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

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

RATING: 3.5/5 SWORDS

She was the heir of ash and fire, and she would bow to no one.

Celaena Sardothien 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. To defeat them, Celaena must find the strength to not only fight her inner demons but to battle the evil that is about to be unleashed. 
The king's assassin takes on an even greater destiny and burns brighter than ever before in this follow-up to the New York Times bestselling Crown of Midnight.

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 Well, I'm a little confused about this book. After Crown of Midnight I was all about this series. I was exctied to read the third book. I WAS READY...and then I was disappointed. It isn't that this book is bad. It's not. It's decently entertaining. It expanded on the universe which is something I felt the series needed. However, I still felt like Celanea was very isolated AGAIN. She's primarily confined to one location throughout the entire book. Her training seems to drag on forever.  AND this book made Chaol such a bore. Without Celaena around he definitely loses his appeal. Don't get me started on Dorian. I honestly don't understand why he would want to keep his magic contained. He obviously needs the power to help defeat his father. If anything I would think he'd want to gain control of it and then learn how to grow in strength. I understand that he's scared people will find out because it's illegal to have magic, but just practice in secret.

 Chaol and Dorian's part of the books honestly don't get interesting until the very end when there is a big OMG moment. That was an OMG moment!! So at least there's that, right? Another aspect of the book that I don't think needed as much attention is the whole Minon Blackbeak and witches clan. I honestly didn't need to know so much about her training her beast. Just get on with it.

I know it sounds like I'm harping on the book. I just feel like a lot of the story didn't help move the plot along. It felt stagnant. However, I DID enjoy quite a few things. I loved meeting the other demi-fey. They were all pretty adorable. I enjoyed learning more about Celaena's tragic childhood. Annnd that's about it. I'm still looking forward to the next book which just came out. I have some other things I want to read before I start it though. 

Review: A Storm of Swords (A Song of Ice and Fire #3) by George R.R. Martin

A Storm of Swords  (A Song of Ice and Fire #3) by George R.R. Martin

RATING: 5/5 Swords

Well, if you weren't a fan of this series before this book (which you're insane if you weren't) then this is the book that will make you a believer. This book is just...so sad and tragic. Every single person in this story has something tragic happen to them and you know it's not going to stop any time soon. There are a LOT of deaths in this book. Martin just keeps them coming like a bully's punch on the playground. I'm not even worried about spoiling this series because if you don't know who dies in this book because you don't watch the television show then that ain't my fault. 

First to go is Ygritte...that one stung a little. 

 Then it's Rob's turn to die. That one really hurt. 

 THEN it's Catelyn. NOOO! GOD DAMN IT, GEORGE.

You have to take a breather for a while after so many favorite characters die back to back. It's a lot to take in if you're an emotional reader like I am. I'm getting emotional just writing about it. All I want is for the Starks to be reunited and live happily ever after. But that's OBVIOUSLY not going to happen. 

Enough about everyone dying. There's more to this book than that. The POVs in this book are Arya Stark, Sansa Stark, Jon Snow, Jamie Lannister, Davos Seaworth. Daenerys Targaryan, Catelyn Stark, Bran Stark, and Tyrion Lannister. I honestly don't really care for Davos, Jon, or Sam's POV. I find them pretty boring. I understand that they're important to the story but I couldn't help but groan when I saw their names pop up at the beginning of a chapter. 

Reasons to love Arya: Girl has been through some shit but she's learning to take care of herself. I love her interaction with The Hound. He has a strange appreciation for the Stark girls that I don't quite understand but it's endearing. 

Reasons to love Sansa: She doesn't believe in fairytales or noble songs anymore. I think Sansa is the character who has grown the most in the series so far. She used to be such an annoying, naive little girl. But after everything that has happened to her she's not. She does what she has to do to survive, but she also spits out little pieces of rebellion here and there. I know a lot of people find her boring, but I think she's fascinating. I also think she'll outlive all the other Stark children.

Reasons to love Jamie: Well, he's definitely hard to love. He's arrogant, rude, and he's screwing his sister. But through his POV you really do start to like him. It's actually kind of annoying. And he has this weird sense of loyalty. He saves Brienne of Tarth from a pit with a bear. Don't do things like that Jamie! I'm supposed to hate you.

And I don't think I really need to list the reasons to love Tyrion. He's just amazing and everything that happens to him is heartbreaking in its own right. Ugh, you guys. There's just so much that happens in this book. SO MUCH STUFF. Danerys builds her army and becomes a badass...kicks out Mormont..Theon becomes a complete dick. It's just one thing after the other. How do people review these books? SO much happens that writing a review is impossible. I just can't. 

