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Review: A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas

Dec6
Review: A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. MaasA Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas
Series: A Court of Thorns and Roses #2
Published by Bloomsbury USA Childrens on May 3, 2016
Pages: 624
Format: Hardcover
Buy on Amazon
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five-stars

Feyre survived Amarantha's clutches to return to the Spring Court—but at a steep cost. Though she now has the powers of the High Fae, her heart remains human, and it can't forget the terrible deeds she performed to save Tamlin's people.

Nor has Feyre forgotten her bargain with Rhysand, High Lord of the feared Night Court. As Feyre navigates its dark web of politics, passion, and dazzling power, a greater evil looms—and she might be key to stopping it. But only if she can harness her harrowing gifts, heal her fractured soul, and decide how she wishes to shape her future—and the future of a world torn apart.

PLEASE NOTE: THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS.
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Seriously.. Stop RIGHT HERE if you don’t want to be spoiled!
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I want to start by saying that I’m starting this review on the same day I finished the book, which means I’m still feeling broken and dazed. So I’m probably going to be slightly.. or completely.. incoherent Also, there are MASSIVE spoilers below. There’s no way this book can be reviewed without spoilers. So STOP RIGHT HERE if you DO NOT want to be spoiled.

Also, this is going to be a loooooong review, so bear with me.

ONE LAST SPOILER WARNING.

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A Court of Mist and Fury (ACOMAF) broke me. I am broken. I am liquified feels. I can’t breathe. I can’t think. My heart has been ripped out of my chest, shattered into a million pieces and stomped on. This book hangover I have will likely last until May 2, 2017 when A Court of Wings and Ruin comes out and I can gobble the story down within days. I thought A Court of Thorns and Roses (ACOTAR) was amazing, but I was wrong – I mean, it was really good. But ACOMAF was BEYOND amazing. It was a higher level of amazing that ACOTAR could never ever come close to reaching. I don’t think ANY book can come close to the level of amazing that was ACOMAF. I’ve never been able to answer the question, “what’s your favorite book?” But after reading ACOMAF, I can. I can 100% say this book is my absolute favorite book ever.

Feyre was BRILLIANT in ACOMAF. And that’s saying a lot, because she was AMAZING in ACOTAR. But it wasn’t possible for her to reach her full potential as a human in the Spring Court. No, Feyre as an immortal Faerie in the Night Court was.. Destined. Fated. Meant to be. I was debating going back and reading ACOTAR again because I feel like I’d see it SO differently, but then I thought.. How could I get through it? I loved it and it’ll always be a favorite, but… Re-reading ACOTAR would mean having to see Feyre in the Spring Court again. It would mean seeing her human again, vulnerable and with Tamlin… *Vomits*

Okay, yeah, I loved Tamlin in ACOTAR. But that’s because he was basically all we knew, except for the few times Rhys showed up. But now that I’ve seen Feyre with Rhys, I know she was never meant to be with Tamlin. He was too possessive, too dominating. He held her back, refused to let her spread her wings and fly (see what I did there?). And his behavior in ACOMAF is unforgivable, especially his betrayal at the end. I wanted to KILL him. I wanted to smack him so hard, his head would spin. He was so possessive of Feyre, so sure she belonged to him, that he refused to believe she was better off without him. God forbid someone be happy away from him. It was a completely foreign concept to him. He never treated Feyre like an equal. He never even treated her like a person; rather, he treated her like a possession.

Feyre was so broken in the beginning, so lost and withering away.. At first, when Rhys brought her to the Night Court, I wasn’t sure how to feel. I loved his wickedness, but I was weary of him, of whether or not I should trust him. But as time passed, I shipped him and Feyre so hard, it can’t even be described in words. HE HELD HER HAIR BACK WHILE SHE VOMITED! TAMLIN DIDN’T EVEN WAKE UP – OR PRETENDED HE WASN’T AWAKE, AT LEAST. LIKE… THE FEARSOME HIGH LORD OF THE NIGHT COURT HELD FEYRE’S HAIR BACK WHILE SHE VOMITED FROM HER NIGHTMARES. He had my heart from that moment on.

Feyre and Rhys together were dynamite. The sexual tension, the heat, the lust and the intensity between them was unbelievable. How could I EVER have shipped her with Tamlin the baby jerk? They were partners, equals, mates (!!!!!), bonded so deeply, even the King of Hybern couldn’t break their bond. They were snarky and sarcastic with each other, but the love and attraction always thawed the bite of that snarkiness. Their banter was banter for the ages! Rhys treated Feyre like an equal, like her opinions and feelings matter. He trained her so she could protect herself. He gave her space when she needed it and stepped in when she didn’t realize she needed that contact and support. He helped heal her heart in subtle ways, and she didn’t even realize. Even letting her go with him on important court business… it’s more than Tamlin let her do. Tamlin coddled her, told her it was too dangerous. But Rhys let her decide on her own what she could and couldn’t handle. That alone made him the better man.

Also, can I just say how hard I laughed every time Feyre called Rhys an insufferable bastard. It was so fitting!

Feyre’s character development in this was so wonderful and perfect and it felt so right. She was so strong and so brave. I loved her training and exploring her powers and her full potential. I loved that Rhys let her do that, let her grow and do what she needed to do to heal. I can say with absolute certainty that Rhys and Feyre are my absolute favorite Book Ship ever. They are my Bookish OTP. They are relationship goals. And Rhys making Feyre High Lady of the Night Court? icing on the cake.

Mor, Cassian, Azriel and Amren were squad goals. They were amazing. I loved the friendship between Mor and Feyre. I loved that, despite Rhy being her High Lord, Mor was still her own person, who didn’t bow down to his intimidation (unlike that lap dog Lucien, but we’ll get to that soon). When Feyre needed space and needed to get away, Mor helped her, without hesitation. YA needs more epic female friendships, with women supporting women. Cassian was another favorite of mine. He was so fierece and loyal to Rhys. And he protected Feyre when it was necessary, and without hesitation. He was also hilarious and snarky. I loved the direction he and Nesta were going in… Interested to see what her forced transformation will mean for them.

Azriel scared me a bit, but his steadfast loyalty was incredible. I was so terrified for him near the end.. for Cassian, as well. I didn’t trust Azriel at all in the beginning and I’m not totally sure why. Maybe because I wasn’t yet sure if anyone from the Night Court could be trusted. And if Azriel scared me a bit, Amren completely terrified me. But I was fascinated by her and her story. I can’t wait to learn more about her and her past.

