very thought of sitting through two and a half hours of superhumans protecting the world from evil would have had a variant of me fighting the urge to roll my eyes in disgust. Many years later, I now have a chronologically ordered list of all the movies in the MCU and I’ve watched each one religiously. Oh, the irony.
5. Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015):
I’ll kick this list off with a confession that may be the last thing you read before you hastily click the exit button and close this blog; the Avengers movies are probably my least favourite of all the movies in the MCU. Yes, you did read that right. You might be wondering why there are two Avengers movies on this list but here me out dear reader. I’m very much a ‘movies that focus on one main character and their personal development’ kind of person and so movies where there are multiple characters is, for better lack of word, discombobulating for me. Having said that, Age of Ultron was a pleasant surprise.
The creation of Ultron by Tony Stark and Bruce Banner, a global defense programme, backfires horribly and sees the Avengers seeking to eradicate a threat they more or less created themselves. I’m something of a villian apologist and honestly? I kind of understood where Ultron was coming from. He took one look at humanity and decided it needed ‘fixing’ and I can’t say I completely refuted his nefarious plans (no I am not secretly working on Ultron 2.0 please do not be alarmed).
4. Thor: The Dark World (2014):
This particular movie was my instant favourite but as I progressed through my list, it was quickly replaced by Ragnarok for reasons which will be explained later on. Nevertheless, this direct sequel of Thor enabled Marvel fans to gain a deeper insight and workings into the realm of Asgard as well as the entirety of the Nine Realms. The main focus of this movie is on the weapon known as the Aether which Malekith, the movie’s primary villain, seeking to unleash this on the Nine Realms. It was refreshing to see a story set outside the realm of Earth and involving other species such as the Dark Elves. It’s no secret that Thor is a fan favourite and I personally enjoyed the focus on his relationship with Loki in this movie which elevated it to the status it now holds.
3. Guardians of the Galaxy (2014):
Fun fact, I was convinced I was going to hate this movie of all the movies on my Marvel watchlist and I was almost tempted to skip it. Little did I know it would become an instant favourite. The highlight of this movie, unbelievably, wasn’t the cuteness that was Groot. It was Peter Quill’s (played by Chris Pratt) epic music taste and utter wackiness. He was such an unconventional main character and for some reason this really appealed to me. I’m not the biggest fan of the Avengers, I much preferred the random mismatch that consisted of the Guardians of the Galaxy and how this perfectly conveyed the found family trope. Gamora and Peter’s subtle romance? Perfection. Drax and Rocket’s banter? Iconic. Groot? Ten out of ten stars.
2. Avengers: Infinity War (2018):
One word: Thanos. I confess that when Infinity War first dropped, I would see countless memes and tweets about someone called ‘Thanos’ and I just didn’t understand the appeal. As a self-proclaimed villain fangirl, the introduction of the Mad Titan and his predominant role in Infinity War is largely responsible for its high entry on this list. Infinity War saw the culmination of Thanos’ pursuit of the six Infinity Stones which lead to dreadful consequences for the universe’s mightiest superheroes. I was engrossed by every moment and thoroughly enjoyed seeing the separate missions clusters of characters had been set on.
The final battle was something to behold and for that reason, Infinity War is quite high on this list and Endgame is nowhere to be seen. Also don’t get me wrong but I felt like there were parts of Endgame that just didn’t sit right with me? The Avengers sure do have a habit of creating a majority of their own problems and then having to go back and fix them. Sigh.
Thor Ragnarok (2017):
Do you ever watch a movie that just fills you with pure joy and has you grinning like an absolute idiot? I didn’t expect that movie to be Thor Ragnarok but there really is a first time for everything. Perhaps the most enjoyable part of this movie was Chris Hemsworth’s comedic timing that was a sheer delight to see. Side characters like Korg only added to the list of things I enjoyed about this movie and it was actually nice to see Thor working exclusively with Hulk throughout the majority of this movie. Ragnarok itself was an interesting concept for me and although the destruction of Asgard was a heart-wrenching concept, it was something different than the usual conflict we’re used to seeing in Marvel movies.
With movies like Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness and Thor: Love and Thunder slated for release very soon, I cannot wait to see what the next phase of Marvel brings.
