Tag Archives: Sarah J Maas

Review: A Court of Silver Flames (A Court of Thorns and Roses #4) by Sarah J Maas

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Title: A Court of Silver Flames
Author:  Sarah J Maas
Publisher/Year:  Bloomsbury USA 2/16/21
Length:  768 Pages
Series: A Court of Thorns and Roses

Overview

Nesta Archeron has always been prickly-proud, swift to anger, and slow to forgive. And ever since being forced into the Cauldron and becoming High Fae against her will, she’s struggled to find a place for herself within the strange, deadly world she inhabits. Worse, she can’t seem to move past the horrors of the war with Hybern and all she lost in it.

The one person who ignites her temper more than any other is Cassian, the battle-scarred warrior whose position in Rhysand and Feyre’s Night Court keeps him constantly in Nesta’s orbit. But her temper isn’t the only thing Cassian ignites. The fire between them is undeniable, and only burns hotter as they are forced into close quarters with each other. 

Meanwhile, the treacherous human queens who returned to the Continent during the last war have forged a dangerous new alliance, threatening the fragile peace that has settled over the realms. And the key to halting them might very well rely on Cassian and Nesta facing their haunting pasts.

Against the sweeping backdrop of a world seared by war and plagued with uncertainty, Nesta and Cassian battle monsters from within and without as they search for acceptance-and healing-in each other’s arms.

My Thoughts

I’ll have to be a bit honest at first here and say that I had to wrack my brain to get caught up to where we left off since it’s been quite some time since we’ve last been in this world. The War with King Hybern left a jarring memory in my brain, and remembering what happened to Elain and Nesta at the end of it all made me wonder what the future could hold. Elain, the beautiful perfect and delicate sister was taken against her wishes, put into the couldron and Made into something immortal. Nesta followed after her and took everything that she could from the Coulderon as a way to get her revenge out. What happened after though, you’ll all remember is that Nesta couldn’t deal with her pain, with her guilt and with her hatred of herself and that took her down an awful spiral.

We’re now a year or so past the war and Nesta is no better off. She’s a shell of a person, empty and all she does is spend Feyre’s money on booze and men. She’s rude to everyone who makes an effort to be around her that they are forced to give an ultimatum. either fall in line and train with Cassian, get some structure and figure out how to harness her power, or go back to the human lands where she won’t be accepted. It’s really no choice, so she finds herself training with Cassian in the morning and working in the library for the rest of the day.

It’s interesting to see how long it takes to break Nesta down in this story – frankly, I don’t know that we ever really see her break down her walls, but we see her find some purpose in her life. Figure out what’s a bigger goal and to go there. She makes friends with a priestess in the library named Gwyn who starts to play a big role as well as another Illaryian named Emerie. The notion that she’s able to make ‘friends’ makes everyone have hope that she’s going to come around, but even that is a wish that may never come true.

The undertone throughout this 4th installment is that there’s still unrest in the world. While The King of Hybern is dead, the human queens are not united as they should be ever since one went into the Cauldron and lost her beauty to become eternally old. She’s hungry for the power to get her beauty back and that means that we’re about to see the world turned upside down.

Throughout this book, we learn about things older than anyone, Amren even has a hard time remembering the full history. We’re taught about the Dread Trove, a collection of items that were so dark and evil that they have wards to hide and protect them, they have the ability to raise the dead and make people do their bidding. In the wrong hands, that means that the world that they know will be completely destroyed. The queen who’s looking for her youth wants the Trove as she’s made a deal with one of the oldest evil immortals who has his own motivation as well to get released from his prison.

So, we watch the journey as the one human Queen gets a hold of the Crown which is able to control the minds of anyone who’s within reach. That leave a Mask which is able to raise the dead and a Harp which is able to open wards and pass through time. Nesta’s ability to scry which helped them find the Couldron in the last installment means that she’s ripe for the asking to find the Dread Trove. She’s of course not willing to help anyone, especially seeing how the past turned out when she tried to help and her loved ones died or changed form. She objects strongly, and that means that Elain offers herself to do it. That’s what finally gets Nesta to agree to go on the hunt. She trains to become a warrior, to strengthen her mind body and soul, and at the same time, with her friends, they bring back the Valkryies – a female warrior unit that was stronger than many men back thousands of years ago and died off in a war that was a set up.

