Review: Tower of Dawn by Sarah J Maas

Book: Tower of Dawn, Sarah J. Mass

Series: Throne of Glass #6

Publisher: Bloomsbury USA

Release Date: September 5^th, 2017

 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 Aelin shattered the glass castle, since Chaol's men were slaughtered, since the King of Adarlan spared him from a killing blow, but left his body broken.

Now he and Nesryn sail for Antica – the stronghold of the southern continent's mighty empire and of the legendary healers of the Torre Cesme. It's Chaol's one shot at recovery, and with war looming back home, Dorian and Aelin's survival could depend on Chaol and Nesryn convincing Antica's rulers to ally with them.

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

Discover the untold story of Chaol's journey to the southern continent in this companion novella to the Throne of Glass series by #1 New York Times bestselling author Sarah J. Maas.

Review: Percy Jackson and the Olympians by Rick Riordan

Book: Percy Jackson series, Rick Riordan

Series: Percy Jackson and the Olympians #1-5

Publisher: Disney Hyperion

Release Date: 2005 - 2009

 Percy Jackson is a good kid, but he can't seem to focus on his schoolwork or control his temper. And lately, being away at boarding school is only getting worse—Percy could have sworn his pre-algebra teacher turned into a monster and tried to kill him. When Percy's mom finds out, she knows it's time that he knew the truth about where he came from, and that he go to the one place he'll be safe. She sends Percy to Camp Half Blood, a summer camp for demigods (on Long Island), where he learns that the father he never knew is Poseidon, God of the Sea. Soon a mystery unfolds and together with his friends—one a satyr and the other the demigod daughter of Athena—Percy sets out on a quest across the United States to reach the gates of the Underworld (located in a recording studio in Hollywood) and prevent a catastrophic war between the gods.

 

I really wish I’d read this series when I was around twelve and feel a nostalgic connection towards it. Because if I can love it even at twenty three, I know I would’ve just adored it for the intended age. The same with Harry Potter.

However, I’m still so glad I read it now. I always hear so many amazing things about this series so I am so happy I get to join in on the fandom!

This series is so fantastical and great, and Percy’s voice is such a fantastic one to experience. He grows so much over the course of the 5 books – he grows from an insecure 12 year old boy unsure of who he is and weary over this new world he’s entered to a confident young man capable of taking down a Titan. I was so proud of him by the end!

Rick Riordan has such an amazing imagination, and he brought the world of half-bloods and monsters to life with such ease, and it’s so easy to imagine that there really is a world of demi-gods out there which we don’t see because of the Mist. You fall in love with every character, and all we want is for our heroes to prevail.

I loved seeing Percy interact with his father Poseidon, and his bond with the other campers and his half-brother.

Annabeth and Percy were just great, friends naturally turned into romantic interests, (even though I wish it hadn’t happened at the VERY end of the series, it would’ve been nice to see them as boyfriend/girlfriend for more than a few paragraphs). But here’s hoping they turn up in the spinoff books!

I know this series probably doesn’t need any more reviews but here are my thoughts anyway. If there’s anybody not sure whether to pick up this book series or not, I say go for it. It’s a world you enter which you never truly leave.

2017 Book Discussion Challenge

I'll be honest: I've been super unmotivated to blog lately. Don't hate me!

I've just been working so much, with early mornings, and I'm also planning a year au pairing abroad in America (leaving in November, eek!!) so I've always been too tired to do anything more than a simple review or wrap up post. And don't get me started on responding to comments! I'm just terrible. I'm sorry.

 

 

 

But I'm going to try and do better, and this is going to start with signing up for the 2017 Discussion Challenge with the hosts Feed Your Fiction Addiction and It Starts at Midnight. I'm not going to do great as it's already October, but I'll carry this over into 2018. I promise I'll do my very best to keep up to date with you all! 

If you have any ideas for posts too, please let me know! They're always handy to have around.

The Levels

1-10 – Discussion Dabbler

11-20 – Creative Conversationalist

21-30 – Chatty Kathy

31-40 – Terrifically Talkative

41+ – Gift of the Gab

I'll probably only hit Discussion Dabbler this year, but let's aim for Creative Conversationalist for the minimum for 2018, okay? You are all responsible for keeping me on task with these discussions!! (kisses)

September 2017 Wrap Up!

