After spending the summer away from each other, Titus and Iolanthe (still disguised as Archer Fairfax) are eager to return to Eton College to resume their training to fight the Bane. Although no longer bound to Titus by a blood oath, Iolanthe is more committed than ever to fulfilling her destiny—especially with the agents of Atlantis quickly closing in.
Soon after arriving at school, though, Titus makes a shocking discovery, one that makes him question everything he previously believed about their mission. Faced with this devastating realization, Iolanthe is forced to come to terms with her new role, while Titus must choose between following his mother's prophecies—and forging a divergent path to an unknowable future. Quoted from Goodreads
*********************
I love this book. There. Enough said.
Okay, clearly I'll write more, but really, we could just leave it at that. The best part about this series is I wasn't even afraid going into the second book that it would be bad (and, really, that's almost always my fear after an amazing first book). Plus, you literally can't stop turning pages.
So, what did I love? Split timelines. Did you ever watch Alias, where we start the show at some horrible moment, then go back three days to find out how our hero gets into the situation. This book is sort of like that, but instead of going completely back to the beginning and putting aside that horrible situation, the author goes back and forth from past to present (or present to future), every chapter. It sounds confusing, but it worked amazingly well. Each setting is so different, the adventure and danger so unique and setting specific, that you never get confused where or when you are (at least, not unless the author wants you to be as part of the mystery). On top of that, it really ups the tension as you watch what happens to our main characters in two timelines and two settings.
Then there's Iolanthe and Titus. I love them. They're fun, well fleshed out characters that are good at what they do. I love the banter back and forth between them, half as "boys" at Eaton Collage and half as two people who love each other and still have problems they have to work out. There's just he right amount of romance between all the adventure to keep it fresh but not overwhelm the very busy, page-turn inducing plot.
We get more of the secondary characters this book, and I love them. Even tertiary characters have distinct personalities, and they're fun without being too quirky. Don't get me wrong, I love certain quirky characters, but sometimes authors put in too many to keep things from being cardboard and it comes off as an episode of Gilmore Girls instead of real life. These characters are distinct and different while still being the sort of people you meet every day and could adopt as your friends (well, the good guys, anyway).
Basically this book is amazing. It's full of action, twists, prophecies, mistaken identities, cliff-hangers, mysterious pasts, missing memories, survival, war, complex characters, romance, magic . . . the list is endless. So if you're looking for an amazing fantasy series, you absolutely have to read this. I'm giving it a strong 5 stars. It's everything I could possibly want in a book. Now I just have to suffer until the third one comes out.
“I did my best to keep you from crossing paths with this world. And I shall do my best to protect you now that you have.”Jessamin has been an outcast since she moved from her island home of Melei to the dreary country of Albion. Everything changes when she meets Finn, a gorgeous, enigmatic young lord who introduces her to the secret world of Albion’s nobility, a world that has everything Jessamin doesn’t—power, money, status…and magic. But Finn has secrets of his own, dangerous secrets that the vicious Lord Downpike will do anything to possess. Unless Jessamin, armed only with her wits and her determination, can stop him. Quoted from Goodreads
********************
This very possibly my favorite Kiersten White book, and that's saying something. I adored her Paranormalcy series and thoroughly enjoyed her Mind Game duology, but this one is better. Maybe because it was only one book, but really I think I just loved the characters, setting, all of it.
Jessamin is a perfect main character. She defies society's conventions, but instead of feeling forced or modern, like so many books, it works because she's foreign, and it makes a difference. She's strong, independent, and determined to make her own choices (you can see one of the reasons the title works so well). Because she's an outsider, we also get to see Albion through her eyes, introducing us to the country and the world of the book in an organic way.
It's not just Jessamin who is wonderful. You can't help but love Finn, of course. He's gorgeous, smart, sweet, and mysterious. He's the reason this story takes place, the single factor that starts everything, but the story ends with Jessamin. But the good characters don't end there. Possibly my absolute favorite is the girl who becomes Jessamin's best friend, Eleanor. She's bubbly, vivacious, and deceptively cunning in the best way possible. She's one of those characters I would love to be best friends with, and she steals the spotlight whenever she enters the story.
As for the villains, they are horribly evil in the best way possible. Besides shadowing her with black birds (Hitchcock's The Birds, anyone---so creepy), he tortures Jessamin at their first meeting, threatens and attacks her friends, and constantly manipulates everything. He's always one step ahead, brilliantly plotting war and destruction all for his own power.
As for the world, honestly, it reminded me of Victorian England with a sort of steampunk twist. The enemy on the continent was France, and while I'm not sure exactly which colony Jessamin would have come from, it's easy to imagine. Really, it's the magic that's the world building draw to this book. Plus, the fast pace keeps the plot from ever bogging down.