In addition to that storyline, we have another where Feyre and Rhys are expecting their first child, just as the Bone Carver told them from his visions. The Challenge here is that she fell pregnant when she was in Illaryian form during the war when she was able to shift her shape (thank all the High Lords who gave her powers when she was about to die in book #1). It’s a blessing and everyone’s beyond happy that she’s pregnant and then they learn that because of the form that she was in, the baby is due to have wings. An exciting time for the Illaryian’s but Feyre is now in her Fae form and her body won’t survive a birth of a child with wings. They keep this from her of course, and we watch the journey throughout the story to see if they’re able to keep Feyre alive.

I’ll admit that the first few chapters were a bit draggy for me – it took me a few minutes to get back into it even though I LOVE this series. The characters all have their deep and interesting stories that lead us on so many crazy adventures that we don’t know necessarily what we’re going to get. Some are older than others, some have other forms that were taken from them in the last war. And some really don’t know what to do with the life that they have now.

Elain has found herself mated to someone that she’s got adverse feelings towards, and we see hints of something perhaps between her and Az. Azriel is one of the main characters that we’d do anything to see happy and when it seemed as though there was something more between them at Winter Solstice. Maybe that will come in the next book since we know that there’s a continuing story here.

We have the battles of good and evil in this forth book. We have the notion that everything is NOT what it seems and you never know who you can trust even if you make allies. We also see that there’s redemption for even the worst offenders. We see that there’s transition in life and when you’ve had some of your greatest horrors take away your very breath, there are people out there who care enough to lift you up, support you and never leave you behind. And there’s love. That’s likely the most important of all and perhaps the one thing that we see carry us through this vicious forth installment.

Now I don’t know about any other reader, but I know for myself that i’d love more than anything to get book five sooner rather than later. It’s been years since we had the last one and I think i’ll scream and wither away if we have to wait that long again. On that note – ENJOY!

Review: A Court of Frost and Starlight (A Court of Thorns and Roses #3.1) by Sarah J Maas

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Title: A Court of Frost and Starlight
Author: Sarah J Maas
Publisher/Year:  Bloomsbury 5/1/18
Length:   215 Pages
Series:  A Court of Thorns and Roses

Overview

Narrated by Feyre and Rhysand, this bridges the events in A Court of Wings and Ruin and the upcoming novels in the series.

New in the #1 New York Times bestselling Court of Thorns and Roses series, A Court of Frost and Starlight is a glimpse into the lives of Feyre and Rhys as they begin to recover from the war that changed their world.

Feyre, Rhysand, and their close-knit circle of friends are still busy rebuilding the Night Court and the vastly-changed world beyond. But Winter Solstice is finally near, and with it, a hard-earned reprieve. Yet even the festive atmosphere can’t keep the shadows of the past from looming. As Feyre navigates her first Winter Solstice as High Lady, she finds that those dearest to her have more wounds than she anticipated — scars that will have a far-reaching impact on the future of their Court.

My Thoughts

i LOVE this series and i’m so glad that while it’s short, we get another installment to the series.  Where we left off with all these characters – the war had ended, and Elain and Nesta were ‘MADE’ and kingdoms are shattered and lives were lost.  It’s a troubled time, yet we know that this group of family/friends will do whatever they can to get back to normal life and make sure that they are with the ones that matter most.  the Winter Solstice is the perfect time for them to come together and enjoy each other’s company.

Of course, it’s easier said than done when Elain is still in her shell and wants nothing to do with Az who is her mate.  And Nesta wants nothing to do with anyone, including her mate Cassian.  So we get to see how that all starts to affect the larger group.  Rhys and Feyre have found that their love is stronger and runs deeper than ever and that’s the thread that carries the gist of the story.

So i consider this to be a novella – i guess it’s kind of noted as it’s a #.1 but it’s a bit longer than a traditional novella.  Each chapter is based on a different characters story at the time in things, and we get to see how the results of the war shape what their path is.  Amren now as a human, Mor trying to get past the fear that she has of looking weak, the men who are both macho and who want to make things right with their soulmates.

