Science in Fiction (#32): Wonder Woman: Warbringer by Leigh Bardugo

Welcome to this month's Science in Fiction feature! Science in Fiction is a meme I created to showcase the wonderful aspects of science in Young Adult fiction novels. For more information and previous feature, check out the "Science in Fiction" tag!

This month, I'm featuring Wonder Woman: Warbringer by Leigh Bardugo!

Wonder Woman: Warbringer review

Many of you are probably very familiar with this book - it's one of the biggest titles of the summer, and with an amazing author at the helm. It's a fantasy novel set in modern times, following the adventures of teenage Diana of Themyscira. When Diana saves a human girl from drowning near Themyscira, the whole island is thrown into chaos. Illness, earthquakes, and chaos - all of which would get worse, the longer the girl (Alia) was on the island.

Today's topic is one that I've had since a certain natural disaster happened a few weeks ago, and so I needed to find a way to make the topic fit with a book I'd read recently. Sadly I've not read many science fiction books lately, and the books I've been reading in general don't have a ton of science-y concepts to them, let alone ideas that fit my theme. However, this book did the trick! All of the chaos and natural disasters that occurred on Themyscira can be likened to what we're experiencing in the world (especially in the United States/surrounding areas) today.

Today, I'm going to talk a little bit about hurricanes and flooding.

(Please note: I am well aware that Harvey and other hurricanes in recent times have hit places other than the United States. However, I am able to access a plethora of information involving the damage done to the United States. Therefore, the subject matter will be within the United States.)

Hurricane Harvey was a Category 4 hurricane that rolled through Houston and surrounding areas from August 25th to September 2nd. This was the first major hurricane that hit the United States in over ten years. (Even Hurricane Sandy was put to shame by this storm.)

What differentiates the categories of hurricanes? Here is a brief summary:

Category	Description
1	WINDS: 74-95 mph Very dangerous winds will produce some damage
2	WINDS: 96-110 mph  Extremely dangerous winds will cause extensive damage
3	WINDS: 111-129 mph Devastating damage will occur
4	WINDS: 130-156 mph Catastrophic damage will occur
5	WINDS: 157 mph or higher  Catastrophic damage will occur

(Data is taken from NOAA.)

In essence, the categories are based on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane wind scale, which is based on the sustained winds of the storm. Category 3 and up are considered "major hurricanes".

It is estimated that the damage caused by Hurricane Harvey is greater than $70 billion (USD). Economic losses could add up to as much as $200 billion.

Houston, TX. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Larry E. Reid Jr.

The hurricane itself left a trail of destruction, include massive amounts of flooding. There were pictures of water reaching traffic light fixtures, roofs of houses, even to overpasses of highways. 

Hurricane Harvey caused what is called a "500-year flood", and this flood was the third in three years. In fact, there was 1000-year flooding occurring in many areas of Houston. One of the common misconceptions about this terminology that I've seen is that "500-year flood" means the flood occurs once every 500 years.

This is incorrect.

A 500-year flood is a flood that has a 1/500 chance of occurring in a year, i.e. a 0.2% chance of occurring during a calendar year. A 1000-year flood is a flood that has a 0.1% chance of occurring in a year. It's different than saying "a once-in-500 years flood". The same applies to storms (i.e. 100-year storm event, 500-year storm event, etc.). Storms and hurricanes are different though, in technical terms. Storms and floods are different too, though the terminology for the percent chance is the same.

As a hydraulic engineer, it is important for me to know about 10-year storms, 25-year storms, and especially 100-year storms. I design stormwater management facilities, underground pipe systems, and other means of water conveyance. In my experience with Maryland projects, pipes and facilities are designed to withstand the 10-year storm, sometimes up to the 100-year storm, if the location is within the 100-year floodplain. Of course, this is in Maryland and not Texas; even within Maryland, there are different requirements for designing for a storm event. In one county, it might be the 1-year storm; in another county, it might by the 10-year storm. And within these counties, there might be a 100-year floodplain. You can see how it gets tricky. 

Houston, TX. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Zachary Wolf

As I'm typing this post, Florida and many islands in the Caribbean are being hit by Hurricane Irma, a Category 3 (formerly Category 4) hurricane. Following closely is Hurricane Jose, which is currently a Category 4 hurricane (though it may become Category 5), and Hurricane Katia, a Category 1 hurricane. You can see the formation and trajectories of these storms HERE. 

