30 September 2013

After Eden by Helen Douglas


After Eden by Helen Douglad
Publisher: Bloomsbury Childrens Books     
Publication date: November 5th 2013
My rating: 1 star

Eden Anfield loves puzzles, so when mysterious new boy Ryan Westland shows up at her school she's hooked. On the face of it, he's a typical American teenager. So why doesn't he recognise pizza? And how come he hasn't heard of Hitler? What puzzles Eden the most, however, is the interest he's taking in her. 
As Eden starts to fall in love with Ryan, she begins to unravel his secret. Her breakthrough comes one rainy afternoon when she stumbles across a book in Ryan's bedroom - a biography of her best friend - written over fifty years in the future. Confronting Ryan, she discovers that he is there with one unbelievably important purpose ... and she might just have destroyed his only chance of success.

Eh, what a mess this book turned out to be. I'm really disappointed. There were so many things I didn't like. I can't think of any redeeming quality. Nothing. I often get trapped by the cover when requesting books on NG. I must seek help if I play to move from this state. 

Eden's life changes when a new guy shows up at their school. Ryan's a bit weird. He doesn't remember basic historical facts and acts weird, in a way. Eden's best friend Connor hates Ryan because he's been in love with Eden since forever. I was in a similar situation so it's not hard for me to connect with him but here's the thing. Connor was annoying as hell. He was mean to Ryan and even to Eden. I couldn't picture Connor and Eden ever being BFFs, not even in the beginning, before Ryan showed up. Not even my genetically installed always-root-for-the-underdog mind couldn't help me out to feel for Connor. 

Romance was... *sigh* Now I have to explain this too? Oh, why? Well, there's nothing much to say but that the levels of instalove were getting to out of hand. Nothing could save it from disaster. Both Eden and Ryan were bland. 

This is the perfect example of adult writing a book about how to correct a teenager whenever s/he is acting like a brat and that was pretty much the whole time. It's as if Douglas set out to write as many annoying and childish things she could come up with so she could put a line in there of someone telling them it's wrong to talk to people in that way. I'm not sure how many times I came across with lines like- Connor! or Eden! 

Last month I read another time travel novel, All Our Yesterdays and I can't even begin compare them. AOY was more engaging than After Eden


25 September 2013

What Happens Next by Colleen Clayton


What Happens Next by Colleen Clayton
Publisher: Little Brown Books for Young Readers     
Publication date: October 9th 2012
My rating: 4 stars

How can you talk about something you can’t remember?

Before the ski trip, sixteen-year-old Cassidy “Sid” Murphy was a cheerleader (at the bottom of the pyramid, but still...), a straight-A student, and a member of a solid trio of best friends. When she ends up on a ski lift next to handsome local college boy, Dax Windsor, she’s thrilled; but Dax takes everything from Sid—including a lock of her perfect red curls—and she can’t remember any of it.

Back home and unable to relate to her old friends, Sid drops her college prep classes and takes up residence in the A/V room with only Corey “The Living Stoner” Livingston for company. But as she gets to know Corey (slacker, baker, total dreamboat), Sid finds someone who truly makes her happy. Now, if she can just shake the nightmares and those few extra pounds, everything will be perfect... or so she thinks.

What Happens Next has been on my wishlist since January 2012. I knew I would enjoy the heck of it. And I knew I was right. I'm just not sure why I didn't read it the moment it was released. 

I've mentioned this a couple of times- YA contemporary is my favorite genre. I never get tired of reading about real life situations and how different people deal with them. What Happens Next deals  with two very hard to talk about topics-rape and bulimia. 

A guy rapes Sid on her skiing trip she went with her friend. She doesn't remember the act itself because she was drugged but that doesn't help her feel any better. She withdraws from her best friends, start running two times a day. She starts to sleep and eat less. She tells no one what happened on the ski trip because she want to protect her loved ones. 

I understand why she hid the truth from everyone. Because she feels like it won't help anyone if they do find out. The rapist won't get caught cause and her family and friends will feel terrible and she doesn't want that to happen. It's enough that she feels horrible. 

The romance was slow but satisfying considering what Sid's  going through. Corey were a normal guy with a few problems but whenever they're in the A/V room together everything else disappears and they get the chance to just be

The way Mrs. Clayton wrote her debut novel is extraordinary because I don't think normal people know what it feels like to be a victim of a rape or to suffer from an eating disorder. She must've had an encounter with those type of people to be able to fully understand their daily struggles. 

