The Secret History

Book: The Secret History

Author : Donna Tartt

Review: In the calm before the storm in the book, Tartt, is very profound when it comes to writing a psychological and perhaps dangerous prose on the adventures of college experience and college life in general. Richard, a young man from Plano, California goes to Hampden University in Vermont and meets new friends known as, Bunny Corcoran, Henry Winter, Charles and Camilla who are twins and Francis. Tartt writes about college culprits and delinquency in her book. Henry almost seems like the metaphor of the devil. It is kind of like a burn after reading but as I see it, it shows just how the elite and supercilious see their students in light of whatever goes on in college. I appreciate Tartt’s work as an ode to teen Satanic worshipping and the foreshadowing she ignites at given points within the sequence of the book. Although it may be a story about sex, drugs and alcoholism, we can conclude that it is basically about scandals within college society.

Star Rating : 5 of 5

Spice rating : 0 of 5

Book Recommendation : Yes/To those who are interested in the modern Gothic horror genre and psychological plots.

Thoughts:

• Hell is empty and all the devils are here. -Shakespeare
• Makes the reader uncomfortable.
• The Devil pulls the strings which make us dance; We find delight in the most loathsome things.-Charles Baudelaire
• A mix of scandals.

Babel

Book: Babel

Author : R.F. Kuang

Review: In a world that is powered by silver, Kuang takes us to Oxford University in Britain where silver powers everything. Robin Swift who is Cantonese signs away his soul to the devil, Professor Lovell and crosses the River Styx to England where a sugar-coated hell is found within Oxford which is Babel. Caught between his creature comforts at Babel despite an opium war and his homeland and society where the opium trades persist, Robin must choose over his homeland, Canton, China and his identity between his college comforts to save his homeland and eventually, choose life or death.. Robin Swift meets Letty, Victoire, and Ramy through the college campus and faces the utmost betrayal from one of his three friends. One could arguably say metaphorically that Robin is Jesus as he attends the last supper with his friends as Jesus Christ in the Hermes Society.

Star Rating : 5 of 5

Spice rating : 0 of 5

Book Recommendation : Yes/To those who are interested in revolutionaries, robust rebellions, scholars and academics

Thoughts:

• A very compelling read
• Makes the reader want more.
• A master of her time, R.F. Kuang does not disappoint.
• A carefully crafted and intelligent write.

Dealing With Dragons

Book: Dealing with Dragons

Author: Patricia C. Wrede

Review: In Book 1 of the Enchanted Forest Chronicles features Cimorene who is a rebel princess wo in the beginning follows a frog to the cave of Kazul who is a dragon and takes care of her and keeps her cave tidy. Cimorene is not an ordinary princess. I loved reading this book as a third grader and I enjoyed reading the fact that Cimorene was a rebel princess who took care of Kazul and the dragon loot which was very interesting to me as a young girl. Wrede takes us through various adventures with Kazul as the princess’s master.

Star Rating : 5 of 5

Spice rating : 0 of 5

Book Recommendation : Yes/To those who are into enchanted objects and rebel princesses and dragon loot.

Thoughts:

• A beautifully written story
• Enchanting
• A good story for young rebellious girls across the globe
• Magickal

Tokyo Ever After

Book: Tokyo Ever After

Author: Emiko Jean

Review: Izumi is a princess to the royal imperial highness from Japan. Living on Mt. Shasta, she lives a pretty normal life until she finds that her mother’s ex-boyfriend who is her father is an imperial from Japan. Once she travels to Japan over her father’s orders, there are headlines that her father is trying to protect her from with her personal bodyguard, Akio. Jean takes us through the 2000’s with this book what with new technology from today. I appreciate that she incorporates the social media elements that we have today as well as the element of surprise. This is definitely giving The Princess Diaries vibe only based and set in Tokyo, Japan.

Star Rating : 5 of 5

Spice rating : 0 of 5

Book Recommendation : Yes/To those who are into romance and normal everyday life only to find out you are a princess in Japan

Thoughts:

• The Princess Diaries of Japan
• A romantic love story
• A good read for young adults
• If you liked Princess Diaries, this is yours to read

Spring Snow

Book: Spring Snow

Author : Yukio Mishima

Review: Mishima crafts the purpose of the book, Spring Snow to its entirety in a genius way. Kiyoaki and Satoko have a love affair and the ending is enough to make one weep. I loved the fact that there are more books to the quadrilogy. Satoko and Kiyoaki deserved a better chance at life but Mishima writes about yearning and longing in such a profound way. Mishima is a genius as he puts us in third person perspective into the life of Kiyoaki and his lover Satoko with his friend, Honda.

Star Rating : 5 of 5

Spice rating : 5 of 5

Book Recommendation : Yes/To those who are interested in romance and tragic endings

Thoughts:

• Spring Snow is like the movie “Atonement”
• What could and should’ve been is not always what will be in the masterpiece that is this book.
• Mishima is a heartbreaker ..
• A carefully crafted and vibrant look into Japanese society in Japan.

Black Dawn

Book: Black Dawn

Author : L.J. Smith

Review: Maggie Neely is trapped as a slave for Vampire Prince Delos. Along with a slave girl she is trying to escpape but finds out that Prince Delos has another plan for her as she is his soulmate. The moment that they find out that Hunter Redfern is out to kill all the slave girls they plan their escape as Prince Delos wants to be with Maggie. A very interesting read from the beginning which makes the Night World series perfect love stories.

Star Rating : 3 of 5

Spice rating : 0 of 5

Book Recommendation : Yes/To those who are into cruel vampire princes

Thoughts:

• Vampires and a bond to last for a lifetime
• Sort of reminded me of Holly Black’s Elfhame series in one bite..
• The Night World Series is not an easy read.
• Twists and turns around every corner..