Sunday 9 December 2012

Stacking the Shelves #2

Showcase Sunday's aim is to showcase our newest books or book related swag and to see what everyone else received for review, borrowed from libraries, bought in bookshops and downloaded onto eReaders this week. This Sunday meme is hosted by Books, Biscuits and Tea.

Received for review:

Model Spy (The Specialists, #1)   A Shimmer of Angels (Angel Sight, #1)   Elemental: The First (Primord Series, #1)   The Panem Companion

  1. Model Spy (The Specialists #1) - Shannon Greenland
  2. A schimmer of Angels (Angel Sight #1) - Lissa M. Basso
  3. Elemental: The First (Primord Series #1) - Alexandra May
  4. The Panem Companion - V. Arrow
Wich books did you get this week?

See you later xx
El

Friday 7 December 2012

Darkest Powers Trilogy - Kelley Armstrong

Hi!

Here's my review for Darkest Powers Trilogy by Kelley Armstrong.

Short description
My name is Chloe Saunders and my life will never be the same again.

All I wanted was to make friends, meet boys, and keep on being ordinary. I don't even know what that means anymore. It all started on the day that I saw my first ghost - and the ghost saw me.

Now there are ghosts everywhere and they won't leave me alone. To top it all off, I somehow got myself locked up in Lyle House, a "special home" for troubled teens. Yet the home isn't what it seems. Don't tell anyone, but I think there might be more to my housemates than meets the eye. The question is, whose side are they on? it's up to me to figure out the dangerous secrets behind Lyle House...before its skeletons come back to haunt me



My opinion

What can I say? I loved this books. Most of the time I don’t like it when the characters are only fifteen or younger (seventeen is the perfect age for me). Because most of the time fifteen year olds are still immature and it can annoy me like hell. But not this time, I really like Chloe as a character. Also the plot was well worked out, I can’t recall a moment that I wanted to put down this books! But at the end of the third book there were still some loose ends. Did the author do this on purpose? Id don’t know. And then the characters, like I already have said, I liked Chloe. She’s hones, funny, sometimes a bit naïve (but who isn’t), forgiving and very loyal to her friends and family. Tory is as spoiled as hell, but still at the end of the books I liked her. I think she grew on me during the books. And then you have the brothers Derek and Simon. Simon is the sweet one, the cute one, the funny one… in short the perfect boy. Derek on the other hand is dark, mysterious and most of the time cynical. Still if I could choose between the two of them, I would choose  him. He just has something more that Simon misses.
So if you are looking for something to read and you haven’t read this books yet than you should  definitely give them a try.
Stars
The Summoning: ****
The Awakening: ****
The Reckoning: *****
See you later xx
El
  

Saturday 1 December 2012

Read in November

Hi!

First of all I want to explain why I'm posting so little these days. I'm going to college and in December the semester ends, so everyone is giving us a lot of assignments. On top of that my days are very long, so at the end of the day I'm exhausted. So that's why I read and blog so little these days. But in February (I know it's 2 months) I will be back completely and in the mean time I will try to post as much as I can.

And now the real thing: the books I've read in November!

The Summoning (Darkest Powers #1) - Kelley Armstrong
The Awekening (Darkest Powers  #2) - Kelley Armstrong
The Reckoning (Darkest Powers #3) - Kelley Armstrong
Nightfall (The Vampire Diaries: The Return #1) - L.J. Smith
Onyx (Lux #2) - Jennifer Armentrout
A Great and Terrible Beauty (Gemma Doyle #1) - Libba Bray

The review for Darkest Powers is comming, I hope to post him this week.
Which books have you read this month?

See you later xx
El

Sunday 25 November 2012

Stacking The Shelves #1

Showcase Sunday's aim is to showcase our newest books or book related swag and to see what everyone else received for review, borrowed from libraries, bought in bookshops and downloaded onto eReaders this week. This Sunday meme is hosted by Books, Biscuits and Tea.

