Mia > Recent Status Updates

The cult thing is actually a really interesting plot development ngl. I feel like I’ve suspected every character at some point and now I don’t think it’s any of them? That call back to a random conversation in book one was interesting and unexpected (has this series been plotted out from the beginning or is this a retcon??) but I don’t like how the memory just suddenly came to her in a dream. A bit contrived

This is turning into quite a convoluted mystery. But Cassie has zero input into anything…just make it a third-person book, rather than having her just ‘sense’ everything everyone’s thinking! I will say this book is better than the second in the series but it’s still too caught up in teenage angst to let the actually interesting parts have a chance to shine

After reading The Last Graduate with an incredible main character with a completely unique voice and complexity, I’m reminded about how boring of a 1st person narrator Cassie is. I love YA mysteries and all, but out of the ones I’ve read, The Naturals feels like the most teenagery of all. At times it feels so dumbed down for kids but then it’ll describe criminal behaviour in detail like the tone’s all off

The pacing is giving me whiplash omg. Like the chapters are like three pages each with scenes coming and going so quickly. We’re with Cassie’s family, her distant dad shows up, there’s a lead in her mum’s case, she gets on a plane to Vegas, is told the details of a new case, is confused about Sloane’s behaviour, and then that mystery of her half-brother is solved…it hasn’t even been 60 pages yet!!!!

One more chapter to go…graduation itself! Honestly *that* scene kinda icked me out and sort of killed my intense enjoyment…other than that scene, I’ve had such a great reading day filled with laughs and tears! Wanted to finish it but couldn’t bring myself to stay up any later to read the last 34 pages

Yep still good. Getting better if anything. The side characters are so much more developed in this book than the first! Omg that bonding moment with Aadhya talking about her dead sister being replaced by El herself…teared up!! Such a great low moment for El to have before moving onto the next act of the book. Sad to only have 99 pages to go of this new fave book!!

I just…I don’t know what else to say about this book other than I love it so much!! I’m literally laughing out loud at parts. This writing voice is so strong omg. El is such a well developed, complex character. I know the style might be a bit off putting for people, what with the stream of consciousness exposition and lack of actual plot or even much dialogue, but I’m actually really vibing with it tbh

I’m actually throughly enjoying this book so much like the writing style isn’t as grating to me as the start of the first book because I understand the world already. So nice to return to the Scholomance and back to the mind of El Higgins! It’s actually so funny too. A book that I actually want to return back to unlike the last few books I’ve read…to go from absolute boredom in Shift to this is hilarious

I can’t deal with this book any longerrrrrr. I’ve read the same event in the past timeline about the day Max and Clara died over and over, just from different viewpoints that offer nothing new. The pacing is so off with these flashbacks added in while Marlowe is trying to escape a burning building. There’s no tension or drive to keep reading because the writing is so distanced from it all

This is the least thrilling mystery I’ve ever read. I’ve gone from being kind of indifferent about it to being bored by it to now actually just straight up disliking it. I’ve had to spoil it for myself and not even the reveals are shocking enough to make me more intrigued. Marlowe is the wrong protagonist for this book I’m afraid. And that reveal of Max’s killer is literally the worst reveal in the world!!

This is actually so boring what? I’m so sad! Even now that we’ve got an actual disappearance to solve, it’s still not hooking me in. Can’t bring myself to pick this up and read much

Yeah…this is definitely not Johnson’s best book. There’s aspects of what could be a great story here but the actual reading experience for me has been uncharacteristically boring for a young adult mystery of this style. I’m worried about how rushed everything will inevitably be, since this is a standalone and I’m almost halfway and there’s still no sign of an actual plot or mystery to solve

The vibes are great, the setting is great, and the writing is great, as expected from a Maureen Johnson book. But so far, the story just really isn’t hooking me in. Nothing mysterious at all yet. Even the characters don’t quite feel as strong as the ones in Truly Devious (or they’re just a copy of one that already existed in that series lol). Maybe I’m just in a bad reading slump

So I don’t wanna speak too soon but this is eerily similar to Truly Devious. I know that’s the point, Johnson sticking to what her readers like, but it’s still weird. Ellingham Academy = Morning House. Albert = Phillip. Frankie = Clara. Dr Fenton = Dr Henson. Dual timeline with the mystery from the 1930s and present day teens in 2020s. There’s lots of repetitive exposition atm and no sign of a mystery yet

IM BALLING MY EYES OUT NO NO NO NOOOOOO THAT TIEN FLASHBACK…IT WAS WORSE THAN JUST READING A PRESENT TIMELINE DEATH SCENE. THAT WAS ABSOLUTELY PERFECTLY STRUCTURED AND PLACED WITHIN THE STORY. AND TO THINK I WAS WORRIED WE WOULDNT GET ANYMORE FLASHBACKS FROM KALADIN…LITERALLY CRYING MY HEART OUT THAT WAS TOO MUCHHHHHH. THE FINAL SMILE! THE INNOCENCE! THE REACTION! THE HUG! FANART IS MAKING THIS PAINFULLLLLLLL

Literally read for 12 hours today totalling 77 pages…only 141 pages left to go! This Sanderlanche is going to be pushed really close to the end, isn’t it? It still feels like we’re setting things up in the middle of the book, not 1000 pages in, near the end!! I definitely prefer the moments of character exploration or one on one dialogue scenes in Part Four…I struggle with the battle action scenes tbh

For the last few days I’ve literally done nothing other than reading this book. Obviously I’m an inherently slow reader because of my slow processing speed so I’m just pacing myself through chunks. I seriously can’t stop smiling and getting all giddy about this book, it’s just so much better than I was ever expecting. Can’t wait for the Sanderlanche!

