Posted in teen, Young Adult Fantasy

Review – Queen of the Shadows

  • Author: Sarah J. Maas
  • Series – Book 4
  • Pages: 672
  • Publisher : Bloomsbury USA Childrens
  • Date: Reprint edition -September 6, 2016


Summary:
Everyone Celaena Sardothien loves has been taken from her. But she’s at last returned to the empire-for vengeance, to rescue her once-glorious kingdom, and to confront the shadows of her past…

She has embraced her identity as Aelin Galathynius, Queen of Terrasen. But before she can reclaim her throne, she must fight.

She will fight for her cousin, a warrior prepared to die just to see her again. She will fight for her friend, a young man trapped in an unspeakable prison. And she will fight for her people, enslaved to a brutal king and awaiting their lost queen’s triumphant return.

Celaena’s epic journey has captured the hearts and imaginations of millions across the globe. This fourth volume will hold readers rapt as Celaena’s story builds to a passionate, agonizing crescendo that might just shatter her world.

My Review:
I am loving the series so far! This book got me out of my reading slump due to what is going on in the real world. Isn’t it nice when a book just takes you away from all that? The action, the drama, the battles and even some romance in this story just grabs my attention. Even though the book was long but I wanted to know know what was going to happen to Celaena aka Aelin. She is such a sneaky and bad ass character. She keeps going on her quest and never gives up. She just keeps going. I love that about her. She empowers those who are around her. She even sometimes makes the hard choices which I think shows strength.

Love explodes on the scene here. It’s not all mushy love but it’s loyalty love. Aelin has love and loyalty with most of those around her right now. Dorian, Charol, Rowan, and Lyssandra. Everyone passes it around and keeps their word. It’s pretty powerful. I loved how Aelin did not give upon Dorian. That is such a friendship. I enjoyed the flirty moments between Rowan and Aelin. I’m crushing on Rowan. hahaha The banter between Lysanndra and Aelin was even nice to see too. Even Aelin’s cousin joined in this.

I really liked this one and I have to read the next ones because anything could happen. Aelin and her friends, will they be up for the next task to battle against the darkness? What will the witches do? Will Dorian control his magic? Will Charol get his happy ever after? Will there be more sparks between Aelin and Rowan? See all these questions need to be answered.

So next book will be in my hands soon!

Anyone else read these series? Let me know.


Posted in update

Update

Okay I know I’m slacking on blogging and even my reading mojo has been messed up. A thing called stress is what I have been battling with. Stress is not fun. I think I’m getting back to normal so that’s good, right? One day at a time.

Reading status…..engage!

I am almost done with this book. Why didn’t I read these series earlier in life? I cannot put them down it is that good. I am sooooo going go finish this book this weekend and then the next one! Anyone else read these?

I just started this book, so far so good.
Retelling of a fairytale.

I will also dive into this one too!
I have read her previous books and can’t wait to see how this one goes.

Posted in currently reading, fiction, finished reading, general life, high school, to read, young adult, Young Adult Fantasy

Update Reading

Fall is coming….
The leaves are starting to change colors here.
Anyone else seeing that?

My reading has been up and down lately due to life! I have been getting some E-Arc’s on Netgalley and trying to keep up with that along with the library books that I have checked out. Plus my brain is thinking of one gazillion things….anyone else have this problem?

Perhaps I need to set up a schedule…hrmms…but sometimes doing that life throws you curveballs. I guess I’ll do the best I can. So here is the update of my world of reading.

Finished this E-Arc book….
I posted a review on it earlier. Go look.

Currently Reading….E-Arc Book
So far so good..
I am enjoying this but I need time to sit down to read.

Library books on my table eyeing me to read me at the same time!

Posted in action, fiction, young adult, Young Adult Fantasy

Review of Heir of Fire

 

Heir

  • Author: Sarah J. Maas
  • Print Length: 568 pages
  • Publisher: Bloomsbury YA
  • Publication Date: September 2, 2014
  • Series:  Throne of Glass

Summary of the book:
Celaena has survived deadly contests and shattering heartbreak-but at an unspeakable cost. Now, she must travel to a new land to confront her darkest truth . . . a truth about her heritage that could change her life-and her future-forever. Meanwhile, brutal and monstrous forces are gathering on the horizon, intent on enslaving her world. Will Celaena find the strength to not only fight her inner demons, but to take on the evil that is about to be unleashed?