Finally, Lucien… Dude, what a pathetic welp. I used to like Lucien. But he was just a condescending prick in ACOMAF. He was Tamlin’s lap dog and he barely fought for Feyre, even when he saw what Tamlin’s iron fist was doing to her. He makes me sick, honestly. But it’s terrifying that, at the end, he could see right through Feyre’s tricks and lies. I wonder what that will mean for book three… But also, his love for Elain… The fact that they ended up being mates… ??!?!?!??! I don’t even know what to think!

Sarah J. Maas did some incredible things with this book. I think this sums it up pretty well:

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All of these are 100% true and 100% important. But think about it – “The first guy a girl meets is not her soulmate.” This was not a love triangle. In ACOTAR, it seemed as though there would be a love triangle between Feyre, Tamlin and Lucien… Then maybe a love triangle with Feyre, Tamlin and Rhys. But Sarah J. Maas debunked all of that when she turned Feyre so permanently away from Tamlin – and for epic, sound reasons. How many authors have ever done that? I can’t think of any off the top of my head. And the realistic depiction of anxiety, depression and PTSD? Not to mention the fact that she depicted a male recovering from sexual assault…? Like, HOW AMAZING IS SARAH J. MAAS FOR DOING THINGS RARELY DONE? Seriously, though!

AND THAT ENDING OMFG I CAN’T WITH THAT ENDING, I AM BROKEN AND I DON’T KNOW HOW TO PROCESS WHAT HAPPENED AND WTF?!?!?!?!? No, seriously, I can’t even begin to TRY to process what happened. That ending has left me so conflicted and broken and damn excited for the third book, to see Feyre take Tamlin down from within his own court. It’s going to suck, though, because it means Rhys and Feyre will be separated and who knows for how long? But I’m guessing, in true Sarah J. Maas fashion, their reunion will be filled with passion, lust and fireworks.

Wow… This turned into an epic essay, instead of a review. But I can’t even begin to tell you guys how much I loved this book. It was just such utter perfection, I can’t even begin to wrap my head around the level of perfection. I wasn’t kidding when I said this book hangover will likely last until the third book comes out! It was so amazing, so perfect, so RIGHT. I enjoyed this book 1000x more than book one. I’m anxious to see what the consequences of the ending will be. I need book three now, but I’m also terrified of it and what it will bring.

Overall, if you couldn’t tell from my super fangirly essay review, I loved A Court of Mist and Fury beyond words!! ALL THE STARS! ALL THE HEARTS!! ALL THE FEELS!!! SO BROKEN!!!! Seriously, if this isn’t on your TBR, it NEEDS TO BE! If I could give this book ten million billion x infinity stars, I would! I know I’ve said it, but I CANNOT wait for book three – which actually has a title now: A Court of Wings and Ruin, ACOWAR for short! That alone – the fact that it has the word WAR in its abbreviation – should be proof in itself that all hell is about to break lose!

five-stars

Review: Stealing Snow by Danielle Paige

Oct26

I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Review: Stealing Snow by Danielle PaigeStealing Snow by Danielle Paige
Series: Stealing Snow #1
Published by Bloomsbury USA Childrens on September 20, 2016
Pages: 375
Format: ARC
Source: the publisher
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four-stars

First kisses sometimes wake slumbering princesses, undo spells, and spark happily ever afters.

Mine broke Bale.

Seventeen-year-old Snow has spent her life locked in Whittaker Psychiatric—but she isn’t crazy. And that’s not the worst of it. Her very first kiss proves anything but innocent…when Bale, her only love, turns violent.

Despite Snow knowing that Bale would never truly hurt her, he is taken away—dashing her last hope for any sort of future in the mental ward she calls home. With nowhere else to turn, Snow finds herself drawn to a strange new orderly who whispers secrets in the night about a mysterious past and a kingdom that’s hers for the taking—if only she can find her way past the iron gates to the Tree that has been haunting her dreams.

Beyond the Tree lies Algid, a land far away from the real world, frozen by a ruthless king. And there too await the River Witch, a village boy named Kai, the charming thief Jagger, and a prophecy that Snow will save them all.

Fairy Tale retellings are my book crack. I DEVOUR them. So when I first heard about this book, I was incredibly pumped, especially since The Snow Queen isn’t used as often in retellings. But I was very disappointed with Dorothy Must Die, so I was a little bit hesitant to pick this up; however, the premise was so intriguing and curiosity got the better of me – and I’m SO glad! It was incredible and I can’t wait for book two!

I really liked Snow! She was stronger than she gave herself credit for and it was intriguing seeing her grow and change throughout her journey. Despite being a villain in the original Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale, I couldn’t help but root for her. By the end, it was obvious that she was coming into her powers and embracing her destiny. I can’t wait to see what the future has in store for her in book two!

The guys in this book were intriguing. I definitely think my favorite was Jagger – he was hilarious but also cocky and annoying – typical Mysterious YA Dude, yet I really adored him. The way his story ended… I’m anxious to see what happens next! I definitely also liked Kai, but I saw him as more of a friend than a love interest. And I never really liked Bale… There was just something about him… I don’t want to spoil anything, so I’ll leave it at that but… Yeah.

I really liked Gerde and the relationship she and Snow had. I felt so bad for her, though. I really can’t wait to see what awaits her in book two. I was also very intrigued with the River Witch. I want to know more about her and her background. I want to know if we can trust her. I also can’t wait to meet the other witches, especially the Witch of the Woods and the Fire Witch.

I don’t know if I necessarily liked Margot and Temperly but I hate how their stories ended becaue I NEED to know more!!! Finally, I obviously hated Snow’s mother and Lazar. But the revelations were pretty intense, and that ending was !!!!!!!

Overall, this book was amazing and intriguing! Honestly, it has renewed my interest in finishing the Dorothy Must Die series and it has me BEYOND excited for Paige’s new fairy godmother origin series, which doesn’t come out until 2018 and THAT’S TOO FAR AWAY! The long wait has me feeling sad panda :(

BUT ANYWAY… I HIGHLY recommend Stealing Snow to those who love fairy tale retellings! If you loved the movie Frozen, this will definitely capture your attention and refuse to let go (See what I did there??)! Danielle Paige fans will DEFINITELY enjoy this, as her writing has grown in leaps and bounds since Dorothy Must Die. Finally, if you WEREN’T a Dorothy Must Die fan, I HIGHLY recommend you give this a shot. It might surprise you – I know it surprised me!

