Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

Another super late book review I’m finally posting. I don’t remember why I never posted this in the first place, but whatevs… It’s here now! 😊

Original post from my IG @booksofthemuggleborn

•••

— BLURB —

This morning, Kady thought breaking up with Ezra was the hardest thing she’d have to do. This afternoon, her planet was invaded.

The year is 2575, and two rival megacorporations are at war over a planet that’s little more than a speck at the edge of the universe. Now with enemy fire raining down on them, Kady and Ezra—who are barely even talking to each other—are forced to evacuate with a hostile warship in hot pursuit.

But their problems are just getting started. A plague has broken out and is mutating with terrifying results; the fleet’s AI may actually be their enemy; and nobody in charge will say what’s really going on. As Kady hacks into a web of data to find the truth, it’s clear the only person who can help her is the ex-boyfriend she swore she’d never speak to again.

Told through a fascinating dossier of hacked documents—including emails, maps, files, IMs, medical reports, interviews, and more—Illuminae is the first book in a heart-stopping trilogy about lives interrupted, the price of truth, and the courage of everyday heroes.

••• 

— MY REVIEW —

---

---

⚠ WARNING: CONTAINS SPOILERS!

---

---

This was my second sci-fi book ever read (The first was The Martian, which I loved!) So I seriously hoping it would be similar to that book in the sense that the “science-y” stuff is going to be easy to follow, that there was a bit of humor to break up all the technical aspect and based off of the synopsis a bit of romance.

Well… this book didn’t fail. I loveeeeed it! 🙌 I’ve been saying to just about anyone who would listen that if all science fiction books were as amazing as The Martian and Illuminae are then I could be reading a lot more from the genre! 😉

I think another thing that captured me with Illuminae is how quirky and different the book layout was. It wasn’t set out like your everyday typical book. Some of the pages were written to form images, some were written to make follow each line into a bigger picture. It’s hard to explain, all I can say is if you haven’t gotten a copy yet – do! Go to your local bookshop, look for it and just flip through it and you’ll see what I’m trying to say.

The book overall is set a journal/ records type format and put together into one big file, basically. So there’s emails between characters, logs recorded from certain days and interviews. It’s ridiculously jam-packed!

It’s very well created and it had me wanting to keep reading to find out what happened next. It was hard putting it down for the day.

I never saw full reviews on Illuminae prior to reading it so I wasn’t sure what people thought of it besides whether or not they liked it but I have to say halfway through the book I had a strong sense of Resident Evil-esque to the story line. Where the spaceship’s AI (aka AIDAN) is corrupted and pretty much turns evil and starts wanting to kill everyone on board but thinking he’s doing the right thing. Then you have half the crew and civilians on board infected with some kind of virus that’s also causing serious problems all over the ship. It’s one massive chaotic disaster that puts you on the edge of your seat.

---

“Am I not merciful?” — AIDAN

---

Reading about Kady and Ezra’s roller coaster relationship added a romantic touch to an otherwise sci-fi story line and it pretty revolves around them and wanting to keep each other safe. I loved reading their messages to one another. It’s probably the bits of the book I loved reading the most.

Besides the sci-fi aspect and the romance aspect – this book also provides us with comical relief in all the right places (usually involving Ezra because he’s a funny smartass). 😄

Downside to being introduced to super cool characters?

…

That was me the further I read. As much as I loved reading Kady and Ezra’s exchange of funny but sweet banter-filled emails, I knew it wouldn’t have lasted forever and I was right. Why do authors love making us fall for characters just to take them away from us?

Spoiler Alert: Ezra died! 🙈

Yep… and just like Kady, you don’t find out til it’s too late. Unless you’re one of the clever readers who analysed every detail of this book and probably saw signs early on.

*Side Note: Jay and Amie actually said that if you really pay attention to the details in the book, it gives off little clues on who certain characters are that are still unknown to us or hints of upcoming events.

Seriously, this book was one big fuuuuuuuck-with-your-mind type of story. It was so hard to put it down because I just didn’t know which direction the story is going.  I don’t know about other people who’ve read this but I didn’t see any of the plot twists happening. Not even a smidge! Maybe I need to reread it again and keep a lookout for those hints I mentioned earlier lol.

RATING: ♥♥♥♥½

Another highly recommended book. If you’re like me who usually only ever reads fantasy fiction, give this one a go. Trust me you won’t regret it and I guarantee you’ll love it enough to want to read Gemina (second book in the Illuminae series)!

---

•••

Happy reading, friends! Hope you’re all doing well. Catch you in my next one! Xo

Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo

•••

— BLURB —

Welcome to the world of the Grisha.

Kaz Brekker and his crew of deadly outcasts have just pulled off a heist so daring even they didn’t think they’d survive. But instead of divvying up a fat reward, they’re right back to fighting for their lives.

Double-crossed and badly weakened, the crew is low on resources, allies, and hope. As powerful forces from around the world descend on Ketterdam to root out the secrets of the dangerous drug known as jurda parem, old rivals and new enemies emerge to challenge Kaz’s cunning and test the team’s fragile loyalties.

A war will be waged on the city’s dark and twisting streets – a battle for revenge and redemption that will decide the fate of the Grisha world.

•••

— MY REVIEW —

I loved Six of Crows so the minute I finished it I went straight into Crooked Kingdom (which I highly recommend you do so you don’t torture yourself with a cliffhanger).

After Kaz and the crew survived the job at the Ice Court I was relieved! Everyone was alive and together and I was just one happy chappy.. but to find out the job was a scam?!?Ohh I knew Kaz would destroy Van Eck and anyone who was working with and I knew whatever his plan was it was going to be epic!

And I was right! Just like Six of Crows, Crooked Kingdom did not disappointed in the twists and turns and the unexpected.

If I thought I was on the edge of my seat reading Six of Crows, let’s just say I wasn’t even sitting down anymore for Crooked Kingdom. I was in panic-mode, anxious with sweaty palms reading this book. I was preparing myself for the worst. You guys know what. Death of a beloved character! Yup. It could happen at anytime and it certainly did here. I’m sad to say that I knew they wouldn’t all make it out alive but for one of them to die so suddenly by someone who wasn’t even one of the original bad guys in the book!?

