January
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collis
Genres: Dystopian, fiction, trial
Pages: 374
Cover: Paperback
Age rating: 12+
Buy on: Amazon, Barnes and Noble
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In the wild, when everyone is determined to make sure you don't live to see the morning, could you survive alone?
The nation of Panem, a gleaming capital encircled by twelve surrounding districts, is located in the remains of what was once known as North America. By requiring each district to send one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to compete in the yearly Hunger Games, a fight to the death on live television, the Capitol maintains order and is harsh and cruel.
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​Living alone with her mother and younger sister, sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen views her sister's participation in the Games as a death sentence. However, survival comes naturally to Katniss, who has been on the verge of death before. Without intending to, she enters the race. However, she will need to start making decisions that prioritize life over love and survival over humanity if she wants to prevail.
General Opinion
THE BOOK OF THE MONTH!!! I don't know why it took me so long to pick this book up, probably because of my long TBR. This book is just incredible. The world-building, the games, and the characters are all perfect. There was never a dull moment reading it. Suzanne Collins wrote as if I were in the game, witnessing everything happening along with Katniss.
Characters
Katniss is what a female character should be. Strong, smart, capable but also flawed. She goes from a poor girl in the District to a symbol of rebellion, everything a Capitol fears. Yet sometimes, I want to go through the page and hug my girl. Katniss had endured way too much, taking care of family and now having to survive in the deadliest game. Yet she refused to be a part of the Capitol's game, from painting a flower on a dead tribute and making sure both she and Peeta came back alive, a truly admirable thing.
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Peeta is husband-material, his love for Katniss is so pure and obvious that I kind of feel bad for him when Katniss thinks it was just an act in the game. Like a girl can not read a room. Peeta was willing to give his life so Katniss could come out of the area alive, a green flag all the way. However, I feel like Peeta is a bit bland, he is just too good, too perfect, which makes his character bland. The only interesting thing about him is his love for Katniss, as a character, he needs more depth.
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Haymitch is an unhinged mentor, and I love him for it. Roasting Katniss every time will never be funny to me. Their relationship is chaotic, yet they are the undefeated duo out there.
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Plot
The plot starts with introducing District 12 and Katniss, giving a picture of her harsh life. Then most of the book is a moment of her in the game, trying to survive, and it was fascinating to watch. Watching her surviving, almost dying and Katniss keeping up an act of her and Peeta being lovers, then actually starting to fall for Peeta was just beautiful and adorable. The story doesn't fail to remind us that all the tributes are still children, even more violence now, at the end of the day, they were just trying to survive.
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Conclusion
Overall, I would recommend this book to anyone, it is truly one of a kind out there, and it is the first dystopian book I read, and I was not disappointed. I have yet to watch the movie, but I will once I finish the whole series :))
February
The Queen of Nothing by Holly Black
Genres: Political Fantasy, Faerie, Romance
Pages: 305
Cover: Paperback
Age rating: 14+
Buy on: Amazon, Barnes and Noble
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Gaining power is far simpler than maintaining it. When Jude gave up her authority over the evil king Cardan in return for unfathomable power, she learned this lesson.
Jude, the banished mortal Queen of Faerie, is now helpless and in shock over Cardan's treachery. Determined to get back what he took from her, she waits. Her cunning twin sister Taryn, whose earthly life is in jeopardy, presents an opportunity.
If Jude wants to save her sister, she must to face her lingering love for Cardan and take the chance of returning to the perilous Faerie Court. However, Elfhame has changed. War is on the verge of breaking out. Jude becomes caught up in the violent dynamics of the fight as she sneaks deep into enemy lines.
Additionally, terror breaks out across the country as a strong but dormant curse is released, forcing her to decide between her ambition and her humanity.
SPOILS ALERT!
General Opinion
The BEST book in the Folk of the Air series. Cardan's character development, Jude and Cardan's relationship, and the plot are all PERFECT.
Characters
Jude and Cardan are giving me such a hangover, even though they aren't even the main plot of the story, just prove how good Holly Black is with their romance, making it so significant despite only being a subplot. I screamed in joy when Cardan came to rescue Jude along with the Roach, Vivi even said that Cardan went to the mortal world at Vivi's apartment, looking forward to tearing the place apart to find Jude, omg. Cardan is so cold and cool towards everyone, but he is such a cinnamon role for Jude.
Cardan confessing his love for Jude got me on the floor, "It's you I love. I spent much of my life guarding my heart. I guarded it so well that I could behave as though I didn't have one at all. Even now, it is a shabby, worm-eaten, and scabrous thing. But it is yours." OMG, Cardan, give me some air to breathe. Moreover, Cardan's growth is remarkable, from a bully, pathetic prince to a powerful High King of Elfhame, a true admiring growth.
Jude is iconic as usual, the scene where she was ready to bind Madoc and Lord Jarel to her control by using the brindle was cold, vicious, and badass. However, she didn't, as Jude chose to love Cardan the right way over her ambition and power, which was major character growth, and just added more depth to her character.
I am surprised to say that I don't hate Taryn anymore. Even though I thought she could have apologized to Jude more sincerely, Taryn did save Jude and truly cared about her sister. Furthermore, Taryn did kill Locke, and I forever thank her for that.
I couldn't hate Madoc, even though he did terrible things to his family. Madoc was ambitious, power-hungry, and bloodthirsty, he did love his family but never overpowered. Which made him a great villain, he managed to make people not truly hate him, but be wary of him, and never let people forget how far he would go.
​Plot
The plot was intriguing. Start with Jude spending time in the mortal world, then coming back to Elfhame as Taryn to clear her sister's name over the murder of Locke. Continues with Jude being kidnapped by Madoc, but with Madoc thinking that Jude is Taryn. Because of Jude's stay in Madoc's camp, she manages to know his plan and attacks, later rescued by Cardan and her sisters, comes back to the place and is announced as the High Queen of Elfhame. Together, Jude and Cardan scheme against Madoc, and they nearly got Madoc. But a curse was put on the crown, and it caused Cardan to turn into a serpent. ​​
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With the new threat arising, Jude must battle her internal conflict, choosing between slaying the serpent, releasing Cardan from being trapped, yet also his life, or having control over it for the rest of her life. It was kind of obvious which direction Jude was going for, and the ending where everyone sat happily together in the mortal world, eating pizza just brought joy to me.
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I love this series so much, truly understand the hype it got, and am excited to read the sequel series. The Folk of the Air trilogy is a must-read for all political fantasy lovers out there, ​with a strong female character that weaves her way for power, what could be better?