This book was so much fun to read. I picked it up last month because I was looking for something quick and romantic. I've been on a fantasy binge this year, so was hoping to break this up with something completely different.
I came across Roomies on Netgalley, and it sounded super cute. The book follows Holland, a girl working at a Broadway theatre in New York, in a role created by her uncle, who's a musical director of a current best-selling show. Holland's talented and smart but she hasn't found her niche in life yet, so she's working the concession stand at the theatre, and doing the photography rounds.
On her way home, she gets attacked by a drunk in the subway, and falls onto the tracks. Rescued by the subway's busker (who she's totally in love with - or at least his music), Holland returns the favour by introducing him to her uncle, who's looking for a replacement strings musician in his musical. Holland finds out that Calvin, her musician, is actually living in New York illegally, after his student visa expired. Going behind her uncle's backs, she decides to marry the guy, so he can stay in the country, and her uncle's production continues to find success.
Yes, it's all sorts of illegal but at the end of the day, it's a book and the whole situation was so much fun. Holland and Calvin's blossoming relationship and chemistry is pretty cliche, but sometimes you just need to read a lighthearted and cute story that makes you smile.
I enjoyed all the characters in Roomies, from Holland and her lovable gay uncles, to Calvin who's this supposed Julliard graduate who can't find a job because he's too picky to leave New York. I loved the way their love grew despite the circumstances.
The best thing about this book is how realistic all the relationships were. Holland may have been low-key stalking Calvin prior to their fake-marriage situation — and while this does have its consequences, it was resolved in a very realistic way. Her relationship with her toxic female friend (whose name is escaping me), also has its consequences, and I was very glad to see how it panned out in the end.
I've never read a book by the duo Christina Hobbs and Lauren Billings before, but I'm very impressed by their writing style. The story followed seamlessly — there was never a point where I felt like I was reading a book that was written by two people. Definitely keen to check out their other works now!
If you're looking for a fun summer beach read (or even something to curl up to during Christmas for those in the northern hemisphere!), give Roomies a go.
An e-copy of the book was provided in exchange for an honest review. ...more
A Court of Wings and Ruin marks the end to bad-ass human turned fae, Feyre Archeron's story. And oh my god, what an ending. At just a little over 700 pages, it was definitely the ending that I needed to read, to round off this brilliant trilogy of magic, mind games and deceit.
While I did give the third book in the trilogy a well deserved 5 stars — because let's be honest, Sarah J. Maas had me hooked from the very moment I discovered her writing on FictionPress — now that I think back and reflect on the series as a while, A Court of Mist and Fury takes the cake for being the best book in this series.
Following on from that bloody cliffhanger in ACOMAF, I was super excited to jump back into this world and finally find out how all my dear characters fared. And let me tell you, Maas never ceases to take me on a ride. I call it the Maas rollercoaster — when the ride dips and falls, you can truly feel your stomach dropping from what's happening on the page. And when the coaster lifts again, you feel the sunlight beaming at you like you've entered the happiest place on earth.
700+ pages is a lot for a book, but I love it. While the pacing was slow at times (read: first 50% of the book), I actually didn't mind it. I really enjoyed savouring the time that I had with the characters that I've come to love, and learning more about the others like Nesta, Elain, Jurian, Lucien and even...Hybern. I actually wished there was more pages dedicated to Jurian — he's become this enigma with a super interesting backstory that I just want to devour. With Maas and Bloomsbury having announced more books being published around this world, I'm crossing my fingers and toes that one of them will be dedicated to this fae warrior.
Without spoiling too much, the war with Hybern was downright epic. The whole lead up to the final battle had me on the edge of my seat because everything and everyone was fair game, knowing Maas ;) I've come to love these characters so bloody much, and you have no idea just how much I cried through the entire battle sequence. It was perfect guys, perfect.
You know what wasn't perfect though? While I love, love, LOVE, Feyre and Rhysand together (OTP!), those sex scenes was just awkward AF. What was great about their relationship in ACOMAF was the sexual tension. Now that they've gone beyond that stage and are overly loved up, I just...I dunno, it feels like a little bit over the top. And the way they kept referring to each other as 'mates' in every single conversation — like they were possessions — sigh, just not my thing.
But other than that, every other pairing was beautiful. I love the slow burn between the strong-headed Nesta and Cassian, and also Lucien and Elain's relationship. It wasn't rushed which was a perfect touch, especially because Elain was still recovering from the events in the previous book. And I do need to give a quick shout out to Tamlin, who eventually did the right thing in the end. Those final words he said to Feyre on that hill top were perfect, and I do hope he finds happiness in the future, despite everything that he had done.
Sarah J. Maas's stories never cease to put me straight into a book hangover. But you know what gets me out of it? Knowing that there will be more stories within this world. I can definitely see strings of new story lines that were teased in the final chapters, which I'm super excited for. But pleaaase, I need a story of Jurian. :D
If you have yet to pick up this series, I urge you to drop everything and purchase the ENTIRE series from your nearest bookstore now. Now I'm off to find a way to bring myself out of this book hangover.
As many of you may know already, A Court of Thorns and Roses left me in a MASSIVEbook hangover last year. I found myself flopping around in front of my book shelves, unable to pick my next read because I just couldn't stop thinking about ACOTAR.