Basically, if you're looking for a wonderful stand-alone, historical fantasy type book, look no further. This is a fun, romantic, action packed adventure I would recommend to just about everyone. It's a strong 4 stars for me, and honestly, I'm hoping Kiersten White decides to write more in this world . . . maybe a spin-off story from Eleanor's POV? I'm keeping my finger's crossed.
Lost and broken, Celaena Sardothien’s only thought is to avenge the savage death of her dearest friend: as the King of Adarlan’s Assassin, she is bound to serve this tyrant, but he will pay for what he did. Any hope Celaena has of destroying the king lies in answers to be found in Wendlyn. Sacrificing his future, Chaol, the Captain of the King’s Guard, has sent Celaena there to protect her, but her darkest demons lay in that same place. If she can overcome them, she will be Adarlan’s biggest threat – and his own toughest enemy.
While Celaena learns of her true destiny, and the eyes of Erilea are on Wendlyn, a brutal and beastly force is preparing to take to the skies. Will Celaena find the strength not only to win her own battles, but to fight a war that could pit her loyalties to her own people against those she has grown to love? Quoted from Goodreads
********************
I'll be honest, when I started this series, I wasn't too impressed. I'd heard so much about the first book, how amazing it was, how much I would love it, that really nothing could live up to the hype, and it sort of didn't. It was a good book, but I never fell in love with it. So when the second book came out, I didn't rush right out to read it, but I knew I would get to it some day, and I did. And I loved it. It was everything I wanted the series to be and more. Maybe it was my lowered expectations or (and this is my personal opinion) it was just better and more complex, full of twists I didn't see coming. So I tried to keep my expectations lower for this third one so it could possibly be as amazing as the second one, and it absolutely was. I am totally and completely a huge fan of this series. It's complex and amazing and everything I could have wished for and more.
Celaena grows so much in this book. I love the person she is by the end, but it takes her a long time to get there. She really grows up. She's been so broken by the deaths of so many people she loved, she really has to work through all those emotional scars, and it's a fantastic journey. We get a lot of new characters this book, and one of the best has to be Rowan. He's basically the male version of Celaena plus a few hundred years, and he is awesome. Sure, there were moments when I disliked him. But then, there are moments (especially in the first book) when I disliked Celaena, and a lot of times for similar reasons. Basically he is kick-butt awesome with his own set of scars to rival Celaena's and I adore how their friendship grows.
In this third book, we finally get to leave the castle, so you see and experience so much more of the world Sarah J. Mass has created. The world building is awesome. Part of it is a few of those new characters. We get Manon Blackbeak, a witch (like Baba Yellowlegs), and I love these witches. They are delightfully evil, and yet you can't help cheering for Manon, dark as she is, and her own journey. Then there's Mab and the Fae. The author takes so many similar elements and then twists them, making them her own, complex, and completely unique to this world, that I love it.
Other new characters, we get the absolutely delightful Aedion Ashryver, who I thought I would hate at first, but has become one of my favorite characters in the series, and I will be so sad if he dies later (no one is safe in this series. NO ONE). Through him, (and Chaol and a little bit Dorian) we learn more about what the King did ten years before. It's fascinating watching them solve one of the mysteries that ripped apart their world.
As for Dorian and Chaol, I have mixed feelings. I feel like both of them are growing up, but I hate their relationship in this book. Mostly, I'll admit, I'm frustrated with Chaol. I feel like Dorian and Celaena grow up a lot (though they're not perfect) but it takes Chaol a little longer to get where you know he can be. He's good by the ending . . . mostly. I won't go into it because he does something I love and absolutely hated him for at the same time, but I like the person he's starting to become.
Aaaaaaagg, the ending! It really just about killed me. You might want to stop reading a few chapters before and then read the rest right before the fourth book because I guarantee it will kill you just a little bit. It starts to wrap up nicely, and then . . . well you know there are some absolutely, perfect villains that you can't help but hate on multiple levels (the King of Adarlan, anyone?) and the things they do at the end to characters I absolutely love . . . well, death is only the beginning of the bad things that happen.
All in all, this is an amazing addition to an amazing series. If you want something that's complex, full of action and character growth, world building and history, with characters you love and hate, you need to read this series. My only stipulation is it isn't done yet (we get 3 more books!) and the ending will leave you dying to know what happens next. I'm giving it a delightful 4.5 star. It's wonderful, delightful, and one of those books I want to rush out and make everyone read.
In this timeless new trilogy about love and sacrifice, a princess must find her place in a reborn world.