I'm thinking about and thanking all of the brave men and women who went above and beyond to help with rescue efforts in Houston, and those who will in Florida, surrounding states, and neighboring Caribbean islands. There are many charities and places to donate, if you have it in your heart to do so. Carter BloodCare and Texas Diaper Bank are two local organizations. JJ Watt has a fund set up, as do many people on GoFundMe. Be careful and avoid scams though - see THIS New York Times post about that (and it has other charities and organizations linked).

Also, several YA authors have been collecting books. Talk to Becky Wallace and Sara B. Larson if you'd like to help. I know there are others out there, but these two ladies are who I can think of at this time.

Additionally, Donna Grant is an author who had to evacuate and lost just about everything, 1,001 Dark Nights, who recently published her latest book Dragon Burn (which I LOVED and highly recommend), is running a promotion for a bundle of three of Grant's novellas with 1,001 Dark Nights. 100% of the funds collected will go to Donna Grant. If you're a romance reader, please consider buying this bundle. Not only are these Grant books super good and scorching hot and about DRAGONS - this is also a very good cause (and an excellent price).

I'll be thinking of and praying for everyone in the path of Hurricane Irma. I know many people who will be affected and I hope that this storm will downgrade and diminish quickly.

Readers, tell me: was this post helpful, in terms of understanding hurricane categories? Floods and their terminology?

Review: Wonder Woman: Warbringer by Leigh Bardugo

Wonder Woman: Warbringer by Leigh Bardugo

Book One of the DC Icons series

Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers

Publication Date: August 29, 2017

Rating: 4 stars

Source: ARC sent by the publisher

Summary (from Goodreads):

She will become one of the world’s greatest heroes: WONDER WOMAN. But first she is Diana, Princess of the Amazons. And her fight is just beginning....

Diana longs to prove herself to her legendary warrior sisters. But when the opportunity finally comes, she throws away her chance at glory and breaks Amazon law—risking exile—to save a mere mortal. Even worse, Alia Keralis is no ordinary girl and with this single brave act, Diana may have doomed the world.

Alia just wanted to escape her overprotective brother with a semester at sea. She doesn’t know she is being hunted. When a bomb detonates aboard her ship, Alia is rescued by a mysterious girl of extraordinary strength and forced to confront a horrible truth: Alia is a Warbringer—a direct descendant of the infamous Helen of Troy, fated to bring about an age of bloodshed and misery.

Together, Diana and Alia will face an army of enemies—mortal and divine—determined to either destroy or possess the Warbringer. If they have any hope of saving both their worlds, they will have to stand side by side against the tide of war.

What I Liked:

I expected to enjoy this book, but it is always so satisfying when that comes to pass. Leigh Bardugo has written a wonderful. thrilling story, with strong friendships, fierce girls, and high stakes. I don't know much about the DC Icons, or Wonder Woman, but I really loved this story.

Before she became Wonder Woman, she was Diana, princess of the Amazons. Diana has always been different compared to her Amazonian sisters, because of her origin. She was born of the island, whereas all of the other women came to the island as warriors. Diana has always wanted to leave the island, or at the very least, prove herself to her sisters in arms. When a ship wrecks at the coast, Diana knows better than to save humans and bring them to the island - but she tries anyway. A girl, Alia Keralis, is the only survivor. Diana learns from the island's oracle that Alia is the Warbringer, a harbinger of death and war, descended from Helen of Troy. Diana must bring Alia to the resting place of Helen, in Greece, or war will consume the World of Man, and Themyscira too. 

This story starts at a quick pace and never lets up. Within the first chapter, the conflict begins, with the shipwreck and Diana saving Alia. Alia is of the modern world, and she thinks Diana is part of a cult on a very strange but very beautiful island. When Diana takes Alia away from the island, they end up in New York, which is Alia's home. From there, the real battle begins, as there are many who want to kill the Warbringer. I love the pacing of this story - there was never a dull moment, but it wasn't too fast either.

The story is told in third person, but not entirely from Diana's POV. Some chapters are told from Alia's POV. I liked that this story was told in third person and from both girls' POV. Diana is a complete stranger to the World of Man, though she has read many books available to her on the island. It was fun to see Diana's reactions to things like boys (she'd never seen males before), parties, fancy dresses, and so on. It was great to read from Alia's POV, since she had so much to take in, in terms of her being a Warbringer.

I adored Diana from the start. She struggles to prove herself to the Amazons, and wants to be so much more. She is already an amazing warrior, but not good enough for many Amazons. In the human world, she is so kickbutt and fierce. She is powerful, fast, and fearless. Diana is a force of nature, and so determined and committed. Once she has her mind set on protecting Alia and bringing her to the spring, she never wavers from her goals. Diana needs this journey as much as Alia does, because she proves to herself that she is capable of being an Amazon.

