Crown of Midnight By: Sarah J. Maas

source

• Title: Crown of Midnight (Throne of Glass #2)
• Author: Sarah J. Maas
• Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Children's
• Publication Date:  August 27, 2013 
• Pages: 413
• Genre: Fantasy/YA
• Recommended Age(s): 13+
• First Read: 2017
• Source: Library 
• Rating: 5.0 / 5.0 stars

Celaena Sardothien is the land's most feared assassin- and now she is serving as the King's Champion as well. And although she is a trained killer, Celaena has not taken the life of any of the men the king has sent her to kill. Instead, she plays a dangerous game, playing the part of a loyal assassin while all the while trying to discover the king's secret agenda. After a night filled with the terrible truths of the secrets swirling around her, Celaena must decide what to do in the face of her greatest challenge yet.

---

Oh. My. Gosh. I am absolutely reeling at everything that has just happened and even as I write this, I don't think I've completely processed everything yet. This was so good; who says sequels aren't as good as the original? I finished this in record time and all the intense action and information in this book made for a very quick read.

I think my favorite part about this book is seeing how much Celaena grows in such a short amount of time. I also loved how much we get to see just how badass she really is. One thing's for sure- I sure don't want to get on Celaena's bad side! I've loved Celaena from the moment I realized she loved books just as much as I did, and as I've gotten to know her better, I see how much she reminds me of myself- just you know, without the whole assassin thing going. I also really like this book because it depicts Celaena as capable of making her own, rational decisions without some guy clouding her feelings from what she really needed to do. Don't get me wrong- I fell in love with both Chaol and Dorian (and may have teared up a bit at *certain* scenes) but the focus of the series isn't solely on some lovelorn teenager who sacrifices everything for some guy.

The action was so intense and Celaena delivered on all those promises she made in the first book. And in this book, I can't think of anything I didn't particularly like. I know this is a fantasy novel and everything, but I kept wishing that I was half as athletic as she was. I also liked learning a bit more about Celaena's past, even though some of what I learned tore me apart.

And man, this book gave me feelings and made me gasp out loud at some of the background information that I got. I certainly didn't see that twist coming- that's all I'm going to say. And right after writing this, I'm diving right into the third book to see what comes out of all information that was revealed. I simply cannot wait.

Throne of Glass By: Sarah J. Maas

source

• Title: Throne of Glass (Throne of Glass #1)
• Author: Sarah J. Maas
• Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Children's
• Publication Date:  May 7, 2013
• Pages: 404
• Genre: Fantasy/ YA
• Recommended Age(s): 13 +
• First Read: 2017
• Source: Library
• Rating: 4.0 / 5.0 stars

In a land filled with the whispered remnants of magic and a king who will do anything to smash those who stand in his way, an assassin dwells. Celaena Sardothien, the land's most notorious assassin, has spent the past year as a slave laborer until she is summoned to the castle. If Celaena becomes the King's Champion at the end of the competition, she will win her freedom. But as a mysterious creature starts killing the other competitors, Celaena must not only win against her adversaries but also against the darker evil lurking just beneath the shining castle facade.

---

When someone recommended this book to me, I wasn't sure about it since I usually don't gravitate towards fantasy books. But man, am I glad I gave this baby a chance because it was such a thrill to read!

So, I like Celaena, which, from reading other people's reviews, is not a *common* thing I guess. She's self-assured of herself, albeit more than a tad bit arrogant, incredibly smart, and does not put up with anyone's shenanigans. She also loves pretty clothes and food, but to be honest, who doesn't? It's so refreshing to read about such a complex character who does what she has to so she can survive and isn't totally caught in the throes of ~following her heart~ to the point that she makes dumb decisions. She isn't apologetic for who she is, and she is so strong- both mentally and physically. I love her.

I also liked this book because it has a pretty unique premise, and I liked immersing myself in Celaena's world. The whole love triangle with Chaol and Dorian and Celaena was cute I guess, but I like how Celaena didn't lose her head for the most part between the two guys. She always knew her own freedom was more important, and that some guy wasn't going to hand that to her. She had to work for it herself.