In a society steeped in tradition, Princess Lia’s life follows a preordained course. As First Daughter, she is expected to have the revered gift of sight—but she doesn’t—and she knows her parents are perpetrating a sham when they arrange her marriage to secure an alliance with a neighboring kingdom—to a prince she has never met.
On the morning of her wedding, Lia flees to a distant village. She settles into a new life, hopeful when two mysterious and handsome strangers arrive—and unaware that one is the jilted prince and the other an assassin sent to kill her. Deception abounds, and Lia finds herself on the brink of unlocking perilous secrets—even as she finds herself falling in love. Quoted from Goodreads
********************
I loved this book. I wasn't sure what I expected. I mean, it screams love triangle, which isn't the best way to start. Plus, I was really worried I would dislike Lia. I totally sympathize with the horror of being forced to marry a man you've never met, but I was afraid she would come off totally selfish and short sighted instead of brave and fearless (which is what the author clearly intended).
That didn't happen---well, not really. I love that there were consequences to what Lia did, and horrible things did happen because of it. It emphasized her weakness, but then she does try and make up for what she did. Lia's character grows so much throughout the book. She isn't perfect, but she's likable, impulsive, sticks up for herself, and is willing to change.
Plus the author has some fun with the "love triangle." First, I guess I should explain, while it is a bit of a triangle, it's not the kind I hate. One guy is a clean winner for Lia's affection at the end, but up until then, she's just a girl who's kind of interested in two guys. Their relationships progress in a realistic way. We, also, get POV not only from Lia but from the prince and the assassin as well, which is excellent. For the first half the book, you don't know if she's falling for the prince or the assassin because their chapters could be from either POV of the two men Lia is falling for. It's delightful.
The action of the first book is kind of slow---but not boring. It's more romance, mystery, fish-out-of-water, and deception then sword fights and chase scenes, but it changes about half way through. That's not to say I didn't love the first half, because I did. The author put enough mystery and tension in there that you have to keep reading
Plus, the writing is beautiful. The first sentence begins the book with, "Today was the day a thousand dreams would die and a single dream would be born." Gorgeous, right? And the rest of the book continues in that same vein.
Basically, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It came as a bit of a surprise how much I liked it, but if you loved The Winner's Curse half as much as I did, this is the next book you need to pick up. I'm giving it a stellar 4.5 stars. Now I'm desperately waiting for the next book in the series, The Heart of Betrayal, to come out.
The capital has fallen. The Darkling rules Ravka from his shadow throne.
Now the nation's fate rests with a broken Sun Summoner, a disgraced tracker, and the shattered remnants of a once-great magical army.
Deep in an ancient network of tunnels and caverns, a weakened Alina must submit to the dubious protection of the Apparat and the zealots who worship her as a Saint. Yet her plans lie elsewhere, with the hunt for the elusive firebird and the hope that an outlaw prince still survives.Alina will have to forge new alliances and put aside old rivalries as she and Mal race to find the last of Morozova's amplifiers. But as she begins to unravel the Darkling's secrets, she reveals a past that will forever alter her understanding of the bond they share and the power she wields. The firebird is the one thing that stands between Ravka and destruction—and claiming it could cost Alina the very future she’s fighting for. Quoted from Goodreads
********************
This was the perfect end to a unique series. If you haven't read the first two books, this may contain minor spoilers, but I'll try to keep them to a minimum. Plus, if you haven't read this series, now is the perfect time. It's complete. Over. Finished. No more pesky waiting for the next book to come out. Really, if you're looking for a new series, you should check this out.
Okay, enough with the whole read this series propaganda. To be honest, when I started this book, I wasn't sure I liked it all that much. The beginning is slow and a bit uncomfortable. Alina's trapped by the Apparat, and while I love multiple villains, especially those who aren't completely evil but shaded with gray, I didn't much care for her time in the caves. Alina feels horrible, and it sort of put me off the book---just a smidgen. But if you push past the first few chapters, we get back to the adventure of the previous books.
This book is full of some great adventures, surprising twists, and fun reveals. Characters die. We get betrayal. We even get some well deserved justice for a minor character I hated but sort of forgot between this book and the last. Alina and Mal grow up a lot, and their relationship really reflects this instead of annoying me like it did in the second book.
As for the Darkling and Nikolai (because everyone knows they are at least half the reason anyone reads these books), they were absolutely perfect. I do wish they both had a little more page time, but I loved them every time we see them. The Darkling is delightful because he's such a sympathetic bad guy. You constantly want him to be redeemed. As for Nikolai, what can I say? He's amazing. I love his dedication to his country, Alina, and even the brief scene with his parents.