⚠ WARNING WARNING WARNING ⚠

SPOILER ALERT!

I cried. No wait. I bawled my eyes out when Matthias was shot and he struggles himself back to Nina just so he could see her one last time! Like what?!?!? Why !?!?! 😭😭😭

Why would Leigh Bardugo kill off a character in the way? Why would she kill her readers along with him!? My heart sank. For Mathias and especially for Nina. I felt like I was there with her. Crying and begging for Mathias to stay alive.

What made me cry even more was when she accidently brought him back with her power except it wasn’t really him anymore it was more like his body being commanded by her. It was just one HUGE sad part of the book! 💔

Sure, it was almost the end but still..

And speaking of the end of the book. It’s been 4 days since I finished it and I’m still reeling from the lack of ending. In my opinion anyways. I felt it was unfinished. So many things lingered and left open.

1. Kaz and Inej were together – but not really. It wasn’t the result I was hoping for. It almost felt like the beginning of something between them rather than the big “fireworks” kiss that we’ve all been waiting for that should have after having gone through all of the things they went through. I don’t know. I just wished for more.
2. Nina’s exit out of the storyline felt cut off. Yeah her plans were to go back to Fjerda to bury Matias and try and help as much Fjerdan soldiers as she could but I figured at the very end we would at least hear from her. See if she made it. Something? Anything? But there wasn’t, so I felt like if Leigh wanted to she could keep going and write another book in the fabulous story. (Here’s to wishing again!)
3. Jesper: promising his father he would return to the farm once Wylan was settled back at his old home. But then they seem to be together too so how would that work? Was he just planning on visiting his dad or actually moving back? Because the way he said it to his dad it could be interpreted differently by each reader.
4. Another thing with Kaz and Inej. Kaz has plans to rule Ketterdam, starting with The Barrel. Inej has big plans to command her own ship and crew and free slaves but yet she asked Kaz to help her. Once again, how will that work? Will he stay at Ketterdam whilst she sails around and they’ll just write to each other? And then there’s the question of her parents. Kaz (that sweety!) had gotten Nikolai (that’s right, he made an appearance!) to help find her parents. Will Inej go back with them first?
5. The book ends with Pekka Rollins as the final chapter and point of view. This was the guy that Kaz wanted to destroy. I suppose when you look at it from a different perspective Kaz did finally destroy his life but the things he did to Kaz – that made him the way he is now you would think he would just kill Pekka in the end but he didn’t. It just makes you think, you know? Could Pekka return? Eventually?

There’s just so many unanswered questions and things left open. I want to know! It felt like an open ending which is worse than a cliffhanger because at least with cliffhangers there’s another book to read. Crooked Kingdom, as far as I know is IT! The book that was suppose to wrap the story up but I have more questions now than when the story initially began. Frustrating stuff right here! Haha. Or maybe I’m just overthinking everything. But these are questions that popped into my head the second I read the last page!

I love the bits of romance here and there whether between Nina and Mathias, Jesper and Wylan and yes of course between Kaz and Inej. I took whatever I could from those two but I was hungry for more. Lol!

There was the perfect amount of emotional heartfelt scenes, flashbacks and action that I was always hooked.

RATING: ♥♥♥♥½

This was such an easy read. Beautifully written story that draws you in instantly from start to finish. I’m still surprised how much I ended up loving these books considering The Grisha Trilogy was just average for me. If you haven’t fallen in love with each of the characters yet during Six of Crows then you would definitely be changing your mind after reading more about them in this one.

I wish I could give this one full rating like Six of Crows then it would really be a fist-pumping series. But all the questions rattling around in my head really took points of my rating. But I still think this is an unbelievable book. The entire duology has become one of my all time faves now. It’s caused me to have book hangover (not as massive as Maas’ books) but nevertheless I’m having withdrawals.

No Mourners. No Funerals.

---

•••

Happy reading, guys! Catch you in my next one! Xo

The Grisha Trilogy by Leigh Bardugo

•••

— BLURB —

• Shadow and Bone •

Surrounded by enemies, the once-great nation of Ravka has been torn in two by the Shadow Fold, a swath of near impenetrable darkness crawling with monsters who feast on human flesh. Now its fate may rest on the shoulders of one lonely refugee.

Alina Starkov has never been good at anything. But when her regiment is attacked on the Fold and her best friend is brutally injured, Alina reveals a dormant power that saves his life—a power that could be the key to setting her war-ravaged country free. Wrenched from everything she knows, Alina is whisked away to the royal court to be trained as a member of the Grisha, the magical elite led by the mysterious Darkling.

Yet nothing in this lavish world is what it seems. With darkness looming and an entire kingdom depending on her untamed power, Alina will have to confront the secrets of the Grisha . . . and the secrets of her heart.

• Siege and Storm •

Hunted across the True Sea, haunted by the lives she took on the Fold, Alina must try to make a life with Mal in an unfamiliar land, all while keeping her identity as the Sun Summoner a secret. But she can’t outrun her past or her destiny for long.

The Darkling has emerged from the Shadow Fold with a terrifying new power and a dangerous plan that will test the very boundaries of the natural world. With the help of a notorious privateer, Alina returns to the country she abandoned, determined to fight the forces gathering against Ravka. But as her power grows, Alina slips deeper into the Darkling’s game of forbidden magic, and farther away from Mal. Somehow, she will have to choose between her country, her power, and the love she always thought would guide her—or risk losing everything to the oncoming storm.

• Ruin and Rising •

The capital has fallen.

The Darkling rules Ravka from his shadow throne.

Now the nation’s fate rests with a broken Sun Summoner, a disgraced tracker, and the shattered remnants of a once-great magical army.

Deep in an ancient network of tunnels and caverns, a weakened Alina must submit to the dubious protection of the Apparat and the zealots who worship her as a Saint. Yet her plans lie elsewhere, with the hunt for the elusive firebird and the hope that an outlaw prince still survives.

Alina will have to forge new alliances and put aside old rivalries as she and Mal race to find the last of Morozova’s amplifiers. But as she begins to unravel the Darkling’s secrets, she reveals a past that will forever alter her understanding of the bond they share and the power she wields. The firebird is the one thing that stands between Ravka and destruction—and claiming it could cost Alina the very future she’s fighting for.

