Legacy of Kings by Eleanor Herman [ARC REVIEW]

TITLE: Legacy of Kings
(Blood of Gods and Royals #1)
AUTHOR: Eleanor Herman
PUBLISHER: Harlequin Teen
PUB DATE: Aug 18 2015

Imagine a time when the gods turn a blind eye to the agony of men, when the last of the hellions roam the plains and evil stirs beyond the edges of the map. A time when cities burn, and in their ashes, empires rise.

Alexander, Macedonia’s sixteen-year-old heir, is on the brink of discovering his fated role in conquering the known world but finds himself drawn to a newcomer…

Katerina must navigate the dark secrets of court life while hiding her own mission: kill the Queen. But she doesn’t account for her first love…

Jacob will go to unthinkable lengths to win Katerina, even if it means having to compete for her heart with Hephaestion, a murderer sheltered by the prince.

And far across the sea, Zofia, a Persian princess and Alexander’s unmet betrothed, wants to alter her destiny by seeking the famed and deadly Spirit Eaters.

Weaving fantasy with the shocking details of real history, New York Times bestselling author of Sex with Kings Eleanor Herman reimagines the greatest emperor the world has ever known, Alexander the Great, in the first book of the Blood of Gods and Royals series.

Source: Goodreads

Rating:

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“Because sometimes it doesn’t help to chase after the thing you want. No. Sometimes you have to wait, however long it takes, until what you want most comes to you.”

I have always been a fan of retellings, especially when it comes to fairy tales. The more creative, the better. But rarely do I come across a retelling of Alexander the Great. Who would be crazy enough to give a spin to one of the most successful military commanders told in all of history? I’ll tell you who. Eleanor Herman! And boy, did she give it one hell of a spin!

It’s amazing how one simple thought can create a profound story.

Legacy of Kings is told in the eyes of multiple characters. While it’s easy to recognize characters such as Alexander and Kat, others were a bit confusing for me. Names were never my strongest suit. It may have been a while since I read this book and have only now recently wrote a review about it, but if there was a list of the characters where they belong, and who they are, I’d probably be going back and forth through it while reading.

The Vanishing Throne by Elizabeth May [ARC REVIEW]

TITLE: The Vanishing Throne
(The Falconer #2)
AUTHOR: Elizabeth May
PUBLISHER: Chronicle Books
PUB DATE: Jun 7 2016

The second book in the Falconer Trilogy is packed with surprises and suspense.

Aileana Kameron, the Falconer, disappeared through the portal that she was trying to close forever. Now she wakes up in the fae world, trapped and tortured by the evil Lonnrach. With the help of an unexpected ally, Aileana re-enters the human world, only to find everything irrevocably changed. Edinburgh has been destroyed, and the few human survivors are living in an uneasy truce with the fae, while both worlds are in danger of disappearing altogether. Aileana holds the key to saving both worlds, but in order to do so she must awaken her latent Falconer powers. And the price of doing that might be her life.

Rich with imaginative detail, action, fae lore, and romance, The Vanishing Throne is a thrilling sequel to The Falconer.

Source: NetGalley

Rating:

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"But after everything I've been through, I'm proud to have a body that's strong, that bears the marks of how much I endured. No matter how painful those memories might be."

Elizabeth May's The Falconer was one of many faery stories I've read. While most of them were told in modern times, or in a dark and brooding historical era, I seldom got to see one mixed with Steampunk. It was a definite factor that made me curious. I finished The Falconer with thoughts that, while I was engrossed with the action scenes, I didn't see much of what it could be other than a faery action romance sort. Moving on to The Vanishing Throne... Well let's just say I'll never look at The Falconer Trilogy the same way again! That was freakin' fantastic!

The Vanishing Throne takes up its predecessor's story to whole other level!

The Witch Hunter by Virginia Boecker [ARC REVIEW]

TITLE: The Witch Hunter
(The Witch Hunter #1)
AUTHOR: Virginia Boecker
PUBLISHER: Little, Brown Books for
Young Readers
PUB DATE: Jun 2 2015

The magic and suspense of Graceling meet the political intrigue and unrest of Game of Thrones in this riveting fantasy debut.

Your greatest enemy isn't what you fight, but what you fear.

Elizabeth Grey is one of the king's best witch hunters, devoted to rooting out witchcraft and doling out justice. But when she's accused of being a witch herself, Elizabeth is arrested and sentenced to burn at the stake.

Salvation comes from a man she thought was her enemy. Nicholas Perevil, the most powerful and dangerous wizard in the kingdom, offers her a deal: he will save her from execution if she can break the deadly curse that's been laid upon him.

But Nicholas and his followers know nothing of Elizabeth's witch hunting past--if they find out, the stake will be the least of her worries. And as she's thrust into the magical world of witches, ghosts, pirates, and one all-too-handsome healer, Elizabeth is forced to redefine her ideas of right and wrong, of friends and enemies, and of love and hate.

Virginia Boecker weaves a riveting tale of magic, betrayal, and sacrifice in this unforgettable fantasy debut.

- Source: Goodreads

Rating:

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"Nicholas says that magic isn't inherently good or bad, it's what people do with it that makes it that way. It took me a long time to understand that. Once I did, I realized it isn't magic that separates us from them, or you from me. It's misunderstanding."

There are books that you've read only once and remember for the rest of your life. Funny, I can't seem to recall what I liked about this book. I was probably in a good mood, and it was fun enough for me to give it a 3 star rating. Indulge me as I attempt to recall my experience with the Witch Hunter.

