The Grisha Trilogy is a ROLLERCOASTER!// Series Book Talk

Hello Rad Readers!

It has been a long time coming, but I have just finished the Grisha Trilogy and boy oh boy, what an experience. After reading the Six of Crows duology and loving it with every fiber in my being (it is truly Harry Potter level excellence), of course, I had to read the rest of Leigh Bardugo's work! Rad Readers, if there is one thing I have to say, it is that I was not let down! I have seen lots of hot takes in the bookish community on which series is better, and although I think Six of Crows was far better (as it is an absolute masterpiece) I still think The Grisha Trilogy is dope in its own right!

I read these books back to back, so I decided to review them with one another as well, since I think the way I read it effected my thoughts on it, as well as (obviously) the reading experience itself. I think it is completely reasonable to say that if you read them more spaced out you wouldn't feel the same way I did; for example, the things I found to be repetitive, the plot points I got tired of, and the characters I'd begun to detest.

Not to fear! Due to the complicated format of this review there will be no spoilers!!

Book 1: Shadow & Bone (4/5 stars)

Grisha are people with strange and unexplainable powers. Not everyone in Ravka has them, so those that do are either praised or discriminated against (there doesn't seem to be any gray area...). We follow Alina who is an orphan, raised in Ravka. Ravka was once a bustling city that has been torn apart by the Fold, a physical and evil darkness that crawls with monsters. When Alina's best friend Mal is injured by the Fold, in her panic and confusion, she finds that she is in fact a Grisha herself, and that her powers had been lying dormant all her life. Her powers are not common either, and they could be just what is needed to stop the wars and the powers in the Fold. She is taken to the royal court where she is trained, and is right under the nose of the Darkling, the country's magical monarch. While in the clutches of the castle, she comes across a few things that she wasn't supposed to, forcing her to confront the secrets of the Grisha, as well as some secrets of her own.

I know that probably seems like a lot of information, but trust me... this isn't even the half of it.

I found this story to be extremely entertaining, not quiet as sophisticated as I felt Six of Crows to be, but this series is not meant to be like Six of Crows. They merely take place in the same universe. I say this, only because I found myself continuously wanting to compare the two for literally no reason! Anyways, what I am trying to say is that the entertainment factor was certainly there.

I did have a bit of a tough time understanding the world that we were put in. Since it is such a unique plot and idea there were a lot of terms that were just kind of thrown in there that I felt were either not explained at all, poorly explained, or that we only got a very surface level understanding of. For example, I really only truly understood what the Fold was when I was in the middle of book 2.

The characters were fantastically developed. I would certainly say that they were my favorite part of the story, and you will hardly ever hear me say that I am a fan of character driven novels. I prefer action and event. However, there was just something about this cast that made me want to see more and know more and just follow them around! I swear, I have said these exact same words about Leigh Bardugo's other work, and that just says so much about her writing! SWEET!

I appreciate how things started fast. There is nothing in this whole entire world that is worse than a slow build novel in my most humble opinion. It is like a bad first impression, because no matter how good you get from then on, it is tough to make up for the past. Perhaps that was a bit dramatic..? Well, anyways, things started fast, stayed fast in the middle, towards the last 100 pages slowed down, and then the last 30 pages were the ride of a lifetime. I was concerned, sad, excited, and angry.

There were a lot of really great specific moments that kept you interested in where this was all going. In terms of where the characters would end up and where the story as a whole was leading. The twist at the end, was predictable to a degree but the entirety of it still caught me by surprise, so if you are into twisty novels I would say that this is certainly a series for you!