As far as relationships go, I'm happy with who Alina got with. Of the three guys (yes, there are still three different men vying for Alina's affection) he wasn't my favorite, but he was probably the most perfect for her. I won't say any more because of spoilers, but even if she didn't choose the guy I personally liked the best, I still like her choice.
The ending is bitter sweet, and I have really mixed feelings about it. Part of me wanted the book to go another way, but part of me liked the way things ended up. Part of me liked all the sacrifice (what can I say? I'm a sucker for noble sacrifices) but part of me thought there should have been more. Still, I really appreciate the story the author told.
All in all, if you're looking for a new fantasy series (maybe one with a Russian feel) you need to check this out. I'm giving it a fantastic 4 stars, and I can't wait to see what the Leigh Bardugo writes next.
Cole Randolph was just trying to have a fun time with his friends on Halloween (and maybe get to know Jenna Hunt a little better). But when a spooky haunted house turns out to be a portal to something much creepier, Cole finds himself on an adventure on a whole different level.
After Cole sees his friends whisked away to some mysterious place underneath the haunted house, he dives in after them and ends up in The Outskirts. The Outskirts are made up of five kingdoms that lie between wakefulness and dreaming, reality and imagination, life and death. It’s an in-between place. Some people are born there. Some find their way there from our world, or from other worlds.
And once you come to the Outskirts, it's very hard to leave.
With the magic of the Outskirts starting to unravel, it's up to Cole and an unusual girl named Mira to rescue his friends, set things right in the Outskirts, and hopefully find his way back home before his existence is forgotten. Quoted from Goodreads
*********************
Ever since the Fablehaven phenomena, I've been a big Brandon Mull fan, so, of course, I had to check out his new series. I'll admit, I was a little bit scared because I didn't feel like The Beyonders, while good, was nearly as good as Fablehaven, so I was interested to see how this book would turn out. I was delightfully surprised. I thought maybe each series would get progressively worse, but I think I enjoyed Sky Raider's more than any book in The Beyonder's series, and if Mull holds true to form, each book in this series will get progressively more and more interesting, so I'm excited.
Brandon Mull is such a creative writer, and he proves it once more in Sky Raiders. Again we have a boy from our world sucked into a fantastical journey in a land that has different rules and dangers than anything we face here. Beyond that, they're different from anything I've encountered in other books as well. I love the world building. Everything is unique, creative, and essential to the plot.
I really enjoyed all the characters. Cole is a well crafted protagonist, and the supporting characters are just as strong. Plus, all the action has a point. We don't get a fancy, creative fight or monster for no reason. Each obstacle thrown in the characters path reveals something about them or affects them later on. It's also rather refreshing to read some middle grade and get away from the YA angst once in a while. Sure, Cole likes Jenna. There are several other crushes in the book as well, but that is not one of the top ten driving forces propelling our characters in their decisions.
As for the action, it's awesome. Like I mentioned before, we have a very creative world for our character to deal with, and it comes with it's own host of problems. Basically, this is one of those quick read books, not because it's sort (432 pages), but because you never really get a breather where you can put it down, sure that your characters are safe.
All in all this is a delightful 4 stars for me. It's a great beginning to a new series, and the best part is that book 2 comes out in October, so i don't even have to wait that pesky year to see what happens next.
When Ileni lost her magic, she lost everything: her place in society, her purpose in life, and the man she had expected to spend her life with. So when the Elders sent her to be magic tutor to a secret sect of assassins, she went willingly, even though the last two tutors had died under mysterious circumstances.
But beneath the assassins’ caves, Ileni will discover a new place and a new purpose… and a new and dangerous love. She will struggle to keep her lost magic a secret while teaching it to her deadly students, and to find out what happened to the two tutors who preceded her. But what she discovers will change not only her future, but the future of her people, the assassins . . . and possibly the entire world. Quoted from Goodreads
********************
First, I absolutely adore this cover. It's hauntingly beautiful and possibly my favorite cover this year. Second, if the cover weren't enough, I loved Leah Cypess's Mistwood, so even if the cover had been bad, this would still have been a must read for me, and it didn't disappoint.
First, Ileni is a strong main character. Everything she wanted and worked for is taken away, and instead of complaining or wallowing in self pity, she takes an assignment that she's almost certain will kill her, all because she wants her life to mean something, even if it's not the something she spent her life working towards. Sure, she's a little fatalistic at times, but in the beginning it makes her a little better at her job. Plus, despite her diminishing magic, she still struggles to teach and solve the mystery of who is killing sorcerers. She's smart, though she does make some stupid mistakes, and she never gives up, even when she doesn't seem to have anything left.