 

Last night I finished this book!  Book three is done!  I really wanted to see what was going to happen with Celaena’s journey.  Well quite a lot happened in this book.  Some of it shocked and some of it made me want to read more and more and more.   I was up late reading this but it was so worth it.

 Did Celaena accomplish what she needed?

Well she must certainly did!  It took her a while to get to where she needed and boy she can kick butt.  Her power…..her strength..her weakness…it all connects.   Her real name is Aelin.  It took me a while to get used to that but it feels like she prefers Celaena.

Her past is mentioned more in this book which makes sense to me.  Pretty hardcore stuff Celaena went through.

I enjoyed the new character Rowan in this book who is similar to Celaena in a way and yet he is a bit more hard core.  Rowan had to help Celaena achieve her greatness.  Some of it was harsh and yet some of it was playful.  At first I wasn’t sure what to make of him but as the story goes on, I learned more about Rowan.  I am not going to tell you everything about him because you need to read the book.   There are reasons why Rowan is hardcore and such an amazing warrior.  Towards the end of the book, I can see him realizing to feel again which I believe is good for him.   I hope to see more of him in the future books.

While the book mainly focused on Celaena, it also had two other plots going on…well more like other events going on in different cities at the same time.  That’s how I saw it.  It took me about 6 chapters in to realize this.

Back to the town where Chaol and Prince Dorian.. more drama happens.  I could see Chaol trying to figure out where his loyalties lie.  Sooooo much is going on here.   Prince Dorian is even struggling with the concept that he has magic and friendship with Chaol and Celaena.  He even ends up falling for a healer named Sorcha which had sweet moments.

Aedion, the fierce general and Celaena’s cousin ends up meeting with Chaol and Prince Dorian.  More drama and action comes into place.  Everyone ends up making a decision which allows them to realize there is no turning back.

The other plot is all about the evil iron witches.  Gosh they are so brutal and scary. I would not want to mess with them.  Manon, ferocious heir to the Blackbeak witch coven is mostly covered in this plot about her strength to be a leader.   She is blood thirsty.

Somehow all these events are going to tie in with Celaena somehow I think.  We shall see….

Anyone else read these series?

Posted in currently reading, supernatural, vampires, Young Adult Fantasy

Currently Reading

Currently reading these books for myself…slowly…. we shall how long it takes me to read them.

Heir

Celaena has survived deadly contests and shattering heartbreak-but at an unspeakable cost. Now, she must travel to a new land to confront her darkest truth . . . a truth about her heritage that could change her life-and her future-forever. Meanwhile, brutal and monstrous forces are gathering on the horizon, intent on enslaving her world. Will Celaena find the strength to not only fight her inner demons, but to take on the evil that is about to be unleashed?

Author: Sarah J. Maas

So far so good…I’m past chapter two…hoping to read more.  The reason why I’m reading this book is because I read the first two books and want to keep going to see what happens to Celaena.  She kicks butt!

 

Twi

For someone who’s been around for over a hundred and forty years, immortal Elspeth Argeneau hasn’t done a whole lot of living. Now that she’s moved away from her controlling mother, she’s tracking down rogue vampires and enjoying some overdue freedom. A fling would be fun. A life mate can wait. Yet to Elspeth’s surprise, her landlady’s hot grandson checks both boxes.

Wyatt fell instantly in love with Elspeth four years ago. He’s stunned to run into her again, especially as she has no memory of him. Then again, there are a lot of things about Elspeth that don’t make sense, like the miraculous speed with which her wounds heal. And the chemistry that transforms every touch into an explosion of desire. But with mysterious “accidents” besieging Elspeth, the ex-Special Forces soldier appoints himself her bodyguard. But time is running out to uncover the truth about her enemies—and rediscover the man determined to love her for eternity.

Author Lynsay Sands

I picked this book up because it has vampires!  Yes if you follow my blog you know I like reading fiction/romance vampires.  I think about 5 chapters in so far…  I like how Elspeth is annoyed at her mother.   The romance between Wyatt is slowly starting here.  More updates soon.  Isn’t the cover awesome too?  

Posted in action, paranormal, vampires, young adult, Young Adult Fantasy

What I Have Read

 

These are the books that I have read during the pandemic!  I have enjoyed them all.  Have you read these?

CRAVE

My whole world changed when I stepped inside the academy. Nothing is right about this place or the other students in it. Here I am, a mere mortal among gods…or monsters. I still can’t decide which of these warring factions I belong to, if I belong at all. I only know the one thing that unites them is their hatred of me.

