| Down Among the Sticks and Bones by Seanan McGuire |

Both girls, through different routes, down different roads, had come home.

PAGES: 124 (Ebook)

SYNOPSIS: A story about Jack and Jill before they came to Eleanor West's Home for Wayward Children.

RATING: 4.75/5

NON-SPOILERY REVIEW: 
The Moors is a very interesting place full of danger and interesting creatures. It's very cool to find out that there are other parts of the moor (The Mountains for the Werewolves? and the Sea for the Drowned God? I wonder what happened to children that went in those directions). It's a very diverse world that feels rather creepy and not safe for children to travel to. 

Of course, Jack still remained my favorite character all throughout this book. She and Jill managed to find their respective places in a new place. It was terrible reading about them growing up to such horrible parents. I was able to see them in new light and know more about their relationship. 

I really love this book. Jack was my favorite character in the first book and I was really happy to find out that this book is all about her story with Jill in the Moors. We finally got to see what really happened while they were there and why they were sent back by Dr. Bleak. Seanan McGuire's writing is just really beautiful that I cannot even. It's a very fast paced book that I managed to finish in one day. The only thing that disappointed me was the fact that it was pretty short. There were other things that could be added as to what happened to Jack and Jill.

•  It was very heartbreaking to know how repressed the siblings felt when they were growing up. They resented each other for having the role that they wanted even though they were forced into taking that certain role.
• Serena and Chester were such horrible parents. They turned their children against each other and removed the only parent figure in their life - their grandmother, Louise. I love how much Louise took care and loved the twins. Even after she left, she managed to leave something behind that led to the twin finally gaining their freedom. I love how they called her 'Gemma Lou'.
• I felt really bad for Mary. She became a servant in the world that was supposed to give her freedom. The Master was such a bad man for treating her that way because she didn't give him what he wanted. 
• It was interesting to read about when the girls got their menstruation especially in Jill's point of view because she lived with a vampire.
• I love the relationship between Jack and Alexis. They were adorable together. Alexis was brave enough to be seen with Jack even if she knew that Jill didn't like it. I hated Jill for what she did to Alexis. I kept screaming 'NO' when I was reading the part where Jill was stalking Alexis. I cried when Jack found her body. 
• I love Dr. Bleak. He cared for Jack and wanted Alexis to be alright during the end part just because he didn't want Jack to suffer. He saved Jack and wanted her to return when everything calmed down.
• I was really disappointed that it was cut only until they came back! I wanted to know what happened after they returned to Moors at the end of Every Heart a Doorway. Does the Master still want Jill? Was Dr. Bleak able to bring Alexis back? I want to see Dr. Bleak and Jack's reunion!

FAVORITE QUOTES: 

Some adventures are cruel, because it is the only way they know to be kind.

Time is the alchemy that turns compassion into love.

| Every Heart a Doorway by Seanan McGuire |

The duality of the phrase was like the duality of the doors: they changed lives, and they destroyed them, all with the same, simple invitation.
Come through, and see.

PAGES: 117 (Ebook)

SYNOPSIS: A story about what happens to children who traveled to another world or dimension after they got back to the real world.

RATING: 4.5/5

NON-SPOILERY REVIEW: 
It's very hard to write a review for this book. I have already finished it 2x but I still can't put in my mind how to accurately describe all of my feelings for it.

The cover is very beautiful yet it seems pretty scary. It's accurate to the atmosphere of the writing. Seanan McGuire's writing is very beautiful which makes the book more exciting to read. It's very short and a very fast read. 

I love how diverse the characters are. There is a transgender character and an asexual character. They all had interesting backgrounds and experiences about the places they went to. There are so many beautiful lines in this book. There are many twists and turns that happened in the book. There were happy and heartbreaking times. 

Eleanor West is an amazing woman for creating a place where the children can share their experience and try to live on with their lives. The concept of this book is very unique and amazing to read about. I want to know more about the different worlds that was mentioned in this book There were so many and each one had their own characteristics that made the children love them. The experiences of the children were precious. It felt devastating to know that their parents do not believe them and even go as far as thinking there is something wrong with them. Though, I can't stop thinking about the parents whose children never returned. What happened to them?