On top of that lighter part of the story, we have the undertone of what’s going on in the bigger picture of the world now after the war, and what i assume will be the main factor of the next installment.  There’s unrest among the people, there’s fear and hatred that so many died and there’s no longer a divide between the human and fae worlds, so we know that there’s bound to be issue and catastrophe there as well.  Tamlin is a shell of a man now and his land is the one that borders the human world, yet he won’t accept help from Rhys since there’s too much pain and hatred tied to Feyre.

Anyhow-  while this is a lighter more surface installment, it’s a good lead into what’s to come and i know that it’ll be great since the other installments were AMAZING.  The pre-read chapter in the end of the next book really shows us that Nesta is going to take a main role – her journey into the cauldron was something that even it did not expect, and she’s taken from it and will hopefully use those powers to help Rhys and Feyre and their allies v. against them.  we’ll have to wait and see i guess.  On that note – enjoy your day all!

Review: Tower of Dawn (Throne of Glass #6) by Sarah J Maas

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Title: Tower of Dawn
Author: Sarah J Maas
Publisher/Year:  Bloomsbury USA 9/5/17
Length:   586 Pages
Series:  Throne of Glass #6

Overview

In the next installment of the New York Times bestselling Throne of Glass series, follow Chaol on his sweeping journey to a distant empire.

Chaol Westfall has always defined himself by his unwavering loyalty, his strength, and his position as the Captain of the Guard. But all of that has changed since the glass castle shattered, since his men were slaughtered, since the King of Adarlan spared him from a killing blow, but left his body broken.

His only shot at recovery lies with the legendary healers of the Torre Cesme in Antica–the stronghold of the southern continent’s mighty empire. And with war looming over Dorian and Aelin back home, their survival might lie with Chaol and Nesryn convincing its rulers to ally with them.

But what they discover in Antica will change them both–and be more vital to saving Erilea than they could have imagined.

My Thoughts

OMG – if you thought were the story went from the end of Book 5, when mysterious folks re-emerged, wars were fought, Aelin was taken prisoner again by Maeve was enough, well you’re wrong.  There’s still so much more to this story, and we’re now getting to see what it’s like outside of the direct battle that we’ve been in.

So we remember that Chaol’s spine was broken when Dorian’s father tried to kill him, and he and Nesryn are headed to the Torre in the hopes of finding a healer who is powerful enough to fix more of what’s wrong that Rowan wasn’t able to fix already.  The great thing here is that we know of a girl from one of the novellas that we met as Aelin was on her way to the Red Desert who had an ability to heal who she helped get to the Torre.  So it’s this girl – Yrene who we also find front and center.

This story is a really great extension off the main story since it’s happening parallel path  – but in a part of the world that’s untouched by what’s going on in the North, and is comprised of possibly the strongest kingdom or empire in the world.  So Chaol and Nesryn are there in the hopes of healing him so he can walk again, as well as getting them to side with Aelin and Dorian in the hopes that they can build an army that can take on Morath.

What’s so amazing about this story is that we are introduced to another royal family that really shows us another way of living during this time that we have.  There’s a family that seems to be untouched by the evil in the world (or are they) and while they don’t have to deal with that directly, they have their own family struggles in the sense of who will take over as heir when their father passes.

We see some new relationships build here and they really do help keep the story moving.  Chaol and Nesryn come to the Khagan together – sort of in a relationship, but there’s a really odd chemistry between them since she knows that she was never the first choice.  Then there’s Yrene and Chaol.  She hates all that he is because it was the kind of Adarlan who killed her parents, and so she therefore hates him.  it’s quite the fight that she puts up both against healing him, and against her feelings for him.  which we see grow in an odd sort of way.

Then there are the royals – kashin who has feelings for Yrene that aren’t reciprocated.  Hasar who’s close friends with Yrene and has a power/manipulation thing going.  Arghun, the eldest brother who’s tough.  Duva who is married and pregnant.  Tumulun whom we learned died (or was murdered) just before arriving in the empire.  and Sartaq.  He’s the one to watch because we see that he’s possibly the most open to listening to what they have ot say about the need for an army and how it will help them in the future.  Then there’s the way that he interacts with Nesryn – especially since her family hails from their kingdom.