So yeah, this is probably my worst review ever...but oh well. Just read the damn book, you fool of a Took. 

Review: Throne of Glass (Throne of Glass #1) by Sarah J. Maas

RATING: 3.75 Swords

Summary

In a land without magic, where the king rules with an iron hand, an assassin is summoned to the castle. She comes not to kill the king, but to win her freedom. If she defeats twenty-three killers, thieves, and warriors in a competition, she is released from prison to serve as the king's champion. Her name is Celaena Sardothien. 
The Crown Prince will provoke her. The Captain of the Guard will protect her. But something evil dwells in the castle of glass--and it's there to kill. When her competitors start dying one by one, Celaena's fight for freedom becomes a fight for survival, and a desperate quest to root out the evil before it destroys her world.

Like many book readers, I've seen the cover of this book at Barnes and Noble and online everywhere. It looked interesting to me, but for some reason I avoided it like the plague. I'm glad I gave it a chance though.

As the protagonist of the story, Celanea is strong, funny at times, and definitely sassy. I know this book is a somewhat retelling of the Cinderella story, but she reminded me of Black Widow more than Cinderella. She's the best assassin in all of  Adarlan. She started training as an assassin at a very young age and there's a lot of mystery about her upbringing. She was a slave in the salt mines for a year and then chosen by Prince Dorian to compete in a tournament to be the King's Champion - the very man who conquered her land and lead to the death of her parents. (Yes, he's a big jerk). But if she wins she would have her freedom in four years. But that means being the king's minion and doing whatever he says for four years...0_o

The book starts off strong. I love the back and forth between Dorian and Celaena. However, I must say that I am team Chaol Westfall (Captain of the Guard). Maas does a great job with Celaena's personality. She doesn't seem like someone you would want to mess with. However, she does have a vulnerable side which you get to see later in the book. For some reason, I just can't imagine her as an assassin though. I think it's because there isn't enough detail about her training as an assassin or about her time before she was a slave. I need more detail. You say she's a great assassin - don't just tell me. Show me! I need flashbacks...legends...anything! There isn't much worldbuilding. As a huge fantasy fan, I expect a certain amount of worldbuilding. I know, it's a young adult novel, but I still expect more! There is a good amount of religion (I'm assuming based off of the roman/greek gods) and magic. I want to know more about them! This is probably my main complaint.

I think this series has a lot of potential. I enjoyed reading it and would definitely recommend it for readers who aren't into super detailed and long fantasy books. Plus, there's the love triangle teens are sure to love! Add a little more history to the world and I'll be extremely happy. I enjoyed the first book enough that I have already started on the second. Hopefully it'll be just as good if not better!


Favorite Quote:

"You could be different," Elena said quietly. "You could be great. Greater than me--than any of us."
Celaena opened her mouth, but no words came out.
Elena took a step toward her. "You could rattle the stars," she whispered. "You could do anything, if you only dared. And deep down, you know it, too. That's what scares you most."

Review: Silverthorn by Raymond Feist

Silverthron (Riftwar Saga #3) by Ramond Feist Published in 1986 by Grafton Books 432 Pages Apprentice will always be my favorite Riftwar book, although I still have one more to read in this saga. However, this book still held my interest and was a fun read. I love these characters and the world Feist created. Just like the previous two books, the story is fairly simple, but I don't mind this because Feist is so great at what he does. I've said this before and I'll say it again, I LOVE the way Feist writes. He doesn't spend four pages about what someone is eating and I really do appreciate that in fantasy author. 

Okay, so on to the story. At first, I was a little disappointed that this book focused on Arutha instead of Pug and Tomas. They show up later in the story and Pug is a crucial part of it (yay!). But I'm glad this story focused on Arutha and his mates. Jimmy the Hand comes back and he is probably my favorite character besides Pug. He is slowly moving in to the #1 spot though. For most of the book, Arutha and his travelers are on a quest to save Princess Anita from dying. They must find the rare Silverthorn plant in order to save her. This leads them across Midkemia confronting new enemies. For about 3/4 of the book I was all in. I love Arutha and I enjoyed following him throughout Midkemia. We got to see new and familiar places and meet new people. Towards the end I was a little fatigued and ready for it to end, but the only major complaint I have is that there is still a lack of great female characters. Anita is just a major plot device and Queen Aglaranna basically just sits on her throne and has a baby. I hope in the next book this will change. I was very happy we got to see a new part of Kelewan and the ending with Pug made me want to jump right into the next book! Ultimately, Silverthorn is a great addition to the Riftwar Saga, but it still doesn't hold up to the first book. That's okay though, because the first book is one of my favorite fantasy novels of all time.

