A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas (Review)

 

Genre:	YA, Fantasy
Publication Date:	May 3, 2016
Pages:	624
Published By:	Bloomsbury USA Childrens
Series	A Court of Thorns and Roses #2
Review copy:	Purchased

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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.

  It was all I could do to keep from screaming, to keep from shattering into ten thousand pieces as I sank onto the marble floor, bowing over my knees, and wrapped my arms around myself.
  He'd trapped me; he'd trapped me; he'd trapped me   
  I had to get out, because I'd barely escaped from another prison once before, and this time, this time   

  And I realized I was in a free fall with no end.  I had been for awhile.  From the moment I'd stabbed that Fae youth in the heart.
  I didn't look up at him again as i devoured the food.

  "So I'm your huntress and thief?"
  His hands slid down to cup the backs of my knees as he said with a roguish grin, "You are my salvation, Feyre,"

   Okay so I am at no point going to promise that this review will be spoiler free.  I have told anyone that will listen that upon finishing this book my life is ruined.  Maybe ruined is a little much but my soul is screaming for an undefined number of reasons.  This is the kind of book that you pick up and when you put it down everything has changed.

  For some reason I was under this impression that I could pick this book and the story would continue on its merry little way.  Why?  Why did I expect this?  I'm starting to think it was because I'm a blind fool.  Nothing ever stays the same long and obviously with a new book comes a new conflict, but this was indescribably so far from what was anticipated.  However, with all the change and the progression of the plot there was never a dull moment and ample amount of emotions.  There was not a single moment where I was not reeling from one thing or another.

   Feyre was and still isn't a weak character, but something in her has changed.  Well, she believes something about her has changed and I guess you can't go through what she went through without carrying some baggage.  Thing is I am not really sure what I expected of her beyond what I got because she was still as bad ass as always.  Regardless, for awhile I was feeling let down and wanted something more or less of what I was getting.  Turns out that something more was only brought on by the wanting and being trapped.  Then when things started to change with her I kind of rebelled.  I couldn't help but think she had once again become unrecognisable and yet something was the same.  Feyre is kind of like a phoenix, reborn from her own ashes and though she is the same she is completely different.  I don't know maybe I am failing at nailing what I want to portray but I was honestly floored in both good and bad ways by her in this book.  Honestly, she is so very much of everything that I want in a character, the very few things that irk me are forgivable.  Heck maybe they make her a better character... Ya they probably make her a better character.

  Here we go with the potential spoiler...  The romance.  For the love of all things why?!  Okay I admit that something wasn't right with the entire Tamlin thing but WHY?!  Okay, I mean ya Rhysand is awesome and you know he is like a damn onion with his layers but WHY?!   No, I do not mind a triangle or a potential one, but the damn romance here had me reeling and rebelling like a freaking toddler in a temper tantrum half the time.  THIS ROMANCE RUINED ME!!!  And maybe it shouldn't have.  Maybe I should have been like the mass of people that anticipated this, or wanted it... but I wasn't. I wasn't... I was conflicted and irritated and then I settled into this acceptance that was like a calm/happy.  Then what happens you may ask.  Then... Well, then Maas blew everything apart like a grenade in a paper factory (no one is injured in the factory of course but the paper isn't doing well).  I was legit torn.  I was torn and raging on the inside and couldn't believe after that entire ride and reluctant acceptance, I was thrown right back into the place in where I want to scream about this happening.  Of course there is some happy thrown in there but I don't even know what to tell you.

  Maas surely crafted this book and its changes to everything to rip us readers apart and leave us to put the pieces together in whatever fashion we can.  I have not had a hangover like this from a book in awhile and I don't even know what to do about it.  This is either going to be a book that people absolutely adore or want to scream about.  Maybe the responses will be one in the same because it's all kinds of amazing and I don't see anyone not loving it no matter their feelings throughout it.  If you are fan of Maas you seriously need this book in your life, or if you haven't tried...  YOU NEED TO!  These books are an obsession that you don't want to miss out on.

The Winner's Kiss by Marie Rutkoski (Review)

Genre:	YA, Fantasy
Publication Date:	March 29, 2016
Pages:	484
Published By:	Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Series	The Winner's Trilogy #3
Review copy:	Purchased

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Some kisses come at a price.

