For Love And Honor by Jody Hedlund

Another old review I never posted. 🙈 But better late, than never!

This was one of the very first historical romances I ever read (before I even knew it was considered “historical romance” because at the time I was clueless about sub-genres). But anywho — I borrowed it at my local library on a whim. Glad I did too!

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— BLURB —

Lady Sabine is harboring a skin blemish, one, that if revealed, could cause her to be branded as a witch, put her life in danger, and damage her chances of making a good marriage. After all, what nobleman would want to marry a woman so flawed?

Sir Bennet is returning home to protect his family from an imminent attack by neighboring lords who seek repayment of debts. Without fortune or means to pay those debts, Sir Bennet realizes his only option is to make a marriage match with a wealthy noblewoman. As a man of honor, he loathes the idea of courting a woman for her money, but with time running out for his family’s safety, what other choice does he have?

As Lady Sabine and Sir Bennet are thrust together under dangerous circumstances, will they both be able to learn to trust each other enough to share their deepest secrets? Or will those secrets ultimately lead to their demise?

*** This is Book 3 in the An Uncertain Choice series (aka Noble Knights Series).

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— MY REVIEW —

As mentioned earlier, I borrowed this book from my local library on a whim liking how the blurb sounded. But I hadn’t realized at the time that this was part of a series… and the last book too (check the edit below)! What were the chances?!

(But note to self — Get onto Goodreads first and research before borrowing books!)

I’m usually not a fan of reading books out of order in a series, despite the fact that they can all be read as standalone. I’m obsessive compulsive that way, but I didn’t want it to go to waste before I had to return it so… I read it! 😄

Thank goodness each book in the series has different protagonists with completely separate story lines. The thing that connects each book is that the characters all know each other one way or another.

I feel like I’ve been reading YA fantasy fiction with so much detailed romance (that it should technically be in the NA category), so this was a nice, simple change of pace. This book was quoted as “clean” historical fiction and I absolutely agree. It has the cute, lovey-dovey, hallmark romance going for it that still makes you grin.

Sabine is a spunky, strong-willed protagonist who has her moments of teenage rebelliousness. But you gotta love her for it. Her lighthearted banter between her grandmother and especially with Sir Bennet is what made this story all the more enjoyable. Yes, they were stuck in the middle of a dangerous battle with secrets up in the air but boy, I couldn’t help but swoon during the scenes where Sabine and Bennet were together and wondering how the other truly feels about.

There’s a little bit of magic and curses wrapped around Sabine that’s affected her ability to trust and open herself up to new people. Things are not what they seem.

An overall nice, steady developing romance with just a little bit of suspense and secrecy thrown in that’ll keep you engaged. There’s a simple little world-building here, enough to keep you picturing castles, pretty dresses, chivalry, and with it — seedy minions! 😜

RATING: ♥♥♥½

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This was an enjoyable read! 👍 If you have a few hours to kill and looking for a quick read, I highly recommend this one! Ooh and the rest of the series too!

Side Note: After checking Goodreads, there’s apparently a fourth book; A Loyal Heart to be released sometime this year! I hope it does get released, I’m liking this series so far.

**EDIT: Since this is a super old review that I never got around to posting, my guess is the fourth book HAS been released. Although I can’t say for sure as I never did get around to finishing this series (and I hadn’t looked at on Goodreads since). 😅 But I still would recommend it though. It’s clean, adorably sweet, clean romance books. 

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

Wildfire by C.L. Aire

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— BLURB —

In the void between the worlds something is shifting. The balance between the Elements is slipping and the darkness is growing.

A girls nightmare speaks of things yet to come, a battle against beings filled with shadows. A young man watches death approach, cold as the blade it rides. A rose blooms in the pale moonlight, a gentle breeze stirs in the stillness and yellow eyes watch over the city.
And destiny has linked them all…
——————-
The earth will dress in blood and pain
And seas will scream beneath the rain
The tortured air will twist and turn
And in the fire, darkness burns

•••

— MY REVIEW —

⚠ WARNING WARNING WARNING ⚠

Read at own risk!

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I think it’s obvious from my previous book reviews that 99% of the books I read are from the Fantasy fiction genre. So when Claire asked if I would be interested in reading her book, I didn’t hesitate in saying yes!