•••

— MY REVIEW —

I thought I would review all three books in the series into one review. I read them a few months back but with life getting in the way this review is tad late but better late than never! This is going to be a an extra long one so I applaud you if you get through to the end 😀

Shadow and Bone (Book One): 

I had high hopes for this series and could not wait to get started. Everyone was raving on about The Darkling and to be honest it was the main reason as to why I wanted to read it. I was hooked from the first chapter. I found myself not wanting to put the book down. I instantly fell in love with Mal but I was still very much curious about The Darkling and why he was everyone’s “favourite villain”.

Let’s just say when he finally came onto the scene I could see what people saw in him. He was the strong, powerful, dark, mysterious character. But there wasn’t enough there for me to say “yeah I love the guy”, you know? He seem like a misunderstood character at the beginning until he finally showed his colours and by then I was yelling at my book thinking “people like this guy??”. I thought he was villain. A typical, evil, cruel villain. Plain and simple. If anything I wanted him destroyed. I wanted Alina to wake up and smell the coffee. I wanted Mal to finish him off. But considering this was the first book in the trilogy, I knew that wouldn’t be the case (a girl could dream, right? hehe)

I found this book to be any easy read. It was probably the book I finished the fastest from all three just because I was already loving the fictional world and of course Mal 😉 But I have to say the halfway through the book it took a turn for me. It went from a really addictive read that I couldn’t put down to a slower pace during the second half. I also started finding Alina to be a little annoying just because she was indecisive until it was too late. There was just so much frustration reading this on and I disappointed at how quickly I went from loving this book to just liking it.

RATING: ♥♥♥½

•••

Siege and Storm (Book Two): 

Although this book introduces Nikolai who’s become one of my favourite characters, he wasn’t enough for me to give it a full rating. From all three books this one took the longest for me to finish just because I felt it dragged on. The pace was really slow and I have to admit the entire book was one big “plan” to go into war with the Darkling. I needed more action in the storyline. There was a lot of planning and taking the steps to make sure they were prepared (which they still weren’t) but there was no real battle. I was actually expecting this to be the book that had the big major war (or at least the beginning of it) but there was nothing like that. It was every underwhelming. 😞

I will say that the introduction of Nikolai in this book saved it for me. He was the sexy, flirty, funny privateer (almost like Captain Jack Sparrow or Carswell Thorne from the Lunar Chronicles)..you know the type. The little triangle between Alina, Mal and himself had me smirking all throughout. I wish I could explain in words why I found the storyline lacklustre. It just wasn’t what I was expecting. Usually people say the second book almost always tops the first but in this case (in opinion), Shadow and Bone was a lot more appealing.

RATING: ♥♥♥

•••

Ruin and Rising (Book Three): 

The 3rd and final book in the series. I had high hopes this book would turns things around and finish with a bang!

So, did it?

Sigh.

Nope.

I figured the big battle between Alina and The Darkling that I thought would come in Siege and Storm would of course be in this book but I guess I blinked and missed it because one minute I was reading beasts flying around attacking people and darkness everywhere then the next The Darkling was stabbed and Alina holding onto him and comforting him in a way. It was all anti-climatic for me. It was one giant sigh but the end of that scene. I was seriously questioning if that was it?? By the end of it I realized this entire series was all about the Grisha themselves and what they could do and what they were capable of doing with their powers if there were no rules – not necessarily about The Darkling or Alina being their savior. This was just a starting off point for this world.

For those who don’t know Leigh Bardugo wrote Six of Crows which takes place in the same fictional world and I can’t help but think this trilogy has almost become a prequel? or a backstory of the world. It gives the readers an insight to it and to the people that live there. Well, that’s how I am seeing it now that I’ve read Six of Crows too.

It’s nice that the trilogy did finish off the story completely by telling us what happened to Alina and Mal and to Nikolai and what was left of the Grisha army. I love that it was all wrapped up and no questions needed to be answered. I don’t necessarily like the fact that Mal and Alina moved away from it all and decided to live a quiet life. It literally sounds nice after what they’ve gone through to finally be together but I just couldn’t picture them (especially) Alina walking away when she could’ve helped rebuild Ravka.

But hey… I’m just happy Mal lived on. Hehe.

RATING: ♥♥♥½

•••

It’s a nice series overall. I would still recommend it to YA fantasy fiction fans. I know a ton of readers who loved this series so it’s really all about preference. You’ll never know if you don’t give it a read 😊 I do love the world. It’s definitely different from any other fantasy fictional worlds I’ve read about.

OVERALL TRILOGY RATING: ♥♥♥½

---

•••

Happy reading, guys! Catch you in my next one! Xo

Empire of Storms by Sarah J. Maas

•••

— BLURB —

Hell has literally broken loose. Demonic beings are everywhere and the only way to put a stop to these things forming into an unstoppable army is for Aelin to pull together her strength and finish the mission she started long ago. There will be unexpecting and old allies alike that will be called upon to fight but the question is who will answer, who will fight, who will survive and who will be sacrificed in order to keep Erilea from breaking apart?  This is the 5th book in the Throne of Glass series.

•••

— MY REVIEW —

⚠ WARNING WARNING WARNING ⚠

Guys, I’m putting a cautionary warning now incase I do somehow add spoilers in without thinking. So if you haven’t read this book, don’t read on. I don’t want to be the person who spoils a book that may possibly be just as amazing for you as it was for me!

THIS BOOK TOPS ALL THE BOOKS IN THE SERIES! I don’t know why I love this one the most, I just do! Maybe because all the characters I’ve been loving from Heir of Fire and Queen of Shadows have bigger roles in this one. Or maybe all that I was hoping for from the last book came true in this one. It’s just beyond amazing. Well worth the anxiety!

Bare with me I have tons to say. I don’t even know if you would consider this as a review anymore but more of a rant/ questioning/ fangirling blog post. But I just need to let it out!

But before I try and put my thoughts into words for you guys in this review, let’s take a minute to appreciate another beautiful cover. I can’t say it’s my favourite cover but I can’t deny it’s still eye candy and if I knew nothing about this book, I would still buy it just for the cover! 😉

Okay, let’s start with any negatives..? Hmm.. maybe the fact that the pages are super thin. I get that the book is over 600+ pages and having thinner pages means the book won’t be as thick but c’mon I was practically able to see the ink from the other side. I have the paperback edition as well and I can say it’s the same thing. Just a tip, flip the pages slowly and carefully!