I recommend this books to those reader who don't shy away from tricky subjects. 


24 September 2013

The Burning Sky by Sherry Thomas


The Bone Season by Samantha Shannon
Publisher: Balzer + Bray     
Publication date: September 17th 2013
My rating: 5 stars


It all began with a ruined elixir and an accidental bolt of lightning…

Iolanthe Seabourne is the greatest elemental mage of her generation—or so she's being told. The one prophesied for years to be the savior of The Realm. It is her duty and destiny to face and defeat the Bane, the greatest mage tyrant the world has ever known. A suicide task for anyone let alone a sixteen-year-old girl with no training, facing a prophecy that foretells a fiery clash to the death.

Prince Titus of Elberon has sworn to protect Iolanthe at all costs but he's also a powerful mage committed to obliterating the Bane to avenge the death of his family—even if he must sacrifice both Iolanthe and himself to achieve his goal.

But Titus makes the terrifying mistake of falling in love with the girl who should have been only a means to an end. Now, with the servants of the Bane closing in, he must choose between his mission and her life.


Do you want the know what was the first thought I got after finishing with The Burning Sky? Well it was - I need to find that 'throws confetti gif' online because that's how I feel right now. That was my first thought. Then I actually went and googled it and found out it's not confetti the dude is throwing but rose petals. *crickets chirp* At least I didn't announce it to the whole world I didn't notice till now, oh wait... I actually had the thing saved on my laptop under throws confetti.gif. 

Annndd...here it is. 
Well, I can sure talk about nothing, can't I? OK, OK. I'm going to review the book even if it's been over a month since I last wrote a review. Hey! I was busy with work! I still am!       Stop! Talking! 

The Burning Sky has all the elements a great fantasy novels should have-magic, unique world building which is convincing at the same time, a dashing hero, a bad ass heroine, wonderful romance and more than 400 pages. The last one is a joke but I do love it when they're longer. Even though I rarely read books over 360 pages. 

You know those books where someone close to our heroine promises her they`ll always be there for her but when the time comes she`s forced to act alone without anyone`s help? Well, in this book, our heroine, Iolanthe, does have help from someone and that person is Titus, the prince of her Realm(or whatever you call it) who`s actually by her side every step of the way and is not afraid to get hurt as long as she stays safe. Now, that`s admirable! Titus even falls for her even though she`s dressed as a guy and has to cut her hair. He tries to keep it under wraps since everyone he cared about ended up dead. He obviously fails and doesn`t hide it well. But by this point I was sold due to Titus`awesomeness! He`s a real man who isn`t actually fearless and yet he would do anything to keep Iolanthe, or Fairfax(her boy name) safe. He will protect her from dragons, mean old ladies, their dangerous inquisitor even from herself. 

Iolanthe has her doubts in Titus especially since she found out he lied to her and tricked her into a blood oath. She finds out she`s a rare elemental mage who isn`t yet convinced she`s all that. But she doesn`t complain even though she goes through so much in such a short period of time. She`s ready to fight and learn. To be better and to strive. Plus, she can play a great boy. It`s not easy being around them 24/7. 

Romance was surprisingly well done. Well, I shouldn`t be so surprised. After all, Sherry Thomas did write a bunch of historical romance novels. But she obviously knows how to write one for teens so I applaud her for that. And that world building! Just marvelous! 

I can`t wait to get my hands on the sequel. Too bad it`s coming out next year. Oh, the dreaded wait! And people will surely tease me with their ARCs while I sit and mope in my room. 



Top Ten Tuesday #25


Top Ten Best Sequels

It was hard to make this list. There are so many books I adore. 


Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins / Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver / It's Not Summer Without You by Jenny Han / Shadow Kiss by Richelle Mead / The Eternity Cure by Julie Kagawa

The easiest pick would be Lola. I love, love, LOVE Lola and Cricket. Stephanie P. is a genius. The reason I  loved Pandemonium is Julian. I wasn't the biggest fan of Delirium but the sequel was just marvelous. Summer trilogy was heartbreaking and will forever be on my top ten lists. Shadow Kiss. Oh, this blasted book! I didn't see it coming! I had to wait months till I found out what happened next. The Eternity Cure was also excellent and Julie did a wonderful job with her characters, especially with Kanin. 


Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare / Red Glove by Holly Black / Unravel Me by Tahereh Mafi / Seduced in the Dark by C.J. Roberts / Shadowfever by Karen Marie Moning

CPrince was crazy intense. Since I'm Team Will I knew what what going to happen and all I could do was watch him pour his heart out to Tessa in vain. :( sniff, sniff  Red Glove! OMG! People! I know there are so many of you who haven't even picked this trilogy up! Please, please, read these books now! I don't even know where to start with Red Glove and Black Heart. Unravel Me! Chapter 62! Warner! His real name! Feels! So many feels! Let me die! Go away while I cry in my room alone! Seduced in the Dark. OK. I actually stayed up all night and read this book. I couldn't put it down. I cried! I yelled! I squeeled!  I flailed! I was basically a mess while reading it. Shadowfever is probably one of the best sequels ever written. It has Mac, Barrons, some more Barrons, feels and Barrons being sexy as hell. 



18 September 2013

Book Review: Antigoddess by Kendare Blake

Antigoddess (Goddess War, #1)BookAntigoddess
Author:  Kendare Blake
File Type: Ebook
Release Date: September 10, 2013
Publisher: Tor Teen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

synopsis:
The Goddess War begins in Antigoddess, the first installment of the new series by acclaimed author of Anna Dressed in Blood, Kendare Blake.
 
Old Gods never die…


Or so Athena thought. But then the feathers started sprouting beneath her skin, invading her lungs like a strange cancer, and Hermes showed up with a fever eating away his flesh. So much for living a quiet eternity in perpetual health.

Desperately seeking the cause of their slow, miserable deaths, Athena and Hermes travel the world, gathering allies and discovering enemies both new and old. Their search leads them to Cassandra—an ordinary girl who was once an extraordinary prophetess, protected and loved by a god. 

These days, Cassandra doesn’t involve herself in the business of gods—in fact, she doesn’t even know they exist. But she could be the key in a war that is only just beginning. 

Because Hera, the queen of the gods, has aligned herself with other of the ancient Olympians, who are killing off rivals in an attempt to prolong their own lives. But these anti-gods have become corrupted in their desperation to survive, horrific caricatures of their former glory. Athena will need every advantage she can get, because immortals don’t just flicker out. 

Every one of them dies in their own way. Some choke on feathers. Others become monsters. All of them rage against their last breath.

The Goddess War is about to begin.




I don’t know about you, but I thought that this was much much MUCH better than Anna dressed in blood and Girl of Nightmares.

If you take the aformentioned books into consideration, we can come to a unanimous conclusion that Kendare Blake sure as hell knows how to write a novel.
She writes things that are very engaging and fast-paced. There is lots of badassness. Lots of gruesome-ness (if necessary). Lots of action (oh boy oh boy) and Lots of looove. (OH YEAH. But not the sappy kind so keep your cringing in, all you cringers!)
I love Kendare Blake’s writing. What I couldn’t love was the fact that what she presented to me earlier lacked that ‘oomph’ factor. That factor which makes people go mad and suspends them into a suspension which screams ‘Pigs are flying and it’s exciting’ (ooh, that rhymes). The factor which makes you LOVE a story and makes you gaga over the characters. It’s a wonderful feeling, you know. Now, while I enjoyed ADIB and GoN, I just couldn’t go past that phatic stage of communication. I just couldn’t get intimate with it. And I crave intimacy with my books. I want to love them in and out, front and back, up and down, left and right, top,centre and bottom and....AND...Long story cut short: just about EVERYWHERE.

And I think with Antigodess, I’m touching new heights of intimacy.
WOW.

This was great.
I have my own reasons to love this book more too. But first things first. Lets start with the general analysis.

Gods are dying.
There are two teams. One’s the good team and one’s the bad one.
Both the teams are looking for ways to prolong their lives but the bad one’s are slightly more whacked as they’re plan of action is to gobble other gods to prolong their lives. Gross.
As for the good team?
The good team is led by Athena, the goddess of battle strategies and wisdom. And then you have the enigmatic comic aspect of the novel, Hermes the god of thieves. Together they search for decent solutions to save their ‘immortality’ without chomping down their brethren or becoming the chow-chow themselves which then leads them to an ordinary human, Cassandra and her group of friends.
But is she really ordinary? Hell no.
She is the KEY to the weapon to the solution of the mind-blasting goddess war.
Wow. Oh wow.
It wasn’t all that exciting as it sounds right now but what follows later had me singing praises. So yes, I’ll stick with the WOWs.