I will be honest in saying when I checked the synopsis of her book on Goodreads, I found it to be a little vague. I knew the protagonist was a young female who sees visions in her dreams of what will happen in the future, and one in particular of Immortals is what sets this story. But other than that I didn’t know what to expect.

So it was all the more curious in reading this book.

I’ll admit it was a slow start for me. It took a little while to get into the story but once Cassie, Kieran and Gemma reached Harbour town I was right there with them.

I’m a big fan of fantasy books where the characters journey to other lands, so I was naturally hooked on the whole “travelling” aspect of Cassie’s story. I would have loved if a map was included in this book just because the places Cassie and her friends travel to seem so different from one another it would have been nice to see a physical image of the different towns they encounter and how much they would have travelled from Ar-ken.

Quick Update: The author has recently shared news that a world map of Tarraneia has been created. No word yet if it will be included in future copies of Wildfire but in the meantime please check it out on her Instagram here: Map of Tarraneia

Getting back to my review. I’m going to be a bit nitpicky and let you guys know my pros and cons of the characters and certain parts of the book:

Cassie is the main protagonist in this story and it was her dreams that led her and her friends to travel on this journey but I felt the first quarter of the book the lead was Gemma. I almost felt like this was Gemma’s story and her journey to stop the Immortals. I was very fascinated with her and her family’s culture/ lifestyle. They understood the world differently it almost seemed like there was something there that could be key in helping stop the destruction. I wouldn’t have minded if Gemma was the main protagonist just because I felt there was so much more to her, her brother and the mystery behind the Weeran people that I would have wanted to read more about.

Gemma might be my favourite from the three friends. She knows who she is and what she’s capable of. In my opinion the wisest of the friends.

Kieran on the other hand is the skeptic from the three. He doesn’t have dreams like Cassie and he’s not like Gemma who’s in touch with the lands so I felt like he was the most normal? and relatable character just because he was your everyday type of person.

I can’t say I like Cassie all that much for most of the book. She doesn’t seem to be good friend and her decision-making sucks! I think a lot of things that happened throughout their journey could have been avoided if she was more willing to speak up with her friends.I was frustrated with her a lot of the time and couldn’t help but roll my eyes. All I can say is she’s damn lucky there’s so many people willing to help her. 😛

Cassie in my opinion is the one who’s the most unsure of herself and what she could be capable of. Which is not a bad thing. The way things were developing in the book and especially how things ended, Cassie’s character development is sure to grow and I for one can’t wait to see her at her full potential.

When it comes to the storyline. I wished I could have seen a deeper connection between Cassie, Kieran and Gemma. They’re suppose to be the closest of friends but it didn’t come across that way. I saw a deeper friendship between Cassie, Anna and Jhi to be honest. I almost didn’t believe that they grew up together. But maybe all in due time we’ll see their closeness..?

I also thought certain scenes seem to end abruptly where I think it could’ve been delved into in more detail. I felt like I couldn’t even grasp what had happened and the next thing you know something new has transpired. The transition from one scene to the next could have been smoother.

Ok. Let’s get onto my favourite parts of the book. 😄

The part where they meet Ardian. He was the first character I instantly liked. I don’t know what it is about sweet-pie men captaining a ship *cough cough* (Hook from Once Upon A Time or Carswell Thorne from The Lunar Chronicles) but they always get me. 😉 His budding romance with Gemma was adorable but short-lived. I wanted more!! I really wished it lasted a little longer. It also had me thinking is this all we’ll see of Ardian? I’m hoping not.

Cassie falling in the hands of Jhi and Anna was a breath of fresh air. I love Anna and Jhi! They added an oomph to the storyline and introducing the “Mouse Hole” and “The Rat” gave the storyline another level of excitement for me. The side story of Anna and Jhi’s relationship was a treat to read. I’m a sucker for a bit (or a lot) of romance in my fantasy books so this definitely curbed my craving.

But besides romance, I love a good book that can totally take me by surprise and does Wildfire do that?

Yes. Yes it did.

I did not see it coming what happened with two certain characters in the end (*hint hint* Kieran and Jhi). The ending leaves us just when the real story begins so I’m really curious to know what will happen next, especially with Jhi. Who knew he would have some sort of power in him? I was shocked when he got stabbed in the neck I really thought he was another beloved character I was disappointed to see go. (But seriously! That neck stab was the last thing I was picturing would happen to him!)