• Even if Loriel was kind of an asshole, I felt really bad when she died especially since it was mentioned that the door to her world was just in her bedroom and the dust queen was waiting for her return.
• I was really shocked to see the mentions of vibrators and masturbation in this book. The conversation between Nancy and Sumi about masturbation was disturbing and funny.
• I was shocked about Lundy. How she was stuck to age in reverse for what she tried to do just so she wouldn't have to go back. It was terrible what happened to her. I can't imagine an 8-year-old leading them in therapy. 
• Knowing more about Eleanor West was shocking. I thought she was just trying to earn her way back but apparently she could go back anytime. It was heartbreaking to know that she could go back but her brain couldn't take it there so she's waiting until she becomes senile. She tried to have the best of both worlds but apparently, it doesn't work that way. At least in her old age, she'll be able to go back.
• I love Jack. She's a very awesome, smart and interesting character. I love her comebacks whenever people accuse her of the killings. I love their description of their world because it seemed like a Dracula-Dr. Frankenstein world and I can't stop thinking about Van Helsing. I didn't like Jill very much because even in the beginning she seemed like she was hiding something (I just didn't imagine that she would be the killer!)
• I was really devastated when Sumi died. I was starting to get attached to her because she's a very fun and interesting character to read about and then boom! She dies. Goddamn it.
• I couldn't keep up with their direction stuff about the different worlds. I am still confused and I want a more detailed explanation!
• I really thought at first that Lundy was the killer. She seemed really creepy and I don't know why.
• I am still not sure as to what happened to Kade. Did he go to his world as a girl and returned as a guy? I am confused.
• I love the bond that formed between Kade, Christopher, Nancy, and Jack even if it was because of the deaths. I love their conversations. It was fun and full of sarcasm.
• It was very weird as to how they dealt with the deaths. Like it was just a typical thing to happen (I guess in Jack's life it is). I can't stop associating the part where they dissolved Loriel's body with acid with a scene in Breaking Bad.
• I want to know more about the other home. The home for children who wants to forget what happened to them. If the doors take children to a place suited for them why are there children that want to forget?
• I can't stop associating Hades and Persephone to the place that Nancy came from. I am happy that she managed to find her way back. 

FAVORITE QUOTES: 

It would have been too hard on the prospective students to sit there and listen as the people they loved most in all the world—all this world, at least—dismissed their memories as delusions, their experiences as fantasy, their lives as some intractable illness.

At least while they were with her, they would be with someone who understood. Even if they would never have the opportunity to go back home, they would have someone who understood, and the company of their peers, which was a treasure beyond reckoning.

Eleanor West spent her days giving them what she had never had, and hoped that someday, it would be enough to pay her passage back to the place where she belonged.

Narrate the impossible things, turn them into a story, and they could be controlled.

This isn't a place for lies or pretending everything is all right. We know everything is not all right. If it were, you wouldn't be here.

"Hope hurts. That's what you need to learn, and fast, if you don't want it to cut you open from the inside out. Hope is bad. Hope means you keep on holding to things that won't ever be so again, and so you bleed an inch at a time until there's nothing left. Ely-Eleanor is always saying 'don't use this word' and 'don't use that word,' but she never bans the ones that are really bad. She never bans hope."

"Because they're the wrong colors, right? Somebody else's rainbow."

"Jack and Jill went up the hill, to watch a bit of slaughter, Jack fell down and broke her crown, and Jill came tumbling after."

For us, the places we went were home. We didn't care if they were good or evil or neutral or what. We cared about the fact that for the first time, we didn't have to pretend to be something we weren't. We just got to be. That made all the difference in the world.

"You want to go back, and so you hold on to the habits you learned while you were traveling, because it's better than admitting the journey's over. We don't teach you how to dwell. We also don't teach you how to forget. We teach you how to move on."

It was all about science, but the science was magical. It didn't care about whether something could be done. It was about whether it should be done, and the answer was always, always yes."

Their love wanted to fix her, and refused to see that she wasn't broken.

"Sometimes the desire goes away. Sometimes the door comes back. Sometimes we just have to learn to deal with being exiles in our home countries."

"Our doors are hidden, but by looking closely enough, we can find them."

Finding a place where she could be free. That's your story, too, every one of you.

"This is not an asylum, and you are not mad—and so what if you were? This world is unforgiving and cruel to those it judges as even the slightest bit outside the norm. If anyone should be kind, understanding, accepting, loving to their fellow outcasts, it's you. All of you. You are the guardians of the secrets of the universe, beloved of worlds that most will never dream of, much less see … can't you see where you owe it to yourselves to be kind? To care for one another? No one outside this room will ever understand what you've been through the way the people around you right now understand. This is not your home. I know that better than most. But this is your way station and your sanctuary, and you will treat those around you with respect."

