Tag Archives: series

Top 5 Wednesday: Books to Read By the Fire

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Welcome to another Top 5 Wednesday as hosted by Lainey of gingerreadslainey. Today’s topic is our top five favorite books to read by the fire, aka holiday/winter reads. So here are my picks in no particular order:

5. The Kate Daniels series by Ilona Andrews

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This adult urban fantasy series would be nice to curl up by the fire with because not only does it have action and fantasy, but there’s also a slow burn romance that’s just filled with tension as the books progress.

4. The Starbound trilogy by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner

This trilogy is beautiful and epic and it tells the story from six different perspectives throughout all of them. Between the lonely and dangerous world in the first book, to the war ridden, split territory world in the second, to the underworld and an mysterious beings in the third, this trilogy definitely has a lot to offer during those cold winter nights. Plus the romances are amazing.

3. The Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare

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Need I say anything about this series? It’s got action, adventure, conflict, romance, demons, magic, weird creatures, kickass people, and so much more. Definitely a good read to curl up by the fire with.

2. Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell

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This story is both part sweet and bitter, but the sweet far outweighs the latter. This story is about two outcasts and how they come together to find a love that’s truer than anything they had ever experienced before. How sweet for the holidays, right?

1 . All the manga!

I love manga, so reading it is just a fun activity to do in general. You can find everything under the sun from action, adventure, romance, shoujo-ai (girl-girl love) and shonen-ai (boy-boy love), to one-shot, slice of life, horror, and so much more. Really, whatever your preference is, you can pretty much find a manga based around it. Really, all you have to do is find the one that you think best fits your winter mood.

So there you have it! My list of some of my favorite winter reads. Definitely check these out and see what you like curling by the fire with.

What books would you read during the holidays/winter time? Let me know!

Books That Changed My Life

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So I was watching NayaReadsandSmiles video about some of the books and series that changed her life, whether that be her learning from the characters on how to be strong, or if the prose helped her through dark times, she has books that changed her life.

And, well, I’m sure we all do. So today I wanted to share with you all some of the books and series that have and are currently changing my life.

They’re in no particular order.

  1. The Throne of Glass series by Sarah J. Maas. Honestly, did you not expect this series to be here? I love this series so much: from the characters to the world building to the action to the romances, this book has so many wonderful and beautiful things happening in it that I can’t picture it not having changed my life in some way. I really think this series changed my reading life. I have never loved a book series (other than the next one listed below) that changed my perception on reading and made me want to read more and more and more.
  2. The Twilight saga by Stephenie Meyer. This book defined a generation, and many people are ashamed and afraid to admit how they once love, or still love, this saga. To me, Twilight was a game changer: it came during a dark time in my life when I was 14/15 years old, and to read about this ordinary girl in these extraordinary situations was incredible to me. It sucked me in and left me wanting more. I honestly don’t know where I’d be in my reading life without Twilight in it.
  3. The Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare. Though I am not quite finished with this series yet, these books have still impacted me greatly. It’s my first urban fantasy read, I think, and as such it just reinforced my beliefs in magic. This series is all about a girl growing up, learning truths, falling in love, and learning what it is to be different in a world stuck on normalcy. I may make it sounds more grandiose than it is, but this is how I view it and will continue to view it.
  4. The Remnant Chronicles by Mary E. Pearson. Specifically the first book, this book again changed my reading life. It was the first audiobook I had ever listened to on my own and as such, I’m glad I picked it. The narrators were all fantastic, using different voices for different characters in their chapters, and the story was phenomenal. It made me crave more, and again: a strong female protagonist, strong side characters, and just the overall sense of mystery and magic. This book makes my heart soar when I think of it.
  5. Fushigi Yuugi by Yuu Watase. This manga series will forever hold a special place in my heart. I read this in middle school into high school and I just remember my love for this 18 book series. There was romance, war, peril, court troubles, etc. It held everything I could ever want in a series and more. It changed my life in a way that it showed me to never give up, to always be true to who you are, and to never go into the restricted section of a library lest you be swept into a book’s world – and a dangerous one, at that.
  6. The House of the Scorpion by Nancy Farmer. I read this book back when I was in my early teens and it forever changed my outlook on life. This book is geared toward a younger teen audience, which is weird considering how deep and dark the content is. But I’m glad I read it when I did because it became one of my most prized and favorite books of all time. It taught me that life is full of secrets, and to always, always fight for yourself and what you believe to be right.