I didn't give this book five stars because, while I loved it by the end, it was a bit of a slow start. In the beginning, I felt that I was missing a huge chunk of information and felt like I was reading a book in the middle of the series instead of the first book. I was also a little annoyed how repetitively Celaena was referred to as "the assassin," which I know- that's what she is, but it was hackneyed to death as a pronoun for her.

I'm so excited to read the second book and see what Celaena does next! I know I'm pretty late to the TOG bandwagon, but I'm not going to get off until the very end.

Midnighters: Blue Noon By: Scott Westerfeld

source

• Title: Blue Noon (Midnighters #3)
• Author: Scott Westerfeld
• Publisher: Eos
• Publication Date:  February 28, 2006
• Pages: 378
• Genre: YA/ Sci-Fi
• Recommended Age(s): 13+
• First Read: 2014
• Source: Purchase
• Rating: 4.0 / 5.0 stars

For the Midnighters, the secret hour has always come at, well, midnight. However, the secret hour suddenly comes sweeping in the middle of the school day turning the cacophony of noise into blissful silence. The Midnighters soon discover that the barrier between the blue time and normal time is weakening. The creatures of the night are hungry after centuries of being confined to one hour of the day, and Jess and her friends must find a way to stop midnight from engulfing them all.

---

I have so many conflicted feelings towards this book, and I don't know how I'll ever reconcile them all together. It was an exciting book, and I loved how none of the action stalled. There was a lot more running around, considering midnight is no longer confined to its traditional time. I also liked how Rex and everyone else began to question their sources and really begin to think for themselves, rather than blindly following in other people's footsteps. This made them grow as characters and gave a greater three-dimensionality to them.

However, I definitely have feelings on how the series ended. Like, excuse me, Mr. Westerfeld, are you going to leave us hanging like that? I think an epilogue to the epilogue should happen at least so that we know what happens to everyone and all the loose ends are tied up. But at the same time, the ending gets kind of tricky, so I see how writing anything to follow up the series could be a challenge. It's bittersweet, so maybe that's why I'm slightly upset; I'm a sucker for happy endings but I understand that with a series like this, entirely happy endings would not have fit the story.

This final book is worth a read and is one of those books you may or may not throw at the wall a couple times or so. It's another quick read, and one sure to keep you up long past the secret hour has passed!

Midnighters: Touching Darkness By: Scott Westerfeld

source

• Title: Touching Darkness (Midnighters #2) 
• Author: Scott Westerfeld
• Publisher: Eos
• Publication Date:  March 1, 2005 
• Pages: 336
• Genre: YA/ Sci-Fi
• Recommended Age(s): 13+
• First Read: 2014
• Source: Library 
• Rating: 3.5 / 5.0 stars

Ever since finding out about Bixby Oklahoma's secret hour, Jess and her friends have been quite busy fighting off the creatures of the night. For a long time, the Midnighters have wondered why the generation before them disappeared without a trace. During their search, they encounter horrors worse than anything they could have ever imagined, and a secret more horrifiying than the creatures itself. With time running out, an extra hour may not even be enough to save the Midnighters even as they race to solve the puzzle.

---

After powering through the first Midnighters, I was super excited to start this one. Again, I read this one in practically one sitting, late into the wee hours of the morning. While still interesting, it was definitely more slow paced than the first volume and was filled with a lot more teenage ~angst~ compounded with super powers, naturally. I still enjoyed this book, and was thoroughly and appropriately creeped out at the *big* reveal that the whole plot centered on, but I couldn't help but feel that this book fell into the dreaded "middle child" syndrome where the first book outshone it a lot more and everyone's attention was already focused towards the anticipated final installment.

