Review: Black Widow: Forever Red by Margaret Stohl

Well gee thanks, Margaret Stohl for GOING AND BREAKING MY HEART!
This was a fun, entertaining story that looked into Natasha Romanoff's past as well as into some shady dealings of the Russian baddie who helped make Natasha the agent she is. I liked the new characters (Ava and Alex, I'd like to give you both hugs) and seeing familiar faces (Coulson and Tony Stark, so fun) and all of the action and adventure. My only complaints were that sometimes the action could seem a bit clunky or confusing (which could've been because I was reading the e-book arc and possibly that was due to formatting errors), but on the whole I was able to follow the scenes very well and most of the action read as very practical and believable.
That ending though? Ouch (in the emotional punch-to-the-gut kinda sense). I knew something bad was going to happen thanks to all the end of chapter DOD hearings with Natasha, but it still hurt.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an advanced copy for an honest review. And thanks, Margaret Stohl for capturing a character I love a lot very well...and also hurting me in the process. Now can we have another please and thank you? :)

The Anatomy of Curiousity by Maggie Stiefvater, Brenna Yovanoff, and Tessa Gratton - 5 Stars

An inside look at three awesome author's writing process? Yes, please, thank you, and can I have seconds? Seriously this was a lot of fun for an aspiring novelist like me to get to see and learn about the process that some of my favourite authors (some old faves and some new faves whose stories in this collection made me want to go out and get my hands on other things they've written because wowee zowee was that some good writing) go through while they're writing their own stories. It definitely helps me to feel not so alone in my own struggles to get things down on paper in a way that makes sense and hopefully entertains readers. I thoroughly enjoyed each of the stories and the authors' little asides on why they did certain things a certain way, how they crafted certain scenes to be the way they are now, how they drop little hints to a twist at the end, etc. The stories themselves, even without the commentary, were amahzing and heart-wrenching and funny and creepy and wonderful but I just really enjoyed the commentary and getting a sort-of inside look at these authors' processes.
So if you're a writing nerd like me or you just love these authors or you just want to know more about how authors craft and hone a story, this could be the book for you.

Thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for allowing me early access to this phenomenal book!