In terms of character analysis, I won't go too in depth about it because they changes A TON as the story went on, but for the first impressions: Alina was both great and very VERY annoying at times. She pulled the classic (that I hate so so so much) "everything that happens is my fault and I am responsible for all death and I can't go on because I am so sad" move. That was what was going on for a good chunk of the book. The other parts were some genuine development, but then again we had the "ugh, I wish things would go back to normal" trope... which is like... probably the worst ever. Alina, though she is the main character, is certainly just not the reason why I kept reading which is... odd for sure. I found Mal to be complicated. In the very beginning I thought he was funny and was going to add a lot to the story and then he disappeared for 70% of the book and then when he came back he just wasn't cool anymore, but then in the end he proved himself to be this really awesome dude who just cared a lot about the good of his friends and the world. That is not a good way of explaining it, but you get what I'm saying hahaha! He was boring but in a responsible way that made sense. Still boring though. The Darkling is 11/10 why I kept on reading. He is so fascinating and that is really all I can say without spoiling the story, but guys... THE TWIST... Okay, that is all I will say!

Book 2: Siege and Storm (3.5/5 stars)

Okay, if you are reading this review then I am assuming you have read Shadow and Bone, so there WILL BE Shadow and Bone spoilers, but NOT Siege and Storm spoilers! Be warned!

I know 3.5 stars makes it seem like I thought this book was bad, but I didn't! Not entirely, at least. After the crazy ending in book 1 when Alina fought the Darkling and has the amplifier, I thought that was only going to be the beginning of an even bigger journey, but that just didn't turn out to be the case. The book starts very slowly, in the middle of basically nothing going on in Alina and Mal's life. The lack of presence of the Darkling certainly took a tole on the intrigue and excitement of the book as a whole. I think it is kind of a red flag when a book seriously suffers with the absence of a character. A good chunk of the time that I was reading about Alina and Mal, I couldn't stop thinking, "I wonder what the Darkling's deal is right now." He is just a fascinatingly evil and entertaining dude. The fact that he wasn't in this addition to the story a lot, was a major let down in my opinion.

I think that the majority of what went on was filler and that it was all leading us up to what is to happen in the last book. That isn't to say that it was bad, it just wasn't important. I expected there to be a lot more going on and a lot more action, but this was definitely centered more around character growth. I think that was perhaps the case because what is going on in terms of their growth will be very important in the final big show down in book three.

There was a lot of just chilling out and talking which can be entertaining or just boring. I personally found it to be boring. In Six of Crows and Shadow and Bone however, I found those parts to be entertaining. I don't know, maybe it is because I cared about what was going on with the characters more in those books? It isn't that I don't care anymore, it's just like I said, without the Darkling in the mix with the other characters, I care less about them and more about where the plot is going. I think I was really only disappointed because I was blown away by every part of Shadow and Bone, so when the plot got less exciting and it certainly began to shift into more of a strictly character driven novel... I was bummed out.

In the absence of the Darkling, however, we do get a new character, Nikolai who is now my absolute favorite. He is funny! Leigh Bardugo actually had me laughing out loud with Nikolai's character! The comedic relief was definitely what the story needed, because Alina and Mal were just too brooding and dramatic for my liking. I seriously don't like Alina at all. She complains and is sorry for herself and kind of just ruins a lot just because of her feelings which is just not the type of thing you should do when you are leading a revolution. I have said it before, Mal just isn't exciting or fun or interesting to read about. He is just plain boring and predictable now. He is too proud for my liking, and frankly he reminds me of my least favorite character from the Throne of Glass novels, Chaol Westfall. Not really a fan at all of him.

I don't have much else to say because... well, not much else happened.

Book 3: Ruin and Rising (5/5 stars)

Ruin and Rising was dope. It was insane, it was exciting, it was gnarly. Where Siege and Storm was lacking, Ruin and Rising is strong. Way more plot, and way more action! Siege and Storm was simply just a build up to an absolutely radical finale.