Received for review:

The Dervish             Crap Kingdom              Scent of Magic (Healer, #2)

1.The Dervish - Frances Kazan
2.Crap Kingdom - D.C. Pierson
3.Scent of Magic - Maria V. Snyder

Library:

The Reckoning (Darkest Powers, #3)    Passion (Fallen, #3)  Between  Night School (Night School, #1) Kiss of Midnight (Midnight Breed,  #1)

1. The Reckoning - Kelley Armstrong
2. Passion - Lauren Kate
3. Between - Jessica Warman
4. Night School - C.J. Daugherty
5. Kiss of Midnight - Lara Adrian

Bought:

A Great and Terrible Beauty (Gemma Doyle, #1)   Rebel Angels (Gemma Doyle, #2)  The Sweet Far Thing (Gemma Doyle, #3)

1. A Great and Terrible Beauty - Libba Bray
2. Rebel Angels - Libba Bray
3. The Sweet Far Thing - Libba Bray


See you later xx
El









Leaving Paradise - Simone Elkeles

Hi!

Another review today for books that are written by Simone Elkeles.

Short description
Nothing has been the same since Caleb Becker left a party drunk, got behind the wheel, and hit Maggie Armstrong. Even after months of painful physical therapy, Maggie walks with a limp. Her social life is nil and a scholarship to study abroad—her chance to escape everyone and their pitying stares—has been canceled.

After a year in juvenile jail, Caleb’s free...if freedom means endless nagging from a transition coach and the prying eyes of the entire town. Coming home should feel good, but his family and ex-girlfriend seem like strangers.

Caleb and Maggie are outsiders, pigeon-holed as "criminal" and "freak." Then the truth emerges about what really happened the night of the accident and, once again, everything changes. It’s a bleak and tortuous journey for Caleb and Maggie, yet they end up finding comfort and strength from a surprising source: each other.


My Opinion
Leaving Paradise was a lot more complex than How To Ruin. What if you neighbor  hit you with his car and ran away? And to make it worse you were in love with him. This is exactly what happened to Maggie and Caleb. When they meet again after he got out of prison, she thinks that ignoring him will help. But it turns out that he’s the only one who really understands through what she’s going. But there is something bigger than the accident that is keeping them apart. A big secret Caleb never can tell anyone , not even Maggie.  So I think you can see what I meant with complex. But you don’t need to think that this books were depressing, because they weren’t. the book was still full of funny parts, which we can expect from books by Simone Elkeles. And the characters weren’t whinny like they would have been in other books. On the contrary they were strong and learned from each other’s mistakes and problems. And like always the boy was swoon worthy. This are definitely  books  you have to read if you liked Pushing the Limits by Katy McGarry and Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles.
Stars
Leaving Paradise: *****
Return to Paradise: *****

See you later xx
El

How to Ruin - Simone Elkeles

Hi!

Another book that I've read a long time ago, but here's the review.

Short description
Moshav? What’s a moshav? Is it “shopping mall” in Hebrew? I mean, from what Jessica was telling me, Israeli stores have the latest fashions from Europe. That black dress Jessica has is really awesome. I know I’d be selling out if I go with the Sperm Donor to a mall, but I keep thinking about all the great stuff I could bring back home.

Unfortunately for 16-year-old Amy Nelson, “moshav” is not Hebrew for “shopping mall.” Not even close. Think goats, not Gucci.
Going to Israel with her estranged Israeli father is the last thing Amy wants to do this summer. She’s got a serious grudge against her dad, a.k.a. “Sperm Donor,” for showing up so rarely in her life. Now he’s dragging her to a war zone to meet a family she’s never known, where she’ll probably be drafted into the army. At the very least, she’ll be stuck in a house with no AC and only one bathroom for seven people all summer—no best friend, no boyfriend, no shopping, no cell phone…
Goodbye pride—hello Israel.

