Showing posts with label Sarah J Maas. Show all posts

Wednesday, June 4, 2014

Waiting on Wednesday (141): HEIR OF FIRE

September 2nd, 2014 from Bloomsbury

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?

This third novel in the Throne of Glass sequence, from New York Times bestselling author Sarah J. Maas, is packed with more heart-stopping action, devastating drama and swoonsome romance, and introduces some fierce new heroines to love and hate.

I WANT THIS BOOK SO MUCH!! After the amazingly epic Crown of Midnight, I'm extremely excited for Heir of Fire. I NEED to know what happens next, especially after that ending...

What are you waiting on this week?

Saturday, April 12, 2014

The Queen's Library (42): February, March, and April

Books Received for Review

Charm & Strange (hardcover)
To All The Boys I've Loved Before (print ARC)
The Body in the Woods (print ARC)
Since You've Been Gone (print ARC)
The Queen of the Tearling (print ARC)
Liv, Forever (print ARC)
Dorothy Must Die (print ARC)
The Lost (print ARC)
Torn Away (electronic ARC)
The Dolls (electronic ARC)
#Scandal (electronic ARC)
Rites of Passage (electronic ARC)
In A Handful of Dust (electronic ARC)

The Balance Keepers: The Fires of Calderon (electronic ARC)

Thank you so much to Amazon Vine, Macmillan, Harlequin, Edelweiss, and Netgalley!

Gifted From My Family

The Winner's Curse (hardcover) (my review)
The Assassin's Blade (hardcover) (my review)

My parents bought me these books to celebrate my acceptance into my college's English master's program!! YAY for grad school and two fabulous books! *dances*

Ruin and Rising Sampler / Swag

I received this package from the lovely folks at Macmillan + Leigh Bardugo, and it's truly a work of art. The box is gorgeous (seriously, check out that design), and the three candles smell outstanding. But the sampler? The sampler is EPIC. Not only were the chapters incredible, but even the interior designs / extra info was lovely. I am so incredibly excited for Ruin and Rising, I wish it was already June! I must know what happens!

I bought more books too (Kindle deals are my weakness), but I'll save them for the next TQL.

My Weekly Recommendation

What bookish goodies did you get?

Monday, August 5, 2013

Review: CROWN OF MIDNIGHT by Sarah J. Maas

Title: CROWN OF MIDNIGHT

Author: Sarah J. Maas
Published: August 27th, 2013
Series: Throne of Glass #2
Genre: YA fantasy
Publisher: Bloomsbury
POV: 3rd, past, multiple POV's
Pages: 432
Format: electronic ARC
Source: Netgalley / Publisher
Rating: The Royal Library, Top Shelf

"An assassin’s loyalties are always in doubt.
But her heart never wavers.

After a year of hard labor in the Salt Mines of Endovier, eighteen-year-old assassin Celaena Sardothien has won the king's contest to become the new royal assassin. Yet Celaena is far from loyal to the crown – a secret she hides from even her most intimate confidantes.

Keeping up the deadly charade—while pretending to do the king's bidding—will test her in frightening new ways, especially when she's given a task that could jeopardize everything she's come to care for. And there are far more dangerous forces gathering on the horizon -- forces that threaten to destroy her entire world, and will surely force Celaena to make a choice.

Where do the assassin’s loyalties lie, and who is she most willing to fight for?"

I became a fan of Maas's writing after the first novella in the series was released, and I quickly devoured each novella until I finally managed to snag an advanced reader's copy of THRONE OF GLASS. While I enjoyed the first full-length novel, I was disappointed with Celaena's bratty demeanor and the lack of time spent during the action scenes. But, I still had high hopes for the sequel, and Maas delivered an outstanding story – so much so, I'm starting to wonder if I'd enjoy THRONE OF GLASS more if I reread it. CROWN OF MIDNIGHT dives equally, and headfirst, into action and emotion. This is one sequel that will pull you in, hold on tight, and never let go.

I'll be extremely vague about the story, and only give you the bare bones. Now the King's Champion, Celaena simultaneously has more and less power than ever before. In addition, Celaena, Chaol, Dorian, and multiple other characters are all struggling against the same beast – desire versus duty. They let it slither closer, wrapping some of them up entirely in a strangled hold, while others manage to break free from its grasp as they choose their side. Everyone has an agenda and a loyalty within this story, and each character is forced to question who they are in order to decide who they want to become. Compelling, humorous, romantic, and devastating, CROWN OF MIDNIGHT is an exceptional sequel that will leave you begging Sarah J. Maas for the next novel, ASAP¹.