Characters. I suppose they were a passable bunch. I don't find Elizabeth as an incredibly amazing protagonist. She's okay I guess but otherwise not as memorable as expected for a lead role. Her love interest wasn't as exciting either. Sorry but John was rather 'blah' to me. While it was set that they'd be a pair, I don't find their romance invigorating. I don't see myself fangirling and shipping these two, which should be if I totally dig the romance. But with these two? I just settled with it and didn't care.

Back/side stories. See I don't mind when authors plunge you into a certain character's past, and I like that because hey, more information for me. I like getting glimpses of what the characters have done before all the drama began. But I felt this was one strong issue with regards to our protagonist here. Readers are thrown into the scene of the moment where we find Elizabeth being caught and accused of being a witch at the beginning. Pardon this mini-spoiler but the reason she was caught was because she purchased herbs due to the fact that the king has taken a liking to her, if you know what I mean. And while it won't take anyone a while to figure out that she's in deep and hiding something that was a probable cause leading her to that moment, I felt it shouldn't have been a side story. It should have been one of the vital parts of this book. What made it worse was that it was less of a side story, like it wasn't a big deal. Maybe I didn't need a thorough breakdown but it shouldn't be a note that seems to be brushed off after a quick mention.

An Uncertain Choice by Jody Hedlund [ARC REVIEW]

TITLE: An Uncertain Choice
(An Uncertain Choice #1)
AUTHOR: Jody Hedlund
PUBLISHER: Zondervan, Zonderkids
PUB DATE: Mar 3 2015

Due to her parents' promise at her birth, Lady Rosemarie has been prepared to become a nun on the day she turns eighteen. Then, shortly before her birthday, a friend of her father's enters the kingdom and proclaims her parents' will left a second choice—if Rosemarie can marry before the eve of her eighteenth year, she will be exempt from the ancient vow.

Before long, Rosemarie is presented with the three most handsome and brave knights in the land. But when the knights' arrival results in a series of attacks within her land, she begins to wonder if the convent is the best place after all. If only one of the knights—the one who appears the most guilty—had not already captured her heart.

- Source: NetGalley

Rating:

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"Courage can be displayed in many forms, my lord… Sometimes it’s evident in the knight charging forward with the lance on his steed. But perhaps it can also take the form of a head bowed before the enemy."

It’s a fairy tale. What more could I ask for?

As much as I appreciate author’s reimagining my favorite classical fairy tales, it’s refreshing to see original writings just as well. Lately though, I find myself reading so-so stories in the category. So how lovely was it to find this book?

An Uncertain Choice was one huge surprise for me. It was one of those books I least expected to be as good as it was. Set in the medieval times, Lady Rosemarie’s story of faith and finding true love was well worth the time reading.

Although I have to admit that it was quite predictable, the author’s writing style enabled me to enjoy the tale in spite of already knowing who’s who and what’s what. There is something about her writing that made this simple story an absolute page-turner.

Filled with every cliché one reader might think of: a beautiful princess, a knight in shining armor, a deceiving villain lurking on the side, An Uncertain Choice is every bit the fairy tale one might find simply blah. But Jody Hedlund sure knows how to write an invigorating story, and an original fairy tale at that!

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*Thank you, Zonderkids and NetGalley for granting my request to view An Uncertain Choice.

The Stepsister's Tale by Tracy Barrett [ARC REVIEW]

TITLE: The Stepsister's Tale
AUTHOR: Tracy Barrett
PUBLISHER: Harlequin Teen
PUB DATE: Jun 24 2014

What really happened after the clock struck midnight?

Jane Montjoy is tired of being a lady. She's tired of pretending to live up to the standards of her mother's noble family-especially now that the family's wealth is gone and their stately mansion has fallen to ruin. It's hard enough that she must tend to the animals and find a way to feed her mother and her little sister each day. Jane's burden only gets worse after her mother returns from a trip to town with a new stepfather and stepsister in tow. Despite the family's struggle to prepare for the long winter ahead, Jane's stepfather remains determined to give his beautiful but spoiled child her every desire.

When her stepfather suddenly dies, leaving nothing but debts and a bereaved daughter behind, it seems to Jane that her family is destined for eternal unhappiness. But a mysterious boy from the woods and an invitation to a royal ball are certain to change her fate...

From the handsome prince to the evil stepsister, nothing is quite as it seems in Tracy Barrett's stunning retelling of the classic Cinderella tale.

Source: Goodreads

Rating:

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“You’ll still be beautifully yourself when that pretty kitten has grown up to be a nice-enough cat and the wildflower has faded.”

I am one to never pass up a chance to read a fairy tale retelling. So it comes to no surprise that I just had to read The Stepsister’s Tale. A Cinderella story told in the eyes of the “wicked” stepsister? This should be interesting.

The Stepsister’s Tale indeed have quite an intriguing opening; how expectations of high society could push a person to deceive and live in denial.

Jane was a receptive character, it’s not hard to feel compassion for someone who refuses to stick to what is expected of her or what society dictates, and choose to do what it takes to take care of her family. I wouldn’t say the same for Jane’s younger sister, Maude, and her mother though. They felt a bit insignificant unless needed, but I can see that there really isn’t much for their characters to do in the story.

