Recent Reads | Mini-Reviews & A Surprise Favourite

Crown of Coral & Pearl by Mara Rutherford

I had this book on my TBR for ages and I finally got to it on audio in 2020! I really liked the narrator of this one and I really enjoyed the story. It was so unique and original, with solid world-building and the best thing about it was the sisterly and family love from the main characters. This novel definitely surprised me; I did not expect certain twists (although I kinda saw the ending coming) and most of the important characters were distinct and fleshed out. The writing style was so easy to read, fit the concept and the YA audience perfectly. My only criticism is that the book felt like it was dragging a bit towards the middle and the ending was a bit predictable but I liked that it promised more exploration of this world in the next book. Best thing about this one would be its originality – I’m not sure if I’ll pick up the sequel but it was a fun audiobook to listen to for sure.

The Mime Order by Samantha Shannon

So, I finally read The Mime Order because I love The Bone Season yet haven’t continued the series. With The Mask Falling coming out very soon, end of 2020 I decided, it is time to finally read these sequels! As always, I really enjoyed Samantha’s writing and world-building. It’s so unique and interesting and I really had no idea where the story was going to go from The Bone Season’s ending. I really did enjoy this one but, to be honest, I was feeling anxious while reading this 95% of the time. I think it all comes down to the fact that Paige is constantly doing risky dangerous things I personally wouldn’t go through with and it physically makes me anxious because I’m so unsure of what’s going to happen next. Let’s just say (without spoiling) that the state of affairs is generally quite dire and that level of stress wasn’t super enjoyable for me, especially when this book is quite LONG at over 500 pages.

The Song Rising by Samantha Shannon (RATING: 4.75/5)

The latest book in the series, while still stress-inducing in many instances, was a lot more digestible and so great to read. It was shorter, had more plot twists and plot development than I could imagine and I could really appreciate the subtle relationships and Paige’s character development as she becomes a great leader. The ending was pretty crazy and it definitely hyped me up for the Mask Falling to the point that I pre-ordered the beauty. In general, I’m a huge fan of this series and I’d highly recommend it to anyone who’s a big fan of complex urban fantasies.

Catherine House by Elisabeth Thomas (RATING: 4.75/5)

As you may have seen in my ‘Best Book of 2020’ post, this was my most surprising read of 2020. I read this for Yasminthereader’s book club and I did not expect to love this book as much as I did. It was so mysterious and intriguing; the main character was also so detached – I did not like her at all, but somehow it made for a delightful combination and I just couldn’t put this down. I had to keep reading and try to figure out what Catherine House really was all about. The ending was ambiguous and will totally be controversial (love or hate) but I really liked that as it just embodied the whole drowsy, mysterious feel of the novel. It may not be your cup of tea but I really enjoyed this and I’d recommend anyone to give it a go if they’re a fan of mystery/thrillers and of course, the dark academia style and atmosphere.

I didn’t give it a full 5 stars, despite the satisfying ending, purely because I really disliked the main character but thoroughly enjoyed the writing and plot.