Keiran coming back from the dead was another thing I didn’t see coming. But thinking about it now I probably should have, considering Cassie is a bit stubborn and of course she wasn’t going to lose another friend.

All in all I really liked the story. It was an easy read with short chapters (which is always a plus in my books). There’s so much potential in it to becoming an unbelievable fantasy fiction series. It has magic, it has action, friendship and a touch of romance mixed in. Everything I think makes for an awesome YA fantasy fiction book! I can’t wait for the next installment.

RATING: ♥♥♥½

Thank you to C.L. Aire for the opportunity to read an advanced copy! ❤

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Happy reading and catch you in my next one! Xo

Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo

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— 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.

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— 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.

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

Six Of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

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— BLURB —

Ketterdam: a bustling hub of international trade where anything can be had for the right price—and no one knows that better than criminal prodigy Kaz Brekker. Kaz is offered a chance at a deadly heist that could make him rich beyond his wildest dreams. But he can’t pull it off alone. . . .

A convict with a thirst for revenge

A sharpshooter who can’t walk away from a wager

A runaway with a privileged past

A spy known as the Wraith

A Heartrender using her magic to survive the slums

A thief with a gift for unlikely escapes

Kaz’s crew is the only thing that might stand between the world and destruction—if they don’t kill each other first.

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— MY REVIEW —

If you read my review on The Grisha Trilogy, you would know that I did not love at as much as the majority of readers did. But my friends insisted I read the trilogy first before I read Six of Crows to get a feel for the world and apparently some characters from those books were making cameos in this one so that’s what I did.

I’ll tell you now though. I don’t think it’s necessary for you to read the trilogy first before Six of Crows because it doesn’t affect the storyline or characters in any way. But in saying that, I started reading Six of Crows with a familiarity to the world already and how tough it is so..it’s up to you whether or not you want to start with The Grisha Trilogy first 🙂

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⚠ WARNING WARNING WARNING ⚠

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Now, onto my review.

This is probably the only place I can let out my opinions and rants in full so if you read ahead, be prepared for spoilers. Giving you a heads up now!

What can I say about Six of Crows? Well.. It was unbelievably phenomenal! There’s only a handful of books/ book series I can say are my total favourites and Six of Crows has been added to that list.

I knew everyone who ha read it raved on about it but I didn’t want that affecting me because before I read The Grisha Trilogy, everyone was telling me it was that good and that I was going to love it as well…and well I didn’t. So I went into Six of Crows with no expectations except that it was in the same fictional world and that the characters would be similar in a way?

But I have to say it completely blew the trilogy out of the water for me. The characters in Six of Crows were a bunch of misfits that just meshed well together. They are an ultimate crew. The differences in each character, their personalities and the way they interact with one another is what sold this book for me.

The book is written in a point of view format. So each chapter is a character from their point of view. At first I thought it might be a little difficult to follow as there are six main characters here and all with a story to tell but it was very well written. It was easy to follow and it just flowed. I couldn’t read it fast enough and I couldn’t put it down.

You get to know each character, their past and how they came to be where they are now. I fell in love with all the characters. They’re the characters that have gone through the worst of the worst and are trying to get out it.

You have Kaz Brekker. The leader of this crew. The guy who has a plan within plan within a plan and so forth. He is the most complicated guy from them all (and quite possibly from any fictional character I’ve encountered). He’s the most intriguing. He doesn’t open up and when he does it almost seems like it was by accident. That alone kept me turning pages. He’s unemotional, very calculating and gives off that vibe of “this is all business” but the deeper you read the more you realise everything is not what it seems with the guy and you get hooked. I don’t know anyone who’s read this book and did not come away from it not falling in love with him. I know I did!! (Inej is one lucky chick!)

There’s Inej (Aka Spider. Aka The Wraith). Quite possibly my favourite from them all if I had to choose 😉 She, I can’t help feel for the most. I know they’ve all gone through hell but if I went through what Inej had I would have been dead long ago. She has a strength in her that I gravitated towards from the get go. The thing she has going with Kaz doesn’t hurt the book either. Lol. I only wished there was more of it! Leigh Bardugo really knows how to torture her readers with little crumbs of romance. Haha.. oh sigh.