You see, I love badass female protagonists and Athena is the goddess of battle for lords sake! I thought that she was fantastic. I loved her attitude. I loved her I-will-look-you-in-the-eye-and-mock-you-and-smile-at-you attitude. I loved her inner turmoil. I loved how she was fighting her instincts to do what was right for everyone and not just her. You see, it was all about saving the lives of the gods and her own and human beings were these little pawns which would help her achieve her goal because afterall, she’s a goddess and a powerful one. She doesn’t need to care about the lives of mortals and yet, there she was fighting for doing what was rationally right. That doesn't mean that she didn't make mistakes. She was egoistical. She was filled with pride. She was downright bossy because She is , afterall, a goddess. And she was meant to live forever. But now she was dying and all she knows that she isn’t going to die without putting up a fight.

I loved her.

And then there was Cassandra. I get her actions and her reaction to certain events but that doesn’t mean that I have to like them. I mean, she was a great character. A pivotal one. It’s safe to say that the entire plot revolved around her, which is fine since she is the key to the survival of the gods. But then, there were times where I felt like whacking her because she was just so infuriating. What she did made sense but sometimes things that make sense deserve a nice beating. Just saying.
I think the characters were wonderful and well laid out. I loved Cassandra’s brother Henry and her friend, Andie. I loved Aidan. (OMG.) I LOVE LOVE LOVE Hermes! He’s like this cute teddy bear that I intend to hold onto and never let go. Then there was Odysseus. Hah! I can’t wait to see his luring tactics when it comes to reeling in a girl.
What I’m telling you right now won’t make any sense until you read the book and I strongly urge you to catch hold of one because it’s bloody good.

And now for the BIGGEST reason of why I love this book to bits.

TROY.

Do you remember Troy? The movie?

Brad Pitt? Eric Bana? Yes?*sighs*

Ever since I saw that movie, I’ve been in love with it. Infact, I love war movies. Be it of any period and Troy is one of my favourites!(If you haven't seen the movie, YOU MUST.)
You see, Brad Pitt, is Achilles and Achilles is a fascinating character. That man destroyed empires and in the died because of a stupid arrow. And Hector? The brave prince of Troy who was the only man with the balls to compete and stand his ground with Achilles. The Trojan War itself is a very interesting concept in itself. I remember screaming at the TV screen at those stupid Trojans who thought that the Greeks had waved the white flag and had left. I was screaming more when they decided to take that stupid Trojan horse INSIDE their impenetrable kingdom because they thought that the Greeks were nice people who liked leaving mementos. Can people really be so stupid? Troy was destroyed and the royal family was murdered and THEY FUCKING KILLED BRAD PITT. Brad Pitt was not supposed to die. Why must all the nice guys die?!?! *weeps*(Thinks about what happened in the book and starts to cry more.)
The story of Troy fascinates me till now. (even though the Trojan were idiots.) and the Trojan story was a MAJOR element of the story-line and I think, Greek Mythology fascinates most of the people on this planet, so , obviously, this a Win-win situation.
Although, I love the book, I will warn you that there is not much that will surprise you in the book because well....nothing is that surprising. But the tempo of the book is exciting and energetic and that exceedingly makes up for whatever flaws I seem to be blind to.
The only thing, I ask from a book is to give me originality and an engrossing story. The concept here is clearly, very original and engrossing, it is. So if I were to read these 400 pages again and again, I would do it again and again, with love.

Oh and you guys must read it too.

"Everything born must die." she repeated.








17 September 2013

Top Ten Tuesday #24


Top Ten Books On My Fall 2013 TBR list

Every Day by David Levithan / Fangirl and Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell / Golden by Jessi Kirby / The Spectacular Now by Tim Tharp

My Fall TBR pile is full of books I already own or that have been ordered. I'm still waiting for Every Day, Fangirl, Eleanor and Park and Golden to arrive. I read Rainbow's Attachments last spring and loved it! Can't wait to read her two newest books soon! Every Day has been on my wishlist since forever and I finally ordered a paperback for myself. I won Golden a few months ago but the blogger forgot to order it for me until last month. And I plan to order and read The Spectacular Now before I see the movie. 