I will say, I was not entirely convinced at first that it was going to be that great. I felt like we were stuck in the same pattern that we were in during Siege and Storm. The Darkling pulls up on Alina, she is absolute toast for maybe 10-20 pages, and then she is suddenly able to do some magical miracle thing (for the sake of the plot... ugh) that buys them more time to run away. They run away and then they just prepare for the next time he finds them. At a certain point I was like why do they keep running away from him if every time they do they just prepare for the next time they see him. Like dog, just get it over with on sight, ya know? That's how my feels were for the entirety of Siege and Storm, so when that started happening again in this book, I was annoyed. That was my only main qualm. The beginning was a little too slow build for me. However, of course because Leigh Bardugo is a genius, my qualms were swiftly addressed and things started to get good! And before we really get into it, the way this book is written is absolutely amazing. It is so beautiful, and authentic, and you can really just see the story in your mind. Ugh, Leigh Bardugo is such an excellent writer, and you can really see her development from the first book in this series to the last!

The characters are still entertaining as ever. I would say even more so now that we aren't just reading about them hanging around on a boat, and we see them actually getting things done; it has gotten a lot better in that regard. Alina got a little better in my opinion. Though I still don't totally like her, we certainly see some growth in her. Nikolai is still my favorite ever. He is still hilarious and quick witted. He really just makes the story, I think.

And ladies and gentleman... Arguably one of the biggest areas of growth I saw... Mal? Not as boring as he usually is, I must say. Homie finally has more to say than just some boring nonsense about his loyalty to his kingdom and blah blah blah. Big homie Mal finally has a personality and I am here for it! I think that perhaps I found him to be boring because for the majority of his story line he is really just there to progress Alina's story line. He is kind of just there to do a little something to her character development, and so the entire time he just felt very shallow, and I couldn't care about him because we had such a surface level understanding of him. That certainly changed though towards the conclusion, and by the end of it, I liked him (and even Alina) WAY more!

It all ended in such an unexpected way, and I absolutely loved it. My favorite part of the book was actually the epilogue. It just ended everything so completely. I felt like no stone was left unturned and that we got complete closure on their story.

Overall, I feel like I have written enough for you all to understand that this series is extremely well written and developed. It is quite the journey, but certainly worth the read!

Nikolai is the G.O.A.T.,

- C8 ;)

'It's Kind of a Funny Story:' The Title Says It All!// Book Review

Hello Rad Readers,

It's Kind of a Funny Story by Ned Vizzini is a surprisingly hilarious and whimsical story about Craig Gilner, a teenager who feels an immense pressure to succeed in life. He got into the right high school to hopefully get into the right college to hopefully get into the right job. However, once he makes it into the halls of this prestigious high school the pressure becomes too much to bare. Craig's depressive episodes --almost accidentally-- result in him checking himself into a mental hospital where his new neighbors help him confront his sources of anxiety, and help him figure out what he really wants out of this life.

Like I said, though this story is very funny, it is also heartfelt and impactful which ultimately results in an extremely Rad Read!

First of all, what I loved the most was how Craig's story helps you reflect a lot on yourself and your own life. The overarching message that I understood was that we are all just a bit too hard on ourselves and that we just need to get rid of the things in life that don't make us happy.

I think that students, especially, could benefit from this read. Vizzini captured perfectly how students feel about school and teachers who make you feel as though if you do not do your homework it is a one way ticket to homelessness. Or, if you do not get an A in your math class you are doomed to piles of college rejection letters. It is abundantly obvious to the reader that Craig's A- average is not in fact the end of the world. However, due to Craig's surroundings and the expectations he puts on himself, he felt inadequate. It is something that can be observed in all walks of life. If you compare yourself to others, you will feel lame even if you are doing perfectly fine. This is a theme we see throughout-- Craig's interpretation of his reality being far different than the actuality of the situation. It makes you realize that more often than not, things are a whole lot better than they seem. It is something that we all certainly experience, and this book really helps you take a step back, slow down, and look at yourself.