 

Another month, another wrap up. I didn't get a huge amount of reading done this month. Now that school's back, so am I back at school, with 6am mornings resulting in a very sleepy teacher by the end of each day. I actually get the most reading done by commute, being stuck in all those traffic lights! Who knew! 

So let's see how productive I was this month, shall we?

*click on each cover to see the book on Goodreads*
Read:

Currently Reading:

Never finished:

Unfortunately the lack of a story or plot in The Night Circus meant I gave up about halfway through, which I hated but unfortunately that's life sometimes.
4 books isn't bad, but it's not great either! No matter. 
 
Did you have a good reading month? What did you read? Let me know in the comments!
*cover photo courtesy of Star Crossed book blog!*

Top Ten Tuesday: Books on my Autumn TBR

Top Ten Tuesday ~ Books on my *Autumn* TBR

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.

 

Top 10 Tuesday is one of the most popular tags in the blogging world, but I have never actually joined in! Well, I'm finally starting! Welcome :)

So, this week TTT is focusing on Fall *excuse me in Ireland we say Autumn ;)* releases! (Looking at my TBR for this, I realised half my books have already been released as they've been on their so long! Oops!) Anyway, let's take a look!

Renegades by Marissa Meyer

 

I only found this book from looking at other blogger's TTT's! How have I never seen this before now?? Knowing Marissa Meyer, this is going to be incredible. I can't wait. (And just look at that cover!!)

Say You'll Remember Me by Katie McGarry

A new release by one of my favourite contemporary authors? Yes please!

The Prophecy by Jennifer L Armentrout

(No cover yet, so here's the book 1 cover of this series) I cannot wait for this, as The Struggle (book3) gave us one doozy of a clliffhanger!

There's Someone Inside Your House by Stephanie Perkins

Steph's going quite a different route from her cutesy contemporary here with a horror, but I trust her. Can't wait for this one!

War Storm by Victoria Aveyard

 

 

There's no cover for this one either! I've really enojyed the other books in the Red Queen series so here's hoping this will be as good! 

Inferno by Julie Kalagwa 

 

I still have not read Legion but here's the book being released after that! Gimme all the dragons!

I know there aren't 10 books here but all other books on my TBR have already been released or else don't even have names yet! (Throne of Glass #7, for example), so...

These are my top 6 choices, haha! What's yours? Be sure to leave your link below!

Review: The Elite by Kiera Cass

Book: The Elite, Kiera Cass

Series: The Selection Trilogy, #2

Publisher: Harper Teen

Release Date: April 23^rd, 2013

 The Selection began with thirty-five girls.
Now with the group narrowed down to the six Elite, the competition to win Prince Maxon's heart is fiercer than ever—and America is still struggling to decide where her heart truly lies. Is it with Maxon, who could make her life a fairy tale? Or with her first love, Aspen?

America is desperate for more time. But the rest of the Elite know exactly what they want—and America's chance to choose is about to slip away.

Review: The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

Book: The Book Thief, Markus Zusak
Series: stand alone
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
Release Date: March 14th, 2006

A story about, among other things: A girl, some words, an accordionist, some fanatical Germans, a Jewish fist-fighter, and quite a lot of thievery. . . .an unforgettable story about the ability of books to feed the soul.

It’s just a small story really, about among other things: a girl, some words, an accordionist, some fanatical Germans, a Jewish fist-fighter, and quite a lot of thievery. . . .

Set during World War II in Germany, Markus Zusak’s groundbreaking new novel is the story of Liesel Meminger, a foster girl living outside of Munich. Liesel scratches out a meager existence for herself by stealing when she encounters something she can’t resist – books. With the help of her accordion-playing foster father, she learns to read and shares her stolen books with her neighbors during bombing raids as well as with the Jewish man hidden in her basement before he is marched to Dachau. This is an unforgettable story about the ability of books to feed the soul.

Review: The Selection by Kiera Cass

Book: The Selection, Kiera Cass

Series: The Selection Trilogy, #1

Publisher: Harper Teen

Release Date: April 24^th, 2012

For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape the life laid out for them since birth. To be swept up in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. To live in a palace and compete for the heart of gorgeous Prince Maxon.

But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her. Leaving her home to enter a fierce competition for a crown she doesn't want. Living in a palace that is constantly threatened by violent rebel attacks.

Then America meets Prince Maxon. Gradually, she starts to question all the plans she's made for herself—and realizes that the life she's always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined.

