Sarah J. Maas

Top 5 Wednesday: August 9, 2017

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Second Book is Best

We’ve talked about series that went downhill, and series that are worth it, but which series were best in the middle?
To participate in Top 5 Wednesday, just head over to their Goodreads Group and join the fun!

  1. A Court of Thorns and Roses Series // Sarah J. Maas
    This series isn’t complete yet, but of the books that are out, it’s better in the middle.
  2. Uglies Series // Scott Westerfeld
  3. The Tillerman Cycle // Cynthia Voigt

Unfortunately, I was only able to think of 3 series that fit this prompt for me. I tend to think the entire series is equally good or that the beginning is best.

I’d love to know what series you guys think were best in the middle! Comment or make your own post and leave a link here.

June 2017 Wrap-Up

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A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J. Maas
(A Court of Thorns and Roses, book 3)
Rating: ★★★★☆
Reading Dates:  June 8 – 9
Read Count:  1
Favorite Thing:  Feyre’s extremely satisfying manipulation of the Spring Court in part one OR sassy Azriel.
Least Favorite Thing:  Tamlin’s entire personality….

I may write a review of this book later, but at the moment I’m not sure I can do so coherently, so I’ll just leave a few thoughts here:
Once again Sarah has upped the amount of smut! Overall the book was well-written (and wow I especially loved the fights), but there were some brief instances of iffy stereotypes that rubbed me the wrong way. And as always, Tamlin-heavy scenes gave me anxiety attacks, but Inner Circle banter made it all better.

My Posts About A Court of Wings and Ruin

The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater
(The Raven Cycle, book 1)
Rating:  ★★★★☆
Reading Dates:  June 9 – 10 & June 10 – 30
Read Count:  3
Favorite Thing:  Sass sass sass sass SASS!
Least Favorite Thing:  Barrington Whelk.

So I read this book twice this month, once on my own and quickly, and the second time with a friend a little at a time while reading the rest of the series myself.

If you are interested in the magical realism genre, you should definitely try The Raven Cycle books.

My Posts About The Raven Boys

The Dream Thieves by Maggie Stiefvater
(The Raven Cycle, book 3)
Rating:  ★★★★☆
Reading Dates:  June 12 – 19
Read Count:  2
Favorite Thing:  That entire scene in the Dollar City.
Least Favorite Thing:  Kavinsky is deeply annoying… (Um “substance party”? Ugh…)

I also really loved The Gray Man. I just enjoy the way he thinks about things, it’s so calming to read. And every interaction between him and the Fox Way ladies is just gold.

I have to admit — and I feel terrible about it — I don’t like Adam in this book hardly at all. He’s occasionally frustrating in the The Raven Cycle, but in The Dream Thieves he crosses the line to just plain unlikable.

My Posts About The Dream Thieves

Blue Lily, Lily Blue by Maggie Stiefvater
(The Raven Cycle, book 3)
Rating:  ★★★★☆
Reading Dates:  June 20 – 26
Read Count:  2
Favorite Thing:  Greenmantle dialogue!
Least Favorite Thing:  Greenmantle actions…

I love Jessie Dittley, I would like to request a Jessie Dittley from the universe, please.

My Posts About Blue Lily, Lily Blue

April 2017 Wrap-Up

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A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas
(A Court of Thorns and Roses, book 1)
Rating:  ★★★★☆
Reading Dates:  April 12 – 13
Read Count:  2
Favorite Thing:  Rhys, the very last time he speaks to Feyre. (I won’t say more in case people haven’t read this before.)
Least Favorite Thing:  Tamlin still gives me the heebie-jeebies even when I’m supposed to be liking him. I told someone when I first read it, there was something about him I didn’t like, and rereading it just reinforced that feeling of icky-ness I get from his behavior. He just always feels very manipulative and reminds me of an ex or two…

Tamlin is actually the reason I only read this book once, even though I read the sequel (A Court of Mist and Fury) 4 or 5 times. This reread happened because I knew I would need the Spring Court people fresh in my mind for A Court of Wings and Ruin.

My Posts About A Court of Thorns and Roses

Top 5 Wednesday: March 8, 2017

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Favorite Science Fiction & Fantasy Books

Talk about your favorite science fiction and fantasy books of all time!
To participate in Top 5 Wednesday, just head over to their Goodreads Group and join the fun!

  1. A Court of Mist and Fury (A Court of Thorns and Roses, book 2) by Sarah J. Maas
  2. Specials (Uglies, book 3) by Scott Westerfeld
  3. The Tale of Elske (Tales of the Kingdom, book 4) by Cynthia Voigt
  4. The Raven Cycle by Maggie Stiefvater
  5. Daughter of Smoke & Bone Trilogy by Laini Taylor

Comment with your own favorite fantasy & science fiction novels (or a link to your own post) so I can check them out too! My TBR totally doesn’t mind growing!

I need advice from book lovers!

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For the first time ever I can afford to pre-order a book I’m really looking forward to, but I have this little problem. (It’s ACOWAR, by the way.)

I noticed that there is both a hardcover and a paperback version coming out at the same time and once is obviously cheaper, so if I got that one I could buy another book or two with the same gift card. Problem is, I already own ACOTAR in hardback (and intend to buy ACOMAF in hardback as well because I have already reread it 4 times and will probably continue to do so, and hardbacks hold up longer in my experience.

So I guess what I’m asking is, should I get the cheaper one (paperback) and let my collection not match, or should I spring for the hardback?

First Lines Friday: December 9, 2016

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First Lines Fridays is a weekly feature for book lovers hosted by Wandering Words. What if instead of judging a book by its cover, its author or its prestige, we judged it by its opening lines?

  • Pick a book off your shelf (it could be your current read or on your TBR) and open to the first page
  • Copy the first few lines, but don’t give anything else about the book away just yet – you need to hook the reader first
  • Finally… reveal the book!

First Line:

The shutters swinging in the storm winds were the only sign of her entry.

Interested? Scroll down for the cover and summary!

Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas

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.

I’m rereading the Throne of Glass series, of which this is the second book. I needed to reread it to get my head in the world for Empire of Storms. I like Celaena quite a bit for a character I can only barely identify with.