"That was the Moors." Jack shook her head. "It was cruel and cold and brutal and beautiful, and I would give anything to go back there. Maybe it broke me in some deep, intrinsic way that I am incapable of seeing, just like Jill can't understand that she's not a normal girl anymore. I don't care. It was my home, and it finally let me be myself, and I hate it here."

Then Angela turned on Kade, and said, "I meant what I said. It's sick, how you pretend like you're something you're not."
"I was about to say the same thing to you," said Christopher. "I mean, you always did a pretty good job of pretending to be a decent human being. You had me fooled."

"Why is your happy-ever-after the only one that matters?"

You're nobody's rainbow.
You're nobody's princess.
You're nobody's doorway but your own, and the only one who gets to tell you how your story ends is you.

Like a key that finds its keyhole, Nancy was finally home.

| Summer Days and Summer Nights |

PAGES: 317 (Ebook)

SYNOPSIS: A collection of stories set during the summer. 

OVERALL RATING: 3.52/5

REVIEW: 
It was a pretty decent collection. There were some pretty unique and interesting stories. Going in, I thought that the stories would mostly be about cute-sy and contemporary stuffs, I was amazed that there were some stories involving supernatural things. There were also some stories that included serious topics like mental health and family issues. Some included LGBT relationship. It was a pretty diverse collection. I was a bit disappointed though because there were only less than half stories that really amazed me. All others were alright but didn't not really make me feel really shocked or happy. Others left me confused. All in all, it was a pretty interesting read. 

I love the icon on top of the titles of the stories. They represent what the stories are about and I love how on point most of them are.

1.  HEAD, SCALES, TONGUE, TAIL BY LEIGH BARDUGO

They'd breach the waves, let the moonlight catch their hides, and the stranger would stand for a moment - mouth agape, heart alive, his loneliness forgotten.

RATING: 3.25/5
REVIEW: I really didn't know what to feel about this story. I thought it was a bit weak to put it as the first story. It was kind of slow paced and I thought the back story in the beginning didn't make any sense. There were some confusing parts and the ending felt a bit rushed but I liked Leigh Bardugo's writing. It was beautiful and I like the friendship between Eli and Gracie. Plus, I did not see that ending coming.

2.  THE END OF LOVE BY NINA LACOUR

Closure is so important, and we keep reminiscing and laughing. We're getting rid of so much stuff, and it just feels great.

RATING: 3.5/5
REVIEW: I found this story quite cute. I felt bad for Flora because of what is happening to her family. I just can't believe that someone would willingly take math for a summer class. Math sucks. I was glad when she finally joined the three. I was happy because she finally said all the heartbreaking things that she felt during her parents divorce and they were able to comfort her. I love that she and Mimi finally got together.

3.  THE LAST STAND AT THE CINEGORE BY LIBBA BRAY

"Not everything is mockable."
"Then you're not trying hard enough," Dave shot back.

RATING: 1/5
REVIEW: It was a very very weird story. The kind of weird that I do not like. Everything escalated quickly and it went to places I never thought it could go. I didn't get the references that it used and I did not feel anything for the lead couple.

4.  SICK PLEASURE BY FRANCESCA LIA BLOCK

Love can be so strange and sad. It can be hard to understand why we run toward certain people and away from others at different times in our lives. Why we search so hard for that thing we are looking for, and then run so fast when we find it.

RATING: 1.5/5
REVIEW: I had a hard time reading this because of the naming convention. I was confused as to who was who. I didn't like any of the characters. I (the character) made really bad choices in life and all of her friends suck. The ending was depressing.

5.  IN NINETY MINUTES, TURN NORTH BY STEPHANIE PERKINS

The word north always felt like something.

RATING: 5/5
REVIEW: This is the first story that I loved in this collection. I loved Marigold and North in 'My True Love Gave To Me' and I loved seeing them again. I was a bit sad at first when I found out that they broke up but I loved how things worked out for them in this story. It was complicated and cute. I love North. He's so fun and adorable. This story was cute and perfect for the summer feels.

6.  SOUVENIRS BY TIM FEDERLE

"And against all odds, I'm smiling."