Crown of Midnight by Sarah J.Maas / Stormdancer by Jay Kristoff / Finnikin of the Rock by Melina Marchetta / Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo / In the Shadow of the Blackbirds by Cat Winters

I have the first four books on the second part of the list. I don't have a legitimate excuse why I still haven't read these. I guess, I wasn't in the fantasy mood. But I will read them all! I swear! Poor Finnikin. He's been sitting on my shelf for almost two years. The other three I got this summer. And I really want to read In the Shadow of the Blackbirds. Seems like such an interesting book. 

Since I finally found a job (only till the second half of October, but who cares, it's still paid in cash which means-more books) I won't have much time to read. The job is pretty stressful and it's from 9AM till 9PM for 15 days straight. Whoever has the strength to read after that is a true hero. 


08 September 2013

Series Overview: Ashes Trilogy - Ilsa J.Bick



Series: Ashes, Shadows, Monsters

Author: Ilsa J. Bick
Series: Ashes Trilogy
Genre: Young Adult, Dystopia, Zombies, Survival
Publisher: EgmontUSA
Average Series Rating:


Series summary:

It could happen tomorrow . . .
An electromagnetic pulse flashes across the sky, destroying every electronic device, wiping out every computerized system, and killing billions.
Alex hiked into the woods to say good-bye to her dead parents and her personal demons. Now desperate to find out what happened after the pulse crushes her to the ground, Alex meets up with Tom—a young soldier—and Ellie, a girl whose grandfather was killed by the EMP.
For this improvised family and the others who are spared, it’s now a question of who can be trusted and who is no longer human.
Author Ilsa J. Bick crafts a terrifying and thrilling post-apocalyptic novel about a world that could become ours at any moment, where those left standing must learn what it means not just to survive, but to live amidst the devastation.

Judge A Series By Its Covers:


I'm not sure if everyone's aware of the first cover of Ashes. It was this terrifying and ugly gray face with murky eyes. I wasn't too happy about reading it so I didn't even read the blurb until the cover change. Eventually I bought the book on TBD because it was on sale. And I still didn't read it because I didn't get this beautiful black/yellow combination but the UK edition. Even though I'm not a huge fan of cover changes after a book or two are released but in this case I approve. 


What I Liked:


  • Most of the characters. I just couldn't help myself and root for almost all of them. There was even a certain minor character which shined more than out MC, Alex. I'll get back to him later. ;)
  • It's a book about people losing their minds and eating other people. What's more scarier than that?
  • The significance of titles. I love these titles. The represent the major themes in all 3 novels. Ashes- to leave the past behind; Shadows- what hides in the corners or everyone's mind; Monsters- fight the monster within or let it win. 



What I Didn’t Like:


  • At times I was frustrated about the lack of zombies. I guess I expected more of them to start popping out in Ashes and Shadows. They got their shot in Monsters
  • Some might say these books are slow paced but I didn't think of them as such, most of the time. There were certain moments when I wanted nothing more than to skim a page or two because nothing was happening but even though there was no blood and gore there were still some very important things revealed. 

Do I Recommend It?


Yes, if you are willing to not think about the 496 pages long book and it's sequels (528 and 821 pages which brings you to a total of 1845 pages of explosive action) 


Favorite Book in the Series:


  • This is a tough one. I did love the first half of Ashes but overall, Monsters wins this round. It was unputdownable, exciting, messing with my mind/heart/soul. It made me cry so many times I'm not even sure how many times I cursed the life and the author for making these characters suffer. 



Favorite Character(s):


  • Hands down, Wolf. I don't want to spoil anything. I found him interesting the moment he appeared in Alex's life. He's one of the Changed humans who doesn't speak. That didn't prevent him from being the most interesting character. There's was just something gentle and deadly about him. Even though he was her captor he was always trying to protect her from other Changed. He was like a guardian angel. I know this sounds horrible but that's how I see him. How can a cannibal be a guardian angel, you ask? Well, you'll just have to read this trilogy to find out. 