Alia is similar to the Diana, in that she wants to prove herself to people like her brother, who shield her from the world. Alia has always been in some sort of danger, but she thought it was because of her family - her parents were scientists and they were not liked for their research. Learning that she is a Warbringer is, of course, shocking, but things start to make sense. Alia is just as brave and as tough as Diana but in different ways. She may be human but she is no less fierce and stubborn. She is determined to see the world not fall apart, even if it meant her dying if they never reached the spring.

The cast of secondary characters were so fun! There is Nim, Alia's best friend, who is hilarious, so creative, and an incredible friend. There is Theo, the goofy best friend of Alia's brother, and also Alia's childhood crush. There is Jason, Alia's older brother, who is overprotective of his little sister - but with good reason. Together, these five (Nim, Theo, Jason, Alia, and Diana) make a formidable team. They are all concerned with Alia's safety, and the impending war. Diana learns through them that humans are not as weak and greedy as they might seem in books. These humans are brave and resilient and selfless.

Let's talk ships! There are so many great ships in this story. We learn pretty quickly that a guy named Theo is important to Alia, though we don't know if he is Alia's boyfriend or an ex or somewhere in-between. (It turns out that they've known each other for forever, and Alia likes him, and he likes Alia, but they don't know of each other's feelings). I love their slow-burn romance and quiet chemistry! Theo is a so nerdy and goofy, and Alia is so tough and determined. They are a cute pair, and I loved their interactions (even if the romance didn't fully manifest until the end). 

Then there is Diana and Jason, who I shipped as soon as they met (their first meeting is soooo funny). They have some intense chemistry but their romance is not at the forefront of the story - neither is Alia and Theo's, for that matter. Still, I was rooting for Diana and Jason, even if I had a feeling how the story would end. I was wrong about some things about the ending, this romance being one of them. Imagine that!

I had to mention Nim, who didn't have a specific person that I could ship her with, but I adored her and her escapades. Nim is gay, though I believe it is stated that she is understanding her sexuality and might be bi. I wanted so badly to ship her with someone! The ending hints at a revived romance between another character (that I haven't mentioned), which made me happy.

While I mentioning on the topic of representation, I should mention how wonderful diverse the characters are. Nim is gay as I mentioned. Alia and Jason are half-black, half-Greek, and the topic of race does come up in this book, as Diana doesn't understand why Alia and Jason would be treated differently because of the color of their skin. All of these characters felt like they belonged in this story - not like the author was trying to meet a quota.

The friendships in this book are just as important, if not more important. I love how close Alia and Nim are - their friendship is so strong and positive. That is the type of best-friends relationship I love to see. I also loved how close Alia and Diana became, and in general, how close the three girls became. They are a part of a sisterhood of their own, sisters in arms, warriors in their own right. They were fierce in their own way, and they were fierce together.

Did I mention that this book was incredibly feminist but not in an overwhelming, in-your-face kind of way? I didn't go in to this novel looking for it to be super feminist (if that makes sense?), but I couldn't help but notice how subtly empowering it was. Whether it was Diana's remarks to a character, or how she led the battles, or how Alia stood up for herself... there were many obvious subtleties that made this story so empowering. I loved this.

The world-building was so on point! I mentioned that I knew nothing about Wonder Woman... I didn't know about the Amazons, or Themyscira, or anything like that. Bardugo supplied enough information for me to understand the world and the backstory though. I love how much Greek mythology is involved in Wonder Woman's story! Bardugo does an amazing job of setting up both the world of Themyscira, and the modern world surrounding the Warbringer history.

This book ends in a way that you won't expect! Well, I didn't see it coming. Bardugo has a way with creating villains... you just don't see them coming. Still, parts of the ending made other parts of the ending easier to accept. You kind of know how the book will end in one way, but the ending in general has a surprising twist. Remember, this is the story of Diana, before she becomes Wonder Woman! And what a fantastic story it was.

What I Did Not Like:

Nothing specific comes to mind, which is nice!

Would I Recommend It:

Anyone who loves a story about two fierce girls who save the world will love this book. You don't have to know a single thing about Wonder Woman - heck, I didn't! I was so confused about the whole Amazon thing, before reading this book (I'd never bothered to look up the story of Wonder Woman). Bardugo does an amazing job of setting the scene and giving enough information so that any reader could enjoy this prequel story of Wonder Woman. It's a fantasy story set in modern times, and I think any reader would the book, given how much genre crossover is involved.

Rating:

4.5 stars. This kind of story makes a reader feel incredibly hopeful and inspired, even if it is fiction (and fantasy, at that). On some level, we are all Diana, trying to be better and prove ourselves. I can't wait to read the rest of the books in this series!