RATING: 3.75/5
REVIEW: This was a cute story. It's interesting to put up a break up story in a collection of summer things. I like Kieth and Matty and it's sad that they broke up. It was fun reading into Matty and liking him so much. I also loved his mother. She was supportive and cared so much for her son.

7.  INERTIA BY VERONICA ROTH

"Art is, above all things, both vulnerable and brave."

Some people might leave you, but it doesn't mean you're worth leaving.

RATING: 5/5
REVIEW: It had a pretty interesting concept. It's a good thing that I never finished the divergent trilogy because I've read some reviews that this made them think of that. I love the fact that it dealt with the issue of depression. I love knowing the back story as to why their friendship ended and them realizing that they do love each other. I love Claire and Matthew together and I love how this ended.

8.  LOVE IS THE LAST RESORT BY JON SKOVRON

Because if we are all fools, then perhaps there is some wisdom in falling in love.

RATING: 3.75/5
REVIEW: It's a cute story. I love Jon Skovron's writing. It's beautiful. It was funny in the end when Jon Skovron admitted that he tricked the readers. That it was really a love story and that he is Zeke. I love how summer-y this felt especially since it is set in a resort. I love how the couples got together except Arlo and Lena. Theirs felt forced especially since they only met.

9.  GOOD LUCK AND FAREWELL BY BRANDY COLBERT

She loves me but that's a different kind of love, and it's not enough to make her stay.

RATING: 3.5/5
REVIEW: I really didn't like it at first because Rashida annoyed me. She seemed very hard on Audrey and Gillian for deciding to leave but we see her real issues later on while talking with Pierre. It was heartbreaking to know why she had difficulty when the news that Audrey would leave came out. I was glad for Pierre that he made Rashida realize Gillian's true character. I love the part where her dad was so worried about her and even left Bev. Plus, I like her and Pierre together.

10.  BRAND NEW ATTRACTION BY CASSANDRA CLARE

And the answer is that everything at the carnival that couldn't be explained, everything that sparked of real magic, was because of Mephit.

RATING: 4.25/5
REVIEW: I actually liked this story. A dark carnival is an interesting theme. I love the twist and turns though I did see some of it coming. Walter is one creepy asshole. I like Lulu and Lucas together. I love how it ended and Mephit seemed cool and adorable. It was a fun and intriguing story. I was also happy with the demon thing and I can't get it out of my mind that this is set within the shadowhunter world.

11.  A THOUSAND WAYS THIS COULD ALL GO WRONG BY JENNIFER E. SMITH

There are still about a thousand ways this could still go wrong. But there are a thousand different ways it could go right, too. And for the moment, none of the rest of it matters. It's just him and me. Me and him. The two of us.

RATING: 4/5
REVIEW: It was a cute story. I love how Griffin and Annie took care and bonded over Noah. I love how Annie realized that she didn't care about Griffin's autism and I liked them together. I loved Griffin. He was adorable and very kind towards Annie.

12.  THE MAP OF TINY PERFECT THINGS BY LEV GROSSMAN

"You can spend your life waiting and watching for perfect moments, but sometimes you have to make one happen."

RATING: 3.75/5
REVIEW: I love how they tried to map the perfect things. They had fun doing that but it was heartbreaking to find out about Margaret's mom. It was an interesting take on how to carry on with grief and I liked it. The perfect things that they found were really awesome and wonderful to read about. I love how Mark's choice of thing to do in the beginning was to finish an entire section of books. Unlimited time to read books! (If he hadn't seen Margaret).

| Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman |

That is how the worlds will end, in ash and flood, in darkness and in ice. That is the final destiny of the gods.

PAGES: 146 (Ebook)

SYNOPSIS: A narration about the Norse Gods - who they are and some of their stories. 

RATING: 4.25/5

NON-SPOILERY REVIEW: 
I enjoyed reading this book. I have always been fond of mythologies and I was glad to have finally been able to read a book that solely focused on Norse Mythology (I read a Greek Mythology book before that had a short Norse Mythology at the end). I loved knowing more about Norse Myth especially since I am reading Rick Riordan's Magnus Chase series. I loved knowing more about the gods - their histories and their stories. It was also interesting to find out how much Rick Riordan incorporated Norse Myth in his works. There were stories in here that were used by Rick Riordan for the parts of Magnus Chase. I wish though that gods and goddesses were described in the beginning (not just Odin, Thor, and Loki). I wish there was a certain segment just for naming them and what they were gods and goddesses of (I know there's a glossary in the end but it didn't seem enough). I wanted more of the stories especially since I remember how many stories there are in the Greek Myth. The stories here are full of mischief especially from Loki. Most of the stories could be blamed on Loki to be honest and I wanted more background about him. Some stories were heartbreaking especially since some of the characters that died didn't deserve to die. They were just at the wrong place at wrong time. 