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Favorite Quote:

“Just because we all lived in glass houses of insanity didn’t mean that we could not be cruel.”

four-stars

Review: When We Collided by Emery Lord

Apr9

I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Review: When We Collided by Emery LordWhen We Collided by Emery Lord
Published by Bloomsbury USA Childrens on April 5, 2015
Pages: 352
Format: ARC
Source: the publisher
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five-stars

We are seventeen and shattered and still dancing. We have messy, throbbing hearts, and we are stronger than anyone could ever know…

Jonah never thought a girl like Vivi would come along.

Vivi didn’t know Jonah would light up her world.

Neither of them expected a summer like this…a summer that would rewrite their futures.

In an unflinching story about new love, old wounds, and forces beyond our control, two teens find that when you collide with the right person at just the right time, it will change you forever.

I’ve read all of Emery Lord’s books and I’ve loved them all. But When We Collided was by far my favorite. It has everything that made me love Emery’s first two books, but it also has MORE. I don’t even know how to process the raw emotion and realness of this story and these characters. I can’t even put it into words, so I’m sorry if this review is mostly blubbering and babbling. I loved these characters, this plot, the writing – basically everything about this book.

Vivi is so vivacious and so full of life, you’d never know she was struggling with internal demons and darkness. She’s a whirlwind of emotion, completely unfiltered, saying and doing whatever. While she’s trying to pull Jonah out of his black hole, she’s falling into one of her own, but she hides it so well – from Jonah, from her mom… Even from herself, to a certain extent.

As Vivi was spiraling out of control, I could actually feel the change in her – in the way she was talking, thinking and behaving. I appreciated that she KNEW she was being horrible to Jonah (“snippy and unyielding,” as she put it), yet she couldn’t help it or stop it. She hits this point where she’s completely erratic and an absolute loose cannon.

Meanwhile, poor Jonah is so young and has such a heavy burden on his shoulders. He’s so embarrassed by his family and the things that have happened that he’s worried Vivi will run for the hills if she finds out. Yet she, better than anyone, would understand and comfort him, if only he’d open up to her. But since she radiates joy and happiness on the outside (and hides her turmoil on the inside), he can’t see her as anything other than this bright, carefree person, someone he doesn’t want to burden with his troubles. It just goes to show you that everyone handles things differently and you can’t judge someone by their outward appearance or attitude.

As Jonah was hitting his breaking point – when the burden of taking care of his family became too much and he couldn’t handle the mounting responsibilities – I could feel the change in him, like I did with Vivi, and it absolutely broke my heart to see him breaking down.

The big difference between Jonah and Vivi is, when Jonah hits his breaking point, it motivates him to make something happen, to change things for the better. For Vivi, hitting her breaking point means breaking down into a manic, self-destructive spiral. But that’s understandable – it goes back to the differences in the state of their mental health. They’re complete opposites in this and it really shows.

I loved Ellie and what she did for both Jonah and Vivi. It’s hard to discuss her role without spoilers, though, so I’ll just leave it at that. I also loved cold, shrewd officer Hayashi and how fatherly and protective of Vivi he was. There are a lot more secondary characters that I could discuss, but I don’t want to bog this review down with that (because I could go on and on about them!). So I’ll just say, in general, all the characters in this book were real and wonderful and played an important part in the story.

The depiction of depression and struggling with sadness is so spot-on and so perfect and real, I just found myself nodding along to things that were happening and things that the characters were saying and doing.

The things that happened near the end blew my mind. My heart was pounding a mile a minute and the shock was so great, I actually had to read certain parts over a few times in an attempt to take it in – and even then, it was hard to comprehend. And the actual ending was heartbreaking yet beautiful and perfect. I don’t think it could have ended any other way, though it’s hard not to wish for a different ending – But explaining why would be a spoiler, so you’ll just have to read the book for yourself to find out what I mean.

Overall, if you couldn’t tell from reading my review, this book was gorgeous, heart-breaking and perfect. It’s hard to understand how one book could be all those things at once, but trust me, it was. I loved Vivi and Jonah right away – they’re complete opposites (on the outside, at least), yet they kind of balance each other out in a weird (but cute!) way. I loved how real, truthful and in your face this book was. Emery Lord managed to give an honest depiction of what it’s like to struggle with mental health issues without sounding like she was lecturing or trying to teach readers a lesson – and yet, she did teach readers some important lessons. But it’s up to each reader to take away their own lessons from this book – Because in my opinion, no two readers will walk away feeling the same way. And that’s a rare, beautiful thing for an author to manage.

So yes, I highly recommend this book. There are definitely some trigger warnings for mental health, but I feel that this is an important book to read. If you’re a fan of Emery Lord’s previous two books, you’ll love this one! It’s very different but it’s absolutely amazing and will resonate with you for a long time after that last page.

five-stars

Review: Everything But the Truth by Mandy Hubbard

Nov10

I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Review: Everything But the Truth by Mandy HubbardEverything But the Truth by Mandy Hubbard
Series: If Only . . . #6
Published by Bloomsbury USA Childrens on November 17, 2015
Pages: 288
Source: the publisher
Buy on Amazon
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three-stars

If Only . . . she wasn't pretending to be someone else! The If Only romance line continues in this fun rags-to-riches romance.

Holly Mathews' mom is the new manager of a ritzy retirement home, and they just moved in. But having super-rich retirees as her only neighbors isn't a total bust, because the gorgeous, notorious Malik Buchannan is the grandson of a resident. Just one problem: when they meet, Malik assumes Holly is there to visit her own rich relative. She doesn't correct him, and it probably doesn't matter, because their flirtation could never turn into more than a superficial fling . . . right? But the longer she lives in his privileged world, the deeper Holly falls for Malik, and the harder it is to tell the truth . . . because coming clean might mean losing him.

For anyone who has dreamed of their own Cinderella story, this romance shows that when it comes to true love, the best person to be is yourself!

This was my first Mandy Hubbard book and my first read from the “If Only” YA Romance Series (which focuses on teenage girls who want what they can’t have and fall for someone they shouldn’t, according to this article). I had no idea what to expect and I don’t typically read YA romance novels, so I was a bit nervous; however, Everything But the Truth ended up being a cute, light-hearted romance with fun characters and major ship feels!