I also wasn’t a huge fan of Aelin in this book *ducks and hides* 🙈 I mean I’m used to her bitchy, I’m-so-good-I-can-kick-ass attitude from the previous books but there were times where I was like dude, c’mon on you don’t have to be that high and mighty and oh look at that.. it backfires anyways. I’m just relieved it was only in some scenes and it didn’t go on til the end of the book or else I wouldn’t have been able to give this one full ratings.

What else?

Um.. okay. As much as I didn’t like seeing where some characters were heading or what could very well happen to them, I can’t really say it was a complete negative either. It’s part of the story and as much as I don’t want to see any of my beautiful characters possibly dying, I still loved the storyline. I love the character developments. I love the relationships. I love everything!!

I might be in the minority here but whatevs. We can’t help who we like right? And I am liking…no wait… LOVING Lorcan! I knew he couldn’t possibly be that much of a bad guy from Heir of Fire/ Queen of Shadows. 😉 I love that there is so much possibilities with his character. He’s the character I’m most excited to read about in the next (and final) book. I need to know what happens with him and Elide too! Eeeeeek! I stopped breathing at how it ended with those two in this book. But I have a strong and nagging feeling he won’t live to the end of this series.

I also loved that Lorcan pushes Rowan and Aelin’s buttons so much and vice versa. I love that he has a history with Rowan that I think it helps readers see why he is the way he is. I love the Cadre – Gavriel and Fenrys. I would love to know more about them (hoping and wishing a possible Novella on Rowan and his cadre!?? Ugh!)

Okay… I think that’s enough Lorcan talk. It’s slowly becoming a Lorcan love-fest here. Hehehe #sorrynotsorry ❤❤

The development between Manon and Dorian I can’t say is exactly how I would’ve wanted it but hey.. baby steps! 😉 I’m also loving Manon a little more than Aelin in this one. She’s truly a Queen to me!

Aedion and Lysandra’s relationship in this book however was a rollercoaster ride. One minute it’s all fun and games, next you’re fearing for your life.. or should I say theirs? I can’t say I’m happy with what Lysandra has cooked up with Aelin that not only made Aedion sick to his stomach but shocked me as well! Like, are you kidding me girl?! I don’t even know how to process that fact the Aelin even thought of this scheme and that Lysandra agreed to it. Who cares if you’re her friend or you serve her. That is just messed up! Please tell me I’m not the only one who thinks this?! My heart goes out to both Aedion and Rowan. And I suppose even to Lysandra. There’s a particular harsh line the Aedion says to her that even I was stunned by (no matter how hurt he was by the plan).

I can’t say I was surprised by the little announcement made by Rowan in regards to Aelin *cough* his wife *cough* and I’m also not surprised by the discovery of them being “mates” either. But I’m glad Sarah J Maas added it in there anyways to really cement the bond that they already have and in a way show readers who Aelin is really meant to be with. 😊

Sigh. There’s a lot of relationships happening in this book and it just strengthens my fear that nothing good ever lasts. And I just know one or more of these couples will tear my heart out!

The storyline itself is clever and it flows. Some parts I saw coming and some took me by surprise. So this is definitely another book you won’t want to put down once you start reading it.

I was a little taken aback that Chaol wasn’t in it all! I was seriously thinking that he was going to pop up just when Aelin and her court needed saving or when I least expected it but nope, nada. A bit bummed by that. I felt this was such a perfect book but then Chaol was missing..

Another reason why I think this is my favourite book is because all the characters considering where they’re from, who they’re fighting for – all came together and formed this “Court”. This seriously ass-kicking Court (even if it was only temporary).

I just can’t say enough good things about Empire of Storms. I don’t know how I’m going to survive the wait for the next book. I laughed. I cried. I kid you not, I yelled at the book at times. I had to take breathers, walk it off, get a snack before I could even delve back into it again. Oh and did I mention I cried? It’s that freakin GOOD!!

RATING: ♥♥♥♥♥/5

AHHHHHHHHH!! This is one book you cannot miss out on reading. I can’t imagine how Sarah J Maas will top this one with the final book in the series but I know somehow she will. READ EMPIRE OF STORMS! You won’t regret it!! 😁😁😁

•••

📚 Read my reviews for the series!

(In reading order)

Book One: Throne Of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

Book Two: Crown Of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas

Book Three: Heir Of Fire by Sarah J. Maas

Novellas: The Assassin’s Blade by Sarah J. Maas

Book Four: Queen Of Shadows by Sarah J. Maas

---

•••

Happy reading! Catch you in my next one! Xo

Queen Of Shadows by Sarah J. Maas

•••

— BLURB —

Everyone Celaena Sardothien loves has been taken from her. But she’s at last returned to the empire—for vengeance, to rescue her once-glorious kingdom, and to confront the shadows of her past…

She has embraced her identity as Aelin Galathynius, Queen of Terrasen. But before she can reclaim her throne, she must fight.

She will fight for her cousin, a warrior prepared to die for her. She will fight for her friend, a young man trapped in an unspeakable prison. And she will fight for her people, enslaved to a brutal king and awaiting their lost queen’s triumphant return.

The fourth volume in the New York Times bestselling series continues Celaena’s epic journey and builds to a passionate, agonizing crescendo that might just shatter her world.

•••

— MY REVIEW —

I got to tell you guys Heir of Fire was my most favourite book so far in the series but after reading Queen of Shadows, I’d have to say they both equally top it now.

When all the characters finally come and meet each other for the first time in this book, you don’t know how it’s going to go down and you’re completely on the edge of your seat. It’s amazing! I have fallen in love with certain characters in this book whom I didn’t really connect with in Heir of Fire. One example is Manon Blackbeak. I wasn’t big on the story of the witch clans when they were introduced in that book. I thought they just got in the way of the storyline I really wanted to read about at the time (which was the Celaena/ Rowan/ Chaol situation lol) but my opinion did a complete turnaround on the witches in THIS book.