All in all, this book is a perfect introduction to the Norse Myth. Beginners like me would be able to familiarize themselves with the Norse Gods and get an introduction about some of the things they did. Neil Gaiman had an interesting way of telling the stories in a more fun way (I really love the conversation parts). 

• It was very interesting to find out that the goddesses of fates here were Urd, Verdandi, and Skuld. They were the names of the goddesses from the anime 'Oh My Goddess!'
• In the chapter 'The Master Builder', I felt bad for the giant. He did an honest work but they betrayed him. They broke their oath and killed him. 
• Why is Loki's children always not normal? He gave birth to Sleipner and was the father to Hel, the Midgard Serpent, and Fenrir. How??? 
• I felt bad for Fenrir. He wanted to belong in the beginning up until he became suspicious of the gods. It was heartbreaking especially when he realized that even Tyr betrayed him. 
• In the chapter 'Freya's Unusual Wedding', I loved it when Thor was dressed up as the bride because Freya didn't want to go. It was just a perfect scene especially since Loki just transformed himself into a woman afterwards to act as her handmaiden. It was also fun because Rick Riordan used this same set up in the Magnus Chase series.
• The part where one of Thor's goats got injured because of Loki was interesting to know especially since those goats were part of the Magnus Chase series.
• The scene with Utgardaloki and his illusions were also interesting because it was also included in the Magnus Chase series but here Utgardaloki had no malice. He just wanted to test them.
• It was interesting to know that the gods were not immortal. Their lives were only prolonged by Idunn's apples.
• Omg Frey! It was fun to know about his sword because it's the sword that Magnus Chase has and Frey is Magnus' father!
• I felt bad for Hod and Balder. Hod was blamed for Balder's death but in truth it was Loki that killed him.
• I felt bad for Loki when he was punished. Sure, he did many evil deeds but his children didn't deserve to be punished for what he did especially since they were viciously punished. It was also heartbreaking and disgusting that Loki was bound by the internal organs of his dead child.
• I feel bad for Sigyn. She lost her freedom along with her children and she suffered when her husband suffered. She was a hero and was very dedicated to Loki even though he left her a lot and caused her so much pain.
• I was kind of surprised that Odin put Hel in charge of some of the dead. It seemed like such a powerful position to put the child of your enemy to.
• I found the conversation type scenes hilarious. They were witty and sarcastic depending on who told them.
• Poor Freya always being for her hand in marriage by random giants and ogres. I can see why she's pissed off with all of them at some point.
• I felt sad that I couldn't see a logical pattern on some of the stories. 
• I want to know who the other Vanir's are. I think the only ones introduced her was Frey and Freya and that wasn't enough.
• I feel like the fight between Loki and the gods in the end kind of spoiled me of what would happen in the third and final book of Magnus Chase. 

FAVORITE QUOTES: 

Loki makes the world more interesting but less safe. He is the father of monsters, the author of woes, the sly god.

"Because," said Thor, "when something goes wrong, the first thing I always think is, it is Loki's fault. It saves a lot of time."

"I'm not sure about the eyes," Var said. "They don't look very feminine."
"I should hope not," muttered Thor.

No one could beat old age, because in the end she takes each of us, makes us weaker and weaker until she closes our eyes for good.

"Of course it was Loki. It's always Loki."

| #T5W - Book Covers You'd Live In |

Top 5 Wednesday is group that was created by Lainey and is currently hosted by Samantha. A topic is posted every month wherein if you want to, you can post about your top 5 picks for said topics.

The topic for August 2nd is "Book Covers You'd Live In" which talks about books that have covers that you'd want to be transported to!

