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On a re-reading spree. BRB

#rereading #romantasy #nothing new here

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"Heir of Fire" by Sarah J Maas

CAUTION: SPOILERS FOR "THRONE OF GLASS" AND "CROWN OF MIDNIGHT"

"Heir of Fire" begins with Celaena slumming in Wendlyn after she's sent there on her latest mission from the King of Adarlan. Wendlyn sits across the sea from Erilea and the city of Adarlan, so we spend most of this book being introduced to new characters in an ever-growing plot.

This book is told from all different perspectives. We get Celaena's perspective, of course, but we also get Choal and Dorian's perspectives back in Adarlan, and we are introduced to a totally new character and plot outside of currently-known characters. I will admit that I was far less interested in what was going on with anyone other than Celaena most of the time. I had to keep myself from skimming over the chapters that didn't focus on her as much. HOWEVER, those other perspectives are so important to read so that we understand what's going on in the big picture. I'm sure everything comes together eventually, but I just have to get through it.

I will also admit that I want more romance. When I started this series, I was really convinced there would be a lot more romance than there has been. I came from the world of Feyre and Bryce, who were written as adult romance characters - for adults - so my hopes were high in that department, if not misplaced. This series has so far been focused mostly on PLOT with romance as an afterthought. I'm not disappointed, just yearning for that intense romantical element that I'm used to when reading SJM. There are still four more books in the series, though, so I'm not judging too harshly too soon...

There's not much more I can say about this without giving too much away... Celaena is steadily uncovering the mysteries that plague her, her friends, and all of Erilea. We dive a lot deeper into the story, which has increased in its brutality and creepiness. SJM does an incredible job at world-building and describing her characters, creatures, and environments. More than once, I had to put the book down and take a breath - reminding myself that it wasn't real. It has been a little intense for me, but so good. I can't wait to get through this series, but am also savoring this first read-through because I know that when it's over I'll never get these moments of unknowing back.

BY THE WAY, I want to say a huge thank you to the SJM fandom for being the literal best at not giving away spoilers. I follow a lot of accounts on multiple platforms, this series has been out for quite some time, and I am uncovering every little bit as if I have never heard anything about it before. BECAUSE I REALLY HAVEN'T. You guys are the best. Thank you.

#throne of glass #sarah j maas #heir of fire #book review #crown of midnight

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"Crown of Midnight" by Sarah J Maas

"Crown of Midnight" picks up almost immediately where "Throne of Glass" ends. Celaena, aka Adarlan's Assassin, aka Elentiya, is now the King's Champion, making a living doing his bidding. The story progresses nicely, but focuses much more on figuring out the mysteries of the castle and whatever the King of Adarlan is hiding. She gets closer to the friends we meet in the first book, but there's still so much to uncover about Celaena that it is probably foolish to get too comfortable too soon.

Sarah J Maas is weaving an intricate story, and I am pretty ecstatic that this series is seven books long. As I predicted, it is only getting better as I continue through.

Although this series is labeled for young adults, SJM doesn't shy away from brutality. There's a lot less romance thus far, but a lot more gore - killing and hunting and an overall carelessness for humanity. These are defining characteristics throughout the story, so I'd say be prepared for morally greyness throughout.

I anticipate a lot of sadness in this series, a lot of disappointment - not in the story or the writing, but in empathy with the characters. They are growing on me and I want to see them in a happy ending... We shall see how this goes.

I have already read "Heir of Fire" and am currently reading "Queen of Shadows," so lookout for those reviews soon!

#throne of glass #crown of midnight #sarah j maas #celaena sardothien #book review

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"Throne of the Glass" by Sarah J Maas

"Throne of the Glass" is the series that started it all.

This book follows Celaena, aka Adarlan's Assassin, as she is tested against criminals of all backgrounds to become the King's Champion and ultimately gain her freedom after she's been imprisoned.

There's a lot going on in this world. It's been/being conquered by the King of Adarlan, whose banishment and censorship of magic has resulted in death, imprisonment, enslavement, and ignorance for peoples across the continent. Some try to fight back, but he is deadly and generally considered to be the most powerful man to exist. However, Celaena is desperate for freedom and becoming the King's Champion means that one day she'll be able to live on her own terms. I rooted for her the entire way through this book.