Rating: 3.5/5 Stars

Magician: Master Review

Title: Magician: Master

Author: Raymond Feist

Series: Riftwar Saga

 

Holy cow, you guys.  I can't believe what Feist has done with this series.  I absolutely LOVED the first book and I was worried I wouldn't feel the same magic from the second book.  However, I was wrong.  Feist does an amazing job creating two completely different worlds feel so real and complex.  There is one scene that stands out to me the most is when Pug (who goes by another name) travels up a tall tower and has visions of the past.  I don't want to go into too much detail to avoid spoiling it, but Feist really painted a cosmic picture in my head and it is something I won't forget.

In the first book, Pug and Tomas are just boys who are charming and a fun group to follow.  However, in this book they are no longer boys.  We see these characters grow into powerful men.  Honestly, I was very sad when this happened.  They are both SO different from the first book.  But that should be expected because of the emotional and physical turmoil they have to face.  I mean, Pug becomes a slave for five years in a foreign land.  If anything makes you lose your innocence it is probably that!  Another part of this book that I really love is the political differences of Midkemia and Kelewan. Both see one another as barbaric.  Add in the complex political structure of the Tsurani and you've got one hell of a stand off.  It is fun to see each side's point of view.  Basically, this book is great.

In summation, if you like epic fantasy with great characters, fun battles, and two very different worlds to explore then this is the series for you.  It has been a LONG time since I've found a series that I can just DIVE in to and really get invested in the story.  I will take a break from this series so I don't get burnt out, but I definitely have plans to finish this series.

Rating: 4/5

Magician: Apprentice by Raymond Feist Review

Magician: Apprentice (The Riftwar Saga #1)
Author: Raymond Feist

To the forest on the shore of the Kingdom of the Isles, the orphan Pug came to study with the master magician Kulgan. His courage won him a place at court and the heart of a lovely Princess, but he was ill at ease with normal wizardry. Yet his strange magic may save two worlds from dark beings who opened spacetime to renew the age-old battle between Order and Chaos.

I will be honest.  I almost gave up on this book. I was only a chapter or so in, but I was bored and I thought this would just be another boring fantasy story.  However, I am SO glad I didn't stop.  As soon as the aliens and rifts in space and time were introduced I was IN.  I'm not sure what changed, but I was so invested in this story the whole time that I immediately started the second one after I finished Apprentice.  I love Pug as a main character.  He is brave, smart, and feels like a real person.  The surrounding characters aren't as fleshed out, but they are still a good supporting cast.  I love that Pug and his friend Tomas's adventures with the Duke across Midkemia to warn the King about the intruding aliens.  It felt epic.  We meet a dragon, Elves, Dwarves, and I can't forget the invaders the Tsurani. 


I feel like this novel shouldn't really stand out.  It's a fairly typical epic fantasy story, but there is something special about it.  The way Feist writes never feels verbose so the story keeps a good pace.  It is descriptive, but I never felt like it was too much.  The only real negative I have about this book is that the supporting female characters are pretty weak.  I would like to see some interesting ladies and Carline is just not doing it for me. 


Over all, this is a fun classic fantasy story and I was surprised I liked it so much.  I can't wait to continue the series and see what happens!

Rating: 8/10 Dragons 

Have you read this series? If so, let me know in the comments what you thought!

Review of Mistborn: The Final Empire

Mistborn: The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson

Rating: 5/5 scrolls!

Amazon Summary

 For a thousand years the ash fell and no flowers bloomed. For a thousand years the Skaa slaved in misery and lived in fear. For a thousand years the Lord Ruler, the “Sliver of Infinity,” reigned with absolute power and ultimate terror, divinely invincible. Then, when hope was so long lost that not even its memory remained, a terribly scarred, heart-broken half-Skaa rediscovered it in the depths of the Lord Ruler’s most hellish prison. Kelsier “snapped” and found in himself the powers of a Mistborn. A brilliant thief and natural leader, he turned his talents to the ultimate caper, with the Lord Ruler himself as the mark.

Kelsier recruited the underworld’s elite, the smartest and most trustworthy allomancers, each of whom shares one of his many powers, and all of whom relish a high-stakes challenge. Only then does he reveal his ultimate dream, not just the greatest heist in history, but the downfall of the divine despot.

But even with the best criminal crew ever assembled, Kel’s plan looks more like the ultimate long shot, until luck brings a ragged girl named Vin into his life. Like him, she’s a half-Skaa orphan, but she’s lived a much harsher life. Vin has learned to expect betrayal from everyone she meets, and gotten it. She will have to learn to trust, if Kel is to help her master powers of which she never dreamed.

