130 replies to this topic

[Mara=^.^=]

Yes, please keep posting!

 

~*Mara*~ = ^.^ =

[Katia11]

I'd better catch up then because I've fallen behind again. WHY AM I SO BAD AT THIS?!

 

Duel Of Fire, Jordan Rivet ★★★

 

Summary: Dara Ruminor is a serious young duelist in the mountaintop kingdom of Vertigon, a land of dramatic cliffs and misty peaks where mysterious Fire magic runs through the stones like blood. The secluded kingdom has been peaceful for a hundred years. Swords are used for sport, and successful athletes live like kings as long as the crowds love them.

 

Eighteen-year-old Dara needs to find a wealthy patron in order to duel professionally and avoid a lifetime working in her parents’ Fire Lantern shop. Her efforts are disrupted when her coach asks her to train with Prince Siv, an infuriating—if handsome—young man who refuses to take the sport as seriously as she does. But the prince’s life may be in danger, and soon Dara will discover that Vertigon isn’t as peaceful as she thought.

 

As threats emerge from the shadows, Dara will have to raise her sword to protect Siv—if he doesn’t irritate her so much that she decides to run him through herself.

 

I liked this book. The relationship between Dara and Siv evolved pretty naturally and didn't feel forced as romance sometimes does. I loved the Dueling aspect of the book. I loved how committed she was despite her family's disapproval. And I was pretty sure how the book was going to end, and I was right, but it was an interesting turn of events anyway.

 

I really liked how the desire for revenge turned to something dark and evil. How monsters are sometimes even closer then we wish to believe.

 

King of Mist, Jordan Rivet ★★★

 

Summary: Dara Ruminor takes her new position as a Castle Guard for the King of Vertigon very seriously. She refuses to allow her feelings for Siv to get in the way of atoning for her parents’ actions, no matter how hard it is to keep her distance. But she’s keeping secrets from her king—and the one involving a fiery newfound ability is getting harder to hide.

When Sivarrion Amintelle ascends the throne of Vertigon, he’s condemned to the drudgery of council meetings, strategic marriages, and the maneuverings of ambitious noblemen. There aren’t nearly enough sharp, pointy objects involved, and a certain swordswoman still makes him want to sneak away from his duties at every opportunity.

But the Peace of Vertigon is over, and unknown foes conspire to end Siv’s reign before it truly begins. As their enemies’ plots grow more complicated, Dara and Siv will have to enlist help from an unlikely source. But if her secrets get out, Dara will have even bigger problems. And Siv might decide not to trust her after all.

 

This book was slightly less enjoyable then the first.

 

I liked the way Dara tries to figure out how to stop her parents. I liked the way the relationship between Dara and Siv is tested. I liked Dara training with her former enemy.. and seeing that perhaps things are not quite as clear cut as she once thought. 

 

I did not care for the way they refused to talk to each other. Like, the main conflicts of the book could have been solved if they simply communicated. The bad guy was over the top bad and things really seemed to hinge on certain parts of their plan working out. 

 

It ended on an intriguing note and so I will be reading the third book in the series when it comes out. 

[Katia11]

Air Awakens, Elise Kova ★★★

 

 

Summary: A library apprentice, a sorcerer prince, and an unbreakable magic bond… 

The Solaris Empire is one conquest away from uniting the continent, and the rare elemental magic sleeping in seventeen-year-old library apprentice Vhalla Yarl could shift the tides of war. 

 

Vhalla has always been taught to fear the Tower of Sorcerers, a mysterious magic society, and has been happy in her quiet world of books. But after she unknowingly saves the life of one of the most powerful sorcerers of them all—the Crown Prince Aldrik—she finds herself enticed into his world. Now she must decide her future: Embrace her sorcery and leave the life she's known, or eradicate her magic and remain as she's always been. And with powerful forces lurking in the shadows, Vhalla's indecision could cost her more than she ever imagined.

 

Yet another book where the main love interest is a complete jerk. Like he's supposed to be endearing but I found myself disliking him a lot. I liked the idea of the magic in this book, but I don't think I will read the other books in the series.

 

The Bird and The Sword, Amy Harmon ★★★

 

 

Summary: Swallow, daughter, pull them in, those words that sit upon your lips. Lock them deep inside your soul, hide them ‘til they’ve time to grow. Close your mouth upon the power, curse not, cure not, ‘til the hour. You won’t speak and you won’t tell, you won’t call on heaven or hell. You will learn and you will thrive. Silence, daughter. Stay alive. 

 

The day my mother was killed, she told my father I wouldn’t speak again, and she told him if I died, he would die too. Then she predicted the king would sell his soul and lose his son to the sky. 

My father has a claim to the throne, and he is waiting in the shadows for all of my mother’s words to come to pass. He wants desperately to be king, and I just want to be free. 

But freedom will require escape, and I’m a prisoner of my mother’s curse and my father’s greed. I can’t speak or make a sound, and I can’t wield a sword or beguile a king. In a land purged of enchantment, love might be the only magic left, and who could ever love . . . a bird? 

 

 

Okay, this was a book where the 'jerk' trope actually kind of worked. Because he was kind of that way, but he grew.. He teaches her how to read etc. Sometimes this trope works for me, sometimes it doesn't.

 

This was one of the times it does.

 

Plus, the protagonist was fun. I really liked the magic too.

 

I didn't really care for how the book ended, but it was still an enjoyable read. 

 

 

The Queen's Poisoner, Jeff Wheeler ★★★★

 

Summary: King Severn Argentine’s fearsome reputation precedes him: usurper of the throne, killer of rightful heirs, ruthless punisher of traitors. Attempting to depose him, the Duke of Kiskaddon gambles…and loses. Now the duke must atone by handing over his young son, Owen, as the king’s hostage. And should his loyalty falter again, the boy will pay with his life.

 

Seeking allies and eluding Severn’s spies, Owen learns to survive in the court of Kingfountain. But when new evidence of his father’s betrayal threatens to seal his fate, Owen must win the vengeful king’s favor by proving his worth—through extraordinary means. And only one person can aid his desperate cause: a mysterious woman, dwelling in secrecy, who truly wields power over life, death, and destiny.

 

 

I loved the Muirwood books.  I loved them.  And this was no different.

 

A fast paced mystery. With likable and fun characters.

 

I haven't decided if I will continue the series, but this was a light and fun read. 

[Katia11]

sigh, I'm getting into the book i'm working on - I'm about four chapters in...

 

when I read this scene where our MC (who has been abused and tortured and who is travelling with these two men) pretty much tells one of them, hey, I don't need a babysitter.

 

She knows it's cruel, but she does it anyway.

 

Like why is that supposed to make me like her? The same thing could've been achieved by saying, thank you for helping me, but I can do this on my own.

 

Like......... ... why is strength written so often written as cruelty or ruthlessness? 

 

Can you not be kind and be a strong person? 

 

Rant over.

[Katia11]

The Iron Butterfly, Chanda Hahn ★★★

 

Summary: Imprisoned, starved and left with no memories, Thalia awakens to find herself at the mercy of an evil cult known as the Septori. Their leader has chosen Thalia as the test subject for a torture device of untold power, designed to change and twist her into something that is neither human nor Denai. 