Review: Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo

Book: Crooked Kingdom, Leigh Bardugo 

Series: Six of Crows #2

Publisher: Henry Holt and Company

Release Date: September 27^th 2016

 
Welcome to the world of the Grisha.

After pulling off a seemingly impossible heist in the notorious Ice Court, criminal prodigy Kaz Brekker feels unstoppable. But life is about to take a dangerous turn—and with friends who are among the deadliest outcasts in Ketterdam city, Kaz is going to need more than luck to survive in this unforgiving underworld.

August 2017 Wrap Up!

Can you believe August is over already? This summer absolutely flew by! August especially was such a busy month for me - I was volunteering for two weeks in South Africa at the start of this month so there was no chance whatsoever for me to blog between all the work I was doing (as well as the fact that there was very little internet in the little village I was staying at). However I did get quite a bit of reading done so even though I've very few blog posts put up, it was still a productive reading month! Let's see how much I read!

*click on each cover to see the book on Goodreads*

Read:

 I also read the five novellas that go with the Shadow and Bone trilogy, but since they were all less than 100 pages do they really count??

Currently Reading:

Never finished:

I just couldn't get into Atlantia, unfortunately. I bought it only because it was €3 so there's no love lost, I wasn't expecting anything huge, but it's always sad to have to give up on a book. I made it halfway, at least.

Not a bad month, if I do say so, but I guess 16 hour planes to Africa definitely helps! I spent the majority of the month in Leigh Bardugo's Grishaverse, while also going back to World War II in Salt to the Sea. 

Did you have a good reading month? What did you read? Let me know in the comments!

*cover photo courtesy of Star Crossed book blog!*

Review: Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

Book: Six of Crows, Leigh Bardugo

Series: Six of Crows #1

Publisher: Henry Holt and Company

Release Date: September 25^th 2015

Game of Thrones meets Ocean's Eleven in this brand new fantasy epic from the number 1 NEW YORK TIMES bestselling author of SHADOW AND BONE, SIEGE AND STORM and RUIN AND RISING, Leigh Bardugo.

Ketterdam: a bustling hub of international trade where anything can be had for the right price - and no one knows that better than criminal prodigy, Kaz Brekker. Kaz is offered a chance at a deadly heist that could make him rich beyond his wildest dreams. But he can't pull it off alone. 

A convict with a thirst for revenge.
A sharpshooter who can't walk away from a wager.
A runaway with a privileged past.
A spy known as the Wraith.
A Heartrender using her magic to survive the slums.
A thief with a gift for unlikely escapes.

Six dangerous outcasts. One impossible heist. Kaz's crew is the only thing that might stand between the world and destruction - if they don't kill each other first.

Leigh Bardugo's writing has captivated readers since SHADOW AND BONE was published in 2012. SIX OF CROWS will take Leigh's fans back into the world they know and love. As gripping, sweeping and memorable as The Grisha Trilogy, this is perfect for fans of Laini Taylor, Kristin Cashore and Game of Thrones.

Reviews: Siege and Storm & Ruin and Rising by Leigh Bardugo

Hi all!! I'm back. I'm sorry I was MIA for a small while, I was volunteering in South Africa for two weeks - I only came home on Saturday! There was next to no internet where I was staying so there was no way of updating my blog or Goodreads while I was away. But I had an absolutely amazing time, want to go back again, but I am now ready to go back to real life and everything it beckons. And with that comes the reviews of the Grisha trilogy which I finished while in Africa!

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Book: Siege and Storm, Leigh Bardugo

Series: Shadow and Bone #2
Publisher: Henry Holt and Company 
Release Date: June 4^th 2013

 

Darkness never dies.

Hunted across the True Sea, haunted by the lives she took on the Fold, Alina must try to make a life with Mal in an unfamiliar land. She finds starting new is not easy while keeping her identity as the Sun Summoner a secret. She can’t outrun her past or her destiny for long.

The Darkling has emerged from the Shadow Fold with a terrifying new power and a dangerous plan that will test the very boundaries of the natural world. With the help of a notorious privateer, Alina returns to the country she abandoned, determined to fight the forces gathering against Ravka. But as her power grows, Alina slips deeper into the Darkling’s game of forbidden magic, and farther away from Mal. Somehow, she will have to choose between her country, her power, and the love she always thought would guide her--or risk losing everything to the oncoming storm.

I completely fell head over heels in love with the world of the Grisha in Shadow and Bone and couldn’t wait to get back into this world, especially with how Shadow and Bone ended.