I was also a lot more annoyed at the characters in this book, particularly Melissa's, Rex's, and Dess' relationship. Honestly guys- you two have amazing super powers- would it kill you to communicate a little more? I did like all the information I found out from all their separate adventures, so I guess that's a plus. I do wish the book was longer though; there is so much more information that could have helped to flesh out the world more and honestly, I just couldn't get enough of Blue Time.

This book got its job done and set up the final installment, so I guess I can't complain about that. While it felt ironically rushed at times, yet slow in others, I am still fully immersed in the world of the Midnighters and cannot wait to see what happens next. I'll probably be found reading in some corner, curled up in my blanket, devouring this book series.

Midnighters: The Secret Hour By: Scott Westerfeld

source

• Title: The Secret Hour (Midnighters #1)
• Author: Scott Westerfeld
• Publisher: Eos
• Publication Date:  March 1, 2005 
• Pages: 383
• Genre: YA/ Sci-Fi
• Recommended Age(s): 13+
• First Read: 2014
• Source: Purchase  
• Rating: 4.5 / 5.0 stars

Bixby, Oklahoma seems like a sleepy town in the middle of nowhere. But looks can be deceiving, as Jess Day finds out upon moving there. Soon, she discovers that Bixby's time hides a secret hour filled with both wonder and terror. Along with others who share special abilities, Jessica and her friends must find out why the creatures that haunt the secret hour have suddenly become restless and are on the mission to hunt down Jessica and her friends.

---

I love this book series and whole heartedly think it is one of the under appreciated gems of YA literature. The premise is so original and interesting that I finished this book in one sitting, sacrificing my sleep for the sake of finding all I could about this secret extra hour of the day. I loved how this book was fast-paced and full of sci-fi action. It was also a little spooky, and to be honest I caught myself snuggling down in my covers and listening for unfamiliar sounds as I read late into the night.

The cast of characters was also really enjoyable; none of them are "perfect" in any sense and I liked that because it made them all relatable. I mean, as relatable as they could be while having kick ass super powers, you know? While Jess is supposed to be the main character, I found myself cheering on Dess the most because she reminded me a bit of myself and had a lot of the abilities I wish I was better at. All the others were all fascinating in their own ways too, and I loved getting to know them.

This book got me out of my reading slump and I was on the edge of my seat for the entirety of it. I can't wait to read the rest of the series and delve more into the world of the Midnighters. As much sleep as I lost reading this book, I sure would benefit from having that extra hour in the day to catch up on some snoozing!

Heartless By: Marissa Meyer

source

• Title: Heartless
• Author: Marissa Meyer
• Publisher: Feiwel and Friends
• Publication Date:  November 28, 2016
• Pages: 453
• Genre: Fantasy
• Recommended Age(s): 13+
• First Read: 2017
• Source: Library 
• Rating: 4.5 / 5.0 stars

Catherine has stolen the heart- and the stomach- of the King of Hearts, but would love nothing more than to forget him and open her own bakery. Until she meets Jest, the mysterious, witty, and wonderfully refreshing court Jester. The two enter a whirling romance at the risk of her parents, and the king's, wrath. However, as it is in Wonderland, not everything is as it seems- and it seems that fate has other plans for her. 

---

This book. Wow. I greatly enjoyed Marissa Meyer's writing in The Lunar Chronicles, so I picked up her new book excited for the ride I was about to take. And man, was I right!

This book follows the origin story, per say, of The Queen of Hearts, and it starts out nice and soft-frothy even, and I fell in love with many of the characters right away, enjoying the whimsy of it all. This book was also filled with descriptions of scrumptious sounding food, so that maaaaay have helped a bit. The fantasy also reminded me of the whimsy I loved so much in The Night Circus, though both novels end up having their own brand of magic. However, as the story progresses, it becomes very dark, very fast, and I absolutely adored this book for that. This book is a tragedy- a beautiful, emotionally writhing mess of feelings- and I wouldn't have it any other way.