Her Dark Curiosity by Megan Shepherd [REVIEW]

TITLE: Her Dark Curiosity
(The Madman's Daughter #2)
AUTHOR: Megan Shepherd
PUBLISHER: Balzer + Bray
PUB DATE: Jan 28 2014

To defeat the darkness, she must first embrace it.

Months have passed since Juliet Moreau returned to civilization after escaping her father's island—and the secrets she left behind. Now, back in London once more, she is rebuilding the life she once knew and trying to forget Dr. Moreau’s horrific legacy—though someone, or something, hasn’t forgotten her.

As people close to Juliet fall victim one by one to a murderer who leaves a macabre calling card of three clawlike slashes, Juliet fears one of her father’s creations may have also escaped the island. She is determined to find the killer before Scotland Yard does, though it means awakening sides of herself she had thought long banished, and facing loves from her past she never expected to see again.

As Juliet strives to stop a killer while searching for a serum to cure her own worsening illness, she finds herself once more in the midst of a world of scandal and danger. Her heart torn in two, past bubbling to the surface, life threatened by an obsessive killer—Juliet will be lucky to escape alive.

With inspiration from Robert Louis Stevenson’s The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, this is a tantalizing mystery about the hidden natures of those we love and how far we’ll go to save them from themselves.

- Source: Goodreads

Rating:

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“Call it sentimentality. Call it curiosity. Just don’t call it madness.”

Her Dark Curiosity is the first book that failed to meet my expectations this 2014. Never, in my years of reading books that I encountered characters making stupid decisions, have I ever face-palmed myself so much (physically and mentally) than I ever did while reading Her Dark Curiosity.

When The Madman’s Daughter debuted in 2013, I wasn’t keen on reading it. But when I was urged to pick it up, it was perplexingly good. The grotesque and sinister plot combined with Megan Shepherd’s enthralling writing style made for an incredibly interesting story, even though those visuals would’ve made me feel queasy under normal circumstances. So imagine my disappointment over reading Her Dark Curiosity and finding Juliet wallowing, making senseless and inconsistent decisions, and just going about freakishly aggravating!

WARNING: Spoilers are coming up!

The ending of The Madman’s Daughter was upsetting that even I still haven’t gotten over Montgomery’s decision until now. Finding Juliet in a state of grief over his absence, I said, “Go on, and grieve, girl.” But I really didn’t need to see that ALL THE TIME! It was like every page I turn I’d get a whine here and a whine there. It just didn’t end! Even after he got back... This just boarded over ridiculous!

Knight Assassin by Rima Jean [ARC REVIEW]

TITLE: Knight Assassin
AUTHOR: Rima Jean
PUBLISHER: Entangled Publishing
PUB DATE: Mar 4 2014

Seventeen-year-old Zayn has special powers she cannot control—powers that others fear and covet. Powers that cause the Templar Knights to burn Zayn’s mother at the stake for witchcraft. When a mysterious stranger tempts Zayn to become the first female member of the heretical Assassins, the chance to seek her revenge lures her in. She trains to harness her supernatural strength and agility, and then enters the King of Jerusalem's court in disguise with the assignment to assassinate Guy de Molay, her mother’s condemner. But once there, she discovers Earic Goodwin, the childhood friend who still holds her heart, among the knights—and his ocean-blue eyes don’t miss a thing. Will vengeance be worth the life of the one love she has left?

- Source: Goodreads

Rating:

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“It was all very simple. Her loyalties were with those who saw beyond their personal prejudices, who rose above self-righteousness and intolerance.”

I was mostly interested in Knight Assassin after reading on Netgalley that it was a “thrilling Grave Mercy meets Throne of Glass adventure...” I loved both when I read them and loved the second books belonging to their respective series, Dark Triumph and Crown of Midnight, even more. To be honest, I was apprehensive at first over reading that statement. Either it was a marketing strategy to get readers to give this book a shot; which mostly turns out to be just deceiving, or worse, a rip off of those. It wasn’t, thank goodness! I was being judgemental, I’m sorry. It’s not uncommon to be sceptical over such statements; some tend to oversell the books that readers having high expectations and being left disappointed in the end. Fortunately, Knight Assassin was able to live up to that. It has all the elements I’ve come to love from Grave Mercy and Throne of Glass: a kick-ass heroine with an empathizing past, a well thought-of storyline, an intriguing setting, action-packed fight scenes – all that awesomeness.

I wasn’t familiar with the events of the Crusades-era, other than snippets I snagged while trying out the Assassin’s Creed video games. Yes, I haven’t played the full games at all, I’m a horrible gamer. For the record, working in game design and animation doesn’t give you much playing time; unless you’re a game tester or critic but other than that, you wish! Anyway, being unacquainted with the historical events that Knight Assassin was based on did not hinder me from understanding and being drawn to Zayn’s story.

The Girl in the Steel Corset by Kady Cross [REVIEW]

TITLE: The Girl in the Steel Corset
(Steampunk Chronicles #1)
AUTHOR: Kady Cross
PUBLISHER: Harlequin Teen
PUB DATE: May 24 2011

Summary from Goodreads:

"In 1897 England, sixteen-year-old Finley Jayne has no one...except the "thing" inside her.When a young lord tries to take advantage of Finley, she fights back. And wins. But no "normal" Victorian girl has a darker side that makes her capable of knocking out a full-grown man with one punch....

