Book Review #638 - Heir of Fire (Throne of Glass #3) by Sarah J. Maas

My Rating: 4/5


Source: Bought


Goodreads

Consumed by guilt and rage, Celaena can't bring herself to spill blood for the King of Adarlan. She must fight back...

The Immortal Queen will help her destroy the king - for a price. But as Celaena battles with her darkest memories and her heart breaks for a love that could never last, can she fulfil the bargain and head the almighty court of Terrasen? And who will stand with her? 

Given the way Crown of Midnight ended you might have thought I would have started this one straight away. However, because of a poorly timed family holiday I was unable to pick this book up until about a week later. 

I thought that Throne of Glass was rather simplistic for a fantasy novel and the perfect set up for the rest of the series. Crown of Midnight added so much depth and development to all the key areas. Heir of Fire however seemed to try to do too much. 

The book follows three different storylines - Celaena, Chaol and the new character Manna. The only issue I had with this was that I found that it disrupted the rhythm and flow of the story. 

The universe in this book expanded so much in this book that I think it warranted multiple maps like The Song of Ice and Fire series. 

Rowan was a character that I found rather cold at first, but his unwavering loyalty towards Celaena won me over eventually. 

I have mixed opinions about Dorian. On his own, I find him boring and dull. When he is with Chaol or Celaena however, he is quite interesting. 

I loved the amount of backstory that was given about Celaena's past and am looking forward to continuing on with the series. 

Book Review #637 - Crown of Midnight (Throne of Glass #2) by Sarah J.Maas

My Rating: 4/5


Source: Bought


Goodreads

Crowned by Evil.

Bound by Duty.

Divided by Love.

Celaena Sardothien, royal assassin, is the King of Adarlan's deadliest weapon. She must win her freedom through his enemies' blood - but she cannot bear to kill for the crown. And every death Celaena fakes, every lie she tells, put those she loves at risk.

Torn between her two protectors - a captain and a prince - and battling a dark force far greater than the king, Celaena must decide what she will fight for: her liberty, her heart or the fate of a kingdom... 

Throne of Glass was a book that I enjoyed, but also a book that I had a number of issues with. 

Crown of Midnight however is my favourite second in a series book since Catching Fire. 

Celaena becomes more of the bad ass she was supposed to have been in TOG and I think this is due to the amount of time she spent with Chaol. I think that both of them as characters really feed off one another and bring out the best traits in one another. 

Whilst Dorian is a character that I really don't have any problems with, the relationship between Chaol and Celaena was a lot more believable and real than his relationship with Celaena. 

Chaol having to face his family and getting his loyalty questioned really opened his character up and enabled enormous character development. 

Dorian was a character that really surprised me and proves that I was obviously underestimating him by only seeing him as the third point on a love triangle. He is a lot stronger than I gave him credit for. 

I love the setting as well, it has a very cinematic feel to it and I so I would really love to see some kind of movie/TV adaptation of this series. 

There were so many plot twists throughout this book but the ending was completely unexpected. 

I had planned on reading another book after this one, but with that ending I had no choice but to pick up book 3 Heir of Fire. 

 

Book Review #631 - Throne of Glass (Throne of Glass #1) by Sarah J. Maas

My Rating: 4/5 


Source: Bought


Goodreads













Meet Celaena Sardothien.

Beautiful. Deadly.
Destined for greatness.

In the dark, filthy salt mines of Endovier, an eighteen-year-old girl is serving a life sentence. She is a trained assassin, the best of her kind, but she made a fatal mistake: she got caught.

Young Captain Westfall offers her a deal: her freedom in return for one huge sacrifice. Celaena must represent the prince in a to-the-death tournament—fighting the most gifted thieves and assassins in the land. Live or die, Celaena will be free. Win or lose, she is about to discover her true destiny. But will her assassin’s heart be melted?

I went into this book with a lot of expectations. I mean the hype surrounding this book is HUGE which is also probably the reason it has taken me this long to finally read it.

I loved this book immensely but overall I wanted more from it.

There were so many interesting things in this book for example the contest Celaena and the others were participating in and the mysterious creature that was killing them off one by one. Unfortunately though, I didn't feel like these blended that well together.

Celaena is definitely a strong, independent female protagonist but I felt that we were told that rather than shown it.

I lost count the amount of times Celaena was referred to as "the assassin" like we had to be constantly reminded of this fact.

