The Starless Sea by: Erin Morgenstern

 Genre: Fantasy

Published: November 5, 2019 by: Doubleday Books 

Pages: 498 

Rating: 5/5 stars 

Content Warnings: minor gore, mention of suicide, abduction, animal and human death. 

Beneath the surface of the Earth lies the Starless Sea, a magical system full of secret societies and interconnecting libraries. The Starless Sea appears to those who search for it, whether they know they are searching or not. Zachary Ezra Rawlins becomes entangled in the Starless Sea when he is drawn to a mysterious book in his campus library. Soon he is whisked away on an adventure with an eccentric painter named Mirabel, and a handsome wanderer, Dorian. There are people who wish to destroy the Starless Sea, and it is up to Zachary, Mirabel, and Dorian to try everything to save it. 

This book was one big beautiful journey, and I loved every second of it. I did not expect to get this book. I thought it would be some weird philosophical fantasy that I would never understand. But, I became captivated to the story from the first page. With lovable characters, stunning prose, and a magical adventure, this book gave me everything I needed. 

I will start by saying that this book talks about some themes that I think any avid reader and writer will enjoy. As the premise of the Starless Sea lies heavily in magical libraries, one has to appreciate the written word in order to love this book. This book examines what it means to be a writer, how it feels to be transformed through a book. Every mind-blowing sensation that you have ever felt while reading a book, will be felt while reading this one. 

The characters were well-developed and extremely unique. Zachary is a character I could relate to. He's a level-headed bookworm who is obviously skeptical of the adventure he is about to undertake. But he develops throughout the story as he learns more about the Starless Sea, and his story ends on such a powerful note. 

Dorian and Mirabel are also characters to love. Mirabel is a fierce, badass painter who is an incredible mentor and also extremely intelligent. Dorian is a bit morally grey, but I could relate to his indecisiveness and I loved reading about his story. Overall this book gives you characters to love, characters to hate, but you can't help but be enthralled in each and every one of their stories. 

Erin Morgenstern is everything I wish to be as a writer. Her work is stunning, and she is able to write fantasy within a modern world that seems so real, that you almost wonder if the Starless Sea is beneath the world after all. Her book will blow you away, and will make you wish that you could sail the Starless Sea as well. 

Have you read The Starless Sea? What did you think? 

Emily @ Paperback Princess

Call Down the Hawk (Dreamer Trilogy #1) by: Maggie Stiefvater

Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Magical Realism
Published: November 5, 2019 by: Scholastic Press
Pages: 472
Rating: 3/5 stars
*this post contains minor spoilers from The Raven Cycle series. Highlight white text to reveal spoilers*

Ronan Lynch is a dreamer, meaning he has the power to pull things out of his dreams and into his reality. Jordan Hennessy is a thief, meaning she is tied to dream objects and will stop at nothing to get them. Carmen Farooq-Lane is a hunter, meaning she is threatened by dreamers and seeks to destroy them. Dreaming is a dangerous task, and Ronan's life is about to experience destruction like no other.

Anybody who knows me knows that I LOVED The Raven Cycle series. I pretty much finished the entire series in a week, and for about three months in 2015 I was a Richard Campbell Gansey III STAN. So naturally when I heard about a Ronan Lynch trilogy, I needed to get my hands on it. While it did satisfy my ache for all things Raven Cycle, I can't exactly call it a favourite.

What I love about Ronan is that he is such a complex character. He is riddled with trauma and inner demons, but is also a sarcastic king and secretly a softie. Him and Adam are one of my OTP's, and I was really glad to get glimpses of their relationship in this text. That being said, I think I needed more of it. I expected more of it.

I love the Lynch family as a whole, so I was happy to get a deeper insight into them through this book. Declan and Matthew have always fascinated me, and I found myself really interested in the Lynch storyline. I found some of my unanswered questions answered, so I thought this was a good companion to the Raven Cycle series.

Maggie Stiefvater writes magical realism so well. I am jealous of her writing style, and how she is able to craft worlds that are so unique and so mysterious. Her writing has such a dream-like quality (pun intended) to it. This book was no exception.

I can't say I was obsessed with this book though. I honestly didn't care much for the new characters introduced, and I just found myself wanting more of Adam, more of Blue, and tbh more of Gansey. I mean, I expected that Blue and Gansey would not be in this book, but that still doesn't mean I didn't hold out a little bit of hope. I think the characters are just so strong in The Raven Cycle that I expected to fall in love with all of these new characters as much as I did with the others. That was not the case.

I also thought this book was a little long for me. It seemed to drag in parts, and I felt that because I wasn't connected with the new characters, I just wanted it to end sooner. I wasn't as emotionally invested in this book as I have been with Stiefvater's other books.

Overall, I don't think I will continue with this series. This book did give me some great nostalgia, but I think I will just re-read The Raven Cycle if I ever want to revisit Ronan's character. That being said, if you're a Raven Cycle fan, it's worth a shot.

Have you read Call Down the Hawk? What did you think?

