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 ★★★★★

Saruuh Explores NA: A Court of Thorns and Roses (ARC Review)

A Court of Thorns and Roses: A Court of Thorns and Roses | Sarah J. Maas

Published by: Bloomsbury Children's, May 5th 2015

Genre: NA, (very upper) YA, Fantasy, Retelling

Pages: 416

Format: Ebook

Source: Bloomsbury, via Netgalley

The breathtaking start to a seductive high-fantasy from New York Times bestselling author of Throne of Glass series.

Feyre’s survival rests upon her ability to hunt and kill – the forest where she lives is a cold, bleak place in the long winter months. So when she spots a deer in the forest being pursued by a wolf, she cannot resist fighting it for the flesh. But to do so, she must kill the predator and killing something so precious comes at a price.

Dragged to a magical kingdom for the murder of a faerie, Feyre discovers that her captor, his face obscured by a jewelled mask, is hiding far more than his piercing green eyes would suggest. Feyre’s presence at the court is closely guarded, and as she begins to learn why, her feelings for him turn from hostility to passion and the faerie lands become an even more dangerous place. Feyre must fight to break an ancient curse, or she will lose him forever.

*is an inconsolable puddle on the floor*

WHY DID IT HAVE TO END??

I put off reading this book for SO LONG because I thought it would never live up to my expectations. And it didn't deliver exactly the story I'd expected but it was way better, way way better, than any of my wildest dreams.

A Court of Thorns and Roses is perfect. The romance is natural and right and just lovely to read. The magic is traditional and feels vast and unpredictable. The main character is a sarcastic, smart badass whom I love dearly. And the villain is TERRIFYING. Everything about this is flawless.

Especially Tamlin, who I fell in love with completely. He's gruff and caring and everything a beast in Beauty and The Beast should be. But I also sorta accidentally love Rhysand, too, and I don't know when or how or why that happened, but it did. And I CANNOT WAIT for the next book, because I suspect it'll have loads more Rhys in it!!! But also Tamlin! Whom I adore, and whose story I am so eager to see unfold.

This book is so more than a series opener. Not only does it build up the world, characters, and threat without a single fault, but it delivers a series-finale-style ending IN THE FIRST BOOK. It's thrilling and scary as hell and my heart was in my throat at least three times. I can't say enough about this book.

Just read it.

Characters ★★★★★

Setting/world-building ★★★★★

Writing ★★★★★

This book counts towards my Fairy Tale Challenge!

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The Winner's Crime (ARC Review)

The Winner's Trilogy: The Winner's Crime | Marie Rutkoski

Published by: Bloomsbury Children's, March 12th 2015

Genre: YA, High Fantasy

Pages: 368

Format: Ebook

Source: Bloomsbury Children's, via Netgalley

Lady Kestrel's engagement to Valoria's crown prince calls for great celebration: balls and performances, fireworks and revelry. But to Kestrel it means a cage of her own making. Embedded in the imperial court as a spy, she lives and breathes deceit and cannot confide in the one person she really longs to trust ...

While Arin fights to keep his country's freedom from the hands of his enemy, he suspects that Kestrel knows more than she shows. As Kestrel comes closer to uncovering a shocking secret, it might not be a dagger in the dark that cuts him open, but the truth.

Lies will come undone, and Kestrel and Arin learn just how much their crimes will cost them in this second book in the breathtaking Winner'strilogy. 

The Winner's Crime has left me literally keening. How does Marie Rutkoski manage to manipulate my emotions so? I thought for most of the book that I didn't love it as much as book one, and while I still think that, I managed to get sent on a crazy spree of feelings in the last fifty pages and now I'm not sure what to think.

The Winner's Crime expands the world and treachery of the first book, and piles high stakes upon even higher stakes to a devastating degree. It's entertaining and enthralling and hurtful all at once. Parts of it are like watching a car crash, parts of it make you want to hide from the book forever, and other parts just make you scream. Literally, in my case.

Arin and Kestrel continue to be amazing characters, even if they are terrible at relationships and honesty. I love the new characters that were introduced as well, by which I mean the emperor was suitably hateful, the new ally predictably expendable, and Verex ... oh, Verex let me count the ways I love you. Verex is lovely and complex and caring and damaged and I could seriously afford to read his POV in the next book *looks pleadingly at Marie*. He added a new dimension to Kestrel, in my opinion, and I need their friendship to go somewhere (like maybe a rescue attempt ...)

To sum up the book: dangerous risks lay with heart-stopping romance and deadly politics in this wonderful-terrible book.
To sum up my tumultuous emotions: WHYYYY but also YESSSSSSS but also WHAT??

Characters ★★★★★

Setting/world building ★★★★☆

Writing ★★★★☆