When secrets come out to what’s going on truly with the Valg, and how they perhaps originated in the world – where they came and what’s being hidden from them – we start to learn things that we should have seen throughout the series but maybe just didn’t have enough of the story to know.  I know that for myself-  it’s all obvious now, and i think that we are going to go to a really dynamic place in book 7 – once that makes it certain that there’s no way that all of our favorites will survive – but that we hope for strength and love to prevail.

So all in all – i’m thrilled beyond belief again with this story and how it continues to be written by our author – i still don’t know how she does it but i’m thrilled that she does.  It looks like book 7 will pick up with where Aelin is locked up by Maeve and we can only hope that Rowan or someone will come to her rescue before it’s too late.  we have to wait now until 2018 though…..such a long long wait.  Enjoy!

Review: A Court of Wings and Ruin (A Court of Thorns and Roses #3) by Sarah J Maas

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Title: A Court of Wings and Ruin
Author: Sarah J Maas
Publisher/Year: Bloomsbury 5/2/17
Length:   626 Pages
Series:  A Court of Thorns and Roses #3

Overview

Looming war threatens all Feyre holds dear in the third volume of the #1 New York Times bestselling A Court of Thorns and Roses series.

Feyre has returned to the Spring Court, determined to gather information on Tamlin’s maneuverings and the invading king threatening to bring Prythian to its knees. But to do so she must play a deadly game of deceit-and one slip may spell doom not only for Feyre, but for her world as well.

As war bears down upon them all, Feyre must decide who to trust amongst the dazzling and lethal High Lords-and hunt for allies in unexpected places.

My Thoughts

AMAZING.  beyond AMAZING/  that’s what i have to say about this third book.  There’s so much that happened in the last book to set this one up, deceit from Hybern and the Queens – friendships and loves broken up.  Where we were left and therefore where we started this story is such a place that you know that something catastrophic was going to happen.

So as the description says, Feyre is back in the Spring Court – playing the part of the returned lover to Tamlin, who wants nothing to do with Rhys or the Night Court.  This is all in the hopes if getting information that will help the Night Court and hopefully get her back to her true love and mate.

Of course things get complicated – where Lucien, Tamlin’s closest friend even starts to show that he’s maybe a bit skewed in his loyalties.  Ianthe – the high priestess that sold out Feyre’s sisters returns and the wrath that Feyre has towards her, well you know it’ll be unleashed at some point and it’ll be HUGE.

We spend much of this story trying to understand what it is that Nesta and Elain became from being sent into the couldron . We also see Amren playing a larger role in the hopes of finding a way to break the spell and the couldron so that some of the power shift that seems to be happening doesn’t sway in the wrong direction.

We also see that the biggest underlying story here is who’s alliances are truest and what does family mean.  The High Lords are all called to take a side and Hybern seems to have a power over folks that makes you wonder who will be successful.  He’s got the queens still in his power as they were the ones who laid seige to Velaris and Jurian is playing his lackey quite well so you wonder if there’s any room for error.

The end goal – breaking down the wall is not something that the Fae are willing to allow happen because it means that the humans will be doomed and set for death.  The problem becomes that while they all spend all their energy to find solutions, Hybern manages to wake the couldron to bring the wall down and start an all out war far sooner and far trickier than anyone expected.

A few things about this book that i feel like i have to call out .

1)our author – i don’t know how she does it with this series or ‘Throne of Glass’  – she makes is so that there really isn’t even a supporting cast – all are major characters with really important stories that are intertwined.  their histories so deep and detailed that you are engrossed from moment go

2) this third installment is quite a bit more passionate than the others – Very much so given the nature of Feyre and Rhys’ relationship.  I think that the heat and sexuality was taken to the limit here with how these scenes really portray what this couple means to each other and it was hot.  especially for the genre

3) the way this story unfolded – it makes you need not just want another installment – and thankfully in the last bits it says the story continues.  i feel like there can’t be an ending since there’s an open eded question about a few characters, ones that we love, ones that we lost, ones who’s role and powers changed. Definitely so much more to enjoy.

So on that note, i’m beyond bummed that i read it in a few days since now i don’t have their world to be inside, but i’m so happy with how the story played out as is.  Enjoy!

