Empire of Storms

Goodreads Synopsis:    The long path to the throne has only just begun for Aelin Galathynius as war looms on the horizon. Loyalties have been broken and bought, friends have been lost and gained, and those who possess magic find themselves at odds with those who don't.

With her heart sworn to the warrior-prince by her side, and her fealty pledged to the people she is determined to save, Aelin will delve into the depths of her power to protect those she loves. But as monsters emerge from the horrors of the past, and dark forces become poised to claim her world, the only chance for salvation will lie in a desperate quest that may mark the end of everything Aelin holds dear.

In this breathtaking fifth installment of the New York Timesbestselling Throne of Glass series, Aelin will have to choose what—and who—to sacrifice if she's to keep the world of Erilea from breaking apart.

My Thoughts:

-    I've been dreading this review.

-    I'm so disappointed, and a little angry, about this book. I feel betrayed.

-    The biggest cause of my grief and angst is the porn. This series started out as a fun and edgy YA fantasy. I've cheered on this series, raved about it, defended it, and recommended it to a lot of people, including some teens. I feel like it wasn't fair for the author or publisher to let detailed sex scenes into the 5th book of a series. 

-    Also, why can't people just keep their clothes on. Several of the characters were just randomly naked a lot. Why? It was like a weird cartoon antic.

-    My second biggest complaint was that a lot of these amazing characters were diminished. Rowan was just a dog on a leash for most of the book. It was so frustrating. A lot of the men became dogs on a leash. Lorcan, who gets his power from the devil, became a dog on a leash! Aelin seemed so different. She wasn't a snarky kick butt girl anymore. She had so many doubts and needed so much comfort and support until the crazy unbelievable ending which I will address later.

-    Lysandra and Elide had some great character development. They stole the show for me in this book.

-    Does everyone need to be paired up? In the first four books, only a few of the characters had romantic interests, and all of a sudden, everyone is being paired up with someone! Why!? They don't need to be, unless every male character needs to be a dog on a leash!

-    I didn't buy the ending, and I didn't like it. I don't understand why Aelin needed to keep so many secrets, especially from the small group of people that she trusts and loves more than anything. I also don't think Aelin could predict EVERYONE's moves. There is no way she could predict everyone's motives and what they would do, especially Lorcan. She didn't even know where he was! I hope that wasn't too spoilerish.

-    I was so disappointed with this book, that I've decided to take all the books in the series to a book swap event later this month. I don't want these books in my house anymore. I've never felt so betrayed by a book before. 

Previous books in the Throne of Glass series

(covers are linked to my thoughts)

  

Queen of Shadows

Goodreads Synopsis:    The queen has returned.

Everyone Celaena Sardothien loves has been taken from her. But she’s at last returned to the empire—for vengeance, to rescue her once-glorious kingdom, and to confront the shadows of her past…

She has embraced her identity as Aelin Galathynius, Queen of Terrasen. But before she can reclaim her throne, she must fight.

She will fight for her cousin, a warrior prepared to die for her. She will fight for her friend, a young man trapped in an unspeakable prison. And she will fight for her people, enslaved to a brutal king and awaiting their lost queen’s triumphant return.

The fourth volume in the New York Times bestselling series continues Celaena’s epic journey and builds to a passionate, agonizing crescendo that might just shatter her world.

My Thoughts:  (Spoilers for previous books)

-    The bandage to my bleeding heart has finally been delivered!! Things get worse before they get better, but I was really satisfied with the ending of this book. I felt like there was a little bit of hope, and the characters have a moment to rest.

-    At first I felt like I was going to kill someone if Chaol and Aelin didn't get back together, but I'm actually happy with how things turned out. Chaol and Aelin have grown and changed so much that they just aren't the same people, and they have very different objectives and paths to take. I'm glad they were able to reconcile their broken relationship into friendship.

-    The tension between Aelin and Rowan is delicious! Oh man! 

-    I LOVE these characters, and I grow the love them more and more with each book. I love the journeys they have all taken and the development they have all had. 