 

Escaping, Thalia finds an unwilling warrior to protect her and an unlikely Denai to befriend her. After finding a home at the Citadel as a servant, Thalia’s worst nightmare comes to life and she begins to show signs of power. Scared and unable to control her gifts, she tries to hide her past to fit in among the Denai. But the Septori want their latest test subject back and will stop at nothing to retrieve her, dead or alive.

 

This is the book I was talking about in the previous post. Thankfully, I was able to push aside my general dislike and finish it. Because I quite enjoyed it after that. 

 

Falls into a lot of the typical YA stuff- but I still wanted more.

 

 

The Steele Wolf, Chanda Hahn ★★★

 

Summary: After finally settling into her new life at the Citadel, Thalia is reunited with her father, who is disturbed at the changes within her. Risking banishment, Thalia must work to prove to her clan and herself that she is still capable of leading them. The problem is, her memories haven’t returned, and she cannot shake the feeling that she doesn’t belong. 

 

Thalia discovers that betrayal runs deep within her clan, just as she sets out to join Joss and Kael in doing the one thing she fears most: track the Septori to save Joss’ kidnapped sister. Along the way, she must confront her own fears on a journey of self-discovery that will take her deep into the stronghold of Denai; as they travel to the ancient floating city of Skyfell.

 

I really enjoyed this one. The bad guys were over the top bad, but I really enjoyed the little bit of Thalia's clan. I really wish we would have seen more. 

 

 

 

The Silver Siren, Chanda Hahn ★★★

 

 

Summary: Every journey has an end.  Unable to find the answers she sought in Skyfell, Thalia, Joss, and Kael travel to Haven with a prisoner in tow. An attack on the road waylays their plans, and Thalia finds herself traveling alone with Kael to the hidden sanctuary of the SwordBrothers. 

But war is on the horizon and the Raven is amassing his army. This time, the target is not Calandry, but the Sirens of Sinnedor. When family ties are revealed, Thalia must choose sides. Desperate to break the final seal on her power and save those she loves, will Thalia willingly taste the bitter pain of the iron butterfly machine one final time? 

 

I WAS TOTALLY RIGHT ABOUT WHO THE BAD GUYS WERE. Sometimes, this frustrates me and sometimes I'm like YES. I was totally right. This was sort of a mixture of the two. I did enjoy the reveal and the final battle quite a bit.

 

This series was enjoyable and frustrating at the same time. It has one of those love triangle things. Broody guy, nice guy both love girl. Broody guy is awful, but girl is drawn to him anyway. Nice guy gets short end of stick. 

 

The aspect of the bonding was interesting.

 

But, book, you need to tell me why the guy and the girl love each other. You need to build it up. I did really enjoyed the bit where they were traveling together and just spending time by themselves.

 

But you need to build those feelings even more.You need to give them a reason to care about each other. How did they get to that place? 

 

I don't know if this makes sense to anyone else. 

[Mara=^.^=]

But you need to build those feelings even more.You need to give them a reason to care about each other. How did they get to that place? 

 

I don't know if this makes sense to anyone else.

 

I totally know what you mean. Both friendships and romances need to develop ON SCREEN, where I can see them progress. If you want me as the reader to be invested, you have to show how the characters' feelings - love, trust, camaraderie - develop over time. Infatuation can happen in a second, but for genuine connection, there needs to be a sincere exploration of what makes these two people like each other.

 

~*Mara*~ = ^.^ =

[Katia11]

The Seventh Bride, T. Kingfisher ★★★ 1/2

 

Summary: Young Rhea is a miller’s daughter of low birth, so she is understandably surprised when a mysterious nobleman, Lord Crevan, shows up on her doorstep and proposes marriage. Since commoners don’t turn down lords—no matter how sinister they may seem—Rhea is forced to agree to the engagement.

 

Lord Crevan demands that Rhea visit his remote manor before their wedding. Upon arrival, she discovers that not only was her betrothed married six times before, but his previous wives are all imprisoned in his enchanted castle. Determined not to share their same fate, Rhea asserts her desire for freedom. In answer, Lord Crevan gives Rhea a series of magical tasks to complete, with the threat “Come back before dawn, or else I’ll marry you.”

 

With time running out and each task more dangerous and bizarre than the last, Rhea must use her resourcefulness, compassion, and bravery to rally the other wives and defeat the sorcerer before he binds her to him forever.

 

Oh, I tore through this book. Some of the writing was kind of awkward and I wasn't sure why it kept bringing up the swan that shows up at the beginning of the book, and Rhea cried quite a bit.

 

But it was good despite that, and to be honest Rhea's crying was very justified and it didn't irk me all that much. 

 

Bad guy was over the top evil, but his creations were super creepy. Golem wives and birds. And a road filled with demons. A clock wife, a blind wife, a wife whose voice he stole. 

 

An adorable hedgehog.

 

This was really enjoyable. A little dark. A little predictable and silly in parts, but otherwise very good.

 

No romance at all. Just a girl trying to save herself and the other five (six if you count the dead one) wives from the evil sorcerer.

[Katia11]

I keep falling behind guys. I'm sorry. I'm bad at this. Warning: long post ahead. 

 

 

Gateway to Fourline, by Pam Brondos ★★★

 

Summary: Strapped for cash, college student Natalie Barns agrees to take a job at a costume shop. Sure, Estos—her classmate who works in the shop—is a little odd, but Nat needs the money for her tuition.

 

Then she stumbles through the mysterious door behind the shop—and her entire universe transforms.

 

Discovering there’s far more to Estos than she ever imagined, Nat gets swept up in an adventure to save his homeland, an incredible world filled with decaying magic, deadly creatures, and a noble resistance of exiled warriors battling dark forces. As she struggles with her role in an epic conflict and wrestles with her growing affection for a young rebel, Soris, Nat quickly learns that nothing may go as planned…and her biggest challenge may be surviving long enough to make it home.

 

A pretty easy book to get through. I enjoyed the characters and the plot quite a bit. The bad guys were cool and the prospect of world crossing was really neat. An enjoyable and fun read! I will be reading the second in the series. 

 

Bound, by Kate Sparkes ★★★

 

Summary: Welcome to Darmid, where magic is a sin, fairy tales are contraband, and the people live in fear of the Sorcerers on the other side of the mountains. 

 

Rowan Greenwood has everything she's supposed to want from life—a good family, a bright future, and a proposal from a handsome and wealthy magic hunter. She knows she should be content with what she has. If only she could banish the idea that there's more to life than marriage and children, or let go of the fascination with magic she's been forced to suppress since childhood. 

 

When Rowan unknowingly saves the life of one of her people’s most feared enemies, that simple act of compassion rips her from her sheltered life and throws her into a world of magic that’s more beautiful, more seductive, and more dangerous than she ever could have imagined. 

 

Rowan might get everything she ever dreamed of—that is, if the one thing she's always wanted doesn't kill her first. 