My opinion
How to ruin are the first books Simon Elkeles wrote. And you notice it. They are still great, but they are missing something. In her next books the characters always have to deal with some (major) problems. But in How to ruin that wasn’t the case. The biggest problem  of Amy was that her boyfriend lived miles away from him. Still I loved reading the books. The characters were funny, the boy loveable (as always) and they were well written. So if you are looking for a quick, relaxing, feel good, funny read this books are definitely what  you are looking for!
Stars
  • How to Ruin a Summer Vacation: ****
  • How to Ruin My Teenage Life: ****
  • How to Ruin My Boyfriend's Reputation: *****
Extra
Author: Simone Elkeles
See you later xx
El

Tuesday 20 November 2012

Teaser Tueaday #7 - Secrets and Lies by Ella Monroe

Hi!

It's been a very long time since I have done my last Teaser Tuesday and I have no idea why.
But from now on I will post one again every week. This week it's from Secrets and Lies by Ella Monroe.


Franklin had brought her here one night for dinner and Whitney'd loved it. It reminded her of the kitschy burger joints in L.A., but with better food. At first, when Whitney had suggested meeting her, Angie had laughed. Apparently, if you're from California, you can only ever eat tofu and bean sprouts. You're also a hippie and spend all your free time hugging trees.
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________

Scott tore the letter from her hand, read it, and immediately signaled for the Secret Service agents mingling among the guests.


See you  later xx
El

Saturday 17 November 2012

Such a Rush - Jennifer Echols

Hi!

I've read Such a Rush in August, so it's a long time ago. But I still wanted to write a review about it, so here it is. 

Short description
Such a RushWhen I was fourteen, I made a decision. If I was doomed to live in a trailer park next to an airport, I could complian about the smell of the jet fuel like my mom, I could drink myself to death over the noise like everybody else, or I could learn to fly.

Heaven Beach, South Carolina, is anything but, if you live at the low-rent end of town. All her life, Leah Jones has been the grown-up in her family, while her mother moves from boyfriend to boyfriend, letting any available money slip out of her hands. At school, they may diss Leah as trash, but she's the one who negotiates with the landlord when the rent's not paid. At fourteen, she's the one who gets a job at the nearby airstrip.

But there's one way Leah can escape reality. Saving every penny she can, she begs quiet Mr. Hall, who runs an aerial banner-advertisin business at the airstrip and also offers flight lessons, to take her up just once. Leaving the trailer park far beneath her and swooping out over the sea is a rush greater than anything she's ever experienced, and when Mr. Hall offers to give her cut-rat flight lessons, she feels ready to touch the sky.

By the time she's a high school senior, Leah has become a good enough pilot that Mr. Hall offers her a job flying a banner plane. It seems like a dream come true... but turns out to be just as fleeting as any dream. Mr. Hall dies suddenly, leaving everything he owned in the hands of his teenage sons: golden boy Alec and adrenaline junkie Grayson. And they're determined to keep the banner planes flying.

Thoug Leah has crushed on Grayson for years, she's leery of getting involved in what now seems like a doomded bussiness - unitel Grayson betrays her by digging up her most damning secret. Holding it over her head, he forces her to fly for secret reasons of his own, reasons involving Alec. Now Leah finds herself drawn into a battle between brothers - and the consequences could be deadly
.
My opinion 


When I had finished reading this book I had the feeling that it could have been better. It was well written and the plotline in general was good. And I even liked the characters, well most of them. So what was wrong with it? It’s just  that some events in the book went to quick, the timespan of the book was also very short. Witch I dislike most of the times. And then something I have also noticed in other books I’ve read. The characters were confusing lust with love. Leah didn’t knew Grayson and still she says she loves him. And that’s something that really frustrates me, because in my opinion if you don’t really know each other, than you can’t possibly love each other. But don’t let this stop you from reading the book because other than the love thing I still loved reading the book.

Stars:
Such a Rush: ****

Extra
Author: Jennifer Echols
Titel: Such a Rush

See you later xx
El








Wednesday 7 November 2012

Releases in November

Hi!

Here are some (awesome) books that will be release in November:

Reached (Matched, #3)Reached (Matched #3) - Ally Condie
I've read the two previous books. And I really liked them, so I'm very excited to know how it will end.
The ones who haven't read one of the books yet, you should definitely do it!