-    Manon is SO intriguing! At first I thought her story was boring and I had this "what does this have to do with anything" attitude, but now I've come to really like her and her story, and I love that we are finally seeing how she fits in to the big picture. I'm excited to see what else she is going to do.

-    I was very moved by this book. These stories just bring out so much emotion in me. I laugh, I cry, and I get SUPER angry. It is awesome!

-    I can't wait for the rest of the series!!! 

Previous books in the Throne of Glass series

(covers are linked to my thoughts)

  

The Assassin's Blade

From Goodreads:    Celaena Sardothien is her kingdom's most feared assassin. Though she works for the powerful and ruthless Assassin's Guild, Celaena yields to no one and trusts only her fellow killer for hire, Sam.

When Celaena's scheming master, Arobynn Hamel, dispatches her on missions that take her from remote islands to hostile deserts, she finds herself acting independently of his wishes and questioning her own allegiance. Along the way, she makes friends and enemies alike, and discovers that she feels far more for Sam than just friendship. But by defying Arobynn's orders, Celaena risks unimaginable punishment, and with Sam by her side, he is in danger, too. They will have to risk it all if they hope to escape Arobynn's clutches and if they fail, they'll lose not just a chance at freedom, but their lives.

A prequel to Throne of Glass, this collection of five novellas offers listeners a deeper look into the history of this cunning assassin and her enthralling and deadly world.

Included in this volume:

The Assassin and the Pirate Lord
The Assassin and the Healer
The Assassin and the Desert
The Assassin and the Underworld
The Assassin and the Empire

My Thoughts:

-    Loved this! 

-    I cannot get enough of this world and its characters! 

-    Even though the book was five short stories. The stories read like one continuous story. I liked that. It wasn't disjointed or anything.

-    Oh the emotions! Celaena just can't get a break. Her life has never been a happy one. It is full of loss and betrayal. My heart bleeds for her!

-    It was so fun to get to know Sam! I loved watching Celaena's relationship with him grow. 

-    It was cool and awful to meet Arobynn. I hated the mind games he played. In the end, I just wanted Celaena to gut him like a fish! 

-    It was really interesting to read about Celaena's history. I hope her future is brighter. I have a feeling it is going to get worse before it gets better, but I hope she has a happy ending.

-    While this satisfied my crave for these books for now. I can't wait until the next book!! 

-    (Spoiler: Why didn't Sam and Celaena join the Silent Assassins!?!? They would have been happy there, and Sam would still be alive!!!!)

Heir of Fire

Goodreads Synopsis:    Lost and broken, Celaena Sardothien’s only thought is to avenge the savage death of her dearest friend: as the King of Adarlan’s Assassin, she is bound to serve this tyrant, but he will pay for what he did. Any hope Celaena has of destroying the king lies in answers to be found in Wendlyn. Sacrificing his future, Chaol, the Captain of the King’s Guard, has sent Celaena there to protect her, but her darkest demons lay in that same place. If she can overcome them, she will be Adarlan’s biggest threat – and his own toughest enemy. 

While Celaena learns of her true destiny, and the eyes of Erilea are on Wendlyn, a brutal and beastly force is preparing to take to the skies. Will Celaena find the strength not only to win her own battles, but to fight a war that could pit her loyalties to her own people against those she has grown to love?

My Thoughts:

-    This series is so epic and amazing! It is one of my new favorite high fantasy series of all time!

-    Yes, I snapped at my family when they interrupted my reading time. I kinda feel bad about it now, but I was just so enveloped in the story. 

-    I love that this book was mostly about the characters finding themselves. Celaena obviously has a lot of baggage she had to deal with and face, and I liked getting to know her better as she faced her inner demons. Chaol was trying to figure out his loyalties, motives, and what he wanted to do with himself. It was nice to see Dorian move one and grow as a character.

-    I liked the new characters that were introduced. Sorscha was an interesting character. I didn't know if I should trust her or not. I liked Rowan a lot even though he was a jerk. Celaena and Rowan really needed each other. 

-    The parts about Manon were intriguing. It was something new thrown into the mix, and I didn't want to feel sympathy or like the even iron ladies, but Manon and Abraxos are intriguing. I'm excited to see what role they will play in the grand scheme of things. 

