Ash Princess (Ash Princess Trilogy #1)

                Hello happy readers.  I don't know about where you are but here in South Georgia it has been raining pretty non-stop for the last two weeks.  Basically it makes me want to curl up with a book and/or nap constantly.  Even as I type this a nap is calling my name as the drizzle continues.  Still I am excited to have had the time to finish another new release book that doubles as a debut book that had been on my anticipated reads list.  And let me tell you it was more than I hoped.  What book you ask?  AshPrincess (Ash Princess Trilogy #1) by Laura Sebastian.

Rating:  5 Stars

                Theodosia has lived more of her life as a captive in her own palace after the Kaiser took over her country and murdered her mother, the Fire Queen, when she was only six.  Now at sixteen she has lived longer as a captive, regularly abused and ridiculed in the court at the Kaisers whims, than as a the true ruler.  She should be the queen but he mocks her as an Ash Princess.  She has become used to her life but one day the Kaiser pushes Theodosia further than she thought she could handle and instead of breaking she remembers who she really is and that surviving is not enough and she must do what she can to take down the Kaiser and save what is left of her people.

                We are taken right into her world and it is harsh and cruel.  She is a symbol and kept under extreme conditions, all Astreans are.  Theodosia, Theo, is very anxious and nervous knowing even if she follows every rule and does everything she can the Kaiser will always change the rules and find a way to punish her.  Her life, while not that of a slave in the mines risking being driven mad by the magic or poorly fed, she is just as much a slave.  She is interesting as she comes to terms with things.  She has to keep repeating it to herself given she doesn't want to risk losing it again.  It came at a cost. The weight of this upbringing really shapes Theo and the way she carries herself.

                There are a lot of darker tones to this book and they are made clear from the start.  This is a land that was conquered and that isn't something that happens peacefully.  So the world is shown as brutal but it's done in a way that gets the point across without being gratuitous, in my opinion.  There is a lot happening with Theo coming into her own for sure as she gets to know the only Astrean's she's had contact with since she was a child, Blaise whom she knew as a child and others.  She also has grown to be friends with Cress who has taken her under her wing of limited protection from other Kalovaxians as the daughter to the right hand of the Kaiser.  And now Soren, the Kaisers son, is back from battle and he seems less evil than his father and proves he might be the key to her crazy plan. 

                I loved getting to know everyone and Theo as she got to know herself.  She has vague memories of life before and was not raised to be a queen by any means.  She has spent her whole life surviving.  Now she has a purpose and has to push down old fears even as circumstances grow more dangerous as she continues to push forward.  There is magic too.  It is limited in this book.  The gems her people have been enslaved to mine, one small one in the hands of a true guardian could cause such power, but the Kalovaxians use them as bobbles and product.  We hear what they do but don't get to see their full power though I hope we learn more in the next book.  And then there is romance.  A triangle of sorts really.  I enjoyed that both grew from different sides of the coin.  With Soren she is playing on him to get information and protection it is strategy but things are never that easy when you have to get someone to fall for you a part of you must be in there too. 

                I really enjoyed this book.  There were some things at the end that have me really amped up and excited for book two for sure but it didn't leave us at a huge cliffhanger, which I appreciate.  I am ready to see what happens next though I have some theories.  The book had it's predictable moments for sure as anyone who has enjoyed some YA Fantasy some things you expect but it had it's own unique voice and I enjoyed taking the ride.  I was captivated through the story and the audiobook was really good, I love the accent it was read in.  I highly recommend this debut! 

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…

The Elite (The Selection #2)

                Hello happy readers!  So as you may know from last week’s review of The Selection by Kiera Cass I am moving through the series, somewhat slowly as I am listening to them and only have about a 5-7 minute commute to and from work so not a ton of listening to be had currently but I have another trip coming up on the 24^th so cheers there.  I hope to at least finish up the original three books in the series before moving on to the novellas and the two spin-off/after books.  So today, go figure, I’m going to share my thoughts and feels for book two, The Elite, which will contain spoilers from the first book if you haven’t read the series yet.

Rating:  4.5 Stars

                So when we left off we had just went from a large group of girls down to the Elite, and only six to boot as Maxon didn’t want to keep anyone around and in danger unnecessarily.  Things heat up in the competition for Maxon’s heart as he girls are now expected to learn and do more of what a princess would.  America has to figure out where her heart is, with her first love Aspen who broke her heart but came back for her.  Or Prince Maxon, whom she has real feelings for but isn’t sure of everything that comes with him, like the crown.  She wants time to try and make her decision but as things progress time may be against her and she may lose her ability to choose.