 

Review: Empire of Storms (Throne of Glass #5) by Sarah J Maas

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Title: Empire of Storms
Author: Sarah J Maas
Publisher/Year: Bloomsbury USA 9/6/16
Length:   595 Pages
Series:  Throne of Glass #5

Overview

Kingdoms collide in Sarah J. Maas’s epic fifth installment in the New York Times bestselling Throne of Glass series.

The long path to the throne has only just begun for Aelin Galathynius. Loyalties have been broken and bought, friends have been lost and gained, and those who possess magic find themselves at odds with those who don’t.

With her heart sworn to the warrior-prince by her side, and her fealty pledged to the people she is determined to save, Aelin will delve into the depths of her power to protect those she loves. But as monsters emerge from the horrors of the past, and dark forces become poised to claim her world, the only chance for salvation will lie in a desperate quest that may mark the end of everything Aelin holds dear.

In this breathtaking fifth installment of the New York Times bestselling Throne of Glass series, Aelin will have to choose what — and who — to sacrifice if she’s to keep the world of Erilea from breaking apart.

My Thoughts

There is SO MUCH going on in this 5th installment that i tried to make reading it take longer since i know that we’ll be waiting ages for the next one to come out.  i LOVE this series and i can’t say it enough.

We have seen Aelin come into her own and really get her strength in her power and control over her kingdom.  It’s not an easy quest and it’s going to get much harder.  She’s still on the trail of all the wordkeys and challenging isn’t even the beginning of what she’s up against.

We saw that her alliances throughout the series have become interesting – how she’s now so completely tied to Rowan that you have to wonder what that will mean for him as a Fae prince and for the others in his cadre since there seems to be quite the unbreakable bond there, even though he’s no longer tied like they are to Queen Maeve.

Then there’s the story around Manon.  we have seen her rise to power in her coven, yet it looks like things are going to get so much worse given that there’s information being kept from her from Erawan and her grandmother, and she’s starting to distrust them all.  What’s so nice about this story line for her is that we see that she’s got emotions and a heart and that while she’s thrown into a situation that’s completely unexpected, she’s able to show that she’s perhaps more valuable than anyone knew.

then there’s Elide – the girl from Terrasen who was held captive by her uncle in Morath, and who we learn that there’s more to her back story than we knew before.  She’s becoming more important since Manon claims care over her and yet, she’s still finding that maybe that’s not the right path for her.  The way that her story goes, and how it intertwines with Lorcan, one of the other strong Fae men in Maeve’s court, well you know that it’s going to be interesting.  Neither of them trusts the other, and yet there’s something unique growing between them.

Then there’s Dorian – well, he’s now the king, yet he’s trying to control his power so it means that we’re going to see that as a tough journey for him.  How strong is he and will he help Aelin take over control of things.

And last, but not least of folks that we know and love, Lysandra and Aedion.  They are a pair that’s becoming a force to be reckoned with.  Lysandra’s role throughout this story is one that no one realizes until it’s too late. Aelin sees what she’s able to become and uses that to their advantage, and to see what that means as this story progresses is incredible.

A war is brewing – that much we know.  There’s no question that there’s going to be a lot of lost lives, lost loves, and there’s really only one chance that they’ll get to get control of the continent.  Maeve proves to be worse than anyone knew, but Aelin is more resourceful than anyone else expected and we see her pulling out tricks right and left.  The problem though is that there’s not enough time for her to get things together before all hell breaks loose and we’re left at a point in the story where hope is lost, friends have been taken hostage and we really have no idea what’s next and how they can win.  if they can win.  i can’t wait until book 6 comes out.  i need it now!!!!

The Assassin and the Empire (Throne of Glass #0.5) by Sarah J Maas

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Title: The Assassin and the Empire
Author: Sarah J Maas
Publisher/Year: Bloomsbury USA 1.3.12
Length:   40 Pages
Series:  Throne of Glass #0.5

Overview

Celaena Sardothien is the assassin with everything: a place to call her own, the love of handsome Sam, and, best of all, freedom. Yet, she won’t be truly free until she is far away from her old master, Arobynn Hamel; Celaena must take one last daring assignment that will liberate her forever. But having it all, means you have a lot to lose . . .

My Thoughts

I’ve been waiting for this finale of the novella prequels – just so that we could what led up to Celaena’s capture -and it’s as emotional and heartfelt as i think we were all expecting.  We knew that she had taken a contract to kill one of the biggest crime lords in Rifthold and that it had gone sour, resulting in Sam’s death – but we didn’t quite get to see what led up to that contract.