So if you were like me who wasn’t such a big fan, I advise to keep reading. It totally gets a lot better. Manon, her adorable wyvern Abraxos and her thirteen are some of my faves to read about now…and… if all goes the way I hope it will in the next book (Empire of Storms) for Manon and a certain someone *wink wink* then I will be one happy chappy!!

I was a little bit frustrated – annoyed – irritated with the first part of the book though. Where Celaena finally comes back to Adarlan and catches up with Chaol. Ughhh..it totally gave me a headache. It was like they were two completely different people who hated each other (more so than when they first met). I was not a fan! That part of the book crushed so many Celaena/Chaol fans’ hearts! Mine included. 😞😞

Hmm.. come to think of it. I think the whole book was just one big heartbreak concerning those two and knowing it will never be the way it was between them. As much as I love Rowan and them being together now. I did also love Chaol with her. It’s just sad.

I do however love that Dorian had more of a role in this one. He’s one of my favourite characters and although I couldn’t believe half of the things he had to go through in this book I’m glad it turned out the way it did and now I can’t wait to see him kick some ass in Empire of Storms!

Okay, so here it is. Look forward to reading more about Manon, Dorian (of course more Aelin/ Rowan moments) and the war that’s brewing over the wyrdkeys and the power they possess. The introduction of Aedion and the return of an old “friend” aka Lysandra are 2 other reasons as to why this book is worth the read.

The storyline in Queen of Shadows is definitely getting down to the nitty-gritty end. It’s a lot more serious and more lives are in danger (which of course I am now panicking over).

I’ve come to the realisation that the more characters Sarah J Maas introduces into her books and the more you love them, the more you have to be prepared to lose them! And boy has she introduced so many amazingly lovable characters in this one. *hint, hint* (Lorcan). 🤫

It’s action packed and I guarantee you will fly through it. There’s always something happening – good or bad and you won’t be able to put the book down.

 RATING: ♥♥♥♥½

•••

📚 Read my reviews for the series!

(In reading order)

Book One: Throne Of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

Book Two: Crown Of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas

Book Three: Heir Of Fire by Sarah J. Maas

Novellas: The Assassin’s Blade by Sarah J. Maas

Book Five: Empire of Storms by Sarah J. Maas

---

•••

Happy reading, guys! Catch you in my next one! Xo

The Assassin’s Blade by Sarah J. Maas

•••

— BLURB —

A prequel to the Throne of Glass series. Contains all five novellas.

Celaena Sardothien is Adarlan’s most feared assassin. As part of the Assassin’s Guild, her allegiance is to her master, Arobynn Hamel, yet Celaena listens to no one and trusts only her fellow killer-for-hire, Sam. In these action-packed novellas – together in one edition for the first time – Celaena embarks on five daring missions. They take her from remote islands to hostile deserts, where she fights to liberate slaves and seeks to avenge the tyrannous. But she is acting against Arobynn’s orders and could suffer an unimaginable punishment for such treachery. Will Celaena ever be truly free? Explore the dark underworld of this kick-ass heroine to find out.

•••

— MY REVIEW —

Before I get on with my review. I have to admit that I read this book back in May but with life getting in the way of fangirling and book blogs, my blog took a backseat the whole of June (hence my lack of recent blogs) but I’m hoping to slowly but surely catch up on my book reviews. Phew! Please bare with me! 💜

I loved this book! I loved reading about where and how Celaena started as an assassin.

Sarah J Maas advised to read this one after Heir of Fire and before Queen of Shadows, so if you read the first three books like I did, you would know Sam (her first and in my opinion true love) had died. So you would think coming into this book you wouldn’t necessarily develop a deep connection with Sam because you would’ve already fallen for Chaol or even Dorian for Celaena. You’ve had three books worth to get a feel for a character and to fall for them but let me tell you, this book…omg this book..totally changed everything. It was such an insight to Celaena’s past and you finally get to see the man Celaena is still hurting over.

I thought when I first read Throne of Glass that I wouldn’t fall in love any other character for Celaena than Chaol himself (then of course that changed with Rowan coming into the picture later on). But after getting a glimpse of Sam here and there throughout the first 3 books, I was really curious to read more about him and why he impacted Celaena’s life so much.

If I didn’t say it before, I’ll say it again. I wish Sam didn’t have to die.

I WISH SAM DID NOT HAVE TO DIE! I would have loved to see more of what could have been between Celaena and him. And see him as character develop more into a man. I was seriously reading the book knowing ok..he’s going to die.. but question is when? You think I would’ve already prepared myself, right?

Wrong!

It was a weird experience reading it. You could see it coming but then again you couldn’t. Does that make sense? I don’t know how else to say it. I was in panic mode the whole time I was reading it (hoping even),that he would survive! Or at least not die the way he did! 😢

Ohhhh how I loved these novellas. There’s 5 in total but I loved  The Assassin and the Pirate Lord and The Assassin and the Underworld the most.

Besides getting to know the beautiful Sam, you also get the pleasure of knowing how cruel and vindictive Arobynn really is. If you thought he was already a shitty piece of crap from the way Celaena talks about him in TOG, then you’re about to get to know him first hand! Enjoy!

All kidding aside, I really recommend that you guys don’t skip this book. It really does give you insight to why Celaena became the way she did and it really shows how far she’s come from since. And I’ll give you a little hint – Some of the things you read from this book may just come back around in the series (and you wouldn’t want to be lost when you do read on, would you?) 😉

It’s actually one of my favourite books from the series. I would’ve given it full ratings if it weren’t for some of stories being a little slow paced for my liking. I kid you not, if I wasn’t so picky about tiny things like that this would be 5/5 in my opinion. So don’t even take my rating seriously. Lol.

RATING: ♥♥♥♥½

•••

📚 Read my reviews for the series!

(In reading order)

Book One: Throne Of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

Book Two: Crown Of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas

Book Three: Heir Of Fire by Sarah J. Maas

Book Four: Queen Of Shadows by Sarah J. Maas

Book Five: Empire of Storms by Sarah J. Maas

---

•••

Thank you stopping by! Catch you in my next one! Xo

 

Harry Potter and The Cursed Child by JK Rowling

— MY LIL SYNOPSIS —

Eighth book in the Harry Potter series. The Cursed Child takes place 19 years later and it revolves around Harry and Ginny’s second son Albus.