I liked Holly in the beginning. She was the average girl-next-door who was working and saving every last penny for college. She and her mom got along (something I’d love to see happen more often in YA) and she was kind to – and liked by – the residents. Her lies, intentional or not, quickly became frustrating, though. She had so many opportunities to fess up and she let them all slip by. After awhile, the convenient stories she made up to hide her lie became TOO convenient, almost unrealistically so.

I was swoony for Malik almost immediately after we met him. Later in the story, he definitely had some meh moments. I understand his trust issues, given who he is and what he’s been through; however, I hated how mistrustful he became of Holly. Yes, I know, I JUST condemned her for dragging her lies out for too long. But in the end, she DID tell him the truth. And it’s obvious she was sincere, so I’m kind of mad at Malik for waiting so long to forgive her. Really, they were both equally at fault.

At first, I was going to go on this whole rant about Alex and how I didn’t fully trust her and how she was a crappy friend because I’m so tired of books with crappy female friendships. But then there’s a huge revelation/explanation for her and her behavior – something I’d suspected a few chapters before we were officially told – and everything made so much more sense! So I won’t rant about crappy female friendships in this review and in relation to this book. But in general, I do wish we’d see less of this trope in YA!

Finally, I really liked Mr. Buchannan! He totally reminded me of Blu Mankuma as Gort in Halloweentown ll: Kalabar’s Revenge. He’s so growly bear, but with a giant soft spot! Deep down, he loves his grandson and his intentions are good.

This book was often right on the edge of cute but cheesy. There were plenty of “awwww” moments, but they were equally matched by the cheesy moments. It also took awhile to get used to Hubbard’s writing style, so at first, the writing came off as being a bit simplistic. Once I got used to it, though, I enjoyed it! Her writing has this rawness to it that makes the story feel more authentic, more like a teenager is actually telling/showing it.

Sadly, this book’s biggest fault was its predictability. I don’t know if it’s a result of the genre or just my ability to predict how things will turn out, but it was pretty easy to figure out what would happen and how things would be resolved in the end. As I mentioned earlier, in relation to Holly, there were also a lot of resolutions that were entirely too convenient. This goes hand-in-hand with the predictability aspect.

Overall, despite the cheesiness (and I mean that in a cute/fun way) and predictability, I found that I really enjoyed this book. It was a fun, light-hearted romance and the characters, though not totally stand-out, were awesome in their own way and awesome enough that I DID care about them enough to see how their stories ended. Plus, the ending DID make me cry, so, ya know… Predictable, but sweet and epic! So if all that is your kind of thing, then this book is definitely for you!

three-stars

Review: A Curious Tale of the In-Between by Lauren DeStefano

Sep16

I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Review: A Curious Tale of the In-Between by Lauren DeStefanoA Curious Tale of the In-Between by Lauren DeStefano
Series: Pram #1
Published by Bloomsbury USA Childrens on September 1, 2015
Pages: 240
Format: ARC
Source: the publisher
Buy on Amazon
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four-stars

Pram Bellamy is special--she can talk to ghosts. She doesn't have too many friends amongst the living, but that's all right. She has her books, she has her aunts, and she has her best friend, the ghostly Felix.

Then Pram meets Clarence, a boy from school who has also lost a parent and is looking for answers. Together they arrive at the door of the mysterious Lady Savant, who promises to help. But this spiritualist knows the true nature of Pram's power, and what she has planned is more terrifying than any ghost.

New York Times bestselling author Lauren DeStefano is beloved by critics and readers alike, and her middle grade debut is lyrical, evocative and not to be missed.

I don’t normally read middle grade novels, but I’m a huge fan of Lauren DeStefano’s YA books, so I knew I had to give A Curious Tale of the In-Between a chance! To my (slight) surprise, I really enjoyed it! I loved Pram, the world and the plot.

Pram was an awesome character. She’s described (through the eyes of her aunts) as being eccentric and imaginative. She knows she’s strange, but she doesn’t really let it bother her. She worries what others will think of her, but she doesn’t change herself to make them happy. She’d rather be invisible than be noticed, which I can completely relate to! She’s also very loyal to her friends and a very strong, brave person. She endures a LOT at the end of this book – both mentally and emotionally and even physically (a little bit) – and I’m very excited to see what happens next for her! Also, I know this is weird, since she’s so young, but I couldn’t help but picture her as Jennifer Love Hewitt in her Ghost Whisperer role – Like, this whole book just reminded me of a Middle Grade version of Ghost Whisperer!

Felix was an intriguing character. It’s a bit odd, because he’s young and he has the mentality of someone who’s young, but he’s also been a ghost for a long time, so he has a bit of maturity and wisdom that seems beyond his years. He has moments where he acts mature and wise, where he had enough sense to know when something was wrong and when he couldn’t handle something alone. But other times, he very much acted like the age he was when he died – like when he felt Clarence was taking Pram from him and she had to choose between her dead friend and living one. Someone older would know that you can have many friends and that you can have different interests and hobbies with each friend. But, despite his many years as a ghost, Felix couldn’t completely comprehend this. I felt bad for him because, at times, he seemed so sad.

Speaking of Clarence, I really liked him. Though his actions were a bit selfish sometimes and though his one-track mind got Pram into a lot of the trouble she found herself in, he was really good for Pram. Someday, if and when Felix DOES decide to move on, Pram will need a friend and Clarence is a good friend. He understands a lot of what Pram is going through and he’s very fierce and loyal to her. His actions at the end of the book – coupled with Felix’s help – really saved the day.

I loved Aunt Dee and Aunt Nan. They were pretty content to let Pram be herself, even when she was being eccentric, speaking to people who weren’t there and telling them about “imaginary” friends. For the most part, they did everything they could to keep her safe. I think they should have been more honest with her at times, but I understand that they felt they were protecting her by not telling her certain things. Also, this might be as odd as my Ghost Whisperer comment, but they completely reminded me of Aunt Hilda and Aunt Zelda from Sabrina the Teenage Witch – sans magic and slightly less quirky, though!

Lady Savant.. Ugh, it’s really hard to talk about her because I absolutely hated her for the majority of the book, but then something happened near the middle/end and I felt really bad for her. So even though I want to hate her for what she did… I really can’t now. There’s no excuse for the things she did, but the things that happened to her weren’t fair, either. I don’t want to justify her actions, but it’s hard not to want to defend her a little bit.

I loved the world and rules in this book, as well, though DeStefano is amazing at world-building, so that doesn’t surprise me. I loved the different approach she took to the ghostly world and the whole story with memories and objects – I know that’s vague, but I don’t want to spoil it for you guys! You’ll just have to read it to find out what I’m talking about!