We know that Sam and Celaena made the decision that they couldn’t be part of Arobynn’s keep and that they needed to free themselves and start a life of their own.  It comes at a cost and it’s not just monetary sadly that we learn this .

They pay off Arobynn to get out of the Assassin’s Guild and find out that while they want to leave the city, it’s going to cost them everything and they need to make sure that they have enough to survive on alone. That’s where trouble starts since Sam comes across a contract to kill people that are untouchable and you know that it can’t end well.

The journey on this final book is seeing if their love is enough to take such risks, and then seeing that perhaps there’s more to Arobynn than we saw before, although it was alluded to plenty in how Celaena calls him ‘father, brother, lover’ – but without action on the lover part.  There are comments that Arobynn makes that you really wonder what the motivation is there.

There’s a lot of build up to the actual attempt on Farran’s life and Jayne’s life and then we see how things go drastically wrong.  I think that in my mind, Celaena was successful with killing Farran, and yet the way that we read this installment, the story is different.  Nonetheless, i’m still so incredibly sad at how we read their demise, and seeing what Celaena has ahead of her in Endovier….well it’s heartbreaking yet you have some hope.

I really admire our author in the telling of this whole story.  I feel like there’s so much depth and intrigue throughout each installment, and the fact that i read this series of prequels at the point that i did allowed me to paint a picture in my head of things and then watch how they played out in the timeline of the story.  All in all, amazing.  Now i’m ready to get into book 5, although it means that i’ll have to wait ages for book 6.  but i’ll do it.  Enjoy!

Review: The Assassin and the Underworld (Throne of Glass #0.4) by Sarah J Maas

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Title: The Assassin and the Underworld
Author: Sarah J Maas
Publisher/Year: Bloomsbury USA 1.3.12
Length:   40 Pages
Series:  Throne of Glass #0.4

Overview

When the King of the Assassins gives Celaena Sardothien a special assignment that will help fight slavery in the kingdom, she jumps at the chance to strike a blow against an evil practice. The misson is a dark and deadly affair which takes Celaena from the rooftops of the city to the bottom of the sewer–and she doesn’t like what she finds there.
My Thoughts
I LOVE this prequel series – it’s the greatest.  We are finally at the turning point of everything that’s come to be part of what makes Celaena who she is, and i think that we’ve all been waiting soo anxiously – the whole story about Sam and what made her turn so quickly on Arobynn.
The sam thing has thrown me the entire time we’ve been reading the Assassin’s Blade since it’s been rather clear that they don’t care for each other at all.  And since their relationship was such a big thing throughout the main series, I was just waiting for the moment when the curtain was lifted to see how they really came together.
This installment takes us to the point in time when we see Celaena is back from the Red Desert, she’s been betrayed by the one person she considered a friend, and she has a plan how to get away from Arobynn forever.  it’s still quite a bit from the point where she throws down the gauntlet.
So we’re back at the keep, and she’s kept the gold that she was gifted a secret so that she can buy her freedom.  Arobynn is acting a bit off when she comes back – although he continues to bestow lavish gifts on her in the hopes that she’s able to forgive him.  She then gives her a mission that pulls at her heart strings which personally i felt was a bit off, but she bought into it.
It’s this mission that brings her to the dark side of things since there’s so much more at stake than she knew.
Then there’s the bit of Sam.  It’s been 3 months since she had seen him, and well, a lot has transpired since then.  We see that he’s become quite friendly with Lysandra who we all know Celaena doesn’t have warm fuzzies to at this point in the story – and so we see jealousy and hatred come out at full force.  Clearly Sam doesn’t feel about Lysandra the way that Celaena thinks is at play, and we start to see that there’s more to the relationship between Celaena and Sam even if they won’t admit it.
So like i said, a lot comes into focus in this 4th prequel and i think that we’re finally connecting all those dots that brought us to the main series and into what we have seen Celaena transform into.  Knowing that there’s just one more, we know where it’s going to end and i’m a bit apprehensive about reading it because i don’t want to see how things turn…but i guess it’ll get me up to speed on the pre-story and then i can get back into book 5.
Have a great day all!