And there you have it: six series/books that have changed my life. Now most of these I read once I was a teen or an adult, but they still impacted, and are impacting, my life as we speak. I think it’s important to remember that, no matter what age you are, you can still learn and grow from reading.

What books have changed your life? Do you still reflect on them every now and then or have you forgotten them all together? Would you ever pick them up again? Let me know!

Magic Burns Book Review

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magicburns

Title: Magic Burns
Author: Ilona Andrews
Series: Book #2 in the Kate Daniels series
Publisher: ACE Fantasy
Publication Date: April 2008
Genre: Adult – Urban Fantasy, Romance
Pages: 260
Format: Gifted Paperback

From Goodreads: As a mercenary who cleans up after magic gone wrong, Kate Daniels has seen her share of occupational hazards. Normally, waves of paranormal energy ebb and flow across Atlanta like a tide. But once every seven years, a flare comes, a time when magic runs rampant. Now Kate’s going to have to deal with problems on a much bigger scale: a divine one.

When Kate sets out to retrieve a set of stolen maps for the Pack, Atlanta’s paramilitary clan of shapeshifters, she quickly realizes much more at stake. During a flare, gods and goddesses can manifest – and battle for power. The stolen maps are only the opening gambit in an epic tug-of-war between two gods hoping for rebirth. And if Kate can’t stop the cataclysmic showdown, the city may not survive…

As a second book in a fairly long series, I really enjoyed this more than the first. The first book was hard to follow and I found myself to be fairly confused through a lot of it, but this book was a much better read: the plot was more engaging, the dialogue was more complex and funnier at some points, and I just overall enjoyed this book more.

The plot in this book was completely separate from the first. Though there is a baseline plot that can, and probably will, occur over time, for this book it follows a completely separate plot from the first. It was more dynamic and intertwined, and I loved the fact that it brought out the best in Kate – in my opinion.

In this book I felt I got to know the characters much better. In terms of our main heroine, Kate, I felt that she became much more understandable as an individual and we got to understand more of how she thinks and her emotions in some situations. Plus we also got a glimpse – albeit a tiny glimpse – into how potent and powerful her magic is. I loved that aspect. I think the secret around her blood and why it’s so powerful is kind of driving me crazy, but at the same time I know it’ll come into fruition eventually.

Also, I felt that she really held her own in this book. She seems a lot stronger in this book personality wise and strength wise. I thought that she handled the relationship with Julie well, like she was an older sister trying to look out for her younger sister, and she did her best to keep her safe. I’m actually really interested to see if and when Julie makes a comeback.

Curran was still his brutish and sexy self. I think he deliberately gets under Kate’s skin, and she in turn does the same to him. I found him to be a lot funnier in this book, and also a lot more protective. When it comes to Shapeshifters they’re very protective of kids, and so I felt that that aspect was cool to read about and how he was trying to do his best to help Kate out with rescuing Julie. Not only was he protective, we got to see just why he is the Beast Lord: he’s strong as hell. Like, wow, if I met him on the battlefield I’d want it to be a really quick and painless death.

We got a few new characters like Bran and Julie, both of whom I really liked and I really wanted to get to know better by the end of the book. I felt that they added extra sparks to the story and I thought that they’re personalities were diverse and engaging.

We also got a lot of snippets of Celtic folklore and witchcraft in this novel, and though I’m not sure if all of what was said was true to its truest sense, but I did know some of the snippets and even recognized some of the names used, so that was cool to see mythology and folklore inscribed into the book.

The romance in this book was still subtle, but it’s starting to grow and I could really feel the sexual tension starting to build in this one. I really want to see more of their interactions together because we learned some Shapeshifter lore that is starting to actually happen and I really, really want to see something happen between them.

Overall I enjoyed this book more than the first and I can’t wait to start the next book.

I rated this 4/5 stars and recommend it.

Top Ten Tuesday: Ten Finished Series I Have YET to Finish

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Welcome to another Top Ten Tuesday as hosted by the lovely peeps at The Broke & the Bookish. Today’s topic is about completed series that I have yet to finish. And let me tell you, I am ashamed I haven’t finished these yet.