 

I liked this book quite a bit. A fun and engaging read. The romance was paced pretty well and the plot was just tense enough that I was interested in what was happening.

 

Curiosity House: The Shrunken Head, by Lauren Oliver and H.C. Chester ★★★★

 

 

Summary: The book is about, among other things: the strongest boy in the world, a talking cockatoo, a faulty mind reader, a beautiful bearded lady and a nervous magician, an old museum, and a shrunken head.

 

Blessed with extraordinary abilities, orphans Philippa, Sam, and Thomas have grown up happily in Dumfrey’s Dime Museum of Freaks, Oddities, and Wonders. But when a fourth child, Max, a knife-thrower, joins the group, it sets off an unforgettable chain of events.

 

When the museum’s Amazonian shrunken head is stolen, the four are determined to get it back. But their search leads them to a series of murders and an explosive secret about their pasts.

 

I loved this book. I loved the mystery. I loved the characters. I loved the bad guy. I loved the tone. It was just marvelous. 

 

Curiosity House: The Screaming Statue, by Lauren Oliver and H.C. Chester ★★★★

 

Summary: Pippa, Sam, Thomas, and Max are happy to be out of harm’s way now that the notorious villain Nicholas Rattigan is halfway across the country in Chicago. But unfortunately their home, Dumfreys’s Dime Museum of Freaks, Oddities, and Wonders, is in danger of closing its doors forever.

 

But their troubles only get worse. The four friends are shocked when their beloved friend, famous sculptor Siegfried Eckleberger, is murdered. As they investigate, they find clues that his death may be tied to the murder of a rich and powerful New York heiress, as well as to their own pasts.

 

The second in the series was just as good as the first. The bad guy is over the top bad, but the characters are just so sweet and they grow on you. They all have their 'tropes' but I didn't mind so much. I really liked to see them working together despite their differences to solve mysteries. 

 

The Witch Hunter,  by Virginia Boecker  ★★★

 

Summary: Elizabeth Grey is one of the king's best witch hunters, devoted to rooting out witchcraft and doling out justice. But when she's accused of being a witch herself, Elizabeth is arrested and sentenced to burn at the stake.

 

Salvation comes from a man she thought was her enemy. Nicholas Perevil, the most powerful and dangerous wizard in the kingdom, offers her a deal: he will save her from execution if she can break the deadly curse that's been laid upon him.

 

But Nicholas and his followers know nothing of Elizabeth's witch hunting past--if they find out, the stake will be the least of her worries. And as she's thrust into the magical world of witches, ghosts, pirates, and one all-too-handsome healer, Elizabeth is forced to redefine her ideas of right and wrong, of friends and enemies, and of love and hate.

 

I liked this book well enough. A simple plot, I liked the protagonist and I liked the action aspect. I liked the romance too. The guy she likes is so nice (he's a healer and gentle and kind) which was pleasantly surprising. He's upset when he discovers what she is, but he doesn't brood over it for too long. This is so rare in YA novels, where the guy she ends up with is kind. It just was refreshing.

 

Court of Roses and Thorns, by Sarah J. Mass ★★★

 

Summary: When nineteen-year-old huntress Feyre kills a wolf in the woods, a beast-like creature arrives to demand retribution for it. Dragged to a treacherous magical land she only knows about from legends, Feyre discovers that her captor is not an animal, but Tamlin--one of the lethal, immortal faeries who once ruled their world. 

 

As she dwells on his estate, her feelings for Tamlin transform from icy hostility into a fiery passion that burns through every lie and warning she's been told about the beautiful, dangerous world of the Fae. But an ancient, wicked shadow over the faerie lands is growing, and Feyre must find a way to stop it . . . or doom Tamlin--and his world--forever.

 

I liked this book a lot. I liked Tamlin and Feyre's romance a lot. It had a lot of memorable characters and scenes. With some intense scenes and some genuine moments of trust building between the two characters. Tamlin read as a responsible, maybe a bit withdrawn and stressed character. Shackled with a duty he did not want. I really enjoyed his character quite a bit. He was a bit cold at first, but they grew to trust one another. I never felt like he was unnecessarily cruel.

 

And I really liked that she went under the mountain to save the man she loved. A very enjoyable Beauty and the Beast sort of story with a dark twist at the end. 

 

Court of Mist and Fury, by Sarah J. Mass ★★ 1/2-  ★★★

 

Summary: 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 cleaved in two.

 

Okay, folks. I might say somethings in this that you aren't going to like. You've been warned.

 

Miss Mass, we need to have a talk. First of all,  I think this should have been New Adult. The sex scenes are kind of explicit. It didn't feel like it belonged in a young adult book. I'm all for girls having sex in YA, but this felt a tad excessive. (sorry) 

 

And second, If you are going to write an abusive relationship, it needs to be done well. It needs to feel real. But to me, it never did. Why?

 

Because the Tamlin in this book really did not match the one in the first. At all. At least to me. I mean he was protective in the other one, but she was human at that point. A thousand times weaker then she is in this one. 

 

I realize that's kind of the point. I realize he was changed by what happened under the mountain.  But he doesn't even try to talk to the woman he loves which made me angry because they had a pretty good relationship in the first book. But maybe I'm just stupid and didn't see the allusions to the malevolence. I mean, he's curt with his emissary but they are under a lot of stress.. and I'm rambling again.. sorry. 

 

Anyway, back on track here...

 

The character of Rhys was kind of frustrating to me. He does bad stuff, but he's unhappy about it. He just makes it look like he's bad when he's really good. But at one point, he's literally feeling Feyre up while breaking someone's bones in their arm. (Which she agreed to, but it was still disturbing.)  He goes into people's minds (which repulses Feyre in the first book), but in this one you find out that well, he doesn't really want to do it. He only does the things he has to survive. And he always says things like, oh, I want you to choose. I would never keep you locked up. But he keeps a pretty big secret from her until like the very end. Which she gets super mad about (very rightly) and she broods over it for a few days, but then he shows up and they have copious sex. 

 

I just felt like things were kind of ... rushed between them? Especially with her having just resurfaced from a very bad relationship. 

 

Another one of things I found myself struggling with is that I felt like she just ripped apart the character of Tamlin to make it obvious that he's the bad guy.. What really got me is the fact that he pairs up with the awful king (whose female general pursued him relentlessly and when he said no put him under a curse for like 50 years) because he is so desperate to keep Feyre for himself. And not only that you find out that he was present when Rhys's family was killed. That the only reason Rhys is so cruel to him is because of that. 

 

I don't know. It just felt ..... overdone?

 

I don't know. It might not make sense to anybody else, but I really didn't appreciate her hammering in the message. It would have been enough with what happens in the beginning of the book for the reader to realize that it was a bad relationship.  Also, I  feel like Mass could have made a few more allusions to the deteriorating relationship in the first book. It just felt like it came out of nowhere.

 

A lot of the reviews on amazon are like, oh, I'm so glad that she's more proactive in this book. Yes, she masters her powers. She accepts that she isn't who she was and I loved that aspect of it. 

 

But I felt like she was proactive in the first one??? Especially at the end. 

