Showing posts with label a court of thorns and roses. Show all posts
Showing posts with label a court of thorns and roses. Show all posts

Saturday, 6 August 2016

A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J Maas Book Review


“Tell me what you see.”
“A world divided in two.”

Feyre survived Amarantha’s clutches to return to the Spring Court—but at a steep cost. Though she now has the powers of the High Fae, her heart remains human, and it can’t forget the terrible deeds she performed to save Tamlin’s people.

Nor has Feyre forgotten her bargain with Rhysand, High Lord of the feared Night Court. As Feyre navigates its dark web of politics, passion, and dazzling power, a greater evil looms—and she might be key to stopping it. But only if she can harness her harrowing gifts, heal her fractured soul, and decide how she wishes to shape her future—and the future of a world cleaved in two.

SPOILER FREE REVIEW
∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞

If the last book, A Court of Thorns and Roses was anything to go by, you'll know that this book will be a hell of a read. Love, heartbreak, comedic dialogue, steamy scenes, major action, magical moments and emotional flashbacks will have you rolling on the floor laughing and crying at the same time! If I could convince anyone to become a bookworm, I would immediately recommend this book. Even though it is a sequel and you wouldn't really understand much unless you read the first, this book would have to be the one I'd tell anyone to read first just because it's totally amazing and once you get in, you don't come back!

Let's come back to the fearless protagonist, Feyre. She is now blazing bright with all her high fae glory and argumentative comebacks, however this time around, the unforgettable memories of her rough time Under the Mountain has left an imminent mark on her mind and soul. As a former sufferer of depression I can understand her every struggle after having been ripped to shreds in every way possible by Amarantha. Thankfully, maybe not to Feyre's delight, Rhysand saves her just when she thinks she might make a big mistake and our world starts to open up with glorious opportunities when we finally get to see the Night Court in it's true habitat. In this instalment we also get to see the Summer Court and more of the human's side of the wall where Nesta, Elain and their father still reside. However, everyone is inevitably in way more danger than the first novel and for those hardcore fans who may be reading this, it may not be so hard to figure out who might be behind that evil cunning plan.

The plot couldn't have been structured anymore perfectly and if I were Sarah's best friend, I'd be asking her if I could sit quietly in a chair next to her while she writes so I can learn of the secret powers she has which helps her make her novels such masterpieces (as creepy as that sounds, I'm just a budding author who needs these secrets to make a living also). Everything that is written falls into place so well and with every turn, there is a twist, even if you don't realise it at the time. This is where I tell you that you'll be re-reading it a few thousand times after you finish your first round. The dialogue is witty, hilarious and well put together. The characters are all widely diverse which is another thing that I love and something that needs to be talked about, and practiced more, in YA literature. One main thing that was brought into this sequel was the idea of mates. Now this is a spoiler free review so I won't say who, but this absolutely hooked me because it's such a romantic and sexy thing––one of which I wish humans took more seriously––that honestly I couldn't bear to put the book down once I had read the scene where it was introduced. Love is such a massive theme in YA fiction these days, aside from the main plot it usually gives the characters more motivation to strive and work for what they want and who they want. As much as people may try to shoot good novels like this one down for tiny little things, they can't lie about the fact that this had to be one of the best books written since the Harry Potter series (braces for other-fandoms impact)! I honestly think that if it hadn't have been for Sarah's godly-literature skills and sexy chapter reads, I don't think I'd be doing any of this right now. I would probably just be moping around trying to find better inspiration for my book but failing epically because I wouldn't have such a talented person to look up to. Now I'm feeling like next time Sarah comes to New Zealand, I'll have to give her a massive hug for giving me the best guidance of my life (and for saving my life too)! 💜


✨  Things I LOVED about A Court of Mist and Fury

* Rhys has WAAAYY more of a storyline this time around and despite my first thoughts of him from ACOTAR, I've completely turned around since then. That being said, I am someone who always gives second chances! Go Rhysand! You have won my heart, High Lord.

* If you think there's any book that is written better than this, apart from the Throne of Glass series of course, then we're going to have a problem. Well not really, I don't like fighting over what series is better but I cannot accept that anyone would not like these books. Both of Sarah's book series are currently being adapted for the big screens! ACOTAR will be a movie trilogy and ToG will be a TV series! Nothing would be better to replace Game of Thrones and Divergent with than these two! Yup, I'm a happy chick!