Then there’s Nina. Who I would say is the closest connection you would have to The Grisha Trilogy because she is a Grisha (or was training to become one) who is just trying to get back to her life but can’t until the mess she got herself into gets fixed. I love Nina. She’s spunky, funny, kicks ass, loves food. She’s very relatable. She’s so sassy. I loved reading her point of view. I love her backstory and the reason as to why she’s with Kaz and the crew.

Mathias. Oh man this guy. This guy is pure soldier. Until you get to read more of him. He may just be the tough yet sweet guy you’d be looking for in this book. The struggle he goes through with what’s right and wrong puts you on edge. I found myself literally talking to “him” whilst I was reading it. I was like “dude, c’mon!” Do you guys argue with fictional characters too? 😜

Jesper is the Sharpshooter and a hoot! He cracks me up with his flirty ways and untimely jokes and comments. I’m giggling just thinking about him now. He’s definitely the comedic relief in certain parts of the story where things are getting a little heated or problematic. He’s just a one of those guys who could cheer you up and he does. His friendship with Inej throughout this book had me smiling,his brotherly-like relationship with Kaz had my heart and his budding relationship with Wylan was one I did not see coming until later but I’m rooting for them!

Wylan is the kid in the group. Well they’re all pretty young in age but I see him as the baby of the group. Just because he seems like the naive, innocent, lost one from the crew. You almost think he’s a bit useless at the beginning (especially since he doesn’t know how to fight) but doesn’t mean he is. He is a Brainiac. I would keep an eye on him. He may just be the slyest of them all. 😉

I was surprised to read that the characters were only 16-18 years old which isn’t young (considering it’s a YA book) but when you read it you would never have guessed. I pictured them more to be in their early 20’s at the most but it doesn’t affect the experience one bit once you get your head around it.

The storyline is clever. So many twists and turns. I felt like I couldn’t pinpoint where the story was heading at all. Nothing was predictable. I was on the edge of my seat the whole time.

RATING: ♥♥♥♥♥/5

I wish it was longer than a Duology. This is a YA Fantasy fiction reader’s dream book!! I HIGHLY RECOMMEND SIX OF CROWS!! I will shove people into bookstores, get them to buy it online, whatever! This is a must read! Full rating and more from me!!

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

The Grisha Trilogy by Leigh Bardugo

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— 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.

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— 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

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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: ♥♥♥

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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

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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

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

Empire of Storms by Sarah J. Maas

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— 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.

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— 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!! 😁😁😁

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📚 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

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Happy reading! Catch you in my next one! Xo

Heir Of Fire by Sarah J. Maas

I know I’m posting this review a little late. But here it is nevertheless. This was my last read for April. Hope you guys enjoy! 😊

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— BLURB —

Celaena has survived deadly contests and shattering heartbreak-but at an unspeakable cost. Now, she must travel to a new land to confront her darkest truth . . . a truth about her heritage that could change her life-and her future-forever. Meanwhile, brutal and monstrous forces are gathering on the horizon, intent on enslaving her world. Will Celaena find the strength to not only fight her inner demons, but to take on the evil that is about to be unleashed?

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— MY REVIEW —

This series just gets better and better!! 😄 This book was worth reading over sleeping any day! I must admit, it started a little slow for me before I started getting into the story but I tell you what… after I was sucked back in..it was downhill from there. The momentum just kept picking up speed and I couldn’t put the book down.

I can’t say I have a favourite book in the series. I just think it’s one long continuous story (which it is, duh) broken into several books. But Heir of Fire is definitely deep into the story now and a lot of things are happening which I find makes the book really action-packed. I didn’t find it at all boring or tedious, in fact it’s another highly recommended read! 😊😊 This series has become one of my favourite fantasy fiction series of all time!

Now if you haven’t read the book, I advise you stop reading from this point onwards. I don’t want to spoil it for you because it really needs to be read and experienced first hand.

⚠ WARNING WARNING WARNING ⚠

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This book had a few stories going on so I thought I’d give you guys little reviews for each one…

Let’s start off with Dorian and his new love interest; Sorscha: I knew when Sorscha came into the scene that something was bound to happen between them. And I’m kind of glad it did because I like Dorian. I may not have said it before because I only had eyes for Chaol but I’ve always liked Dorian too. He’s sweet but I knew he wasn’t meant for Celaena. I’m so glad he’s disposition hadn’t changed much from the first two books to now. He’s still very much caring and not at all like his father. Which I feared he would turn into after the developments between him, Celaena and Chaol. I thought maybe he would become mean but nope. Not at all. Sorscha was good for him! Which makes it all the more sadder that they won’t get to be together til the end. During a particular shocking scene, I was so stupefied at what I had read. In one hand I kind of saw it coming but in the other I was seriously thinking ‘Everything is fine. It’s going to okay’. It just wasn’t sinking in. Not my favourite part of the book at all. No, no.

