Book Review: Crown of Cinders (Imdalind #7)

Release Date: November 25, 2016
Author: Rebecca Ethington
Publisher: Imdalind Press
Length: 366 pages
Source: Review Copy from the Author

The Internationally Best-Selling Imdalind Series comes to a close in this long awaited heart-pounding conclusion.

For centuries the war that has raged within magic has ripped the world apart. Fought between Skȓítek and Trpaslík; killing father and son, and destroying a fragile balance between mortal and magic.

For centuries everyone has been awaiting the Silnỳ, searching for the girl who was prophesized. The girl with power strong enough to defeat the evil that plagued the world, and bring the war to an end.

For centuries, everyone was wrong.

The Silnỳ was not what they had been told, the promises of future distorted by a sight that was tarnished. The evil was not what they had expected, not what they had been fighting against. Instead, it was hidden amongst them; plotting, waiting for their time to strike.

And it did. With fire and blade the hidden evil took its place upon a throne of blood. The evil has shown itself and now only one person can save them all.

But with Sights that are no longer infallible and armies that are abandoning their king – it is no longer clear who that person is, or even if they have the courage to stand up to the evil and face their end.

  

Review:

Characters: This series that began with only Joclyn as its narrator has grown and ballooned into this fantastic multi-narrated epic. I'm trying to find a way to fully articulate how phenomenal each point of view is. This author doesn't hold back and gives her readers an inside look into all the key players of this series. Even if there's a character that doesn't get a POV chapter, you still get a fantastic and comprehensive look into their personality and character from multiple other points of view. I really don't want to go into specific storylines, since I'm afraid if I start talking I'll accidently spoil something, but what I will say is that when I first picked up this series I did not see it ending up here, these characters have grown and changed so much since when they first were introduced and certain characters have had their true colors finally revealed and thrown my entire view of this story out of whack. Now it's finally come to a close and I can still say that this author still delivers some of the most layered and complicated characters I've ever read.

Romance: So honestly while there is still a good amount of romance in this book, some of which is actually integral to the overall plot, I was still conflicted on whether or not I should even include this section. Joclyn and Ilyan are a great couple, but once couples reach a certain point, at least to me, they start to get boring. I still love the way these two characters offset and compliment each other, but when there aren't exciting and bold new developments to go through it's hard to still be invested. Ryland's romance does play a rather large role in the story and where he ends up, I don't want to say too much because of spoilers, but it's an interesting storyline, to say the least. Of course, there's still the issue of Thom's coma and Wyn doing anything she can to find a way to break it, but I feel if I talk any more about that it's going into a spoilery place too. Let's just say that there is romance in this book, the tried and true stuff is still as strong as it was before and the new or renewed stuff is actually pretty compelling and I was very satisfied by it.

World-Building: You would think that after six books of intense world building and twists that almost redefine what this world is that this author would just sit back and play with her world instead of introducing new stuff. That being said, I'm happy she keeps building this world. Now, the revelations in this world aren't quite as exciting as some of the things we learned in Dawn of Ash, but they're just as twisted and maybe even more awesome. In addition to new revelations in this world, we also get to see more of it. This series namesake is the birthplace of all its magic. The wells of Imdalind, and while I believe we've seen part of Imdalind before, there's something that we never got to see, something that is, let's just say, jaw-dropping.

Predictability: This is an author that does not play by the rules. I've said this before in my reviews of previous installments in this series, but most series follow a basic formula. It's something that gives the reader a bit of insurance that everything will turn out okay, and usually, by the final book, you have a good idea of where all the characters will end up. Rebecca doesn't follow formulas like that, and because of that you never truly know what's going to happen. That sort of anarchic writing leads to some fantastic, if not utterly heart crushing twists that you'll never see coming. Sometimes it means that really fantastic and unimaginable things can happen. There is still some element of foreshadowing so you aren't making your way through completely blind, but there were a few times when I needed to take a break because of certain things that happened (it took me nearly a month to finish this book.)

Ending: The ending to this book what indescribable. The "final battle" was not what I expected at all, mostly because it wasn't one battle. Without spoiling too much, and hopefully nothing important, I will say that each major character had a trial or demon that they had to face and seeing that happen over the last chapters of this book was incredible. There was a great amount of action, world-shattering revelations, and heart melting moments. Then came the final chapter, which is an epilogue of sorts. My main problem with this is that between the final two chapters there seems to be a disconnect, and granted I read the ending on the ARC that the author provided me so maybe something changed in the final draft, but I felt like I was missing a chunk. There was a lot that had to be inferred and while some of it was easy some of it just felt more confusing. Then there was the thing at the end that while I'm sure I have some basic understanding of what happened, some more concrete confirmation would have been nice.