“You gotta love people enough to let them go, especially when you’re the reason they’re gone.”
Rating: 5 where did this book come from stars!
Would I recommend it? If you’re looking for an addictive but insightful read then hell yes!
Some of you may have clicked on this blog because the name Angie Thomas rings some bells and if you’re reading this right now thinking, that’s me, then you’re in the right place. Angie Thomas’ New York Times Bestseller, The Hate U Give (THUG) absolutely blew not only my mind away but the minds of millions of readers around the world. While I haven’t been able to watch the movie adaptation just yet, I have managed to pick up another book by this bestselling author which I’ll give you a whistle stop tour of now…
Concrete Rose is a prequel story that takes place seventeen years before the events of THUG. It follows seventeen-year-old Maverick Carter whose father is an infamous former gang legend, currently serving a sentence in prison. Maverick’s mother is working two jobs to keep the household running and Maverick does his level best to help out by dealing for the King Lords. Maverick’s life is not one of complete ease and comfort but with his cousin and girlfriend by his side, there isn’t much that can send his world into disarray.
That is, until Maverick discovers that he is a father. Worse still, the mother of his baby has disappeared, leaving Maverick struggling to cope with school, a baby and struggling financially to fund both his own desires and the very expensive task of taking care of a baby.There a lot of complex themes that run through this book that need unpacking but let’s start with money and wanting more. Maverick, like pretty much every teenager ever, has an insane fear of missing out. Missing out on hanging with his friends, going to parties, buying the latest designer clothes and CDs but of course doing these things requires money that he scarcely has considering he now has to factor in buying diapers, formula, car seats and everything in between. It’s this desire to provide for his child, help out his mother whilst ensuring his own personal needs are met that pushes him further into the world of the King Lords. Maverick knows that walking away from the King Lords is seldom done; it almost always results in death, and that it isn’t something Maverick is interested in of course. Throughout the book we are faced with the very real dilemma of watching Maverick struggling to make ends meet and having to go back to a life of dealing that he desperately wants out of.
“I’m starting to think being a parent mean you don’t get to have much yourself. All my energy, my money, and my time go to him.“
This brings me on to arguably the most central theme of the book: manhood. There are a lot of insinuations from various characters in the book, namely Maverick’s friends, that caring for a child isn’t ‘manly,’ it isn’t ‘cool’ and somehow this makes him ‘tame.’ Ego and self-image are pretty big concepts for a lot of us, especially for Maverick who has grown up in the hood where your reputation and how others perceive you matters more than anything. Maverick knows that he should learn from the mistakes from his father, he should focus on providing for his child and building a better future for himself, even if that means sacrificing time with his friends and missing out on all the latest trends.
“Son, one of the biggest lies ever told is that black men don’t feel emotions. Guess it’s easier not to see us as human when you think we’re heartless. Fact of the matter is, we feel things. Hurt, pain, sadness, all of it. We got a right to show them feelings as much as anybody else.”
I have to say, as a woman, I acknowledge that I will never be able to completely grasp the concept of manhood but Concrete Rose provided me with a pretty deep insight of what I can imagine is an ongoing struggle for a lot of fathers. The struggle between choosing to do what is right for your loved ones weighed against doing what is wrong but could provide them with the best life. Watching Maverick fight this battle not only to do right by his child but also not to repeat his father’s mistakes is hard to read but an important take-home.
One concept I haven’t seen a lot of in young adult books? Teenage pregnancy. There are multiple reasons for this of course, namely as this is something teenagers are deterred from however it is a stark reality for many teenagers around the world. Not only is there the financial component to consider as discussed above but suddenly the idea that as a teenager, there’s now the added pressure of finding your identity and doing your own thing as well as being responsible for a whole other human being. I hadn’t really considered how difficult this could be, especially managing school and work at the same time, and I completely appreciate the struggles I’m sure many go through during this period.
Concrete Rose is one of those rare, raw reads that comes along and pleasantly surprises you and leaves you reeling. I’ve tried to keep this review as spoiler-free as possible because I think going into this book with limited knowledge is possibly the best way to enjoy it. It does present important themes as I’ve explored above that I personally would like to see more of in young adult literature.
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