Part Four here we goooooo!!!! Still in disbelief that I’ve got over 300 pages to go despite being past the 800 page mark lollll. I’ll miss Shallan for this part, but I’m excited to get back to Dalinar’s story!

OKAY OKAY after a slight bump, we are now so back. Things are happening guys!! Omg I’m actually loving this book so surprisingly much. TIEN!!!! THAT FLASHBACK!! Ahhh I knew it was coming but the moment itself made me tear up! And also the Shadesmar chapter with Shallan was sooo cool?! Like an entire chase sequence through drawings?! And the Soulcasting! Yayyyy! Ahhhh can’t wait to see where this all heads next!!

Finding myself much more compelled to keep picking this up throughout the day. Still loving Kaladin’s character arc, especially with the flashbacks. The found family of Bridge Four is increasingly heartwarming. Shallan’s back now but I’m not finding her as interesting as she was in Part One. Her dialogue with Jasnah can feel quite unrealistic and way too philosophical lol. Lots of dwelling on morality

Suddenly I’m flying through this book (relatively, for me). Shallan’s chapters are a nice change from the male-centric battlefield on the Shattered Plains, although they’re definitely a bit overly philosophical and have unnatural dialogue. Idk. Still like them tho. That highstorm scene with Kaladin preparing for his death actually made me emotional! Really intrigued by the secrets of Roshar being hinted at now

Well, it's been a while and I was in a bit of a slump (also been a bit busy), but now Part Two, including the second Interludes, is done. Ended up reading 80 pages in two days after struggling to get through more than 10 pages each session this month. As much as the royal warfare/politics plot kinda bored me, I'm really sad that Dalinar won't be around until about page 800 in Part Four! Love his arc so far!

How am I only on page 400 ahhhhh still over 700 to go…it’s not like it’s a drag or anything and I am actually enjoying my time with it, it’s just that it’s hard to get though many pages at a time for me because the eye strain gives me migraines which make me unable to process the information quickly so I spend a long time reading each page. I think I need to break it up with a shorter book soon

I’m gonna be honest, I get a bit lost in most of the Kholin family chapters with the talks of religion and politics and stuff. But that chapter with Dalinar’s vision?? Loved it so much! I hope we get more of those moments, and I’m really loving the mystery element this adds to the story! And I’m liking Kaladin’s flashbacks more than his actual current day story…I’m getting sick of the battlefield tbh

I’m loving the flashback scenes of Kaladin when he was younger! Tien is adorable, I’m not ready to find out how and why he died…I really like Kaladin’s progression as a character and his story in general, but I struggle to get though his chapters with Bridge Four stuff & the actual battle scenes/bridge runs. I like where it’s going with him trying to find a sense of purpose, just struggling with the action

The Dalinar/Adolin POV chapters are really way too long, but I’m enjoying their dynamic and exploring the world from a ‘royal’ perspective! I feel like it’s rare to have characters in high fantasy stories to have alive parents who are actually around, let alone love them and are proud of them. Also the chasmfiend scene was kinda hard to visually follow but that ending with Dalinar catching the claw? Epic!!

Onto part two officially after reading the first set of interludes. Loved how they expand upon the world with short vignette scenes without turning the stories into major additional subplots to have to follow. Just short and sweet moments to take a break from the main characters’ lives while adding to the lore of the world of Roshar as a whole (i.e. makes it feel more wide and real rather than narrow)

Finished part 1! Enjoying the story so far. Liking the writing. Struggling at times to wrap my head around the world building but that’s a me problem not a book problem. I’m sad than Shallan isn’t in part 2 and that the next time we hear from her is around page 500! The Veil setting really intrigued me. I hope that it doesn’t start getting too war-heavy now…I also want more Soulcasting action!

Reading this book is exhausting!! It’s also incredibly heavy and hard to hold properly so half the time I’m repositioning my grip rather than reading lol. I’m reading at a very very slow pace, even by my standards. The actual story has been pretty intriguing so far! Much better writing than Mistborn. Also so descriptive and imaginative. Not far in at all but interested enough in the world of Roshar atm!

So I’ve officially started this mammoth of a book! I’ve gotten through all the prologues and the first official chapter. I’ve accepted that it’s gonna take me a really long time to read so I’m not stressing myself out trying to get lots read each day. Especially in these early stages with lots of world building. Liking the writing a lot more than Mistborn so far! Spren and magic system sound interesting!