War has begun. Arin is in the thick of it with untrustworthy new allies and the empire as his enemy. Though he has convinced himself that he no longer loves Kestrel, Arin hasn’t forgotten her, or how she became exactly the kind of person he has always despised. She cared more for the empire than she did for the lives of innocent people—and certainly more than she did for him.

At least, that’s what he thinks.

In the frozen north, Kestrel is a prisoner in a brutal work camp. As she searches desperately for a way to escape, she wishes Arin could know what she sacrificed for him. She wishes she could make the empire pay for what they’ve done to her.

But no one gets what they want just by wishing.

As the war intensifies, both Kestrel and Arin discover that the world is changing. The East is pitted against the West, and they are caught in between. With so much to lose, can anybody really win?

  It would be a blessing to forget.
  After all, what was there to remember?
  Someone she never could have had.  Friends dead or gone.  A father that didn't love her.
  The cup tipped.  Water ran over her tongue, cool and delicious.  She forgot the pain, forgot where she was, forgot who she'd been, forgot that she had ever been afraid of forgetting.

  Dear one, what do you care?

  A small serpent of worry lifted its hooded head inside her.

  Then his lungs opened and his mind grew quiet and clear.  "Come back to me," he murmured.
  "I will." 

 

  Where do you begin at the end?  There is so very much to say about this book and yet very little at the same time.  It's totally a conundrum.  This trilogy is without a doubt action packed and filled to the brim with twists.  Sometimes it was hard to tell where one thing stopped and another began and I mean this in the most amazing way possible.  The Winner's Kiss was not just the final book in a trilogy, it was an adventure and

  What amazes me most about this book is that it seriously completed my feelings on the series.  It kind of took some things back to block one while carrying others forward.  The entire Kestrel and Arin romance was ripped right apart.  Not only was it ripped right apart, it was flipped, twisted and then basically burned to ash.  I know that sounds horrible but sometimes something can come from ashes, something magnificent and life altering.  Okay, it didn't alter my life but it altered so much in their lives and the story.  I can't stress enough how this book stood on its own.  This gave way to a spectacularly paced plot, with wonderfully produced setting.  There isn't much about this books plot, setting and overall development that I didn't love.

  It's so hard to describe Kestrel in this book.  She has been this staple of strength in the previous two books and yet her position was somewhat compromised, while not being compromised.  Curious, right?  So, in order to do this without giving you some sort of spoiler is going to be difficult.  What I can say is that despite the moments of 'weakness' Kestrel just has something in her that refuses to be put out.  Her fire is something unique and admirable that doesn't die.  She has a mind that continues to work no matter what she is put through.  I have to admit that I enjoyed having a different side of Kestrel, it really completed her as a character for me.  We all love strong characters but it's good to see that despite all of that strength, that they do have some weakness and the ability to work on it.

  There was a lot more Arin in this read.  He really becomes someone to admire and gets more developed than I had expected.  I think this really came to because of everything ramping up to the end.  He drew strength from his loss, his new knowledge and finding out the truth.  In general Arin has been his own type of strong, but he has always been slightly naive.  He seems to be taking steps forward to get past that.  However, I think that the most important thing was that he learned to trust Kestrel.  In fact in losing so much, they both learned trust.  So, although he didn't have the relationship that they had, they get something that is built entirely different and has some legs to it.  I enjoyed Arin so much in this book for those reasons and his massive character growth.  He really became a character that I enjoyed and though I know the trilogy is over I wouldn't complain if there was a surprise more.

  The Winners Kiss is by far one of the best endings to a trilogy that I have read...EVER!  There was a complete feeling upon closing the book, and I can't say that happens often.  I also cannot praise this book enough for being able to stand on its own.  It wasn't just a final book, it was almost its own story.  If you haven't started this trilogy I highly recommend it, and if you have I can promise that you wont be let down by this book.  I really wish I could give more details in this review, but I have zero desire to ruin even one amazing moment for any of you.