Emily @ Paperback Princess

The Scorpio Races by: Maggie Stiefvater

Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Magic Realism
Published: October 18, 2011 by: Scholastic Press
Pages: 409
Rating: 3/5 stars

At the start of every November, the Scorpio Races happen on an elusive island, where the people are quiet and riders are resilient. Riders will attempt to tame fierce water horses all the way to the finish line. Many die, and the winner receives a cash prize. Sean is the returning champion, and he is determined to keep his father's legacy alive. Puck is entering the races for the first time, and not only is she the first girl to do so, but she is determined to win the money for her struggling family. Which one will prevail?

I have always loved Maggie Stiefvater's writing. All of her books are tied to magical realism, a genre that intrigues me so much. While I am absolutely obsessed with some of her other novels such as the Raven Cycle series, this book seemed to capture the essence of her writing, but wasn't necessarily my favourite.

I loved the feminism in this book. Puck is the main character, and she experiences harsh sexism and scrutiny throughout the book because riding in the Scorpio Races was always considered for men only. She was a very strong female lead, much like Stiefvater's other main characters, and I loved her.

I wasn't quite sold on the chemistry between her and Sean. I get it was supposed to be romantic, but I honestly didn't see much there between these two and it all seemed very forced. Their relationship needed to be developed more.

I think the concept of this book was interesting, but it didn't capture me as much as The Raven Cycle did. I found the plot to be kind of rushed at times and quite confusing. I wasn't exactly sold on it.

Overall, I think if you like Stiefvater's writing style, definitely give this book a go. It goes with her theme of magic realism, but I prefer some of her other books.

Have you read The Scorpio Races? What did you think?

The Night Circus by: Erin Morgenstern

Genre: Fiction, Magic realism
Published: October 6, 2016 by: Vintage Children's Classics
Pages: 656
Rating: 4/5 stars

The Circus of Dreams arrives without warning. It opens at night, closes at dawn, and the public are free to come and experience its dazzling wonders inside, but only for one night. You never know what you may find, once you step through that curtain.

This book is something that you really just have to experience for yourself. You think my description is vague? The one on goodreads is even vaguer. This book is a fantastical thrill-ride that has dazzling imagery and characters that you will not help but be enthralled in. But be cautious, because its twists and twirls can be hard to keep up with.

This book makes me want to write like the author. I've always had such a great appreciation for magic realism, it's a genre that I long to write one day but one that I've never quite grasped the concept of myself. So whenever an author does it well, it gives me some inspiration for my own writing. And the fact that Morgenstern did this while weaving such an intricate storyline of a circus, makes it all the more magical.

The imagery in this book is so unbelievably stunning. You will be sucked into this book through its descriptions of delectable circus foods, to stunning costumes, to a magician's illusions. This book feels like one trippy ride at an amusement park that you just can't get off of, I guarantee, you will be transported to another world through this.

This book gives you everything you'd ever want in a circus book. It's enchanting, it's wondrous, but it could get confusing. Amidst all the glitz and glamour, is a lot of complicated storylines and a lot of interweaving conflicts, that put me off track. I got really lost in this book, which I think can be expected.

If you are an aspiring writer, specifically for fantasy or magic realism, you'll want to read this. It is such an amazing example of great writing, and something that you will drool over. Morgenstern, you are one talented lady.

Have you read The Night Circus? What did you think?

Emily @ Paperback Princess

A Monster Calls by: Patrick Ness

Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Magical Realism
Published: August 27, 2013 by: Candlewick Press
Pages: 224
Rating: 5/5 stars

Conor's mother is going through vigorous cancer treatments, leaving him isolated and alone, with no one but his annoying grandmother to talk to. But then a monster enters Conor's room at night. A terrifying, wild monster. The monster enters Conor's room every night at the exact same time, and it keeps asking for the same thing. Will Conor ever realize what the monster wants, or will the monster keep on coming, until it is too late?

This book was INSANE! I read it in exactly one sitting, I laughed, I cried, and I was completely blown away once again by the legend that is Patrick Ness. Although I shouldn't give him all the credit, as the idea from the novel actually came from author Siobhan Dowd, who died from cancer before she could write the book. So Ness took over, and this book, should be treasured forever.

You really have to think to get this book. Not really hard, philosophical thinking, but this book requires you to go into your emotions to really get the overall metaphor. And once you get it, it will blow your mind. I loved how this book used magic realism to get an incredibly poignant message across.

This book takes on cancer in a new light. It is unlike anything that you have ever experienced when reading books on the disease, and it will completely mess up your perception but in a really good way. This book is very emotional to say the least, but it is also so brave and so adorable that you can't help but fall in love with every single character.

Be prepared to go on one big thrill ride. You will experience a petri dish of emotions, and it may not be easy. But I would recommend this book to anyone and everyone, young and old, and especially, those with relatives who have cancer. Prepare to be amazed.

Have you read A Monster Calls? What did you think?

Emily @ Paperback Princess