The school system is flawed. That's just the facts, and Vizzini does a great job at criticizing it through an extremely realistic example of a student just trying to keep up. I love that. The author does not hold back and he paints an incredibly respectful picture of the many Craig-ish struggles we all face. It is a book you can zoom through, and it isn't pretentiously deep and in your face with metaphors and blah blah blahs. I know a lot of people hate it when books are like that. I digress, this book was not one of those where you have to really think about the meaning. It was just right there for you to read.

Let's talk character development! There is genuine in depth growth. The Craig at the end of the novel is not the same Craig that we started with. The first third of this book is just plain sad. It is all about why Craig hates his life and why he is suicidal. It makes you kind of question why you are reading it, because it is not in fact a funny story at all. One of the first notes that I took while reading it was that the title should instead be "It's Kind of a Really Sad Story That Will Just Make You Extremely, Overwhelmingly Sad." It would be a lengthy title perhaps... but if you read it, you will understand what I'm saying. However, once Craig accidentally admits himself into a hospital things get much much better. He meets some great people and learns so many life lessons in such funny and round about ways, so of course we the reader learn with him and it is really just great! By the end of the book, YOU WILL BE SMILING! I probably looked very odd, creepily grinning at a book in public and all, but I just couldn't help it!

It's Kind of a Funny Story is a well-developed, beautifully written novel, with a message that we could all be reminded of every now and then. I highly highly recommend!

- C8 ;)

P.S. Apparently there is a movie... and apparently... it is actually good!

C8's Takes: Finale by Becca Fitzpatrick

Hello Rad Readers,

I decided to summarize the series in a shorter post, mainly because though I did enjoy the book, there just wasn't much that happened. It is just such a character driven series, so it is tough to write a lot about it. There just isn't much to analyze. Though, I will say, as with Crescendo and Silence, there was certainly more of an effort to have actual action going on, as apposed to just following the cast around. Not that I had a problem with following the cast around, because as I said, these characters are so great. They are so flushed out and entertaining. My favorite book in this series was actually the first one, even though there was extremely little action... which is... odd..? Usually I have a huge problem with books lacking in plot, but not this time around!

This series is fantastic, though it was victim to tons of criticism. It was clever, funny, and ultimately entertaining. It was not seriously thought provoking or grandly written, but like I said, that is not what drew us into the series. That is not why anyone picked it up. We wanted to read a funky fantasy story, so if you picked this up expecting to get Jane Austin, then that one is on you!

I thought the ending was perfect, though a little rushed. I also felt like they were really cooking it hot with this whole Nora leading an army thing. That certainly seemed a bit dramatic considering that she literally couldn't care less about all the stuff in the first three books. Like I said, this is certainly a character driven story, but the plot absolutely improved and developed from where we started in the first book. No disrespect at all to book one, but now there is just a lot more that is understandable, and that our main character can follow. Now that Nora is fully aware of everything going on, now that she knows all of the secrets, the bad guys, and the good guys, she is much more likable. I will not apologize for taking issue to a character that only knows how to feel sorry for herself and ask dumb questions. Home girl finally learned how to draw a conclusion and not metaphorically walk blindly into dark ally ways, if you get what I'm saying.

Let's talk about Patch. If we are being straight up, Patch CARRIED this series. He was a stellar character, fantastically written, and captivating. So, his lack of appearance in certain parts of the book --sorry to be so vague, just trying to avoid spoilers-- was a bit bothersome. The story simply is not able to really stand without him. Or at least, it is not able to be of the same quality without him. He is what drew a lot of readers, including myself, in, so without him things kind of felt slow for a bit. He is simply much more interesting than Nora, and just an interesting character in general. No comparisons needed. There is a lot that we don't know about him, so every time he appeared in the story there is so much suspense in the air! That was my only major issue with this book, not enough Patch!

All in all, I thought this was a great 'finale' (hahah get it) to a great series. I know that this opinion is not shared by many, but I also do not care. A fun book is a fun book! Read The Great Gatsby if you think you are so much better than us fantasy readers!

Stay rad my fellow readers,

-C8 ;)