Review: Empire of Storms

Throne of Glass: Empire of Storms | Sarah J. Maas

Published by: Bloomsbury, September 6th 2016

Genre: NA, High Fantasy, Fae & Fairy Lore

Pages: 693

Format: Paperback

Source: Puchased

The long path to the throne has only just begun for Aelin Galathynius. Loyalties have been broken and bought, friends have been lost and gained, and those who possess magic find themselves at odds with those don't.

As the kingdoms of Erilea fracture around her, enemies must become allies if Aelin is to keep those she loves from falling to the dark forces poised to claim her world. With war looming on all horizons, the only chance for salvation lies in a desperate quest that may mark the end of everything Aelin holds dear.

Aelin's journey from assassin to queen has entranced millions across the globe, and this fifth installment will leave fans breathless. Will Aelin succeed in keeping her world from splintering, or will it all come crashing down?

Nah. No thanks. That didn't happen.

This book was so much bigger and better and more painful than the rest. What Maeve did to Rowan ... I have no words. I'm not sure about Dorian's romance, which was my only issue with this book, but I understand he's grieving so I accept his choice. I weirdly missed Chaol - I don't love him, only like him, but it felt incomplete without him as part of the gang. BUT I did love the addition of Lorcan (of all people!) to the the main gang, and his interaction with Elide. And I adore every single member of Aelin's court, even Fenrys (!) and Gavriel (!). That ending was horrific, though, and I don't know how I'm meant to wait until next year for the resolution.

Characters ★★★★★

Setting/world ★★★★★

Writing ★★★★★

3 Bookish Bookmarks (Free download) + New Blog Design

It's about time I redesigned this blog. It's been around 2 years with my old design, so definitely time for something new. To celebrate Syntax Reviews's makeover, I've designed three bookish bookmarks with quotes from some of my favourite books. Happy downloading!

Comment below or use the hashtag #SyntaxReviews if you download!

Just save the above image, print it out, and cut along the shadow lines for three bookish bookmarks.

And let me know what you think of my new blog design :)

~Saruuh

Reading round up (90)

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. 

7th September

This week I'm reading Cruel Beauty because I need a pick-me-up and this is one of my all time favourites. Today I read 136 pages.

8th September

I finished Cruel Beauty (154 pages), basically binge reading this, and I feel way better. I also started Queen of Shadows, because I feel a lot steadier emotion wise, and like I'm okay to handle book feelings as well as my own. I read 54 pages and it's already painful and epic!!


9th September

I read 108 pages of Queen of Shadows and I LOVE IT. Not seeing how Chaol has been ruined or twisted into someone completely different - he's clearly been affected by a deep, beheading-and-friend-enslaving trauma. That would fuck up anyone, so give the guy a break.

10th September

I read 102 pages of QoS. I like Elide. Huh. Never expected that. (also I thought Nesryn was Elide and I'm slightly grumpy that she's not.)

11th September

Read another 153 pages of QoS and this shit just got EPIC and HIGHLY DANGEROUS real quick.

12th September

I finished Queen of Shadows (I read a crazy 239 pages in one day!!) and everything is a little in pain right now. But happy ending? Thank you Sarah J. Maas, I can only assume this won't last.

13th September

I can't leave Erilea just yet, so I'm finally reading The Assassin's Blade. I read the first novella (77 pages) and oh no I like Sam. (I DON'T WANT TO BECAUSE HE'S GOING TO DIE AND IT'S GOING TO HUUUURT.)

Books finished this week: 2
Books DNF'd this week: 0

For review:

Sequel to a book I enjoyed.

One (3.5 STARS)

Reading Round Up (89)

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. 

31st August

I started The Orphan Queen by Jodi meadows and read 102 pages. I love it so much.

1st September

Annnd today I finished OQ, oops. I read a whole 296 pages in a single day. Did I love this book or did I love this book? (I hated it; it broke me.)

2nd September

At some point my progress and reading got mixed up. Anyway, imagine this was all straight and yesterday I read 112 pages of Heir of Fire by Sarah J. Maas, which I actually did read - but I can't have read basically all of OQ and HoF as well.

TODAY I read 137 pages of Heir of Fire. This is just as painful as I remembered.

3rd September

I read 92 pages. I love Rowan so, so much.

4th September

Read another 89 pages of Heir of Fire and ouch, thanks Sarah J. Maas. Why am I doing this to myself again?