Only Griffin King sees the magical darkness inside her that says she's special, says she's one of "them." The orphaned duke takes her in from the gaslit streets against the wishes of his band of misfits: Emily, who has her own special abilities and an unrequited love for Sam, who is part robot; and Jasper, an American cowboy with a shadowy secret.

Griffin's investigating a criminal called The Machinist, the mastermind behind several recent crimes by automatons. Finley thinks she can help--and finally be a part of something, finally fit in.

But The Machinist wants to tear Griff's little company of strays apart, and it isn't long before trust is tested on all sides. At least Finley knows whose side she's on--even if it seems no one believes her."

Rating:

"I like a little fight in my girls."

She grinned at him, causing blood to dribble down her chin.

"Then you're going to love me."

Finley Jayne is like no other girl. She may look like a normal girl but when danger lurks and there seems to be threats about, Finley’s “other self” becomes unleashed. That sort of alter-ego persona reminds me of Jessica from the TV series Heroes. It’s very entertaining to watch Finley’s switch between personalities, although it does cost her much whenever she tries to live a normal life. This part of herself has made her self-conscious and scared, making her feel that distancing herself would be much safer for her and for the people around her.

My copy of The Girl in the Steel Corset includes the short story The Strange Case of Finley Jayne. Reading through the latter was great considering I got to see Finley’s life before she met Griffin and his company. Although it did leave me puzzled once I started The Girl in the Steel Corset. Why didn’t the events of The Strange Case of Finley Jayne have a reflection to The Girl in the Steel Corset? Surely the good deeds she has done before would have given her more confidence in her “gift”, right? It’s like it never really happened. But since I was curious about Finley’s other story, I had to let that go and think of The Girl in the Steel Corset apart.

My experience with reading this book was very pleasant. I truly embraced the Steampunk genre in a way I never had with the other books I have read from the same category. The characters were also a splendid surprise since I was only inquisitive over Finley’s story, and yet I was introduced to an even more interesting set of people who are not only as peculiar as Finley, but have intriguing stories to tell of themselves as well. I just had to drink it all up!

The Madman's Daughter by Megan Shepherd [REVIEW]

TITLE: The Madman's Daugther
(The Madman's Daughter #1)
AUTHOR: Megan Shepherd
PUBLISHER: Balzer + Bray
PUB DATE: Jan 29 2013

Summary from Goodreads:

"In the darkest places, even love is deadly.

Sixteen-year-old Juliet Moreau has built a life for herself in London—working as a maid, attending church on Sundays, and trying not to think about the scandal that ruined her life. After all, no one ever proved the rumors about her father's gruesome experiments. But when she learns he is alive and continuing his work on a remote tropical island, she is determined to find out if the accusations are true.

Accompanied by her father's handsome young assistant, Montgomery, and an enigmatic castaway, Edward—both of whom she is deeply drawn to—Juliet travels to the island, only to discover the depths of her father's madness: He has experimented on animals so that they resemble, speak, and behave as humans. And worse, one of the creatures has turned violent and is killing the island's inhabitants. Torn between horror and scientific curiosity, Juliet knows she must end her father's dangerous experiments and escape her jungle prison before it's too late. Yet as the island falls into chaos, she discovers the extent of her father's genius—and madness—in her own blood.

Inspired by H. G. Wells's classic The Island of Dr. Moreau, The Madman's Daughter is a dark and breathless Gothic thriller about the secrets we'll do anything to know and the truths we'll go to any lengths to protect."

Rating:

“But I couldn't get the image out of my head of the beast strapped to the table, Father humming while the candle wax slowly dripped, and Montgomery assisting. I felt betrayed, as though the boy I'd idolized was nothing more than a fantasy.”

I never thought I would find myself picking up The Madman’s Daughter. Gothic thrillers aren’t the kind of books that catch my interest… until now.

The Madman’s Daughter was disturbing, grotesque and incredibly sinister for my taste. Can you believe I actually liked it? I know. It was a shock for me to. A crazy loon of a man, Dr. Moreau, Juliet’s father, makes for quite an impressive character. Even though he creeps the hell out of me, he was definitely a character worth pondering over. Witnessing his experiments, albeit disgusting and wrong, I didn’t know whether to be concerned or intrigued.

While Juliet poses as a compelling protagonist, I find things I both like and hate about her. I feel such sympathy over her longing for a father, who has abandoned her all those years. I’m a daddy’s girl so that’s heartbreaking to hear. I admire her determination to discover the truth behind her family’s downfall and I knew her discovery would either make her finally trust his judgment or get her to stand up for herself against him.

I don’t really appreciate the love triangle between Juliet, Edward and Montgomery. I’m all for Montgomery on this. Really, it’s no competition! I don’t like that Juliet is dancing around these two guys. She says she’s in love with Montgomery and yet she gets twisted dreams all because she has the hots for Edward too. Here’s another heroine that I feel doesn’t deserve the man in their lives. If she truly loves him then she would not be thinking of the other guy otherwise. But who am I kidding, she’s a hormonal teenager, it was bound to happen. Still, it’s frustrating to read!

The Madman’s Daughter left me feeling so weird-ed out over the bewildering experience. But that kind of unique perplexity in a book – I like it!

Dark Triumph by Robin LaFevers [REVIEW]

TITLE: Dark Triumph
(His Fair Assassins #2)
AUTHOR: Robin LaFevers
PUBLISHER: Houghton Mifflin Books
PUB DATE: Apr 2 2013

Summary from Goodreads:

"When Sybella arrived at the doorstep of St Mortain half mad with grief and despair the convent were only too happy to offer her refuge—but at a price. The sisters of this convent serve Death, and with Sybella naturally skilled in both the arts of death and seduction, she could become one of their most dangerous weapons.