13th November 2012





Undeadly (The Reaper Diaries, #1)Undeadly (The Reaper Diaries #1) - Michele Vail
I don't read many books about "zombies". Why? I don't know, when I think about zombies I see those horrible creatures from Hollywood. But when I read this short description I thought why not. So maybe I will read this one someday.

20th November 2012





Deity (Covenant, #3)Deity (Convenant #3) - Jennifer L. Armentrout
I know that some people find this books a cheap rip-off of Vampire Academy. And in some points I agree. But I still loved reading the first book in this series. So I'm definitely going to read this one to.

6th November 2012






See you later xx
El





Monday 5 November 2012

Read in October

Hi!

This are the books that I've read in October:

Fire (Graceling Realm #2) - Kristin Cashore
Legacy (Legacy #1) - Kayla Cluver
Under the Never Sky (Under the Never Sky #1) - Veronica Rossi
The Gathering (Darkness Rising #1) - Kelley Armstrong
Nightshade (Nightshade #1) - Andrea Cremer
Wolfsbane (Nightshade #2) - Andrea Cremer
Temptation (Temtation #1) - Karen Ann Hopkins
Stealing Parker (Catching Jordan #2) - Miranda Kenneally
I am Number Four (Lorien Legacies #1) - Pittacus Lore
Assassin Study (Study #1.5) - Maria V. Snyder
Power Study (Study #3.5) - Maria V. Snyder
Ice Study (Study #3.6)  - Maria V. Snyder

My absolute favorite was Legacy followed by Stealing Parker.
Which book did you enjoy this month?


See you later xx
El

Wednesday 24 October 2012

Temptation - Karen Ann Hopkins

Hi!

My review for Temptation by Karen Ann Hopkins

TemptationShort description
Your heart misleads you.
That's what my friends and family say.

But I love Noah.
And he loves me.

We met and fell in love in the sleepy farming community of Meadowview, while we rode our horses together through the grassy fields and in those moments in each other's arms.

It should be

ROSE &NOAH 

forever, easy.

But it won't be.

Because he's Amish.

And I'm not.

My opinion


Forget about Romeo and Julia, now it’s Noah and Rose. Seriously I’m curious how their relationship will work out. Before I read Temptation I didn’t know much about Amish people and thanks to this book I learned quite a lot about it. And it’s definitely something I want to know more about, so if somebody knows a good book about the Amish let me know.
But I also have to say that this book frustrated me sometimes. Rose could be very immature sometimes, but mainly it was Noah who frustrated me. Mostly he annoyed me by the way he was acting towards Rose. And then I reminded me that he was Amish, so that his behavior was actually normal. So I can’t really complaint about that aspect of the book I think.
It was still a great book and I definitely want to read the next book in the series.


Stars
Temptation: ****

Extra
Author: Karen Ann Hopkins
Belonging (Temptation #2): April 30th 2013

See you later xx
El


Wednesday 17 October 2012

Ironskin - Tina Connolly

Hi!

I'm sorry that it took me so long to post again. But here's my review for the Ironskin by Tina Connolly.

Short description 
Jane Eliot wears an iron mask.
Ironskin (Ironskin, #1)It's the only way to contain the fey curs that scars her cheek. The Great War is five years gone, but its scattered victims remain - the ironsking.
When a carefully worded listing appears for a governess to assist with a "delicate situation" - a child born during the Great War - Jane is certain the child is fey-cursed, and that she can help.
Teaching the unruly Dorie to suppress her curse is hard enough; she certainly didn't expect to fall for the girl's father, the enigmatic artist Edward Rochart. But her blossoming crush is stifled by her own scars, and by his parade of woman. Ugly women, who enter his closed studio... and come out as beautiful as the fey.
Jane knows Rochart cannot love her, just as she knows that she must wear iron for the rest of her life. But what if neither of these things is true? Step by step Jane unlocks the secrets of her new life - and discovers just how far she will go to become whole again.