What I think I loved most about this book was the balance it had between familiarity and unfamiliarity. I have never read the original Alice in Wonderland books, and have had lukewarm feelings towards the Disney versions, but this world was still highly recognizable, while still bringing in a new twist. Even if you have read the Alice books, you wouldn't necessarily know what is going on because Meyer still brings in fresh characters that seem wonderfully at home in this setting. (ha- see what I did there?) There is a very Victorian setting amid all of this, with the lovely overtones of female oppression, and Catherine is not having any of it by the end.

I loved the characters in this book because, while they seemed a motley bunch at first, they all contain complexities and grow within the course of the novel. I loved the Jester and Raven in particular, with their wit, and Chesire with his trademark sass. They balance out the encroaching darkness of this book and the madness that pervades the edges of the novel- until even they cannot do anything about it.

So whether you're looking for madness, or you're already mad, this book will not disappoint. You'll find yourself in good company because we're all mad in here.

The Night Circus By: Erin Morgernstern

source

• Title: The Night Circus
• Author: Erin Morgenstern
• Publisher: Doubleday
• Publication Date:  September 13, 2011
• Pages: 387
• Genre: Fantasy
• Recommended Age(s): 13+
• First Read: 2016
• Source: Library 
• Rating: 5.0 / 5.0 stars

The circus arrives without fanfare, or any warning at all. Yet at night it transforms into a spectacle filled with magic and mystery for all to behold. At the center of the circus are the performers, from the contortionists to the acrobats, to the curious red-haired twins who have called the circus home all their lives. The most interesting performer of all however is an illusionist, an unassuming girl-Celia Bowen. She has been chosen to play a game fraught with magic that spans continents and decades. Her adversary? Marco, the boy she cannot help but feel complete with. When the two of them realize that their game's outcome affects everyone in the circus, they must find a way to save everyone and everything they know...or risk the unimaginable consequences.

---

I went into this book completely blind after picking it up on a whim, so I didn't know what to expect. And wow. Wow. Wow. Any vague inklings I ever had about what this book was supposed to be was blown out of the water.  This book has honestly become one of my favorite books because of how the book just immersed me in the story. After I finished reading this book I had to take a few moments to compose myself because I was a roiling tub of emotions...and even a couple days later, I still can't fully process all the feelings...ugh...feelings.

Throughout the entire time I was reading this book, I felt like I was in a dream because the words danced so delicately on the page and painted pictures in my head full of magic. The writing was ethereal and the atmosphere made me feel heady with excitement and mystery and intrigue...it was seductive. I've read a lot of books in my life, but I've honestly read anything like this book because though the circus was the center point of the novel, I got to explore so much more without really trying. With such a simple plot, this book sure made me fall headlong into some very complex feelings about the characters and question some things about my own world.

I think this is one of those hidden gems that not many people would pick up originally because of the premise...a fantasy novel based in Victorian times. It's exactly up my alley, but not so much for others, so I hope that people leave any misconceptions they have about this book at the door because picking up this book was seriously one of the best decisions I have ever made. I was wrapped up in a dream the entire time I was reading this book and I didn't want it to end.

Dreams of Gods and Monsters By: Laini Taylor

source

• Title: Dreams of Gods and Monsters (Daughter of Smoke and Bone #3)
• Author: Laini Taylor
• Publisher: Little, Brown and Co.
• Publication Date:  April 8, 2014
• Pages: 613
• Genre: Fantasy/YA
• Recommended Age(s): 13+
• First Read: 2016
• Source: Library
• Rating: 4.5 / 5.0 stars

Karou and her friends have accomplished much, but there is still so much left to be done, especially since Jael and his army are about to invade Earth. To save both Eretz and Earth, Karou and Akiva must struggle to unite centuries-old enemies in a parody of their long-ago dream for a new world. 

As storylines converge, destinies entwine, and fates collide, Karou and Akiva must realize that there is more at stake than they know...and that a power more terrifying than anything they can hope to imagine is only a breath away from destroying their fragile existence. Transcending worlds, defying fate, and overcoming the fixed definitions of good and evil, of right and wrong, Karou, Akiva, and their friends fight the true monsters: those within.

