Because You Love to Hate Me Review + Giveaway

Because You Love to Hate Me
By Ameriie and Various Authors

Synopsis:

Leave it to the heroes to save the world--villains just want to rule the world.

In this unique YA anthology, thirteen acclaimed, bestselling authors team up with thirteen influential BookTubers to reimagine fairy tales from the oft-misunderstood villains' points of view.

These fractured, unconventional spins on classics like "Medusa," Sherlock Holmes, and "Jack and the Beanstalk" provide a behind-the-curtain look at villains' acts of vengeance, defiance, and rage--and the pain, heartbreak, and sorrow that spurned them on. No fairy tale will ever seem quite the same again!

Featuring writing from . . .

Authors: Renée Ahdieh, Ameriie, Soman Chainani, Susan Dennard, Sarah Enni, Marissa Meyer, Cindy Pon, Victoria Schwab, Samantha Shannon, Adam Silvera, Andrew Smith, April Genevieve Tucholke, and Nicola Yoon

BookTubers: Benjamin Alderson (Benjaminoftomes), Sasha Alsberg (abookutopia), Whitney Atkinson (WhittyNovels), Tina Burke (ChristinaReadsYA blog and TheLushables), Catriona Feeney (LittleBookOwl), Jesse George (JessetheReader), Zoë Herdt (readbyzoe), Samantha Lane (Thoughts on Tomes), Sophia Lee (thebookbasement), Raeleen Lemay (padfootandprongs07), Regan Perusse (PeruseProject), Christine Riccio (polandbananasBOOKS), and Steph Sinclair & Kat Kennedy (Cuddlebuggery blog and channel). 

My Thoughts:

Overall, the anthology got an average of 4 stars from me. I don’t read a lot of anthologies as they aren’t really my thing, but I had a blast reading this one. Some stories were better than others, but it was all pretty good.

The Blood of Imriv by Renee Ahdieh

I gave this story 3 stars. It felt almost incomplete, it’s like when an author releases the first two chapters of their upcoming book to get you pumped, but in this case, we don’t even get the rest of the novel. I liked where it was going, though, it had a lot of potential. (Also shout out to Christine for having a hilarious little essay, I absolutely adored it, 10/10 would read again)

Jack by Ameriie

I gave this story 4 stars. I was loving this story up until the end where it completely unnerved me, I feel like I should have expected the ending, but I didn’t and for that, I will applaud the author. Also a very great prompt.

Gwen and Art and Lance by Soman Chainani

I gave this story 3.5 stars. At first, I was expecting it to be a short story in relation to Soman’s Middle-Grade series as Gwen, Lance, and Arthur are a part of that series, but it soon became apparent that it wasn’t set in the same world. I surprised the crap out of me that it wasn’t suitable for children, because like I said before I’ve only ever read his middle-grade work. I can’t say it was bad though, I really enjoyed it.

Shirley & Jim by Susan Dennard. 

I gave this story 5 stars. I couldn’t stop reading and once I finally finished the story I wanted even more. I want a novel series on this. A gender-bent story of Sherlock Holmes, John Watson, and James Moriarty is all I need in my life.

The Blessing of Little Wants by Sarah Enni 

I gave this story 3 stars. I’m unimpressed by this one. Yeah, it had potential to be really cool and epic, but it just didn’t have any new ideas or twists on old classics. I could easily forget about this one.

The Sea Witch by Marissa Meyer.

I gave this story 4 stars. Now, this is a story I’m going to remember! I don’t particularly like the sea witch herself, but the premise was cool and it was written really well. 

Beautiful Venom by Cindy Pon

I gave this story 4 Stars. I was definitely kept on the edge of my seat during this story. The underlying messages were so important and I applaud Cindy Son for writing such an amazing story. I still found it absolutely infuriating though. I know life isn’t fair a lot of the times, but I felt like the protagonist just kept getting knocked down and then someone came along and kept kicking her while she was down and then killed her puppy. She got no justice and that’s really the sad reality of our world also.

Death Knell by Victoria Schwab

I gave this story 5 Stars. I have fallen in love with this story. It was beautiful and clever and I could see an entire book being written about it, although, it does sit well as a short. Victoria Schwab is a master of her craft.

Marigold by Samantha Shannon 

I gave this story 4.5 Stars. How could I not love this one? Condescending misogynistic men from the Victorian era being owned by a badass “evil” queen. I’m here for this. 

You, You, It’s All About You by Adam Silvera

I gave this story 4 Stars. This one took a bit of getting used to as it was told in the second person and I’m really not used to that. I do, however, love what Adam Silvera did with this story. The protagonist wasn’t misunderstood or easily manipulated, she knew exactly what she was doing and just when you thought she had a little bit of humanity, it turns out she was tricking you. It was clever and I really enjoyed it.

Julian Breaks Every Rule by Andrew Smith 

I gave this story 4.5 Stars. I feel like the point of this story was for us all to love and relate to Julian Powell despite him being evil as shit, and the author completely succeeded. I loved Julian Powers and I loved his origin story. I would love nothing more than to get an entire saga about his villainy. 

Indigo and Shade by April Genevieve Tucholke 

I gave this story 5 Stars. I hate Gaston. Always have and probably always will, but the way the author changed him around in this book made me not hate him so much. I actually loved this story so much and I wish I could get more of it. Also, just a general observation about the author, she must really love the color purple. In this book the girl's name is Indigo, and in her book Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea, her protagonist is name is Violet. I just sorta hope she keeps up this trend in her other works.

Sera by Nicola Yoon

I gave this story 4.5 Stars. While the rest of the villains in this book were all pretty villainous, Sera was the only villain that I felt villainy was embedded in her soul. She felt like the one true villain of this book. Her very presence set people off and she seemed psychopathic. 

Giveaway:

If you follow me on social media you may or may not be aware that I have in my possession two copies of BYLTHM. Purely by accident, but either way, I have two and I don't need two copies so I figured I'd have a giveaway for the second book. 

Rules:

• Only for U.S. and Canada
• Must be over 18 or have parental permission
• The Giveaway is from October 22nd, 2017 to November 22nd, 2017

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