King's Cage (Red Queen #3)

                Hello happy readers!  I previously reviewed the first two books Red Queen and Glass Sword and waited as close to the release of the final book War Storm as possible to finish book three so I wouldn’t have long to wait.  Yep any time waiting was too much.  This author really knows how to sucker punch you with a cliff hanger that’s for sure.  So here are my thoughts on King’sCage (Red Queen #3) by Victoria Aveyard, spoilers for the first two books duh.

Rating: 4.5 Stars

                Mare, the Lightning Girl, is a prisoner to the boy king.  She gave herself over to him to save her friends and now she lives each day wondering what new horror she will face above the constant weakness of silence.  Maven has his little red pet but his grip on his country is far from firm as the Scarlet Guard continue to fight on.  It is no longer a right of Red on Silver or Newbloods.  Alliances, blood, abilities, it all forms and turns on itself as the battles grow stronger, leading to all out war!

                Okay first of all the ending of the last one was horrible.  I knew this was supposed to have a bad cliffhanger as well so I held off until close to release of the final book, still knowing didn’t prepare me.  I didn’t think anything could be worse than Shade.  Okay it probably still is the worst but this one breaks your heart in a different way.  It all continues to build upon itself as things grow and grow with the different splinters widening and spreading.  I loved seeing the slow boil inside the court as things began to happen.  Seeing from Mare as she was broken a little more each day was so very hard, because even when she wasn't my favorite and made some questionable decisions there are just some things no one should have to live through.  Okay maybe a few people but not anyone you even remotely like.    

                Speaking of liking characters.  I enjoyed in this that we got some new POV’s including that of someone I never thought I’d enjoy, Evangeline.  Yes we hear from a Silver POV in small parts though the vast majority I still Mare’s story.  This works for many different reasons the first being practicality given Mare is a prisoner and we need a way to see things she’s not privy to both in the castle and the rebellion (Cameron) and secondly it provides a deeper understanding for other character that I personally didn’t like as much.  With Cameron I didn’t want her dead like with Evangeline (seriously book one I just wanted her fried) but more that her attitude grated on me but seeing what she normally kept to herself I grew to enjoy her.  I even grew to understand if not respect in a small way Evangeline which is a miracle in and of itself.  We of course also see more of our other characters on all sides and even get to meet several new ones both on team good and evil. 

               

                All in all the final book comes out tomorrow and I can't wait to dive right in and see where these characters and this war is going to end up.  There are so many wheels spinning I can't wait to see where they end up and who is left standing at the end.  So many possibilities and to be honest I'm not 100% sure which one I want to happen more.  I'm hoping my heart will heal and I won't be broken even more but I don't have high hopes there as I think these books have always shown they can and will be ruthless just like war itself.  So now I just have to buckle up and hold on. 

                Until next time…

Glass Sword (Red Queen #2)

                Hello happy readers.  I hope all has been going well on your end.  The weather has taken a turn, finally, to not sweating just stepping foot outside and was actually cool for a couple of days. I'm excited though the 90 to 60 sudden drop wrecked havoc on my sinuses.  I also tried a new recipe, Caramel Apple Bread which seems to be a hit!  I have been able to finish a book from my TBR I’ve had for some time, Glass Sword (Red Queen #2) by Victoria Aveyard.  I reviewed book one back in March of 2015 here so it had been a while but when I started the audiobook of the sequel it all came back as I listened.  It picks up where Red Queen left off so spoilers.

Rating: 5 Stars

                So it has been some time since I read Red Queen.  I dove right in.  Mare and Cal are on the run with the Red Guard but being a silver, Cal is not treated with the best care.  Mare is a red with silver abilities, the lightning girl.  She thought she was an anomaly but finds there are others like her, new bloods.  The king is dead at Cal’s hand.  His hand forced by the Queen, using her ability against him to dispute him and put her traitors son Maven on the throne.  He is not the man either of them thought him to be, just a puppet playing the part that would make them both care for him.  Now Mare must fight but the cost is high and all of the treachery and betrayal have taken their toll and changed her.

