The Angel's Game by Carlos Ruiz Zafon (with a little bit of spoiler)

So what are the odds that when you're in a hide-and-seek scene with a sadistic character it happens in a room full of limbs of old mannequins? Now that I got that out of the way (haha!), I'll go straight to saying I was glad to know that the mother of beating around the bush has a sister.

Although I had to make it clear that I don't believe that this book does not, in any way, pale in comparison with its predecessor, I had a couple of wait-what?!-moments when reading the story.[Like how did David know where to find Christina? One moment I was reading about how he was contemplating about Corelli's love of sugar cubes, next thing I know he's on his way to the sanatorium. What did I miss? I feel stupid. Skipping forward, I didn't get the ending I was prepared to get. Just when I was ready to accept that everything that was happening was nothing but the ravings of a raging lunatic (and even when he met up with the witch of Somorrostro to explain what the curse was all about), Irene Sabino enters and confirms David isn't alone if it's just lunacy we're talking about. I mean, I feel for Captain Grandes. 

I also couldn't get over the fact that Andreas Corelli loves sugar cubes ... and then nothing. I feel like it means something that's significant to the story. There's so many missing things that I can't let go of. Having said all that (haha), I think the ending was still fitting. It just wasn't enlightening. It leaves more questions than answers. 

A few things that stuck (I mean other than the room full of mannequins part): I loved this from its very first paragraph (it might be safe to say that any aspiring novelist would). I also loved the dialogue exchange between Don Basilio Moragas and ... well, pretty much anyone he talked to in this book which is David and the archives guy Jose Maria Brotons. Don Basilio sounds like he could have been a gangster boss from the 50s. It was cute. Overall, I still love the prose, the gothic setting and the fact that this is about books AND authors so ... there.

Dreams of Gods and Monsters (Daughter of Smoke and Bone) Laini Taylor

This is beautiful. It's one of the few trilogies that I think is beautiful from the first book to the last one. Except for the Eliza parts. It kinda dragged. I had to admit I was happy how she turned out. Actually I was HOPING I would be happy about how she would turn out. Otherwise I have to give this a 3 and I REALLY don't want that. I took off one star because of the Stelians. Not the Stelians as a whole or individually but the explanation of who they are and how they are and how this "issue" with them should be dealt with. It's kind of hard to explain the same way I don't feel the explanation of the Stelians and their Anake and yoraya and that other thing was enough. Well, at least it would be hard to explain without giving spoilers. I had to say it was anti-climactic but not totally so that was good. I loved the fact that when I was reading all three books I wasn't so focused on the Karou/Madrigal-Akiva love angle. The war, the friendship, the alliances, the twists are a whole different stories apart from the love angle and that's cool. It revolves around the original plot, yes, but it can stand on it's own. I mean I love the love story too The book is ambitious, too, in a way that it tried to discuss science and religion and its impact on the society. It was pretty evident in the Eliza parts but in Zuze and Karou's parts I'd have to say it was a bit subtle (yes i know the whole thing talks of war but it's just different! lol). So yeah, pretty happy about this ... and sad since there will be no more smoke and bone books so I guess I have to read other Laini Taylor books now.

World After (Penryn and the End of Days 2) by Susan Ee

Previously on Penryn and the End of Days lol ... I gave 2 stars to the first part of this trilogy because, among other things, I only liked the last 25% of it and it was a hanger. I was expecting something of the same sort here but was surprised I liked World After. I'm glad I read this even if I gave 2 stars to Angelfall.

It's still a hanger (lol) so that part's annoying but the dialogue exchange that I found trying-hard to be sarcastic before isn't there anymore. I was happy it didn't take forever before Penryn and Raffe found each other again but I have to say I still didn't gush. Lol. I do admit to chuckling at some point. 
I liked the story and the story telling better here. What's up with the angel swords, eh? I still stand by my "predictions" on my Angelfall review about Penryn's ... abilities. That's what I've been hoping to find out but I guess I have to wait until the last installment.

I read reviews saying Angelfall was better. I think World After is better. Waaaaaay better, actually. So there.