This story was originally created as a play so the book is written out as a SCRIPT!

It follows Albus’ years in Hogwarts starting from his very first year and how he handles life having Harry as his father and knowing what he had gone through most of his life. You get to find out what has become of Harry, Ron and Hermione – their families, jobs and how they’ve been coping since Voldemort was defeated. Whilst Albus deals with being a “Potter” and all that comes with the name, Harry struggles with moving on from his past. Both the past and present collide and they must face their problems head on and learn the painful truth that sometimes darkness comes from unexpected places.

•••

— MY REVIEW —

I decided to divide this review into sections based on the storyline, characters and my overall thoughts of the book.

Storyline:

To be honest, I wasn’t the biggest fan of the storyline. It felt like one issue that grew larger and larger. It was a snowball effect that really could’ve been sorted out a lot earlier. I felt there was no real depth to the story and that I was just reading more about the characters themselves but it wouldn’t be much of a story without a storyline so I felt it was just created so we could get to know more about the characters (old and new) – if that makes sense?

I just think the story could’ve been different or written with a little more depth. It was skimmed through and rushed. The whole time I was reading it, it was just one problem after another and then there were arguments in between. The story didn’t reveal itself until the last few pages along with how they dealt with it. It ended abruptly and it didn’t feel completely resolved either. I felt the story left me hanging and wondering what would happen next, but the problem is JK has announced that this is the final book in the Harry Potter world. So if that really is the case then this book has brought up more questions than conclusions. The Deathly Hallows had more of an ending to me than this book. If anything, The Cursed Child brought back old wounds for no good reason, just for the sake of having another Harry Potter book. There’s some flaws and it definitely doesn’t compare to the previous stories but the positive aspect I took from this book are the characters. They are what makes this book worthy of being the “eighth” one.

Characters:

I will start off with my favourite – Scorpius. But anyone who’s read this will surely agree with me that he made this book! I’ve always been a Draco fan and I’m a proud Slytherin so the second I saw Scorpius’ name on the page I knew I would love him just as much! And I wasn’t wrong! When I saw that Scorpius had a role to play in this story I was ecstatic. He is the side of Slytherin I had always knew existed. Someone caring, sweet and smart to boot. Just a pity he became friends with Albus (lol).

Albus is Harry and Ginny’s second son and my gosh he reminded me so much of Harry during his school years. I guess the apple doesn’t fall from the tree. He was irritating. I found him SERIOUSLY irritating! It’s actually one of Harry’s traits I disliked when reading the original series and finding that Albus was exactly the same in this book not only brought back memories but it was also another reason why I didn’t give this one full ratings. When the protagonist is irritating to the point where you prefer secondary characters, it’s never a good sign. You have to read on hoping they would eventually change but by then you already have character preferences.

I did however like the blooming friendship of Scorpius and Albus with Albus’ cousin Rose (Ron and Hermione’s daughter). They are a reflection of the Golden Trio. Not the same but similar feels 🙂 *Scorpius’ little crush on Rose was adorable too and a nice light-hearted touch to the story*

Seeing old friends such as Harry, Ginny, Ron, Hermione and Draco were highlights for me. I loved reading about what’s become of them. Their relationships, where they all ended up, work…etc. If you’ve read the Deathly Hallows you’ll know that JK wrote a little “after” story where you see them at the train station waving their children off for the Hogwarts Express bound for Hogwarts. The Cursed Child starts off from this point so you get an idea of who ended up with who and a glimpse of their families. In this book, you get to really see how times have changed. I don’t know if it’s because they are now full grown adults or if it’s the different writing style, but I felt some of the original characters did not have the same feel.

For instance, I felt Ron was dumbed-down excessively. He was almost the comedic effect in the book but yet I didn’t necessarily feel it was needed. He seemed lost or confused about situations and was always the last to know things. It’s disappointing because I never thought Ron was the “dumb” one from the group but you wouldn’t have guessed that in this book.

Harry’s annoying behaviour only expanded for me. In Deathly Hallows, he specifically tells Albus not to worry so much if he was to be sorted into Slytherin. Having being named after Snape one of the bravest and smartest Slytherins out there, it wouldn’t matter to him if Albus was sorted into that house… well apparently that’s a lie! Harry clearly wasn’t happy with Albus being sorted into Slytherin in The Cursed Child and he clearly wasn’t happy knowing Albus had befriended Draco’s son Scorpius either. This book really challenges Harry’s parenting skills. Some have said that he’s a terrible father but after enduring for so many years what Harry had to deal with, you can’t blame him for being cautious or even overly protective of his children, and when you have a child like Albus where his at that rebellious stage you’re bound to butt heads. If he really was a terrible father, you would see all his children acting out. You know what I mean? I say give the guy a break.

I love that a little light has shone onto Draco. He was another character people depicted as a villainous coward but when you read the parts where Draco talks about his family and how he’s turned his life around, I think you really get to see the Draco he’s always been but was unable to show because of his parents and their connection with the death eaters and Voldemort.

Seeing familiar names such as McGonagall, Dumbledore, Snape and Neville Longbottom really hit home for me. Seeing these characters again made this whole book for me. It brought so many feels and nostalgia. They may only have been little glimpses of them but it was enough and I found myself smiling all throughout 😀

Overall Feels:

I was hooked right from the first page. I know there’s mixed opinions going around at the moment and I can see where people are coming from with their concerns but I went into reading this with an open mind.

It’s not solely JK Rowling’s writing so I knew it wouldn’t have the same feel as the first 7 HP books but it was still a great read. Having it as a script format is different but not hard to follow. It’s literally a conversation in text format. If anything I’m grateful JK released this because not everyone can go to London and see the actual play (but I’m still hoping they take it to more countries – with Australia being one of them hehe). I’m sure everyone had been dying to know what happened to Harry, Ron, Hermione after The Deathly Hallows ended. I know I was! Well this is the answer. It may not be what everyone expected but there it is and it’s always nice to revisit the Wizarding World.

RATING: ♥♥♥.5/5

I still highly recommend this for Harry Potter fans. It may not live up to the rest of the series for some fans but what fan wouldn’t still want a copy The Cursed Child for their collection? It may not be reread as much as the first 7 books but it’s still worth a read, even if it’s to see old friends 🙂

---

Question: If you’ve read this – did it live up to your expectation? 