               

                The action and intrigue of this series picks up at the first page and doesn't let you down.  There is so much happening from escaping without dying and oh yeah convincing the people you're with Cal isn't just an evil silver but an ally.  I loved throughout the book there is always more than one thing happening.  The constant struggle between the reds and silvers and now new bloods, never knowing where one stands as we are constantly reminded that anyone can betray you at any time.  Oh and the political issues of being on the run as Maven takes over as king.  It's one hit after another and we just keep rolling with the momentum never slowing down.

                The pacing of the book keeps it moving along for sure.  Still there is lots of character development with all out characters.  There is no clear right and wrong anymore everything seems to be shades of grey.  Mare, everyone really but her especially, has to deal with so much.  Blaming herself.  Wanting to save people like her, save everyone and fix the world into something better.  She wasn't trained to be a leader, she never wanted to be one but despite everything people keep looking to her to lead.  Watching her struggle with all of her issues throughout the book was grounding.  There was one part in which case I was so glad I was parked when it happened because I just stared at my car display in shock.  You go through the emotional ringer with these characters that's for sure.

"If I am a sword, I am a sword made of glass, and I feel myself beginning to shatter."

                One of my favorite parts was getting to meet all the new characters.  Some good and some bad.  I especially enjoyed our new bloods and learning all their new powers as some were so much fun to imagine.  I enjoyed the difficult position each one was in and how real everything felt.  Not everyone is saved all the time.  This is a war and they are rebels and that means they are the underdog.  Farley was by far a favorite for me, the accent the narrator did for her was spot on as well, I loved how she could be surrounded by people with special abilities and be severely out matched but still hold her own with her tricks and skills.

                There is some small pieces between Mare and Cal but given everything that has happened it is very small and sedate.  They both are struggling with Maven.  Yes he is a monster.  He has done and continues to do horrible things to people.  Still that is not the Maven they knew and loved and even knowing that their Maven was "real" is still a hard thing to reconcile with the monster that is out to get you.  I love that they both are struggling with that and their places in this new war.  They both have beliefs and hard wired instincts they have to work on with everything flipped around.  I thought the reactions to it all was rather true to the characters and I enjoyed it. 

                Overall I really enjoyed this story and am glad I don't have to wait long to start the next book and then even less time for the final book to come out.  As much as I want to dive right in given that ending…and yes that ending hurt me…I also want to be fresh for the final book to come out.  And I have a few other books I have to get to this month!  I am caught up in this story and even waiting close to 2 years between reading without any catch up I fell right back into things with no problem because the author wrote such a unique and interesting world it was transfixed in my head! 

                Until next time…

~Waiting on Wednesday~ Glass Sword

                “Waiting On” Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we’re eagerly anticipating.  Basically books that are not yet out that we are dying to get our hands on.  This week’s pick is:

Glass Sword by Victoria Aveyard

Out:  2/9

Book 2

From Goodreads:

Mare Barrow’s blood is red—the color of common folk—but her Silver ability, the power to control lightning, has turned her into a weapon that the royal court tries to control.

The crown calls her an impossibility, a fake, but as she makes her escape from Maven, the prince—the friend—who betrayed her, Mare uncovers something startling:  she is not the only one of her kind. 

Pursued by Maven, now a vindictive kind, Mare sets out to find and recruit other Red-and-Silver fighters to join in the struggle against her oppressors.

But Mare finds herself on a deadly path, at risk of becoming exactly the kind of monster she is trying to defeat.

Will she shatter under the weight of the lives that are the cost of rebellion?  Or have treachery and betrayal hardened her forever?

               

Why I’m Waiting:

                I read the first book Red Queen (review) and enjoyed it.  I did really enjoy it and even gave it 5 stars but I do think for some it can be over hyped.  I read it rather soon after release only knowing a bit of the hype and it was what I expected and had a twist thrown in I wasn’t expecting so props for that.  I think it was a good first book and really set up for what I hope will be a wonderful series and after the ending I’m ready to see what happens next!               

                What are you waiting on?  Tell me below what you think of this title and leave a link to your WoW as well so I can check it out!