The romance in this book was surprisingly well timed and developed (even though I found Dorian really dull). I am a bit worried though about a love triangle potentially developing.

The only negative thing I can say about the romantic aspect was that it was way too dominant and took focus away from some of the other stuff like the contests.

Overall, I really loved the tone of this book and am really excited to continue on with this series.

Book Review #588 - Legacy of Kings (Blood of Gods and Royals #1) by Eleanor Herman

My Rating: 4/5


Source: Harlequin Australia


Buy: Publisher or Dymocks


Goodreads

Imagine a time when the gods turn a blind eye to the agony of men, when the last of the hellions roam the plains and evil stirs beyond the edges of the map. A time when cities burn, and in their ashes, empires rise.

Alexander, Macedonia’s sixteen-year-old heir, is on the brink of discovering his fated role in conquering the known world but finds himself drawn to newcomer Katerina, who must navigate the dark secrets of court life while hiding her own mission: kill the Queen. But Kat’s first love, Jacob, will go to unthinkable lengths to win her, even if it means competing for her heart with Hephaestion, a murderer sheltered by the prince. And far across the sea, Zofia, a Persian princess and Alexander’s unmet fiancée, wants to alter her destiny by seeking the famed and deadly Spirit Eaters.

Weaving fantasy with the salacious and fascinating details of real history, New York Times bestselling author Eleanor Herman reimagines the greatest emperor the world has ever known: Alexander the Great, in the first book of the Blood of Gods and Royals series.

This book has been commonly referred to as 'Game of Thrones for young adults'. I think that description is spot on although I found this book much easier to follow than the other. 

At first I was a little hesitant when I discovered how many narrators there were (there were at least 5) but I found that when they all had very distinct voices and the story settled very quickly making it almost impossible to get confused. 

I partially predicted the major plot twist and thought that it was fairly transparent. 

The romance in this book was lacking which I was pleased about as romance tends to overshadow other aspects. 

I really enjoyed both the historical and mythological elements this book contained and I cannot wait to see how this develops further. 

Zo (the least used narrator) reminded me of Daenerys from the A Song of Ice and Fire series in that she is separated by distance from the other characters. Her portion of the story had no real conclusion to it as not much time was spent with her. 

Kat and Alex dominated the most attention and for that reason they were the most developed characters. 

I would like to hear more from the lesser used narrators Zo and Jacob in the next book. 

Overall, I loved how neatly the historical elements blended in with the epic action scenes.  

Book Review #567 - Hammering Iron by L.S Lawrence

My Rating: 2.5/5



Source: Scholastic Australia





Buy: Booktopia





Goodreads






In ancient Greece, sometime between the stories of Homer and the histories of Herodotus, something happened that changed the world. Two brothers, Niko and Paramon, one destined to serve a lord and the other to serve a merchant, are forced apart. One must stay; the other must follow his lord wherever he goes. Paramon is thrown back on his own resources, but will do everything he can to make his own way. And his destiny is to discover a secret that will change everything, a secret that men will not hesitate to kill for.

Since I started reading George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire series, High Fantasy is no longer a genre that I avoid. 

I am going to split this book into thirds to review as this is how the book is written. 

The first third basically just introduced the characters, the basic premise and the somewhat confusing landscape. I know there was a map at the beginning of the book, but most of the cities mentioned were not even on the map. 

The second third was where my interest in the book started to decrease. 

There wasn't any action apart from Paramon's innovative ideas in sword making. 

There was also an excessive amount of inner dialogue which slowed the pacing of the book. 

This book isn't very character focused. There are not very many characters at all. The protagonist Paramon did not develop much over the course of the book. 

The third portion of the book is also the third location  where the story picks up a bit. This was my favourite portion of the book. 

Overall, I felt like this was predominately a historical book - a what if of the period between Herodotus and Homer's writings with a story weaved around it. 

I didn't feel like these two aspects gelled well together as was necessary to make this book work. As a consequence, I found this book rather confusing. 

Book Review #559 - A Storm of Swords, Part Two: Blood and Gold (A Song of Ice and Fire #3.2) by George R.R. Martin

George R.R. Martin's superb and highly acclaimed epic fantasy A 

Song of Ice and Fire continues with the third in the series A Storm 

of Swords. There is passion here, and misery and charm, grandeur

and squalor, tragedy, nobility and courage. Unabridged and split

into two parts. The Seven Kingdoms are divided by revolt and 

blood feud, and winter approaches like an angry beast. Beyond the

Northern borders, wildlings leave their villages to gather in the ice 

and stone wasteland of the Frostfangs. From there, the renegade 

Brother Mance Rayder will lead them South towards the Wall.