---

Scarlet by Marissa Meyer

•••

— BLURB —

Cinder returns in the second thrilling installment of the New York Times-bestselling Lunar Chronicles.

She’s trying to break out of prison—even though if she succeeds, she’ll be the Commonwealth’s most wanted fugitive. Halfway around the world, Scarlet Benoit’s grandmother is missing. It turns out there are many things Scarlet doesn’t know about her grandmother and the grave danger she has lived in her whole life.

When Scarlet encounters Wolf, a street fighter who may have information as to her grandmother’s whereabouts, she has no choice but to trust him, though he clearly has a few dark secrets of his own. As Scarlet and Wolf work to unravel one mystery, they find another when they cross paths with Cinder. Together, they must stay one step ahead of the vicious Lunar Queen who will do anything to make Prince Kai her husband, her king, her prisoner.

•••

— MY REVIEW —

⚠ WARNING WARNING WARNING ⚠

Spoilers ahead. Read at own risk!

LOVED IT! I think I read this book at the perfect time. I was on the verge of another mini reading slump and when I started Scarlet (not even 1 chapter in) I knew the slump wasn’t going to hit me. I love Scarlet as much as I loved Cinder. Although their stories are different, they both had the same feel that made me fall in love with both character’s stories.

Another reason I love both books is because Cinder has Kai… and Scarlet has Wolf! Eeeeeeep! 😄😄

I knew after reading Cinder that it wasn’t going to be the typical Cinderella story that we all know of. So I was going into Scarlet knowing that it wouldn’t be typical either, which I’m kind of glad because when Wolf first comes into the scene, I just knew… I had a strong gut feeling that he wasn’t the “big bad wolf” that little red riding hood would have been afraid of. Don’t get me wrong… he’s still a bad boy but the good kind of bad, if you get what I mean… 😉😉

I don’t know how Marissa Meyer was able to take our childhood fairy tales and retell it in a way that still has the core storyline but also make it into something new and different. It’s quickly become one of my fave fantasy series ever!

I got to be honest though, Little Red Riding Hood wasn’t my fave tale growing up. But Scarlet totally changed that…especially since this one has a hunky, somewhat dangerous Wolf in it! *drools* 🤤

Since I’m drooling already, let’s move on from one hunk to another. Carswell Thorne. He made me crack up from the moment he opened his mouth. I love a guy that can make me laugh and with Thorne around, there was no shortage of it! LOL! I love that he was cheeky and a bit vain but it all adds to his charm, I say! 😉 It’s clear when you’re reading this book that the main characters are Scarlet and Wolf but with Cinder (and Kai) still included, you can see that Cinder’s story from the first book ties in well with what’s happening now. I love that the brooding war with Queen Levana is what ties all the characters and their stories together. It was very well written!

I will say this though, I did find Scarlet at times to be bit irritating. Her focus was always on finding her grandma. Yeah, yeah I get that that’s her only family and I wouldn’t want anyone hurting anyone from my family either but I wish she wouldn’t act like she doesn’t care about anything or anyone else besides her grandma. I hate that Scarlet doesn’t even think about the consequences until it’s too late and by then you’re already yelling at the page saying “I knew it!” Lol.

Scarlet (in my opinion) yelled a lot throughout the book. She did a lot of overreacting and finger pointing and blaming of others. Which in some parts was justified but in others it was just too damn rude and I’m just going to say it… I would’ve punched her for it! #sorrynotsorry

I think Scarlet needs to realize there’s a bigger picture than just saving her grandma no matter what. I wanted to shake her and tell her to shut up for a second and listen lol. Did anyone else feel that way too? (Or was it just me? Haha)

But other than that, I love her with Wolf. I think they are perfect for each other. I love Wolf’s (for lack of a better word) ignorance.. Of course he’s from Luna and is unfamiliar with human-related things but I think that’s why I liked him as a character. It makes him all the more cuter because he’s different and doesn’t know any better.

Oh before I wrap up this already long review up, who else thought that Wolf wasn’t going to make it out? Who thought he was going to be left behind whilst the rest fly off? For a second there I thought so. I was ready to cry out it anger and slam the book shut 😛 Let’s just say it was a close call.

But I do like how the book concluded. Yeah sure, a lot of things finally came out in the end and more problems have popped up because of it but the way it ended makes me excited to read the next book. 😊

RATING: ♥♥♥♥/5

Highly recommend read! I found this book to be an easy read just like Cinder. The pace was great and had a nice flow from Scarlet story to Cinder’s and then back again – I never had a dull moment reading this book.

---

•••

Hope you’re all well. Happy reading, and as always, catch you in my next one! Xo

Isla And The Happily Ever After by Stephanie Perkins

•••

— BLURB —

Love ignites in the City That Never Sleeps, but can it last?

Hopeless romantic Isla has had a crush on introspective cartoonist Josh since their first year at the School of America in Paris. And after a chance encounter in Manhattan over the summer, romance might be closer than Isla imagined. But as they begin their senior year back in France, Isla and Josh are forced to confront the challenges every young couple must face, including family drama, uncertainty about their college futures, and the very real possibility of being apart.

Featuring cameos from fan-favorites Anna, Étienne, Lola, and Cricket, this sweet and sexy story of true love—set against the stunning backdrops of New York City, Paris, and Barcelona—is a swoonworthy conclusion to Stephanie Perkins’s beloved series.

•••

— MY REVIEW —

To be honest I thought it was just alright.

I loved Anna and the French Kiss and Lola and the Boy Next Door but this one was a little lackluster for me. Even I couldn’t believe how I was reacting to this story whilst reading it.

⚠ WARNING WARNING WARNING ⚠

READ AT OWN RISK!

3

2

1

↓

It started off great – thought it was going to be just like the previous two in the series but by the time I got to the middle of the book I was getting a bit annoyed by Isla and Josh and their whole situation that was going on. I don’t know what it is really. Maybe it’s the fact that sometimes I thought Josh wasn’t serious about Isla or maybe it’s the way Isla changed when she started dating Josh that I didn’t really like..? I can’t pinpoint it to just one thing that made me not like the storyline as much.