My opinion 

I’m not so sure what to think about this book. On the one hand it set the fey in a whole new light and I liked that. Also the “gifts” or “curses” they got by their weapons are fascinating. So on that point I definitely want to read the next book. But there were also some major things that really annoyed me. When I was reading the book I got the feeling that the author was trying too hard to follow the storyline of Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë. And that spoiled the story for me. Because I think that the book would have been better if she hadn’t tried that hard. There were moments in the book that she didn’t follow the plot of Jane Eyre and then I really enjoyed the book, but then she would turn the story in such a weird way to match the plot of Jane Eyre again. And it certainly didn’t help that I was comparing the two the whole time, but if you try to retell a story like Jane Eyre please do it properly. But the book was still worth reading and I’m definitely going to read the next one. And I hope that it will become better know that she can’t rely on Jane Eyre anymore.  

Cover
This cover is really perfect. It suites the story very well. You can see Jane with her ironmask on, while she's standing in front of Edward's castle. 

Stars
Ironskin: ***

Extra
Author: Tina Connolly
The next book will come out in 2013

See you later xx
El 

Sunday 7 October 2012

The Lost Prince - Julie Kagawa

Hi!

Here is my review for The Lost Prince like I promised. If you haven't read the Iron Fey yet I have to warn you that this review might contain spoilers.

Short discription
The Lost Prince (The Iron Fey: Call of the Forgotten, #1)Don't look at Them. Never let Them know you can see Them. That is Ethan Chase's unbreakable rule. Until the fey he avoids at all costs - including his reputation - begin to disappear, and Ethan is attacked. Now he must change the rules to protect his family. To save a girl he never thought he'd dare to fall for.

Ethan thought he had protected himself from his older sister's world - the land of Faery. His previous time in the Iron Realm left him with nothing but fear and disgust for the world Meghan Chase has made her home, a land of myth and talking cats, of magic and seductive enemies. But when destiny comes for Ethan, there is no escape from danger long, long forgotten.

My opinion

The Lost Prince was completely different than the Iron Fey but in a good way. I loved this book, when I read the Iron Fey it took me a while to really enjoy the story. But this book got me hooked within the first pages.
There are some differences with the Iron Fey, first of all Ethan is now the narrator and not his sister Meghan. Most of the times I don’t enjoy reading a book that is written through the eyes of  a boy, but Ethan was such a lovely, funny character that I really enjoyed it. Another difference was that the story took place in the mortal world most of the time and not in the Nevernever.
Like I said before Ethan is a great character, he’s funny, he cares for people (even when he don’t want to admit it), he’s smart, he’s strong, he’s cute,… . We already knew him from The Iron Fey, but since then he has changed a lot.
And then you have Kenzie. Kenzie is a nosey girl who wants to know as much as she can and that’s why she won’t leave Ethan alone even when he’s a dork to her. So when she ends up with him in the Nevernever with Ethan she doesn’t freak out, but she’s curious. Of course Ethan doesn’t understand her, because the Nevernever freaks him out.
But even when he wants to get away from  as far as possible to protect her, he can’t leave her behind. They are attract to each other even if they don’t want it and they need each other to survive.  Through whole the story Ethan has the feeling that Kenzie has a secret that she won’t tell. And when she finally told him the secret I was a bit shocked. I have no idea how the story will develop for them and how their relationship is going to end. So this is one of the reasons why I definitely want to read the rest of the books when they come out.
The books wouldn’t by complete without the fey, so this it’s time to introduce some of them.  Keirran is an iron fey, but he doesn’t look like one. He almost looks human, except for his pointed ears and he can wield summer, winter and iron magic. The ones who have read The Iron’s prophecy may already know who he is and others might have an idea who he’s. Keirran is an energetic 16 year old boy (at least he looks like 16) and he’s a bit bored so he seeks adventure. But at the end of the story he has changed and I’m waiting for the next book to see what he’s going to do next.
And what is a book without a forbidden romance? Kagawa has put one in the books, it’s not a main story but I love it! Keirran fancy’s Annwyl an exile summer fey. So what are the courts going to do about that?
And of course some old characters pop up now and then like Meghan, Ash, Puck and Grimalkin (I love him!).
But now that the Iron Fey are no longer a problem, there must be something else going on. And the weird thing is that even after reading a whole book, I still don’t know what exactly is going on. There is a new kind of fey (again), but they are completely different and it’s impossible to  know what they are going to do next.
So in general I liked this book a lot, it has adventure, romance, mystery and lovely characters. And the book is written well, so I’m definitely looking forward to the next one.