My only complaint was that the writing felt a little bit awkward and stilted, which surprised me because I never had that problem with DeStefano’s YA books. But then I started to wonder if maybe it was just me and getting used to reading a book with a younger protagonist and, therefore, a different voice. Of course the book’s tone would be different. Once I got into that mentality, the writing didn’t bother me as much and I actually forgot it had bothered me at all by the time I got roughly half-way through the book!

The ending was pretty intense and I didn’t expect a lot of what happened, to happen! I also thought this was a stand-alone and apparently there’s going to be a second book! So that makes me really excited, especially given how it ended.

I highly recommend this for fans of Lauren DeStefano – and, of course, fans of MG novels and ghosts/paranormal plots. DeStefano is an amazing writer and she creates amazing worlds, characters that you care about and plots that keep you reading until the very last page.

four-stars

Review: When Reason Breaks by Cindy L. Rodriguez

Apr16

I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Review: When Reason Breaks by Cindy L. RodriguezWhen Reason Breaks by Cindy L. Rodriguez
Published by Bloomsbury USA Childrens on February 10, 2015
Pages: 304
Source: the publisher
Buy on Amazon
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five-stars

13 Reasons Why meets the poetry of Emily Dickinson in this gripping debut novel perfect for fans of Sara Zarr or Jennifer Brown.

A Goth girl with an attitude problem, Elizabeth Davis must learn to control her anger before it destroys her. Emily Delgado appears to be a smart, sweet girl, with a normal life, but as depression clutches at her, she struggles to feel normal. Both girls are in Ms. Diaz’s English class, where they connect to the words of Emily Dickinson. Both are hovering on the edge of an emotional precipice. One of them will attempt suicide. And with Dickinson’s poetry as their guide, both girls must conquer their personal demons to ever be happy.

In an emotionally taut novel with a richly diverse cast of characters, readers will relish in the poetry of Emily Dickinson and be completely swept up in the turmoil of two girls grappling with demons beyond their control.

Warning: This review/book could be a Trigger for depression, suicidal thoughts, suicide, etc. Please read with caution.

When Reason Breaks was a heart-wrenching, realistic portrayal of two girls fighting to stay in control of their lives while battling depression. This book pulled me in from the very first page and refused to let me go until the very last page. My emotions were all over the board with this book – I laughed a few times, grinned like an idiot a few times and, of course, cried for nearly the entire ending. It had a wonderful, highly important plot and a definite must-read. You’ll feel for the characters and race through the book until you find out which character was in that first, heart-breaking chapter.

Emily Delgado and Elizabeth Davis were two very different girls on the outside, yet both were hurting on the inside. Emily was the quiet popular girl with a big group of friends, good grades and a seemingly perfect family. She was really good at hiding her depression and faking a smile. Elizabeth was the quiet outcast who spoke her mind, dressed the way she wanted and didn’t care what others thought – at least, on the outside. On the inside, she was dealing with a broken family and feeling lonely and depressed. This book breaks every stereotype known to YA literature, just by proving that what someone shows the world on the outside, doesn’t always match how they feel inside.

Abby and Sarah, Emily’s friends, were tough to like, especially Abby and especially in the beginning. But as I kept reading, I realized something: Sometimes, some people who are depressed are so good at faking a smile, even their close friends and family can’t tell how they actually feel. So maybe Abby and Sarah can’t be blamed for being so oblivious – Emily was just really good at keeping them in the dark.

I adored Kevin. At first, he seems like the stereotypical popular guy, but then he broke every high school relationship stereotype and proved that good guys do still exist. He loved Emily and wanted to be with her for all the right reasons. Even when she flipped out on him a few times, he didn’t throw his hands up and walk away. Rather, he calmed her down and spoke to her, gave her space when she needed it. But he never gave up on her. I thought Kevin and Emily were adorable together and completely shipped them.

I really liked Tommy. He was the friend Elizabeth desperately needed. I hated the few times they fought, especially that moment near the middle/end that set things in motion.. It was incredibly sad and frustrating. When they weren’t fighting, they were so sweet together.

The social interactions in this book were epic, as well. There weren’t any obvious cliques, though you could tell who would be in what group if there were. But otherwise, everyone kind of hung out with everyone and everyone had friends that crossed the invisible cliques. Best example: Elizabeth is the tough-girl outcast who skips class and Emily is the relatively normal popular girl, yet Kevin hangs out with Tommy and sits with him and Elizabeth at lunch, instead of sitting at the “popular” table.

I loved Ms. Diaz. She was the kind of English teacher I would have loved. She reminded me of some of my past english teachers, as well, so I could picture exactly what class with her would have been like. Although if I had actually had her in high school, I probably would have been mentally checked out and overwhelmed because even though poetry is beautiful, I never understood it or could analyze it.

As a little (random) side-note, I have to say that Cindy Rodriguez did a wonderful job of capturing high school life. I didn’t realize at first, but I was actually picturing my 12th grade English classroom as Ms. Diaz’s classroom. Also, the hallway outside that classroom. So when she stood at the door to greet the students, I pictured the characters walking down the hallway in my high school and entering my old classroom, etc. Random, I know, but I wanted to throw that in there. It just shows how realistic and well-done this book was and how much it spoke to me.

Throughout the book, there were letters, class assignments, etc, that were meant to show us which girl was suicidal and why. Though I had a very firm opinion about this before I even started reading the book – based on the synopsis and what I’d heard from other people – Rodriguez did an incredible job of keeping which girl it was a mystery until the very end. The build-up to the reveal and the moments after were heart-wrenching, emotional and intense. I pretty much couldn’t stop sobbing throughout the entire ending, from the build-up to the very last page.

The message that I took from When Reason Breaks is that you never know what someone is feeling, just by looking at them. They might look “normal” on the outside, or they might seem like the “outcast.” But you can’t judge someone based on the face they show the world. Because inside, they could be hurting. They might be surrounded by people all day, yet still feel alone. But the bottom line is, you’re never as alone as you feel. And there’s always someone who cares.

Overall, even though I don’t think my review adequately expresses how this book made me feel, I loved it. It was sad and emotional and difficult to read, but it’s definitely a must-read. It’s an important book in the mental health discussion and I highly, highly recommend it.

If you or someone you know is feeling suicidal, please speak up. Speak to an adult you trust.