Next up: Chaol. He, unfortunately was not the leading man in this book and I’ll admit I was not really loving him here either. In all honesty… every time it was Chaol’s part in the book, I just felt bad for the guy. He’s stuck in a mess and torn between so many people. He really needs friends. That’s all I could think of… he just needed friends. I hope it gets better for him in the upcoming books.

The whole deal with the Witch Clan War: This was probably my least favourite parts of the book just because it was hard getting through which clan was which. I mean, there was the Blackbeak, the Bluebloods and Yellowlegs and not to mention the names of each character from whichever clan. I’ll probably have to reread the book again just for this storyline alone. I can’t help feeling I should’ve liked it a lot more. But I will say this – I love Abraxos; that hard-headed brat. 😜 And I love his relationship with Manon! ❤

Finally, Celaena (aka Aelin) and Rowan…

Omg Rowan! How have you managed to worm your way into my heart you big meanie! 😉 *sigh* But I’m seriously not surprised anymore… I’ve read enough Sarah J Maas books to know she does this all the time. Giving us a yummy, sexy character who’s all broody with a bad boy exterior when really he’s just the most sweetest, caring and protective person everrrrr!! 😁 I didn’t think I could love anyone more than Chaol for Celaena but I think I was wrong. Rowan and Celaena just seem to fit perfectly. Two peas in a pod! To me they seem like soulmates. But the way Sarah J. Maas wrote Heir of Fire, it seems like they might just end up being the closest of friends, bonded by their similar experiences in life and nothing more. I really hope there are further developments between them in the next book or so, because I don’t think I can be content with how the book ended with these two! #reallywishing

RATING: ♥♥♥♥½

I highly, highly, highly, hiiiiiiiiiighly recommend you pick up this book and read 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

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

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•••

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

Crown Of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas

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— 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.

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— 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 ⚠

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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

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

The Heart Of Betrayal by Mary E. Pearson

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— BLURB —

Held captive in the barbarian kingdom of Venda, Lia and Rafe have little chance of escape. Desperate to save Lia’s life, her erstwhile assassin, Kaden, has told the Vendan Komizar that she has the gift, and the Komizar’s interest in Lia is greater than anyone could have foreseen.

Meanwhile, nothing is straightforward: There’s Rafe, who lied to Lia but has sacrificed his freedom to protect her; Kaden, who meant to assassinate her but has now saved her life; and the Vendans, whom Lia always believed to be savages. Now that she lives among them, however, she realizes that may be far from the truth. Wrestling with her upbringing, her gift, and her sense of self, Lia must make powerful choices that will affect her country… and her own destiny.

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— MY REVIEW —

I died. This book killed me! I exceeded my amount of feels each time I opened it to read more chapters.

My rating for the first book in the series (The Kiss Of Deception) was almost perfect and although I’m not giving this book the full 5 star rating either, I would say it did surpass the first one. I think it’s because this is the “heart” of the storyline now (see what I did there!?) 😄 The first book, was still new to us readers. We were still getting to know this world, the characters and the situation. The Heart Of Betrayal definitely delves into each character and how they came to be.

I love how the book transitions from character to character when you read a new chapter and very well written – It tells you at the beginning of the chapter which character’s point of view you’ll be reading but the way it’s written you can already imagine that character in your head saying those things. It doesn’t get confusing and I love how well Mary E. Pearson has structured it.

Now let’s get to the feels..

If you read my review on the first book, you’ll be aware that I found Lia to be a little frustrating with her choices. Well. It hasn’t changed lol.

⚠ WARNING WARNING WARNING ⚠

Read at own risk!

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If I didn’t make it clear in my review of This Kiss Of Deception, I’ll make it clear in this one. I am Team Kaden. I was rooting for Kaden the millisecond he revealed his true identity. I was seriously hoping and praying and wishing for Lia to pick him. I wanted them to be “it”. The first book ended in a cliffhanger with Lia, Kaden and Rafe, so when I finally started reading this book I was still so hopeful! I wasn’t going to think any bad thoughts until I officially read it on the page.