 

There were some positives too though:  I really do like Feyre and I liked the way she developed in this book. I loved the way she came into herself. I loved the way she mastered her powers and took control of her own destiny. All of the yes to that. I liked the build up to the next book. I liked that she goes back as a spy to Tamlin's house. But I don't know if I will read the next book in the series yet or not. 

[SweeneyxxTodd]

I'm going to read ACOTAR and ACOMAF soon. I'm super excited. I've tried avoiding spoilers, but that's kinda hard to do within the book community on Tumblr. I'll just have to see what I think when I read these books, but from what I've read around them, I think I'm going to like them a bit more than you seemed to.

 

Have you read her Throne of Glass series?

 

Also, I want to read The Witch Hunter! I bought the ebook cheap on Google Play a week or so ago. Eventually I'll get around to it. I'm glad you liked it. It gives me more hope.

 

Also, I fell behind in my reviews allll the time last year, because I didn't read much for the first 6 months and was super behind on my challenge, so I was reading as fast as I could and just doing the reviews when I had time, which meant I was writing like 5 reviews at once all the time. Luckily I'm keeping up with my challenge this year, so I can write just one review at a time and update my topic at a reasonable pace.

 

I need to read Red Rising before next Saturday, when it's due back at the library. I don't think I can renew it either, because it's super popular so it's probably on hold, and since it's an Overdrive borrow I can't just keep it past due date to finish. It's supposed to be really good, though, so I'm anticipating finishing it fairly quickly. I just need to, you know...start it.

[Katia11]

I'm going to read ACOTAR and ACOMAF soon. I'm super excited. I've tried avoiding spoilers, but that's kinda hard to do within the book community on Tumblr. I'll just have to see what I think when I read these books, but from what I've read around them, I think I'm going to like them a bit more than you seemed to.

 

Have you read her Throne of Glass series?

 

 

Oh, man! I'm sorry! I gave a bunch of stuff away. I'm just super crabby and I wanted to let it out on the poor book. I think I liked it more then I let on in my review. 

 

I read the first two books in the Throne of Glass series, and I bought the third. But I kind of drifted from it and haven't brought myself back to it yet. 

 

 

Also, I want to read The Witch Hunter! I bought the ebook cheap on Google Play a week or so ago. Eventually I'll get around to it. I'm glad you liked it. It gives me more hope.

 

 

Well, don't take much I say too seriously. I'm pretty easy to please when it comes to fiction. 

 

The problem with keeping up for me is that I tend to read books very quickly. And I get interested in the next one very quickly. So it's just hard to keep up with that pace. 

[SweeneyxxTodd]

I read the first two books in the Throne of Glass series, and I bought the third. But I kind of drifted from it and haven't brought myself back to it yet. 

 

 

The third is my favorite! It's also the only one I own, because I got the hardcover on a bargain book website for $5, while I also had a $5 off coupon, so I only had to pay for shipping. I'm super excited for the fifth to come out this fall. That series is definitely one that gets better as it goes. The first book was good, but not great, though I rated it 4 stars instead of 3 because despite not being the most original story around, it was highly enjoyable and I liked the characters and world. Then book two as better. Then books three and four were fantastic. I'm super invested in the world now. And in the third book, we meet my favorite character and the whole reason I even started reading the series in the first place: Manon Blackbeak, one of the wicked Ironteeth Witches. She's so greaaaaat. I love her.

[Katia11]

I've heard that

[Katia11]

another long post coming up guys sorry

 

Kiss of Deception, ★★★

 

Summary: In a society steeped in tradition, Princess Lia's life follows a preordained course. As First Daughter, she is expected to have the revered gift of sight—but she doesn't—and she knows her parents are perpetrating a sham when they arrange her marriage to secure an alliance with a neighboring kingdom—to a prince she has never met.

On the morning of her wedding, Lia flees to a distant village. She settles into a new life, hopeful when two mysterious and handsome strangers arrive—and unaware that one is the jilted prince and the other an assassin sent to kill her. Deception abounds, and Lia finds herself on the brink of unlocking perilous secrets—even as she finds herself falling in love. 

 

This has been in my recommended section of amazon for forever. I finally got over my hesitations over what would be the obvious love triangle and gave it a shot. I enjoyed it more then I thought I would. 

 

 

Assassin's Apprentice, Robin Hobb ★★★★

 

Summary: Young Fitz is the bastard son of the noble Prince Chivalry, raised in the shadow of the royal court by his father’s gruff stableman. He is treated as an outcast by all the royalty except the devious King Shrewd, who has him secretly tutored in the arts of the assassin. For in Fitz’s blood runs the magic Skill—and the darker knowledge of a child raised with the stable hounds and rejected by his family.

 

As barbarous raiders ravage the coasts, Fitz is growing to manhood. Soon he will face his first dangerous, soul-shattering mission. And though some regard him as a threat to the throne, he may just be the key to the survival of the kingdom.

 

Very enjoyable, although a little tiny bit slow in parts. I really liked the characters and the idea of zombie like people. A pretty engaging read. I will be reading the second in the series. Although, I don't know when. 

 

The Blue Sword, Robin Mckinley ★★★★★

 

Summary: Harry Crewe is a Homelander orphan girl, come to live in Damar from over the seas. She is drawn to the bleak landscape, so unlike the green hills of her Homeland. She wishes she might cross the sands and climb the dark mountains where no Homelander has ever set foot, where the last of the old Damarians, the Free Hillfolk, live.

 

Corlath is the golden-eyed king of the Free Hillfolk, son of the sons of the legendary Lady Aerin. When he arrives in Harry’s town to ally with the Homelanders against a common enemy, he never expects to set Harry’s destiny in motion: She will ride into battle as a King’s Rider, bearing the Blue Sword, the great mythical treasure, which no one has wielded since Lady Aerin herself.

 

Legends and myths, no matter how epic, no matter how magical, all begin somewhere.

 

 

Okay, I loved this one. I loved it. I loved the main character, I loved the foreign prince. I loved that she learned a new culture. Yeah, she ends up having a little bit of the 'savior' syndrome so common in YA books, but that's mostly because of the Blue Sword which works it's magic through her and NOT by her own power. I thought that was an interesting development. I loved the way she learned to sword fight, ride horses, etc. It felt like a natural progression of learning, not instant overnight success which I always appreciate. I loved the way she and Corlath interacted together. I really felt like they had good chemistry but it wasn't shoved down your throat. I have really enjoyed a lot of Robin Mckinley's books, but this one might be my favorite so far. 

 

 

Sunbolt, Intisar Khanani ★★★★

 

Summary: The winding streets and narrow alleys of Karolene hide many secrets, and Hitomi is one of them. Orphaned at a young age, Hitomi has learned to hide her magical aptitude and who her parents really were. Most of all, she must conceal her role in the Shadow League, an underground movement working to undermine the powerful and corrupt Arch Mage Wilhelm Blackflame. 

 

When the League gets word that Blackflame intends to detain—and execute—a leading political family, Hitomi volunteers to help the family escape. But there are more secrets at play than Hitomi’s, and much worse fates than execution. When Hitomi finds herself captured along with her charges, it will take everything she can summon to escape with her life.