If I fix You by Abigail Johnson (Review)

Genre:	YA, Contemporary
Publication Date:	January 31, 2012
Pages:	304
Published By:	Harlequin Teen
Series	Standalone
Review copy:	E-galley

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When sixteen-year-old Jill Whitaker’s mom walks out—with a sticky note as a goodbye—only Jill knows the real reason she’s gone. But how can she tell her father? Jill can hardly believe the truth herself.

Suddenly, the girl who likes to fix things—cars, relationships, romances, people—is all broken up. Used to be, her best friend, tall, blond and hot flirt Sean Addison, could make her smile in seconds. But not anymore. They don’t even talk.

With nothing making sense, Jill tries to pick up the pieces of her life. But when a new guy moves in next door, intense, seriously cute, but with scars—on the inside and out—that he thinks don’t show, Jill finds herself trying to make things better for Daniel. But over one long, hot Arizona summer, she realizes she can’t fix anyone’s life until she fixes her own. And she knows just where to start . . .

  The walk to Sean's Jetta felt like my own green mile.  The idea of being alone with him in a car with barely two feet between us brought my nausea trickling back.

Hate was such an ugly, infectious thing.  It burrowed deep inside and consumed.  My hate hadn't begun that way, not even after Sean.  It had started out as an ice cube lodged in my throat, an obstruction I couldn't move no matter how many times I swallowed.  Then it melted, and the cold had trickled through my insides, numbing me.

  It wasn't fair what he was doing to me.  Making me realize things that I really didn't want to.  Making me realize things that I really didn't want to.  He was so messed up.  His parents had done that to him and neither one cared that they'd damaged something so fragile.

  OMG!! Turning the last page page of this read I knew that I was going to have a book hang over.  Two days later and I am still struggling with what I will be picking up next, because I worry that it will suffer in the wake of this read.  This book leaves no real place for me to start and end, but there is undoubtedly words twisting and pushing to come out.  If You Fix Me is a heart ripping, stunningly beautiful read bound to call to many different readers.

  The plot and pacing flowed together in perfect harmony.  It was like Mozart and Picasso had a baby and it was Johnson's writing.  I know, I know that was a little weird...okay a lot weird, but honestly my love for everything within these pages knows no bounds, weird or not.   Reading this was quite possibly as easy as breathing, yet somehow felt like I was watching a heart wrenching movie.  Everything just flowed so flawlessly that there was no need to come up for air, it just never called for it.  Even as everything began to fall apart, it was pulling itself back together.  Each character had their own story, their own voice and yet twisting them together worked perfectly, making everything imperfectly perfect.

  Jill is everything I want in a character.  There was absolutely nothing perfect about her,  but at the same time everything about her character was flawless.  It's hard with contemporary novels for me because I'm either going to find I connect with the character and really love them, or just like them because they are written well.  As the synopsis says Jill likes to fix things but what made me love her was the reality that sometimes you can't fix others until you fix yourself.  She was not lost, but she wasn't good at voicing things...awkward to say the least.  Jill is someone that people can relate to.  Her emotions, thoughts and feelings are very easy to understand.  I have no doubt that even when I was a teen these are some things I would have experienced in her shoes.  Basically what I am trying to say is that Jill was as close to perfect as a character can get.

  Daniel and Sean are nothing alike and yet they seem to have something that is the same.  For me I didn't really want one more than the other, there was a pull from both.  I think for Jill it was the same way, but only more complicated.  Sean was who her heart had wanted for years, only to be betrayed.  Daniel had something in common with her, a past and a broken home.  There were also many boundaries with Daniel, and it's so hard to explain without ruining it all, just the same as I can't explain Sean without taking something away.  However, the entire thing with Sean always felt like it was a little sideways, like there was a missing puzzle piece that no one was willing to see even though it was just sitting in the box still.  Both boys were expertly written and brought a unique element to Jill's life.

  This book is nothing short of a must read.  It's heart breaking, heart mending beauty, rolled into one beautiful book.  I cannot even tell you all of the ways that this book was amazing.  I will make sure that everything that this author writes finds a home on my shelves.  With its lyrical writing, developed characters and beautiful story, If I Fix You is by far one of my favorite reads this year.  If you are a fan of contemporary or are looking for the perfect hangover read, this book is undoubtedly the one for you. 