  1. Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling – I’m still working on my first read through of this series, and I know it’s shocking to have not read this series at this point, but I am enjoying it so far and I hope to finish it in the upcoming year or so.
  2. Daughter of Smoke & Bone trilogy by Laini Taylor – I want to finish this trilogy sooooo bad, and I’ve been reading the second one for a week or so now, but other books have been getting in my way. I will read it! Soon!
  3. The Mortal Instruments series and Infernal Devices trilogy by Cassandra Clare – I AM SO ASHAMED I HAVEN’T FINISHED THESE YET. Sad face. I’m working on it, though, and I hope to finish all of them either by the end of this year or sometime early next year.
  4. The Mistborn trilogy by Brandon Sanderson – I am loving the first book of this trilogy so far and I really hope to finish it by the end of the year, but these books are kind of chunky and there’s a lot to process so I hope to finish them by early next year.
  5. The Grisha trilogy by Leigh Bardugo – Now that I have all three in paperback I can marathon them, which is what I’ve been planning to do. SO! Expect reviews… EVENTUALLY! This is a pretty popular/well known and loved trilogy so I really want to see what it’s all about.
  6. The Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins – I started the first book around the time the first movie came out and haven’t finished it. BUT I plan on marathoning this trilogy before the last movie so they WILL be read this year. I can do it! *fist pump*
  7. Vampire Academy series by Richelle Mead – I debated for a while on just giving this series away, but many people told me to just give it another try, that it does get better, so I’m going to try reading it again probably next year. I loved it when I started it years and YEARS ago, but after time it just didn’t impress me. So we’ll see what happens upon rereading it.
  8. The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis – I’ve read The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe when I was ten years old… that was fourteen years ago, so I need a refresher for this epic series. I started it a while ago and never got through it because, frankly, they’re hefty books and I have them in a bind up so it makes it harder… Anyway, they will be read eventually!
  9. The Lord of the Rings trilogy + The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien – Yes, I know, it’s a travesty, really. But I started it and got about four chapters in and nothing really happened… Or barely began to happen, so I’ll have to keep going along. I know it’ll get better it’s just those first few chapters were kind of eh.
  10. The Across the Universe trilogy by Beth Revis – I bought these books for husband and was intrigued in them, myself, but I never actually picked them up to read them. I must remedy this! Sci-fi, romance, cool things? Yes please!

So there you have it, some series and trilogies that are complete that I haven’t finished yet. But I will eventually! I swear it!

What are some series you’ve started that you haven’t finished yet? Do you plan on finishing them? Let me know!

Queen of Shadows Book Review

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queenofshadows

Title: Queen of Shadows
Author: Sarah J. Maas
Series: Book #4 in the Throne of Glass series
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Publication Date: September 1, 2015
Genre: Young Adult – Fantasy, Romance, Adventure
Pages: 656
Format: Purchased Hardcover

As this is the fourth book in this series, there will most likely be spoilers.

Also, this is a really long review.

From Goodreads: 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 will fight for her cousin, a warrior prepared to die just to see her again. 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.

Celaena’s epic journey has captured the hearts and imaginations of millions across the globe. This fourth volume will hold readers rapt as Celaena’s story builds to a passionate, agonizing crescendo that might just shatter her world.

This book tore my heart out, ripped it to shreds, mended it back together, and let it soar.

I cannot express the amount of feelings I had throughout this book, but I can tell you some of what I felt: anger, annoyance, passion, love, betrayal, triumph, fear, curiosity, and more.

I felt that this book is definitely the best in the series thus far, and there’s still two more books to go… I don’t know how my heart is going to handle it.

Let’s start with the character development and world building, both of which exceeded my expectations.

The character development was nothing short of promising and amazing. Not only did Aelin (Celaena) go through some major changes, but several of the other characters such as Manon, Lysandra, Rowan, Chaol, all went through some sort of change at one point or another. Each developed at their own time and speed, and from the first book to now, the characters have grown into their own skin, have grown as individuals, and have just become so magnificently part of this story that I couldn’t imagine it without them.

The world building in this book continues to grow as we got introduced to Morath, the mountain in which the King of Adarlan is building an army to conquer the world – but not just any army: an army of demons. And he does it with the help of the Witch clans. But not only do we get a lot of time spent at Morath, we also get more development into Rifthold and how it’s changed since Aelin went to Wendlyn and came back, and how things have kind of gone down hill. The end of this book promises more of Terrasen, and I can’t wait to see what it’ll be like there.

The plot continued to follow what the main points of the series talk about, but there was so much more. So much I just don’t even know where I could begin to explain what happened.