Review: The Assassin and the Desert (Throne of Glass #0.3) by Sarah J Maas

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Title: The Assassin and the Desert
Author: Sarah J Maas
Publisher/Year: Bloomsbury USA 1.3.12
Length:   40 Pages
Series:  Throne of Glass #0.3

Overview

The Silent Assassins of the Red Desert aren’t much for conversation, and Celaena Sardothien wouldn’t have it any other way. She’s not there to chatter, she’s there to hone her craft as the world’s most feared killer for hire. When the quiet is shattered by forces who want to destroy the Silent Assassins, Celaena must find a way to stop them, or she’ll be lucky to leave the desert alive.
My Thoughts
Again, has to be said – i LOVE these prequels.  i think that every time we get another story in the life of Celaena before we came upon her on Throne of Glass, we get to see a bit more into her soul.  and that’s something that truly impresses me.
In this third story – we get to see what her life was like for that month when she was sent to the Red Desert to atone for what she did in betraying Arobynn’s deal with the slaves – so that she could get trained by the Silent Assassin Master.  What she got instead was quite the life lesson.
Celaena finds that there’s so much more to being trained than just showing up.  She has to get to the point where the master chooses to train her and for some, that day never comes.  It’s only through a friendship with Ansel, another beautiful girl who lives in the fortress that she’s able to live – and train a bit while she waits.  It’s through a trip into town on an assignment that things change for Celaena, she’s convinced to steal the Aseterion horse – a masterpiece of a stallion.  We’ve heard the hints of the story throughout the main series but to see what happened to make it come to life is even better.  To learn that it wasn’t her plan to do it – that means so much more since we know that she’s quite ruthless.
It’s how she handles herself when she returns to the fortress that somehow makes the Master decide to train her and from there on out we see how she’s taught the mannerisms and skills of that tribe.
It’s only when there’s a spy amidst them – when we see someone that we trust turn against them all, Celaena is poisoned, the master is as well and so many lose their lives.  What comes of it though is such a sweet ending to it all, and i think that we have seen how that’s woven into what makes our leading lady into who she is.
Honestly, i don’t know where Ms Maas comes up with this stuff, but it’s amazing!

Review: Queen of Shadows (Throne of Glass #4) by Sarah J Maas

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Title: Queen of Shadows
Author: Sarah J Maas
Publisher/Year: Bloomsbury USA 9/6/16
Length:   561 Pages
Series:  Throne of Glass #4

Overview

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 just to see her again. 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.

Celaena’s epic journey has captured the hearts and imaginations of millions across the globe. This fourth volume will hold readers rapt as Celaena’s story builds to a passionate, agonizing crescendo that might just shatter her world.

My Thoughts

Honestly, i don’t think that there’s any way to make this series better.  This third installment has taken us to such an amazing place that i feel like we’ve really set the stage for something amazing since we’ve overcome so much with our characters, yet there’s still so much that’s going to happen that we have no idea who’s going to be left when it ends.

Where we were left off in the last book is where Aelin knows what she has to become and what she has to do, and hopefully she has the power to do it.  Interestingly enough, she’s going to find herself joining forces with some folks that she never would have considered before, and hopefully at the same time restore some of her friendships that were so broken because of lies and just because of who they are.

Just like we had in book 2, we have parallel stories happening here – but it’s a bit less clear since the stories are starting to merge.  We have Aelin’s story, we have Manon again, and then we see glimpses of Dorian and the Val Prince that’s taken over his body.

So in this 3rd book, we see Aelin finding herself with strengthening power through the tutelage of Rowan, a Fae warrior who’s taken the blood oath to Maeve – queen of the Fae.  Rowan pushes Aelin so far beyond what she ever thought was possible, just to get her to control her powers and learn the secrets that have been hidden from her and the world for 10 years.  The things that she learns from Maeve and even from Rowan cause her to question everything and wonder who’s side everyone’s truly on.  The bond that we see develop though between the two makes you wonder what will become of it since it seems like there’s more than just the love hate of mentor/mentee but who knows.

Then there’s the witches – Manon has to work to gain the lead position that should be rightly hers of all witches, all at the request of the King of Adarlan – meaning that his dark plans are going to take shape through the help of the immortal witches.  Whats nice about her story in this book is that we see that there’s more to Manon than we initially knew and that she’s forced to battle herself quite a bit, not just battle her coven because of questions that she’s forced to ask regarding her coven, her history and what’s being asked of the witches by the King and the Duke.