The men of the Night's Watch are ready for the coming of a great

 cold and the walking corpses that travel with it. But now they face

 a horde of wildlings twenty-thousand strong - hungry savage

 people steeped in the dark magic of the haunted wilderness - 

poised to invade the Kingdom of the North where Robb Stark 

wears his new-forged crown. But Robb's defences are ranged

 against attack from the South, the land of House Stark's enemies

 the Lannisters. His sisters are trapped there, dead or likely yet to 

die, at the whim of the Lannister boy-king Joffrey or his depraved 

mother Cersei, regent of the Iron Throne. Cersei's ambition is 

unfettered while the dwarf Tyrion Lannister fights for his life, a 

victim of treachery. And on the other side of the ocean, the last of 

the Targaryens rears the dragons she hatched from her husband's 

funeral pyre. Daenerys Stormborn will return to the land of her 

birth to avenge the murder of her father, the last Dragon King on

 the Iron Throne.

My Rating: 5/5

I read this book immediately after finishing part one and I would recommend that as the best way as they really compliment each other very well. 

Unlike part one, this book is full of action and death. 

Dany is a character that I have enjoyed so far throughout the series especially due to her dragons but in this book I found her chapters too full of speech and nowhere near enough action. 

The story lines are slowly starting to merge and a feel of the real grand scheme plot is beginning to develop. 

I would have really loved a chapter or two from Cersei's persective especially during the middle portion of the book. 

The more I read of this series the more I can feel myself being swallowed up by the shear magnitude of this world.   

This was by far my favourite book so far in this series and I am already reading the next one. 

Book Review #558 - A Storm of Swords, Part One: Steel and Snow (A Song of Ice and Fire #3.1) by George R.R. Martin

Winter approaches Westeros like an angry beast.

The Seven Kingdoms are divided by revolt and blood feud. Beyond the Wall, a horde of hungry, savage people steeped in the dark magic of the wilderness is poised to invade the Kingdom of the North. Throughout Westeros, the war for the Iron Throne rages more fiercely than ever, but if the Wall is breached, no king—or queen—will live to claim it.

My Rating: 4/5

This series just keeps on surprising me. It was not a series I expected to be able to keep up with let alone love (which I definitely do). 

I love how many aspects this series has that are normally things that turn me off books such as the massive amounts of characters that are involved. 

There were certain narrators that I found more interesting than others and so having to wait 100 or so pages at times to get back to favourite characters made the book seem slower paced than what it was. 

What I loved most about this book was that it finally started hinting at merging storylines. 

I loved the inner look at the wildlings which is the reason I wasn't too happy with how the book ended (spoiler - Jon Snow escaping them means there is no longer a narrator with them). 

The amount of characters hasn't bothered me (yet). I still get some of the minor characters confused but that has no impact on the story. 

Dany is by far the most under used character. I feel like we haven't had enough of her narration across the books I have read so far. I am hoping this changes as when her dragons grow her role in the war will only grow also. 

I would have also liked to have had Robb Stark as a narrator. It would have been interesting to have his perspective on his role in the war rather than seeing it through his mother. 

Jamie Lannister was the character that I felt developed the most in this book. Now that he has gotten away from Cersei he is also starting to become likable. 

Book Review #552 - A Clash of Kings (A Song of Ice and Fire #2) by George R.R Martin

The Seven Kingdoms of Westeros are plagued by civil war, while the Night's Watch mounts a reconnaissance force to investigate the mysterious people known as wildlings. Meanwhile Daenerys Targaryen continues her quest to return to and conquer the Seven Kingdoms. All signs are foreshadowing a terrible disaster that is to come.

My Rating: 4.5/5

This is the second book in the A Song of Ice and Fire series and is the sequel to A Game of Thrones. 

I loved this book more than the first because they story, settings and the characters were already familiar to me. The only issues I had were trying to keep track of where the characters were as they travel frequently. 

Whilst I do like Tyrion as a narrator, I felt like there was perhaps too much of him especially in the middle portion of the book. 

The chapter from Tyrion's perspective of the battle was my favourite chapter in the series so far. It was gripping and so well written. 

Arya continues to develop and I still consider her my favourite character. I didn't like that the end portion of the book had very little of her narration. 