Let me paint you a picture: It’s the final rose ceremony. Only one rose left. Who does Lia choose? Rafe or Kaden? 

WHY LIA, WHY!!!?!?!?!?

•••

The seconds before I read it, I knew where it was heading and I wish I had the strength to close the book. She confessed her love to…the wrong freakin’ guy!! Whyyyyy!!??? I’m still questioning it. I’m still confused. I’m still in awe of how stupid she’s being. How can she not see how perfect Kaden is for her. I mean yeah.. sure, he’s a bit of a dumbass when it comes to Venda and the Komizar and their ways. And there’s times you wanna slap the back of his head to get him to wake up.. but whenever he’s around Lia, and whenever I read his points of view in the book, I cannot for the life of me hate him. Grrrrr!

Quick Question: To those who’s read this or the first book — Do you feel the same way? Did you pick Kaden too and root for him? Sigh.

Lia frustrated me since the first book and she has frustrated me in this book, so I doubt it’ll change in the third and final book in the series. I can’t wait to get my hands on it though and see how it all goes down with each of the characters.

Besides the whole love triangle and adding the Komizar into the mix, there’s still the story of her having the “gift”, the war between lands, vengeance and having power.

It might sound like a whole lot is going on and yes there is but it all ties in together very well. I found it to be an easy read and easy to get hooked on.

There is a certain sad part in this book that I did see coming but by all means did not stop me from getting teary-eyed. 😞

I highly, HIGHLY recommend this book. I recommend the whole series. If you’re into YA fantasy fiction with love triangles thrown in then this is for you.

RATING: ♥♥♥♥½

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

Pride + Prejudice + Zombies by Jane Austen and Seth Grahame-Smith

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— BLURB —

“It is a truth universally acknowledged that a zombie in possession of brains must be in want of more brains.”

So begins Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, an expanded edition of the beloved Jane Austen novel featuring all-new scenes of bone-crunching zombie mayhem. As our story opens, a mysterious plague has fallen upon the quiet English village of Meryton—and the dead are returning to life! Feisty heroine Elizabeth Bennet is determined to wipe out the zombie menace, but she’s soon distracted by the arrival of the haughty and arrogant Mr. Darcy. What ensues is a delightful comedy of manners with plenty of civilized sparring between the two young lovers—and even more violent sparring on the blood-soaked battlefield. Can Elizabeth vanquish the spawn of Satan? And overcome the social prejudices of the class-conscious landed gentry? Complete with romance, heartbreak, swordfights, cannibalism, and thousands of rotting corpses.

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— MY REVIEW —

Before I get onto my review, I just want to point out that there were mixed reviews over this book. Some loved it. Some purely hated it.. like serious Jane Austen/ Pride and Prejudice fans were outraged that the classic novel was turned into a humorous tale with zombie attacks.

Well all I can say is, I loved Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice (it’s actually the only book I’ve read of hers) and I didn’t have any negative thoughts when I first heard about this book. I was actually curious to read it. Then I heard the movie was coming out.

Although I intentionally wanted to read this book before watching the movie. I ended up leaving it a little too late (it’s not screening anymore) but I’m glad I still read it. It seriously got me out of a mini reading slump. I was jumping from book to book until I started reading this one… and finished it! YAY!

It’s seriously Pride and Prejudice with a cool, funny twist to it. I liked how originals lines from the story were altered to fit with the zombie storyline. There’s random one-liners that could be interpreted differently (dirty-minded) that you may find funny, I know I did.

The pace of the book is pretty good. I didn’t find it slow or dragging which is usually the first thing that turns me off a book. But I think it also helped that I knew what scenes were coming next since I’ve read the original Pride and Prejudice. It’s the funny comments here and there that take ya by surprise.

If you’re open minded about Jane Austen’s work being altered to be a light-hearted, fun read, then I would say you would like this version. I won’t completely recommend it to Jane Austen fans coz of the mixed reviews, but check it out. You never know, you may end up liking it – like me. 😊

[Sidenote]: Oh, in case you’re interested, this paperback edition has black and white illustrations included throughout the book as well as coloured photos of scenes from the movie.

RATING: ♥♥♥½

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Hope you liked my review. Happy reading and catch you in my next one! Xo