Then there’s the bits with Dorian.  We see his story with Choal and Aedion grow while they are all still together – we see that they want to do something to gain power back from his father, yet they know that there’s a dark power that he has that will make it impossible.  Dorian tries to stand his ground but that comes at a price – especially when he is forced to use his magic and that means that things will end badly.  We see a love lost, and it’s really a breaking point for these guys.

So – it’s quite a long book and i can’t get into all the amazing story lines, but what we see is a reappearance of Arobbyn, and we see that Aelin is so beyond hatred for him, that it’s more like a game at how this is being played and how it will end.  We see that there’s an interesting twist in a story with Clarisse – the ‘madaam’ of sorts, and her core worker.  Aelin finds out a few things that truly change the story a bit.

Then there’s Choal, Aedion, a girl named Elide who’s from Terrasen but who we don’t fully know enough about, and there’s everyone else.  There are a million questions about what the motivation is of the King with the rings and the collars and the Val Princes, and we have to wonder if he’s really the force of power or if there’s someone else pulling strings.

There’s so much death and destruction, so much that’s going to change the face of things as we go into the next installment – people are dead.  Lands are in ruin – and i think that there’s still a HUGE question as to who will survive and who has survived and what the new towers are going to bring.  I absolutely can’t wait for the next book  but i’m sure i have to be very patient.  Enjoy!

 

Review: Heir of Fire (Throne of Glass #3) by Sarah J Maas

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no-brainer

Title: Heir of Fire
Author: Sarah J Maas
Publisher/Year: Bloomsbury USA 9/1/15
Length:   516 Pages
Series:  Throne of Glass #3

Overview

Celaena Sardothien, heroine of the New York Times bestselling series, rises from the ashes to burn even brighter than before.

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?

My Thoughts

Yes, it’s taken me quite a long time to finish this third installment and it wasn’t for lack of trying.  Life gets in the way sometimes right?  Anyway, this third piece of the story is AMAZING.  Each book gets more intricate and more complex that there are sub stories in each.

What we have here is the continuation of Celaena’s story – now that she’s going to Wendlyn on assignment for the king, but at the push of Choal who wants to protect her now that he knows her secret.  It works for Celaena because it gives her an opportunity to get away, wallow a bit (which she does quite well) and then to learn more about her past and the history behind the wyrdkeys in the hopes of solving the puzzle.

Celaena’s journey is a tough one.  We see her have trouble coming to terms with everything – the death of her friend, the fact that Choal can’t be trusted yet she loves him, her relationship with Dorian.  And the fact that she’s now forced to admit to everyone who she really is.  Throughout this book, she comes into her own, learns how to own her power and how to control it, all through the help and tutoring of Rowan, a Fae prince who is tied to the Fae Queen Maeve through a blood oath.  Their relationship is one that is a roller coaster as well, mentor/mentee, hated friends, and yet there’s something more i think.  it’s too soon to tell way though.

There’s the side story of what’s going on back in Adarlan though with Choal and Dorian.  They are at odds with each other, and the way that their friendship is being written shows that there’s still so much loyalty that trumps everything.  Add in Aedion, one of the king’s best generals and Celaena’s cousin (although they haven’t connected yet), and you have an even more interesting story.  He’s definitely in the kings pocket and causes us to take a pause to really understand his motivations and what side he’s playing and that all comes out in this story as well.

Then, enter an entirely new storyline of the witches.  We met Baba Yellowlegs who Celaena killed in the last story – and now we have all 3 major covens in this story – all being summoned to help the king – yet what they are helping with, they don’t know what.  I feel like the dynamic there is interesting since they were cursed at the same time that all the magic was taken from the continent, and i feel like once they are given the right information, the tides may turn in unexpected ways.

So all in all, you can see that there’s something amazing about how our author is able to weave these stories together.  They are all happening parallel path, yet they all are woven into one another making it so complex and dynamic.  I don’t know how she does it, and yet i can’t stop pushing myself to read more and more (even when i should be doing other things).  So on that note, enjoy and i’m off to the next installment!!!