Highlights: Danger, action, secrets, romance, and surprises, CROWN OF MIDNIGHT takes everything to the next level. Celaena has grown tremendously. She can still be bratty, but it feels more toned down in this novel. Instead, Celaena is fiercer, stronger, smarter, and somewhat terrifyingly darker. Maas takes Celaena and her readers for an emotional rollercoaster journey that jerks us up, down, and all around. Supporting characters were intriguing, especially in regard to the what is revealed about some of them. Chaol is fabulous², Dorian is starting to grow on me a tiny bit, and Fleetfoot (coolest fictional dog ever) is made of awesome.

Lowlights: It took some time to get into the story and to remember previous events. Nothing too problematic.

Rating: The Royal Library, Top Shelf. I love this book and it belongs on the top shelves in the royal library, where everyone can see it. I'd highly recommend this book, because it is an incredible story that only has a couple minor issues. All in all, CROWN OF MIDNIGHT needs to be on your to-be-read list!

1 No joke. If I thought begging SJM for the next novel would work, I'd be bowing down at her feet and begging right at this very moment. Book Three, WHY ARE YOU SO FAR AWAY??
2 As always. *swoons*

My reviews of other works by Sarah J. Maas:
THE ASSASSIN AND THE PIRATE LORD (Throne of Glass #0.1)
THE ASSASSIN AND THE DESERT (Throne of Glass #0.2)
THE ASSASSIN AND THE UNDERWORLD (Throne of Glass #0.3)
THE ASSASSIN AND THE EMPIRE (Throne of Glass #0.4)
THRONE OF GLASS (Throne of Glass #1)

Saturday, June 8, 2013

The Queen's Library (34)

For Review From Netgalley
WILD CARDS by Simone Elkeles

STARRY NIGHTS by Daisy Whitney

CROWN OF MIDNIGHT by Sarah J. Maas
WHERE THE STARS STILL SHINE by Trish Doller

Audiobook Freebies (not pictured)
OF POSEIDON by Anna Banks
THE TEMPEST by William Shakespeare
JANE EYRE by Charlotte Brontë (still free!)
THE MYSTERIOUS HOWLING by Maryrose Wood (still free!)

Thanks to Sync for the free audiobooks, along with Bloomsbury + Netgalley for the review books! I may or may not have happy-screamed a little bit when I found out Bloomsbury accepted my review requests ;)

YA Book Queen's
Weekly Recommendation

What books did you get this week?

The feature is inspired by Pop Culture Junkie's This Week In Books, The Story Siren's In My Mailbox, and Mailbox Monday. The Queen's Library is a way for me to feature books that I add to my bookshelves and a place to post my weekly recommendations. This is not a new meme, but merely an adjusted feature that is better suited to my blog and needs.

Tuesday, April 23, 2013

Top Ten Books I Thought I'd Like More / Less Than I Did

BOOKS I THOUGHT I WOULD LIKE MORE (BUT DIDN'T)

1. THRONE OF GLASS by Sarah J Maas: I'm a big fan of the novellas, but the novel let me down a bit. Perhaps I'll like it more when I reread it.

2. REQUIEM by Lauren Oliver: A good story, but that ending killed it for me. Too little is answered, and I'm still angry at the lack of answers.

3. BEAUTY QUEENS by Libba Bray: I loved GOING BOVINE and really like the Gemma Doyle books, but this one was only okay for me. Such a shame.

4. IMPOSSIBLE by Nancy Werlin: I don't think I'm a fan of this author's writing style, because a lot of other people loved this book, and I could barely stand to read the entire thing.

5. THE BEGINNING OF AFTER by Jennifer Castle: I really thought I was going to love this book, but it ended up being sort of average.

BOOKS I THOUGHT I WOULDN'T LIKE (BUT DID)

6. THE FAULT IN OUR STARS by John Green: Why did I doubt you, John Green? Excellent voice, lovely writing, and a heartbreaking story. I feel like an idiot for thinking I wouldn't like it.