I expected "Throne of Glass" to be a lot more romance-heavy than it was. But I'm not disappointed that it wasn't. This plot needed the attention and SJM delivered. I also expect that there will be more romance throughout the series, and this first book is just scratching the surface of what's to come. That's something I can glean, not from knowing SJM, but from this plot itself. There are so many elements here that have to be explored - so many mysteries and unanswered questions. I cannot wait.

I already love the cast of characters here. I don't know how she does it, but SJM writes her characters to be the perfect mix of annoying and lovable. And the antagonists are perfectly evil.

I waited so long to read "Throne of Glass." I have some catching up to do.

#throne of glass #sarah j maas #book review

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"Rule of the Aurora King" by Nisha J. Tuli

I have mixed feelings about "Rule of the Aurora King," honestly. I really liked the first book and was excited about this one, but it failed to deliver what I was expecting - and what it more or less promised.

Caution: There may be some spoilers ahead.

This book starts out shortly after the first one ends (with Lor being... rescued? Kidnapped? from the Sun King's palace by the Aurora Prince and his companions). "Rule of the Aurora King" initially advertises that Lor is being hunted by the Sun King and must stay "on the move." I just didn't get that in this book at all. We do not hear from the Sun King NOT ONCE. We know nothing about what he's doing or what his plans are. The Sun King is mentioned maybe twice altogether (as well as most of the characters from "Trial of the Sun Queen"), which is so strange because of how possessive he was over Lor in the first book. And from what we know, he really needed Lor. I fully expected him to be hunting her down, but he's hardly mentioned. I also wouldn't say that she spends her time "on the move" because of the Sun King, either. In my opinion, she's not "on the move" at all.

Lor and Nadir, the Aurora Prince, spend the entirety of this book pining for each other under the guise of searching for the Crown of Heart. Most of that search takes place in the Aurora Keep, where the royal family officially resides... and that's about the sum of this book.

The main focus of "Rule of the Aurora King" is definitely the relationship - or non-relationship - between Lor and Nadir. And I am left very wanting. I had so much hope for these two in the beginning, but I quickly realized that they were not two characters I believe are meant to be. Maybe it just wasn't my type of romance, but I cringed every time I read them together. When Lor thought she was being clever with her snarky-ness, when Nadir thought he was keeping his distance by being a complete ass - the more I read, the more I wanted them to never speak to each other again. Everything seemed forced, and I was pretty much confused the whole time about what they were doing.

AND THE NICKNAME. At what point is that going to stop? Because I can't read another book where he keeps calling her that. I almost put this book down every time I read that because WHY.

Like I said, maybe it's just me, but "Rule of the Aurora King" was not what I wanted or anticipated. The plot needed so much more attention and less repetition about how much the narrator hated the Aurora King because of this or that. The main characters are disturbing and cringey, and I do not get "romance" from them whatsoever. It's weird, it's insensitive, it's cringe. It's not for me.

#rule of the aurora king #nisha j tuli #book review #artifacts of Ouranos #book two #trial of the sun queen

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"Trial of the Sun Queen" by Nisha J. Tuli

"Trial of the Sun Queen" was everything from my favorite fantasy romance novels in one book, and I can tell it's only going to get better. Think: "The Selection"/"The Hunger Games"/ACOTAR/"The Prison Healer"

This story follows Lor, a long-time prisoner of Nostraza, located in The Aurora. She escapes from Nostraza and ends up in the Sun Queen Trials, in Aphelion, much to her (and my) confusion. The big question: Why is she there? What's so special about her? That's what everyone is wondering, but only the Sun and Aurora Kings seem to know. And unsurprisingly, this question doesn't get fully answered for the reader. Although, you should get the hint right at the end. Honestly, I had even more questions at that point, but at least one of the greater mysteries was solved - sort of.

"Trial of the Sun Queen" is also written in dual perspectives. Nadir, the Aurora Prince, spent this installment trying to discover Lor's identity and would stop at nothing for answers. His perspective was told through only a few chapters and I would have loved to read more of him. I'm hoping we get a lot more of him in the next book.