Downdrift by Sutton Shields (Review)

Genre:	YA, Fantasy, Mermaids
Publication Date:	August 12, 2015
Pages:	353
Published By:	Author
Website	Sutton Shields Website
Review copy:	Physical for honest review

Buy it:
Amazon 

Two Waves Remain...

Marina Valentine is one future time-traveling trip away from putting the final trident in King Zale’s reign. The future, however, has a dire message for the Savior: She is one decision away from costing everyone everything.

Marina doesn’t want the burden of some unknown decision, nor does she want to learn of yet another sneaky trick by King Zale. All she wants to do is focus on her trip with Troy to retrieve the last soul stealing stone—a trip that will not only take them to wondrous, mysterious places, but will bring them closer than she ever dreamed possible.

Unfortunately for Marina Valentine, burdens and Zale tricks are part of the job description.

Only this time, the burden has never been heavier and the trick has never been more destructive.

  Though I kept my eyes on the road, I was very aware of Troy's eyes on me.  I'd bet anything he bore that smile I loved so much.  He probably had his sexy eyes flicked to the 'on' position as well.

  My God, this was a nightmare, one no amount of pinching would wake me from.  We had been changed back into our mer-selves, and I managed to land fin-down.  That should have been comforting.  It wasn't.

Polly bounced off the walls, knocking guards off their feet and rendering them unconcious, as if they were nothing more than scarecrows.  It was quite a sight, like seeing your grandmother go from knitting in her rocking chair to butt-kicking bad guys, midair.

  Elaborate oak panelling, extraordinarily detailed balustrades, and cherub fixtures were only made more spectacular by the natural   well, weather mermaid-created    light beaming through a remarkable wrought iron glass dome ceiling.  

  It is no secret that I adore Miss Shields writing.  Her writing is teeming with character, her characters are vivid and her books nothing short of wonderful.  This is a writer that put a bit of herself not only into the book itself, but each character that she has created.  Though I know this is something that most do, Shields does it with such passion that I can't help but be captivated every single time I open one of her books.  

  What always blows my mind is Shields ability to craft these worlds.  Every place is spectacular and vivid, giving the reader a clear picture of each magical place.  When I think that there is no way that Shields could add another place without over doing it or not giving a clear enough picture, I am proved wrong.  Downdrift took a lot of time developing the story further but it didn't skimp out on the action or progression.  There was a reason behind every voyage and every twist, and though my heart broke a little and I internally scream for being a fool and not seeing everything earlier, fact of the matter is that it was all worth it.  The only thing I could have wished for when it came down to it was that we got a little more of the other characters.  This one was largely (not completely but Largely) about the development of Marina and Troy's relationship (that is beyond the bigger point of, you know getting the final tools to basically save the world).  Beyond that (and that took a lot of thought to pick out), the pacing and plot were perfect! 

  Marina never gets a second to just be a teenager.  Her life has been a series of ups and downs right from the start of Finned.  At this point I just have to applaud her for not going insane from all of the downs.  Though she has never been a normal teen, life since she was banished has just gotten harder and harder.  This being said, Marina does well with the mounding challenges that face her.  Time after time new things are thrown at her and she does her best to conquer each thing.  The beauty of Marina though is that she is not perfect but she will not give up, and no matter how many times she finds out she is more powerful than she could have ever imagined she doesn't pretend that she really has a clue as to what she is doing.  She has gotten stronger and much more self assured, but she is still the same imperfectly, perfect character that I cannot get enough of.

  As always, I love the supporting cast that Shields created.  The entire gang is unique and continues to grow right along with Marina, and yet they bring the same entertainment each time the grace the pages.  It's seriously mind blowing that there are so many characters and yet I never feel overwhelmed, nor do I ever forget who someone is.  This is a special talent I think, because honestly I love every single part of every character.  Okay, so I am not a fan of the Mer Bitch but I can appreciate how well her and her story is written.  Beyond this there is basically a character for every taste that a reader may have.  Personally I love the contrasting Polly and Airianna more and more. Airi is basically everything good.  She is the sweetest and I adore her.  While I adore Polly because she does not hold back.  Maybe it her demons, but honestly she is just plain ol' quirky and I would attempt to hug her(even though it would probably end up in an injury).  I wish I could spend time and talk about each character but you probably wouldn't finish this review.