It was horrible and amazing at the same time. Do I regret it? Heck no!
Then the lovely people over at Bloomsbury Australia sent me a copy of A Court of Mist and Fury for review, and I was expecting the same to happen all over again. Yes, ACOMAF came out in early May and I only just finished it last week. Why?
1. I wanted the book to last, and savour ever word 2. I was busy, the beginning of May was nice and calm but then I was knocked sideways by all the things happening at work and in my day-to-day life 3. There was a bit of controversy surrounding this book
I don't want to go into details about the controversy, but I just want to say that every reader is entitled to their own opinion, regardless of whether their opinion differs to yours. That's what reviews are about — so readers can read honest thoughts about a book before or after they pick up the book.
I must admit, I couldn't stay away from reading some of the negative reviews for ACOMAF that were floating around, and unfortunately, that may have impacted my reading pace. I was worried that I wouldn't enjoy where it was going, so I essentially slowed myself down. But then I realised that I was letting other people's opinions affect my own enjoyment of a book I've been anticipating all year for, and pushed their reviews out of my mind. While reviews are great to read, at the end of the day, I should be the one making the fun call about whether I like a book or not.
And you know what, I ended up really loving ACOMAF as I suspected I would.
Following straight on from where we left off in the first book. Feyre returns to the Spring Court a whole new person, and frankly, traumatised as she should be. This book explores the aftermath of Feyre's experience Under The Mountain, and how the events have affected and changed her. PTSD is not something that should be tip-toed around, and Maas does a brilliant job portraying the effects of Feyre's PTSD, rather than brush it off.
Feyre's PTSD not only changes her mindset but many aspects of herself — and this was an area that a few people had issues with because it essentially affected her relationship with Tamlin, who she (view spoiler)[died for in ACOTAR. (hide spoiler)]But the bigger picture is, people change because of the events in their life, and while I didn't appreciate the way Tamlin was pretty much used as a plot point, at the end of the day we are reading the story from Feyre's point of view and this is how the story is unveiled through her eyes. And I can definitely appreciate that.
Dealing with the most traumatising event of her life has helped evolve Feyre has a character — this character development was the best part of ACOMAF. And not only her own character development, but those of a slew of characters that are introduced in The Night Court. Rhysand, Mor, Amren, Azriel and Cassian. I cannot express just how much I adored these characters — and this love only continued to grow throughout the book. They are brave, respectful and most of all, loyal. I won't go into too much detail as I don't want to spoil it for anyone that hasn't read the book, but just know that they are simply amazing. <3
And The Night Court...omg delicious. Just delicious — from the Court of Nightmares, to the Court of Dreams, all the way into the Illyrian mountains...I just could not get enough! And those steamy scenes...ooh la la! There was such a build up to it that I was extremely pleased when it reached its climax. Geddit? Haw haw.
Safe to say that I thoroughly enjoyed ACOMAF, but unfortunately I do have to knock off a star for how the characters of the Spring Court was portrayed. I just don't think they deserved the story arc they received, but what can you do.
Thank you to Bloomsbury Australia for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review. ...more
The people of Kaya die in pairs, it's been so for thousands of years until Ava's bondmate is murdered by the barbarian queen of Pirenti and she doesn't follow. Banished for her unnaturalness, Ava disguises as her bondmate, Avery, and spends two years training to enact her revenge on the queen. Before she's able to act, she's captured by the second prince of Pirenti and is sent to the horrendous prison isle to be tortured and starved. Along the way, their boat sinks and Ava along with the prince Ambrose are the only survivors. Ambrose is determined to finish his job, but he's also battling against his duty and what is humanely right.
I had a very odd relationship with Avery. I can say for certain that the first half of the book did not impress me at all and I was very close to DNFing it. However I soldiered on and was pleasantly surprised with the turn of events and how much the characters grew into themselves. I struggled with my rating because I hated the first half, but I really enjoyed the second...so a solid 2.5 stars it is. It was good, and I would read the next book when I have the time.
Despite the synopsis, Avery actually follows the story of four characters - Ava (aka Avery), Ambrose (second prince), Thorne (crown prince) and Roselyn (Thorne's whimsical wife). Ava is from the country Kaya, where magic exists in the form of warders. The other three are from Pirenti, a barbaric loveless country that values strength and masculinity. Both countries are at war but most citizens have forgotten the reason why. I really hate it when books skimp on the historical details because it just makes me feel disconnected to the characters' thought processes and what their motivation would be to continue the war. The worldbuilding definitely left me wanting more.
While worldbuilding may be lacking, the characterisation was definitely on point. You can see a change in all four characters as the story progressed and I was truly impressed with how natural this progression was. Roselyn is the weakest of all four characters. As a female living in Pirenti, she's bound to remain subservient to her husband Thorne, who abuses her for her oddities and mistakes, thinking it's a way to teach her to improve. She's fragile and scared of everything, using a counting mechanism to keep herself from going insane. Thorne and Roselyn are complete opposites as he's the most feared person in Pirenti, having been born with berserker blood. While abusive at times, I thought his actions were at times necessary to show the way his country has shaped him as a person. The changes he goes through in understanding what love and affection is highlight the stark contrast between the Thorne at the start of the book to the Thorne at the end. Roselyn also changes a lot throughout the book as she grows into herself and starts becoming stronger. Needless to say I enjoyed their development a lot more than Ava and Ambrose's.