Lord Ruler, this book is fantastic! First, I would like to praise Sanderson for making his magic system so believable. He makes Allomancy (the process of burning metals one has ingested to gain certain abilities) and Feruchemy (wearing certain metals will store certain abilities) seem like science only the genetically gifted can use. I always tip my hat to authors who can make something like magic seem so believable. Plus, the magic is very cool. It almost reads like a video game at times.

The magic system isn't the only amazing thing about this book. Sanderson has created a wonderful crew of characters who not only grow as individuals, but they also grow together. Vin starts out as an abused, scared street urchin. By the end of the book, she is a powerful Mistborn ready to face the Lord Ruler by herself. You know this girl is going places. Most importantly, she learns to trust people and even love. Kelsier, the charismatic leader, was one of my favorite characters. You never know what he is really planning throughout the entire book. We also get to see the other members of the crew begin to care for people instead of just earning coin. And I can't forget to mention Sazed the Terrisman who uses Feruchemy. He is assigned to be Vin's steward while she infiltrates the nobility and really helps guide her and help her grow as a human being. I loved learning about him and his people. You really do grow attached to these characters and want them to succeed.

 One of the main themes is about oppression and equality. The Skaa are slaves deemed less than human by the Lord Ruler and the nobility. Throughout the novel, we see people figuring out that there really is no difference between the Skaa and that they should be treated as equals. Now that I think about it, the Skaa go through a huge transformation as well. I'm always a sucker for a story that is about over throwing the government.

So, basically this book is amazing and you should read it now. I won't say that the ending is surprising. Sanderson gives plenty of clues throughout the book. If you enjoy gritty settings, fantastic magic systems, and a story about rebellion then this is definitely the book for you. If you've read the book then please let me know what you thought in the comments section.

Okay, so I'm going to segue into the next book that I'm reading. I was going to read the next book in the Mistborn series, but my 2014 resolution was to read more books outside of my comfort zone. Therefore, I'm going to read a mystery novel with a little bit of romance in the mix. I am totally going out my comfort zone here. I normally stick to dragons or ray guns, but I figured I should try other genres too. You never know what you're missing! So, my next book will be Deanna Raybour's Silent in the Grave. Wish me luck!

I'm back! Let's talk about Patrick Rothfuss's The Wise Man's Fear

Okay, guys. I took a way too long hiatus from reviewing books. It's been about three months since my last post and I've decided to give this little blog another chance. I doubt anyone really remembers my blog, but oh well. I'm going to try and have a good time.

So, for my first post back I shall write about Patrick Rothfuss's The Wise Man's Fear.

Goodreads Summary

My name is Kvothe.

I have stolen princesses back from sleeping barrow kings. I burned down the town of Trebon. I have spent the night with Felurian and left with both my sanity and my life. I was expelled from the University at a younger age than most people are allowed in. I tread paths by moonlight that others fear to speak of during day. I have talked to Gods, loved women, and written songs that make the minstrels weep.

You may have heard of me.

So begins the tale of a hero told from his own point of view--a story unequaled in fantasy literature. Now in THE WISE MAN'S FEAR, Day Two of the Kingkiller Chronicle, an escalating rivalry with a powerful member of the nobility forces Kvothe to leave the University and seek his fortune abroad. Adrift, penniless, and alone, he travels to Vintas, where he quickly becomes entangled in the politics of courtly society. While attempting to curry favor with a powerful noble, Kvothe uncovers an assassination attempt, comes into conflict with a rival arcanist, and leads a group of mercenaries into the wild, in an attempt to solve the mystery of who (or what) is waylaying travelers on the King's Road.

All the while, Kvothe searches for answers, attempting to uncover the truth about the mysterious Amyr, the Chandrian, and the death of his parents. Along the way, Kvothe is put on trial by the legendary Adem mercenaries, is forced to reclaim the honor of the Edema Ruh, and travels into the FAe realm. There he meets Felurian, the faerie woman no man can resist, and who no man has ever survived...until Kvothe.

In THE WISE MAN'SFEAR, Kvothe takes his first steps on the path of the hero and learns how difficult life can be when a man becomes a legend in his own time.

Okay, so we are on day two of Kvothe's story and it is even more epic as day one! For the first half of the book Kvothe has to solve some of the same problems he has in the first book: finding information about the Chandrian, trying to make money for tuition, and attempting to NOT get killed by Ambrose. And you thought your teenage years were hard. I'll take my emo phase over an assassination attempt! Eventually, Kvothe leaves the University and heads to Vintas and has various adventures after that. At first I found it a little off-putting when he left school but it turned out to be great! I loved seeing the world outside of The University and meeting new characters. The Four Corners of Civilization(the world in this series) begins to feel big and exciting. There is a lot more drama with Denna and you actually learn a little bit more about her. She's still quite the mystery though. Oh, AND you get to see Devi get mad which is something I really wanted to see. Let's just say you don't want to mess with her.

