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amelianotthepilot's reviews
802 reviews

The Familiar by Leigh Bardugo

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5.0

this was fascinating.

i know nothing about Spanish history and don't often read historical fiction but I really enjoyed this. I was honestly pleasantly surprised as I love Leigh Bardugo's other fantasy novels to varying degree but for some reason had low expectations for this deviation from her norm.

This is a story about women, women in power, women who gain power, and women who flaunt power to put other women down. Luiza is maid in a dwindling wealthy house who is blessed with magic. But magic is feared and so she keeps her magic and her Judiasim secret. Doña Valentina is the lady of the house that Luiza works in, she has little but is proud and uses what she can to keep the family's status in nobility. Haulit is Luiza's aunt but also a wealthy mistress of Victor de Paredes. She's worked her way up from nothing using her body but through little contact attempts to help Luiza. After discovering Luiza's magic Dona Valentina immediately takes it for granted and flaunts Luiza as entertainment. This results in them catching the eye of the king and sending them on a wild court politic-filled adventure as part of the battle to become close to the king. Luiza must become the King's magician or be killed for witchcraft and heresy. 

Overall the story was fascinating and apparently the characters and general concept are all based on real people and historical events, albeit without the magic. I feel my main problems lay with the amount of Spanish woven into the story and my general lack of Spanish knowledge. I know 0 about Spain's history basically and although I was able to mostly follow I think if I knew some base facts going into it I would've been able to follow easier and enjoy it more. (For example, I was confused by the names because I didn't realize Dona and Don are just honorifics like Lady/Dame/Madam and Sir.) The end also felt a bit rushed to me, there was so much build-up of the world and dynamics only for them to get to the tournament and it all happened quite quickly and not as exciting as I would've hoped. I did like the new tournament competitors they were very interesting and I wish we got more of them. I was also quite disappointed in the romance. I didn't love it, it felt icky but I'm not sure if perhaps that was the point...So I guess I wish it was more intentional, or alternatively not there at all.
One Italian Summer by Rebecca Serle

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4.0

thought this was gonna be a fun little romcom in Italy...it was not

Katy's mom dies in the first chapter. She was supposed to go on this trip to Italy with her mom to see all the places her mom loved and they had the trip all booked when her mom finally passes. Katy then realizes her whole life is out of axis, perhaps she doesn't love her husband who she married straight out of college. She goes on the trip to Italy by herself, staying in the fancy hotel her mom chose, visiting the places her mom had picked out with stories she never got to tell. But do to some ✨ Italian magic✨  she runs into someone really familiar....her mom at her age. 

Needless to say I sobbed on the plane. There is a romcom in there somewhere too but that's not what this story is about honestly and I wish the romance bit was cut. This is a story about a mother and daughter's friendship and inseparable relationship. It's a story about grief and moving forward. It's a story about growing up in your 30s.
My brilliant friend by Elena Ferrante

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5.0

This has been on my list for ages but I kept hoping I'd become fluent in Italian so I could read it in it's original language. Alas that hasn't happened but I did read it in Italy so that counts for something I guess...maybe one day I'll read it in Italian.

You know me I love some drama and I love the mystique surrounding this author. Who is she? Is it an autobiography? Will she ever be revealed (posthumosly maybe)? Should she be? I love the theories of who it could be and the drama of that reporter who tried to expose her. 

The story follows Elena and her friend Lila growing up in Napoli to adulthood as wives and mothers. Through their lives, we discover the story of the neighborhood and the different families and their troubles. Lila isn't wealthy and doesn't have the money for school, Elena has only slightly more and is encouraged by teachers while Lila is discouraged and berated for her smarts. The only reason Elena progresses is because she idolizes and follows in Lila's footsteps as far as she can. But the two women grow apart with age and life's disparities. A beautiful story about female friendships and growing up with dreams too big.
Lochs and Legends: A Scotsman's Guide to the Heart of Scotland by Lilly Hurd, Andy the Highlander

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A collection of Scottish tales interwoven with tales of my friend Andy's adventures as a tour guide and on the set of Outlander as an extra.
Finale by Stephanie Garber

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5.0

This one was wild!!

Tella after freeing the fates at the end of the last book and discovering Legend's true identity now needs to decide if she trusts Legend and his motives. Should she trust Legend or Jacks? Do either truly love her and who does she love? The Caraval festival is over and with it, it's puzzles and tricks, but everything seems to be just as tricky in reality. Was any of it real or was it all just part of the game? Scarlett and Tella need to make choices to save not only themselves but the fate of the entire empire.

This one was also obviously delicious and yet again had me hanging on every word and twist.
Legendary by Stephanie Garber

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5.0

Another exciting mystical fantasy adventure in caraval! 

I loveedddd this one too! I definitely relate more to Donatella than Scarlett but I found this book not as exciting because Donatella's choices are very straightforward, Although perhaps this is also because I read the spinoff trilogy, Once Upon A Broken Time, which has one of the characters in the love triangle in it. ...So I sorta already knew how that was going to go, although I think that was sorta obvious anyway.

This sequel follows Donatella, the twin to Scarlett, after they've successfully escaped and beat the caraval festival. Now, Donatella is on the hunt for her mother and has help from a shady man. To find the answers about her mom she must discover the festival master's real name. This year's festival is in the grand palace and she sneaks in accidentally attaching herself to the shady man, who is maybe the missing prince? Adventure ensues. Will she reveal Legend's real name or will she ultimately fall for him and protect him?

I loved this sequel as well, yet again it was full of surprises and twists, curses and true love, princes, and balls, and was absolutely delicious. However, I would say I liked this one slightly less than the first or the spin-off series. 

I did indeed immediately figure out who Legend was in this one though. The first book had me but this one I felt like it was pretty immediately obvious. (although still fun)
Caraval by Stephanie Garber

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5.0

wow i loved this

I did indeed read it in the wrong order (i read the spin off series, once upon a broken heart, first) but i honestly think it was fine and sorta thought it was cute how i could see the connection to characters retroactively.

Scarlett and her twin have sent a letter to an annual festival runner, 'Legend', every year since they were young. The festival is fantastic and magical but exclusive and full of tricky riddles and mazes but if you win the festival you receive a wish. This year, they finally receive a response and invitation but it feels too late for Scarlett. She's the responsible sister and her arranged marriage is only days away, it's too late now for her childish dreams. However, her twin, Donatella, is carefree and wild and demands they escape their horrible father and situation. Donatella arranges a kidnapping with her most recent man, a sailor named Julian, and they whisk Scarlett away to the festival against her will but when they arrive they're separated and now Scarlett yet again has to be the responsible one and get them out of trouble. Can she find her sister and win the festival before it's too late?

I loveedddd this book! This is what YA used to be!!! The magic! the mystique! The drama! I love the high fantasy vibes and fancy dresses, it's very disney fantasy-esque with wishes and curses and true love and I! Ate! It! Up! I loved the mystery and riddles of the festival. I loved the carnival vibes and spooky threat of it all. I was surprised with every twist and turn and honestly will now read anything Stephanie Garber writes this was delicious.
A Witch's Guide to Fake Dating a Demon by Sarah Hawley

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3.0

Mariel is a failed witch, at least by her mother's standard, but when she accidentally summons a demon named Ozorth she's starting to think her mother is right. But perhaps it was just what she needed to sort her life out, stand up for herself, save the town from ecological destruction, and find romance along the way.

This was an eh romcom.