 

I loved this book. I loved it. It was so rich, and fun, and vibrant. Although, I was a bit disappointed with the ending. I loved the relationships she develops through the book. Although, the beginning was a bit shaky (the young girl betraying her family was a bit overplayed) but once it moved past that- it got pretty interesting.

 

 

Memories of Ash, Intisar Khanani ★★★★

 

Summary: In the year since she cast her sunbolt, Hitomi has recovered only a handful of memories. But the truths of the past have a tendency to come calling, and an isolated mountain fastness can offer only so much shelter. When the High Council of Mages summons Brigit Stormwind to stand trial for treason, Hitomi knows her mentor won’t return—not with Arch Mage Blackflame behind the charges. 

 

Armed only with her magic and her wits, Hitomi vows to free her mentor from unjust imprisonment. She must traverse spell-cursed lands and barren deserts, facing powerful ancient enchantments and navigating bitter enmities, as she races to reach the High Council. There, she reunites with old friends, planning a rescue equal parts magic and trickery. 

 

If she succeeds, Hitomi will be hunted the rest of her life. If she fails, she’ll face the ultimate punishment: enslavement to the High Council, her magic slowly drained until she dies. 

 

I liked this one too. Although, the lost memory thing could be annoying at times. Like why can't she deal with what's happened to her with WHO she is/ was? Although, as the book the allusions to the Phoenix were startlingly obvious. Still good and I still loved the adventure and it ended on an exciting note. I will be eagerly awaiting the next book in the series. 

 

Six of Crows, Leigh Bardugo ★★★★

 

Summary: Ketterdam: a bustling hub of international trade where anything can be had for the right price--and no one knows that better than criminal prodigy Kaz Brekker. Kaz is offered a chance at a deadly heist that could make him rich beyond his wildest dreams. But he can't pull it off alone...

 

A convict with a thirst for revenge.

 

A sharpshooter who can't walk away from a wager.

 

A runaway with a privileged past.

 

A spy known as the Wraith.

A Heartrender using her magic to survive the slums. 

A thief with a gift for unlikely escapes. 

Six dangerous outcasts. One impossible heist. Kaz's crew is the only thing that might stand between the world and destruction—if they don't kill each other first.

 

Mara corrupted me yet again. I loved this book so much though. I loved the characters, the world, the impossible heist. I loved Kaz and Inej especially much. I just really liked their interactions. Kaz was a bit... over the top at times, but for some reason it never felt like a stretch. I liked the ending a lot too, although I can't believe I have to wait until the fall for the next one. (GLARES AT MARA)

[Mara=^.^=]

Mara corrupted me yet again. I loved this book so much though. I loved the characters, the world, the impossible heist. I loved Kaz and Inej especially much. I just really liked their interactions. Kaz was a bit... over the top at times, but for some reason it never felt like a stretch. I liked the ending a lot too, although I can't believe I have to wait until the fall for the next one. (GLARES AT MARA)

 

 

~*Mara*~ = ^.^ =

[Katia11]

This is going be another long one guys, I'm sorry. 

 

 

A Stolen Kiss, by Kelsey Keating ★★★

 

Summary: A stolen kiss. An unstable curse. One big mess in the making.

 

Derric Harver never expected to amount to anything more than the palace stableboy, but when Princess Maria's curse keeps her from accepting a prince's proposal, she turns to him for help, and he doesn't dare refuse.

 

With the help of a lady's maid and a prince, Derric and Maria embark on a dangerous adventure to find the sorceress who cast the curse. Along the way they battle deadly creatures and make new friends--all the while struggling with the undeniable chemistry between them. Reaching their destination won't be easy, but the true peril lies in the truths they've fought for years to keep hidden.

 

I thought this was a fun story. It was cute. A little insta-love for my taste. But there was mystery and magic which made it fun! It was enjoyable.

 

Twelve Days of Faery, by W.R. Gingell ★★★

 

Summary: In Twelve Days Of Faery, King Markon of Montalier is at the end of his tether. His son, Prince Parrin, is afflicted with a rather nasty curse that slaughters, maims, or brutally attacks any woman with whom he so much as flirts. After the rumour that sweeps around the kingdom, promising that any woman breaking the ‘curse’ will be eligible to marry the prince, there is no shortage of willing volunteers. Unfortunately, there is also no shortage of bodies piling up.

 

Markon needs to do something, but what? Can a visiting enchantress from Avernse help, or is she simply another accident waiting to happen? And will Markon be able to give her up to his son if she does break the curse?

 

This was a pretty fun story too! It wasn't very long and I enjoyed the mystery and romance a lot. It was a simple story but was still enjoyable.

 

The Legendary Inge, by Kate Stradling ★★★

 

Summary: Plagued by misfortune, Ingrid Norling treks into the woods to clear her head. She emerges a monster-slayer, the shaken executioner of a creature so ferocious that even the king’s strongest warriors could not destroy it. In a land that reveres swords and worships strength, this accidental heroism earns Inge an audience at court and a most ill-fated prize: King Halvard impulsively adopts her and names her as his heir.

 

Under constant guard to prevent her escape, Inge confronts the ignoble underbelly of the royal court: a despotic king, a clueless princess, a proud warrior, and a dangerous intrigue. As secrets unravel around her and the castle threatens to become an elaborate deathtrap, Inge must keep her wits close and her weapons closer. The monster in the woods was only the beginning.

 

I enjoyed this book quite a lot. Although the bit about her being 'a girl' got a bit repetitive. She said it a lot, it just felt unnecessary. The bad guy was also super easy to spot. 

 

Other than that, I enjoyed it! 

 

Shadow and Bone, by Leigh Bardugo ★★★

 

Summary: Surrounded by enemies, the once-great nation of Ravka has been torn in two by the Shadow Fold, a swath of near impenetrable darkness crawling with monsters who feast on human flesh. Now its fate may rest on the shoulders of one lonely refugee.

 

Alina Starkov has never been good at anything. But when her regiment is attacked on the Fold and her best friend is brutally injured, Alina reveals a dormant power that saves his life—a power that could be the key to setting her war-ravaged country free. Wrenched from everything she knows, Alina is whisked away to the royal court to be trained as a member of the Grisha, the magical elite led by the mysterious Darkling.

 

Yet nothing in this lavish world is what it seems. With darkness looming and an entire kingdom depending on her untamed power, Alina will have to confront the secrets of the Grisha…and the secrets of her heart. 

 

I loved Six of Crows so much, I decided to finally pick this up and read it. There were a lot of similarities to the Sunbolt Chronicles, which I loved. While I enjoyed this, I still loved Six of Crows more.

 

Tales of The Frog Princess, by E.D. Baker ★★★★

 

Summary: Princess Emerelda is not exactly an ideal princess. Her laugh is like a foghorn, she's always tripping over the royal furniture, and she HATES Prince Jorge whom her mother would one day like to see her marry. But things are about to change as she finds the frog of her dreams - but when she kisses him SHE turns into a frog! 

 

Just one kiss, and her whole life turns upside down in these deliciously original, hilarious and fast-paced fairy-tale adventures.

