There's some good reviews, some what-the-hell-why-am-I-rambling-and-not-making-sense reviews, some short ones, some incomplete ones, some weird ones that are all over the place and it's now my goal to update my reviews and post them here. It'll be tough to update some of my reviews, especially if I've read the novel quite a bit of time ago, but I'm going to try my best! So here goes nothing :)
To start my novel review updates, I'm going to begin with a book that I absolutely love:
White Cat by Holly Black
5 out of 5 Amazing Stars!
"Magic," the girl says. "It’s just all magic.”
Wow, I can't believe it took me so long to pick up this book! White Cat by Holly Black is absolutely amazing. Black has created a new world that is very similar to the one we all know, but added one factor that changed everything - she created Curse Workers. And the best part about creating these new powers is that Holly Black doesn't overwhelm the reader with information. Curse Workers are very similar to humans, but have a power that humans do not. There are memory, physical, emotional, dream, luck, death and transformation workers (I find it cool that there's 7 types of Curse Workers, like the 7 deadly sins). Black also adds bits of history that enables the reader to understand how the world is the way it is. The story/plot-line is faced paced, grabbing your attention and not letting go until the end of the novel. It is intriguing, and most importantly it is realistic and believable; it made sense! There are so many novels that don't make sense or aren't relatable or believable because the authors decides that something is going to happen within the novel "just because they say so." That is definitely not the case with White Cat.
Onto the Characters...
Cassel:
"The easiest lies to tell are the ones we want to be true."
Poor Cassel is the outsider in his own family. His mother, his brothers, his grandfather, everyone in his family but him is a curse worker. He used to pretend to be "the most talented practitioner of the very rarest curses" until he grew up and realized that he would always, in some way, be segregated from the rest of his family. But he doesn't give up, and he certainly isn't useless. Cassel knows to "lie until even you believe it - that't the real secret of lying. The way to have absolutely no tells." He's smart and conniving, but also realizes that he makes mistakes. This humanizes his character, allows the reader to relate to him. Eventually, though, Cassel's life changes in a way he could have never imagined, and realizes that "he was such an insider that he never even knew it - he was inside of the insiders." Cassel realizes that people are losing their memories, and the conflict of the novel is set up, allowing our hero to investigate. Twists and turns will keep the reader guessing.
Philip and Barron:
I don't want to spoil anything from the novel, but I have to say that these are some of the worst brothers! You'll have to read for yourself to find out how bad, but this quote gives a good idea:"it's like I'm watching us all in a fun house glass, a parody of a family gathering. Look at us celebrating our criminal enterprises. Look at us laugh. Look at us lie."
Sam and Daneca:
Cassel goes from putting up a fake front at school, from believing that "all friendships are negotiations of power" to thinking that "maybe the point of real friendships isn't that you have to repay kindness, but whatever." Quite a change, which is due to his forming friendship with Sam and Daneca. They both surprise Cassel when they help him, and eventually become some of his closest friends, which he proves by trusting them with some important plans toward the end of the novel. They're great characters that help bring out the best in our hero and are a wonderful addition to the novel.
Lila:
Lila is a very interesting character, and has a strong female role in White Cat. It's terrible what happens to her, but she and Cassel make a great team. I really like her character, and wish what happens at the end of the novel doesn't happen, but maybe everything will work itself out (hopefully).
Final Thoughts:
White Cat by Holly Black is an amazing novel that everyone should take a chance on. It is a bit predictable in the beginning, but once certain facts are revealed, it's almost like a guessing-game for what is going to happen next. The very last scene of the novel ends on a sombre/almost morbid note, but is truthful. The game will never end, the cons will not stop; it's almost brutal in it's honesty, but I wouldn't want it any other way. I can't wait to see how Cassel's life will now change, what the future holds in store for him, but I'm sure it will be one hell of a ride. Time to get my hands on Red Glove!
Philip and Barron:
I don't want to spoil anything from the novel, but I have to say that these are some of the worst brothers! You'll have to read for yourself to find out how bad, but this quote gives a good idea:"it's like I'm watching us all in a fun house glass, a parody of a family gathering. Look at us celebrating our criminal enterprises. Look at us laugh. Look at us lie."
Sam and Daneca:
Cassel goes from putting up a fake front at school, from believing that "all friendships are negotiations of power" to thinking that "maybe the point of real friendships isn't that you have to repay kindness, but whatever." Quite a change, which is due to his forming friendship with Sam and Daneca. They both surprise Cassel when they help him, and eventually become some of his closest friends, which he proves by trusting them with some important plans toward the end of the novel. They're great characters that help bring out the best in our hero and are a wonderful addition to the novel.
Lila:
Lila is a very interesting character, and has a strong female role in White Cat. It's terrible what happens to her, but she and Cassel make a great team. I really like her character, and wish what happens at the end of the novel doesn't happen, but maybe everything will work itself out (hopefully).
Final Thoughts:
White Cat by Holly Black is an amazing novel that everyone should take a chance on. It is a bit predictable in the beginning, but once certain facts are revealed, it's almost like a guessing-game for what is going to happen next. The very last scene of the novel ends on a sombre/almost morbid note, but is truthful. The game will never end, the cons will not stop; it's almost brutal in it's honesty, but I wouldn't want it any other way. I can't wait to see how Cassel's life will now change, what the future holds in store for him, but I'm sure it will be one hell of a ride. Time to get my hands on Red Glove!
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