Credit for Series Overview goes to Effortlessly Reading

Heartbeat by Elizabeth Scott


Heartbeat by Elizabeth Scott
Publisher: Harlequin Teen    
Publication date: January 28th 2014
My rating: 4 stars


Life. Death. And...Love?
Emma would give anything to talk to her mother one last time. Tell her about her slipping grades, her anger with her stepfather, and the boy with the bad reputation who might be the only one Emma can be herself with.
But Emma can't tell her mother anything. Because her mother is brain-dead and being kept alive by machines for the baby growing inside her.
Meeting bad-boy Caleb Harrison wouldn't have interested Old Emma. But New Emma-the one who exists in a fog of grief, who no longer cares about school, whose only social outlet is her best friend Olivia-New Emma is startled by the connection she and Caleb forge.
Feeling her own heart beat again wakes Emma from the grief that has grayed her existence. Is there hope for life after death-and maybe, for love?

I've said this and I'll say it again. Elizabeth Scott is an excellent author. Family issues are always more important than getting a new boyfriend in her stories and I admire that. When I read she teamed up with Harlequin Teen I was so happy because it seems that S&S didn't promote her books at all. I remember when Miracle came out and I didn't even know it was released for months. Not until I was looking for some recommendations and stumbled upon it. 

Emma's mother died but machines are still keeping her alive because she is pregnant. Emma is angry at her stepfather for picking the baby instead of her mom. They had a great relationship and it all changed the day her mother died. Not they hardly talk and when they do, they fight. Emma's best friend is her only solace. She keeps her occupied, away from all the negative thoughts she has about her mother. Emma is still thinking about Anthony, her ex which wasn't even an ex but things change fast when she sees the local druggy, Caleb in hospital. 

At times I was really angry at Emma because of the way she acted towards her stepdad when he was clearly still in mourning. She was either snapping or ignoring him. Sure, he pooled away from her and was more concerned about this unborn son but still... He was so nice and he did love Emma like she was his daughter. In spite of her lashing out I couldn't shake the thought what I would do in a similar situation. Would I try to calm down or blame everyone else for the things they weren't even responsible for? Who knows. 

Emma and Caleb's relationship blossomed with time and they actually had a lot in common. They both lost someone important. Caleb turned out to be a pretty decent guy. It's not every day we get to read about a guy blushing in front of girl. Most are confidant and popular which got old pretty fast. 

Elizabeth developed great minor characters like Emma's talkative best friend who hates gadgets, even the smart ex, Anthony. 

If you enjoy reading heartbreaking stories with 'the light in the end of the tunnel' then you can't miss Heartbeat. It will make you cry at least 3 times and it will make you smile. Another Elizabeth Scott hit! 



04 September 2013

Book Review: Crown Of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas


Crown of Midnight (Throne of Glass, #2)BookCrown of Midnight
Author: Sarah J. Maas
File type: paperback
Release date: August 15, 2013
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Childrens
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

synopsis: 
An assassin’s loyalties are always in doubt.
But her heart never wavers.

After a year of hard labor in the Salt Mines of Endovier, eighteen-year-old assassin Celaena Sardothien has won the king's contest to become the new royal assassin. Yet Celaena is far from loyal to the crown – a secret she hides from even her most intimate confidantes.

Keeping up the deadly charade—while pretending to do the king's bidding—will test her in frightening new ways, especially when she's given a task that could jeopardize everything she's come to care for. And there are far more dangerous forces gathering on the horizon -- forces that threaten to destroy her entire world, and will surely force Celaena to make a choice. 

Where do the assassin’s loyalties lie, and who is she most willing to fight for?



I started loving this book as soon as I came across this:

"Her lovely dresses and ornate clothes were gone, replaced by an unforgiving,close-cut black tunic and pants, her hair pulled back in a long braid that fell into the folds of that dark cloak she was always wearing..."

You see, when I met Celaena Sardothien, I thought that she was the most vain and stupid 'assassin' that I had ever come across. In fact, if you think about it, there was nothing really assassin-y about her. All she cared about was how pretty she looked and how ugly everybody else were. There was this one time when I actually found her badass, but even that moment was quickly overpowered by her absolutely mental attitude.

And now? I guess, we never really got to know her. It makes sense. It was the first book. If Ms.Maas had played all her cards right at the start then would Crown of Midnight be CROWN OF MIDNIGHT?
Because holy hell, this book is absofreakinglutely fantastic. There were so many times when I kept on wondering if I was reading the sequel of the previous book or some other random book. Seriously. This was so unexpected.