Website | Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble | The Ivy Bookshop

Was this review helpful? Please let me know in the comments section!

Waiting on Wednesday (#169): Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week, I'm featuring:

Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo

Book Two of the Six of Crows series

Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. 

Publication Date: September 27, 2016

Summary (from Goodreads):

Kaz Brekker and his crew have just pulled off a heist so daring even they didn't think they'd survive. But instead of divvying up a fat reward, they're right back to fighting for their lives. Double-crossed and left crippled by the kidnapping of a valuable team member, the crew is low on resources, allies, and hope. As powerful forces from around the world descend on Ketterdam to root out the secrets of the dangerous drug known as jurda parem, old rivals and new enemies emerge to challenge Kaz's cunning and test the team's fragile loyalties. A war will be waged on the city's dark and twisting streets―a battle for revenge and redemption that will decide the fate of magic in the Grisha world. 

Author Website | Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble

I feel like the whole world is waiting for this book, after the awe-inspiring awesomeness that was Six of Crows. :D

Swoon Thursday (#134): Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

Swoon Thursday is a hot meme hosted by the fabulous ladies at YA Bound!

- From the book you’re currently reading, or one you just finished, tell us what made you SWOON. What got your heart pounding, your skin tingling, and your stomach fluttering

- Try to make the swoon excerpt 140 characters (or less), if you are going to tweet about it. Use the hashtag #YABOUND when tweeting

This week, my swoon is from Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo!

(These are three different swoons! Be careful if you're SUPER sensitive to spoilers.)

"You know I can do it, Kaz, and you know I'm not going to refuse. So why ask?"

Because I've been looking for an excuse to talk to you for two days.

- ARC, page 203

It was time to go. "Saints' speed, Kaz." 

Kaz snagged her wrist. "Inej." His gloved thumb moved over her pulse, traced the top of the feather tattoo. "If we don't make it out, I want you to know..."

She waited. She felt hope rustling its wings inside her, ready to take flight at the right words from Kaz. She willed the hope into stillness. Those words would never come. The heart is an arrow. It demands aim to land true.

She reached up and touched his cheek. She thought he might flinch again, even knock her hand away In nearly two years of battling side by side with Kaz, of late-night scheming, impossible heists, clandestine errands, and harried meals of fried potatoes and hutspot gobbled down as they rushed from one place to another, this was the first time she had touched him skin to skin, without the barrier of gloves or coat or shirtsleeve. She let her hand cup his cheek. His skin was cool and damp from the rain. He stayed still, but she saw a tremor pass through him, as if he were waging a way with himself.

- ARC, pages 333-334

He said nothing. What had carved all the hope from his heart? She might never know.

Inej turned to go. Kaz seized her hand, keeping it on the railing. He didn't look at her. "Stay," he said, his voice rough stone. "Stay in Ketterdam. Stay with me."

She looked down at his gloved hand clutching hers. Everything in her wanted to say yes, but she would not settle for so little, not after all she'd been through. "What would be the point?"

He took a breath. "I want you to stay. I want you to... I want you."

- ARC, page 434

Author Website | Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble

Read my review of Six of Crows!

A different kind of Swoon Thursday from me! But Kaz is so swoony in a non-physically-swoony way... meaning, there is not one kiss in any of the excerpts I shared above, yet my heart sped a little faster when reading these for the first time! <3

Review: Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

Book One of the Six of Crows series

Publisher: Henry Holt and Company

Publication Date: September 29, 2015

Rating: 4 stars

Source: ARC gifted (thank you, Kel!)

Summary (from Goodreads):

Ketterdam: a bustling hub of international trade where anything can be had for the right price—and no one knows that better than criminal prodigy Kaz Brekker. Kaz is offered a chance at a deadly heist that could make him rich beyond his wildest dreams. But he can't pull it off alone...

A convict with a thirst for revenge.

A sharpshooter who can't walk away from a wager.

A runaway with a privileged past.

A spy known as the Wraith.

A Heartrender using her magic to survive the slums. 

A thief with a gift for unlikely escapes. 

Six dangerous outcasts. One impossible heist. Kaz's crew is the only thing that might stand between the world and destruction—if they don't kill each other first.

What I Liked:

Okay, fine. The hype for this book is totally justified. Whether you read Bardugo's Grisha trilogy or not, whether you enjoyed it or not, you could easily fall in love with Six of Crows. On that note, you do not need to have read - or even liked - the Grisha trilogy. It's not necessary at all! The Grisha references are the setting, the locations and places. No characters make cameos (that I remember - but I'm shaky on my Grisha knowledge sometimes), nothing dire you needed to know from the Grisha trilogy. Set in the same world, but in totally different places, with totally different characters.