---

This was a rollercoaster, a funhouse mirror, and a wonderful carousel ride all encased in a wonderful package. I was enchanted by the different storylines that converged beautifully at the end as I found out where everyone fit- like starting a puzzle thinking it was one thing, but in when you finished it, realizing it was something different- and way better- than you ever imagined it to be.

My favorite character in this book was Eliza because I didn't expect her storyline at all and was presently surprised at all the barriers she broke and her general badassery in this book. To quote Karou: "she's a pretty cool chick." Also, even though Karou and Akiva are clearly the main characters, I was more in love with Zuzana and Mik's relationship because it was just so sweet. Also Liraz...I am Liraz when dealing with emotions honestly and I just love her character development, from being incredibly unsure of her emotions to being able to accept them.

The plot was stellar; like I said, everything converged in this beautiful way that made sense in retrospect yet you couldn't see coming because of the possibilities. Combined with Taylor's always poetic writing with a splash of sarcasm and liberal amounts of wit, it was a perfect read. This one of those books that I thought about even when I wasn't reading it; I would catch myself thinking of the plot and characters when I was idly daydreaming and as a result would immediately want to get back to reading.  I was really sad when this series ended because it had been a while since I had a good series to sink my teeth into and this really hit the spot. I guess it's time to find another great series now...

Lady Midnight by Cassandra Clare

source

• Title: Lady Midnight (Dark Artifices #1)
• Author: Cassandra Clare
• Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry
• Publication Date:  March 8, 2016
• Pages: 668
• Genre: YA/Fantasy
• Recommended Age(s): 13+
• First Read: 2016
• Source: Purchase
• Rating: 4.5 / 5.0 stars

It has been five years since the Great War and Emma Carstairs is no longer a child. She is a capable shadowhunter who has been obsessed with finding out who or what really killed her parents all those years ago and is constantly on patrol to fight off the demons that dare to disturb her beloved city of Los Angeles.

However, since the Dark War, tensions with the faeries have been escalating to almost unimaginable heights. When dead faeries are discovered with the same markings that covered Emma's dead parents five years ago, Emma and the Blackthorns embark on an investigation that takes them from the depths of the ocean to the bowels of humanity.

---

I cannot even begin to explain how excited I was for this book, and how even more excited I was when it was everything I hoped it was and more. I fell in love with Emma Carstairs and her parabatai Julian, as well as the entire Blackthorn family. It was like being welcomed back into a world that I had left for a while, but when I returned, I found that just enough had changed to keep everything interesting. I really liked the fact that five years have passed so that all the characters have had time to grow up a little bit from when we last left them. It gave an air of maturity to the characters, especially since I had first met Emma and Julian when they were only 12 years old.

My favorite aspect of this book was the fact that it included my all-time favorite poem interwoven into the plot (which I won't tell you, because of possible spoilers!). The plot itself was familiar a sense, yet it still kept you guessing, which made me read this almost 700 page book in two days-yup-I got sucked in again! I also really liked that I felt my familiar rollercoaster of emotions that only happens when I'm reading something really good. There is a greater amount of diversity of characters in this book too-if you can get any more diverse than the world already is, I guess. Shadowhunters are represented in a more human way, I felt like I connected with the characters more because of that.

If I did have any qualms about this book though, I felt as if though the twists and turns barely masked the all-too familiar plot that had already been explored in the other two Shadowhunter series. But I was willing to overlook this fact because I am a sucker for this entire world and anything new I can find out about the characters always gets me excited. If you are one of those people who get bored after a while, I might suggest taking a break from this book, but if you love the shadow world just as much as I do, then by all means, please come back!

For fans of the other books within the Shadowhunters universe, don't worry; all of your favorite characters make a cameo (some more than others) and everything is just perfect and lovely and I can't control my emotions even though it's been a couple days since I have read this book.