 

Just a funny silly, little tale, very lighthearted. A ounce of mystery, adventure, and romance. A very enjoyable children's tale. Witty and fun.

 

A Confusion of Princes, by Garth Nix ★★

 

Summary: Superhuman. Immortal. Prince in a Galactic Empire. There has to be a catch….

 

Khemri learns the minute he becomes a Prince that princes need to be hard to kill—for they are always in danger. Their greatest threat? Other Princes. Every Prince wants to become Emperor and the surest way to do so is to kill, dishonor, or sideline any potential competitor. There are rules, but as Khemri discovers, rules can be bent and even broken.

 

There are also mysteries. Khemri is drawn into the hidden workings of the Empire and is dispatched on a secret mission. In the ruins of space battle, he meets a young woman, called Raine, who challenges his view of the Empire, of Princes, and of himself. But Khemri is a Prince, and even if he wanted to leave the Empire behind, there are forces there that have very definite plans for his future.

 

I liked this well enough. But it was a little bit more hard sci-fi then I was expecting. I still enjoyed it though. 

 

The Musician's Daughter, by Susanne Dunlap ★★

 

Summary: Amid the glitter and glamour of musical and court life in 18th century Vienna, fifteen-year-old Theresa Maria Shurman is trying to solve a brutal mystery. Who killed her father, an acclaimed violinist, and stole his valuable Amati violin? When Haydn himself offers her a position as his assistant, it gives Theresa access to life in the palace-and to a world of deceit. Theresa uncovers blackmail and extortion even as she discovers courage and honor in unexpected places: from a Gypsy camp on the banks of the Danube, to the rarefied life of the imperial family. And she feels the stirrings of a first, tentative love for someone who is as deeply involved in the mystery as she is.

 

This was an enjoyable book, but definitely had it's weaknesses. The largest was that the bad guy was just so over the top. Sometimes, that works for me and sometimes it doesn't. 

 

Snowfall, by K.M. Peyton ★★★

 

Summary: In a finely written novel of adventure and romance, K. M. Peyton presents an engaging cast of characters who choose not to be bound by the conventions of their time. As the small group of friends become intricately bound to and dependent on each other, they confront British class divisions, dangerous adventures, and the challenge of their hidden lives—and secret loves.

 

I liked this book quite a bit, but I wish the romance between the heroine and the guy she eventually falls for (no pun intended, gosh I'm awful)  had been more fleshed out. Why do they fall for each other? Although, they do spend more time in each other's company then in some YA novels.

 

The end was heartbreaking. Heartbreaking.

 

Toads and Diamonds, by Heather Tomlinson ★★★★

 

Summary: Diribani has come to the village well to get water for her family's scant meal of curry and rice. She never expected to meet a goddess there. Yet she is granted a remarkable gift: Flowers and precious jewels drop from her lips whenever she speaks.

 

It seems only right to Tana that the goddess judged her kind, lovely stepsister worthy of such riches. And when she encounters the goddess, she is not surprised to find herself speaking snakes and toads as a reward.

 

Blessings and curses are never so clear as they might seem, however. Diribani's newfound wealth brings her a prince―and an attempt on her life. Tana is chased out of the village because the province's governor fears snakes, yet thousands are dying of a plague spread by rats. As the sisters' fates hang in the balance, each struggles to understand her gift. Will it bring her wisdom, good fortune, love . . . or death?

 

I loved this book. It was rich and enjoyable. I loved the two sisters and their corresponding gifts.

 

Flunked, by Jen Calonita ★★★

 

Summary: Gilly wouldn't call herself wicked, exactly...but when you have five little brothers and sisters and live in a run-down boot, you have to get creative to make ends meet. Gilly's a pretty good thief (if she does say so herself).

 

Until she gets caught.

 

Gilly's sentenced to three months at Fairy Tale Reform School where all of the teachers are former (super-scary) villains like the Big Bad Wolf, the Evil Queen, and Cinderella's Wicked Stepmother. Harsh. But when she meets fellow students Jax and Kayla, she learns there's more to this school than its heroic mission. There's a battle brewing and Gilly has to wonder: can a villain really change?

 

 A cute little story with over the top fairy tale bad guys. Enjoyable thieves and liars. A fun mystery with action and adventure.

 

Charmed, by Jen Calonita ★★

 

Summary: It takes a (mostly) reformed thief to catch a spy. Which is why Gilly Cobbler, Enchantasia's most notorious pickpocket, volunteers to stay locked up at Fairy Tale Reform School...indefinitely. Gilly and her friends may have defeated the Evil Queen and become reluctant heroes, but the battle for Enchantasia has just begun.

 

Alva, aka The Wicked One who cursed Sleeping Beauty, has declared war on the Princesses, and she wants the students of Fairy Tale Reform School to join her. As her criminal classmates give in to temptation, Gilly goes undercover as a Royal Lady in Waiting (don't laugh) to unmask a spy...before the mole can hand Alva the keys to the kingdom.

 

Her parents think Gilly the Hero is completely reformed, but sometimes you have to get your hands dirty. Sometimes it's good to be bad...

 

I liked this one a little less than the first. I felt like Gilly learned the exact same lesson she was supposed to have learned in the first book. I felt confused and sort of disappointed. 

 

Keeper of the Lost Cities, by Shannon Messenger ★★★

 

Summary: Twelve-year-old Sophie has never quite fit into her life. She’s skipped multiple grades and doesn’t really connect with the older kids at school, but she’s not comfortable with her family, either. The reason? Sophie’s a Telepath, someone who can read minds. No one knows her secret—at least, that’s what she thinks…

 

But the day Sophie meets Fitz, a mysterious (and adorable) boy, she learns she’s not alone. He’s a Telepath too, and it turns out the reason she has never felt at home is that, well…she isn’t. Fitz opens Sophie’s eyes to a shocking truth, and she is forced to leave behind her family for a new life in a place that is vastly different from what she has ever known.

 

But Sophie still has secrets, and they’re buried deep in her memory for good reason: The answers are dangerous and in high-demand. What is her true identity, and why was she hidden among humans? The truth could mean life or death—and time is running out.

 

A fun adventure with mystery and a dash of romance. Even the 'perfect' hero thing has an interesting explanation in this one. It was annoying at times, but in the end it made a lot of sense. 

 

Keeper of the Lost Cities- Exiles, by Shannon Messenger ★★★

 

Summary: Sophie is settling in nicely to her new home and her new life in the world of the lost cities. And it helps that living at Havenfield means getting to spend time with rare, precious species--including the first female Alicorn, who shows herself to Sophie and trusts no one but her.

 

Sophie is tasked with helping to train the magical creature so that the Alicorn can be revealed to the people of the lost cities as a sign of hope, and Sophie wants to believe that the recent drama and anguish is gone for good.

 

But the secrets buried deep in Sophie's memories remain, and before long she's back in incredible danger, risking everything to find the answers to questions that could save not only her life, but the life of someone close to her...

 

Enjoyable as well. Although, I admit I kind of wished that she had stayed 'broken'. It was a little bit more interesting. 