Ava and Ambrose ends up on the prison isle after being ship wrecked. I found it a little unbelievable as they describe the journey takes two weeks but three days into their trip and after being shipwrecked, they manage to wash up on the isle? There are a lot of small plot holes like these throughout the first half, contributing to my dislike of the beginning of the book. Fortunately as the novel progresses, Ava and Ambrose also grows to rely on each other, having each saved the other's life. There is a bit of sexy time in the book which I welcomed, and applaud the author for including. I love that more and more NA books are featuring sex in other genres like fantasy rather than contemporary romance. It's a natural part of a relationship and I personally don't think it should be considered such a taboo subject.
What I enjoyed most about the book is the resilience and strength of all the characters. Like I mentioned before, all four characters were on point. Each had their own demons to overcome and it was so nice to see that they all slowly changed the way they viewed life throughout the novel. I'm also very impressed that McConaghy was not afraid to hurt her characters and make them experience pain. It just added more realism to the dire situations they were facing.
Despite the issues I had with this book, the last half really impressed me. If you've picked up this book but faced the same issues I had with the first half, I urge you to continue because it does get better. Avery has a shaky beginning but a very solid conclusion.
Thank you to Random House Australia for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review.
Beware: This novel and review contains adult themes.
Bad Romeo is the first 'novel' I completed in 2015, and unfortunately I'm not off to a great start at all. I absolutely believe this is a case of 'it's-not-you-it's-me' because this book was originally a fanfiction that's garnered over two million readers. That is already impressive in itself, and I can see why it's such a huge hit with the masses. However, the book is a tricky one to rate - do I compare it to other novels or to other published fanfiction works? I ended up comparing it to other works published online because the feel of the book is still very much fanfiction. I understand that is completely hard to understand, so you may just have to read it for yourself to understand where I'm coming from.
Please keep in mind that I read an ARC so changes may have occurred between this and the published version. The book follows a girl named Cassie Taylor, who along with her ex Ethan Holt, has been placed as leads in a new Broadway production. The book follows their budding romance from college where they played beside each other as Romeo and Juliet, to the mysterious day that Ethan broke Cassie's heart. Now they're thrust together again, and Cassie does not know how to cope with this changed Ethan who wants her back in his life. And he'll do anything to get what he wants.
This book is cliched to a tee, and because I'm comparing it to fanfiction rather than other novels, it can be forgiven a little. Cassie is the small town 'goodie-two-shoes' while Ethan is the 'super-sexy-bad-boy' that'll make every girl's panties drop. As soon as Cassie meets him, her whole personality seems to shift and she becomes this sex-crazed maniac that continuously obsesses over his penis. There is rarely a single page where she's not thinking of ways she can jump him and his "prize winning dick". Yes, she really said that. And no, I don't understand her reasoning for it because I did not like Ethan at all. The chemistry? I didn't feel it between them until maybe the 300 page mark - and that to me is way too late.
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Ethan is an enigma to everyone and Cassie becomes the cliched girl that wants to 'fix' him. He's rude, is bipolar and yet he says he can't help getting turned on whenever he thinks about Cassie. Basically he has blue balls 24/7 because he wants her but doesn't want her at the same time because he's 'damaged'. We eventually find out that he has abandonment issues (not a spoiler because it's pretty obvious), which is a bullshit reason for pushing everyone away because most people with abandonment issues attempt to cling on to others and play the role as everyone's 'best friend' as they fear being left out. Or in the case of relationships, they love the chase of pursuing someone new and often fall in love way too many times to count, yet are the first to break up (Source 1, Source 2). Ethan does show some of the symptoms of abandonment issues but overall he's just a huge asshole.
The book jumps back and forth between present day and six years earlier when Cassie and Ethan first meet and get to know each other at their prestigious acting school called The Grove. I liked these jumps back and forth as their history is slowly played out and the readers are able to piece together the events that led them to where they are now. However, don't hold your breath for a reasoning behind their breakup because you won't get it. The book delightfully skips over this major issue so Ethan doesn't come off as more of a jerk than he already is. Unfortunately, the whole book focuses so much on Cassie and Ethan's screwed up relationship that most of the side characters become two-dimensional cardboard cutouts that are there only to propel their story forward. You'll find the typical class clown, slut, lesbian, gay roommate best-friend, parent that supports you, parent that wants more for your future and good guy that has no sex appeal (but you know would make a good boyfriend).
Bad Romeo is a quick and easy read, but it's not a book that I would recommend anyone to take dating advice from. Ethan is not a good representation of what girls should be looking for in a healthy relationship - I don't care how beautiful his muscles are and how many awards his penis wins. He is trouble, and it takes Cassie six years to realise that and yet she still can't seem to stay away. I do give her props for finally realising how dysfunctional their relationship is though, but I take it all back when she's so easily swayed by just his presence. Especially when he's broken her heart twice. Girl, now you're just being stupid.
