Rachel Reads & Reviews

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Category: Reviews

  • Black Heart of Jamaica Review

    After wandering about the New World and resting from her ordeals with Lizzie, Johnny and her new goddaughter, cat is ready to get back out in the world and find an occupation. After all, she can’t rely on others forever and she dearly misses the paint and organized chaos of Drury Lane. So she and…

  • Cat O’ Nine Tails Review

    There may be nine on the cover but this is only the fourth tale of our intrepid redhead adventuress. This time, she’s off exploring the new world. She had been staying with the Avons as her beloved theatre is being rebuilt for the next year but finds it stifling to be a lady. She can’t…

  • Grishaverse: The Demon in the Wood Review

    Last year, Bardugo surprised fans with a prequel focusing on everyone’s favorite bad guy, the Darkling aka Aleksander. In graphic novel form! Now I’ll admit I’m not one of his many fans. Don’t get me wrong, he does his part well in being a worthy catalyst, villain, foil etc. But I didn’t fall for his…

  • Grishaverse: Rule of Wolves

    Well this was one epic book. Epic, epic all around and why wouldn’t it be as the Grishaverse approches the Age of Saints and end of the Grishaverse for now, according to Bardugo. As for the Age of Saints thing, it turns out Yuri got it right after all. Get ready because this is going…

  • Grishaverse: King of Scars

    Three years since the martyrdom of the Sun Summoner, the death of the Darkling and Nikolai’s accesion to the throne Ravka is in deep trouble. Because it’s Ravka, there is always something. That trouble comes on dark wings on cold nights like the monsters of ancient fairytales. Only that monster is Nikolai’s demon, the curse…

  • Grishaverse: Crooked Kingdom Review

    The Crows had been left in dire straits but just a few weeks later, new plans are in place and Kaz is sure that not only will be able to get the original windfall that Van Eck had promised them, but retrieve Inej from his Van Eck’s hiding place, save Grisha refugees and get Kuwei…

  • Grishaverse: Six of Crows Review

    I know Six of Crows is highly-regarded and I’m pleased to see that it lived up to its hype. After all the premise is centered around a Oceans 8-esque heist that seems impossible to accomplish but will yield so many rewards if they succeed. And certain death if they fail. The goal is to retrieve…

  • Grishaverse: Ruin and Rising Review

    Ah the final book in the Grisha trilogy. This one I cannot keep my thoughts on the ending spoiler free but that will be under the cut. What I will say is that the book starts off strong. Since the climax of Seige and Storm, Alina has been weak and her power faltering. A position…

  • Grishaverse: Seige and Storm

    While the first book had the weighty duty of introducing the world and magic systems Bardugo wanted to tell, it ultimately fell prey to some classic YA cliches that made it somewhat generic. The sophmore book shows grand improvements as it presents its cards straight up. Set a few weeks after Alina and Mal’s frantic…

  • Grishaverse: Shadow and Bone

    I read this long long ago back when it first came out for one of those school read 5 books over the summer thing. But as it was homework, I sort of skimmed it. However, since it has expanded and grown to a hit tv show, I’d thought I’d actually read it this time around…