Anyway, Lor faced off in the Sun Queen Trials with 8 Fae females, and it's exactly what it sounds like. They were competing to become the Sun Queen, but it wasn't as simple as that... I was genuinely confused for a lot of this book, asking questions that I didn't know who had the answers to. I was suspicious of everyone, along with Lor who really couldn't trust anyone.

I have mixed feelings about the cast of characters in this book. Gabriel, for one, was someone I really wanted to love. I kept waiting for one redeeming instance that would turn my opinion, but I ended up just really not liking him at all. And most everyone else besides Atlas (the Sun King) and Nadir, really didn't get enough page time for me to get a good idea of their character. "Trial of the Sun Queen" really focused on Lor and told most of her story through her inner monologues.

All in all, I think this book was a massive hit for me. I bought it yesterday and am already done, which is a feat as of late. I'm glad "Trial of the Sun Queen" is the first book that I've read to get me back in my reading groove. I've already bought the second installment, "Rule of the Aurora King," and will be reading it tomorrow.

#trial of the sun queen #ouranos artefacts #nisha j tuli #book review #rule of the aurora king

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Hi! Ok so your last post was in October, so idk if youre very active on here, but i do have another rec for you.

The Serpent and the Wings of Night by Carissa Broadbent. Its dark, but on the YA side (no smut but lots of dark themes ; murder, blood, genocide, poverty etc) its Vampires with a human FMC who fights against vampires in a bloody contest to the death. Lots of world building and the end is so good. Highly recommend

Yes! I'm not as active as I used to be because I had a baby in November, but I haven't abandoned ship. I just haven't had as much time to read, but have lots of plans!! Thanks for the rec!!! I can't wait to read it for myself :)

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"The Blood Traitor" by Lynette Noni

"The Blood Traitor" is the third (and final) installment in "The Prison Healer" series, and it is a truly grand finale.

"The Blood Traitor" relies heavily on the theme of addiction to tell part of the story. So, if you're sensitive to that, tread lightly.

This final part of the series begins with Kiva facing the fallout of her sister's scheme. She's abandoned and broken, but she befriends an unlikely ally, who seems to be hiding her own secrets. They get through some pretty tough situations until they are separated and the story really begins to take off.

I realize the more I get to know Kiva, the more I cannot understand how she's survived so long on her own. It's actually unbelievable. She's not the fierce heroine that she should be due to her experiences; at least not in my opinion. I wasn't too bothered by this, but it was a little annoying for her to be in constant need of someone's aid - especially after she supposedly survived by herself for so long in Zalindov.

Caution: Spoilers Ahead

Speaking of Zalindov, I was a little disappointed in this series as a whole due to the lack of Zalindov in the second and third books. The series is called "The Prison Healer," but the prison is only briefly revisited in the last book. I would have loved to see more of the story play out in Zalindov - this prison that is supposedly impenetrable, yet somehow these characters keep getting out. The prison was fascinating in book one. It made for a very unique story, but that was about all we got from it.

This book also lacks in the romance department, quite like the others did, but I never felt like I missed it. There were enough platonic interactions with so many of the other characters that it made up for the two main characters who were essentially ignoring each other.

"The Blood Traitor" was definitely more intriguing than "The Gilded Cage," in my opinion, but neither of the books hold up to "The Prison Healer." Despite that, "The Blood Traiter" was faster-paced and genuinely entertaining. The reader got to experience more of Wenderall, however, I would have loved for that to not have been so rushed. Those other kingdoms were truly fascinating and I would love to see a spin-off where Lynette Noni writes more about them.

I also have to say that some of the plot points and resolutions were a bit elementary. I would have wished for things to be less... superficial? Alas, I think that's the YA element once again giving me just a smidge less than I want. So, the novel can't be blamed for that one - I think that just comes with the territory of YA.

I'm not dissatisfied with this book, or this series. It turned out how I hoped, and I really liked these characters and their endings. There were so many plot twists that I didn't count on and I was kept guessing throughout. Lynette Noni really did a wonder with this series. Though it's not on my all-time favorites list, I'm glad I read it. And I'm still glad for the recommendation (sorry for the time it took me to get through it).

#book review #the prison healer #the blood traitor #the gilded cage #lynette noni

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"The Gilded Cage" by Lynette Noni

"The Gilded Cage" begins as Kiva navigates her newfound freedom outside of Zalindov. She grows closer to Jaren, is re-introduced to her siblings, and finds herself becoming more and more comfortable at the River Palace surrounded by the royal family.