The book is one big sexual tension fest and I get it, but I would have liked to see some sustenance to the story aside from the two characters' need to screw like rabbits. Cassie has no back story aside from overprotective parents that disappear altogether after the first chapter. There are no mentions of friends from back home, what she did...it's like she just appeared and that was it.
Overall Bad Romeo was a nice and quick read that I personally did not like, mainly due to the themes and messages it's pushing onto its readers. The most realistic scene the book portrays to real life is the sex between Ethan and Cassie, who's losing her V-card after sexually assaulting the guy for 350+ pages. The ending was quite satisfying, but I don't really see the point of what the sequel would be for. Not sure I would pick it up, but who knows, maybe I just might!
If you're a fan of fanfiction, I highly recommend you check out Aussie author Jessie L. Star's multiple works. I discovered her on Fanfiction and she really has a way with developing realistic characters and storylines that are super gripping. She's taken most of her work off FictionPress as she's self-published some titles. Well worth the read, I hope a publisher picks her up *hinthint*
Thank you to Pan Macmillan Australia for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This review was also published on Thoughts By J. Visit my book blog for more reviews!
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Escaping Reality is the story of Lara, who’s on the run froThis review was also published on Thoughts By J. Visit my book blog for more reviews!
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Escaping Reality is the story of Lara, who’s on the run from something or someone. At the beginning of the novel, we see she’s working at a museum but is suddenly warned by her ‘secret helper’ that she’s in danger again so she must leave the state immediately. She’s provided with a new identity, some money, and a ticket out of New York. Without really questioning much and propelled by fear, ‘Lara’ adopts her new identity as ‘Amy Benson’.
If you really asked me what this book was about, then I can honestly say I have no idea. What started out as an interesting mystery, with Amy running away from a figure that’s stalked her for half her life, spiralled into another mess of a novel for the New-Adult genre. The only reason I stuck out till the end was for answers – like who the heck is stalking her/wants her dead?! Do we get any answers though? Nope. What I was left with instead was a cliffhanger, and an intense need to throw my kindle across the room.
This book just frustrated me to no end. It was a hot, hot mess.
Let’s start with our MC shall we? Amy Benson is your typical girl, trying to find her way in the world. We are only allowed small glimpses into her background as she’s extremely secretive, even in her inner monologues. All I really know about her is she lost her whole family in a fire, and her dad was an archaeologist. How that equates to running for her life is still a mystery to me. I found Amy to be extremely flat, having no refining personality traits that made her feel realistic. She was a pushover, and so naive I often wondered how she’s still alive. She apparently has a ‘helper’ that warns her of danger, and sets her up with new identities and jobs when she needs one. She’s never met this person before, but yes, trust them anyway. What other option do you really have? #sarcasm
Amy meets this billionaire architectural prodigy on the plane as she’s fleeing NY, and they really hit it off. At first, Liam Stone was actually likeable, but as the story progressed and he got more possessive and aggressive, I wanted Amy to wake up and think for herself. But no, after he basically follows her to her new apartment and seduces her, Amy can’t seem to leave him. Even as she inwardly tries to convince herself that her past will hurt him (pfft), or she that can’t commit to a long-term relationship, she goes in a loop-di-loop that makes you want to rage-quit. And don’t even get me started with the way Liam chains her to him with offers of sex, money and companionship. He knows all the right buttons to push, and Amy is just stupid enough to fall for it. Her feeble attempts to pretend she’s not weak and didn’t need money ironically highlighted just how weak and stupid she is.
Oh, and let’s also throw in the hot neighbour from across the hall into this messed up relationship so his presence can demonstrate Liam’s wacko possessiveness.
I just…sigh.
Plot-wise…well there were tidbits scattered here and there, but it was heavily overshadowed by the ‘romance’ and sex. Amy continues to act all mysterious and secretive, frustrating everyone to no end. Nothing exactly happens in this book besides Amy and Liam’s relationship. You only get a hint of the actual plot on the last few pages. Not impressed. I just read 200 pages that basically set me up for the next book.
There is so much stigma surrounding the NA genre today, and I had hoped that the promise of a mystery would provide this book with a little bit of much needed sustenance. Unfortunately, this was just another ‘typical’ NA, with a focus on romance that basically spat on its own plot.
Would I ever recommend this book to my friends? N-O. No.
Thank you to Julie Patra Publishing on Netgalley for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review. ...more
You might see my rating and go, "what the hell, are you crazy?!" but let me try and explain myself. I really did try and like this book, but in the en
You might see my rating and go, "what the hell, are you crazy?!" but let me try and explain myself. I really did try and like this book, but in the end, I couldn't kid myself and pretend I liked it at all. I never went into it thinking it'd be great literature, but I did have some expectations as I've heard great things about the author's Perfect Chemistry series. I have yet to start that series (Rules of Attraction is sitting on my TBR shelf) but Elkeles is a NYT bestseller ... so I was really looking forward to this book. A lot.