Cover
I'm not a big fan of this cover, it just shows to much. The covers of the Iron Fey were much prettier. 

Stars
The Lost Prince: *****

Extra
Author: Julie Kagawa
Prequel: The Iron Fey

See you later xx

The Iron Fey - Julie Kagawa

Hi!

Here's my review for the Iron Fey by Julie Kagawa.

Short discription

Meghan Chase has a secret destiny; one she could never have imagined. 
Something has always felt slightly off in Meghan's life, ever since her father disappeared before her eyes when she was six. She has never quite fit in at school or at home.
When a dark stranger begins watching her from afar, and her prankster best friend becomes strangely protective of her, Meghan senses that everything she's known is about to change.
But she could never have guessed the truth - that she is the daughter of a mythical faery king and is a pawn in a deadly war. Now Meghan will learn just how far she'll go to someone she cares about, to stop a mysterious evil no faery creature dare face; and to find love with a young prince who might rather see her dead than let her touch his icy heart.

My opinion

When I read the first book it didn’t convince me. It went to slow for me, certainly the first half of the book. But I saw potential and I liked the way it was written so I decided to read the next one. And I’m glad I did, because the books only became better and better.
Why did I like the books? First of all I like mythology and fey are mythology. In some points the books followed the mythology. There were still two kinds of fey, the Unseelie en Seelie court. Also some typical fey characters like Robin Goodfellow and Oberon appeared in the books. But of course the book wouldn’t be refreshing if everything stayed the same. So this is where the iron fey and Meghan come in.
Meghan always thought she was a normal teenage girl. That was till her little brother was kidnapped and she’s determined to bring him back no matter how high the price.
Like I said before the book began rather slow, but with a good joke from Puck and ice boy  Ash the book was bearable. As the first book continued there came some action and romance in it, which I liked.  And after I finished the fourth and the last one, I was in love with the books. Julie Kagawa definitely improved her writing during the series.
So this series is definitely one you have to read.

Cover
Some people dislike faces on a cover, but I like it most of the time. And on this one the faces are just perfect for the books. I also like the colors of the covers. So this covers are definitely a succes for me.

Stars
The Iron King: ***
Winter's Passage (#1.5): ****
The Iron Daughter: ****
The Iron Queen: *****
Summer's Crossing (#3.5): ****
The Iron Knight: *****
Iron's Prophecy (#4.5): ****

Extra
Author: Julie Kagawa
Sequel: The Iron Fey: Call of the Forgotten

See you later xx
El

Saturday 6 October 2012

Releases in October

Hi!

This month is a good book month, so here are some ideas.

The Lost Prince (The Iron Fey: Call of the Forgotten, #1)The Lost Prince (The Iron Fey: Call of the Forgotten #1) - Julie Kagawa
October 23rd

I've already read this book and I LOVED it! It was definitely better than the first Iron Fey books. Normally my review will be ready by tomorrow.






Finale (Hush, Hush, #4)

Finale (Hush, Hush #4) - Becca Fitzpatrick
 October 23rd

This books are so good! I really like to read them. I still have to read the third one, but I'm sure they won't disappoint me.  Patch is so... I don't know how to describe him, I just liked him from the moment I met him.




The Shadow Society

The Shadow Society - Marie Rutkoski
October 16th

The short description looks promising, two worlds that exist apart from each other but also within each other. It's hard to tell with what the book is dealing, but it looks interesting. 





Ironskin (Ironskin, #1)Ironskin (Ironskin #1) - Tina Connolly
October 2nd

Another book that I've already read. When I read this book I didn't have a wow-feeling, but I might have been comparing it to much with Jane Eyre (my favorite book). But still it's definitely worth a shot.






See you later xx

El




Tuesday 2 October 2012

Read in September

Hi!