As for world building, it's a bit mixed. The story takes place in caves. All of it. So while that aspect of world building is intricate, gritty, and realistic, we don't get a ton about the rest of the Empire. This could have backfired horribly, but it works, because while the Empire is the big, ultimate threat of the story and behind all the assassin's work, it only plays a small part in this installment. With the way the next book is set up, I'm guessing it will expand that facet.
I loved the plot. It's a bit slow sounding on paper, half mystery, half survival/suspense---not the murders and secret missions you might expect of a book about assassins---but Leah Cypess's writing is addictive and she builds tension throughout. I loved the absolute lack of safety the book provides. Ileni is surrounded by killers, people who she knows has killed the two men who came before her for unknown reasons, and no one is safe. It's not just that there is a murderer on the loose, but everyone and anyone could decide to kill her for a myriad of different reasons. Plus, Ileni's magic is fading more and more as the book goes along, so as things get more dangerous, so does her ability to physically defend herself.
As for the romance, I absolutely adored it. It's light, not a main plot-line, but it's sweet and awkward and fully developed. First Ilena and Soren become friends . . . of sorts. She lets herself trust him, even though part of her knows she shouldn't, and he's just adorable awkward when it comes to relationships with girls, which is a striking contrast to his absolutely confidence in everything else. Plus, no love triangle. There could have been since Ilena's the only girl in a cave full of boys, but most of them pay little to no attention to that fact, which is pretty refreshing in YA.
Overall this is an excellent, suspenseful story, with fully fleshed characters and an intense setting. The writing is beautiful, and I adore the way Ileni grows and changes over the course of the book. I'll admit I did guess the murderer before Ileni does, but I didn't feel she was dim witted for not getting it sooner, and I didn't really see one aspect at the end coming at all, though it was perfectly set up. If you're a fan of fantasy, you really should pick up this book. I'm giving it a strong 4 stars and eagerly awaiting the second half of this duology.
Winning what you want may cost you everything you love
As a general’s daughter in a vast empire that revels in war and enslaves those it conquers, seventeen-year-old Kestrel has two choices: she can join the military or get married. But Kestrel has other intentions.
One day, she is startled to find a kindred spirit in a young slave up for auction. Arin’s eyes seem to defy everything and everyone. Following her instinct, Kestrel buys him—with unexpected consequences. It’s not long before she has to hide her growing love for Arin.
But he, too, has a secret, and Kestrel quickly learns that the price she paid for a fellow human is much higher than she ever could have imagined.
Set in a richly imagined new world, The Winner’s Curse by Marie Rutkoski is a story of deadly games where everything is at stake, and the gamble is whether you will keep your head or lose your heart. Quoted from Goodreads
*******************
If you've been paying any attention at all this week, this book is everywhere. I'm pretty sure everyone has read it, and everyone loved it, so I knew from the start that this would be good. Or at least I hoped it would. I haven't read a lot of new series this year that I'm absolutely in love with. I've read a bunch of good books that I'm excited to see continue, but few that I absolutely love, which is always a little scary as I methodically finish off trilogies and duologies and sagas one by one. This one though is everything I've been looking for and more. I love, love, loved it.
Despite the cover, which is deceptively YA historical fiction/romance, this book is a fantasy. Yes, the main character is seventeen and she does wear pretty dresses. There also is a fantastic romance and forbidden love. But. This story is so much more than the cover suggests. It's political intrigue, betrayal, strategy, war, rebellion, deception, murder, espionage, manipulation, escape, leadership, coming of age . . . the list goes on. Oh, and there's romance, dancing, and star-crossed lovers.
Are you convinced already, because you should be. Told in alternating POV, Kestral and Arin are both complex, compelling characters that are faced with impossible decisions. This is the sort of book that breaks your heart while simultaneously forcing you to cheer for the characters and their actions.
Kestral is strong in a non-traditional sense. While women joining the military is accepted and even expected and despite Kestral's father pushing her in that direction, fighting isn't where her strength lies, and it so easily could have been. Instead, she's a brilliant strategist and could easily become one of the greatest generals in the empire if she wanted to. In the end, that, and a mutual love of music, is what draws her to Arin, who can match her move for move, battle for battle. I love smart, complex characters, and these two are everything I could have asked for with no danger of ever drifting into Mary Sue/Gary Stu land. Plus, they're on opposite sides of just about everything their lives stand for. You get two sides in a war, and while you do believe that one has more of the right of things, nothing is black and white and both characters are easy to sympathize with.