But her assassin's skills are little comfort when the convent returns her to the life that nearly drove her mad. Her father's rage and brutality are terrifying, and her brother's love is equally monstrous. But when Sybella discovers an unexpected ally she discovers that a daughter of Death may find something other than vengeance to live for . . ."

Rating:

“Hate cannot be fought with hate. Evil cannot be conquered by darkness. Only love has the power to conquer them both.”

What a book! I came to love Grave Mercy, the first book from His Fair Assassins series, the moment got through chapter one. I loved the lore, the writing and most especially the characters. Since then, I couldn’t help thinking about getting to know them even more.

While Grave Mercy was focused on Ismae’s life and how she came to be a handmaiden of death, Dark Triumph shows Sybella’s story. If I thought Ismae’s situation was dire when she took refuge with the Convent of St. Mortain, Sybella’s case was incomparable. Oh, how cruel life has been for this young lady. If I wanted to hug Ismae back when I was reading about her, I want to smother Sybella with all the love for all that she has been through.

As much as I loved Ismae’s story, Sybella’s, at some degree, was far more adventurous, albeit dangerous, than Ismae’s. I felt more and more empathic with Sybella as I progressed through reading Dark Triumph. The poor girl, she was despised for her lineage in spite of all her sacrifices.

Ismae had a very interesting romance development, and although Sybella had a rather different approach [considering she has a Beast for a romantic interest], it was still as stimulating and as anticipating as Ismae and Duval’s relationship. I have to say, I didn’t realize Beast was ugly. I always thought that he was called as such because of his reputation on the battlefield, and because of his monstrous size. But I never thought to consider how he looked like. Nevertheless, he was a suitable match for our dear Sybella.

I was so happy to see that Sybella finally found a piece of something she has clearly hoped to have. The kind of longing and hope she has been clinging to her whole life, and after all the hardships she faced, she deserved some peace and happiness for once.

I absolutely adore the message of this book. I love that each book from this series shows how the handmaidens of death come to realize the true purpose of their existence and what mission they must carry out. This was simply beautiful.

The Assassin and the Empire by Sarah J. Maas [REVIEW]

The Assassin and the Empire
(Throne of Glass #0.4)
by Sarah J. Maas

Summary from Goodreads:

"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 . . .

This fourth fantastic e-novella gives readers an inside look at the characters who appear in the full-length novel Throne of Glass. Don’t miss out!"

Rating:

Celaena is now living in her own home, along with Sam, away from the Assassin’s Keep and Arobynn Hamel. However, not being able to leave in good terms with their old master, Celaena and Sam are struggling to get food on the table and their money is diminishing each day. They haven’t gotten a single contract ever since they left the Keep. Even though they have already bought their freedom, they are not free of Arobynn’s reigns unless they leave Rifthold. Anxious to be free from this man, Sam gets hold of a contract that could finally get him and Celaena away from all this, but this contract is dangerous; way more dangerous than they can ever imagine. But as the saying goes, desperate times call for desperate measures...

The Assassin and the Empire, the last of the Throne of Glass novellas, is probably the most emotional and most heartbreaking book among the four.

The Assassin and the Underworld by Sarah J. Maas [REVIEW]

         

The Assassin and the Underworld
(Throne of Glass #0.3)
by Sarah J. Maas

Summary from Goodreads:

"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."

Rating:

Ooooh! This just keeps getting better and better!

The first two novellas of the Throne of Glass was indeed amazing adventures. Now with the Assassin and the Underworld, that idea kind of changes a bit. Of course they’re all still connected but this time Celaena’s mission is not a travel away from home but within Rifthold where she grew up and became the deadliest assassin.

Celaena has just returned from her trip to the Red Desert where she trained along with Silent Assassins. She was about to do an “in your face” moment to her master after serving her punishment with grace and dignity, but then she falters. Seeing her master apologize and be all sweet and caring, she goes soft. Ugh! This is one of those moments that I hated Celaena, she can be gullible at times. Then again I guess having that man to be the only father figure she had (at least that’s what I think of him to her, ‘coz if it was something else that would be really awkward, the guy’s way, way older than her, c’mon!) I couldn’t blame her for giving him a chance to make up for what he did to her.

The Assassin and the Underworld is a milder on the action part compared to the other two but doubles on the deception and betrayal experience so you won’t see me complain. Add the fact that the romance brewing between Celaena and Sam has finally come about. Yehey! I totally approve their relationship.

This may be a slower story than the first two novellas but I could say this is my favorite among them. Let’s see if that’ll change when the fourth novella comes out.

I’m still playing with the title of this book in my head; why is it called the Assassin and the Underworld? I mean I get the Assassin and the Pirate Lord and the Assassin and the Desert, they both speak for themselves but Underworld? I expected it to be the mythological thing we commonly know and not the… sewer?

O well, at least we had a good story out of it. And the scene where Sam desperately wanted to save Celaena when she got locked there… Priceless! 

The Assassin and the Desert by Sarah J. Maas [REVIEW]

        

The Assassin and the Desert
(Throne of Glass #0.2)
by Sarah J. Maas

Summary from Goodreads:

"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." 