-    The ending was OMG!!! I need the next book! It is killing me! Who knows what the king will do next!? What is Celaena going to do next? It is crazy awesomeness! 

Previous book in the Throne of Glass series

(covers are linked to my thoughts)

 

Crown of Midnight

From Goodreads:    "A line that should never be crossed is about to be breached.

It puts this entire castle in jeopardy—and the life of your friend."

From the throne of glass rules a king with a fist of iron and a soul as black as pitch. Assassin Celaena Sardothien won a brutal contest to become his Champion. Yet Celaena is far from loyal to the crown. She hides her secret vigilantly; she knows that the man she serves is bent on evil.

Keeping up the deadly charade becomes increasingly difficult when Celaena realizes she is not the only one seeking justice. As she tries to untangle the mysteries buried deep within the glass castle, her closest relationships suffer. It seems no one is above questioning her allegiances—not the Crown Prince Dorian; not Chaol, the Captain of the Guard; not even her best friend, Nehemia, a foreign princess with a rebel heart.

Then one terrible night, the secrets they have all been keeping lead to an unspeakable tragedy. As Celaena's world shatters, she will be forced to give up the very thing most precious to her and decide once and for all where her true loyalties lie...and whom she is ultimately willing to fight for.

My Thoughts:

-    Wow! Amazing! I need the third book NOW!

-    I couldn't put this book down. I craved it. I couldn't stop thinking of the characters and what was happening to them.

-    The tension between Chaol and Celeana in the first half of the book was delicious!

-    I feel like my heart was ripped out and stomped on! It hasn't fully healed yet. I hope the next book provides some remedies.

-    This were some pretty violent scenes, and I enjoyed them all. Definitely a 16+ book.

-    I think the new covers are a vast improvement. I love Celeana in her bad-a glory. I liked that the back of the book was Celeana in her red gown. 

-    I'm so attached to these characters. My heart bleeds for them! 

-    The reveals about Celeana and her past are so awesome!

-    Ah!! I just can't gush enough about this series! GUSH! GUSH!

Previous book in the Throne of Glass series

(covers are linked to my thoughts)

Fan Art Friday: Throne of Glass

I read Throne of Glass this week, and I LOVED it! I knew there would be some awesome art to showcase.

The last two are my favorite. I love the colors and style.

Which is your favorite?

Throne of Glass

Goodreads Synopsis:    After serving out a year of hard labor in the salt mines of Endovier for her crimes, 18-year-old assassin Celaena Sardothien is dragged before the Crown Prince. Prince Dorian offers her her freedom on one condition: she must act as his champion in a competition to find a new royal assassin. Her opponents are men-thieves and assassins and warriors from across the empire, each sponsored by a member of the king's council. If she beats her opponents in a series of eliminations, she'll serve the kingdom for three years and then be granted her freedom. 

Celaena finds her training sessions with the captain of the guard, Westfall, challenging and exhilirating. But she's bored stiff by court life. Things get a little more interesting when the prince starts to show interest in her... but it's the gruff Captain Westfall who seems to understand her best. 

Then one of the other contestants turns up dead... quickly followed by another. 

Can Celaena figure out who the killer is before she becomes a victim? As the young assassin investigates, her search leads her to discover a greater destiny than she could possibly have imagined.

My Thoughts:

-    This was AMAZING! I loved it! 

-    I have to admit, I like the new covers better than the original. I'm glad they changed it, and I NEVER say that. 

-    Celaena is full of kick-a awesomeness! I loved her snarkiness and her determination to be the best she could.

-    There was a Secret of Nimh line in this book! I laughed when I read it. 

-    Why must there be a love triangle? Why!? That is my only complaint about this book.

-    The story is complex, but it wasn't hard for my to understand. I followed all the Wyrdmark stuff and the competition. There were a lot of characters, but they were easy to keep track of.

-    The characters seem older than they are. I felt like I was reading an adult high fantasy book. It was so fun! I love that YA can be just as awesome. 

-    This is one of those EPIC books that I love to gush over, but I don't feel like I can find the right words to describe exactly why I loved it. I wish I could. GO READ IT!