I enjoyed this book immensely. I was so engrossed in every word of it which is weird because I definitely didn't feel the same way about the first book. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed The Name of the Wind, but I thought it was a little slow paced.. In retrospect, I had just read about three Dresden Files books in a row and those are action packed from start to finish. Maybe going from Dresden to a super long and detailed fantasy book wasn't the best choice. Maybe I'm just weird. This time around I was ready for a great epic fantasy story. I'm so glad I decided to continue this series. This book has everything I wanted: fun, adventure, intrigue, weird faerie sex, back stabbing arcanists, and so much more. If you haven't started this series yet, then I suggest you get on it. Yes, I know the books are long, but SUCK IT UP and have a fantastic adventure.

My Rating: 9/10 lightsabers

A Sort of Review of The Black Company

Title: The Black Company
Author: Glen Cook
Published: 1992, Tor Fantasy (originally published 1984)
320 pages
Rating: 5/10 lightsabers

Goodreads Summary

Some feel the Lady, newly risen from centuries in thrall, stands between humankind and evil. Some feel she is evil itself. The hard-bitten men of the Black Company take their pay and do what they must, burying their doubts with their dead. Until the prophesy: The White Rose has been reborn, somewhere, to embody good once more. There must be a way for the Black Company to find her... So begins one of the greatest fantasy epics of our age...

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Well, there isn't really much to say about this one. I never really got into the book. It was a pretty big sausage fest. If I'm remembering correctly, the first female character to be introduced is a ten year old girl getting raped. Correct me if I'm wrong. Most of the time we're running around from place to place with The Black Company doing their work for the Lady. The story has its blips of excitement, but is ultimately a flat line. I did eventually start to enjoy the interaction between the members of The Black Company. However, that was pretty much all I enjoyed from this book. Like I said, I just never really got into the story. Ultimately, this book was just meh. I'll probably continue the series later on because I have the rest of the books. I've been told by a few people that it gets better. I'm going to keep this review short and sweet because simply...

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Book update: I started reading Horns by Joe Hill last night and it is AWESOME so far.

June Book Haul

Today was payday so that means I could go on my first official book haul. Soooo what did I buy? Lots of good stuff.

Contact by Carl Sagan:
 Carl Sagan might be my absolute favorite person to have ever existed. He has influenced my life in so many ways. I read his book The Demon Haunted World and it literally changed my life. At that time, I was really unsure of myself. I didn't know if I was going to be a good scientist. Was I smart enough? By the end of that book, I knew that science was where I needed to be. So thanks, Mr. Sagan! Anyways, I saw this book for four dollars and I had to buy it. I saw the movie when I was really little so I don't remember much from it. I'm looking forward to reading this one. I mean...it's Carl Fucking Sagan!

The Lies of Locke Lamora  by Scott Lynch
This book has been popping up everywhere I turn. I kept looking at in for a long time and I knew I needed to buy it. I'd heard great things and read good reviews. I'm not sure why I never bought it until now. Probably because I've been on science fiction streak. Anyways, I bought it today. We'll see how it goes.

Mistborn: The Final Empire (Mistborn #1) by Brandon Sanderson
This is another one of the fantasy books that when people who read fantasy find out I haven't read it they kind of scoff and turn their heads. Friggin' jerks. It's gotten great reviews and I'm due to read an awesome fantasy novel.

Blackout by Connie Willis
I can't believe I've never read anything by Connie Willis. She's an award winning author and she writes books like this...historical science fiction with time travel. Why have I not read this book yet? So many books, so little time. This book won both the Nebula Award for Best Novel(2010), Hugo Award for Best Novel(2011), and the Locus Award for Best Science Fiction Novel(2011). I have heard that it takes a while to get into though.

Neuromancer by William Gibson

I absolutely cannot wait to read this book! This is the novel the coined the term "cyberspace". Now I think that is pretty cool.

Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris

Okay, don't judge me. I've always wanted to read a damn Sookie Stackhouse novel. The books that I previously mentioned are pretty long and sometimes you just need a breather book. I haven't read any other urban fantasy novels except for Jim Butcher's Dresden series (I'm on book 11 now). We'll see how this goes.










Alright, that's it for June's book haul! If you've read any of these books or have written a review for them then please let me know. Leave a comment.

Best,
Brittany