Never Let Me Go By: Kazuo Ishiguro

source

• Title: Never Let Me Go
• Author: Kazuo Ishiguro
• Publisher: Vintage Books
• Publication Date: August 31, 2010
• Pages: 288
• Genre: Fiction
• Recommended Age: 16+
• First Read: 2015
• Source: Purchase
• Rating: 3.5 / 5.0

I have started this review over and over again because I just couldn't find the right words to describe this ethereal, dreamy mess that I love and hate at the same time.

I know that a lot of people start this book not knowing what to think because the blurb completely misleads the reader into thinking there is nothing but normalcy in this novel. But if the plot was "normal" then why would Ishiguro have written about it then?

The truth is, this novel is more about the author's exploration of morality in the human race than anything else because he gives these three characters-Kathy, Ruth, and Tommy- an inescapable fate. I do not want to give too much away in terms of the plot because I think that it is important that people do not know the true intentions of the novel because it adds to the experience when the reader discovers what it is all about.

All I have to say is that I experienced a roller coaster of emotions with this book because I did not know exactly how to feel at any given time, despair being the overarching theme in this novel. And though it was horribly depressing at times, the book was masterfully written and Ishiguro never had to over describe everything to get his point cross.

I did not give this book a five star rating or even the four star rating because I felt like it left too many unanswered questions that could have cleared the plot up a little bit. Although I suppose it was the author's intention to leave to those details ambiguous to explore the human psyche, it still would have been nice. But it was beautifully written, albeit a bit slow at times, and I do recommend reading this book to have a unique experience.

Note about the movie: It features Andrew Garfield and Kiera Knightly and completely diverges from the original plot, but it was, like this book itself, quite an experience unto itself.

Hamlet By: William Shakespeare

source

• Title: Hamlet
• Author: William Shakespeare
• Publisher: Riverhead Books by Penguin Group
• Publication Date: April 15, 2003
• Pages: 352
• Genre: Fiction/Play
• Recommended Age: 13+
• First Read: 2015
• Source: Purchase 
• Rating: 3.5 / 5.0 stars

Hamlet, Abridged:

  

HAMLET: My daddy's dead. And I don't like my stepdad/ uncle.
  

DEAD KING HAMLET: Go kill your uncle.

HAMLET. Should I? I should. No, I shouldn't. I should. I shouldn't.

GERTRUDE: Love your new dad and get over your actual dad's death.

HAMLET: I hate all of you. And I think I'm going to go to crazy town.

POLONIUS: blah blah blah. *death*

OPHELIA: Hammmlleeettt. Love meee. Or I'll go crazy.

HAMLET: Too late. You're crazy, I'm crazy, everyone's crazy...and dead.

LAERTES: Imma challenge you to a duel because that's what we do here. And think of three ways to kill you.

CLAUDIUS: Let's put some poison in wine and forget to label it right.

HAMLET: Ahhhh let's all fight!

GERTRUDE: Oooh. I love poisoned wine. *death*

LAERTES: *killed with his own poisoned sword*

CLAUDIUS: Yum. Wine. Oops. *dead*.

HAMLET: Well, are you happy now Dad? *also dies*

HORATIO: Where'd everyone go?

[All Exuent]

This is my third Shakespeare play to read, courtesy of my school's required reading list.

I read the No Fear Version (as pictured) which shows the original play on the left side and a translated version on the right side that reflects today's language, which I recommend for people who may have a little trouble adjusting to Shakespearean language. I definitely benefited from this because I was able to clarify some bits that I did not completely understand. I also liked it because there were helpful tidbits that explained the history and context of some of the things said in the play that may not have translated to today's audiences.

As a whole, this was an interesting play to read, especially witnessing Hamlet's fall into insanity. I laughed at Hamlet's wit and sarcasm because there is just something so likable about a character that is able to play with words so easily. And though I found Hamlet's ability with words enjoyable, I did not particularly enjoy the way he treated Ophelia. Which is, I know, purposeful on Shakespeare's part, but can you really blame Ophelia for what she did? She was a pawn in a greater game (well, you can make the argument that they all were, which is true) and did little to deserve her fate.