Dany was another character that developed significantly and her dragons were an interesting dynamic. 

I still found it hard to remember who the minor characters were but so far this hasn't impacted my enjoyment or understanding of the story as a whole. 

Book Review #542 - A Game of Thrones (A Song of Ice and Fire #1) by George R.R. Martin

Kings and queens, Knights and renegades, liars, lords and honest men. All will play the Game of Thrones.

Summers span decades. Winter can last a lifetime. And the struggle for the Iron Throne has begun. It will stretch from the south, where heat breeds plot, lusts and intrigues; to the vast and savage eastern lands; all the way to the frozen north, where an 800-foot wall of ice protects the kingdom from the dark forces that lie beyond.

The Game of Thrones. You win, or you die.

My Rating: 4/5

This is a book that I have had sitting on my bookshelf unread for a while and I was too intimidated to read it. I had also never watched the TV show at all before reading it. 

This book took me exactly one month to read which is an excessive amount of time for me with it being nearly 800 pages in length. 

I absolutely loved the setting of the story instantly although the multitude of characters made it hard for me at first to distinguish one from the other. 

Once the characters and plot settled and I finally was able to grasp it all I couldn't put the book down and flew through the last portion of the book. 

My favourite characters at this stage are Jon Snow, Robb, Bran and Arya Stark and Tyrion Lannister. 

I am now looking forward to finally watching the TV show!!

Book Review #489 - Dreamer's Pool (Blackthorn & Grim #1) by Juliet Marillier

In exchange for help escaping her long and wrongful imprisonment, embittered magical healer Blackthorn has vowed to set aside her bid for vengeance against the man who destroyed all that she once held dear. Followed by a former prison mate, a silent hulk of a man named Grim, she travels north to Dalriada. There she'll live on the fringe of a mysterious forest, duty bound for seven years to assist anyone who asks for her help. 

Oran, crown prince of Dalriada, has waited anxiously for the arrival of his future bride, Lady Flidais. He knows her only from a portrait and sweetly poetic correspondence that have convinced him Flidais is his destined true love. But Oran discovers letters can lie. For although his intended exactly resembles her portrait, her brutality upon arrival proves she is nothing like the sensitive woman of the letters. 

With the strategic marriage imminent, Oran sees no way out of his dilemma. Word has spread that Blackthorn possesses a remarkable gift for solving knotty problems, so the prince asks her for help. To save Oran from his treacherous nuptials, Blackthorn and Grim will need all their resources: courage, ingenuity, leaps of deduction, and more than a little magic.

My Rating: 4/5

I received this book for review from Pan MacMillan Australia. 

This book was a lot different to the other Juliet Marillier book that I have read. This one follows the stories of 3 vastly different characters, all of whom have split chapter narrations. 

The other difference I found with this book was the age of the characters. I have only read one of her YA titles but I understand that even with her other adult novels, the characters are still relatively young. In this book however even though their ages are never revealed they are obviously older than usual. 

I love the historical elements that Juliet Marillier books all seem to have and this book is no different having been set in ancient Ireland. 

I always have trouble in high fantasy books with characters names and pronunciations, so it was helpful to have the index at the beginning of the book and I found myself flicking there quite regularly. 

I understand that this book is loosely based on the fairy tale 'Goose Girl'. I had never read nor heard of this story before and this proves I need to read more of that kind of genre. 

I highly recommend Juliet Marillier's writing to both fans of fantasy and historical fictions as she really blends these two genres perfectly. 

Book Review #488 - The Book of Days by K.A Barker

Most people believe the best way to forget someone is to throw them down a well. Or lock them in a room with eight keys, or bury them at a crossroad in the thirteenth hour. But they’re wrong. The best way to forget someone is for them never to have existed in the first place.

Madame Marisol’s Unreality House was where you brought people to make that happen.”

When Tuesday wakes from sleep for the first time at sixteen, she opens her eyes to a world filled with wonder – and peril. Left with only a letter from the person she once was, Tuesday sets out to discover her past with the help of her charming and self-serving guide, Quintalion.

Along the way she runs into one-legged mercenaries, flying cities, airships, and a blind assistant librarian. But danger lurks amidst the steam. The leader of the merciless Daybreakers is hunting her, convinced that she killed the only woman he ever loved. Tuesday will need all her wits about her to survive long enough to find out who she is and her connection with the mysterious Book of Days: a book that holds untold power…

My Rating: 3.5/5

I received this book for review from Pan MacMillan Australia.