Kaz Brekker is the most dangerous person in the Barrel, in Ketterdam. He is a gifted thief with an insatiable desire for money, and for solving puzzles and having all the tricks. He always has the drop on everyone, and he takes very risky risks that always seem to work in his favor. When Kaz is presented an opportunity with a large payout and even great risks, he has no other choice but to take it. He and five other unique individuals embark on a job, an impossible heist, to capture one thing and bring it back. But getting into the Ice Court is suicide, and getting there might prove even more perilous before the job has even begun.

I think the thing that I liked the most about this book is that the tone of the book isn't gloom and doom, save the world, martyr or die trying kind of tone, like in Shadow and Bone/Siege and Storm/Ruin and Rising. It's not Alina fighting within herself on whether or not she should obtain all the amplifiers to defeat the Darkling. It's not all about destroying something. No, the tone of this book was so much more... adventurous than Bardugo's previous trilogy. I wouldn't necessarily say more "fun", because there is no way I'd describe this book as fun like it's some lighthearted adventure novel, but it is certainly more reader-friendly, with less heartache and gloom and doom, and more laugh-out-loud, head-spinning action. 

I absolutely adore the cast of characters. Kaz is definitely my favorite, but all six protagonists get their fair share of page time. This book is written in third-person perspectives, each chapter written in a different character's perspective. Kaz is my favorite, because he is so tricksy and smart, mysterious and surprising, unpredictable and more caring than he would ever let on. I personally think he is the most fleshed-out character, and the most likable. There is something about him that is cold and hard, and it's really appealing. He is also HILARIOUS, with a great sense of dry humor. But then he is deadly and quite the murderous thief. We see so many sides of him, and I love and/or am intrigued by all of them.

The other characters are equally as interesting! Inej is the Wraith, able to move basically without being heard. She is light on her feet and quick. Kaz saved her years ago, and she has worked with him since. The same with Jesper - he's worked with Kaz for years, and is basically Kaz's second-in-command. Jesper is such a flirt! And I love him. He is all about his guns, whereas Inej is all about her knives. Next is Nina, a Healer/Heartrender, who has been trying to have her former friend Matthias freed from prison for years. Matthias is the fifth person, a convict who is out for Nina's blood. He used to hunt Grisha before he was thrown in prison, but he especially wants to strangle Nina because she is the one who put him in prison. Lucky for himself, he is from the area that the Ice Court is located, so he is useful to Kaz, and Kaz springs him. Lastly is Wylan, the son of the merchant who wants the thing from the Ice Court brought back. Wylan is seen as weak, but he proves himself to be quite clever and useful. He is so cute!

I know what you all are thinking - SIX characters?! Six perspectives?! Third person, which is cool, but SIX?! Sounds like a recipe for disaster, like in Legacy of Kings by Eleanor Herman. However, not so! Since the six characters in Six of Crows are basically always with each other (once they're gathered), it's not like there are six plots happening. It's one, with six cars on the road, instead of six lanes or six exits or merging areas or something. You all love my analogies, I know! But really, there isn't six different plots and six different locations and six different schemes happening. It's one, with six different brains and hearts. Very different from Legacy of Kings, which was confusing with all of its perspectives and plots.

There are so many action-packed scenes! There is no shortage of crazy action and high stakes. You'll hold your breath during so many scenes, hoping and praying and crossing your fingers that Kaz doesn't screw things up (and really, he always has a plan). Bardugo did an amazing thing, in which she wrote the book from third person, so we are not privy to any of the characters' inner thoughts at all times. Hence why Kaz can pull off all that craziness and surprising the readers! My heart stopped several times, hoping there was another way that Kaz considered. He is so clever!

Like I said above, I really liked the change in tone of this new series by Bardugo. Don't get me wrong, things get very "everyone-is-going-to-die-if-we-don't-do-something", but it's more like a "hold-on-we're-in-for-a-crazy-ride" kind of thing. The story is very intriguing, and the 400+ pages fly by. I will say that the first 50 pages took me a bit to get into, but once I was in, I was hooked.

ROMANCE. Well. There are six people in the group... and, as you might guess, there are three pairs. No love triangles AT ALL. Three linear relationships. And the other nice thing - the romances in this book are barely there. Sure, the author does an amazing job of hinting more-than-friendships, or when a character is acting really friendly with another, or just plain old hints. But there are no steamy romance scenes or even passing romantic scenes. I really like this, because it's Bardugo's way of giving the romances time to grow. There are three sets of romances, on their own wavelengths. Different starts to each romance. Each can develop in books two and three!