7. STORM by Brigid Kemmerer: I normally don't expect much from a novel published by a small press, but this book was so much better than I expected. A few flaws, but such a fun read! Plus, it's filled with incredible characters, like the lovable Merrick boys :)

8. BLOOD RED ROAD by Moira Young: The strange way that it is written almost made me give up, and I'm glad that I didn't. This book is filled with complex characters and exciting, action-packed moments.

9. ANNA DRESSED IN BLOOD by Kendare Blake: Ghosts, fun friends, gory scenes, and a great MC - why did I originally doubt I would like this book?

10. WANDERLOVE by Kirsten Hubbard: I liked LIKE MANDARIN, but wasn't expecting this book to be anything special. It was. I adore this book, especially the artwork.

Hosted by The Broke and The Bookish
Image from The Broke and The Bookish

Thursday, February 28, 2013

New Paperback Covers: Throne of Glass, Beneath a Meth Moon, Anna and the French Kiss and more

THRONE OF GLASS

(US hardcover, US paperback, UK paperback)

So much better than the first cover! I'm so glad they went with the UK cover. Although I still prefer the way the UK cover looks. I'm not fond of all that purple.

VENOM

I loved the hardcover, so this is a bit sad. I think I would love the new cover if the couple on the front was gone or incorporated better.

SERAPHINA

The font is wicked (seriously, look at the "S" and the last "a"!). I love that it has color, but wish it wasn't purple.

GILT (revised, thanks to Katie's comment!)

(Hardcover / Original paperback design / Actual paperback design)

Whoa. The original paperback cover is one of those book covers that would make me feel very awkward in public. I like that it doesn't have the same pale-as-death skin tone as the original cover. As for the new paperback cover (and the one that will be printed), I like it. The warm colors, the background...it looks great!

RIPPER

I prefer the old cover. It's sleek, attention-getting. The new one is a bit too chaotic for me.

RIFT

This is actually really close to the original cover...I kind of like the bright blue. I think I like both equally. Does her hair look less red?

BENEATH A METH MOON

I like the change. The new cover makes me very curious about the story, while the first cover didn't capture my interest at all.

DEVILISH

I'm not really fond of either cover, but I can't stand the original, so I'm glad they're changing it. The new cover captures the darker side of the story in a more obvious way. But the original captures the bursts of humor, too. Darn.

CRANK

Definitely the original. It's simple, and it makes me curious. The new one makes me want to look away, the font is so distracting.

Just revealed on SHELF LIFE

ANNA AND THE FRENCH KISS

I used to hate the original Anna cover (and probably never would have read that book if I hadn't received an ARC), but the adorableness has grown on me. The new cover is less embarrassing to read in public, but it wouldn't catch my eye if I was wandering around in a bookstore.

LOLA AND THE BOY NEXT DOOR

Yet again, the original cover has grown on me, so I prefer it more. I like the new LOLA cover better than the new ANNA. I love the warm colors.

Bonus: ISLA AND THE HAPPILY EVER AFTER

It's okay. I'm not a big fan of font that takes over the cover, unless it's integrated in a unique way. I hope that they at least do something fun with the font for all three books (emboss, engrave, foil, something)!

All in all, while I love some of the new covers, I'm starting to think that I'm not really a cover-change fan. Sometimes they are absolutely incredible, but other times...not so much.

What are your thoughts?

Monday, January 28, 2013

Review: The THRONE OF GLASS Novellas by Sarah J. Maas

The THRONE OF GLASS novellas by Sarah J. Maas

"Keep talking like that...and I might give you

a reason to wear a mask." ¹

THE ASSASSIN AND THE PIRATE LORD is the beginning of four prequel novellas to THRONE OF GLASS, and it's definitely one wild ride. Sixteen-year-old Celaena Sardothien is young, beautiful, stubborn, dauntless, and easily not the sort of person you'd want to fight. In this first novella, Maas gives us a quick introduction into the type of character Celaena is -- and the lengths she's willing to go to when it comes to fighting for what she believes. Overall, a great beginning to the novellas.

"There was nothing left in the world

except sand and wind." ²

THE ASSASSIN AND THE DESERT marks a turning point for the young assassin. As punishment for her actions in the first novella, Celaena is sent into the Red Desert to train with the Silent Assassins, or more specificially their leader, the Mute Master. But getting his attention isn't as easy as she anticipated, and she's stuck training with other assassins in the meantime. Celaena goes through so much development in this novel as she forms friendships and finds a little more compassion inside of herself. Regarding characters and settings, Maas's writing is excellent.

