Hotel for the Lost by Suzanne Young

Description

Rating: 3.5/5   

Published: 2016

When Audrey Casella arrives for an unplanned stay at the grand Hotel Ruby, she’s grateful for the detour. Just months after their mother’s death, Audrey and her brother, Daniel, are on their way to live with their grandmother, dumped on the doorstep of a DNA-matched stranger because their father is drowning in his grief.

Audrey and her family only plan to stay the night, but life in the Ruby can be intoxicating, extending their stay as it provides endless distractions—including handsome guest Elias Lange, who sends Audrey’s pulse racing. However, the hotel proves to be as strange as it is beautiful. Nightly fancy affairs in the ballroom are invitation only, and Audrey seems to be the one guest who doesn’t have an invite. Instead, she joins the hotel staff on the rooftop, catching whispers about the hotel’s dark past.

The more Audrey learns about the new people she’s met, the more her curiosity grows. She’s torn in different directions—the pull of her past with its overwhelming loss, the promise of a future that holds little joy, and an in-between in a place that is so much more than it seems…

And the 13th chapter will only add to the mystery behind the 13th floor of Hotel Ruby...and ultimately, what it means for Audrey.

Welcome to the Ruby.

Review 

I really enjoyed this book! At first I was quite hesitant to read it because it kind of had a bad rap on Goodreads. But after reading I understood why. If you are looking for a horror novel, this novel is definitely not for you. I totally understand why someone would expect a world similar to American Horror Story Season Hotel, with the cover and description in the back, I was totally expecting demons to crawl out from within the mattresses! But rather than being a horror story, the book ended up being an eerie love story! Though the novel was rather predictable at times, I found most of the characters really lovable and the ending which was quite bittersweet, leaving me feeling a bit down the next couple of days :( The world building itself was also quite beautiful! (though I would never want to go to such hotel myself for obvious reasons in the novel!!!) 

Life Update

Currently waiting for the purple to develop in my hair. It's been a while since I've dyed my hair and the purple from my last dye was starting to turn yellow. Ew...But yeah, a little update on my life at the moment. I'm currently reading Hotel For The Lost by Suzanne Young. The damage is only a quarter of the book so far because recently life has been really hectic. University is just around the corner and I've been trying to see all my friends before the semester starts (heck knows when I'll see them again after that). Though I'll be going on an overnight trip on Wednesday, to the Falls, and will definitely get a lot of reading done on the train ride. I've been making an effort recently to make time for reading, I don't want this to be just a winter break kind of thing! I am striving to fill this blog with amazing content from my book adventures this coming year! I really need to go now, got to go wash this colour off and then go wash Tom's (my guinea pig c:) bedding!

Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas Review

Rating: 3/5   

Published: 2015 

Description

 

When nineteen-year-old huntress Feyre kills a wolf in the woods, a beast-like creature arrives to demand retribution for it. Dragged to a treacherous magical land she only knows about from legends, Feyre discovers that her captor is not an animal, but Tamlin —one of the lethal, immortal faeries who once ruled their world. 
     As she dwells on his estate, her feelings for Tamlin transform from icy hostility into a fiery passion that burns through every lie and warning she's been told about the beautiful, dangerous world of the Fae. But an ancient, wicked shadow over the faerie lands is growing, and Feyre must find a way to stop it . . . or doom Tamlin—and his world—forever. 
     Perfect for fans of Kristen Cashore and George R. R. Martin, this first book in a sexy and action-packed new series is impossible to put down!

Review 

The first book in it's trilogy, I give Sara J. Maas's Court of Thorns and Roses a 3 out of 5 stars. I initially did not enjoy this booking in the beginning because it was bland and lacked action. What saved this novel from a 2 star rating are the final few chapters where the true nature of the curse against the Spring Court is slowly revealed to Feyre. 

But oh man in the beginning when the story was set in the Spring Court! For a High Lord, who had been alive for centuries, Tamlin is one of the most boring male protagonist I have ever encountered! Seriously without the presence of Lucian's comedic relief, I would would have dropped the book within the first few chapters, something that would have been quite regrettable. But the book definitely did not disappoint near the end where I found myself unable to put down the novel and was constantly thinking about the outcomes at work! 

Feyre character was already really amazing in the beginning but her endurance in the events near the end made her even more WOW. She is different from the typical female protagonist who often requires a constant savior. No, Feyre is her own savior, she endures the unbearable, and would rather risk her own life than have her loved ones risk theirs to save her. For this I deem her unsuitable for Tamlin because he's kinda the King of Sidelines and was literally the most useless character in my perspective! 

Rhysand and Lucian were constantly risking their lives to save Feyre while Tamlin was literally mopping and accepting his fate. Like how are you going to sit there when your loved one is being tortured to death? I found myself getting pissed off at Tamlin a lot throughout the novel because of his lack of actions! Rhysand, a stranger, did more for Feyre than Tamlin had their entire relationship! In the beginning I really dreaded that Tamlin was going to be the only available lover for Feyre, but with the introduction of Rhysand, I think likewise now! 

Have you guys ever read a novel by Cassandra Clare, her male protagonists are cocky but yet charismatic, Rhysand is exactly that! I would pick Rhysand over Tamlin any day! Plus the title of High Lord of the Night Court sounds a thousand times cooler than High Lord of the Spring Court. LIKE I DON'T WANT TO BE WITH SOME FLOWERY SAINT! GIVE ME MY DARK LORD! 

The introduction of Rhysand as a predominant character and the outcome of the grande challenges under the mountain in the end, has left me eager to find out what Feyre's future behold! I am definitely purchasing the next novel in the trilogy, A Court of Mist and Fury, and would recommend this novel to the patient romantic fantasy lover. 

The Beginning of an Adventure

I'm not really good at introduction, I have no problems with writing about stuff but I struggle greatly when it comes to self-introductions, so bare with me and my awkwardness. 

My name is Mandy, and I'm currently a suffering university student and I've recently got back into reading after a 3 year drought! Like a week ago recently! Many university students maybe able to relate to this, but ever since I entered university whenever I have urges to read, I simply just read my textbooks because why read anything else that would be unproductive? (the mindset of a sleep deprived scholar) and with that my imagination died for 3 years loool, I was literally a ZOMBIEEE I tell you. But because last week I had finished exams way before any of my friends and I had already taken the month off from work for examinations, I was left home alone and so very bored, so I decided to buy one of the many books I had piled up on my list of "To Reads" on Goodreads and here I am. 

The book was Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas (a review will be coming shortly!) and I finished it last night! I use to love documenting stuff I've read and watched in physical journals and I'm really excited for this blog right now! I'm not sure why, but like whenever I finish reading or watching something, I have this really strong urge to document or tell someone about my thoughts and opinions. Like I don't why?! Maybe it's just a Mandy thing. So yes! This blog will basically be a journal for the novel and the occasional film/tv series I'll be reading or watching!

Also you may or may not be wondering why  this blog is called the Lazy Warlock but I am going to tell you anyways! It's because I am absolutely in love with Magnus Banes from Cassandra Clare's; Immortal Instruments and Infernal Devices <3 !!! Man's so sassy and funny!!! MMMMMmmm!!! 

LET THE READING JOURNALS (and sometimes films/series lol) OF A LAZY UNIVERSITY STUDENT COMMENCE!! WOOOOOO!