Important Links:
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline website
Stop Bullying website
NOH8 Campaign website

Heather Brewer, a young adult author and a big advocate of mental health and bullying prevention, has a special message for you, too. Check it out here.

five-stars

Review: Whisper the Dead by Alyxandra Harvey

Oct6

I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Review: Whisper the Dead by Alyxandra HarveyWhisper the Dead by Alyxandra Harvey
Series: The Lovegrove Legacy #2
Published by Bloomsbury USA Childrens on October 7, 2014
Pages: 408
Source: the publisher
Buy on Amazon
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four-stars

Cousins Gretchen, Emma, and Penelope are all dealing with what it means to be a Lovegrove. For Gretchen, it means she often feels like her head is going to explode. As a Whisperer, Gretchen constantly hears the whispers of other witches' spells. And while this does help her to know when one of her own spells is going wrong, the incessant buzzing and pain the whispers cause makes it difficult to use her gift.

But when something evil begins to menace Mayfair, Gretchen must find a way to master her power. Along with her cousins, a madcap named Moira, and the icy yet irresistible Tobias Lawless, Gretchen faces deadly threats and unimaginable loss in the hopes of preventing the terrible Greymalkin Sisters from rising again.

The second book in The Lovegrove Legacy trilogy, Whisper the Dead will leave readers spellbound.

Whisper the Dead was such a fun read and a pleasant surprise. For the most part, I love Alyxandra Harvey’s books, but after getting so frustrated with A Breath of Frost (book one in the trilogy), I was a little worried about reading Whisper the Dead. For those who haven’t read my review for that, my main frustration was the confusing style of writing I’ve often noticed in Harvey’s books. Though there were definitely a handful of confusing moments in Whisper the Dead, it wasn’t nearly as bad as A Breath of Frost. And right off the bat, that made Whisper the Dead that much more enjoyable. It had an intriguing plot, awesome characters and a crazy cliffhanger that left my jaw on the floor.

While these books are about three cousins, the focus was definitely on Emma in A Breath of Frost. I was convinced she was my favorite character, though I liked Gretchen a lot. And I really didn’t form an opinion – one way or the other – about Penelope because we saw very little of her on her own and, therefore, couldn’t really get a sense of her personality. However, Whisper the Dead focused more on Gretchen and she’s officially my favorite of the three now – though we saw a lot more of Penelope as well, so this could change by the time I read the third book!

Emma was still an awesome character. I love her powers. I’ve always been fascinated by the idea of weather witches and how amazing their powers are when used for good, but how terrifying and destructive they could be when used for evil. I think Emma had some of the best revelations in the book and the cliffhanger with her and Cormac was insane. I’m very interested in seeing what that ending means for them in book three!

Speaking of Cormac.. I wasn’t crazy about Cormac in A Breath of Frost. He went back-and-forth with his allegiances so many times, I constantly had to ask myself, “Can he be trusted?” It got so annoying, I gave up trying to like him. But in Whisper the Dead, that didn’t happen. We firmly and officially know whether or not we can trust him. Also, I didn’t find him and Emma to be a believable couple in A Breath of Frost. But as of Whisper the Dead, I officially adore him and Emma. They were adorable together and strong together. They definitely bring out the best in each other.

Gretchen was everything I love in a female character from the 1800s. I love reading books from this time period. I love the balls and fancy gowns and horse-drawn carriages and the idea of “society.” But as much as I love that, I also love seeing a female character that rebels against that, who doesn’t want to attend the fancy balls or be married off to some random guy she doesn’t know or love. And Gretchen was that character and more. She rebelled against every aspect of being a proper lady. She has an awesome power. She also had the most tragic plot twist in the entire book. My heart broke for her.

I wasn’t crazy about Tobias at first. It took a good portion of the story before he grew on me. I didn’t necessarily dislike him in the beginning, but I knew he was working for the Order and I didn’t trust him. Something I did like, though, was the slow build-up to him and Gretchen liking and trusting each other. Also, Tobias had an interesting secret that I’m eager to see more of in book three.

Like I said, I didn’t like nor dislike Penelope in A Breath of Frost. We just didn’t see much of her, so I really had no opinion. But, despite Whisper the Dead focusing mainly on Gretchen, we saw a lot more of Penelope, as well, and learned more about her personality. Her power confuses me the most, so I’m hoping we learn more about how it works in the third book.

Like with Tobias, I couldn’t really remember who Cedric was at first. Later on in the story, it’s explained and I remembered exactly who he was and how I felt about him. I really love the idea of Penelope and Cedric together, though I don’t know if it will happen, which makes me sad. And Lord Beauregard certainly threw a wrench in things, too. Although, I can’t say much more on that.. But poor Penelope was certainly put into some unfortunate situations in Whisper the Dead. And her cliffhanger was almost as insane as Emma’s and Cormac’s.

There are certain characters I can’t discuss in detail for fear of spoilers, but they deserve an honorable mention and, in some cases, tears and feels: Godric, Moira, Lady Theodora, Ewan and .. I’m sure I forgot one or two people, but those are the main ones!

I’ve mentioned it briefly throughout my review, but the ending of this book was insane! The revelations, the plot twists and the epic cliffhanger just broke my feels completely. I think the only issue I had with this book was it was really long, which I don’t mind, but it did drag a bit in a few sections. And it wasn’t nearly as confusing as A Breath of Frost, but there were still a couple moments were I was a little bit lost and had to do some re-reading.

Overall, I really enjoyed Whisper the Dead. It was so much better than A Breath of Frost, which is a hard thing to achieve with a second book in a trilogy. It didn’t really suffer from Second Book Syndrome, though it had its moments. I never felt like anything in Whisper the Dead was just filler, meant to move the story along from point A to point B – The things that happened in Whisper the Dead were important to the overall plot of the book, as well as the complete trilogy plot. It set things up nicely for book three and I’m really, really excited to read it! I would definitely recommend this book!

four-stars

Review: Heir of Fire by Sarah J. Maas

Sep25

I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Review: Heir of Fire by Sarah J. MaasHeir of Fire by Sarah J. Maas
Series: Throne of Glass #3
Published by Bloomsbury USA Childrens on September 2, 2014
Pages: 565
Source: the publisher
Buy on Amazon
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five-stars

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?

Heir of Fire has broken my feels and stomped all over them. That is all.

Okay, kidding. I have way more to say than that. But that about sums it up! The ending of Crown of Midnight was pretty intense, but everyone warned me that Heir of Fire would break me – and it did. It was intense, insane, crazy. After reading all four (The Assassin’s Blade included) Throne of Glass books in one month, I’m emotionally drained and I have an epic book hangover.