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. I was wary, because the Grisha trilogy was just "okay" for me, and the hype for this book was/is pretty crazy. HOWEVER. I liked it and I personally think the hype is warranted. This book is so different from the Grisha trilogy! In great ways!

What I Did Not Like:

Like I said before, the beginning of this book was a bit slow, and it took me a while to really get invested. About 50 pages or so. Basically, once the six of them are actually gathered together, THEN things start to get really good. This might have been closer to around 100 pages in, but you get the idea.

Would I Recommend It:

For anyone looking for an adventure (yay Bilbo), definitely give this book a chance! Make it your first Bardugo read. I personally think it's Bardugo's best book to date, but I know others really, really enjoyed the Grisha trilogy. Shadow and Bone was my favorite of that series, but I think Six of Crows is better. It's a fantasy novel with a lot of action, high stakes, developed and fun characters, and well-placed humor!

Rating:

4 stars. A huge thanks to Kel from Booked Til Tuesday for passing her ARC to me. If you all get a chance, give this book a shot! If anything, the cover is gorgeous and would look great on your bookshelf!

Author Website | Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble

Was this review helpful? Please let me know in the comments section!

Waiting on Wednesday (#129): Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week, I'm featuring:

Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

Book One of the Dregs series

Publisher: Henry Holt and Company

Publication Date: September 29, 2015

Summary (from Goodreads):

Game of Thrones meets Ocean's Eleven in this brand-new book in the world of the Grisha by New York Times-bestselling author Leigh Bardugo.

Ketterdam: a bustling hub of international trade where anything can be had for the right price—and no one knows that better than criminal prodigy Kaz Brekker. Kaz is offered a chance at a deadly heist that could make him rich beyond his wildest dreams. But he can't pull it off alone...

A convict with a thirst for revenge.

A sharpshooter who can't walk away from a wager.

A runaway with a privileged past.

A spy known as the Wraith.

A Heartrender using her magic to survive the slums. 

A thief with a gift for unlikely escapes. 

Six dangerous outcasts. One impossible heist. Kaz's crew is the only thing that might stand between the world and destruction—if they don't kill each other first.

Author Website | Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble

Because it's Leigh Bardugo! I liked her debut trilogy. Also, that cover!

Review: Ruin and Rising by Leigh Bardugo

Ruin and Rising by Leigh Bardugo

Book Three of the Grisha trilogy

Publisher: Henry Holt and Co.

Publication Date: June 17, 2014

Rating: 3 stars

Source: Public library

Summary (from Goodreads):

The capital has fallen.

The Darkling rules Ravka from his shadow throne.

Now the nation's fate rests with a broken Sun Summoner, a disgraced tracker, and the shattered remnants of a once-great magical army.

Deep in an ancient network of tunnels and caverns, a weakened Alina must submit to the dubious protection of the Apparat and the zealots who worship her as a Saint. Yet her plans lie elsewhere, with the hunt for the elusive firebird and the hope that an outlaw prince still survives.

Alina will have to forge new alliances and put aside old rivalries as she and Mal race to find the last of Morozova's amplifiers. But as she begins to unravel the Darkling's secrets, she reveals a past that will forever alter her understanding of the bond they share and the power she wields. The firebird is the one thing that stands between Ravka and destruction—and claiming it could cost Alina the very future she’s fighting for.

What I Liked:

The end is near. For this trilogy, I mean. In fact, this is the end. And what an ending it was. What a trilogy this was. From the start, I wasn't crazy about the series. Sure, I liked books one and two, and gave each four stars. But I wasn't dying to read each book as they came out. I won an ARC of book one, back when I was just a reader (not a blogger). I read it because Dani at Refracted Light pushed Shadow and Bone on me personally- and I really enjoyed the book, so that was a good thing! At the time, I really, really wanted to read book two. But I read Siege and Storm recently, in January - not immediately upon publication. Even this book - I read it in August, and my review is being posted whenever (probably towards the end of the year).

What I'm trying to say is that I was never entirely invested in this series. Sure, I enjoyed the books. But I wasn't going nuts to read book two or book three, or even book one. I know many people were incredibly disappointed by this book - they were so hoping for one thing or the other. Honestly? Maybe if I were more invested in the series, I would have been part of the one extreme or the other. But it appears that I didn't care as much as most did, so I wasn't too disappointed or too ecstatic.

