Shadow Falls Books 1-5 Series Review

                Hello happy readers.  I hope you are all doing well, I'm not feeling so hot myself think I have a bit of a sinus infection (yuck) and plan to spend most of today and tomorrow sleeping to try and head it off.  That said I won't be posting tomorrow given I hope to be sleeping all day.  But today I wanted to take a moment an do a series review.  As you may know one of my goals this year is to finish off some of the series I have or have started but haven't finished.  Now while the whole series is out some I will review individually but others I may do one big series wrap up.  This is a bit of a longer series of five books and I thought a brief review of each book and a overall series thought would work best. Today that series is the Shadow Falls series by C.C. Hunter.

Born at Midnight (Shadow Falls #1) Rating:  4 Stars

                Good solid start to the series.  The first book drew you into the world and gave lots of back story and understanding of the different supernaturals without making it sound like an info dump.  It flowed naturally and Kylie is really likeable.  She is going through some major changes in her normal life and then to find out on top of breaking up with her boyfriend, her best friend pulling away, and her parents divorce, surprise you're also an unknown supernatural!  I didn't really ship either Derek or Lucas in this book, they both were not on good terms but of the two I liked Lucas more and yeah maybe Socks has something to do with that ;) but  finding Derek a bit creepy from the start factored in too.  But where there is some boy drama for sure what really shined for me was the cabin mates.  Della and Miranda are the best.  So much fun!  And Holiday was pretty amazing. 

Awake at Dawn (Shadow Falls #2)  Rating: 4.5 Stars

                Picking up where we left off.  Still don't know what Kylie is but I had it figured out here just saying.  It's all good though and the story itself is fun and keeps you moving right along.  Still the great things I loved in the first one Socks, Della, and Miranda and their fights and banter is on point.  Holiday is still a favorite and I grew to really like Burnett in this one and the dynamic between the two of them as well.  We went to the falls and find out more about the  lesser known and outcast type ability to see ghosts.  The ghosts are still vague and such but it's kind of like a mystery each time, a horrible and terrifying one but still interesting.  I like how it continues to have everyone dealing with their own things.  Perry was cute in the first book but he kind of grew on me a bit more in this one.  I really grew to dislike Derek in this one around the time I was growing to like Lucas more and he seems more accepting of her wishes at least in respect for boundaries which Derek claimed book one but never managed.  Also I like how one of the bad guys from the first one blends into this one and a larger plot.

Taken at Dusk (Shadow Falls #3)  Rating:  4.5 Stars

                So Derek was my least favorite character in this one I think.  I even enjoyed Frederka a bit more in this one than him and that's saying something.  Though while I was solidly on team Lucas I didn't like that he kept things from her, the packs disapproval and such but it kind of fits his protective instinct to keep her from the harm.  Plus he owns up to his issues and even admits it's part of his wolf nature and one thing I love about Kylie is that she always sees peoples sides of things and never holds something against them they can't control (their powers).  If I didn't already really love Burnett before…Miranda and a certain book dropping scene…yeah great stuff.  Both for the Burnett moment and for the moment I'd been waiting for since the previous book!  I liked that we find out more about the FRU and about Burnett and how he is a good guy.  Plus he is more chill about her ghosts and need to help than so many others (aside from Holiday who doesn't count since she sees them too) Burnett and Holiday have some of the most amusing lines ever and I love how Kylie is in the middle of it trying to help play matchmaker.  Plus learning more about her family, her blood family and what it means.  Also that was a horrible ending!

Whispers at Moonrise (Shadow Falls #4)  Rating: 4.5 Stars

                I start out freaking out worried about Holiday because she is one of my favorite characters.  A ghost that might be here is scary!  Okay this series made so many favorite characters it's insane.  I just kind of really grew to know all of them so well and being able to marathon the series made my feels stronger.  Having learned what the FRU of the past did I am so against them in this one you have no idea.  But I love Burnett's reaction to them, steadily showing which side he is on and still persisting to try and get through to Holiday despite all her protests.  Though some moments are pure perfection.  Della grew on me more if that was possible, she is always there and ready to help.  She doesn't like the ghosts but if it comes down to it she's there.  I did like how Derek seemed to be moving into more of the real friend type role, there to talk and listen but being pretty good about his distance (finally) but his constant declarations are not cool.  Though the end of this had me torn up.  I was so emotional.  So many things happening and so many feels!  Also finally understand Holiday's vampire issues I've been wondering on for the last few books.  Plus this ending while one aspect had me shaking with rage another had me grinning like an idiot so my emotions were a bit confused there which was great.  Even better that I didn't have to wait.

Chosen at Nightfall (Shadow Falls #5)  Rating:  5 Stars

                A great conclusion.  So many things wrapping up but first and foremost I need to know what happened because she left Shadow Falls to live with others like her.  While I understood needing to go learn about herself and all I hated that she left her friends and the place she knew as home.  Plus getting distance from Lucas…oh did I want to throttle him for how the last one ended.  Not cool.  I was firmly on Team Kylie and no boys at this point.  Getting to know more about who she is and finding herself more both in terms of as a supernatural and as a person was great.  There was so much happening and all the underlying threats and threads that weaved throughout the books so far came to a head and some things I expected others I didn't so that was great.  I really enjoyed Kylies journey and how she came into her own.  And became the apparent relationship advise go to person which was hilarious. 

Shadow Falls overall *spoilers* for the series as a whole!!!

                You've been warned.  Okay so I was super thrilled about the wedding!  I had been shipping them since the second book so to have them finally go for it after all that build up and wow the pregnancy test….I couldn't see for a bit I was cry laughing too much.  Holiday was one of my favorites from the start and her and Burnett were so much fun but even with all the romances both them and others my favorite aspect of this was still the friendship between Kylie, Miranda, and Della.  They were just meant to be friends even through the threats and the moments of misunderstanding.  They always had one another's backs.  Girl power at it's best.  I also was on Team Lucas most of the series but I was seriously questioning if I could finish the series if they got back together after what he did but the way it was all written out was so perfect for me.  He didn't get off easy and he had to really prove himself after that.  Also she had to make it more than about her, and I respect that.  I'm happy with everything overall and her mom knowing the truth makes things so much easier.  I did want more of Della and Steve but she is apparently the subject of the spin-off series so I look forward to more of the crew in that one and hopefully finding out more of the secrets that she has been holding onto this whole time and maybe even letting herself open up. 

                That's all I have to share on the series as a whole.  I'd love to know your thoughts on this series and if you've already read the spin-off what did you think?  I'm dying to get to it.  Also the wrap up of the whole series was kind of fun and I'm planning to finally read Percy Jackson this year and was thinking of doing them the same way.  Let me know what you prefer to see.  Have a great weekend.

                Until next time…

Throne of Glass by the wonderful Sarah J Maas

                Hello again my fellow book lovers.  Today I’m going to share my thoughts and feels for a book I’m sure most of you have if not read heard of, Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas.  I have finished the series up to the newest release Queen of Shadows which came out Tuesday September 1st.  I held off on reviewing this series for a while so I could do them through the next couple weeks as I work my way through this monster of a new book.  It’s over 600 pages and while I'd love to sit and marathon it my back still isn't 100% and not sure I'll be able to sit for that long but I'm going to try!

Rating: 5 Stars

                Anyways let's talk about where this all started, Throne of Glass.  For those of you living under a rock, Throne of Glass is about Celaena Sardothien 18-year-old assassin.  Once top of her profession now pulled from a year of hard labor in the salt mines of Endovier for her crimes and put before Crown Prince Dorian.  He makes her an offer, fight for him as his champion in a competition to be the royal assassin in exchange for being free of the mines and if she wins her freedom after her service term.  Seems like a no brainer.  Celaena has to fight past her opponents all men of different skill sets from across the empire each sponsored by a member of the kings council.  She was once the best, it should be easy but a year in the salt mines have taken their toll and she must train with the captain of the guard, Chaol.  Celaena must also face court life while competing.  Dull politics and ladies of court are livened up when the prince starts to show and interest in her even if Captain Chaol seems to understand her best. If that wasn't enough to keep a girl buys contestants start to turn up dead in vicious ways, leaving her to investigate the deaths and hope that by finding the killer she can keep herself alive.  Maybe even find her destiny along the way.

                Awesome high fantasy full of action and intrigue.  Need I say more?  I will say I read about 25% of Throne of Glass then read started reading the novellas bind-up, The Assassin's Blade, alongside it, like 1 every other day or so while I continued the series since I had heard mixed things about when to read them.  The novellas are not necessary but they are the full stories of things alluded to in Throne of Glass that I knew how they would end I enjoyed reading more detail on.  So my personal suggestion is to read Throne of Glass first or start it and get a feel for Celaena before you read the novellas because while she is the same character she changes a lot and I was able to appreciate glimpses of her past better knowing her character better.

Back image (UK cover w/ white background)

                Now Celaena!  I just love her.  She is such a kick ass heroin.  She's equal bits deadly and girly.  She's a mix of stubborn, prideful, confident, determined, and still with all of that still has a fragility to her.  The cover at least I know for hardcover, has the image of our Celaena all bad ass and assassin like on them, but on the back it has the same pose and such, the back image but instead of her battle attire Celaena is decked out in a gorgeous dress looking a whole different kind of deadly.  I love this aspect because she is both parts.  She can be gritty and down to the bone no care for her appearance to take care of what needs to be done but she can also deeply appreciate a spa day and pampering one's self with the finest of beauty products and clothing.  So to have covers that fit our heroine so well was just starting off right.  She has so much to relate to, not the assassin part of course or hope not anyways, but that she struggles with many different things in her life and trying to move on and make the most of what she has. 

                One of the things that she has is some boy trouble.  You have probably already heard about the teams, Team Dorian and Team Chaol by now.  When I was reading book one I was conflicted on the matter.  Because when she does flirt and have a connection with Prince Dorian, let's not forget his title there, I also liked the banter and connection she had with his friend and Captain of the Guard Chaol.  They both seemed to like a different side of her and, like the covers, she is more than one or the other.  I found myself enjoying both sides and honestly I could have been happy if she ended up with either of them, though I admit to silently rooting for Chaol.  For me, he just seemed to get who she was a bit more.  Maas does not make it easy in any of her books when all of her male characters are just so yummy and amazing.  Why can we not make them real for us fangirls again?

I mean look at this quote!

                Now the story is about a whole lot more than some romance and sexual tension.   The meat of the story is not just characters but pushing them through the ringer with trials.  The competition was super interesting and it almost reminded me of a brutal and deadly version of the Apprentice (which I've never watched so I could be wrong) and an episode of CSI.  Watching as Celaena in the different trials and tasks was impressive and seeing the mystery unravel with each page flip was just magical.  There is literally so much to these books I couldn't even begin to scratch the surface without telling you everything blow for blow and ruining the discovering for you, but trust me it was awesome.  So much blended so well you don't realize the time passing as you immerse yourself. 

                Watching as Celaena deals with everything both physically and emotionally was such fun.  She has been through some serious stuff and she has to deal with it in her own way.  Part of that is with meeting a much needed girl friend, Nehemia.  While they might not always be on the same path they become fast friends and with everything else it was very nice to see Celaena have that small joy.  And it wouldn't be a complete review unless I mentioned Fleetfoot!  Oh I just adore that little pup, but then again who doesn't love dogs in books?

                 I highly recommend this series if you haven't started it yet.  Give it a go.  It's a high fantasy gold mine with royal intrigue and court drama, which is always fun.  Wars and rebellion, fae, magic, romance, action, adventure, mystery, basically everything you could want wrapped up with  pretty bow.  I'll be reviewing the other two books in the series the next two to three weeks and read Queen of Shadows to review it.  So stay turned.  

               That's all for today check back tomorrow for my Stacking Shelves post and find out what new goodies I've gotten in August.  Send some love in the comments below and let me know if you've read Throne of Glass or are reading it what your thoughts are.  Also if you have picked a team, which one are you

A Court of Thorns and Roses (ACOTAR) Review & Giveaway!

                Hello and welcome back on this wonderful Friday.  It’s hot as Hades outside and I’m avoiding it like the plague.  I would rather escape to the fantasy worlds on my shelves.  Today I have another fun review of a book I can’t say enough good things about and a Giveaway.  What amazing book am I talking about now, you ask?  A Court of Thorns and Roses (aka ACOTAR) by Sarah J Maas. 

Rating: 5 Stars

                This book came out a few months back and I read it instantly.  I have at this point read all of her books at this point.  She’s the brilliant mind behind the Throne of Glass series if you somehow didn’t know that.  I have not reviewed those yet, I know I’m working on it, but I’m planning to do so closer to the release of the next book in that series.  In the mean-time I’d like to discuss this first book in the new fantasy series.  First please note the beautiful cover.  I like the cut off faces, it gives you a vague image of the character but enough is blank you can image them yourselves.  Also that dress…

                Quick overview here:  Beauty and the Beast retelling with faerie lore blended in.  Our nineteen-year-old huntress Feyre is hunting in the woods and kills a wolf.  A faerie in the form of a wolf.  A beast-like creature arrives to demand she come live in his court as payment for her slight.  She is taken to a dangerous and magical land she only knows of through whispers and legends.  Feyre discovers soon that her captor is not a beast but Tamlin, an immortal faerie who rules the Spring Court.  As she adjusts to her new life on the estate Feyre’s feelings for Tamlin begin to shift from icy hostility into something much hotter.  The feelings hot enough to push aside all the wicked and terrible things she has been told of the Fae.  Things aren’t that easy though, as ancient and evil shadow grows over the faerie lands and she must find a way to stop it or leave Tamlin and his world. 

                Need I even say that first and foremost I was going to check this out no matter what?  Beauty and the Beast is one of my favorite Disney movies of all time.  I still adore it and watch it every few months just because I’m awesome and roll like that.  So a retelling, I have to check it out.  Add that it was by an author I already LOVE and you have a slam dunk.  I gave up sleep for this book.  I didn’t want to put it down at all but I was in a frenzy at the last quarter of the book and any interruption of my reading was done so at great risk to one’s physical wellbeing.  It was that good.

                Feyre is strong but from the very beginning we see that she has a bit of ice in her heart over some of the things in her life.  We are able to relate to her.  Her family kind of sucks.  They count on her to provide for them and she’s not the parent nor the oldest.  You get a sense of how her life is really quick and you want things to go well for her.  When Tamlin showed up to take her I was excited.  Okay yes, part was because it was a B&B retelling and I LOVED the beast but also it would put her into a different role in life and I wanted that for her.  Our heroine is also proud and does struggle with asking for help which I found endearing and relatable.  On the flip side we have Tamlin, who while he wasn’t a ‘Beast’ he had the power to change into a beast like creature.  He is nice to Feyre pretty much from the start.  He is awkward and messy about it, often times messing things up but he is adorable. 

                Tamlin is amazing.  Also we never really see his full face, or that of anyone on the Spring Court due to a curse put on them while attending a masked ball.  I loved this aspect because I love Masquerade masks, I collect them, but also because it added to the mysterious nature and the torment of never being able to remove it.  Great feature.  A physical representation that something is wrong in the world of Fae.  The first part of the book is a bit slower paced but it’s more about developing the characters and the world with little bits and pieces that come into play later on.  This is a love story after all.  I didn’t mind one bit I was completely encased in the world of the Spring Court.  I do want to learn more about the different courts though, they seem to have one for all seasons and then also for Day, Dawn, and Night.  How cool?  The world was just so full of different faerie types some good and some downright evil. 

                I got a bit off track talking about characters but one more I just adored from the start was Lucien.  I heart him.  He is so much fun.  He is a dick at the start but it’s understandable.  Still he is always honest about his feelings and tells it like it is.  He pushes Feyre and for me, I feel he was a huge part of the story and how she managed to warm to their world and Tamlin.  We only get a couple glimpses of Rhysand (Rhys) until the later part of the book when his character steps into a larger part of the story.  He’s dark, dangerous, and complex.  I liked the character himself but I didn’t love him like some people.  One of the things Maas does well is get everyone all excited and shipping couples.  I ship Feyre and Tamlin 100% while some have taken to shipping Feyre and Rhysand which I don’t understand at all.  I could write pages back and forth on my ship preference but not right now.  Like Rhysand we only meet Amarantha in person later in the story but her threat and power are present through the story but getting to place a face to the name, so to speak, was great.  She is wickedly evil.  I also loved her backstory.

