#2017booklist

p.80

ok well I love Kit. also Kit & Livvy? totally yes. kinda hate Diego. hate my bbs aka Jules and Emma being in pain but I’m persevering bc it better be resolved. heart Jace always.

*but a demerit for breaking my heart

oh, and a few lowkey and one huge SPOILER

Ok um. Wow. This was wild, in a good way of course, but wow.

I felt like there were a million things going on between the LA Institute, the trip to Faerie, the London Institute, the Riders, etc. etc. But I didn't really mind, it was exciting to have so much happening. The ending was definitely hectic though and I’ll need a lot of resolution in the next book (@ Cassandra Clare).

I looove, loove, LOVE Kit. He's great, and his character develops a lot over the course of the book. He is also plays a bigger part in this book than in the last, which obviously makes him more likable bc it's kinda hard to fall in love with a character who's only in like two chapters. And he's a sassy lil Herondale–I have a thing for Herondales...but don't we all? I was really looking forward to seeing him with Kit and Livvy in the next book(s?). Um, I have things to say about Livvy later. But overall, I (obviously) love all of the Blackthorn family and all of their different personalities and how they interact with each other. I can't think too hard about it now though because I'm kind of in shock.

I also liked Kieran a lot more than I thought I would. I'm hoping he is still a big character in the next book, and dare I say, even the next Unseelie King? If we ever get to that point, of course. He is waaaaay better now than before.

Also, Jules and Emma are so cute I want to gag. Oh, wow, I love them so much. Julian is the most amazing and I would totally be in love with him too, but I’m pretty concerned about his plan to use the Seelie Queen’s idea of getting rid of all parabatai bonds to get rid of his and Emma’s, because I want them together so bad, but not at the price of Clary and Simon, Jace and Alec, future Ty and Kit...

And, I love getting to see old characters from TMI and even from TID. It makes me so happy uggggggH. Jace and Clary and Alec and Magnus and Jem and Tessa have my heart. Even Jessamine, I mean, I love old characters popping up in new stories!!

Um, but I have a few choice words for Cassandra Clare, and not all of them are nice because HOW DARE YOU!!!! WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK!!!!!!!! HOW DID YOU JUSTIFY THIS? IF ANY FAMILY IN THE HISTORY OF SHADOWHUNTERS DESERVES TO BE HAPPY AND WHOLE AND TOGETHER, IT'S THE BLACKTHORNS!!!!!!! 

THEIR PARENTS WERE KILLED IN THE DARK WAR AND THEIR FATHER BY JULES HIMSELF BECAUSE HE WAS ENDARKENED!!! MARK ENDS UP WITH THE HUNT AND HELEN IS EXILED TO WRANGEL ISLAND AND THIS TWELVE-YEAR-OLD LITTLE BOY SUDDENLY REALIZES THAT THESE FOUR KIDS ARE HIS RESPONSIBILITY NOW AND SO HE CARES FOR THEM AND RAISES THEM AND PROTECTS THEM FROM THE WORLD ALL THE WHILE HE'S RUNNING THE LA INSTITUTE AND CARING FOR ARTHUR AND HE LOVES THEM WITH HIS WHOLE HEART, THEY'RE HIS WHOLE WORLD AND NOW THEY'VE GROWN UP AND THEY LOVE JULES SO MUCH BECAUSE HE IS THEIR FATHER FIGURE AND THEY KNOW HOW MUCH HE HAS DONE FOR THEM AND KIT AND TY AND LIVVY ARE ALL BECOMING CLOSE AND THEY'RE LITERALLY THE REASON KIT DECIDES TO STAY WITH THEM AND BE A SHADOWHUNTER AND HE JUST TOLD LIVIA THEY WOULD BE FRIENDS ALWAYS AND TY RELIES SO MUCH ON HIS SISTER AND THEY WERE JUST REUNITED WITH MARK AND HELEN AND WHAT WAS LFFT OF THEIR FAMILY WAS FINALLY WHOLE AND THEY WERE TOGETHER AND THEY SHOULD'VE BEEN LEFT ALONE TO BE HAPPY!!!! BUT NO, CASSANDRA, YOU WANTED TO NOT ONLY RIP MY HEART OUT, BUT APPARENTLY THE HEART OF ALL OF THE BLACKTHORN CHILDREN AS WELL. WHAT THE FUCK IS GONNA HAPPEN TO KIT WHEN HE FINDS OUT, OH MY, THEY WERE FRIENDS!!! HE CARED SO MUCH!!! AND TY!!! AND JULIAN, OH GOD, JULES, HE'S DEVASTATED!!!!!!!!!!! YOU JUST KILLED HIS CHILD! WHY WOULD YOU DO THIS! I'm sorry, I'm just emotional. I'm just hoping that Kit and Ty become parabatai now, but really I'm so sad that's only like a minuscule light spot and a sea of darkness.