5th September

I'm almost finished with Heir of Fire (89 pages read) which means I start Queen of Shadows tomorrow. OH GODS!!!

6th September

I finished Heir of Fire and started Cruel Beauty reread (52 pages) because I was feeling REALLY low.

Books finished this week: 2
Books DNF'd this week: 0

For review:

Charlie N. Holmberg, 'nuff said.

The Wolf Wilder (4 STARS)

Reading round up (41)

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. *pretends to be productive*

25th August

I read a further 12% of Heir of Fire, taking me to 67%. And I read Betrayed by Jennifer Rush (32 pages) in like ... an hour. Oh my poor bb Trev. Please be happy.

26th August

Currently reading: Heir of Fire | Sarah J. Maas

Current page/percent: 87%

Read today: 20%

Thoughts: Still not fussed on Sorcha. She seems like an awfully convenient love interest for Dorian. Putting money on her betraying him and being a plant from the King.

27th August

Currently reading: Heir of Fire | Sarah J. Maas

Current page/percent: 100%

Read today: 13%

Thoughts: Crying. No. My BABY. You leave Dorian the fuck out of this.

28th August

Started The 100 by Kass Morgan. I'm a little iffy with it, as I was with the TV show but I like the premise a lot. Not a clue who the fuck Glass is, though. I read 19%.

29th August

I am SO bored of The 100 right now. I read 20% but it was like pulling teeth. Glass's sections are pointless. The others I actually like, but why why WHY all the flashbacks?

30th August

Currently reading: The 100 | Kass Morgan

Current page/percent: 47%

Read today: 8%

Thoughts: I SORT OF HATE THIS BOOK but sort of don't mind it in parts. Why is everyone except Bellamy so whiny? Why was Octavia aged up in the TV show? Where the frick is Jasper? Why did the TV show force a love triangle with a character that doesn't exist when Wells is in love with Clarke and there for the adapting? Who is Glass? Basically: ?????????? (if I actually liked this book I probably wouldn't be asking these questions, but I literally can't see why it was made into a TV show because it's not that good.)

31st August

I'm done with The 100. I'm just thoroughly bored of the whining and the nothing happening. So I abandoned it at 47% and started The Exiled Queen by the infallible Cinda Williams Chima. Read 101 pages and I missed these morons.

1st September

Okay so I totally forgot to post this thing yesterday because my life is now so hectic in the run up to The Wandering's release. But lets pretend I posted this on time, and also that I read something (because I didn't.)

Books finished this week: 1.5

(*gnarled moaning*)

Alright, so I went on another binge (birthday money HOLLA) and I don't have the energy or patience to write them all out here, but I got a tonne of Terah Edun books, a handful of other indies, and ALL MY FAVES. I now own everything I love but Cruel Beauty and Illusions of Fate.

I ALSO GOT A GALLEY OF POLARIS, SEQUEL TO AVALON AND HOLY HELL YESSSSSSSSSSS. So happy!! And a shitty preview of Orphan Queen and BOY am I mad about that. Nowhere on the listing on EW did it say it was only a preview and not the whole book. I feel betrayed, HarperCollins.

More Cassandra Rose Clarke books!!!!!! HELL YES HELL YES HELL YES.

I started a design business called Cosmos Cover Design (cosmos because I love all things space). I design book covers, web banners, and sidebar ads. Check it out here. Blog headers are £10, or £20 with custom stock. Ads are like ... £5. (All money I make goes towards luxury things like food and electricity and staying alive...)

Heir of Fire (ARC Review)

Throne of Glass: Heir of Fire | Sarah J. Maas

Published by: Bloomsbury Childrens, September 11th 2014

Genre: YA, High Fantasy

Pages: 565

Format: Ebook

Source: Bloomsbury Childrens, via Netgalley

Lost and broken, Celaena Sardothien’s only thought is to avenge the savage death of her dearest friend: as the King of Adarlan’s Assassin, she is bound to serve this tyrant, but he will pay for what he did. Any hope Celaena has of destroying the king lies in answers to be found in Wendlyn. Sacrificing his future, Chaol, the Captain of the King’s Guard, has sent Celaena there to protect her, but her darkest demons lay in that same place. If she can overcome them, she will be Adarlan’s biggest threat – and his own toughest enemy. 

While Celaena learns of her true destiny, and the eyes of Erilea are on Wendlyn, a brutal and beastly force is preparing to take to the skies. Will Celaena find the strength not only to win her own battles, but to fight a war that could pit her loyalties to her own people against those she has grown to love?