This book was very enchanting and I found myself absolutely engrossed in it from the very first page. It just had a certain quality to it that just sucks you in.

The characters were all very intriguing and they all had tremendous depth to them considering this was only the first book (I'm assuming there will be a sequel?). The villains in this book also had depth which is rare in YA literature.  

I loved the geographical landscape of their land although it was a little confusing at first especially when some places mentioned were not included on the map at the front of the book.

The plot was very adventurous and magical although there were a number loose ends that didn't get tied such as Quintalion's father.

The book begins with Tuesday awakening in a strange and magical house where she has no memory of her past. She then goes on a journey to discover who she is even though everyone tells her she probably forgot everything for a reason.

Jack and Quintalion were both fantastic male characters. Jack had a rather vulnerable and sensitive quality to him and Quintalion on the other hand was very self assured but not in an arrogant way.

Book Review #411 - Shadowfell (Shadowfell #1) by Juliet Marillier

The people of Alban are afraid.

The tyrannical king and his masked Enforcers are scouring the land, burning villages and enslaving the canny.

Fifteen-year-old Neryn has fled her home in the wake of its destruction, and is alone and penniless, hiding her extraordinary magical power. She can rely on no one – not even the elusive Good Folk who challenge and bewilder her with their words.

When an enigmatic stranger saves her life, Neryn and the young man called Flint begin an uneasy journey together. She wants to trust Flint but how can she tell who is true in this land of evil?

For Neryn has heard whisper of a mysterious place far away: a place where rebels are amassing to free the land and end the King's reign.

A place called Shadowfell.

A story of courage, hope, danger and love from one of the most compelling fantasy storytellers.

My Rating: 5/5

I am ashamed to say that I had never heard of this author until I received this book for review from Pan Macmillan Australia.

I can see why she has a large following though as her writing has a very enchanting feel to it.

This book follows the story of Neryn who after the death of her father is all alone in the world. She has to travel to a place called Shadowfell where the rebels are forming to overturn the evil king.




Along the way she meets Flint. Flint was an intriguing character. He was very helpful towards Neryn but you could tell he had an ulterior motive for that.

The plot builds gradually. There are a few times when it slowed but it was always a page turner.




I really liked the magical feel to the world Neryn lives in. The Good Folk that only Neryn seemed to be able to see were interesting little creatures.

Book Review #247 - Mage's Blood (Moontide Quartet #1) by David Hair

Most of the time the Moontide Bridge lies deep below the sea, but every 12 years the tides sink and the bridge is revealed, its gates open for trade.

The Magi are hell-bent on ruling this new world, and for the last two Moontides they have led armies across the bridge on 'crusades' of conquest.

Now the third Moontide is almost here and, this time, the people of the East are ready for a fight ... but it is three seemingly ordinary people that will decide the fate of the world.

 

 

My Rating: 4/5

I received this book for review from Pan MacMillan Australia.


Given that this is one of the longest books I have ever read I can't believe I finished it in only two days.


The book starts off slowly and I was confused at first with the geographical layout and the amount of characters that were continuously being introduced.


However, once I was able to distinguish between the characters it sped up in pace and I found it more free flowing.


The book can be graphic at times with sex and violence and so would not be something I would recommend for younger readers.


The book ended with so many cliff-hangers (especially Elena's) and so I can't wait to read the second book The Scarlet Tides.

Book Review #149 - The Brotherhood of Piaxia by Michael Drakich

Years have passed since the overthrow of the monarchy by the Brotherhood of Warlocks and they rule Piaxia in peaceful accord. But now forces are at work to disrupt this rule from outside the Brotherhood as well as within! Follow Tarlok, Savan and Tessia as their paths intertwine, with the Brotherhood in pursuit and the powerful merchant’s guild manipulating the populace for their own end.

My Rating: 3/5

I got this book for review from the author. The author's Goodreads page is here.

This is the first High Fantasy book I have read. I am kind of intimidated by this genre.

Tarlok was by far my favourite character. I would probably have liked this book more had the entire book been from his perspective. The other characters in the book failed to engage me.

The story was great, I found myself very immersed in the world, although there were no real surprises throughout.

I found this book to be a little slow paced although I thought it really flowed well. I really liked the short chapters.

I also liked how much detail there was in a book of only 200 pages.