Celaena has always been a kick-ass, take-no-prisons kind of person. She was broken after the events that occurred between the end of The Assassin’s Blade and the beginning of Throne of Glass. She built herself back up between Throne of Glass and Crown of Midnight, but she still tried to forget about her past and deny who she really was. But finally, in Heir of Fire, Celaena slowly comes to accept her past, who she is and what she needs to do. She trains and fights and goes through the emotional ringer – first with Rowan, then with all the bad guys she faces throughout the book. Every time she was broken down, she struggled to come back from the blow. At times, it felt like she wouldn’t be able to come back, that she had finally spiraled down into a dark abyss. But in the end, Celaena triumphed. It was a struggle and she suffered tremendous heartbreak, but this book definitely set Celaena up to be incredibly fierce and strong in book four.

Chaol. Oh, Chaol. I adore Chaol so much. I’m Team Chaol. I felt so bad for him though. He basically lost everyone he cared about in Heir of Fire. He worked so hard to protect everyone, to show loyalty to the king and still fight for what was right. I’m happy with the way his story ended in Heir of Fire. It feels right for his character and I’m eager to see what that means for him in book four.

As for Dorian.. I still don’t ship him with Celaena (Sorry Team Dorian!) but I really liked him in this book. He has a kind heart and it’s obvious he’ll be an amazing king one day. I seriously hope, before the series is done, we get to see him as King of Adarlan. I can totally see him righting all the wrongs of his father. But the journey to become king… After that ending? OMG!!! I think Dorian’s story was the one that hit me the hardest. That ending… What happened.. I.. I… I CAN’T TALK ABOUT IT BECAUSE OF SPOILERS BUT IT BROKE ME!!!!!!!

Sarah J. Maas writes epic, amazing characters. Whether they be secondary, tertiary or so in the background, we don’t even learn their name – they all stick with you for one reason or another. It’s really hard to talk about some of them while avoiding spoilers. But I absolutely LOVED Aedion, Rowan, Emrys, Luca, Malakai and Sorscha – though not all of them got happily ever afters and I’m DYING to get my hands on book four to see what happens next for those still… okay.

My biggest complaint with Heir of Fire was that it was REALLY long. I don’t mind reading long books, but there were several sections in Heir of Fire that dragged and were boring – like the ones with Manon. I HATED most of the scenes with Manon and that group of characters (Er.. being vague to avoid spoilers). I liked Manon and Abraxos together, though.

To counter that complaint, I loved all the background we got in Heir of Fire. We learned a LOT about Celaena’s past and what happened Before. We even got a glimpse into what the future could bring, if all goes well.

I’ve mentioned this a little bit throughout my review, but the ending was MIND-BLOWING!!!!!!!! I feel broken and drained and I can’t believe all the crazy things that happened in such a short amount of time near the very end. I’d say the last 15-20% (I was reading an eBook so I don’t have exact page numbers) of the book was intense and the intensity never let up!

After a month of reading the Throne of Glass series, I can officially say this series is amazing. Each book gets better and better. And Sarah J. Maas is an epic, amazing writer. She has created an incredible world with amazing, well-rounded characters. She has broken my feels and I may never recover. And…. WHEN CAN I HAVE BOOK FOUR?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?! I need it!!!!!

So basically, if you haven’t read Heir of Fire – or any of the Throne of Glass series – you NEED to. Prepare your feels, grab some tissues and read them ASAP! Sarah J. Maas is now forever on my “Auto-Buy Author List” and I can’t wait for Throne of Glass #4, as well as her new series, A Court of Thorns and Roses!

five-stars

Review: Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas

Sep17
Review: Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. MaasCrown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas
Series: Throne of Glass #2
Published by Bloomsbury USA Childrens on August 27, 2013
Pages: 420
Format: Hardcover
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four-stars

"A line that should never be crossed is about to be breached.

It puts this entire castle in jeopardy—and the life of your friend."

From the throne of glass rules a king with a fist of iron and a soul as black as pitch. Assassin Celaena Sardothien won a brutal contest to become his Champion. Yet Celaena is far from loyal to the crown. She hides her secret vigilantly; she knows that the man she serves is bent on evil.

Keeping up the deadly charade becomes increasingly difficult when Celaena realizes she is not the only one seeking justice. As she tries to untangle the mysteries buried deep within the glass castle, her closest relationships suffer. It seems no one is above questioning her allegiances—not the Crown Prince Dorian; not Chaol, the Captain of the Guard; not even her best friend, Nehemia, a foreign princess with a rebel heart.

Then one terrible night, the secrets they have all been keeping lead to an unspeakable tragedy. As Celaena's world shatters, she will be forced to give up the very thing most precious to her and decide once and for all where her true loyalties lie...and whom she is ultimately willing to fight for.

On a scale of one to ten, Crown of Midnight was a twenty… thousand… million… and one. Sarah J. Maas blew the lid off the notion of Second Book Syndrome – which I know is typically something reserved for trilogies anyway. Unfortunately, I’ve come to expect Second Book Syndrome from every series of every length. But Crown of Midnight did NOT read like a second book. It stood on its own and blew my mind.

Like I said in my review for Throne of Glass: Celaena is a kick-ass bitch. She’s fierce and loyal to those she trusts. She’s amazing at what she does, yet DESPITE what she does, she’s still managed to hold on to her humanity – for the most part. I can’t say much without risking spoilers, but the things she did in the first half of the book were epic. What happened in the second half though… My heart broke for her. She was broken and lost, lashing out at whoever she could. But, as always, Celaena can handle herself and she did what needed to be done. The reveal with Celeaena at the end was epic, insane, crazy… But I figured it out 83 pages in, so it was more about the validation than the shock of finding out for sure that I was right.

I adore Chaol! He’s just.. Chaol! I love the way he and Celaena strengthen each other. In some ways, they bring out the best in each other. And in some ways, they bring out the worst in each other. They’re definitely working on building the trust, but they challenge each other. What happened between them half-way through the book, though… And then the things left unsaid at the end? IT BROKE MY FEELS!

Dorian was a thousand times more awesome in Crown of Midnight than he was in Throne of Glass – and that’s really saying something because I already really liked him in Throne of Glass. His is a very heavy burden to bear, one he still has to come to terms with. But he grew and matured a LOT in Crown of Midnight – though I suppose he didn’t have much of a choice. Still, he really came through in the end and I’m very eager to see where his character goes in Heir of Fire.