                In book one I was not very fond of her interactions with Aspen once he came to the palace.  I was happy that he got out of where he was and it turned out well for him and I even understand in some part his reasons for breaking her heart.  I was even happy that it might give her closure but instead it opened up a new can of worms.  While she was developing real feelings for Maxon she now had her first love waiting in the wings which wasn’t fair to either to either guy even if Aspen was aware and Maxon was technically dating many girls at once.  Morality aside it was risky and stupid to keep talking with him like that and sneaking moments.  As we move forward though and things happen outside of the control and understanding of America she is forced to see the not so pleasant side of ruling and she isn’t pleased.  Upset and pulling away from Maxon and the crown leads him to waver in his certainty of her and look more seriously at the other girls.  Which adds even more flames to the fire that is the mess of emotions.   

                Character wise I still really liked Maxon though he had some moments where I was with America in being uncertain.  His reasons make sense and paired with his inexperience they are almost sweet but he expects her to understand his faults and missteps in that area but doesn’t always offer the same with her in regards to the other girls and politics.  Still I was firmly Team Maxon.  Aspen on the other hand I enjoyed as a character and I loved his support and loyalty to his country and America but I didn’t approve of what he was doing in trying to win her while she was in the selection.  It is against the rules and the risks are much too high.  America was still nervous and unsure and relatable if not a bit indecisive which got to me a bit more on reflection than it did in the moment.

                With the girls being so few now we really got to dive more into them and who they are, along with what they were there for.  Some suspicions were confirmed others enlightened.  Also can I say how much I still love Marley!  The bond forged between her and America was on point for me and something I think that was needed in the otherwise cattiness that occurs in the situation.  Special note also to  America's maid, Ann, Mary, and Lucy were also so much fun.  The way America interacts with them and they are with her, true confidents who would do anything for her and she for them seeing them as people.  It kind of helps keep her grounded in the opulence of the palace.          

                I really liked the aspect of including the rebels and learning more about the country as a whole.  I always suspected something was off but this did kind of catch me by surprise.  Maybe because of how insane it was and how honestly I think it could have played out.  How this way of life really happened.  We also get to know more about other countries as well from the dignitaries coming over to visit and interact, each group unique with their different customs and preferences on being handled.  Also seeing the girls step up and have more responsibility was good to see who shined and who failed. 

                Still really enjoying the series and I'm excited to continue on in the series, I have them all (accept the newest one) waiting for me on my shelf.  I'm excited to have finally started this series.  While I wish I had been up on the series before hand so I could have enjoyed all the talk of them I also like not having to wait so there is that!  I'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments down below.  Did you enjoy the picks for the elite?  Were you rooting for Maxon or Aspen?  Let's discuss!

                Until next time…

~Waiting on Wednesday~ The Crown's Game

                “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:

The Crown’s Game by Evelyn Skye

Out: 5/17

From Goodreads:

                Vika Andreyeva can summon the snow and turn ash into gold.  Nikolai Karimov can see through walls and conjure bridges out of thin air.  They are enchanters—the only two in Russia—and with the Ottoman Empire and the Kazakhs threatening, the Tsar needs a powerful enchanter by his side.

                And so he initiates the Crown’s Game, an ancient duel of magical skill—the greatest test an enchanter will ever know.  The victor becomes the Imperial Enchanter and the Tsar’s most respected adviser.  The defeated is sentenced to death. 

                Raised on tiny Ovchinin Island her whole life, Vika is eager for the chance to show off her talent in the grand capital of Saint Petersburg.  But can she kill another enchanter—even when his magic calls to her like nothing else ever has?

                For Nikolai, an orphan, the Crown’s Game is the chance of a lifetime.  But his deadly opponent is a force to be reckoned with—beautiful, whip smart, imaginative—and he can’t stop thinking about her.

                And when Pasha, Nikolai’s best friend and heir to the throne, also starts to fall for the mysterious enchantress, Nikolai must defeat the girl they both love…or be killed himself.

                As long-buried secrets emerge, threatening the future of the empire, it becomes dangerously clear…the Crown’s Game is not one to lose.

Why I’m Waiting:

                Come on it sounds AMAZING!  Competing for a spot where one lives and one dies already had me hooked but to have a connection with the other and know no matter what it ends badly just has so many levels of awesome!

                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!