OTHER AUGUST TOPICS

1. THE GEOGRAPHY OF YOU AND ME BY JENNIFER E SMITH
   I love the book covers of Jennifer E. Smith's books. I picked this one because this is the story I love the most. New York City can be seen in the background and I kind of want to visit it. Plus, it's blue.
2. WAKE BY AMANDA HOCKING
   I have the hardbound copy of this book and I love the cover. It's so blue and the sea is just so pretty to look at. I just really want to visit the beach/ocean. Even though I didn't love the book, the siren thing was pretty interesting.
3. CLOCKWORK ANGEL BY CASSANDRA CLARE
   I have always wanted to visit London. I love how beautiful the cover is plus William Herondale is there. What more do I need!?
4. ONCE SHE DREAMED BY ABBI GLINES
   I love how the covers show the lead character in a meadow which can depict the rural area and the city which can depict the urban area. It's so pretty to look at and I just kind of just want to wander around both of the places.
5. ANNA AND THE FRENCH KISS BY STEPHANIE PERKINS
   One of the places I want to visit is Paris and this book cover is just so beautiful. I love the colors. I also love Etienne and Anna's story so much.

| Because You Love to Hate Me: 13 Tales of Villainy |

PAGES: 296 (Ebook)

SYNOPSIS: A collection of stories about villains. Stories are based from challenges given by booktubers to authors. 

OVERALL RATING: 3.7/5

REVIEW: 
I had high expectations in this book probably because I know and love most of the booktubers listed. I wasn't super amazed but it wasn't bad. It could have been better but overall it was still okay. I enjoyed the middle part of this collection (Starting from Marissa Meyer to Adam Silvera). There were some authors that spot on created a villain you love to hate but some I was really confused as to why they are villains. Some had villainous stories while others just used 'villainous' characters. 

I love the icon on top of the titles of the stories. They represent what the stories are about and I love how on point most of them are.

1. CHRISTINE RICCIO'S CHALLENGE: The Grandson of an Evil, Matriarchal Dictator who Tried to Rule over the Universe Wants to Follow in Her Footsteps and Accidentally Loses His Temper, Killing his Sibling in a Game of Chess.

THE BLOOD OF IMURIV BY RENEE AHDIEH

Rhone fell to his knees, the guilt rocketing to his core.The relief washing across his skin.

RATING: 3.6/5
REVIEW: The story really followed the prompt. It was interesting but I wanted more. Renee Ahdieh's writing is really beautiful. I can imagine the world that she built for this short story. I wasn't satisfied though because I think that it could be expanded to a full fledged novel. Rhone was such an interesting character and I want to see what would happen after what he did.

THE EVIL VACCINE: KEEP THE DARKNESS AT BAY GET VACCINATED TODAY! BY CHRISTINE RICCIO (PolandbananasBOOKS)
I had a fun time reading Christine's piece. I love Christine and I could imagine her narrating the things she wrote. I love that she used Harry Potter a lot in her references (Dumbledore, Deathly Hallows, Lord, Loss of your nose). The remedies for the signs were funny.

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2. TINA BURKE'S CHALLENGE: "Jack and the Beanstalk" Meets Phalaris of Agrigento

JACK BY AMERIEE

The world was ours, once. Fee fi fo fum. Perhaps it can be ours again.

RATING: 4/5
REVIEW: I really don't know who Phalaris or Ameriee or Tina Burke is but they managed to make a nice story. I really wanted to skip this at first because I really don't like Jack and the Beanstalk but I'm glad I didn't. Reading about the friendship that blossomed between Jack and the Princess of the Giants was wonderful. I liked that the Jack here was much more interesting than the original one. He's an adventurer and he told many tales to the Giant. I really liked this because of the plot twist. Oh my god I didn't see it coming but I loved it. It was evil and it felt so in theme with this collection of short stories. 

GIANTS AND TYRANTS BY TINA BURKE (The Lushables)
I don't know who Tina Burke is but her explanations of the parts of the story was interesting to read about. It gives a in-depth discussion of what happened in the story.

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3. CHALLENGE: A Modern-Day Mash-Up of the King Arthur Legend and Persephone-Hades Myth

GWEN AND ART AND LANCE BY SOMAN CHAINANI

Rich or poor; ugly or fair; young or old; inside and out. I love you.  I love you. I love you.

RATING: 3.5/5

REVIEW: It was a nice read but I don't feel that the story is within the theme. I don't really know much about King Arthur except that he's the one with the Excalibur. I was kind of sad because the main focus was King Arthur and not Persephone and Hades. Still, the format of the short story was interesting (it's different from the others because it's in a text format). I liked how complicated it felt even if it's just because of a High School Prom. I felt bad for Art though because being bullied is a bad thing. I had mixed feelings for Gwen but I loved Lance. 