It’s been a few weeks since I finished this book so I can’t go into huge detail about everything that’s happened (sorry) but I did absolutely love it, I do know that much.

But I can sum up why I adored this book in one word: Nikolai.

I mean, need I go on? The pirate cough privateer cough is so snarky and loveable and amazing that I was beaming ear to ear every time he appeared on the page. He was completely confident and at ease with who he was and never once apologised for it.

Alina is still struggling with her new role and she goes through so much emotional turmoil and challenges, yet her strength and perseverance and love of her country allowed her to come out swinging and never let herself give up. 

And between herself, Mal and the Darkling… sigh. The Darkling came out as the official villain at the end of Shadow and Bone and despite the connection between Alina and the Darkling; I can’t see anything happening romantically between them. This makes me really sad though, because even though Mal is obviously the one who is best suited for Alina, it is impossible not to get shivers every time Alina and the Darkling are together. 

“I’ve seen what you truly are,” said the Darkling, “and I’ve never turned away. I never will. Can he say the same?” 

No matter what, I will always root for the misunderstood villain. They can be so much more relatable than the perfect-without-faults good guy.

I know this review is all over the place, so I'm sorry, but basically, this world and story is definitely one getting invested in and I'm really enjoying the journey I'm being taken on. 

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Book: Ruin and Rising, Leigh Bardugo 
Series: Shadow and Bone #3
Publisher: Henry Holt and Company
Release Date: June 17^th 2014

The capital has fallen.

The Darkling rules Ravka from his shadow throne.

Now the nation's fate rests with a broken Sun Summoner, a disgraced tracker, and the shattered remnants of a once-great magical army.

Deep in an ancient network of tunnels and caverns, a weakened Alina must submit to the dubious protection of the Apparat and the zealots who worship her as a Saint. Yet her plans lie elsewhere, with the hunt for the elusive firebird and the hope that an outlaw prince still survives.

Alina will have to forge new alliances and put aside old rivalries as she and Mal race to find the last of Morozova's amplifiers. But as she begins to unravel the Darkling's secrets, she reveals a past that will forever alter her understanding of the bond they share and the power she wields. The firebird is the one thing that stands between Ravka and destruction—and claiming it could cost Alina the very future she’s fighting for.

Wow. I can’t believe some of the reviews on GR for this book. I mean, I get it, in a way. It must be next to impossible to write an ending that is realistic, while not being too perfect, which satisfies everyone. I didn’t even know how I wanted this book to end for the most part.

At the start I was rooting for Alina and Nikolai to rule as king and queen despite not being romantically linked toward each other, but when those that ever happen in a YA book? Even though it happened all the time in real life royal history, you’ll never see it in YA fantasy.

I don’t want to spoil exactly what happened, but my exact feelings are… meh. I don’t hate it, I don’t love it. I'm squarely in the middle of neutral-ville. I'm not rating this book for its ending; I'm rating it in spite of it.

So let’s move past the controversial ending and onto the book itself and its characters. Alina has been such a fantastic heroine. She has grown so much from that ordinary, skinny, grumpy girl we first met into a powerful, confident and strong leader who knows what she’s capable of and what she needs to achieve. She was far from perfect, and made some decisions I didn’t agree with sometimes, but that imperfection made her that much more likeable, and completely drove her away from Mary Sue territory.

This book had me guessing and confused until the very end, and even at the end I wasn’t sure what to expect. It completely kept me on my toes and I absolutely loved it for that! Mal and Alina’s relationship, while not my favourite YA couple, is still full of love and commitment even though you weren’t always sure how they were going to survive.

The Darkling was amazing as usual, and despite how terribly evil he was, it was impossible not to feel drawn to him most of the time. Did his ending suit his character? I don’t know. I feel Leigh Bardugo tried to be as realistic as possible while still pleasing fans, and while I love to imagine a “perfect ending” for all these characters, I know I'm never going to read that unless I write it myself or read about it in fanfiction.

Nikolai is still the most snarky, arrogant, fantastic character in this world and I hope he appears in Six or Crows, or is at least mentioned! I have no clue what that duology is about except that some agree it’s even better than this trilogy. I don’t know how that will be, but I’ll soon find out!

All in all, I adored this trilogy and I'm not ready to leave this world yet. Read it if you love fantasy, kickass characters and magic. It won’t let you down.