  What else could I say to entice you all to not only start this series, but pick them each up until you reach this point.  OH, maybe the fact that no matter how many times you think you have everything figured out... YOU DON'T!! Shields never hesitates to throw you off of her trail and possibly even break you heart a little.  No character is ever safe, and though there has been minimal loss, there is no shortage of twists and turns.  These are books that I have no problem devouring, and openly recommend them to any person that enjoys a great read with amazing characters.  

A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas (Review)

Genre:	YA, Retelling, Fantasy
Publication Date:	May 5, 2015
Pages:	416
Published By:	Sky Pony Press
Series	A Court of Thorns and Roses #1
Review copy:	Won

Buy it:
Amazon ~ B&N ~ Chapters

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.

  He snorted as I took the knife from the table and turned to procure the bow from my room.  "I think I'm starting to like you   for a murdering human."

  He left me, and I took a gasping breath, not realizing I'd been holding it.

  Not realizing that I craved his warmth, his nearness, until he was gone.

I knew   I knew I was headed down a path that would likely end in my mortal heart being left in pieces, and yet...And yet I couldn't stop myself.

  Why in the heck of it did it take me so long to pick up this book??!!  I am such a sucker for twisted tales and I have heard phenomenal things about Sarah J. Maas, that after reading this book I'm really not sure what is wrong with me!  I mean Beauty and the Beast tossed up with Fey and twisted into something EPIC with brilliant writing, and dazzling characters!!  There's very obviously something wrong with me.  A Court of Thorns and Roses was a blow your mind kind of read and I want more!

  How do you even talk about plot and pacing, when all of the words that I want to say come out garbled.  I mean this is one of those books that makes you go OMG and HOLY ****!! Everything in this book, for me was all kinds of perfect.  How do you express this kind of love for a book in words, because there are none to do it justice.  The setting was fleshed out extremely well, I loved every step through the world Maas created.  Every character that she sculpted vivid and had a depth that was beyond what I had expected.  This is a perfect example of stepping right into the pages and becoming a part of the book.  From the start A Court of Thorns and Roses was the perfect book for me.

  One of the best things about Feyre is her complete honesty.  I'm not even sure that I can properly put this girl into words.  She is strong because she feels she has to be, and then she is strong because that's what she wants to be.  The snark and the personality of this kick ass character was addictive.  This is the type of character that you want to read, you want more of and you route for.  A part of me wants to say that she had some huge character flaw but I just can't find one.  Honest.  She is bad ass, beautiful and everything that so many of us want in a heroine.  Her one mistake becomes her saving grace and yet the end of everything she thought to be true.  She is totally a case of the end is only the beginning and yet she is far beyond a happily ever after.  Feyre's journey is only beginning and yet everything has already changed for her.  Seriously I love her and I cannot wait to see how she handles everything

   I'm not going to lie to and tell you that Tamlin was awesome or that I completely fell for him.  The truth is that up until about 3/4 the way through the book I was even fond of him.  I'm not sure why there was no connection because by about half way I started to feel that Feyre and him could work.  It's a retelling of Beauty and the Beast so it was bound to happen, but part of me worried about their lack of chemistry.  Their biggest buffer was his best friend and then Rhys stepped in.  Once again I'm not sure how I felt about that.  I'm sure that they could create some super steamy, sparks flying and review aflame romance but honestly by the end I was so happy with Tamlin and Feyre.  They work in their own way, actually give a crap about each other and after everything I just plain want them to work after everything. I'm not saying I'll rally against the next book if something happens but for all things holy, I really hope the romance can hang in there without adding an extra point.

  A Court of Thorns and Roses was basically everything that I had hoped and wanted.  There are really no words that I can use to express just how awesome this read is.  My first Maas book was a total success and I am eagerly looking forward to reading A Court of Mist and Fury now that I have managed to get a semi acceptable review out on this one.  If you are a lover of twisted tales, fae and/or fantasy this is a MUST read.  I highly doubt we will find many people out there that enjoy fantasy and don't want to hug this book!!