Okay, let me talk about some individual characters:

Aelin Ashryver Galathynius is the most badass woman in this story. Mind you, she’s not the only one, but she still kind of takes the cake. She started with just wanting to wipe out the King, but other factors kept piling in as she learned Dorian was under control by a Wyrdstone collar that allowed a Valg demon prince inside of him; that the rebel forces Chaol is leading is struggling just to rescue people; that her cousin, Aedion, is imprisoned in the castle. Her plans changed, but not entirely. In this book Aelin grows so much as a character as she battles not only with the obvious enemy of the Valg soldiers, but also the game she and Arrobyn have been playing for a long time now, as well as her own assumptions and opinions she once thought to be true. But in this book she grows and breaks those barriers, shattering Arrobyn at his own game, befriending someone she never thought she would, and learning what it means to be strong and believe in oneself, and in others.

Rowan! My dear, sweet Rowan came back and I was so, so happy. He wasn’t the stickler of a commander anymore, but rather Aelin’s friend and protector, their blood oath connecting them in ways I knew that MY SHIP WOULD SAIL. Ahem. He is the badass male to Aelin’s female and I loved him so much in this book. He was a fierce protector, loyal companion, and we got glimpses of the story from him and I love his trains of thought and how he wrestles with how he should keep his distance from Aelin, even though he doesn’t want to. He made me laugh more than once at some of the things he thought or said and I was happy to have read some bits from him. I’m interested in seeing how he is in Aelin’s court and what role he’ll play.

Aedion Ashryver is just so… brotherly! I love him to bits and I want him to be my friend. He may be a big pain in the butt to Aelin sometimes, but he’s still so fiercely loyal and protective that I just love his interactions with Aelin and how they can fight like siblings and make up like siblings and it’s just, well, a much needed relationship, I think. He can provide that sort of comfort for Aelin that only a family member can provide, but he also knows when to take that step back and to just let things be and let his queen take care of herself.

Dorian was trapped by a Valg prince for the majority of the book, and I just… I felt so bad for him! He went through so much at the end of Heir of Fire and now he was being trapped and abused by this demon and… ugh! I was so sad. And then there were some glimpses of him a few times and I had hope! I really want to see his part played out in the next book.

Chaol was a royal pain in the ass. Oh my God, he pissed me off so much during the first half of this book. I don’t know what his deal was but wow, I wanted to punch him so much whenever he interacted with Aelin. Both of them acted like spoiled brats whenever they talked to each other, even when one tried to be the bigger person. I understood he was under a lot of pressure being on the run and trying to free people who were being captured for wielding magic before the ban and whatnot, but wow. I was also interested in finding out more about his past before Aelin and oh my, I’m definitely intrigued to see where that goes. But during the latter half, he kind of went back to being the Chaol I liked, but not quite. I was shocked about his condition at the end, though, for sure.

Manon was still cruel in this book, but the others around her, especially her Thirteen (specifically Asterin) and a servant girl, Elide, really started to crack the shell around her heart and she actually started to feel some other emotions other than hatred and bloodlust. I really think that she had some of the best development because not only was it the slowest, but there was a promise for greater things to come and I can’t wait to see where she’s at in the upcoming books.

Speaking of Manon… when she and Aelin meet? YES. Super awesome battle scene.

There were other characters that I was surprised of, that were introduced, or that were fleshed out more such as Kaltain, one of the ladies of the court that were dragged to Morath; Lysandra, the courtesan that’s been at odds with Aelin forever; Elide, the quick-witted servant girl for Manon; and even the King of Adarlan had a surprising bit in there. I was thoroughly surprised.

Now this isn’t to say that this book didn’t have its flaws (more spoilers):

  • I felt Rowan could have been more useful other than just having such strong feelings for Aelin. I wish I could have seen more fight scenes with him, less restraint, and more of that warrior Fae prince I’ve come to know and love. (Not that I didn’t love the feelings, but more would’ve been awesome.)
  • I wish Arrobyn’s death would have been grander. He deserved it and I’m glad who did it, but I wished for more talking and whatnot.
  • I felt like it was almost too easy to just let the King of Adarlan be possessed the way he was. Like, I really wished he was that cruel. Who knows what actually happened?

I am excited to see what happens in the next upcoming volumes because now we’ll be facing new enemies, new lands, new ways of life, and I’m really, really excited to see what happens.

In this book my heart was ripped out and sewn back together; there was amazing friendships, romance, adventure, death, destruction, discoveries, and so, so much more.

If you couldn’t guess, I rate this book 5/5 stars and highly recommend it.