Rating:

I am really awed by Sarah Maas’s ability to write a short story that has almost everything I want in a book. You know, the usual unique adventure, discovery, action and all that; it’s a little short on the love story, but I totally feel the little sparks of romance that makes me want more.

The Assassin and the Pirate Lord by Sarah J. Maas [REVIEW]

        

The Assassin and the Pirate Lord
(Throne of Glass #0.1)
by Sarah J. Maas

Summary from Goodreads:

"A Throne of Glass novella.

On a remote island in a tropical sea, Celaena Sardothien, feared assassin, has come for retribution. She’s been sent by the Assassin’s Guild to collect on a debt they are owed by the Lord of the Pirates. But when Celaena learns that the agreed payment is not in money, but in slaves, her mission suddenly changes—and she will risk everything to right the wrong she’s been sent to bring about."

Rating:

The Assassin and the Pirate Lord is one of four (not sure if there will be more) short stories Sarah J. Maas offers her readers of a glimpse into Celaena Sardothien’s life as the kingdom’s greatest assassin .

I’m going to keep this short and simple.

AWESOME BOOK. READ IT!

The end.

... just kidding!

Let me elaborate.

Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers [ARC REVIEW]

       

Grave Mercy
(His Fair Assassin #1)
by Robin LaFevers

Summary from Goodreads:

"Why be the sheep, when you can be the wolf?

Seventeen-year-old Ismae escapes from the brutality of an arranged marriage into the sanctuary of the convent of St. Mortain, where the sisters still serve the gods of old. Here she learns that the god of Death Himself has blessed her with dangerous gifts—and a violent destiny. If she chooses to stay at the convent, she will be trained as an assassin and serve as a handmaiden to Death. To claim her new life, she must destroy the lives of others.

Ismae's most important assignment takes her straight into the high court of Brittany—where she finds herself woefully under prepared—not only for the deadly games of intrigue and treason, but for the impossible choices she must make. For how can she deliver Death’s vengeance upon a target who, against her will, has stolen her heart?"

Rating:

Grave Mercy kind of reminds me of the time I read the Three Musketeers by Alexander Dumas. I was expecting action and suspense, not mystery and political assaults. Only the difference is, unlike my disappointment with the Three Musketeers, I actually had fun reading Grave Mercy. Probably because I read the Three Musketeers at such a young age (I think I was about 8 or 9 years old then) where I was naive and ignorant about the topic so the book didn’t particularly catch my interest. I think I should reread it to see if I still feel the same way.

Anyway... so yeah, Grave Mercy. And may I just say WOAH! I absolutely LOVE it! With just one book, I am fan of Robin LaFevers!  Her writing style is just incredible! I’m not much of a mystery-fan and politics is definitely not my favorite subject so I don’t know what makes this book so gripping for me... but I don’t care! Oh it’s just so fabulous! *fan-girl moment*

Alright, I’m calming down now... Let’s get down to business.

Grave Mercy introduces us to a broken-spirited girl named Ismae. She’s been saved from an abusive father and a husband she has just been sold and “married” to. She finds refuge in the convent of St. Mortain where the sisters worship the ancient gods. Now here is where Ismae’s life turns around. She finds out that she is blessed by the god of Death and is gifted with extraordinary gifts. What is her profession? Well, she’s one of those lovely assassins trained to do His bidding! 

Now you see why I expected an action packed story. Assassins! I did get some action of course, but not as heavily as I thought it would be. It was more of mystery solving and learning the game of politics...and a sweet, sweet, SWEET romantic story. I still feel all giddy and I giggle like a school girl over the romance between Ismae and Gavriel. It’s rare to find myself being all hopelessly romantic over book characters but I couldn’t help myself when it came to these two. I even found myself anticipating the time that they’d actually... you know. *Snicker*

...and as much as that moment was sweet and I hear myself go “finally!” *LOL*, it was also a teeny bit awkward given the situation Gavriel was in. (I know it’s vague, read the book to find out. *chuckle*)

I really didn’t see a love story forming here but I feel incredibly rewarded! I love them both.  In fact, I love a lot of the characters in this book; each one all the more interesting. And just as Ismae struggles to find out who she should trust, readers get the same confusion of trying to find out who is deceiving and who is telling the truth.

I strongly recommend Grave Mercy. You don’t often come across a historical fiction like this and I think this is going to be a series worth looking out for, filled with plots and characters like no other.

*Thank you Houghton Mifflin Harcourt and Netgalley for the copy of Grave Mercy.

Midnight in Austenland by Shannon Hale [ARC REVIEW]

   

Midnight in Austenland
(Austenland #1)
by Shannon Hale

Summary from Goodreads:

"When Charlotte Kinder treats herself to a two-week vacation at Austenland, she happily leaves behind her ex-husband and his delightful new wife, her ever-grateful children, and all the rest of her real life in America. She dons a bonnet and stays at a country manor house that provides an immersive Austen experience, complete with gentleman actors who cater to the guests' Austen fantasies.

Everyone at Pembrook Park is playing a role, but increasingly, Charlotte isn't sure where roles end and reality begins. And as the parlor games turn a little bit menacing, she finds she needs more than a good corset to keep herself safe. Is the brooding Mr. Mallery as sinister as he seems? What is Miss Gardenside's mysterious ailment? Was that an actual dead body in the secret attic room? And-perhaps of the most lasting importance-could the stirrings in Charlotte's heart be a sign of real-life love?