Rating:

As series finales go, this one did not disappoint. Other than a disconnected epilogue, which by itself was mostly marvelous, I have no complaints about this finale. This author made bold and exciting moves in this final installment and when I was reading I was incredibly engrossed in the story.

Book Review: Who Could That Be at This Hour? (All the Wrong Questions #1)

Release Date: October 24, 2012
Author: Lemony Snicket
Publisher: Little Brown
Length: 258 pages
Source: Borrowed Audiobook

The adventure began in a fading town. Far from anyone he knew or trusted, a young Lemony Snicket started an apprenticeship for a secret organization shrouded in mystery and secrecy. He asked questions that shouldn't have been on his mind. Now he has written an account that should not be published that shouldn't be read. Not even by you.

Seriously, we recommend that you do NOT ask your parents for this, the first book in his new ALL THE WRONG QUESTIONS series.

Lemony Snicket, in case you don't already know, grew up to be the author of A Series of Unfortunate Events series

    

Review:

Protagonist: Lemony Snicket finds himself involved with a secret organization and under the care of a rather overbearing, quirky, and redundant chaperone. On (as far as I can tell) his first mission for this unnamed organization, Lemony is charged with retrieving a stolen statue, but not too long into the case, it becomes clear that this case isn't as open and shut as it appears. One of my biggest pet peeves and this seems to happen more in books aimed MG and younger, is the idiot adult and brilliant child trope. I understand that this is meant make a younger audience feel special and intelligent, but it doesn't make for a universally appealing book. Lemony is one such child who is unusually bright, and while I like him as a character, but when juxtaposed against comically idiotic adults it makes for a rather unpleasant and groan-inducing cast of characters.

World Building: Going into this book all I knew was that it was about a young Lemony Snicket, though I didn't comprehend just how young he'd be. My first big hiccup with this book was that it begins with the reader sort of dropped in the middle of Lemony's transition to this secret organization that he starts working for. It's a bit awkward and while it's easy enough to forget about once the main plot of the book starts, the beginning of this tale produces more questions than it answers. As this book gets started it's easy to recognize Snicket's rather unique writing style. The world he builds has the same timeless feel as the one in ASoUE, most likely because it IS the same world, but as far as I know the location featured in this book isn't one visited or even mentioned in the series about the Baudelaire orphans. That isn't to say there aren't Easter eggs that connect with that other series, in fact, I'm almost positive that by the time this series ends there will finally be answers to some long-asked questions.

Predictability: I am really happy that I'm able to review this book after the first time I've read it because this section will not only be easier to write but will be a lot more honest. I wasn't expecting this book to be the mystery that it is, nor was I expecting that the overarching story for the entire series would stifle the mystery of this book so much. That all being said, I did really enjoy this mystery and while I was never really completely caught off guard, except for one small moment toward the end, I reveled in watching this mystery unfold and reveal some of, though not all of, it's many secrets.

Ending: One of my favorite mystery tropes is the classic "Parlor Room" scene, where the main character goes through the mystery from the beginning, explaining any clues the reader, or in some cases viewer, might have missed before finally cracking the case and revealing "whodunnit." This book did have a similar type of scene, however, since rather large aspects of this mystery bleed into the larger series storyline, there are some large questions still left unanswered by the end of this book. With this author's track record of leaving seemingly very important questions unanswered I am a bit nervous but I will continue this series, not only because I enjoyed this book, but also because I hope that my burning questions will be answered.

Rating:

It was so much fun to read a new Lemony Snicket book, his writing style is so unique that it's a joy to experience a new tale by him. Unfortunately, there was only so much that nostalgia can do, and since this is a "new to me" tale, not even my nostalgia could cover up some of the tropes that I haven't been a fan of for some time. That all being said I do look forward to the next installment and I hope to find some answers I've been waiting years to discover.

Book Review: The Bad Beginning (A Series of Unfortunate Events #1)

Release Date: September 30, 1999
Author: Lemony Snicket
Publisher: HarperCollinsPublishers
Length: 162 pages
Source: Purchased Book

Dear Reader,

I'm sorry to say that the book you are holding in your hands is extremely unpleasant. It tells an unhappy tale about three very unlucky children. Even though they are charming and clever, the Baudelaire siblings lead lives filled with misery and woe. From the very first page of this book when the children are at the beach and receive terrible news, continuing on through the entire story, disaster lurks at their heels. One might say they are magnets for misfortune.