But I am glad the pace picked back up in the last 10 chapters! *phew!* I love the part where Josh and Isla were both back in America, trying to keep in contact. They’re determined. I’ll give them that! Lol. The part with Josh’s manuscript was really touching (the second time round at least… the first time I was thinking the exact same thing as Isla. Like what the!??)

Some of the content in the book is definitely for mature minded readers because there’s a lot of kissing and non-stop touching and sex. (To the point where I just wanted to skip past it coz there’s points in the book where Josh and Isla can’t keep their hands off each other and it goes on for a while that you get sick of reading it).

The beginning and end were the definite highlights of the book for me. It doesn’t have as much humour as the previous books which may be another reason as to why I favoured this one the least. It wasn’t as light-hearted as the others. I think it needed some humour in a few parts to lift the mood up. Surprisingly I did get teary during their breakup (the feels were on high reading this part. I was bawling my eyes out – I just felt sorry for them both).

If this book wasn’t in a series and just a standalone book… then yeah I would say it was a great read but the problem is I can’t stop comparing it to the others, which is a pity coz loving the first two made this final one seem like I hated it. Which I don’t. It’s still pretty nice! 😊

I still recommend this book to YA readers who like Contemporary/ Romance books. And I highly recommend the series in general!

RATING: ♥♥♥½

•••

---

📚 Read my reviews for this series!

(In reading order)

Book One: Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

Book Two: Lola And The Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins

---

•••

Happy reading! Catch you in my next one! Xo

Crown Of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas

•••

— BLURB —

“A line that should never be crossed is about to be breached.

It puts this entire castle in jeopardy—and the life of your friend.”

From the throne of glass rules a king with a fist of iron and a soul as black as pitch. Assassin Celaena Sardothien won a brutal contest to become his Champion. Yet Celaena is far from loyal to the crown. She hides her secret vigilantly; she knows that the man she serves is bent on evil.

Keeping up the deadly charade becomes increasingly difficult when Celaena realizes she is not the only one seeking justice. As she tries to untangle the mysteries buried deep within the glass castle, her closest relationships suffer. It seems no one is above questioning her allegiances—not the Crown Prince Dorian; not Chaol, the Captain of the Guard; not even her best friend, Nehemia, a foreign princess with a rebel heart.

Then one terrible night, the secrets they have all been keeping lead to an unspeakable tragedy. As Celaena’s world shatters, she will be forced to give up the very thing most precious to her and decide once and for all where her true loyalties lie… and whom she is ultimately willing to fight for.

•••

— MY REVIEW —

I am seriously loving this series. Although this is only book 2, it packs a punch! Whenever there was any interaction between Celaena and Chaol I was on the edge of my seat. When Celaena was in “assassin” mode, I was on the edge of my seat. When something got discovered and I didn’t see it coming – you got it.. I was on the edge of my seat. You can pretty much just say there was no point in me “sitting” for any part of it. 😀

Oh, and I’ll give you a little tip now.. make sure you read this when noone is around. I found myself mumbling (out loud) when I read certain parts and cursing at particular characters whenever they said or did something I disagreed with. I’m sure I’m not the only one with this problem, right? 😜

Before I go any further, incase I didn’t mention it clearly in my Throne of Glass review, usually when people read the book, they usually find themselves deciding who they preferred – Chaol or Dorian..? Well, I chose Chaol (keep this little tidbit in mind when you read on).

So, back to my review…

⚠ WARNING WARNING WARNING ⚠

•

•

•

I so badly wanted to see what new developments were going to show up between Celaena and Chaol in this book. And when it finally happened..during Chaol’s birthday I was giddy and happy that they finally expressed how they felt to one another…

And boy oh boy did they ever haha! It turned from admitting they care for each other, to kissing to full on..uhhh not kissing *wink wink, get my drift?* and lots of it! All in a short amount of time too and call me immature but I could not stop laughing at how quickly they turned into horny teenagers (oh wait they are lol)

So yeah..by this stage I was feeling super happy and light-hearted, then.. BAMMMM!!

Uh oh, game over! Cut to the chase: horrible things happen; Chaol feels guilty and Celaena turns into Death herself. Here anger was practically coming off of the page as I was reading it. I could feel the rage! (Here’s where my little tip from earlier comes in handy again). All I know is even I was shaking my head at Chaol, poor guy. But I was glad that she was able to turn to Dorian during the uneventful time (and not in a hooking up kind of way), they sort of became friends again. When she ended her relationship with Dorian in the first book, I was relieved coz I wanted her with Chaol but I never wanted her to distance herself from Dorian or be cold towards him (which I think she was for most of this book). I always thought he was a nice guy, but I had always just preferred Chaol. So when they kind of stuck together to get through the troubles they were dealing with, I just sat there and thought: Yes! Finally..they’re friends again – I missed the times when they just hanged out and talked. It always had a different..umm feel? or atmosphere? to it then whenever she was with Chaol. Does that make sense? (Sorry if it’s just a whole heap of babble).

I’m really looking forward to reading more about Dorian too. This book gives you a little more insight to Dorian and his life, so I can’t wait to see how it all goes down in the next books for him.

But besides the whole romance bit, I love the fact that this book; this series has a bit of everything. It’s action packed. I love it whenever Celaena kicks ass! The way Sarah J Maas describes how Celaena, gets into the zone, packs her weapons and goes in armed and ready to kill anything in here way always makes me feel like I’m watching some sports game and my team is kicking butt! It also has a bit of mystery so you’re always guessing and questioning what’s going to happen next. It’s a fantasy fiction that lives up to the hype. I’ll leave it at that!

RATING: ♥♥♥♥/5

I’m really loving this series so yes I am recommending it to you, just like it was recommended to me! It’s definitely a hyped up book series for a reason. Trust me, don’t give this one a miss! 😉

•••

📚 Read my reviews for the series!

(In reading order)

Book One: Throne Of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

Book Three: Heir Of Fire by Sarah J. Maas

Novellas: The Assassin’s Blade by Sarah J. Maas

Book Four: Queen Of Shadows by Sarah J. Maas

Book Five: Empire of Storms by Sarah J. Maas

---

•••

Hope you enjoyed. Thank you for stopping by. Catch you in my next one! Xo