* Feyre learns that she got a little extra mojo from all the High Lord's of Prythian than just her High Fae form! I mean (ACOTAR SPOILER COMING.....) being resurrected by each of the strongest High Fae's in the land doesn't come without a price. And if Feyre's going to have any bigger purpose in this novel, it's going to have to be this way and I'm not even disappointed in the slightest! But you could tell that already anyway so I'm just going to wait patiently for the movie of ACOTAR and TV show of ToG to come out!

* Could this novel have gotten any steamier? I mean I know Sarah mentioned that she had basically banned her family from reading it but that alone did not prepare me for what was to come! I don't usually like anything that resembles erotic fiction - however the content inside this book was actually bearable enough that I didn't put it down. Maybe it was just the love of the relationship and feels that came with it or maybe it was because I knew there was more to it than just the act. Either way it was the definition of #RelationshipGoals and that's what I loved most about it (This last part may or may not have made me want to cry because this relationship definitely wouldn't exist in real life because males don't seem to be as perfect as this one did unfortunately...).

I loved this book more than words can explain and for that I have to give it a 5 out of 5 stars! Not just because I seem to love ALL of Sarah's books and that is mostly so because of the fact that she is an amazing author and actually does slay the author game with every book she writes. (Plus I've been using her first name instead of her last name because I think once you've met the author, it's safe to say you've passed that stranger line "inserts cool emoji here"). Thanks for making my month yet again and I'm stoked that Empire of Storms is coming out in the next month because I'm going to need another massive dose of awesome feminist power from Aelin very, very soon!

Go add A Court of Mist and Fury to your Goodreads list HERE

Go buy it on MightyApe with 1 day delivery in New Zealand HERE
Buy it on Book Depository with free shipping world wide HERE

Are you suffering with a mental illness such as depression or anxiety? Here are some helpful links from BetterHelp that you can check out and find tips on how to live a happier life:

BetterHelp Advice - Anxiety
BetterHelp Advice - Depression
How To Deal with Depression: Tips, Techniques And Finding the Right Treatment

How Do I Find A Therapist Near Me?



Monday, 20 July 2015

Throne Of Glass by Sarah J. Maas: Book Review


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.

SPOILER FREE REVIEW
∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞

Another amazing book which I could not bear put down by Sarah J. Maas! I am continued to be amazed by this woman's literature that she releases. It has been so long since I have read something which has enabled me to read for hours on end and not stop. Compared to her latest novel, "A Court of Thorns and Roses", I feel like I can tell that "Throne Of Glass" was definitely her first novel but the fact that this book took ten years to be published astounds me. This is truly an enticing read about Celaena Sardothian being chosen by the Crown Prince of Adarlan to participate in his father's contest to become the King's Champion. Right now I am dying to start on "Crown of Midnight" which is currently less than an arm-stretch away from me, but right now I have to focus on pouring my thoughts and feelings out onto this page and I know that will be inevitably hard with such an amazing novel as I can't quite explain how much I loved it.

Celaena Sardothian first appeared to me as a very selfish, ostentatious, stubborn young girl who had been broken and teared down by the difficulties of her life, before and after being thrown in the Salt Mines of Endovier which is practically like a death sentence to most. Fortunately, Celaena was a strong enough assasin to survive a year of slaving away there which impressed me for a girl at eighteen years of age. Gradually, as I got to learn more about her, her backstory and understand the reasons she acted a certain way, I found myself to be quite fond of Celaena and felt strengthened by her know-it-all attitude and confidence in her skills. The way she didn't fall for Dorian immediately like most of the girls in the castle did but appreciated his appearance, along with Chaol's, was pretty settling as well because it showed that love and fornication weren't the main things on her mind. Celaena is a strong yet swift character, a powerful heroine. The way she inspires the people around her and gathers eyes when showing off her skills at the tests makes me aspire to be like her in the way that she can do so well at one or a few things and make people realise that they underestimated her. She is definitely a protagonist that I look up to, among many other great female characters. The way she doesn't let a man or relationship define her is what I love the most about her sassy character.