Jaren and Kiva in "The Gilded Cage" had a relationship that was a non-relationship. Obviously, they liked (loved?) each other, but neither one of them made any moves WHATSOEVER. I can understand Kiva's resistance to get very close to Jaren since she was determining where her loyalties lied the entire novel, but Jaren neglected so many opportunities to be straight-forward with Kiva. I can't totally blame him because a lot of his hesitation came from respecting Kiva and giving her the space he thought she needed. Kiva went through so much in her ten years at Zalindov, and there was no real reason (in his mind) for them to rush into anything. Still, I think just a little more romance would have been nice.

This book introduces us to a whole new cast of characters outside of Zalindov. We learn a lot about the two rival families: the Corentines and the Vallentises as we meet each member and are introduced to the important role they play in the story. And everyone plays an important role here. It's pretty easy to keep up, though, because there aren't too many names being thrown at the reader. Each time we meet someone new, we see them frequently enough that we don't really forget who they are.

Personally, I didn't know what to expect from this installment. Obviously, I wanted Jaren and Kiva to really go for it, which they really didn't. And I was genuinely unsure what Kiva would decide was most important to her. She was between a rock and hard place and had some very difficult decisions to make. I was with her 100% and the little twists added by the author was a nice touch in the middle of the turmoil and loneliness that Kiva was undoubtedly enduring.

Overall, "The Gilded Cage" was a decent read. I didn't love it as much as "The Prison Healer," but I was impressed and intrigued throughout the novel. I'm excited to read "The Blood Traitor" and finally see how this all comes to close!!

#book review #the prison healer #the gilded cage #lynette noni

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"Once Upon a Broken Heart" by Stephanie Garber

"Once Upon a Broken Heart" is the first book in a trilogy that seems like it will definitely be worth the read (and the wait!).

This story follows Evangeline who, through heartbreaking circumstances, ends up making a deal with an infamous magic being who is rumored to be cunning and unpredictable. If you've read Garber's "Caraval" series, then you've already met Jacks.

In this story, Jacks is not what he appears to be, or what he appeared to be in the previous trilogy. He's definitely not an angel, but we are able to see him thaw a little towards Evangeline. And it is a thawing because there's not a whole lot of "romance" in this one.

I was a worried initially because I really wanted this book to give me something in the direction of romance. The title wasn't promising romance, and the description wasn't really giving me anything either (and for me to expect any different was absolutely on me). However, I'm very happy with the direction I see this story going. Granted, I am positive that I will have to read every book in this trilogy before finally having my breath taken away by that blessed feeling of falling in love, but from what I know of Garber, she always gives us something. I'm guessing we'll have enough to hold onto throughout each installment that we'll want to keep reading and rooting for Evangeline and Jacks.

What Garber didn't really give us so much was world-building. I, personally, didn't miss it too much because I was so focused on what was going on with Evangeline. It becomes pretty clear that Jacks isn't the only one hiding things from her and I don't anticipate her misfortune letting up any time soon. Regardless, it's hard for me to picture in my head the world that Garber set this story in. Evangeline travels somewhere north of where "Legendary" and "Finale" are set - where fairytales, myths, and legends hold some grain of truth. She is sent there by the newly-established Empress Scarlett Dragna to meet the crowned prince and serve as an ambassador on behalf of Valenda and the Meridian Empire. But I don't really know much about the actual place of The Magnificent North. Once again, from what I know of Garber, I'm certain she'll reveal even more to us as we continue reading the rest of the series.

The ending of "Once Upon a Broken Heart" definitely shocked me into a "I-can't-believe-she-just-ended-it-like-that!" state. Garber definitely wanted her readers to come back. So, I immediately bought the second book, "The Ballad of Never After" on my Kindle. And that review will be coming soon(-ish).

Sidenote #1: I read one review that stated something along the lines of "this book was just a setup for sequels." I have to agree, I think. It's pretty clear that this first installment is just a taste of what will come, but that's definitely not a deterrent for me. I want the subsequent books to be better and tell me more and make me feel all the things. To each their own, of course, but I wasn't entirely put-off by the idea that this book was just an introduction. In fact, thinking of it like that only makes me more excited for part two!