THE BAD GIRL HALL OF FAME BY SAMANTHA LEE (Thoughts on Tomes)

I love the format of Samantha's piece. It was very interesting and entertaining to read about.

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4. CHALLENGE: A Young Moriarty

SHIRLEY & JIM BY SUSAN DENNARD

"What's wrong with believing in fairy tales?""Reality will never live up."

RATING: 3/5

REVIEW: Susan Dennard's writing is very beautiful. I liked the story but I wasn't amazed by it. It felt like a fanfic of Sherlock and Moriarty but if you don't think of it in that way, it's a beautifully written story about Moriarty's past. The gender swap that occurred felt very wrong. I wish she just wrote another story or just retained the genders. 

DEAR SASHA, THE 411 FOR VILLAINS by SASHA ALSBERG (abookutopia)

I love Sasha's piece. I can imagine her saying it because I watch her videos. Plus, the ending was amazing.

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5. CHALLENGE: A Dark Sorcerer's Motives for Seeking Immortality or Omnipotence

THE BLESSING OF LITTLE WANTS BY SARAH ENNI

“Why be extraordinary if that’s the cost?” Thomas grabbed her wrist. “Because of the cost of doing nothing.”

RATING: 2.5/5
REVIEW: I really liked the start. It was a beginning of something interesting. I liked the friendship between Sigrid and Thomas. However, when we get to the adventure part things got really fast. I was really confused as to how it ended. I'm still not sure what really happened to be honest.

WILL THE REAL VILLAIN PLEASE STAND UP? by SOPHIA LEE (thebookbasement)

I love the word play with the title of this piece. I love the fact that Sophia stated her thoughts about the piece in a way where she stated what she wants.

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6. CHALLENGE: What if the Sea Witch Had Previously Been in the Little Mermaid's Shoes but Decided to Kill the Love Interest and Turn Back into a Mermaid Instead?

THE SEA WITCH BY MARISSA MEYER

Who was he to belittle what I had gone through, the suffering I had endured, when he could have prevented all of it with nothing more than a smile and a word of kindness?

RATING: 5/5

REVIEW: I haven't really read anything by Marissa Meyer (I tried to read Cinder but I really don't like Cyborgs and Space stuffs). I was amazed by how beautiful this story is. You would really feel bad for Nerit because of what she had experience just because she's different. You really can't blame her for the decisions she made in her life because some of it was influenced by what she experienced and how others treated her. I thought at first that it was going to be sort off a new character (I didn't read the prompt beforehand) and not Ursula but I was glad it was her. The version that Marissa Meyer created was really amazing. 

VILLAIN OR HERO? YOU DECIDE! by Zoe Herdt (readbyzoe)

I love that Zoe created a quiz for deciding if you are a villain or a hero. Her piece's introduction was quite interesting and fun to read.

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7. CHALLENGE: Medusa. Go!

BEAUTIFUL VENOM by CINDY PON

"You are now as ugly and horrifying as you were once beautiful and alluring."

RATING: 4.8/5

REVIEW: This was a beautifully written retelling of Medusa's story. I really don't get why Medusa is a villain. Sure, she turned people into stone but shouldn't Athena be blamed? If she hadn't turned Medusa into a Gorgon none of that stone turning stuff would happen? This version just made that thought more intense. I really hated the Goddess of Purity in this book. Purity my ass. I felt really bad for Mei Fang because she really did nothing wrong. She was the victim yet she was the one blamed. Like what other people do in the real world. It was heartbreaking. 

WITHOUT THE EVIL IN THE WORLD, HOW DO WE SEE THE GOOD? by BENJAMIN ALDERSON (Benjaminoftomes)

She is filled with bitterness and jealousy and portrays herself in the most perfect way, as the evil b... eing she is.

I love Benjamin and I loved his discussion about Beautiful Venom. I love that line (the one above) because it made me laugh because I know what kind of evil b she is. Damn that Goddess of Purity.

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8. CHALLENGE: Hades Wakes Up after Being Unconscious at the Bottom of a Well in Ireland

DEATH KNELL BY VICTORIA SCHWAB

"Death stares at the girl.The girl stares at Death."