The relationship developments in the story were all well played out and scripted! I feel like even though Celaena and Nehemia, the princess of Eyllwe who took a liking to her because of her respect and the fact that she spoke Eyllwe as well, clicked at their first introduction, there was a major development with their friendship throughout the entire novel and by the end there was real trust and respect between the two girls. Chaol was obviously the one that took the most convincing from the beginning as he is the Captain of the Guard and his duty was to protect everyone, especially from assasins such as Celaena so he was really conflicted through most of the novel but I liked how their friendship grew easier as the novel went on and there was more trust gained through talks, training and even reading together. Nox was a surprising match for a friend as I didn't think Celaena would be very trusting of the other Champions, but he proved his worthiness and I feel like he was a good friend who understood the pressures of the competition well enough for Celaena to relate. I hope in the future that they meet up again and become good friends. Dorian was the guy that I shipped (in non-fangirl terms that means "want them together as a couple") with Celaena because he was so sweet and shared the same interests as her, not to mention that he has his own library which he granted Celaena permission to take from and read in her moments of boredom and loneliness. Which girl wouldn't love that? Dorian turns out to have a kind nature and eventually proves to Celaena that he is nothing like he seems to be or that he is anything like his father, the King of Adarlan. I love how they get so embarrassed around each other and their faces always go red at the slightest hint of something personal about themselves or intriguing about the other. Their friendship was ultimately my favourite.

Overall I was absolutely blown away by this book and I have to give it a 5 out of 5 because there is literally nothing at fault. I'm not saying that it's perfect, but it's perfect for me! I'm ready to finally bury myself away in Crown Of Midnight and never leave the house. Thank you Sarah J. Maas for creating my happy place.


Go add Throne Of Glass to your Goodreads list HERE


Find more out about my writing career at:

Friday, 12 June 2015

A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas: Book Review



When nineteen-year-old huntress Feyre kills a wolf in the woods, a beast-like creature arrives to demand retribution for it. Dragged to a treacherous magical land she only knows about from legends, Feyre discovers that her captor is not an animal, but Tamlin—one of the lethal, immortal faeries who once ruled their world.

As she dwells on his estate, her feelings for Tamlin transform from icy hostility into a fiery passion that burns through every lie and warning she's been told about the beautiful, dangerous world of the Fae. But an ancient, wicked shadow grows over the faerie lands, and Feyre must find a way to stop it . . . or doom Tamlin—and his world—forever.

SPOILER FREE REVIEW
∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞

Prior to A Court of Thorns and Roses, I had never read a novel written by Sarah J. Maas and now that I have, I can't wait to get my hands on her other series, Throne Of Glass, not to mention the highly anticipated sequel to this one that comes out sometime in the following year of 2016. Reading this book was a new experience for me as I have also previously not read a New Adult book before but according to many great reviews by booktubers on YouTube, I felt a need to buy it and accustom myself to Maas' literature. As I had hoped, I was not disappointed and this book has turned out to be such a favourite of mine that it's still reeling in my head long after the last page was finished.

Feyre is such an amazing character: through her hardship of being so young and losing not only her family status––shoving her and her family from the riches of the world down to live as a commoner––but losing her mother as well. For many that would take it's toll, but it gave her a sense of leadership and helped her learn to provide for her family when nobody else would, even if it meant suffering her learning time. She goes through such a powerful transformation too as her view of the fae people is turned completely upside down and she realises that they are not as horrible as she was made to believe by the humans where she lived with her two older sisters and crippled father. From beginning to end, Feyre not only develops in the way she thinks, but throughout the novel she slowly changes from a young nineteen year old girl into a woman who realises her true potential and starts to see the silver linings in life, as living in such a poor state back with her family dimmed out any possibilities of a much better life of which come into view whilst being taken to the Spring Court on the other side of the wall.

The relationship between Feyre and Tamlin isn't forced like most books tend to portray and that's what I particularly like about this novel. Maas gives her enough time to adjust to the situation so that she slowly starts to see Tamlin and his friend, Lucien with better eyes instead of thinking about them with such hate generated from the stories of faeries that Feyre grew up hearing about. The best thing about it was that towards the end I felt like the connection between the two was genuine and not just something forged for the greater good of the storyline - the relationships in the story felt real and true to the characters and their emotions. I feel the same with how Feyre developed eventually with Lucien as a friend because it took a deal of time for them to built up trust in each other in order for certain events to happen in the book and that's what made it so much more gripping than any novel I've read before.

Overall I absolutely loved this book because the writing felt like poetry. Yes, felt. I felt everything she wrote and the way she described everything had every one of my senses tingling for more. Maas did the most amazing job with this book and I rate it a 5 out of 5 because I personally felt that there was no fault in it. There was not one part that I didn't like and I can assure you that if you love dark fantasy, faeries, a strong female heroine and a sexy, passionate love story then this story is perfect for your taste buds.


Go add A Court of Thorns and Roses to your Goodreads list HERE