In this final novel, Alina must find the firebird to retain all three amplifiers and find the power and will to defeat the Darkling. At the moment, she's very weak, after the stunt at the end of book two. But with the help of her ragtag team, Alina journeys to find the firebird, and save Ravka.

I must say, Bardugo's storytelling is AMAZING. This story, across the three books, is stunning. Creative and rich - it's hard not to get swept away. I'll be honest: I got confused a lot and forgot a lot of names and didn't care enough to look them up in the other books, but I found that it was okay. Bardugo has a way of telling the story and describing things and throwing names out there but making sure that her readers won't be completely lost or not able to understand the story. At a bare minimum, you'll know what's going on. I had a little more than the bare minimum to work with, but I'm glad that Bardugo made it easy to read these books.

The world-building is incredible. This series is fantasy, so the world is purely from Bardugo's imagination. This book really showcased Bardugo's brilliance, in my opinion. The world-building, the writing style, the imagery... flawless! I love the Russian influence - Russian, I believe? Eastern European? Whatever it is, I love it!

The plot was so complex and twisty and weird and sad and terrifying and exciting! I feel like it was hard to be happy at any point in this series. There are rare pockets of positive moments in this book, rare moments of humor, and I love those moments. Sometimes, some of the things the characters say are hilarious. But back to the plot. Bardugo keep throwing obstacle after obstacle at Alina, never giving any of her characters a break. Poor Alina. Poor Mal. Poor Nikolai. Those three suffer the most, in my opinion. And maybe Baghra. And the Darkling. 

The romance... well, I can see why people hated this book for the romance. But from the start of the series, and the start of this book in particular, I just knew. That's all I'm saying. The ending is a fitting ending, romance and all things Ravka. I liked the ending. 

What I Did Not Like:

Meh. This book didn't make me cry, or laugh with delight, or give me a feeling of satisfaction. I love the imagery and fantasy world that Bardugo has created, but I didn't necessarily love or hate the plot, the romance, the characters. Like I said in the beginning of the review, I was never completely invested in the series. I needed the push to read book one. I needed a push to read book two. I wanted to read book three because goshdarnit I will finish the series if I've already read the first two books!

I liked Alina, but I wasn't necessarily rooting for her. I never really liked Mal, though I liked him in this book. I LOVED Sturmhond/Nikolai - he didn't get the ending he deserved. That particular character/plotline didn't get justice (or justice wasn't done to them, or however I should put that). I'm not exactly talking about the romance. 

I guess I'm just feeling a sense of apathy. But this apathy isn't totally towards this one book - I'm pretty detached from the entire series. I *like* the series, but I don't love it. I enjoyed the books, but I'm not dying over them or fangirling over them or anything. You feel?

Would I Recommend It:

If you've made it this far, then totally! Definitely read book three if you've read books one and two, or even just book one (though you should definitely read book two before reading book three).

And honestly, in my opinion, this is a great series to binge-read! If you haven't read any of the books, I think it would be an excellent idea to set aside some time and just binge the whole series. It's a beautiful fantasy series! I just wish I were more invested. Especially since my blog name appears in both book one and book two's paperback editions.

Rating:

3 stars. Maybe 3.5 stars? Not that Goodreads, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble do half stars. I liked this book! It was an interesting conclusion novel! Not the epic showdown I expected, but also not what I expected in terms of the twists and turns. Bardugo is a master when it comes to that. I'm really glad that Dani at Refracted Light Reviews pushed me towards this series. It all started with a Facebook post about a book trailer!

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Review: Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo

Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo

Book Two of the Grisha trilogy

Publisher: Henry Holt and Co.

Publication Date: June 4, 2013

Rating: 4 stars

Source: ARC won from a giveaway

Summary (from Goodreads):

Darkness never dies.

Hunted across the True Sea, haunted by the lives she took on the Fold, Alina must try to make a life with Mal in an unfamiliar land. She finds starting new is not easy while keeping her identity as the Sun Summoner a secret. She can’t outrun her past or her destiny for long.

The Darkling has emerged from the Shadow Fold with a terrifying new power and a dangerous plan that will test the very boundaries of the natural world. With the help of a notorious privateer, Alina returns to the country she abandoned, determined to fight the forces gathering against Ravka. But as her power grows, Alina slips deeper into the Darkling’s game of forbidden magic, and farther away from Mal. Somehow, she will have to choose between her country, her power, and the love she always thought would guide her--or risk losing everything to the oncoming storm.

What I Liked:

What. A. Sequel. Wow. It took me long enough to read this one, right? I needed a little push, but I read it and I'm reviewing it, so that's what counts, right? But seriously, I have the worst fear of sequels - especially when the first book was SUPERB. I always think that the sequels are going to be painful (and possibly horrible) - and granted, sometimes, it happens! But the last bunch of sequels that I've read haven't been bad at all! And not too many cliffhangers, which is great.