I love the worldbuiling in this book. You can feel the empire stretching across countries and examine the differences between the different cultures, all without feeling like the author ever just dumped pages of exposition. Everything is shown, artfully slipped into the story to flesh out the setting. It walks the line between fantasy and historical fiction without really falling into either category, which heightens it's unique feel.
To be honest, this book does remind me a little of General Winston's Daughter by Sharon Shinn, but I adored this one so much more. If you're only going to read one book this month, I would probably have to choose this as the winner. Of course that might be a tragedy, since there are a whole slew of amazing books out this week alone, but this one is probably the best in my opinion. Oh and the title, The Winner's Curse, it is absolutely perfect. At first it stands for something rather small, but then it encapsulates the entire book brilliantly. This is a gorgeous 5 stars for me. I love, love, loved this book and am absolutely dying for the next one.
It all began with a ruined elixir and an accidental bolt of lightning…
Iolanthe Seabourne is the greatest elemental mage of her generation—or so she's being told. The one prophesied for years to be the savior of The Realm. It is her duty and destiny to face and defeat the Bane, the greatest mage tyrant the world has ever known. A suicide task for anyone let alone a sixteen-year-old girl with no training, facing a prophecy that foretells a fiery clash to the death.
Prince Titus of Elberon has sworn to protect Iolanthe at all costs but he's also a powerful mage committed to obliterating the Bane to avenge the death of his family—even if he must sacrifice both Iolanthe and himself to achieve his goal.
But Titus makes the terrifying mistake of falling in love with the girl who should have been only a means to an end. Now, with the servants of the Bane closing in, he must choose between his mission and her life. Quoted from Goodreads Check out the trailer here: The Burning Sky.
*******************
This has been one of the most delightful surprises this fall. Between the premise and the cover, well, I had high hopes, and this more than delivered. Was the book perfect? Probably not. But it was excellent, well done, and I kind of loved it.
First, I loved the characters. Iolanthe (okay, that name's a mouthful) and Titus are such great characters. The book's told in duel POV, and each voice very is distinct. Ioanthe is, in so many ways, your typical 16 year old girl. Her life hasn't been perfect, and she's not sure she really up for the hand destiny seems to be dealing her. The best part about her is her growth an change throughout the novel. She's never a weak, wimpy character, but neither is she a hero, and I loved watching her change and grow into her potential/destiny.
Then we have Titus. He's so utterly dedicated to his cause, it's awesome and kind of sad. Still, it makes him an excellent character. He's so completely good at what he does. Everything is planned out, every action, every word has a purpose. People like brilliant characters, and he is ruthless, calculating, and brilliant.
Their relationship is adorable. I love the romance. It's slow building (thank you, no insta-love) on both sides, with a solid foundation. Plus, it never overwhelms the book. It's a delightful development that plays a part in the larger story.
Speaking of story, I love the world Sherry Thomas has created. Yes, there could be more world-building, but I think this book has made an excellent beginning. Magic of different sorts abound, and I loved the contrast between their magical world and England circa 1880. I particularly enjoyed all the little end notes the author included with deeper insights into the history and the world, that you could read then or read later. It helped flesh out the book without slowing down the action with overlong exposition. The world feels unique, full of fun ideas and an overwhelming villain---well, sort of. This book the villain doesn't really appear until the end. Instead we get the villain's second in command (who is evil enough in her own right), which provides the perfect build-up for the first book, so we can save the best for last (I mean ,this is a trilogy).
Basically, this book has everything you could want in a fantasy. It's got the great evil, brilliant characters, rise of the underdog, romance, action, hidden identities, magic, and a quest against impossible odds. With the conclusion of Rae Carson's Girl of Fire and Thorn trilogy, I've been looking for a great fantasy series, at this could very well be it. I'm giving this book a strong 4.5 stars, and I can't wait for the next book to come out.
The epic conclusion to Rae Carson's Fire and Thorns trilogy. The seventeen-year-old sorcerer-queen will travel into the unknown realm of the enemy to win back her true love, save her country, and uncover the final secrets of her destiny.
Elisa is a fugitive in her own country. Her enemies have stolen the man she loves in order to lure her to the gate of darkness. As she and her daring companions take one last quest into unknown enemy territory to save Hector, Elisa will face hardships she's never imagined. And she will discover secrets about herself and her world that could change the course of history. She must rise up as champion-a champion to those who have hated her most. Quoted from Goodreads
********************
I love this series. I adore this series. Anyone who reads fantasy at all needs to pick this up. Anyone who writes and reads YA should read this series. Why? Because it is absolutely excellent. This is, without a doubt, a 5 star series.
