Review: Queen of Shadows by Sarah J. Maas

Title: Queen of Shadows
Author: Sarah J. Maas
Series: Throne of Glass #4
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Children's
Release Date: September 1, 2015
Pages: 648
Rating:

The queen has returned.

Everyone Celaena Sardothien loves has been taken from her. But she’s at last returned to the empire—for vengeance, to rescue her once-glorious kingdom, and to confront the shadows of her past…

She has embraced her identity as Aelin Galathynius, Queen of Terrasen. But before she can reclaim her throne, she must fight.

She will fight for her cousin, a warrior prepared to die for her. She will fight for her friend, a young man trapped in an unspeakable prison. And she will fight for her people, enslaved to a brutal king and awaiting their lost queen’s triumphant return.

The fourth volume in the New York Times bestselling series continues Celaena’s epic journey and builds to a passionate, agonizing crescendo that might just shatter her world.

I am speechless. Sarah J Maas just keeping killing it with these books! QUEEN OF SHADOWS was one of the best books in this series, no I seriously believe it is the best book in the Throne of Glass Series. This book was truly EPIC and gods I still want more! Celaena has comes to terms with her past and is now readying to take a stand and reclaim her title, Aelin Galathynius, Lost Queen of Terrasen.

In QUEEN OF SHADOWS, Aelin comes back to Adarlan and things have gone to hell. She finds out her long lost cousin, Aedion Ashryver has been captured by the King of Adarlan and will be executed on the crown Princes birthday as entertainment, that Dorian is now being controlled by one of the dark rings and there may be no saving him, but til end him and she has to free magic to take down the King. Ugh, lost for this girl to do.

Like the last book, we have some new characters in this book. 

♦ Arobynn Hamel. We finally get to meet the King of Assassins. He was one of the those characters that you love to hate and hate to love. He is so mysterious that you don't really know his agenda or end game. He saved Aelin when she was younger and trained her as one of his assassins, but just because he saved her, doesn't mean he is the hero. He is a bad man and wants things his way.

♦ Lysandra. She is a courtesan, (Arobynn is a client of hers), and a former rival of Celaena when they were younger both pinning for Arobynn's attention. But they meet again in this book and decide to become friends. I love Lysandra and Aelin's friendship and Aelin needs some girlfriends!

♦ Nesryn Faliq. Aelin meets her when she comes back to Adarlan and see's her as a guard for Chaol wondering who this girl is. She has known Chaol for years I believe though. But she is working with the rebels to overthrow the King of Adarlan.

♦ And last but not least, Elide Lochan, who is the daughter of Lady Marion. The Lady Marion who was Aelin's nursemaid who sacrificed her life so Aelin could escape the royal castle and live. Small World, huh? But anyways, Elide is working at the Morath as a maid where Manon Blackbeak currently is. And we find out Elide possibly has witch blood in her.

And I know some of these characters were in the Assassin's Blade book which is basically kinda like a prequel, which is about all the events that lead up to the first book, but I haven't read that yet. But this is my first time meeting these characters.

Now I do have some things in the book I want to discuss! 

I do not for the life of me understand why everyone loves Chaol or shipped him with Celaena. And it seems like in every new Throne of Glass book, I get even more fed up with his character where I go into pure rage. Chaol was a world-class ASS HOLE in this book.

He basically blames Aelin for what happened to Dorian and Sorcha. He blames her for everything bad that happens in this book. WHAT THE FUCK? He is basically doesn't want to blame himself for what happened to Dorian that he places it on her. He is a pathetic excuse for a man. He finally comes to his senses by the end of the book, but sorry, asshole, you're three books too late.

My reaction/rants thoughts, SPOILERS BEWARE: 
♦ Aelin♥Rowan = I SHIP THEM SO MUCH!
♦ Manon's grandmother NEEDS TO BURN IN HELL!
♦ Aelin & Aedion's reunion was EVERYTHING & MORE!
♦ Manon vs Aelin = EPIC EPIC EPIC!

