This is labeled as a psychological thriller, but it's more of a whodunit. I think it failed on both fronts—I correctly guessed who it was around page 120 of the 395-page copy.

If you're expecting Gillian Flynn-like Gone Girl unreliable narration, you might be disappointed.

As the characters grow up, so does the tone of the series. The Bronze Key is darker than The Copper Gauntlet—although perhaps less creepy—and the ending? Well, Chekhov's gun went off.

The Alchemist reads more like a fable than a novel and is the self-help-book-disguised-as-a-novel you never knew you desperately needed. Following Santiago on his journey to discover his Personal Legend and The Soul of the World, this story is both a literal and symbolic quest, packed with nuggets of wisdom and charming anecdotes that might help you find your Personal Legend along the way.

This is one of my favorite books, and it's very re-readable. I read the book and I find myself forgetting much of the plot—how did they learn about Leck? How does Katsa meet Bitterblue?—but I don't care, because Katsa and Po are such fantastic protagonists and the world Cashore has built is so well-drawn that it becomes a treat to experience the story anew. Highly recommended.

I really enjoyed this book—Callum makes a relatable protagonist and his adventures with Tamara and Aaron are interesting to read about. I guessed the twist at the end, but that's okay. It's a good twist. Worth it for a quick YA read.