"My name is a snippet of a half-
remembered song." ³

THE ASSASSIN AND THE UNDERWORLD is easily the lesser novella of the four, if only because the story isn't quite as engaging and Celaena is much more bratty and selfish. But fortunately, Sam Cortland makes up for any and all flaws in this novella. Sam and Celaena's bickering yet caring relationship is fun to watch unfold, especially as things between them get a bit more complicated as their lives become exceedingly dangerous.

"My name is Celaena Sardothien
...and I will not be afraid." ⁴

THE ASSASSIN AND THE EMPIRE is utterly heartbreaking. The stakes are higher than ever for Celaena, and there is more on the line than only her life. It's romantic, sad, and so very bittersweet once the final chapter concludes. Celaena is not the same assassin that she used to be, and the journey she goes through in this novella is a terribly sad one. I wish I could say more, but I'd be spoiling the entire story. Betrayal, romance, twists...it's hard not to love these novellas, and the conclusion of this novella left me eager to reread THRONE OF GLASS in hopes that it will resonate with me more now that I know more about Celaena's past.

Highlights: I love how, for all of Celaena's ferocity, she has a good heart and good instincts. She's an intriguing character. And Sam is just fantastic. Characters, as a whole, are wonderfully written and perfectly unique to themselves. Maas knows how create tension, both romantic and life-or-death tension. Maas described each setting so vividly, as well as Celaena's actions during a fight. Packed with action, romance, character development, and so much more, the THRONE OF GLASS novellas don't disappoint.

Lowlights: I feel like the story could have been stronger in the third novella. I also wish Celaena wouldn't have been as foolish as she was, to open her eyes and see certain people for what they really are. A few of the twists were incredibly easy to spot.

Source: I purchased each novella from Amazon for my Kindle (and am grateful they were only 99 cents each - such a fabulous deal!)

Final Ratings

THE ASSASSIN AND THE PIRATE LORD: 4.5 out of 5

THE ASSASSIN AND THE DESERT: 5 out of 5

THE ASSASSIN AND THE UNDERWORLD: 3 out of 5

THE ASSASSIN AND THE EMPIRE: 5 out of 5

1 location 316, TAatPL
2 location 15, TAatD
3 location 870, TAatU
4 location 1301, TAatE

Monday, August 27, 2012

Review: Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

Throne of Glass
Sarah J. Maas
August 7th, 2012
416 pages (hardcover)
Bloomsbury
Source - Netgalley

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

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

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

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

Celaena Sardothien is the kind of character that demands attention. I quickly became a fan of Celaena's character in the first three Throne of Glass novellas (especially in The Assassin and the Desert) because despite her cocky and better-than-everyone-else attitude, she does have some great moments and character growth in each novella. As a bonus, Celaena gets the job done in each of those smaller stories, and she's not afraid to kick some butt along the way.

In Throne of Glass, Celaena is forced to reacquire and moderate her abilities for the sake of survival as she tries to win the privilege of being the King's champion. I expected action-packed story featuring gripping Tests as Celaena proves her worth, but strangely, I instead found that more focus is placed on Celaena's budding romantic relationships and the not-so-surprising mystery of who or what is killing off Celaena's competitors. In the end, I found the story enjoyable but was still somewhat saddened¹ by how much emphasis was placed on trivial matters when there was so much potential for Throne of Glass.

Highlights: Vain, deadly, and quick with fabulously witty comebacks, Celaena also contains a softer side underneath all those prickly edges. I enjoyed how Maas focused on only one of Celaena's romantic relationships, and how Maas showed Celaena's struggle to reach her peak after spending so long in Endovier. Each Test kept me eagerly turning the pages for more. Nox and Nehemia were both surprising and wonderfully written supporting characters that I hope to see in future books.

Lowlights: The switching 3rd person POV. The lack of time spent on the Tests, and the amount instead spent hanging out with Celaena in her rooms or flirting with her love interests, who don't compare to the ones present in the novellas. A bit too much time spent on things that got old quickly (Celaena flirting, whining, eating / adoring candy). The main love interest seemed a bit cliché. The mysteries unraveled too obviously.

Rating:

1 I liked this book, but felt a bit underwhelmed. Other readers seem to be loving it, so I'd recommend Throne of Glass to anyone craving a fantasy novel. I also highly recommend the ToG novellas, which are fantastic.