Review: Legion

Talon: Legion | Julie Kagawa

Published by: HQ, April 25th 2017

Genre: Urban fantasy, Dragons

Pages: 384

Format: Ebook

Source: HQ, via Netgalley

The legions are about to be unleashed, and no human, rogue dragon or former dragon slayer can stand against the coming horde. Book 4 of 5 in The Talon Saga from New York Times bestselling author Julie Kagawa.

Dragon hatchling Ember Hill was never prepared to find love at all--dragons do not suffer human emotions--let alone the love of a human and a former dragonslayer, at that. With ex-soldier Garret dying at her feet after sacrificing his freedom and his life to expose the deepest of betrayals, Ember knows only that nothing she was taught by dragon organization Talon is true. About humans, about rogue dragons, about herself and what she's capable of doing and feeling.

In the face of great loss, Ember vows to stand with rogue dragon Riley against the dragon-slaying Order of St. George and her own twin brother Dante--the heir apparent to all of Talon, and the boy who will soon unleash the greatest threat and terror dragonkind has ever known.

Talon is poised to take over the world, and the abominations they have created will soon take to the skies, darkening the world with the promise of blood and death to those who refuse to yield. 

(I am so happy no one died. So, so happy.)

I didn't love this nearly as much as the other books but it was still packed full of action, heart, and intrigue. I really liked how we saw Dante's role more, even though I don't like him at all, and how far he's willing to go for Talon (way, way too far.) Garret and Ember continue to be couple goals, and I love them supporting each other. And Riley, poor Riley - I actually felt sad for him in this book. Please let him find someone to love him (hi, Mist, looking at you.)

This series is one of my favourites, and this was another strong installment. There's nothing I don't like in these books. Everything's going to hell in the next book but I'm actually looking forward to it. Plus, I'm super excited to see the fallout of Riley saving Garret (please can we give him a dragon form? That would be AWESOME!)

Characters ★★★★☆

Setting/world ★★★☆☆

Writing ★★★★☆

ARC Review: Soldier

Talon: Soldier | Julie Kagawa

Published by: Mira Ink, May 5th 2016

Genre: YA, Paranormal, Dragons

Pages: 400

Format: Ebook

Source: Mira Ink, via Netgalley

The thrilling next story in the The Talon Saga, the incredible new YA fantasy series from New York Times bestselling author Julie Kagawa.

When forced to choose between the sinister Talon organisation and being hunted by her own kind, dragon-human hybrid Ember fled. Even if it meant losing Garret, the dragon-slaying soldier she shares a deep bond with.

Now Garret has uncovered secrets that will shake the foundations of dragons and dragon-slayers alike. Can the danger reunite them?

I honestly don't know how to review this book, because I love it so much and it so cruelly hurt me. Here are my thoughts:

-Ember is so kickass and I love her so much. She's tough and fights and yet cries. I love the complexities in her identity - as both dragon and human.

- Riley, what happened? I was super into you in Rogue but you reverted into the possessive ultra-dick. Come on, dude.

-Garret, YOU DESERVED BETTER. And, I'm assuming, will get better in the next book. He can't be permanently ... y'know. Say it aint so! I love Garret so much - he's noble, caring, and deadly with a gun. All the things I like.

- The plot is full of action and danger but still has enough quiet, emotional moments to satisfy the romantic in me

- Ember made up her mind!!!! She didn't keep floundering between Riley and Garret, even though each side of her is conflicted about who they want. She made a choice and stuck with it. I respect her so much after that.

- I do NOT like the lifemate thing. Seems a convenient way to undermine Ember's choice & keep the other guy an option

- Packed full of fun and drama and thrills.

- The ending is unacceptable. Just straight up cruel. I will never forgive this book.

Characters ★★★★★

Setting/world ★★★★☆

Writing ★★★★☆

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Most Anticipated of 2015: Rogue

I wanted to talk about the books I'm dying to have, but since I don't do the WoW weekly feature I don't really have somewhere to talk about those books. So these posts were born. It'll be a series of 6-10 posts, since I haven't decided how many I want to talk about, and they should be up every Friday as a temporary feature.

Today I'm going to talk about

Rogue by Julie Kagawa

expected May 7th

Ember Hill left the dragon organization Talon to take her chances with rebel dragon Cobalt and his crew of rogues. But Ember can't forget the sacrifice made for her by the human boy who could have killed her—Garret Xavier Sebastian, a soldier of the dragonslaying Order of St. George, the boy who saved her from a Talon assassin, knowing that by doing so, he'd signed his own death warrant. 

Determined to save Garret from execution, Ember must convince Cobalt to help her break into the Order's headquarters. With assassins after them and Ember's own brother helping Talon with the hunt, the rogues find an unexpected ally in Garret and a new perspective on the underground battle between Talon and St. George. 

A reckoning is brewing and the secrets hidden by both sides are shocking and deadly. Soon Ember must decide: Should she retreat to fight another day…or start an all-out war?

I never expected to love Talon. I expected to like and enjoy it and for the series to grow on me. That I fell head first into adoration with the book was, still is, a total shock. I need the next book asap so I can find out what happens to Garret and Ember!!

Reading round up (58)

Reading round up is a weekly journal where I record my daily reading progress, my thoughts on each book as I read it, and any books I've acquired during the week.