THIS sequel is pretty amazing. I read Shadow and Bone about or over a year ago, so I'll be honest: I didn't remember too many specific things about the book. I remembered some names and roles and a few major events, but not much. I barely even remembered the climax of the book. HOWEVER, Bardugo does a fabulous job of getting readers back into the story. She actually didn't do too much of reminding readers what happened - she sort of jumped right into this book. It's definitely necessary to read book one, but if you were like me, and couldn't remember basically anything from book one, don't worry! You'll have no problems getting back into the story.

I actually think the summary is kind of vague and doesn't encompass the book very well, but I understand why - it would spoil A LOT if the summary included more general events of the book. Basically, Alina and Mal are on the run from the Darkling. But then he finds them somehow. Alina and Mal must work with a certain privateer and others in order to gather forces and fight the Darkling. But Alina must also gather power for herself, which is dangerous, as it makes her more and more like the Darkling. The stag's horns were just the beginning.

The book is long, but the plot is very active and engaging. Alina and Mal and the story don't just stay in one place. At first, they were in a town far away from the Darkling. Then they were on a ship at sea. Then they were running again from the Darkling - and they were taken to a place where they could get sufficient (hopefully sufficient) help against the Darkling. Vague, yes, but it's on purpose.

I love what Bardugo is doing with Alina. Alina is slowly becoming power-hungry, more and more like the Darkling. I feel like with fantasy novels in YA, in which the protagonist is extremely powerful, don't show this very well. Power brings about selfishness, a sense of entitlement, a sense of dictatorship. Bardugo is doing a very good job of showing this progressive change in Alina. Alina is NOT evil, and yet, as she tries to gain more power to fight the Darkling, she is becoming a little greedy with power. This makes her more like him than she realizes - until she DOES realize it.

This affects everything, including her disposition. She is sometimes cruel, and at times, enjoys the emotional pain of people that she does not particularly like. While I don't like this in Alina, I LOVE that Bardugo makes this an issue in this series. I love the Bardugo is willing to go there, to mess with her protagonist THAT MUCH.

Alina's change in conjunction to her increasing power also affects her relationship with Mal. Ah, yes, I have reached the romance. Alina and Mal are a couple, but as Alina grows stronger as a Sun Summoner, the pair seems to grow apart. Mal doesn't belong in Alina's world, but he belongs with Alina. Conundrum, no? But Alina's power, her role, her alliance with Sturmhond, it takes a toll on Mal. Their relationship is highly tested in this book, and I can't wait to see how Bardugo concludes the romance in this series.

In Shadow and Bone, one of the things I hated was that there was potential for a love triangle between Alina, Mal, and the Darkling. I didn't really see the Darkling as a love interest in book one, nor do I see him as one in this book. Now, there is another male in THIS book that could be a part of the love triangle, but I doubt it. We'll see.

I mentioned Sturmhond once? He's the privateer, and he is EASILY my favorite character of this book, and of the series. There are other fabulous characters introduced in this book, such as Toyla and Tamar, but STURMHOND. He is fabulous! He is so much more than a greedy privateer, as we find out in this book (not telling!). I really he gets what he wants, and that things work out for him. Hugs for you, Sturmhond!

Overall, I must say that this book is stunning. I could kick myself for waiting so long to read it, but at the same time, it means that I have to wait less to read Ruin and Rising! I cannot wait to see it all ends.

What I Did Not Like:

There wasn't much that I didn't like about this book. As usual, I must say that no book is perfect. HOWEVER, I honestly cannot think of anything in particular that I did not enjoy. It's quite long, and I admit, I did skim a few times, but not often enough that it was annoying, or that I didn't understand something.

This one is getting four stars, not five stars, because this isn't a favorite book of mine, and it didn't blow me away. Granted, favorite books aren't the only books that get five stars from me. Books that are incredible amazing and totally worth the buy get five stars. I really enjoyed this one, but I'm not overcome with emotion or anything. I don't think I'm a hardcore fan like some bloggers/readers, but I am totally invested enough to read the next book.

Would I Recommend It:

I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who read the first book. I was blown away by the first book, and I was nothing short of impressed with this book. I would also recommend this series in general. The debut was amazing, the sequel was astonishingly awesome, and I'm quite sure the conclusion to this trilogy will not disappoint!

Rating:

4 stars. I can't believe I waited this long to read this book! But you all know my fear of sequels. As I continue to learn, some sequels just aren't that scary! 

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