The novel alternates between the perspectives of two characters, Derek Fitzpatrick and Ashtyn Parker, who've just learned that they're now family as Ashtyn's sister Brandi married Derek's dad. So to sum it up, Ashtyn is Derek's step-aunt of the same age. Derek has been kicked out of boarding school for pulling a prank during the senior class graduation, and with no where to go, he moves to Chicago with Brandi and her son while his dad is deployed for work. It's not until the two meet each other that the cliches start rolling in. The first thought that goes through his mind is that she's hot...
I turn to find a hot chick about my age with blond hair in one long braid snaking down her chest. She's blocking the doorway and holding a rusty pitchfork. She looks like she's ready to stab me to death, which lessons her hotness factor, but not by much. (p. 21)
I don't know about you but someone with an intention to stab me would not be at the top of my hotties list to be honest. I found myself cringing a lot throughout this novel, especially during the scenes where Derek and Ashtyn are interacting with each other. I felt like they had no chemistry at all, and their relationship was very forced. When I think about it, their attraction to each other is based solely on appearances as they never bother to really get to know each other at all. All they really do is banter and get pissed at each other, and I'm not exactly sure how that would lead to a stable relationship. While their relationship is not insta-love, it can be regarded as insta-pining, a sort of obsession that feels quite awkward and misplaced.
In terms of plot, well, there wasn't really one at all. You knew from the beginning where these characters would end up, and the rest were just filler pages. I expected a lot more football (was looking forward to it actually as it sounded so intriguing and was an unusual premise) but we only get slight glimpses of it. I had hoped to see more of Ashtyn's badass personality on the field so it was disappointing that the football was only a background plot to the romance. I was also disappointed that sub-plots were also left hanging without any solid conclusion. These include:
Derek's brief "relationship" with Bree (Ashtyn's friend) Ashtyn's strained relationship with Landon Ashtyn's relationship with her family (would have loved a little bit of background information. Where is her mother, why did she leave? Why did Brandi leave? Why is Gus so...Gus. And why did he allow Brandi to come back home?) Derek's relationship with his dad. I am so annoyed for no reason at this. Especially as there was no interaction between them at all. I understand communication is not ideal while his dad is deployed somewhere in the middle of the ocean, but still. Not even an email? Fairfield and Fremont's rivalry. It was at the forefront during the start of the book, and then nothing at all. I wanted to see Ashtyn stand up for herself to them but nope.
Character wise, most of them were cardboard cutouts from the book of cliche. Bree was the typical slutty cheerleader. Derek was the 'bad boy' prankster. Brandi was the ditzy step-parent, and Landon was the standard crappy boyfriend that needed to be there in order for the main girl to reevaluate her decisions in life. I don't usually mind that characters are underdeveloped if there's a good plot going, but unfortunately, this book was lacking in both. But the most annoying character was Derek's grandmother whose actions completely astounded me. And not in a good way. She was portrayed as a snobby Texan upper-class, but it's hard to believe that when the word 'nincompoop' is in her everyday vocabulary. I kid you not:
'Ma'am, it's against policy to let you in the elevator without an appointment.'
'You are obviously a nincompoop when it comes to recognizing authority,' Elizabeth Worthington barks out, frustration and agitation laced in her voice. (p. 329)
I never expected that the writing style in this book would be that poor either. I felt like I was reading a self-published series on FictionPress, and unfortunately, I've read better quality stories on that website (Sarah J. Maas for example). I'm also confused as to why no one bothered to remind Derek and Ashtyn that they're technically related by law. I once read a very well written series on FP by Myrika regarding the relationship between two step-siblings, and the fact that they're technically related was a big issue throughout. I was hoping that Wild Cards would have the same amount of drama and intrigue as the FP story, but unfortunately it didn't.
Unfortunately, this book was not my cup of tea. I hope I've explained myself properly regarding my dislike for it and why I'm disappointed by it. It does make me wary of picking up her other series, but I'm not going to say I won't eventually give it a go. However, I don't think I will be picking up the next book in the Wild Cards series.
Thank you to Bloomsbury Australia for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
I've been sitting on this review for a while, not knowing how the heck to sum up my emotions after everything that's happened in Empire of Storms. WHERE DO I EVEN BEGIN?! I'll try to keep this review as spoiler free as possible, but if you haven't read the first four books already...what are you even doing here? Shoo! Go, go, go. Pick yourself up a copy and wait for Sarah J. Maas to rip your bloody heart out (in a good way).
Empire of Storms picks up where all our character arcs are left off in Heir of Fire. You guys have no freaking idea how long I've waited for things to go down after all the set up that went into Queen of Shadows and Heir of Fire. Finally, finally, we were going to see Aelin take up her rightful place and reclaim what was hers.
Maas is a masterful storyteller, and while the Throne of Glass series seems to have had some epic moments already, you just know that Maas and Aelin have more in store for the reader. As a fangal of the series since the very beginning — and I mean very beginning when it was still a draft on FictionPress — it's so lovely to see the story evolve and take the direction it's taken. I remember when Throne of Glass came out and I was telling people that it's important to treat The Assassin's Blade like the Throne of Glass 0, and that it's not just a side book. Well, Heir of Fire really nails this message home. Characters from The Assassin's Blade (which I've dearly missed by the way) make their reappearance in this book. I won't say who, but I'm sure you can guess if you've read TAB.