22nd December

Currently Reading: Talon | Julie Kagawa

Current page/percent: 56%

Read today: 36%

Thoughts: I fricking LOVE this book. I'm only halfway through and it's already one of my favourites. And I adore Garret *swoons*

23rd December

Currently Reading: Talon | Julie Kagawa

Current page/percent: 100%

Read today: 44%

Thoughts: Riley is a MAJOR creep. Dude, leave her alone. Awesome book though. Plenty wrong with it but my love for the story and Garret overshadows any problems.

24th December

Started Splintered by A. G. Howard (6%). This has been on my tbr list for about 2 years now, and everyone loves this story so I'm expecting a lot but I'm finding it REALLY hard to get into. Insects and boarding aren't my thing so I'm a little disheartened by the beginning. I also read 44 pages of The Wizard's Promise by Cassandra Rose Clarke to counteract the slowness of Splintered. It's awesome so far.

25th December

MERRY CHRISTMAS, FOLKS!!

I read 28% of Splintered and God this is taking forever to get good. It's also not what I was expecting, more outrageous fantasy than dark. Not sure I like.

26th December

I read a further 41% of Splintered. We're in Wonderland now and I'm still not sure if I like this or not. Jeb started to grow on me then started being controlling, Morpheus is a manipulative creep, and I don't know if I'm ever gonna connect to any of the characters.

27th December

Finished Splintered (read 25%). I both like and hate this book at the same time, so it's gonna be another 2.5 star highly-anticipated book for me. Ah yes, crushing disappointment how nice to see you.

I also read 32 pages of The Wizard's Promise and I'm liking it, even if it is another slow build up like Splintered (hopefully not as long; hopefully not half the book.)

28th December

Currently Reading: The Wizard's Promise | Cassandra Rose Clarke

Current page/percent: page 191

Read today: 104 pages

Thoughts: Getting better but it's a slow book as opposed to a fast one. I like it, but after the excruciatingly long Splintered, I don't love this as much as I should.

Books finished this week: 2

I got a major haul of Christmas present books (as shown here) and will be using Christmas present money to get a second haul. It's been a good week for books because I also got these ebooks:

The Cage | Megan Shepherd

The Replaced | Kimberly Derting

I still haven't finished reading The Madman's Daughter from months ago, so I'm not sure if I'll totally love The Cage but the premise is far too exciting to ignore. I did, however, really enjoy The Taking, and much more than I expected, so I'm looking forward to The Replaced!! Don't like the text treatment on the cover, though. My eyes can't focus on it :(

Song of Blood and Stone | L. Penelope

POC? High fantasy? Fricking stunning cover? What sounds like a really cool world? A FUCKING MAP INSIDE? Oh God I'm gonna love this book. 

Paranormalcy | Kiersten White

Article 5 | Kristen Simmons

These two beauties were on kindle sale. You have NO idea how long I've been coveting them

Talon

Splintered

Talon (ARC Review)

Talon Saga: Talon | Julie Kagawa

Published by: Mira Ink, January 15th 2015

Genre: YA, Fantasy, Paranormal, Mythology

Pages: 461

Format: Paperback

Source: Purchased

‘There are a dozen soldiers hiding in that maze All hunting you. All looking to kill you.’

To the outside world Ember Hill is an ordinary girl, but Ember has a deadly secret. A dragon hiding in human form, she is destined to fight the shadowy Order of St.George, a powerful society of dragonslayers. St. George soldier Garret is determined to kill Ember and her kind. Until her bravery makes him question all he’s been taught about dragons.

Now a war is coming and Garret and Ember must choose their sides – fight to save their bond or fulfil their fate and destroy one another.

Once again Julie Kagawa proves herself to be a master at writing YA heroines.

I wasn't sure what to expect from this story of teenage dragons. I'd heard good and bad things, and my personal experience with the Iron Fey made me a little unsure, but I loved Blood of Eden so much I had to read this. And boy am I happy I did - Talon is a crazy, surreal rollercoaster of emotions, action, intrigue, and danger. The secrets these characters keep from each other will kill you, and the emotions Kagawa throws into every chapter will take you to breaking point. There's never a dull moment for Ember, the main character, and even if there are dull moments for the reader it all changes in the next chapter, where the stakes are ramped even higher than before.

But now the characters - Ember I actually liked. I thought I'd hate her at first but I actually didn't. So that was good. But in the beginning Kagawa makes a point of taking three major jerks who are clearly about to sexually assault these girls and saying this is fucking bad, don't do this - but then she gives us a completely unhealthy relationship with a love interest. Riley is dark and mysterious and a total creep. He thinks he owns Ember after meeting her in dragon form one time and he obsesses about her constantly. Borderline stalker that uses 'dragon instinct' as an excuse for his shitty behaviour. Please get rid of this guy.

On the flipside, you have Garret, who is spending time with Ember because she's a possible target and it's his job to watch her (to see if she's a dragon, which, oops, she is), and accidentally falls in love with her. At no point does Garret claim ownership of Ember, nor express any feelings of entitlement. He likes her, plain and simple, and much more he respects Ember and regards her as a person, not as a possession. I rather like Garret.

The only thing I was missing from this book was a bit of diversity among the main characters, like in Blood of Eden. Ember is red haired, thus white, Garret is fair haired, thus most likely white, and while Riley could quite possibly be a POC with his dark hair, I'm sure it would have been mentioned and I wouldn't have missed it. Still, an exceptional book that I fell in love with, and I'm hoping there are diverse characters in the next books so I can find no fault at all.

Characters ★★★★☆

Setting/world building ★★★☆☆

Writing ★★★★☆