Sidenote #2: I haven't been posting as much because I haven't been reading as much. Last year, I think I read so many good books that I set myself up for failure because it's been so hard for me to keep interest in some of the stories I've been trying to read. I have some on my TBR list that I was waiting to buy in paperback, but will probably just get on my Kindle so I can go ahead and read try them out. That being said, book recommendations are appreciated. :)

#book review #stephanie garber #once upon a broken heart

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"Tuesdays with Morrie" by Mitch Albom

"Tuesdays with Morrie" is a nonfiction story about "an old man, a young man, and life's greatest lesson." It was such a beautiful and kind story. It was happy and sad at the same time, and I'm so glad I read it.

"Tuesdays with Morrie" is a story about Mitch Albom and his relationship with his old college professor - the one he hasn't seen since Mitch told him at graduation that he would "keep in touch." One day, Mitch learns something that brings him back to his professor. They begin to meet every Tuesday and talk about life - its challenges and its blessings - and how it looks from this old man's perspective.

It's truly one of the best books I've read, and at 192 pages it's also one of the easiest. I plan on reading this book several times over the course of my life as I hope to remember those precious lessons and aphorisms. And looking beneath the surface - reading between the lines, as they say - there is even more to be learned.

#tuesdays with morrie #book review #mitch albom #25th anniversary edition

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"Crave" by Tracy Wolff

"Crave" is a story filled with teen romance, drama, and angst - and it's almost exactly what you might expect it to be.

I'm going to say up front that I didn't finish this one. I really liked it at first, but towards the end and I got bored and didn't care to finish it.

"Crave" follows a girl named Grace who has experienced a family tragedy and is sent to live at the boarding school that her uncle runs in Alaska. However, everything is not as it seems and she - not very quickly - finds out the truth behind the school and its students. Immediately upon her arrival, she meets a dark and broody guy named Jaxon that she (and several others) has deemed dangerous. Despite that, she can't seem to stay away...

If you're thinking this sounds familiar it's because it is. I understand that there are very popular stories of this genre out there and writing anything remotely similar will bear you in front of the die-hards that live and breathe those stories. This book is popular, but doesn't have the best reviews on Goodreads for this very reason. It's deemed predictable and unoriginal, and the main character can be incredibly frustrating to read. All of these are true - which is partly why I wanted to read it.

For me, "Crave" was one of those books that I chose to read because I wanted to read a story very much like another story I read, but I didn't want to re-read the first story over and over. "Crave" was the solution. And I thought it was a fairly good read. I liked the drama, the angst, the brooding - at first. But that was all this book was. It was very much a back and forth between Grace and Jaxon about how he was dangerous, but they were also falling for each other. A play on the "stay-away" - "no, come here!" cliché. Personally, I thought it got old pretty quickly. I had maybe a little over 100 pages left and couldn't bring myself to finish it. I think myself a little hypocritical because in the beginning I liked the book for the exact same reasons that I didn't like it in the end. I guess it is fair to expect that some things might change throughout the book, which is why I think this one left me a little disappointed.

I can't say I didn't like "Crave," because I did despite not finishing it. I may even try to read it again one day. Who knows? For now, it will sit on my DNF shelf patiently awaiting its chance at redemption.

#book review #crave #tracy wolff

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"A Girl Called Samson" by Amy Harmon

"A Girl Called Samson" is about a girl... named Deborah Samson who wants more out of life than what has been set before her.

Deborah has lived basically all of her life as an indentured servant due to her mother's inability to take care of her and her siblings after their father walked out on them. Deborah's indentured service to her latest family led her to resent womanhood and the limitations it rendered in 18th century America.

These limitations led Deborah to test the chains that held her back from fulfilling her self-proclaimed life's purpose of serving in the Revolutionary Army. And we know, from deductive reasoning and the book's description, that she successfully broke those chains, defied her womanhood, and fought for her young country's independence. Along the way, Deborah experienced extreme loss, love, and acceptance.