Ophelia is one of my favorite characters, but my absolute favorite was actually the gravedigger, who is only in the play for one act. And the fact that he is such an insignificant character in the grand scheme of things makes me like him a lot more because Shakespeare makes a point in giving him some of the most profound lines in he play. By doing this, Shakespeare gets the point across that sometimes the most interesting thoughts come not from the rich, but from the common man.
The grave digger is the only one who is able to match wits with Hamlet and even outsmarts him in word play sometimes. I also liked this particular scene because it gets the point across that everyone is equal in death- that we all return to dust and it does not matter who we are in life if we all end up in the same place. Which is a little morbid, I know, but is also very thought provoking.

My least favorite part about this play was Hamlet's relationship with his mother because I think that he is waaayyy too interested in her marital affairs, if you know what I mean. It just was not right. There is a deeper significance to that and everything, but it was still disconcerting.

I also did not like Hamlet's indecisiveness, which the entire play is built on. Make up your mind Hamlet! It takes the death of four people before Hamlet actually makes up his mind to go kill his Uncle. Which, if Hamlet wanted to kill the guy in the first place, should not have taken that long to decide.

Hamlet my friend, you are a special guy.

source

And if you guys are just too lazy to read all of Hamlet's sassyness, then just watch The Lion King. But read the play too, it's one heck of a ride!

The Kite Runner By: Khaled Hosseini

source

• Title: The Kite Runner
• Author: Khaled Hosseini
• Publisher: Riverhead Books 
• Publication Date: March 5, 2013 (10th Anniversary Edition) 
• Pages: 400
• Genre: Fiction
• Recommended Ages: 13+
• First Read: 2013
• Source: Goodreads Giveaway
• Rating: 5.0 / 5.0 stars

The Kite Runner is a gut-wrenchingly amazing book that gave me a picture of Afghanistan that I did not know existed until reading this book. The plot was achingly spectacular and I became emotionally attached to each and every single character who graced the pages. This book is so much more than just a story about two boys growing up in Afghanistan, but a complex tale of friendship, love, loyalty, integrity, and family.

For you, a thousand times over. 

So haunting, so mesmerizing, so tragic.

Amir and Hassan grow up together in Afghanistan in the late sixties and mid seventies, when there was still a monarchy running the government. Amir is the son of a prominent man who is well known and respected throughout the community, and Amir is an affluent child. Hassan, though Amir never outright tells him, is undeniably his best and only friend, and also his servant. The two boys share a bond that starts in the womb and though they, as children are different social classes, they still become inseparable. The two boys' personalities are complex, with Amir being a bit of a coward, as he calls himself, while Hassan is infinitely braver (as Amir thinks) and a loyal friend to no end.

An incident that happens during the winter of 1975 during a kite festival changes Amir and Hassan's entire relationship. Amir is too cowardly to come to Hassan's aid, and as a result, Hassan is never the same again. The guilt that Amir carried was far to great for him to handle, and in desperation, rids himself of the cause of his grief by tearing apart his life.

Not long after that, Afghanistan itself starts getting into turmoil, and the country is never the same again. Amir grows up in America after fleeing his native Afghanistan and lives there for over two decades, suffering his own trials and tribulations while Hassan is almost always in the back of his mind.

Hassan is not introduced again until much later, when Amir gets summons to return to his roots by an old friend. What Amir learns about Hassan, himself, and his whole life changes everything. To make things right again, Amir agrees to look for Hassan's only child and bring him to Pakistan. This is not an easy task, and Sohrab is as much a tortured soul as his father and Amir.

The ending of this book is filled with tragedy as well as a bittersweet, hopeful moment that shows that there might be hope out there. For everyone.


Words cannot fully describe how haunting this book was; it just so beautifully crafted and powerful. Khaled Hosseini gives us all a window into the soul of Afghanistan and its resiliently complex people.