And oh gosh guys, if you thought that Heir of Fire was downright 5 stars already...well just you wait. As storylines begin to merge, and all those cryptic messages from the previous novels are revealed, all the little details that Maas has scattered throughout this series over the years begin to click. And boy do they click.
I've definitely missed all the characters in this series, and it's always so lovely diving in and knowing that year after year, they grow and become people that you can continue to root for (pun intended ;)). Yes, even Lorcan although I felt his change in sentiment towards a certain someone felt a little too swift.
Aelin and Rowan of course are complete badasses (but my heart still belongs to Sam), and it's so great to see her court come together, and work with each other through all the shit that Morath continues to throw at them. And boy, do they throw a lot — not to mention the evil queen from the east, Maeve, and all her bloody meddling. When I thought that she was just some side character that we can forget about but Maas throws a spanner in the works...seriously don't even get me started on Maeve and her stupid timing.
While there's definitely some downright amazing characters in this series, my all time favourite will have to be Manon. Oh Manon, the things she's gone through and endured in this book makes me weep, even though she'd probably rip me in half for the pity. But I know she's a softie deep down ;)
I don't think there are enough words to describe the jumble of emotions that I experienced while reading Empire of Storms. I definitely felt like there was a thunderstorm brewing in my heart, and it's honestly still there as that ending has yet to fully sink in. I'm definitely counting down the minutes until the sixth and final book (omg noooo!) is released next year. I'm not ready to let any of these characters go...a reread is definitely needed!
Thank you to Bloomsbury Australia for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review.
There are not enough adjectives in the world to describe the brilliance of this novel. I was barely able to contain myself when I received the ARC in the mail - there was a lot of fangirling and I may have danced around my room a little. Just a little.
A Court of Thorns and Roses was my most anticipatedbook of the year, and I'm so happy to say that it did not disappoint. Far from it actually...it met my expectations and went beyond it ten-fold.
ACOTAR is a retelling of Beauty and the Beast, but with fey. FEY. I've read stories about fairies before, but none of them can even compare to how amazing this book is. Sarah's imagination is truly out of this world and her world-building never ceases to amaze me.
We follow our protagonist, Feyre, on a journey that sees her leaving her family for a life beyond the wall that divides her people from the magical (and evil) fey. Having killed a sacred fey-wolf, Feyre is forced to forfeit her own life in return for the one she took...but little does she realise, her captor Tamlin has other things in store for her.
The journey that Sarah takes the reader on through this book is beautiful. The world-building is magical, and as pieces of the story fall together, we experience a rollercoaster of emotions from hate to fear to love. And oh boy, do I love ALL THE CHARACTERS.
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Feyre is a total badass. She's a survivor, having been the sole provider for her family before she went over the wall. She's also smart and the inner Belle in her does shine through. I'm so, so, so glad to have met a character like Feyre, who loves her family enough to sacrifice her own life for them.
And then there's Tamlin. OH HOLY HELL TAMLIN, YOU ARE THE EPITOME OF PERFECTION IN A CHARACTER. Why can't you be real? Tamlin definitely has his flaws, but deep down he is the most caring person alive. Everything he does is to protect his people, and you just can't fault a guy that puts others' lives before his.
Can we all just take a moment to appreciate how perfect the romance is as well? This book is how ALL books in the new adult genre should be. There are definitely sizzling moments between Feyre and Tamlin, but Sarah has written it so well that it just felt right. There was a natural progression with their relationship and when the deed occurs (wink wink), it just felt like the right moment. New adult fantasy - I approve!
ACOTAR moves at a fast pace and the action never ceases. There was not a single page that I found boring, which is a feat that's really hard to achieve. Plus you all know how picky I am with books...heh.
I am so, so, so very excited for you all to read this book. Sarah J. Maas can do no wrong, and I highly recommend that you buy a copy of ACOTAR as soon as you can. You won't regret it, trust me.
Thank you Bloomsbury Australia for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
As an avid reader of Ms Maas' stories since the first draft of Throne of Glass was on FictionPress, I'll try not to be too biased in my review. RegardAs an avid reader of Ms Maas' stories since the first draft of Throne of Glass was on FictionPress, I'll try not to be too biased in my review. Regardless of whether I've read this before or not, Maas' story continues to take me on a whirlwind adventure alongside her heroine Celaena Sardothien. I understand that a lot of people disliked Celaena in Throne of Glass because of her personality. Some found her girlish side astounding considering her infamous past as 'Adarlan's Assassin', and thought that the romance took front stage in comparison to the plot. I agree with their views in some ways and disagree in many others.
Yes, Throne of Glass was very much focused on the romance with Celaena doing very little assassinating. To the reviewers that have abandoned this series for that reason, I urge you to pick up the four novellas that will give you the kick-ass assassin you were promised. We mustn't forget that the girl at the beginning of the series had been starved and worked to death at the slave encampment for being an assassin. It wouldn't surprise me if she wanted to put on a facade and pretend to be normal (at least a little) for the first time in her life.
Crown of Midnight is very different to the first book in this sense. The characters are more drawn out, the true plot is starting to form and the romance is resolved in some ways. In this second book in the series, readers get a true taste of Celaena in her former glory as she begins her work as the King's Champion. More of the background to Celaena's world is also touched upon within this book, and we even get to meet one of the creepy witches from the Iron Witch Clan in the Western Wastes.