 

The Shifter, by Janice Hardy ★★★★

 

Summary: Nya is an orphan struggling for survival in a city crippled by war. She is also a Taker—with her touch, she can heal injuries, pulling pain from another person into her own body. But unlike her sister, Tali, and the other Takers who become Healers' League apprentices, Nya's skill is flawed: She can't push that pain into pynvium, the enchanted metal used to store it. All she can do is shift it into another person, a dangerous skill that she must keep hidden from forces occupying her city. If discovered, she'd be used as a human weapon against her own people.

 

Rumors of another war make Nya's life harder, forcing her to take desperate risks just to find work and food. She pushes her luck too far and exposes her secret to a pain merchant eager to use her shifting ability for his own sinister purposes. At first Nya refuses, but when Tali and other League Healers mysteriously disappear, she's faced with some difficult choices. As her father used to say, principles are a bargain at any price; but how many will Nya have to sell to get Tali back alive?

 

I loved this one! I loved it. The ideas were interesting and new. I felt like I hadn't read it before, the idea that pain has to go somewhere when it's healed. The unseen darkness of that. 

 

Also, it's leading up to a war and left on an exciting note. I will be reading the others in the series. 

 

Sun and Moon, Ice and Snow, by Jessica Day George ★★★

 

Summary: Blessed―or cursed―with an ability to understand animals, the Lass (as she's known to her family) has always been an oddball. And when an isbjorn (polar bear) seeks her out, and promises that her family will become rich if only the Lass will accompany him to his castle, she doesn't hesitate. But the bear is not what he seems, nor is his castle, which is made of ice and inhabited by a silent staff of servents. Only a grueling journey on the backs of the four winds will reveal the truth: the bear is really a prince who's been enchanted by a troll queen, and the Lass must come up with a way to free him before he's forced to marry a troll princess.

 

A lovely little tale, fun and romantic. I liked the character that the Wind took. I liked her going to save her prince in a dangerous land. Just a fun little, cheesy story.

 

The Tenth Power, by Kate Constable ★★★

 

Summary: At the beginning of THE SINGER OF ALL SONGS, Calwyn fled Antaris with Darrow to defeat the ambitious chanter Samis. In THE TENTH POWER, she comes back to the mountains in hopes of rejuvenating her lost powers of chantment. But Samis's magic left terrible scars on Antaris, so Calwyn finds only conflict rather than the peace she craved. Meanwhile, Darrow suffers from a sickness that has sapped his magic as well as his strength--and Samis has returned to continue his quest for the Singer of All Songs. All of Tremaris seems to be dying. How can Calwyn save the land, and finally save them all?

 

I actually kind of enjoyed reading the last book in a series! Especially because they seem to pick up at a part that is interesting- the savior is powerless. I liked it. And then she magically got it all back. But the ending was good, a tad rushed but enjoyable.

 

Isle of the Lost, by Melissa de la Cruz ★★★

 

Summary: Evil tree. Bad Apple? Twenty years ago, all the evil villains were banished from the kingdom of Auradon to the Isle of the Lost--a dark and dreary place protected by a force field that makes it impossible for them to leave. Stripped of their magical powers, the villains now live in total isolation, forgotten by the world. Mal learns from her mother, Maleficent, that the key to true darkness, the Dragon's Eye, is located inside her scepter in the forbidden fortress on the far side of the island. The eye is cursed, and whoever retrieves it will be knocked into a deep sleep for a thousand years. But Mal has a plan to capture it. She'll just need a little help from her "friends." In their quest for the Dragon's Eye, these four kids begin to realize that just because you come from an evil family tree, being good ain't so bad.

 

A fun story, a little silly, but enjoyable all the same. I liked the role friendship plays in this. I liked the adventure! 

 

Descendants, by Walt Disney Company ★

 

Summary: Mal, Evie, Jay, and Carlos are the offspring of some of the most terrible villains of all time. They're offered a chance to leave the Isle of the Lost, where they have been imprisoned all their lives, and go to prep school in the idyllic kingdom of Auradon with all of the "good" kids. There, they must choose whether or not to follow in their parents' evil footsteps. Watch out Auradon--here come the Descendants!

 

This was not even hardly a book. It was more like a script to the movie. I knew it was a junior novel, but I was hoping for a little more storytelling. But I didn't get it. 

 

Return to Aisle of the Lost,  by Melissa de la Cruz ★★★

 

Summary: There's no place like home. Especially if home is the infamous Isle of the Lost. Mal, Evie, Carlos, and Jay haven't exactly turned their villainous noses up at the comforts of Auradon after spending their childhoods banished on the Isle. After all, meeting princes and starring on the Tourney team aren't nearly as terrible as Mal and her friends once thought they would be. But when they receive a mysterious invitation to return to the Isle, Mal, Evie, Carlos, and Jay can't help feeling comfortable in their old hood—and their old ways. Not everything is how they left it, though, and when they discover a dark mystery at the Ise's core, they'll have to combine all of their talents in order to save the kingdom.

 

I really did enjoy these books. A bit silly and juvenile, but I found myself looking forward to the next in the series. I loved Yen sid, I loved the character building. I'm looking forward to the next in the series.  

 

Serafina and the Black Cloak, by Robert Beatty ★★★

 

Summary: Serafina has never had a reason to disobey her pa and venture beyond the grounds of Biltmore Estate. There's plenty to explore in Mr. and Mrs. Vanderbilt's vast and oppulent home, but she must take care to never be seen. None of the rich folk upstairs know that Serafina exists; she and her pa, the estate's maintenance man, have lived in the basement for as long as Serafina can remember. She has learned to prowl through the darkened corridors at night, to sneak and hide, using the mansion's hidden doors and secret passageways.

 

But when children at the estate start disappearing, only Serafina knows the clues to follow. A terrifying man in a black cloak stalks Biltmore's corridors at night. Following her own harrowing escape, Serafina risks everything by joining forces with Braeden Vanderbilt, the young nephew of Biltmore's owners. Braeden and Serafina must uncover the Man in the Black Cloak's true identity before all of the children vanish one by one.

 

Serafina's hunt leads her into the very forest that she has been taught to fear, where she discovers a forgotten legacy of magic. In order to save the children of Biltmore, Serafina must not only face her darkest enemy, but delve into the strange mystery of her own identity.

 

These books were really interesting. Dark, adventurous, and fun. A little bit of mystery on top of a The end was totally obvious and Serfina's secret was obvious too, but I still liked it. 

 

Serafina and the Twisted Staff, by Robert Beatty ★★★

 

Summary: Serafina's defeat of the Man in the Black Cloak has brought her out of the shadows and into the daylight realm of her home, Biltmore Estate. Every night she visits her mother in the forest, eager to learn the ways of the cat¬amount. But Serafina finds herself caught between her two worlds: she's too wild for Biltmore's beautifully dressed ladies and formal customs, and too human to fully join her kin.

 

Late one night, Serafina encounters a strange and terrifying figure in the forest, and is attacked by the vicious wolfhounds that seem to be under his control. Even worse, she's convinced that the stranger was not alone, that he has sent his accomplice into Biltmore in disguise.