First: Elisa. I adore her for so many, many reasons. She's smart, funny, brave, determined, cleaver, and refuses to give up. She's also fat when she starts the series. This may sound silly, but when's the last time you read a YA book whose main character wasn't "too skinny?" Seriously. Plus she's changed so much from the beginning of the series to it's conclusion. She's really grown up, discovered who she is, and she's accepted it while constantly striving to be better. She trusts and depends on her friends, but she really comes into her own.
Then, of course, there is Hector. While it was great to get a glimpse into his mind in the prequel novella The King's Guard, we actually get a few chapters from his POV in this book as well! I loved those little insights. Plus, well, he's just plain awesome. I love the way his and Elisa's relationship has developed. It's delightfully free of angst this time around. It's honest and sweet, and I love the way they are together.
Then there's Elisa's friends. I love them. I love her bond with Mara. She's not an annoying sidekick or the plucky comic relief. She's serious, encouraging, and fun. Then we have Storm. I really do love the way his and Elisa's relationship has developed, from contempt to strong friendship. They are an excellent support system for Elisa, while both having their own depth, hardships, and trials.
The action. This is a perfect third book. We get peak after peak of highlights. There were several points that could easily have been the end of the book or the adventure. Not in a Return of a King sort of way (love the movie, the the endings went on and on), but this has to be the climax of the book---no, this is the high point. There is always something happening, some new threat, whether political, magical, weather, monsters, or just plain kicking butt, that keeps you turning pages.
Finally, the ending. It's perfect. It gives you just enough of the after to be satisfied without dragging everything out for too long (Clockwork Princess, I'm looking at you). I won't say more because I don't want to give anything away, but I loved the way things worked out with just about everything.
This is a solid 5 star book and series. It's been one of my most anticipated releases this year, and I'm kind of sad to see the series end. Still, Rae Carson has a new series coming out next year, and I can't wait to see what she comes up with next.
Meet Celaena Sardothien.
Beautiful. Deadly. Destined for greatness.
In the dark, filthy salt mines of Endovier, an eighteen-year-old girl is serving a life sentence. She is a trained assassin, the best of her kind, but she made a fatal mistake: she got caught.
Young Captain Westfall offers her a deal: her freedom in return for one huge sacrifice. Celaena must represent the prince in a to-the-death tournament—fighting the most gifted thieves and assassins in the land. Live or die, Celaena will be free. Win or lose, she is about to discover her true destiny. But will her assassin’s heart be melted? Quoted from Goodreads
*********************
First, I think this cover is so much better than the last one. Call me shallow, but the last cover totally put me off the book. I didn't like the girl on the front. She didn't seem hard core like an assassin, but she did look really stuck up. Not a great combination or selling point. This cover is infinitely better.
As for the book, I think it pretty much lives and dies by Celaena. She's an interesting character. I adore how strong and confident she is. She knows she's awesome, and she's not afraid to tell anyone. If she weren't so proud, she'd almost be a Mary Sue, but that pride thing definitely keeps her out of that category. At times, I'll admit, I found her kind of annoying because she is so proud. She hates to loose, and it makes her a little stupid at times. Still, her confidence is refreshing.
My one real complaint about her character is that it takes us about half the book before we really ever see her do anything cool. She's constantly bragging that she's the best be we rarely get to see that. I know there are four novellas that delve into her history and awesomeness, but you don't get that for a long time in the book, and they're useless if you haven't read them. You're just constantly told she's amazing in the beginning, never shown. I realize the book's pretty long, but I, as a reader, needed to see how amazing she is from the get go.
Strangely enough, I enjoyed the love triangle between her, Captain Choal, and Prince Dorian. Yes, I have my favorite, but at this point it could go either way and I would be okay with that. I won't give the particulars away, but it served more as another complication instead of an angst fest that so many other triangles inspire. Plus we have six---yes, six---books to explore the relationship, so a straightforward I love you sort of thing would have probably gotten boring.
The world building was good but not great. A lot of things were introduced but not really explained. So, there's a lot of potential to explore, and I'm hoping now the contest is over, that the author will focus a little bit more on it in subsequent books. She definitely set up a good base for future conflict.
All in all, this is a fun adventure. It started off a little bit slower than I wanted, especially with the whole assassin promise, but it ended up being a good adventure. All in all it's a nice 3.5 stars for me. I wanted it to be more, but then I think I had really high expectations going in that sort of cut down on my appreciation of the book. Still, the next one comes out in a few weeks, and I'll have to pick it up.
At fifteen years old, Hector is the youngest squire in the most elite military force in the country. And his first day is disastrous. Everyone assumes the only reason he was recruited is his close personal association with King Alejandro, not because he's really earned it.