But, other than that, uh, yeah also, the ending was really intense and a lot of stuff happened and I'd really like to have the next one in my hands now because I just have an empty hole of sadness in me and I need some closure and I need it to be filled and I need everyone to be ok.

Alright, that is all. Sorry Cassanda. But I also feel that you should actually apologize to me for your actions.

UM YES.

That's all I have to say about Rook. Except not, I have more to say:This was just so fun; a little bit o' espionage, a little bit o' le français, a little bit o' actual romance with a lot o' TENSION, and a little bit o' white collar crime. Everything you need to make a novel great. But in all reality, this was an awesome, really fun and exciting read that kept me constantly on my toes. I really wish I'd read the Scarlet Pimpernel, but that is next on my to read list (well, not necessarily next but it's on the list for sure) as I know that this book is based (heavily?) on as well as references the story.

I'm totally obsessed with René (of course I'm also coincidentally totally obsessed with French people in general and I thoroughly enjoyed saying his name under my breath with a French accent every time I read it. The last half of the book is definitely the best half, imo, because that's when the stakes get higher and true identities are revealed and Sophie can't keep pushing René away so of course those two are a plus. And there were several *slightly* (for some) predictable, but no less wonderful twists/reveals that came to light and it was great.

There were a few things that I did notice and subsequently manage to be suitably annoyed by though.. Like I'm assuming referring to French as Parisian, as a language, was intentional the same Commonwealth was used instead of English, but that just–for whatever reason–grated on my nerves. Second, LeBlanc totally said enchantée to Sophie at her Banns when it should've been enchanté since he's–y'know–a guy, but that's the only thing that I noticed and either I'm just not very observant despite the pride I'll admit to having for my proficiency, at least through three years of classes, in French grammar OR probably that was the only mistake any editors didn't catch. Which is fine. 

Because overall, I totally loved this book and totally wish there was a sequel because I HEART RENÉ AND SOPHIE AND BENOIT AND honestly don't miss [minor spoiler: Hammond] that much. *whoops*

Yeah I’m a sucker, I know, but yeaaaaaaah dudes, I really enjoyed this. I've been a big fan of Flanagan's Ranger's Apprentice books since I was in middle school and when he started the Brotherband books I jumped at the opportunity for more of his action-packed, signature gritty-yet-funny (that's how I feel about all of his books? just ignore me) stories. And, the Brotherband books have yet to disappoint.

This one was really awesome, with the characters continuing to develop into more mature figures. I think that somehow Flanagan does this so slowly, but persistently throughout his books that you don't really realize it's happening (like it's not forced), but suddenly you realize that you're reading the sixth book of this series and wait a second, the characters aren't that little anymore they're like 20 something probably?? When did that happen? And the characters are so lovable and all so different and funny and wonderful.

I feel a little terrible though because my initial solution to every love interest I don't really prefer or like or one that will *cough* take a character away from his brotherband *cough* is to say "maybe they'll die" and then more often than not, they do (which is great since I just want to be rid of them) but I feel like I'm getting a little extreme and out of control–like for example: Sorscha anyone...? I needed to be a little less triumphant about that cause poor Dorian–and back to Brotherband, poor Stig.. *cringe*

Thought this was quite cute. This is a fun series that is somehow simultaneously fairly action packed while being laid back as well. The characters are pretty interesting and mostly believable, though some may lack a huge ABUNDANCE of growth from the first book; I mean, don't get me wrong there's character development, yes, but not so much that I was like WOW.

Overall, it was a really fun conclusion to a great series. I love how this is one of those books where everything mentioned tends to matter in the end, and everything just somehow pulls into place. Kind of like Six of Crows and Empire of Storms in that way, except (again) overall more laid back and–not juvenille, but idk the synonym I'm looking for? so I guess I'll go with it–kind of juvenille–but not in a bad way, you know..

Anyways, yeah it was good enough.