chrissie_whitley's reviews
1547 reviews

Elisa has shown herself to be a great leader with the potential to be a more than capable ruler. But, her throne isn't secure and her people's enemy still hunts her.

To conquer the power she bears, once and for all, Elisa must follow a trial of long-forgotten—and forbidden—clues, from the deep, hidden catacombs of her own city to the treacherous seas. With her go a one-eyed spy, a traitor, and the man whom—despite everything—she is falling in love with.

The character development from Carson is so wonderful and natural. There's no insta-love at all in this trilogy. Elisa is young and she has had her tender, sweet first love. She's experienced loss and tragedy and has been forced to overcome the odds and find her footing. She rises to the challenge every time and I really feel a true person developing here into her adult self. I am stingy giving out five stars, and I don't round *up* to the next star if I felt the book was deserving of a little bit more — like a half-star — despite the whole-star rating system on Goodreads. I really loved this book. It was such an excellent sequel in a world where far too many sequels (books and movies) suffer from a slump. I can even say I felt this was a better book than the first, which is even rarer.

Carson's descriptions and sequencing were both top drawer; I was transported to each of these locales. I was there with Elisa, and it was quite an adventure.

The Sacred Lies of Minnow Bly was a surprisingly good read. It was phenomenal, actually. Honestly, I picked it because I was restless on options for library books, and a reviewer I follow on Goodreads had rated this as a 5-star book. Correct. It gets all the stars.

[a:Stephanie Oakes|543716|Stephanie Oakes|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1424111471p2/543716.jpg] is an author to watch, and her next novel, [b:The Arsonist|25107416|The Arsonist|Stephanie Oakes|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1426544178s/25107416.jpg|44800271], is already on my to-read list. Her haunting narrative is heavily weighted with the trials our main character, Minnow, has already encountered, and lightly touched with bits of innocence and wonderment. There is this unique, endearing quality to Minnow along with her tougher and harder traits. Because, let's face it, you have been through the entire gamut of emotions and tribulations if you've had your hands taken away as punishment. And that's not even all there is to her horrific story.

What's unique in this book is that this is not a dystopian future version of our world, but rather a fictional event that could easily be taking place in the present. How many Young Adult Contemporary books are there that aren't just light, romance-y books? - or that don't read like an after-school special? There is a place for both of those (and Heaven knows I can still read a light teen romance book any day of the week), and certainly a lot to be gained by either. However, what set this book apart for me was the thorough examination we got and a hard look through that microscope to fully examine the "dangers of blind faith."

Another Kindle First read and boy, I wish I had read this one last year when I chose it. I really enjoyed starting this series and this delving into this world.

Boundary Crossed had the same qualities that I so enjoy about Young Adult books, but it did it with a little more depth, a little more maturity of writing, and . . . the protagonist is a woman in her early thirties. Gah. I was surprisingly excited to read this and it made it feel like a much more believable story. This gave our main character, Lex, more depth and life experiences, and that was obvious through her actions and her personality. Her choices seemed more appropriate, we didn't have to wade through the virginal haze of "should I, or shouldn't I, fall for this guy," and overall she was a much more grounded character.

"The banyan tree I used to hide in as a boy."
Despite everything, Shahrzad's interest was piqued, for he was unlike any of the soldiers who had come to torment her thus far. "Banyan tree?"
The rustling sound from beyond the darkness made Shahrzad think her strange visitor had settled in for a while. He cleared his throat. "When I made mischief as a child, I would run to the hollow of a very old banyan tree on the edge of the jungle and hide within it before my father could punish me."
"And why do I remind you of this tree?"
"Because these trees destroy everything around them over time."
Shahrzad let out an unamused chuff. "Thank you for the lovely story, old man."
He coughed a low chortle. "I meant it as a compliment."
"Forgive me for not seeing it as such."
"Where I come from, we are raised to see things in a never-ending cycle. I saw that cycle in the life of the banyan tree. It grows big and tall and wide while providing shelter to those who seek it. Over time, it can grow too big for itself, destroying everything around it. but I've also watched it slowly feed its way to new life. Provide roots for the new trees. Seeds for the new flowers. You are a banyan tree because in you I see this tory. The beginning and the end of all things. The hope for something to grow, even in shadow."
Shahrzad's pulse started to rise.
The old man's voice had begun to deepen as he spoke. Had begun to lose some of its raspiness. Had begun to roll like distant thunder.

This duology can safely be labeled a favorite. Having read both books from the library, I will probably go out and buy both hardcover editions to have at home. In a year of rereading, these two books are easy choices for revisiting.

There is an exotic and mysterious quality in the writing by Ms. Ahdieh. A difficult feat to accomplish, this book and its predecessor ([b:The Wrath & the Dawn|18798983|The Wrath & the Dawn (The Wrath & the Dawn, #1)|Renee Ahdieh|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1417956963s/18798983.jpg|26724902]), has some of the most poetic phrasings that still somehow stop short of being overdone. The balance of stylistic writing, phrasing, mystery, dialogue, action scenes, and characterization is very nearly perfect. I honestly couldn't ask for more in a book.

Having read several handfuls of fairytale retellings, and still enjoying them, I found this to be such a refreshing venture that I had to remind myself - even now I must - that this story came before. And yet, it didn't. More than anything, this book is a perfect balance. It's tales of old, and it's new and exciting. Poetic, mystical and straightforward, decisive.

And up here—higher than she'd ever thought she could be—the wind blew alongside her, while all else vanished in a blur.
Still, there was no fear.
For up here, Shahrzad chased the wind.
The ground did not exist. Nor did the sky.
Here, she was truly boundless.
Fear would never overtake her again.

The continuation of the story from [b:The Wrath & the Dawn|18798983|The Wrath & the Dawn (The Wrath & the Dawn, #1)|Renee Ahdieh|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1417956963s/18798983.jpg|26724902] makes the two books so completely whole, while the development of this new book by itself is so wonderful on its own. Another difficult task. To say I'll be on the lookout for any new books by Ms. Ahdieh, is a statement in the obvious.