All and all, QUEEN OF SHADOWS was AMAZING. I can't say there was really anything in it that dissatisfied me, with where the book went and the journey it took me on. I'm super excited to start the next book, but I need time to heal from this one, and plus I'm going to wait a while because the sixth and final book isn't out until MAY 2018! and I'm gonna maybe read this next book close to the end of the year so the wait doesn't seem so dreadfully long.

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Review: Heir of Fire by Sarah J. Maas

Title: Heir of Fire
Author: Sarah J. Maas
Series: Throne of Glass #3
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Children's
Release Date: September 2, 2014
Pages: 565
Rating:

Celaena has survived deadly contests and shattering heartbreak―but at an unspeakable cost. Now, she must travel to a new land to confront her darkest truth . . . a truth about her heritage that could change her life―and her future―forever. Meanwhile, brutal and monstrous forces are gathering on the horizon, intent on enslaving her world. Will Celaena find the strength to not only fight her inner demons, but to take on the evil that is about to be unleashed?

The bestselling series that has captured readers all over the world reaches new heights in this sequel to the New York Times best-selling Crown of Midnight. Packed with heart-pounding action, fierce new characters, and swoon-worthy romance, this third book will enthrall readers from start to finish.

Okay. I just to have to say wow. HEIR OF FIRE was just so very DRAINING. I have to admit that I did not like this book as much as the other two books in the Throne of Glass series. To be honest IT WAS VERY BORING for the majority of the book. The second half was way better than the first half, but I put the book down so many times and it was so hard to get myself to pick it back up again.

In HEIR OF FIRE, Celaena is still recovering from the death of her friend, Nehemia. And she is now in the land of her Aunt Fae Queen, Maeve, who I might add is a bitch. Celaena is hoping to get some information from her, but in return she has to train with one of Maeve's Fae warrior's, Prince Rowan Whitethorn, to hone her fae magic and come to terms with her true identity as, Aelin Galathynius, Lost Queen of Terrasen. So begins the training from hell.

Obviously we have some new characters in this book. 
♦ Rowan Whitethorn. Loved him. Okay, hateed him at first and then once he showed his self and his personality a little and opened up to Celaena, I totally fell for him. I am totally falling in love with too many Sarah J. Mass' men! Ugh!

♦ Then we have Aedion Ashryver, who is Aelin's long lost cousin and childhood friend. I HEART HIM SO MUCH! He is so loyal to his people and his queen. He has been through a lot and he better get his chance to reunite with Aelin and it better be EPIC!

♦ We also have Manon Blackbeak, who is a Ironteeth witch, heir to the Blackbeak Clan. And when she was introduced I screamed, BADASS IN HOUSE! You just don't mess with Manon! I'm really interested to see where and how this character develops in the upcoming books.

♦ And lastly Sorcha who is a healer in the Adarlan castle and is doing the nasty nasty with Dorian! lol!

My reaction/rants thoughts, SPOILERS BEWARE: 
♦ Chaol Westfall. Oh, my god. #fuckhim
♦ Dorian & Aedion better be okay! Don't mess with my hunnies!
♦ The King has lived long enough. KILL HIM ALREADY!
♦ Chaol, Aedion, Sorcha & Dorian in deep shit. I FREAKING DIED!
♦ Calaena (Aelin) is a badass with her fae magic!
♦ I want to marry Dorian, Aedion and Rowan!
♦ Fae Queen, Maeve! #bitch #needstodie

But I really have to stop or I am going to write a book! HEIR OF FIRE had it's flaws, but it was still a pretty good read. The book was basically Celaena recovering from her friend's death and coming to terms with her past and readying to take a stand and reclaim her title, Aelin Galathynius, Lost Queen of Terrasen. It's obvious the next book is gonna be FUCKING EPIC! I'm excited to get my ass on Queen of Shadows.

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Review: Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas

Title: Crown of Midnight
Author: Sarah J. Maas
Series: Throne of Glass #2
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Children's
Release Date: August 27, 2013
Pages: 418
Rating:

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

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

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

Oh.my. FUCKING GOD! I am already a fan of Sarah J Mass after reading her Court of Thorns and Roses Series, but OMFG, THIS BOOK! Uh. Uh. I have no words! I am now officially on board with the Throne of Glass Series! I have to say this book was FUCKING EPIC!