The follow-up to reader favorite Austenland provides the same perfectly plotted pleasures, with a feisty new heroine, plenty of fresh and frightening twists, and the possibility of a romance that might just go beyond the proper bounds of Austen's world. How could it not turn out right in the end?"

Rating:

I have been an avid reader of Shannon Hale’s books ever since I read the Goose Girl. I’ve read her entire Books of Bayern series, Princess Academy, Book of a Thousand Days and of course, Austenland. I really enjoy Hale’s writing because it’s very pleasing and the stories are always interesting. Hale has the way of making her readers feel the actual era of where the book is set and Midnight in Austenland is no exception.

At first I thought that this was going to sit in the same way the first book was done, where we had a thirty-something protagonist who’s fixated with the idea of a man in the image of Mr. Darcy from Jane Austen’s Pride and the Prejudice which unfortunately, is totally ruining her love life. I thought Midnight in Austenland would go through an identical idea. Boy was I surprised with how it went!

Charlotte, the main character in this book, treats herself to a two-week vacation after being divorced to her husband who filed for it because he was in love with another woman. So she went off to Pembrook Park, leaving her two children in the care of her ex-husband and his new wife. And this is where everything turns topsy-turvy.

As with Austenland, the people at Pembrook Park have roles to play, even the clients. The clothing, the place, the customs and traditions are all set in the 1800s. But the difference is, here in Midnight in Austenland, the story doesn’t simply revolve around a romantic interest. There are bigger things involved; murder and money, pretence and manipulation. Something I didn’t expect to occur here.

It’s nice to see the change on the plot but there are parts that I feel like the actions done by the characters were not believable. Like when Charlotte experiences a life threatening event, I get that she doesn’t feel afraid and she feels more brave, but I always thought that if it occurred in real life, that feeling would come because of adrenaline rush or something. Then you feel the fear later after everything happened already, like some sort of case of late nerve reaction. I don’t know if I’m making any sense, but the point is it doesn’t seem like Charlotte felt she was in danger, and after the event the next scene goes to a romantic set-up as if nothing bad ever happened.

I like that this was a big step from the usual and that I got a bit of mystery-feel story from it but my concerns above got the best of me. Yet, if ever there’s a third installment I’d be one of those people who’d pine for a copy immediately. This is still a quick, enjoyable book to read.

Scarlet by A.C. Gaughen [ARC REVIEW]

        

Scarlet by A.C. Gaughen

Summary from Goodreads:

"Many readers know the tale of Robin Hood, but they will be swept away by this new version full of action, secrets, and romance.

Posing as one of Robin Hood’s thieves to avoid the wrath of the evil Thief Taker Lord Gisbourne, Scarlet has kept her identity secret from all of Nottinghamshire. Only the Hood and his band know the truth: the agile thief posing as a whip of a boy is actually a fearless young woman with a secret past. Helping the people of Nottingham outwit the corrupt Sheriff of Nottingham could cost Scarlet her life as Gisbourne closes in. It’s only her fierce loyalty to Robin—whose quick smiles and sharp temper have the rare power to unsettle her—that keeps Scarlet going and makes this fight worth dying for."

Rating:

Scarlet is a wonderful twist to the classic Robin Hood tale!

Will Scarlet is part of Robin Hood’s band of thieves. He’s cunning and quick. He can easily blend into a crowd and he’s one heck of a spy. But he also has a secret, he is actually a she. That’s not the only secret she’s keeping and that secret haunts her everyday… what’s worse, it has come back to claim her.

I don’t know much about the story of Robin Hood; I just know the basics: he’s a thief who steals from the rich and gives to the poor. What I know doesn’t go further than that… unless you count the Robin Hood cartoon by Disney. LOL.

Anyway, I’ve always been a fan of books showing women empowerment, so it’s really no surprise that Scarlet caught my attention, and the retelling bit was an added bonus.

 Gaughen’s version of the classic was a very delightful read. Never had I imagined the possibility of this story to evolve into something different and yet still stick as strongly as probable to how the original tale was created. I really admire how she threaded all her research into a story worth reading.

Scarlet’s attitude was something I don’t like about a person.  She’s rude, impulsive, and secretive among other things. There’s too much negative energy around her and yet, I love her. Her imperfection just makes her a more interesting character. At first I was really annoyed at her for evading all the issues Robin wants her to open up about but when I found out the truth, I couldn’t help but shed a few tears for the girl. She’s been through a lot.

I had mixed feeling about Robin and Little John’s characters. There are times that I liked them and times that I wished the story to move on because they were just annoying. Still, I have to commend the uniqueness of them both. They’re memorable and strong, so kudos!

The plot of this story was really interesting and every chapter of this book was entertaining. I love the balance of romance, action and narrative that Gaughen has provided readers with.

The only reason I didn’t give this book a perfect rating was the ending. Oh sure I love how Scarlet’s relationship went into but there’s still a lot of unfinished business. If this is ever a standalone then it may cause disappointment. There’s got to be more to this… Please!!! *Doing the puppy eyes*

Well I still think Scarlet is an incredible novel and I highly recommend this to readers who are suckers for classic retellings.  

Watersong: A Retelling of "The Frog Prince" by Suzanne Weyn

        

Water Song:
A Retelling of "The Frog Prince"
by Suzanne Weyn

Summary from Goodreads:

"Young, beautiful, and wealthy, Emma Pennington is accustomed to a very comfortable life. Although war rages abroad, she hardly feels its effect. She and her mother travel from their home in Britain to the family estate in Belgium, never imagining that the war could reach them there. But it does.