This third novel in the Throne of Glass sequence, from New York Timesbestselling author Sarah J. Maas, is packed with more heart-stopping action, devastating drama and swoonsome romance, and introduces some fierce new heroines to love and hate.

WARNING: This review has MAJOR spoilers for the first two books.

I have literally no idea how to begin this review. My emotions are all over the place and it's been 24 hours since I finished reading the book. I haven't been pulled apart by a book this much in a very long time. 

Okay. So, Heir of Fire starts off pretty average. There are new POV characters I didn't really want, and a new love interest for Dorian I didn't really trust. But I stuck with it, because I have massive faith in Sarah. And boy was my every hope and expectation granted, surpassed, and walked all over.

Heir of Fire is explosive, slow building, catastrophic, wonderful, lush, heartbreaking, vast, and a hundred other adjectives I could list. Sarah J. Maas is an incredible writer and storyteller. Her language is stunning, her world fascinating, and her characters - that is where my massive love of this series is. In the characters.

Every doubt I had in the first five chapters of this book was quietened by my growing love of the new characters (except Sorcha. She stayed dodgy.) I now love Manon's fierceness, her determination, and her thawing heart. I love love love Rowan. Oh, Rowan, how did you capture my heart against all odds, you grumpy, broken old man? And Aedion made me want to cry, so you know he's a winner.

But I have to say even my boundless adoration of Rowan was overshadowed by my complete amazement of Celaena. I knew this girl was strong - she's badass, an incredible fighter, and will not let anything beat her - but her journey in this book is off the charts. Her development as a person and a character is, honestly, a little unbelievable. I literally can't believe everything she had to go through, everything she's suffered, and everything she has become. To be strong enough to leave Celaena behind and become Aelin? I'm in awe.

I love this book for the world and the writing, the villains and the budding war, but Celaena made Heir of Fire a masterpiece. I also wanna thank Sarah for writing such a moving platonic relationship between Celaena and Rowan.

Characters ★★★★★

Setting/world building ★★★★★

Writing Style ★★★★☆

Reading round up (40)

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. *rolls away from my responsibilities*

18th August

Still plodding on with my crappy mood. Read another 2% of Heir of Fire. It's laughable how little motivation I have. Also I don't want a new love interest for Dorian, why do we need one? And who are these new people? Oh, I don't care. Understanding why some people bailed.

19th August

Not feeling an Heir of Fire day, so I read 16% of Sworn to Transfer. The woods and fae (okay, kith) are making this book more interesting. Excited to see where this is going, since everyone says this book is better than the first and I haven't seen that yet. Also finished that Skylar Dorset novella. Not fussed. You can read my review here.

20th August

Currently reading: Sworn to Transfer | Terah Edun

Current page/percent: 19%

Read today: 74%

Thoughts: I'm enjoying this now!

21st August

Finished Sworn to Transfer (26% read). It was pretty decent.

22nd August

Attempted to read Maureen Johnson's The Boy In The Smoke, which I thought was a Shades of London prequel but turned out to be real life events for the most part. DNF at 35%. Went on with Heir of Fire, too (12% read), which is getting MUCH better.

23rd August

Currently reading: Heir of Fire | Sarah J. Maas

Current page/percent: 34%

Read today: 14%

Thoughts: This is taking so long to get through, and not so much because of the size but because of everything that's happening.

24th August

Currently reading: Heir of Fire | Sarah J. Maas

Current page/percent: 55%

Read today: 21%

Thoughts: UGH I knew I'd love Rowan. I wish he and Celaena would be endgame but I'm happy with their friendship if that's all it'll be.

Books finished this week: 1.5

(Ughhh.)

 

Trial By Fire | Josephine Angelini

The Walls Around Us | Nova Ren Suma

You have no idea how happy I am. I've been wanting Trial By Fire for EVER. Merci, Macmillan! The Walls Around Us sounds pretty mysterious, like it could be good, but I found out AFTER I'd been approved that it was download only, and wasn't sent to my kindle. So, we'll see how that works out because the last two I've had that way expired before I could read them.

I'm still bugging you to donate to the campaign for printing and shipping of The Wandering. To persuade you, there are REWARDS! Donate a pound for your name in the acknowledgements. Donate £3 or more for extra cool stuff, bracelets, bookmarks, rare paperbacks etc. Help me give people more free books!!