In CROWN OF MIDNIGHT, Celaena is the King's Champion and it is revealed that she hasn't been doing any assassinating for the King. She has been faking the intended target's death, which is a dangerous game Celaena is playing. If caught, it could mean the death of her friend Nehemia, her family and Chaol. But then more shit happens, and then more and then what the fuck shit happens and then epic shit happens, ummm. yeah, you get the picture!

But anyways, I want to discuss! Dorian and Chaol! I love Dorian and I ship the hell out of him. #TEAMDORIAN! But I want to cry because it looks like that isn't going to happen. *pouts* I did not like Chaol in the previous book at all, in this book it just seemed like Celaena went from Dorian to Chaol is point zero seconds.

And this book screams #TEAMCHAOL. My thing is I don't hate them, but I don't love them either. I'm in the middle. And Chaol doesn't help his case by being so indecisive about Celaena. He has a thing for her, because under that assassin is this girl with a big heart. But he makes a point to note that she's a danger to Adalan everytime she does something that he doesn't approve of. It's annoying and that is not love.

My reaction/rants thoughts, SPOILERS BEWARE: 
♦ Dorian has magic! YEEESHHH!
♦ Obviously, THE KING NEEDS TO DIE!
♦ So Nehemia obviously planned to die, right?
♦ Archer really played Celaena, Seriously?! And she almost decided to spare him, really?
Like Hell no! I got that impression.
♦ And also, Celaena is fae and kept that from us all this time? lol!
♦ And she know's she Aelin Galathynius, lost Queen of Terrasen?
♦ Oh, and at the end, really, Chaol? Why can't he just see through the King and what a danger he is to the world! I would only like Chaol if he kept his mouth shut, well, maybe not even then!

But anyways, CROWN OF MIDNIGHT was FUCKING LIFE! It was so freaking good! And I have to say I haven't read a good YA/NA Series is a LONG ASS FUCKING TIME, (not counting ACOMAF, b/c it's by the same author). I'm actually glad I didn't read this series til now because now I have 3 more books to enjoy and don't have to wait for them to release! HELL TO THE YEEESSSHHH! I love you Sarah J. Mass, thank you for becoming an author and giving me LIFE!

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Review: A Court of Thorns & Roses by Sarah J. Maas

Title: A Court of Thorns & Roses
Author: Sarah J. Maas
Series: A Court of Thorns & Roses #1
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Children's
Release Date: May 5, 2015
Pages: 416
Rating:

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 grows over the faerie lands, and Feyre must find a way to stop it . . . or doom Tamlin—and his world—forever.

Oh, jeez. Where do I even start? When I first heard about this book, I was super freaking excited to read it and when the reviews came rolling in I really wanted to read it, but I got to say this book was way over-hyped about. It was good, but not great. It definitely had great potential, but it didn't 'wow' me like I expected it to.

A COURT OF THRONES AND ROSES is basically the retelling of the classic, 'Beauty and the Beast' with faeries as a fantasy book. Which I freaking love faerie books, but I have had few luck to find one that had wowed me in this YA/NA genre. I'm not gonna go through the whole plot and whatnot, all you have to know is it somewhat follows that 'Beauty and the Beast' retelling.

I went from loving it from going bored out of my mind. Rinse and Repeat. This book reads at a slow pace for me, some some parts could've been cut out just so we could get to the damn point. I did get very bored quickly, but something got me to keep going to the end of the book. I am very intrigued with this world Maas has created and besides I have always been very into faeries and their stories.

Feyre is our heroine and she is a really tough cookie, but she did drive me nuts a bit. I didn't hate her, but I didn't love her either. She had a case of going into dangerous situations when warned not to. She got herself into two or three situations that annoyed me. As for our, fae high lord, Tamlin, I did like him. He definitely had that soulful personality to him. But I didn't necessarily feel for them. They were in love and they were hot, but they weren't epic or anything.

I basically felt that about the whole book. This book wasn't epic enough, but their love story did leave me wanting more. I am definitely intrigued by this story to want to indulge into the sequel, so I'll probably still read the sequel, because with that ending who wouldn't want to know what would happen next. I know I do.

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