I know that I still have to post my reviews but last week my internet didn't work and now I got the flu. 
But here are the books that I've read last month:

Touch of Power (Healer #1) - Marie V. Snyder
Throne of Glass (Throne of Glass #1) - Sarah J. Maas
Shirley - Charlotte Brontë
Obsidian (Lux #1) - Jennifer L. Armentrout
The Lost Prince (The Iron Fey: Call of the Forgotten #1) - Julie Kagawa
Iron's Prophecy (The Iron Fey #4.5) - Julie Kagawa
Shiver (The Wolves of Mercy Falls #1) - Magie Stiefvater

See you later xx
El

Saturday 22 September 2012

I'm back!

Hi!

I'm sorry that I haven't posted in a while but I went to NYC for eleven days and I didn't bring my laptop with me. 
But now that I'm back I'm going to write my reviews for the books I've read. This books I'm probably going to review:

  • The Iron Fey - Julie Kagawa
  • Ironskin - Tina Connolly
  • Such a rush - Jennifer Echols
  • How to ruin - Simone Elkeles
  • Leaving Paradise - Simone Elkeles
  • Touch of Power - Maria V. Snyder
  • Obsidian - Jennifer L. Armentrout
  • The Lost Prince - Julie Kagawa 

It's going to take a while to review them all, but I'll try!

See you later xx

El

Wednesday 5 September 2012

Throne of Glass - Sarah J. Maas

Hi!

Here's my review of Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas.

Short discription
Throne of Glass (Throne of Glass, #1)After serving out a year of hard labor in the salt mines of Endovier for her crimes, 18-year-old assassin Celaena Sardothien is dragged before the Crown Prince. Prince Dorian offers her her freedom on one condition: she must act as his champion in a competition to find a new royal assassin. Her opponents are men-thieves and assassins and warriors from across the empire, each sponsored by a member of the king's council. If she beats her opponents in a series of eliminations, she'll serve the kingdom for three years and then be granted her freedom. Celaena finds her training sessions with the captain of the guard, Westfall, challenging and exhilirating. But she's bored stiff by court life. Things get a little more interesting when the prince starts to show interest in her... but it's the gruff Captain Westfall who seems to understand her best. Then one of the other contestants turns up dead... quickly followed by another. Can Celaena figure out who the killer is before she becomes a victim? As the young assassin investigates, her search leads her to discover a greater destiny than she could possibly have imagined.

My opinion

I was waiting for this book in anticipation and when I finally got it I forgot about it. But then  yesterday I came across it again and picked it up. And I’m so glad I did, this book was amazing!

The plot was intriguing, the mystery of magic, Celaena’s past, the (friendly) relationship between Celaena, Chaol and Dorian. And when the book ended there were still so many questions twirling in my head. And I hope that some will be answered in the next book, which only comes out in 2013! *grumbles*
Everything in this book just seemed right the place, the characters, the plot, the writing style… So were to start?

Directly from the beginning you got gripped by the story. Celaena had been a slave for a year, but then she got an offer compete in a competition and if she wins become the “Champion” of the king (who she hates) or be a slave forever. She’s determined to win so she can regain her freedom. Celaena is one of the most strongest protagonist I ever met. As an assassin she knows how to kick some ass (which I like), she’s funny and witty. You think as an assassin she would be brainless, but she’s actually very smart. And she loves to read (yeah!). I forgot to mention her loyalty, confidence and sometimes she’s even insecure. So she isn’t just a brainless, hunk of muscles who happened to be an assassin. She’s a real lovely character and if she was a real person I would have loved to have her as my friend.
The instant I met Chaol I liked him. He’s not easily intimidated, he’s loyal but also a bit stubborn. He doesn’t talk a lot, but when he does you can hear that he’s smart and oh he’s just lovely. As the captain of the guard he knows how to fight and who doesn’t want a beautiful boy who can protect you? His relationship with Celaena is a bit rocky at the beginning, he doesn’t trust her (which is logical) and she loves to talk and to pry while he wants to keep to himself. But when the story develops so does their relationship.
And last but not least you got Dorian, the crown prince of Adarlan. When Celaena first meets him, she hates him. He’s after all the son of the person she hates the most, the king of Adarlan. But how long can you ignore a charming boy like Dorian who has his heart in the right place? If I was Celaena I would jumped him the first second I met him and not to kill him.
So you’re probably sensing it already there is a potential love triangle. But this one is going to be interesting, because the three of them are all close. So I can’t possible know how it will turn out, so I’m very curious.