RATING: 4.5/5
REVIEW: Victoria Schwab's writing is so perfect. The story was very beautiful. Reading about Death and his actions was very interesting and entertaining. It also had heartbreaking aspects especially because of Grace. Correct me if I'm wrong though, the one who dies gets to replace the previous Death? If so, that's an interesting and cool concept.

DEAR DEATH BY JESSE GEORGE (jessethereader)
I love Jesse. His piece was very amazing. The message to death was very heartbreaking and heartfelt. It was also very relatable.

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9. CHALLENGE: Erl-Queen Retelling in Nineteenth-Century London

MARIGOLD BY SAMANTHA SHANNON

"This story has a happy ending. Marigold is safe at last from the monsters who imprisoned her."

RATING: 4/5
REVIEW: I don't usually like Fae stories but this one was very beautiful. I love the story Samantha Shannon wrote and she wrote it beautifully. The twist that happened in the end was very entertaining. You would not expect it from a fairytale like story. 

EVIL REVEALED BY REGAN PERUSSE (peruseproject)
Regan's explanation about the story was wonderful. She discussed how much women were viewed as weak creatures with no freedom during the Nineteenth-Century. 

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10. CHALLENGE: A Female Teen Crime Lord Concealed by a Mask

YOU, YOU, IT'S ALL ABOUT YOU BY ADAM SILVERA

You're worshiped for the way Daze can make the city forget. You're celebrated for the way Token can revive memories as far back as childhood. You're feared for the way Trance can implant false stories others forge.

RATING: 4.25/5
REVIEW: This story is amazing. It felt really in sync with the theme of this collection. The twist in the end was shocking. The fact that Slate sells memory drugs is interesting. A memory can be a powerful thing to use against someone. I found Slate awesome and scary. She was not someone you want to mess around with. SLATE IS NOT TO BE BETRAYED. 

BEHIND THE VILLAIN'S MASK BY CATRIONA FEENEY (littlebookowl)
Caz's explanation about Slate is so on point and her piece about the masks was interesting.

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11. CHALLENGE: A Psychopath in a Futuristic Setting

Don't skip ahead. But the fucker would not die.

JULIAN BREAKS EVERY RULE BY ANDREW SMITH
RATING: 2/5
REVIEW: I did not like Andrew Smith's writing and I did not like Julian. I don't see why he's a psychopath and how this story is set in a futuristic setting. I was kind of annoyed at how much Julian says that he hate Steven Kemple and 'foreshadowing'.

JULIAN POWELL: TEEN PSYCHO EXTRAORDINAIRE BY RAELEEN LEMAY (padfootandprongs07)
Raeleen had interesting thoughts about Julian but I didn't feel the same way.

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12. CHALLENGE: Beauty and the Beast: Suitor's Revenge

Sooner or later she will come. But this time she won't be alone. This time she will have me.

INDIGO AND SHADE BY APRIL GENEVIEVE TUCHOLKE
RATING: 3/5
REVIEW: I don't really get the challenge to be honest but I like April Tucholke's writing (I love her short story in the Slasher Girls and Demon Boys anthology). Her story version of Beauty and the Beast is really interesting. I love what she did to the characters but I'm kind of confused what happened in the ending. How Valois became like that. How he got the curse. 

GLAMORIZED RECOVERY: EXPECTATIONS VS REALITY BY WHITNEY ATKINSON
Whitney had an interesting take on the expectations and realities that heroes and villains face in their lives. Plus, her writing is beautiful.

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13. CHALLENGE: Gender-flipped God of War.

I am the curse of men. I am War. And this world is mine.

SERA BY NICOLA YOON
RATING: 3.8/5
REVIEW: I found it quite funny when I realized the title for Nicola Yoon's story is just the reversed version of Ares. I found the story quite cool and the writing is beautiful. I really felt bad for Sera because she just wanted to belong. Can't really blame her much for what happened for Calliope because she tried to suppress her powers (and Calliope is a bitch). It's not her fault for being so different. I want to know though why she has powers when her family is clearly normal. I can't stop thinking that some God impersonated Patrick and got pregnant. Typical Greek Gods.

THE BAD GIRLS' GUIDE TO VILLAINY BY STEPH SINCLAIR AND KAT KENNEDY
Their piece was pretty fun to read. It's kind of like a motivational speaker for female villains.