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nini

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https://www.goodreads.com/cosmicnicole

nini’s Bookshelves

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nini is Currently Reading

nini is currently reading

Queen of Shadows (Throne of Glass, #4)

by Sarah J. Maas (Goodreads Author)

bookshelves: 2-am-or-later, currently-reading

Reading for the 2nd time

read in September 2021

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nini said: " OK, so I'm going to put more full thoughts now in, considering my initial review was just, "WOW!" because it was like 1 a.m. This was excellent and I had a great time. It's definitely one of the turning points in this series.

There's also just sooo m ...more "

progress:

(page 38 of 648)
"Let’s see if i finally finish this series this year" — Sep 08, 2026 09:08AM

Sep 09, 2021 12:23PM · see review

nini is currently reading

Take the Key and Lock Her Up (Embassy Row, #3)

by Ally Carter (Goodreads Author)

bookshelves: currently-reading

Reading for the 2nd time

read in June 2017

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nini said: " For one, I happen to be a huge fan of the Embassy Row trilogy. As soon as I started All Fall Down, I knew I was going to like it. See How They Run was just more proof of how great this trilogy was going to be. Surprisingly, though, I wasn't exactly s For one, I happen to be a huge fan of the Embassy Row trilogy. As soon as I started All Fall Down, I knew I was going to like it. See How They Run was just more proof of how great this trilogy was going to be. Surprisingly, though, I wasn't exactly satisfied with Take the Key and Lock Her Up.

Plot-wise, Take the Key and Lock Her Up is a completely different vibe from the first two. It's amazing how much has changed in just a few books. Throughout the first two books, you're trying to figure out all of the secrets surrounding Adria and the Blakely family. In this one, you know most of what's up, it's just all about figuring out what to do with what's up. Now that all of the information is out on the table, you see all of the characters trying to figure out exactly what to do with it.

Speaking of which, the characters as usual were pretty great! Although, most of the development in this book is focused specifically on Grace, as expected. In all honesty, there's not really as much development to the other characters. You see bits and pieces of the rest of the Embassy Row kiddos' growth, such as with Megan (especially when it comes to her relationship with Grace) and Alexei. (Alexei especially considering some of the events that have an impact on him, but not as big as we saw it within See How They Run.)

But apart from Grace and her crew? The biggest development we see lies in the characters within the palace. More specifically, some characters in the palace that we actually get to see Grace interact with more. For me, this is what was so fascinating! A lot of these characters were briefly mentioned in the previous books or in Ann's case, played somewhat of a minor role. However, they all really come to the table in this book. That's part of what's so interesting! I loved watching Grace interact with them, and part of me wishes we could have seen more of Thomas sooner!

However, Grace got on my nerves quite a bit throughout this novel. Admittedly, I would probably be equally as angsty in this scenario, but that's sometimes what made Take the Key and Lock Her Up so difficult to read. Ultimately though, the pay off was really worth it for those moments when she really shines through as a character. I learned to appreciate Grace learning how to keep with her emotions in check while simultaneously dealing with this situation.

I think the biggest strength in this book is Carter's writing style. Ally Carter does a really great job at foreshadowing a lot of her plot lines, so much that when it finally is revealed that a character cannot be trusted, it only starts to make sense then. Throughout this whole novel, I was constantly questioning people's reliability.

Honestly, I really liked what Carter did here. I wish at the end some portions received more of an explanation, but mostly, I was incredibly fond of this book! ...more "

progress:

(23%)
— Aug 07, 2026 11:01AM

Jun 17, 2017 03:12PM · see review

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Strangers: A Memoir of Marriage

by Belle Burden

bookshelves: currently-reading

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(24%)
— Aug 02, 2026 09:14AM

Jul 29, 2026 05:56AM

nini’s Quotes

“Many boys will bring you flowers. But someday you'll meet a boy who will learn your favorite flower, your favorite song, your favorite sweet. And even if he is too poor to give you any of them, it won't matter because he will have taken the time to know you as no one else does. Only that boy earns your heart.”
― Leigh Bardugo, Six of Crows

tags: leigh-bardugo, six-of-crows

7333 likes

“I would have come for you. And if I couldn't walk, I'd crawl to you, and no matter how broken we were, we'd fight our way out together-knives drawn, pistols blazing. Because that's what we do. We never stop fighting.”
― Leigh Bardugo, Crooked Kingdom

tags: crooked-kingdom, inej-ghafa, kaz-brekker, six-of-crows

9052 likes

“I wasn't aware that words could hold so much. I didn't know a sentence could be so full.”
― Delia Owens, Where the Crawdads Sing

1321 likes

“Jesper knocked his head against the hull and cast his eyes heavenward. “Fine. But if Pekka Rollins kills us all, I’m going to get Wylan’s ghost to teach my ghost how to play the flute just so that I can annoy the hell out of your ghost.”
Brekker’s lips quirked. “I’ll just hire Matthias’ ghost to kick your ghost’s ass.”
“My ghost won’t associate with your ghost,” Matthias said primly, and then wondered if the sea air was rotting his brain.”
― Leigh Bardugo, Six of Crows

tags: funny, ghost, jesper, six-of-crows

4203 likes

“Kaz leaned back. "What's the easiest way to steal a man's wallet?"
"Knife to the throat?" asked Inej.
"Gun to the back?" said Jesper.
"Poison in his cup?" suggested Nina.
"You're all horrible," said Matthias.”
― Leigh Bardugo, Six of Crows

6384 likes

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