 

Someone is wreaking havoc at the estate. A mysterious series of attacks test Serafina's role as Biltmore's protector, culminating in a tragedy that tears Serafina's best friend and only ally, Braeden Vanderbilt, from her side. Heartbroken, she flees.

 

Deep in the forest, Serafina comes face-to-face with the evil infecting Biltmore—and discovers its reach is far greater than she'd ever imagined. All the humans and creatures of the Blue Ridge Mountains are in terrible danger. For Serafina to defeat this new evil before it engulfs her beloved home, she must search deep inside herself and embrace the destiny that has always awaited her.

 

Another dark and interesting mystery. Another ending I figured out. But I love the atmosphere of these books a lot. I will be reading the next one! 

 

Crown Duel, by Sherwood Smith ★★

 

Summary: Over their father’s deathbed, young Meliara Astiar and her brother Branaric promise to lead their people against the evil King. The impoverished count and countess discover that even when the cause is right, leading a war is much tougher than it appears. When Meliara falls into the hands of the elegant Marquis of Shevraeth, the enemy commander, she knows she has to either escape or die. After a desperate chase across country, she discovers that she and Bran are not alone—but the alliance is offered by the person she hates the most. 

 

Once the king is gone, she faces a new type of battlefield: not muddy fields and sharpened steel, but marble palaces. The weapons now are fashion, manners, and the subtle and secret language of fans. Finally, there is the toughest challenge of all, courtship. For how do you defend yourself when the one who draws your eye, and your heart, is your worst enemy?

 

Oh, this book could've been so many things. It has such a promising beginning. I wish the bits with the King had been more drawn out. Instead, so much time is spent on the court politics. I suppose it was intriguing in it's own right, but I feel like the ending was obvious. I felt like 'Anonymous' was obvious. And I feel like so much time is wasted on Mel's prejudice against rich people. Like, why? I don't know it just felt a little forced. 

 

The Cursed Child, by John Tiffany, Jack Thorne & J.K. Rowling, ★★★

 

Summary: It was always difficult being Harry Potter and it isn’t much easier now that he is an overworked employee of the Ministry of Magic, a husband and father of three school-age children.

 

While Harry grapples with a past that refuses to stay where it belongs, his youngest son Albus must struggle with the weight of a family legacy he never wanted. As past and present fuse ominously, both father and son learn the uncomfortable truth: sometimes, darkness comes from unexpected places.

 

I liked this more then I was expecting to. It was still frustrating and weird in a lot of ways, but there were things I liked too. I think overall, I had a kind of meh, it was good but not HP good reaction.

 

A Posse of Princesses, by Sherwood Smith ★★★

 

Summary: Rhis is sixteen, romantic, a princess of the tiny kingdom of Nym. Nothing ever happens in Nym, until she receives an invitation to a celebration for Prince Lios of Vesarja, the largest kingdom around.

 

Lios is as handsome as Rhis hoped, and she falls instantly in love, just like in her favorite songs. But life isn't like the songs--none of her friends are happy, and then there is the Perfect Princess, Iardith, who keeps occupying Lios's time.

 

Rhis does her best to fix things for her friends, as she pursues her romantic ideal . . . and then the Perfect Princess is abducted.

 

Of course Rhis must go to the rescue . . . the princes right behind.

 

Rhis starts off very dreamy, very silly. But by the end she has grown a lot. The reveal in this book was also very expected, I knew four chapters in what was really going on. But still a fun book. I enjoyed it a lot more than Crown Duel. 

 

Thorn, by Intisar Khanani  

 

Summary: For Princess Alyrra, choice is a luxury she’s never had … until she’s betrayed.

 

Princess Alyrra has never enjoyed the security or power of her rank. Between her family’s cruelty and the court’s contempt, she has spent her life in the shadows. Forced to marry a powerful foreign prince, Alyrra embarks on a journey to meet her betrothed with little hope for a better future. 

 

But powerful men have powerful enemies—and now, so does Alyrra. Betrayed during a magical attack, her identity is switched with another woman’s, giving Alyrra the first choice she’s ever had: to start a new life for herself or fight for a prince she’s never met. But Alyrra soon finds that Prince Kestrin is not at all what she expected. While walking away will cost Kestrin his life, returning to the court may cost Alyrra her own. As Alyrra is coming to realize, sometime the hardest choice means learning to trust herself.

 

I wanted to love this. I loved The Sunbolt Chronicles so much. And this too, had some strengths. But it had many weaknesses too. It opened the door to talking about justice and mercy. Instead of being, like yeah! It was more like, she was hammering it in. I don't know, I don't really appreciate that. I liked that it was a darker retelling. I liked that there were consequences. I liked that the message that revenge sometimes leads to unexpected things. But by the end I had so many questions.

 

What happens to the slavers they fear? Do they catch them?  Who is Red Hawk? Does he have a role in the city? Who is the Lady? I mean, you know she's a faery whose mother was killed by Kestrin's grandfather, but I just had so many questions.

 

 

Shadow Queen, by C.J. Redwine ★★★

 

Summary: Lorelai Diederich, crown princess and fugitive at large, has one mission: kill the wicked queen who took both the Ravenspire throne and the life of her father. To do that, Lorelai needs to use the one weapon she and Queen Irina have in common—magic. She'll have to be stronger, faster, and more powerful than Irina, the most dangerous sorceress Ravenspire has ever seen.

 

In the neighboring kingdom of Eldr, when Prince Kol's father and older brother are killed by an invading army of magic-wielding ogres, the second-born prince is suddenly given the responsibility of saving his kingdom. To do that, Kol needs magic of his own—and the only way to get it is to make a deal with the queen of Ravenspire, promise to become her personal huntsman—and bring her Lorelai's heart.

 

But Lorelai is nothing like Kol expected—beautiful, fierce, and unstoppable—and despite dark magic, Lorelai is drawn in by the passionate and troubled king. Fighting to stay one step ahead of the dragon huntsman—who she likes far more than she should—Lorelai does everything in her power to ruin the wicked queen. But Irina isn't going down without a fight, and her final move may cost the princess the one thing she still has left to lose.

 

A dark retelling of Snow White, enjoyable and fun. It was romantic, but it reminded me a lot of Snow White and the Huntsman. Although I liked Kol being a dragon.  

[Katia11]

I have officially passed 100 gosh, i'm such a loser.

[SweeneyxxTodd]

I loved Sun and Moon, Ice and Snow. Not as much as her twelve dancing princesses adaptation, but it was still very, very good and I really enjoyed reading it. 

[Katia11]

That one was my favorite too! I also really enjoyed dragon slippers and the corresponding series. That one was more middle grade than YA though.

[SweeneyxxTodd]

Have you read the two books that come after Princess of the Midnight Ball and focus on other sisters? I found out about them maybe two years ago but haven't had a chance to read them yet.

[Katia11]

my reading challenge has slowed down quite a bit, so I think I'm only about 11 books behind. But I'm still wondering if you guys are interested in me continuing or if I should stop reviewing now that I got to 100.