Sarah’s writing style was also very good. The book was written in the third person and mostly you saw Celaena’s point of view, but there were also short pieces from another characters perspective. Most of the time I don’t like that because I find it hard to really get into the story, but not this time. This time it made sense and it was fitting for the story.

I would definitely want to read more by this author!

Cover
Beautiful just like the book! It really fits the book, the girl on the cover represents Celaena well. 

Stars
Throne of Glass:  *****

Extra
Author: Sarah J. Maas
Prequels:
  • The Assassin and the Pirate Lord
  • The Assassin and the Desert 
  • The Assassin and the Underworld
  • The Assassin and the Empire
See you later xx
El




Tuesday 4 September 2012

Teaser Tuesday #6 - Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

Hi!

This week's trailer is from Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas.

People shouted below, and the light bouncing off the glass castle blinded her. But there he was, just a hand's breadth from her fingers, his gray eyes wide, his arms swinging as if he could turn them into wings. In a heartbeat, her arms were around his middle, and she slammed into him so hard that the breath was knocked from her chest. Together they plummeted like a stone, down, down, down toward the rising ground.
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There was a darkness in his eyes that felt cold and foreign, like the gasps between stars. Could one man destroy a world? Was his ambition so consuming? She could hear the din of war. The king's head shifted to look at the hallway ahead.


See you later xx
El

Monday 3 September 2012

Read in August

Hi!

This are the books I have read in August. And the most of them were really, really good!

The Iron Knight (The Iron Fey #4) - Julie Kagawa
Pushing the Limits - Katie McGarry
Ironskin (Ironskin #1) - Tina Connolly
Such a Rush - Jennifer Echols
How to Ruin a Summer Vacation (How to ruin #1) - Simone Elkeles
How to Ruin My Teenage Life (How to ruin #2) - Simone Elkeles
How to Ruin Your Boyfriend's reputation (How to ruin #3) - Simone Elkeles
Leaving Paradise (Leaving Paradise #1) - Simone Elkeles
Returning to Paradise (Leaving Paradise #2) - Simone Elkeles

If you want to laugh read How to ruin, if you want something more intense to read choose Leaving Paradise or Pushing the Limits. Something in between would be Such a Rush.The Iron Knight and Ironskin are perfect if you want something more mysterious and mythical.

See you later xx
El

Friday 31 August 2012

Releases in September

Hi!

Here are some book ideas for September.

What's Left of Me (The Hybrid Chronicles, #1)Kat Zhang - What's left of me
I just read the short description and just wow. I really really want to read this story. The short description is intriguing and... . I'm just speechless at the moment.
I would say read the short description for yourself and you will know what I'm talking about.






The Raven Boys (Raven Cycle, #1)Magie Stiefvater - The raven boys
We all know her from Shiver and know she has a new book series. I have to admit I haven't read Shiver yet, it's still standing on my to read shelf. But one day I will read shiver and The raven boys, 'cause the short description is promising.







Burn for BurnJenny Han & Siobhan Vivian - Burn for Burn
Two authors, one book a bit weird. But I'm willing to give it a shot. As I read the short description it's going to be full of bitchfights, and I love drama. It also intrigues me a bit, I would like to know what exactly happened to Lillia four years ago. So it's definitely standing on my to read list.






Blink OnceCylin Busby - Blink once
I actually requested an ARC for this book, but didn't get it. It's really a shame, because I know I would loved loved this book. So I'll and am going to buy it then. Because this book is going to be amazing, I just can sense it!




The Diviners (The Diviners, #1)




Libba Bray - The Diviners
I have read The Gemma Doyle Trilogy and since then I'm hooked. So I assume that this book won't disappoint me. Can't wait to get it in my hands!






See you later xx
El