For the most part, I really loved Nehemia, but I was very suspicious of her all throughout Crown of Midnight. I thought I had finally started trusting her by the end of Throne of Glass, but there were just too many things going on in Crown of Midnight.. And then the end of Part One.. Oh, man.. I can’t even.. Another notable character was Archer. I actually really liked Archer and trusted him right from the beginning. I never doubted his loyalties or his motives. But… Hm…

Despite being epic, Crown of Midnight still had its moments. There were sections that were a bit boring and small plot points that dragged. The book could have been 50-75 pages shorter and still epic. It was also pretty predictable; I’d say I guessed over half of the plot twists, both major and minor. Despite all that, Crown of Midnight still had some epic revelations and crazy plot twists. I still love all the characters and I have a feeling Heir of Fire is going to completely and utterly break me.

Overall, I really, really enjoyed Crown of Midnight. Though I wouldn’t call it my favorite in the series, it was better than Throne of Glass, had some major twists and turns and kept me engaged and interested, even during several boring sections. Crown of Midnight stands tall as an epic sequel, with no traces of Second Book Syndrome in sight. If you weren’t a fan of Throne of Glass but are debating reading on, I highly encourage you to do so. I was told each book is better than the last and, so far, that statement is holding true!

four-stars

Review: Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

Sep11
Review: Throne of Glass by Sarah J. MaasThrone of Glass by Sarah J. Maas
Series: Throne of Glass #1
Published by Bloomsbury USA Childrens on August 2, 2012
Pages: 404
Format: Hardcover
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four-stars

In a land without magic, where the king rules with an iron hand, an assassin is summoned to the castle. She comes not to kill the king, but to win her freedom. If she defeats twenty-three killers, thieves, and warriors in a competition, she is released from prison to serve as the king's champion. Her name is Celaena Sardothien.

The Crown Prince will provoke her. The Captain of the Guard will protect her. But something evil dwells in the castle of glass--and it's there to kill. When her competitors start dying one by one, Celaena's fight for freedom becomes a fight for survival, and a desperate quest to root out the evil before it destroys her world.

I was really terrified to read Throne of Glass after reading – and not really enjoying – The Assassin’s Blade, the compilation of all the prequel novellas. While I don’t regret reading The Assassin’s Blade first, I don’t think it was necessary to do so and I think I would have enjoyed reading Throne of Glass with or without it. It was certainly intriguing knowing some of Celaena’s background and knowing about a certain fellow assassin. But otherwise, I feel like I actually missed out on some important references in the novellas by reading them first. Someone on Twitter told me Celaena meets Dorian and Chaol in one of the novellas and, had I read Throne of Glass first, I would have picked up on that.

That being said, I really did love Throne of Glass. My fear kept me from picking it up for about a day and a half after finishing The Assassins Blade, but once I picked it up, I couldn’t put it down! I basically read it in two days! I loved the way the book started (it was a nice tie-in to The Assassin’s Blade), I loved the plot and I loved the characters. And, as mentioned in my review of The Assassin’s Blade, I love Maas’s writing and world-building skills.

Celaena is still a kick-ass bitch in Throne of Glass, though she feels a bit defeated in the beginning. It was hard seeing her that way, knowing how fierce she was in The Assassin’s Blade (one of the perks/draw-backs of reading The Assassin’s Blade first). I knew Celaena could be strong-willed, knew she could take care of herself. But I also knew she had been betrayed many times before and was scarred from those betrayals. She didn’t trust easily and was convinced her fate was sealed – that she was doomed. She picks herself up, though, and pushes forward, accepting that whatever will be, will be. She knows how to pick and choose her battles.

Though there was a love triangle and some insta-love (two things I’m not crazy about, though I don’t let them ruin the story for me), I truly loved this love triangle and everyone involved, so it was hard to be upset by it. In fact, I’m still torn on which team I’m on! There were moments, unfortunately, where the love triangle was very predictable, though..

Dorian was hilarious and kind, casually flirting back-and-forth with Celaena. He was a bit stereotypical, in that he was intimidating, as the crown prince, yet also laid back in his demeanor and not as scary as he seemed. As is typical of YA lit, he also despised his father and the things his father stood for – the things his father did. And though I liked Dorian already, something he did about halfway through the book changed my whole opinion about him and made me like him even more.

Chaol was so serious and proper in the beginning. I loved the way Celaena got under his skin so easily! They had a wonderful rapport, though, and I liked them together. Chaol is so sweet and protective – in a slightly brooding way. Kinda like Angel! Except, not so tortured.. I had heard truly swoony things about Chaol, but I wasn’t entirely convinced in the beginning. He was very guarded and distant for the first half (maybe less) of the book, so it took me awhile to really get to know him and like him.

I really liked Nehemia. She was a good, kind friend, though I definitely had my suspicions about her at times. And we’re definitely led to believe that we SHOULD be suspicious of her.. I kept praying that she wouldn’t turn out to be a back-stabber, the way a certain character was in one of the novellas. For Celaena’s sake, I just kept hoping it wasn’t true… And, well, you’ll just have to read the story to find out what happened with her!

Another secondary character I liked a lot was Nox. In another life, I think he could have been an amazing friend and ally to Celaena. I really hope we see him in future books. Also, the whole storyline with Elena was intriguing and I’m SURE it will play a bigger role in future books.

Characters I despised (for obvious reasons) and wanted to bitch slap were the King, Perrington, Cain and basically every single champion that aligned themselves with Cain. I can’t talk about Kaltain without MAJOR spoilers.. But omg I wanted to bitch slap her!!! And then I also felt bad for her at the same time.. Kind of confusing! But again, this is spoiler territory… So, yeah..

The ending was pretty insane and crazy and HOLY CRAP. There were several things that happened that I didn’t expect at all, but there were also some things that happened that I could see a mile away. It made for an interesting mix of surprise and intrigue. I’m definitely glad I didn’t give up on this series after reading The Assassin’s Blade. I’m very eager to read Crown of Midnight – and I’ve heard epic, ridiculous, insane things about Heir of Fire that make me terrified to pick it up (But not in the way I was terrified to pick Throne of Glass up).

Despite one not-so-great read (The Assassin’s Blade) and thanks to one amazing read (Throne of Glass), I can say with absolute certainty that this series is amazing, I’m sorry I didn’t read it sooner and I highly recommend it to everyone. It’s a must-read!

four-stars