Then there’s Jaxon Vega. A vampire with deadly secrets who hasn’t felt anything for a hundred years. But there’s something about him that calls to me, something broken in him that somehow fits with what’s broken in me.
Which could spell death for us all.

Because Jaxon walled himself off for a reason. And now someone wants to wake a sleeping monster, and I’m wondering if I was brought here intentionally―as the bait.

Author: Tracy Wolff

I had to read this book because — vampires!   It is so good….unexpected events!   I am so looking forward to book 2 this coming fall. 

 

 

THRONE

After serving out a year of hard labor in the salt mines of Endovier for her crimes, 18-year-old assassin Celaena Sardothien is dragged before the Crown Prince. Prince Dorian offers her her freedom on one condition: she must act as his champion in a competition to find a new royal assassin.

Her opponents are men-thieves and assassins and warriors from across the empire, each sponsored by a member of the king’s council. If she beats her opponents in a series of eliminations, she’ll serve the kingdom for three years and then be granted her freedom.

Celaena finds her training sessions with the captain of the guard, Westfall, challenging and exhilirating. But she’s bored stiff by court life. Things get a little more interesting when the prince starts to show interest in her… but it’s the gruff Captain Westfall who seems to understand her best.

Then one of the other contestants turns up dead… quickly followed by another. Can Celaena figure out who the killer is before she becomes a victim? As the young assassin investigates, her search leads her to discover a greater destiny than she could possibly have imagined.

Author: Sarah J. Maas

Why did I not start this book earlier?  What is wrong with me……it is soo good.  I love how Celaena survives.  I enjoy how she thinks and how she slowly changes a bit each time.   She has quite a task to do in the first book here.   

 

Crown

After a year of hard labor in the Salt Mines of Endovier, eighteen-year-old assassin Celaena Sardothien has won the king’s contest to become the new royal assassin. But Calaena is far from loyal to the crown. Keeping up the charade – while pretending to do the king’s bidding – will test her skills in an entirely new way. And it certainly isn’t the only point of confusion for the young girl. Because though she’s made her choice between Dorian and Chaol, the ways of the heart are never simple…

I had to keep going….yup!   Celaena won…and now she is doing something that will test her heart.  More adventures, more drama.   She is on a mission to find the truth.  Will she get to it?  Will she get peace? 

 

Storm

Eighteen-year-old Trinity may be going blind, but she can see and communicate with ghosts and spirits. Her gift is the reason she’s been in hiding for years in a compound guarded by Wardens—shape-shifters who protect humankind from demons. If the demons discover the truth about Trinity, they’ll devour her to enhance their powers.

When Wardens from another clan arrive with reports that something is killing both demons and Wardens, Trinity’s world implodes. Not the least because one of the outsiders is the most annoying and fascinating person she’s ever met. Zayne has secrets of his own—but working together becomes imperative once demons breach the compound and Trinity’s secret comes to light. To save her family and maybe the world, she’ll have to trust Zayne. But all bets are off as a supernatural war is unleashed…

Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout

I reread this….so good!   I love the interaction between Trinity and Zayne.  Action, drama, and perhaps romance..  Trinity also learns quite a few things about how the outer world works and how Zayne works.   Even when Roth makes an appearance in the book is awesome.

Rage

Half-angel Trinity and her bonded gargoyle protector, Zayne, have been working with demons to stop the apocalypse while avoiding falling in love. The Harbinger is coming…but who or what is it? All of humankind may fall if Trinity and Zayne can’t win the race against time as dark forces gather.

As tensions rise, they must stay close together and patrol the DC streets at night, seeking signs of the Harbinger, an entity that is killing Wardens and demons with no seeming rhyme or reason. Forbidden to be with each other, Zayne and Trinity fight their feelings and turn to unusual sources for help—the demon Roth and his cohorts. But as deaths pile up and they uncover a sinister plot involving the local high school and endangering someone dear to Zayne, Trin realizes she is being led…herded…played for some unknown end. As anger builds and feelings spiral out of control, it becomes clear that rage may be the ruin of them all.

Book 2 : it is a must!  Just wow.  The ending had me wanting more.  Cliff hanger endings!!   Trinity and Zayne fighting against evil and learning about themselves in the process showed me that life is always about learning.    I love the interaction between Trinity, Zayne, Roth and Layla.   Even Cayman is funny as heck.  I want the next book now.