In this short book alone, the three youngsters encounter a greedy and repulsive villain, itchy clothing, a disastrous fire, a plot to steal their fortune, and cold porridge for breakfast.

It is my sad duty to write down these unpleasant tales, but there is nothing stopping you from putting this book down at once and reading something happy, if you prefer that sort of thing.

With all due respect,
Lemony Snicket

    

Reviewer's Note: So, I really wanted to get my review of Heartless by Marissa Meyer out today, but I'm enjoying it so much that, and since it's a standalone novel, I feel the need to savor it just a bit longer. That being said, though, to honor the fact that Netflix has just released the first full trailer for the new A Series of Unfortunate Events series, I thought it would be fun to revisit this fantastic series and write up a review for the first book. Since the book is so short I don't know how long my review will be, and since it's a childhood favorite of mine I can't promise to be unbiased and not be swayed by nostalgia, but I'll try to do my best to give you a concise yet comprehensive review of this book. I hope you enjoy!

Review:

Protagonists: Violet, Klaus, and Sunny Baudelaire are incredibly intelligent and well-behaved children. One day while playing at the beach they find out that a fire has consumed their house and their parents with it. With Violet only fourteen and too young to inherit their fortune the children are sent off to live with a distant relative, Count Olaf. Count Olaf is a menacing guardian, making the children to a laundry list of incredibly difficult chores and constantly bringing up their fortune as if it could be his own one day. Still, the children try to make the best out of a bad situation. Soon enough, though, it becomes increasingly obvious that Count Olaf will do whatever it takes to get his dirty, evil hands on their fortune. Violet, Klaus, and Sunny each have a special set of skills that their life of privilege prior to their parent's deaths has helped to foster and grow at an alarming rate. Violet is an engineering prodigy and can use her wit to MacGyver up tools and inventions to help her and her siblings survive the wrath of Olaf, Klaus is extremely intelligent having read so many books in his life and uses his vast researching skills to help them find a way out of Olaf's clutches. Sunny, still being a small baby/toddler is fascinated with biting things with her sharp teeth, so for this book at least she's not that helpful, though pretty adorable. You sort of have to suspend your disbelief when it comes to these characters, but if you do, or you've read the books when you were younger like I was, I'm sure you'll find them charming and bright kids.

World Building: Snicket's writing and world building are incredible. Right away you feel as if you've been transported to some other world. There's a very prominent and powerful old-time, 1950s, feel to the world of this story. As with the three protagonists you sort of have to look at this world through the eyes of a child, as things are exaggerated or twisted to fit with the story's narrative. One of my favorite things about Snicket's writing it that he never talks down to the reader, not really, but he completely understands that not everybody will know some of the large or complicated words he uses in his prose so he'll stop telling the story and sometimes explain what a word means, and then there are times when he'll add in anecdotes about his life to set up a situation. All of this makes for a magical story to tell and can easily keep the reader glued to their book.

Foreshadowing: Since this isn't the first time I've read this book, it's not even the second time, to be honest, I figured instead of going for the normal predictability section I would more deeply focus on the foreshadowing of this book instead of whether or not I was able to predict the twists and turns this book took. I have to say revisiting this story after so many years though still knowing a large portion of how the story would go, it wasn't too hard to see the foreshadowing, in fact, it down right slapped me in the face at times, but I have to say trying to look at it from the uninformed observer that it still wouldn't give the larger twists of this story away. I have to commend Snicket for his fascinating work at weaving foreshadowing into this story so expertly.

Ending: In the beginning of this book you are warned that this story will not have a happy end to it. As the final climax of this story approaches and then commences there are very sad and dark things that happen to the Baudelaire youngsters. The final climax of the story isn't an action scene filled with fighting but a battle of wills and cunning that is rather spectacular to read. However, while the ending isn't completely rife with misfortune the story does end on a somber note leaving the reader to hope that maybe next time things will go better.

Rating:

So, I warned you, I'm not unbiased here, that being said though for the age group this story is intended for this is a spectacular read. It's full of knowledge, intrigue, and a rather menacing villain. If you haven't read this series yet I hope that you will and be sure to read at least the first four books before January 13th when the first season of Netflix series will go live.

P.S. I am aware that Lemony Snicket is a pen name for Daniel Handler and that the Snicket character and his anecdotes are all fiction, but I thought it would be fun to write as if Snicket were real.