Crown of Midnight does start off quite slow as we catch up with what Celaena gets up to in the time she's crowned Champion. The plot thickens as Celaena is given the task to eliminate a threat to the King's empire. And this threat turns out to be someone from her past, someone she doesn't know whether she should trust or not. The whole novel is shrouded in mystery, and while the story moves slowly in the beginning, the pace picks up very quickly and soon you'll realise that half the night has gone by and you should definitely put down the book and go to sleep (but you don't because you can't stop reading).
This time, the mystery is a lot more creepier compared to the first book. There was a section towards the end where I felt goosebumps all over my arms as Celaena comes face to face with a monster that'll surely give you nightmares. We see a lot more action (for all the readers waiting for her to live up to her name) on this rollercoaster ride through Crown of Midnight. This is a story that will get your heart pumping - and don't forget the tissues because I certainly cried. A lot. While I will not spoil anything, this plot twist was something that I spent chapters being in denial over. I knew by the end that it had to happen ... but I was very much hoping it wasn't true anyway.
I honestly cannot express how excited I am for the next book, which will be set in Wendlyn. This section had always been my favourite during Maas' first draft, so I really hope it lives up to my memory of it.
So for the people that loved Throne of Glass, I'm sure you'll love Crown of Midnight just as much as I did. And for the readers that were either indifferent or hated the first book - I hope you'll give this a try because you won't be disappointed. Whether you're looking for action, mystery or romance, Crown of Midnight has it all. And then some.
I received a copy of the book from Bloomsbury Australia in exchange for an honest review.
I am a little disappointed with this novel considering how much I liked Losing It. I was extremely excited that this book follows Cade (a side charactI am a little disappointed with this novel considering how much I liked Losing It. I was extremely excited that this book follows Cade (a side character in the first book), who I felt really bad for and really wished he found his own happy ever after. Just so you know though, during the beginning of Losing It, I had though Cade was gay. His attentions portrayed someone that was very comfortable showing affection for his friends (kissing them on the forehead, cheeks) that I was a little shocked to learn that he in fact was 100% straight.
Because of this, I had a hard time investing in his character all that much. I thought his personality was quite inconsistent from beginning to end. When the book opens up, he is this emotionally damaged guy who’s learning to let go of someone he loves. Carmack had portrayed him out to be heartbroken and sulky…but then as our female protagonist starts interacting with him, Cade turns into some sort of suave gentleman – all smooth talking and flirtatious. Throughout the novel, Cade flickers back and forth between his two personalities, making him seem unbelievable and quite unrealistic.
On the other hand, I liked Max. I’m not going to say that this story wasn’t an entire cliche but there was enough back story and sustenance that I enjoyed it enough. It is not without its flaws though. I just couldn’t be convinced of this blooming relationship between Max and Cade. Her parents’ insistent nature to push Max towards finding someone to take care of her was a little astonishing. I understand that the tragic accident of her sister plays a role in this behaviour, but it felt like all they wanted for her was to be a Stepford wife.
However, I must admit that my enjoyment for this story was influenced by the incomplete ebook I was reading from. Chunks of the ends of each chapter were missing throughout the novel, so I missed a lot of crucial parts to the story. That is greatly unfortunate, but I still enjoy this series enough to want to read the third book, based around the character Kelsey.
Losing It is my first true read within the ‘New Adult’ category. While I’ve read many similar romances back when I still roamed around Fiction Press (Losing It is my first true read within the ‘New Adult’ category. While I’ve read many similar romances back when I still roamed around Fiction Press (don’t be fooled by the idea of self-publishing. There are a lot of brilliant stories on here eg. Sarah J. Maas started her publishing journey on this site), this novel is one that I really liked because of its characters. I think one of the hardest parts in writing for a NA audience is the fact that most of your readers are old and smart enough to discern the good from the bad. The author is attempting to sell a story with an idea and plot that must resonate with readers that are perhaps experiencing the exact same things as the main protagonist. Because of this, it becomes so much harder to fool the audience into believing that yes, this is what happens within the 18-25 bracket. So the story must first off be believable and true.
I believe Carmack did a great job in this sense by giving her readers a protagonist that many women can relate to. Whether your age is still within the NA age bracket, or younger/older, losing your virginity can be both a frightening and exciting topic. I don’t know when the whole ‘you must lose your v-card asap or be considered a prude’ idea started, but it’s overshadowed the whole act. Modern society these days are depicting sex as no big deal, but Losing It spits on that idea and I applaud the book for it. Sex is dependent on the person and whether you’re comfortable enough with your partner. Sure, we have Kelsey, Bliss’ best friend who doesn’t understand why Bliss can’t just lose it, but throughout the novel, we have been shown that Kelsey is completely comfortable within her own skin in contrast to Bliss.
This novel is essentially a story about Bliss feeling comfortable enough with Garrick, a hot English man who she left naked in her bed after changing her mind about a one-night stand, before they make love. While there are of course obstacles standing between them – him being her professor for a semester and all – we follow Bliss as she falls in love and makes the rational decision of when she is ready. Losing It is a very character driven novel, but its side plots are interesting as well. I picked up this book and managed to finish it in a matter of hours because I was hooked from the start. And let me tell you, some of the scenes were steamy.