At this stage, even if there were any flaws, I don't think I noticed any one of them because I was so busy picking up my jaw from where it fell on the ground. I think I was in this perpetual state of gaping and gawking throughout the entire book. There were those twists. There was Chaol (OMG, you girls. I know WHAT you guys were talking about. *fans herself*). Then there was Celaena. I think I have even started to like Dorian as well. But, Celaena stole the show.

She was so BADASS. I can't even begin to tell you how much my insides were quaking whenever she went into her assassin mode.

"It was war upon them all. Let them tremble in fear at what they had awoken."

I loved this Celaena. I loved her choices, her decisions, her thoughts, her ideas because they made sense. I understood why she did what she did and there was never a moment when I felt that I needed to scream at her. She was so so good.

Chaol and Dorian. I remember not finding either of them appealing in Throne Of Glass. Given a choice, yes, I would have always gone with the captain but, like I said before, I never found any of them appealing. They were these characters that had been placed there for the sole purpose of a love triangle and I just couldn't bring myself to care about them. And now? HOLY CRAP. Dudes, where have you been?
Chaol and Dorian are very different from each other. While Dorian may come across as a person who's much softer in his demeanour, it's safe to say that it was Dorian's and not Chaol's decisions and ideas that I thought were much more rational. Chaol on the other hand, is all man and awesomeness. IF Chaol enticed your hormones in ToG then in CoM, he will entice your soul. I just..I just...I just don't know what more to say?

It really is hard to write a review about something you truly truly love because sometimes what you feel is so hard to explain and put into words. There were so many things in Crown of Midnight that had me shaking and jumping. I love me some actions and it was full of it. There were so many mysteries and so much of love, that I still get a bit choked when I think about it. Many times during the book when I was doing my side business of guessing the storyline, I just kept on wondering if everything was as predictable as it seems, but NO! Ms. Maas made sure that she twists you in her coil of awesomeness every which way and that you love it! And love it, I did.

Everything is so much better in this one. EVERYTHING IS BEAUTIFUL. I never want to let go of this book. This book has raised the bar to such an extent that if the third book doesn't outdo this one then I would be left heartbroken.

You made me like you Celaena. I want you to make me love you. I want to love you. For all I know, I probably do.

My review is such a hotch-potch of thoughts and emotions. I start writing about something and then I start remembering my experience with the book and then I start thinking about something else and then I start writing about that! So I apologize if this review seems a tad incoherent.

Did I tell you how much I loved the characters? I think I already did. But I have so many emotions right now and I just do not want to stop. No character was perfect. They had their good and bad days and when they felt happy, I genuinely felt elated but when it came their misery, I swear, my heart broke every single time with each and every blow. Did I mention the storyline? I think I did that too! I just want you all to know that this was one hell of a blockbuster and that if you didn't read this one then you will be missing out on a very successful book.

If you are a person who was initially very skeptical about reading this one? DON'T BE. Forget your apprehension and just dive into it. And for those who loved it, you're all bookie-clairvoyants. You just knew that this was going to be awesome.

"We'll never be a normal boy and girl,will we?" she managed to say. "No", he breathed, eyes blazing. "We won't."

*sighs*

DAMN YOU 2014.



02 September 2013

Monthly To Read List: September 2013 + August recap

It's that time of the year! September has arrived and it bringing so many exciting new releases. I only pre-ordered Fangirl but I'm going to order The Dream Thieves soon and I won The Coldest Girl in Coldtown. Here are the new September releases I'm going to read for sure.

September New Releases:




I know this is a lot of books but keep in mind it's September we're talking about. It's the biggest book month, in my opinion.Fingers crossed I'll have enough time to read at least half of them. You can click on pictures for more info. 

Like every year, I have a lot of work to be done around our house so I don't have plenty of time to read. Most of the time audiobooks've been my saviors. I put my headphone's on whenever I'm working and I did read a lot of urban fantasies, again. I've read 29 books in August! Oh,wow. :O But I didn't review most of them because I'm usually so tired I can't wait to fall asleep. Here's the link to my GR challenge if anyone's interested in what I've been reading. 

Zemira's reviews:  


Devyani's Reviews: