Showing posts with label mystery/romance/adventure. Show all posts
Showing posts with label mystery/romance/adventure. Show all posts

Monday, October 9, 2017

Tower of Dawn (Throne of Glass #6)

                Hello happy readers!  I hope you all had a great weekend.  First I'd like to announce the winner of my latest giveaway that closed the other day (Epic Reads tote and signed ARC) and the winner is Meigan.  Congrats!  Today I'd also like to share my thoughts and feels about a relative new release from last month, Tower of Dawn (Throne of Glass #6) by Sarah J. Maas.  Now this is the 6th book in the series so there will be spoilers for the previous books so read on at your own peril. 

Rating:  5 Stars

                This book is all about Chaol's journey.  Well him and Nesryn.  I was totally team Chaol in the first three books before I finally moved on but I was happy to do so as the characters grew into different people.  That said I still loved my Chaol.  He has his faults but I adore him and was thrilled this would be his book.  Now timeline wise this book takes place after Queen of Shadows but during Empire of Storms.  Basically while Empire of Storms is happening with the rest of our characters this is what is happening on the other side of the world with Chaol.  I would recommend reading this after Empire of Storms though as parts of it are mentioned and it would ruin things.  So yes read it as book 6 as intended!

                Chaol was nearly killed but some hidden protection and some quick patch work saved his life just not his mobility.  Chaol, former Captain of the Guard, is stuck in a chair, one of the worst kinds of torture for an active man who is used to being able to take care of and defend others.  Dorian has made him part of his new court and his first order of business is to travel to the healers of the Torre Cesme in Antica and seek out help to heal his body.  While there he is also to work with Nesryn to try and convince the rulers in Antica to join their cause and fight with them.  However, as Chaol and Nesryn spend time in Antica they discover the place will change them both and may be more vital to saving Erilea than anyone ever dreamed.

                Chaol being injured and in this chair is hard.  He is such a vibrant, active, and yes proud man and to see him struggling to do basic tasks and need so much help is hard.  Though being in his mind we know its more than the body weighing on him its all that he has witnessed and all that has happened that he was unable to stop.  He feels he has let others down and it weighs on his soul.  He still wants to help his king though and that means keeping up as much as possible and trying to play the games of Antica.  Nesryn has family in town and is eager to see them and see this place she is from but doesn't know as well, but she has a mission.  She spends much time with one of the princes, Sartaq who also commands the Rukhin.  I adored learning all about the Rukhin as well the subsets and how they had their own set of politics was kind of great. 

"Nesryn supposed that was why she liked the queen:  there were plans so long in the making that for someone who let the world deem her unchecked and brash, Aelin showed a great deal of restraint in keeping it all hidden."
*****
"You would be surprised by how closely the healing of physical wounds is tied to the healing of emotional ones." 

                Antica has some very different and unique politics.  The system for heirs is very interesting , and very harsh.  The princes and princesses don't know who will be the next in line.  Some are favorited of course but you never know so everyone plays to keep in favor and power.  All of the siblings were pretty awesome though to read about be it that I wanted to strangle them or I enjoyed them.  Some both at once, it was never dull.  They are currently mourning the loss of one of the princesses who died, or as one of her brothers believes was murdered.  Chaol is asked to help uncover any hidden darkness in exchange for help backing his request for aid.  The search is slow, as is his healing with the spirited and angry healer assigned to help him, Yrene Towers.  Yep you guessed it another resurgence from the novellas.  Can I just take a moment to say how much I love all these novellas coming back into play?  I mean I love how full circle all of this has become. 

                Basically the rest would be spoiler material but lets just say there is lots happening.  Murder, mystery, theft/kidnapping, chases, fights, brewing romance, panic, political balancing act, internal character struggles, and so much more to keep the story going.  I loved the journey we were taken on.  I loved every moment of it.  I didn’t want to stop listening for a second.  We got to see a whole new side of this beautiful world of the South.  The new people both friends and foes and journeys we went on….it was a wild ride.  That isn't all though this book is important to the series in so many ways.  Not only does it tie in the novella again and work on handling Chaol and his healing as it is or just bring in a new force in the battle but the information that we learn is just epic.  Small little pieces throughout that come together and when tied into the larger story just blew me away.  I had to stop at one point to just think about some past books and the experiences within them and have my mind blown as it all came together when you have the right information. 

"What did Aelin promise you?"
 "A better world."

                It was amazing and now I need the next book so much.  Right now.  I have so many thoughts and theories about how things will go down.  I seriously had a dream about one part in particular and how it might play out, it was so vivid I can't wait to see how right I am.  It has to do with a certain meeting.  I am nervous about the coming war/battle because well things are not the best right now (end of Empire of Storms) for some but the coming together of all the different good guys I am beyond excited to see this play out.  Going to be crossing my fingers and listening clutching a pillow to mu chest I'm sure praying for my favorites to make it through.   I'd love to hear what everyone else thought.  None of my friends are currently caught up on this series and its killing me not to talk about it.


                Until next time…

Thursday, January 28, 2016

These Vicious Masks

                Hello everyone!  Before today's review I wanted to quickly mention that my giveaway for a SIGNED copy of The Rose Society by Marie Lu is coming to a close and ends tomorrow (the 29th) so don't forget to get your entries in here.  That said today I am reviewing a book I received as a digital ARC thanks to NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.  The book is, These Vicious Masks by Tarun Shanker and Kelly Zekas and it is out February 9th.  I was first interested in this book because of the cover, come on it has a masquerade mask on it and I LOVE them.  I have a minor collection of them myself!  So that drew me in and the title combined I wanted to know more and was thrilled to be granted a copy for early review.

Rating: 5 Stars

                These Vicious Masks is pitched as Jane Austen meets X-men in a paranormal romance adventure in Victorian London.  We follow Evelyn who isn't really interested in society and it's rules but instead wishes to travel.  Her sister Rose, vanishes one night under mysterious circumstances and against the wishes of her family she travels to London to find her.  She is accompanied by her good friend Mr. Kent but along the way realize the reclusive Mr. Braddock is as well, though he spins tales that they have healing powers.  She soon learns the man is not as insane as she thought as she discovers a new world around her full of people with extraordinary gifts, which means her sister is in even more danger than she thought. 

                I admit to never having read an Austen book myself but I do really enjoy the movies and I love the X-men so I think it seems like a fit.  I also felt like there was a bit of a Holmes vibe as well as the search for her sister played out as well.  I did enjoy Evelyn, and not just because of her name.  Evelyn is very candid with her dislike for the way of things much rather wanting to go travel and see the world than try to find a husband and be a perfect wife.  She and her sister started nursing, but only as a hobby as it was "unseemly" to have a true profession despite her sisters complete love of it.  I loved the bond between sisters.  Their bond was very clear from the start and the way they talked together it brought that bond out which was a real asset to the story as Evelyn goes in search of her.

                The other main characters, our two male leads as it were, Mr. Kent and Mr. Braddock were delightful.  From the start I enjoyed the friendship between Evelyn and Mr. Kent and I could see the possibility for more there.  More I enjoyed the way they acted around one another with such free banter allowing Evelyn to be herself.  Then you add in the mysterious and stand-offish Mr. Braddock.  He does not make the best impression several times over and seems a bit insane but he does help her not only in her search but in understanding her powers and getting to know him bit by hard won bit was fascinating and he shared a connection with Evelyn.  Yes while there was some romantic prospects about the story was more focused on the adventure and mystery of it all.  Finding Rose.  Finding her and discovering what it is the man who took her wants and how to stop him.

                These Vicious Masks was a thrilling tale and I didn't want to put it down when I started.  I wanted to know what would happen next not only in the search but between the characters and their adventures.  Oh and let us not forget trying to do all of this and not ruin any reputations in polite society.  I would not have survived in that era, because frankly I'm of the mind that I don't care what anyone thinks of me, I do me and you do you.  But I will admit the way for which people talked back then (from my limited knowledge of books and movies) was portrayed in a way that always makes me smile!  Just the right amount plus our modern and stubborn female ahead of her times.  The story was full of plot on its own but the powers added that extra push to make it awesome.  I thought they were pretty well thought out powers and I loved the diversity in them and how some were great while others were more of a curse, not all gumdrops.

                Overall I really enjoyed the story and I can't wait for more.  It had its moments of predictability but also some twists you don't see coming keeping it nice and fresh.  I'd love to hear your thoughts on this story in the comments below.  I have already read it but have also pre-ordered myself a physical copy to have on my shelf!  Are you excited for this book to come out next month, what part intrigues you most?  Already read it, what did you think?  Let's discuss below!


                Until next time…