This book is great because Carmack has created such believable and well-rounded characters that fit the age bracket they’re in. It was a fast but good read, recommended to all lovers of contemporary romance.
Sabine is a unique 18 year-old with two lives she ‘Shifts’ between every 24 hours. In Wellesley, she is a straight-A prep school kid3.5 out of 5 stars
Sabine is a unique 18 year-old with two lives she ‘Shifts’ between every 24 hours. In Wellesley, she is a straight-A prep school kid with a charming life and the perfect boyfriend. At midnight, she Shifts to her life in Roxbury where her family lives in a run-down house, attempting to make ends meet. In Wellesley, she has the perfect life. In Roxbury, she finds the perfect love.
For as long as she could remember, Sabine has been living two lives – but all she wants is the chance to be normal. Prior to the where her story begins, she never thought it was ever possible to live one life as physical impacts that occurred in one body transported to the next. So if she killed herself in one life, she was dead in her other. This all changed when she broke her wrist tripping down the subway stairs in Roxbury. Sabine wakes up in Wellesley with no form of injury, something that’s never happened before. Scared and excited by this prospect, Sabine embarks on a series of ‘experiments’ to prove that something had definitely changed. And if these tests succeeded, she would finally be given the chance to live one life normally.
I thought this concept was definitely something I’ve not come across before in the young-adult section. I’m the type of person who’ve lain awake at night, pondering the exact same questions that have been raised within this novel. What really happens to us when we die? Do we reset and live the same life again, or do we reset but in a different life? Are there other ‘me’s’ alive out there in an alternate universe – a different Earth that is currently occurring on the same timeline. And one of the most debated questions of all – do we all have a soul mate?
While Between the Lives isn’t going to answer any of these questions in a logical and scientific manner, we can lose ourselves for some time imagining that the brief answers that Shirvington provides might actually be true (as unlikely as it may be). While you’re not going to find answers to those mind-boggling questions, you are able to lose yourself in the idea. And essentially, isn’t this why we turn our attention to novels? Because they provide us with an alternate world within our imaginations for escapism. And a good story engulfs you within an idea that you probably wished was true.
While I do not envy Sabine’s predicament (no one wants to live everyday twice, especially having to go through school twice), I am jealous of the idea in where she’s able to experience something no one else can. I’m sure a lot of people wonder what their lives would be like if they were born to different parents and a different world. To be able to experience life as a prep-school kid and then life as a rebellious teen. I’m sure everyone has wondered at least once what it would be like to be your own complete opposite. Sure, it’ll probably scramble your mind up, but we’ve all wondered.
What I want to praise Shirvington for in Between the Lives is her ability to write a constant personality for Sabine. For a girl that’s living two lives with very distinct personalities in each, Sabine’s true personality doesn’t alter all that much. I’m glad it was very consistent because it would have been awful as a reader to be disgusted by her in one life but love her in the other. You just can’t root for a character when you hate half of her. Of course, that would essentially make the choosing process too easy if the reader was rooting for only one of Sabine’s two lives.
I’m also glad that Shirvington does not stick to the stereotypical personalities for each group of Sabine’s friends. It was such a breath of air when the preppy girls aren’t portrayed as ‘dumb’ and ‘sluts’ and her rebellious friend isn’t a drug or alcohol addict.
I also thought the plot was believable enough and that the decision between the perfect life and the perfect love was important enough for Sabine to spend countless hours worrying over. Sometimes you find a protagonist wasting time trying to make a decision that makes no sense. This does not happen in this story because the decisions Sabine makes causes a lot of impact – not only on herself but the people around her. Would you choose a life of riches that come with two brothers who dislike you or a life of squalor with a sister that adores you to death? And would you choose a perfect life with a boy you only know you should be with, or a heartbroken life with a boy that you love? While we may have our own answers, this book makes you question them.
I must admit that I had liked Dex up till the very end. Did not see that little twist coming. With Ethan however, I must say I never really felt that supposed spark between him and Sabine. I understand his actions are sweet, but it needed more spark. It wasn’t until the last chapter of the book that I felt the spark between them. While the ending was predictable (a happy ending to make you question life a few more times), I can’t say I didn’t enjoy it. After crying my way through the last few chapters, it was definitely an ending I had hoped for. While I’m not going to give the ending away, I honestly believe that something like that could really happen. As silly as this may sound, when I met my boyfriend for the first time, I just had an odd feeling that we were compatible with each other. And one and a half years later, that spark is still there. As the last chapter suggests, sometimes the universe just works properly.
While I really enjoyed this book, I just couldn’t get past all the self-harm acts performed by Sabine. I know she had to perform these tests to prove her theory, but her irrational acts seemed to have been done without thought. I thought some of the experiments were a little wild considering she was unsure of the outcome and could have potentially ended both her lives. I wish for someone as smart as her, she would have spent more time planning rather than rushing into the thick of it.
Overall, it was a very exciting read and I will definitely be looking out for other books by Jessica Shirvington!
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