Soon Emma finds herself stranded in a war-torn country, utterly alone. Enemy troops fight to take over her estate, leaving her with no way to reach her family, and no way out.

With all of her attention focused on survival and escape, Emma hardly expects to find love. But the war will teach her that life is unpredictable, people aren't always what they seem, and magic is lurking everywhere."

Rating:

Watersong is a short, quick tale that I find so endearing. 

This is a retelling of the Grimm Brothers’ well known tale, “The Frog Prince,” more or less I should say. It was loosely based on that story anyway. Weyn pretty much played around with the idea of it and although endowed with magic, giving it a more realistic approach. 

The story was set on the brink of World War I. With that I mind, I expected this to be sinking into the depressing state of events. Fortunately, I got a spunky, funny and surprisingly entertaining tale instead. 

What made Watersong a winner for me was how distinctive and appealing the two main characters were. Emma and Jack were witty and virtuous. I love them individually and I also love them together. 

I don’t have much to say about it since this really is just short and if I babble on, I might give it away. It’s a book any fairytale-loving person can appreciate for its rareness, sweetness, and all the other niceness. Okay, I’m not making sense, sorry; just note that this is really a good book to read and I totally recommend it. It’s a simple and hasty tale you’ll get to enjoy. 

The Amaranth Enchantment by Julie Berry

        

The Amaranth Enchantment
by Julie Berry

Summary from Goodreads:

"A delightful fairytale by a lyrical new voice.

When Lucinda Chapdelaine was a small child, her parents left for the royal ball and never returned. Ever since, Lucinda has been stuck in perpetual servitude at her evil aunt’s jewelry store. Then, on the very same day, a mysterious visitor and an even more bizarre piece of jewelry both enter the shop, setting in motion a string of twists and turns that will forever alter Lucinda’s path. In this magical story filled with delightful surprises, Lucinda will dance at the royal ball, fall under the Amaranth Witch’s spell, avenge her parents’ death, and maybe—just maybe—capture the heart of a prince."

Rating:

I liked this book! It was a Cinderella-like tale but not so much... in a good way.

The characters were distinct. I liked Lucinda, she may be a bit innocent and too trusting but I can’t blame her since her aunt pretty much locked her up and never let Lucinda out of her sight. She wasn’t very aware of the world outside her uncle’s shop that she has lived in since her parents died when she was five. I was actually annoyed with Peter. He caused most of the trouble that Lucinda got into so I was really pissed at him but in the end I’d gotten to know him and I liked him then. Prince Gregor, as any prince can be, was of course charming and witty. The Amaranth Witch, was at first uncanny and I thought she was the bad guy, but it turns out she's sort of like a fairy godmother but not really. 

At first I thought that this would turn out a bit predictable but there were parts of the book that surprised me. Just when I’ve already made up my mind that a certain situation would happen, it backslides into something different that makes me want to keep reading.

It’s a good light read and I enjoyed the fairytale-ish ending.

Steel by Carrie Vaughn

        

Steel
by Carrie Vaughn

Summary from Goodreads:

"It was a slender length of rusted steel, tapered to a point at one end and jagged at the other, as if it had broken. A thousand people would step over it and think it trash, but not her.

This was the tip of a rapier.

Sixteen-year-old Jill has fought in dozens of fencing tournaments, but she has never held a sharpened blade. When she finds a corroded sword piece on a Caribbean beach, she is instantly intrigued and pockets it as her own personal treasure.

The broken tip holds secrets, though, and it transports Jill through time to the deck of a pirate ship. Stranded in the past and surrounded by strangers, she is forced to sign on as crew. But a pirate's life is bloody and brief, and as Jill learns about the dark magic that brought her there, she forms a desperate scheme to get home—one that risks everything in a duel to the death with a villainous pirate captain.

Time travel, swordplay, and romance combine in an original high-seas adventure from New York Times bestseller Carrie Vaughn."

Rating:

I like this book. It has two things I am elated about: pirates and fencing. 

I’m a frustrated fencer. I wanted to try out in fencing when I was in college. I even had a friend train me for about 2 sessions. Unfortunately, time was a hindrance and I couldn’t get myself to train again, so that’s about all my fencing experience! Ha! Ha! I didn’t even get to hold a sword! Bummer! 

Anyway, I felt like I was in a class taking up Piracy 101 because while reading through this, I’ve learned a lot about the lives of pirates, their life at sea, the ships, and whatnots. I enjoyed seeing myself suddenly going, “Ohhhh! So that’s what it’s for…” The facts this book has provided was very informative so I really liked it. 

One of the things I also liked about this book was the show of women empowerment; there are pirate queens that I wasn’t actually aware of. Girl power as we say. I always like that factor when it comes to books. 

I also enjoyed the action scenes; Jill battling out on the fencing competitions and getting tangled up with the pirate life where she used her fencing skills to fight for her life, and the history behind the feud between Marjory Cooper, the captain of the Diana, and Edmund Blane, the captain of the Heart’s Revenge. 

However, I will admit that this book is a bit slow and more informative than groundbreaking. I also feel that the love interest between Jill and Henry was a bit shallow and rushed. I would’ve loved to see more romance between them. 

Still, I appreciated this and it was a good break from all the books that I’ve been reading for the past few months. It was like a breath of fresh air.