But Alejandro needs Hector for a secret mission, one that gives him the chance to prove to everyone—including himself—that he is worthy to be a Royal Guard. Hector must break into the ancient Fortress of Wind to retrieve something so important that the kingdom's future depends on it. What Hector finds in the fortress will stretch his bond of friendship with his king near to breaking. And it will prepare him to become the fearsome warrior and lord commander Elisa will never let go.
A riveting prequel to Rae Carson's epic and acclaimed Fire and Thorns series. Quoted from Goodreads
*******************
Perfect. Absolutely perfect.
It's always hard to write reviews about novellas. For the most part, I think I tend to gush a bit too much. Any extra tidbits the author gives us makes me happy if it's a story I love, and if it's a story I'm not thrilled and elated by, I generally don't read the extra parts. I'm simply not invested enough in that world. I know I've gushed about both of Rae Carson's previous novellas, told from Elisa's sister and friend's POV, but this is the one I enjoyed the most. I won't lie and say it's strictly the quality of the story. Both of her previous two were amazing, but this one has Hector!
The best part of it is, the story is so Hector. We finally get something from his viewpoint, and I loved that, especially after that horrible/perfect ending in Crown of Embers. Not that this has anything to do with that. This takes place a something like 7 years before the first book, but still . . .
Now, besides Hector, this is an absolutely amazing short story for so many reasons. I won't give them away, but first, we get learn a little something about his fellow guards. Hector's two companions both appear in the books, but I had never really noticed them much before. They were simply faceless guards and not really that important. Now, looking back (okay, so I spend half an hour reading bits and pieces of Crown of Embers after I finished this because I wasn't quite ready to let the world go), I realized how prominent their position in the castle was and their relationship with Hector.
Then there's the new information. This is something all novellas really should have. While you could totally read the series without ever reading this short story, it does provide some interesting information. One of my biggest pet peeves is when we get short story that just rehashes stuff we already knew from another character's POV. New information should always be present because no other character will see the same events the same way or have the same background. This story had an excellent plot twist that I want to gush more about but I won't.
Plus we get adventure. Lots of adventure, and a chance to see Hector at 15.
This is a solid 4.5 stars for me. It's probably one of my top short stories ever. And it is a complete story in and of itself. If you had never read the series, you could pick this up and enjoy it for what it is. It can serve as a gateway drug, if you like, to the rest of the series. Basically, I thoroughly enjoyed it, and it will now be setting the bar for other novellas.
Harry Crewe is an orphan girl who comes to live in Damar, the desert country shared by the Homelanders and the secretive, magical Hillfolk. Her life is quiet and ordinary-until the night she is kidnapped by Corlath, the Hillfolk King, who takes her deep into the desert. She does not know the Hillfolk language; she does not know why she has been chosen. But Corlath does. Harry is to be trained in the arts of war until she is a match for any of his men. Does she have the courage to accept her true fate? Quoted from Goodreads
********************
I have a love/hate relationship with Robin McKinley's writing. There are books of hers that I absolutely adore. Her Beauty is absolutely one of my top ten books. Basically, if she wrote it in the '70s or '80s, I love it. Her newer stuff? Not so much. Maybe I should give the few books of hers I haven't read a try because I did love those first books so much, but . . . well . . . we'll see. I don't know if I can take any more disappointment. Still, The Blue Sword, published first in '87 is one that you absolutely need to check out.
Quick warning, this is Flashback Friday, which means I haven't read this book in years. I'm probably due to read it again soon. Yes, it's that good. Still, while I remember the essence of the book, I know there are things I've forgotten.
This book is a classic coming of age/adventure. It's about Harry finding her place in the world and becoming who she was meant to be. The poor girl goes through so much: kidnapping, culture shock, becoming a warrior, etc. and in the end, risks so much, you can't help loving her for what she does and who she becomes. She's also the perfect blend of her two worlds, which helps you see the driving conflict better.
Really, this book is a wonderful mix of adventure and beautiful writing. It has excellent characters and great world building. The magic is practically a character in itself. Then there's the romance. It's a lot more subtle than a lot of books out there right now, but Harry and Corlath are perfect for each other and I love their relationship.
Basically, you need to read this book. It's fabulously done, a fantastic adventure, full of memorable characters and an excellent setting. I know I've been a bit vague and short on the review, but it's been at least seven years since I last read this (which is a tragedy in itself). This is the kind of book that deserves gushing and heaps of praise. So sorry if the details are a bit fuzzy, but this really is a book everyone should check out and one I need to read again. It's a solid 4 stars for me, and who knows, maybe it will go up when I read it again. It probably deserves it.