"A Girl Called Samson" ultimately disappointed me. I love Amy Harmon and her stories. I love the way she writes about love and hope and courage. This book fell short of my expectations, which were admittedly pretty high. Deborah Samson rejected her womanhood. She was naïve and immature. She was almost totally without feeling, which is the exact opposite of the type of characters Harmon traditionally writes. She fell in love, but even that seemed more like a business transaction than it did a heartfelt desire.

Overall, I would summarize this book as bland. There were some exciting and devastating moments as I read through it, but it wasn't enough to make me love Deborah or her story. In fact, I really didn't like Deborah. She was entirely too dispassionate for someone who had the courage to defy herself and her life's circumstances, dress up like a boy, and fight for a country she claimed to love. I was severely unimpressed with her, and I was fully expecting to fall in love with her. And maybe that made it worse - that my expectations were so high. But Amy Harmon has effectively set such a high standard that I just knew this book was going to be stellar. When it wasn't, it made the sting of disappointment that much worse, I guess.

I still love Amy Harmon. I am still going to be excited for her future works. I still treasure her stories, just not this one so much.

If you're venturing to read this book, I'd say go for it, if you want. If you do end up disappointed however, don't swear off Amy Harmon's books for good. She has a massive arsenal of works that will make your head spin and heart stop.

#a girl called samson #amy harmon #book review

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"Love on the Brain" by Ali Hazelwood

Hazelwood definitely has a style, and I LOVE IT. It's quirky, funny, and brilliant, but also down-to-earth and relatable. I loved "The Love Hypothesis," which is exactly why I also love "Love on the Brain."

"Love on the Brain" follows Bee as she undertakes a new career-advancement project with NASA. Unfortunately (or maybe, fortunately) this new project has her working alongside her archenemy from grad school, the broodingly handsome and disturbingly unapproachable Levi Ward. As they work together, truths come to light and Bee becomes increasingly naïve over the things that are right in front of her (as Hazelwood's characters have a tendency of being). But in Bee's defense, Levi was extremely standoffish and pretty hostile towards her for several years for no real reason. Regardless, the chemistry between these two characters made me feel a lot of the things I want to feel when I'm reading a romance and I enjoyed every second of this story.

A little bit about Bee: She has a twin sister who she is rarely able to see; she's orphaned and has been on her own for many years now; she's experienced the type of betrayal that's made her swear off any type of long-term attachments; and she's obsessed with Marie Curie.

A little bit about Levi: He has been secretly in love with the same woman for years but no one, including this woman, knows anything about it because those feelings were well-hidden behind instances of some severely misplaced assholery.

If you've read "The Love Hypothesis," then you might be familiar with the theme here. But I personally don't think there's anything very wrong with writing similar stories. Sure, you want to change it up, and Hazelwood did in every way that mattered. The story is just similar enough that it gives the reader all the things they love about her romance writing-style, but she is also writing a completely different story. (If you're sensing that I'm a little defensive about this, it's because I've seen reviewers ripping Hazelwood's work apart because "The Love Hypothesis" and "Love on the Brain" are so similar.) But that's why we love authors, right? Because of the types of stories they right? I love Hazelwood's storytelling. And when I want to read something like "The Love Hypothesis" and feel all the things Hazelwood makes me feel when reading, without actually re-reading "The Love Hypothesis" for the sixth time, then "Love on the Brain" is the perfect book for me. It's cheesy and romantic and just plain good.

Reading Hazelwood is like reading a rom-com and I LOVE A ROM-COM. I love her characters, her style, her intense genius that flies off the page. So many references go over my head because I am not involved in the science field, but that's also partly why I love it so much. It transports me to this whole other world that I know almost nothing about, but I feel like I belong there anyway.

I'll read "Love on the Brain" over and over because there's something I just love about it. And I will definitely be reading her new book "Love, Theoretically" when it comes out this fall.

Maybe this book isn't for everyone and that's okay. I get it. It is cheesy and weird and so, so obvious. But that's exactly why I love it. So, if you're like me and you liked "The Love Hypothesis" enough to read it several times, then yes, read this book. Immediately.

#Love on the Brain #Ali Hazelwood #book review #the love hypothesis

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Literary history that happened on 16 March

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Just here. Patiently waiting for books to be released in paperback (the superior version).

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“Home is not where you were born; home is where all your attempts to escape cease.”

— Naguib Mahfouz