                I was obsessed with this book while reading it.  I loved the way the romance between Tamlin and Feyre builds, the moments and tension leading up to them finally having a moment were both steamy and adorable.  Again Tamlin was so cute and she was straight up not having it, expecting him to be horrible.  Also his experience to humans is a bit limited and he has some rust there to clean up but watching it unfold was beautiful.  The way things came together and built through the story all paid off in the end.  Again the last part was just wow.  Serious action going on.  I will admit some things were a bit predictable and some would say a key part was a bit easy but when you work in a retelling that is bound to happen some.  Still there was so much happening that I was nervous about and wandering what would happen next.  I can’t really say much more than this without giving away any spoilers and discovering everything is half the fun. 

                So to end this review so you can get to checking out this book I’ll tell you about the giveaway.  I had the pleasure of meeting Sarah J Maas and her best friend Susan Dennard was a surprise guest at the ACOTAR release tour.  It was pretty amazing.  I already had my copy I had pre-ordered month before release that arrived the day of the signing and the wonderful little book stop that hosts these events does ask you to purchase a from the author from them to get in the signing line after the Q&A which is totally understandable.  So already having all of her books myself I thought it would be a great idea to get another copy of this one and get it signed for this very use.  I will leave this open until next Saturday night at midnight (EST), I’ll announce the winner next week and it’s open to anyone!  That’s all for now.  I’ll see you next week!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Burn Mark by Laura Powell

                It seems like forever since I’ve finished a book.  Bright side is my new job is pretty cool so I can’t complain too much about it cutting into my reading/writing time.  So on  my lazy Saturday I finished the last half of Burn Mark by Laura Powell that I received as an ARC from NetGalley.com and Bloomsbury Children’s Books.

                In a modern world where witches are hunted down and burned at the stake two people who have lived completely different lives find they have more in common than they ever would have thought.  Glory is from a family of witches, and prays every day that she will develop the ‘Fae’ and become a witch herself.  Lucas on the other hand is son of the Chief Prosecutor for the Inquisition, a long line of Inquisitors for that matter.  His privileged life is completely different from the witches he has been raised and trained to prosecute.  Then one day, both Gloria and Lucas develop the Fae.  In one day their lives are changed forever and they start on a path that will entwine their lives together.

                So first let me say that this book does have some random terminology I was unfamiliar with, authentic slang from London I guess and I liked it.  I only mention it because I did do a quick good search to be sure that my understanding of a couple of words were correct, and they were so go me, so it’s nothing that will detract from the book in the least, I felt if anything it made it more authentic.  I will say that the versions of witches in this book is more elemental.  No simple phrase or thought and things happen, there is real work to do it.  I liked how gritty and complex it was.  For me it made it more realistic and not hyped up.  Fantasy but with limits.  Though I will say I don’t think I’d be practicing my Fae as I’m a slight germaphobe, but even as I cringed I enjoyed the way they had to do the work to make things.

                Character wise I liked Gloria and Lucas.  They are like two sides of a coin.  Gloria is tough and rough around the edges where Lucas is proper and refined.  They rub against each other and create this great tension and as a reader you are see both their sides and can understand them both.  I loved seeing things from both of their viewpoints.  I constantly felt myself being pulled to one side then the other over and over again with who I felt was right.  Seeing two characters who are so clearly different have to work together and eventually grow to understand the other slightly better while never really changing their core beliefs was amazing.

                Now the characters really sold me but they wouldn’t have been nearly as good without a great plot and let me tell you this one was stimulating.  A plot abound with undercover operations, mystery, intrigue and secrets galore.  I think the plot moved along very nicely pacing everything so as a reader you are always interested and not wanting to put the book down.  For me I’d finish a chapter and then think, just one more then to sleep.  Then that one chapter turned into four or five…  A good mix of suspense, action, and inner self development if you ask me.

                I give this book a solid 5 Stars.  Now this great book is set to come out June 19^th and I suggest you check it out.  Would you side with the witches or the Inquisitors?  Would developing the Fae be a blessing or a curse?  Let me know what you think?