From the shelf: Heir of Fire (Throne of Glass #3)

Title: Heir of Fire (Throne of Glass #3)

Author: Sarah J. Maas
Genre: YA, Fantasy
Date read: April 1-6, 2016
Dawn Rates: ★★★★★ (5/5)

Summary (cr: goodreads)

The was the heir of ash and fire, and she would bow to no one.

Celaena Sardothien 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. To defeat them, Celaena must find the strength to not only fight her inner demons but to battle the evil that is about to be unleashed.

The king's assassin takes on an even greater destiny and burns brighter than ever before in this follow-up to the New York Timesbestselling Crown of Midnight.

My Review: (also in goodreads)

Lookback: Throne of Glass (Throne of Glass #1), Crown of Midnight (Throne of Glass #2)

This was a gripping read.

No words can express how much I held my seat and let myself be blown away into Sarah Maas' world courtesy of this book, the 2nd part to be exact (Heir of Fire). The first part (Heir of Ash) was a bit slow on the uptake but I understand that Celaena had to go through all of that to try to accept and move on especially after Nehemia's death looming over her, leaving her friend Dorian and breaking up with Chaol. Coming into Wendlyn on the king's orders was a ruse made by Chaol to get her out of the city and somewhat protect her. Celaena stepping into Wendlyn is not the same confident assassin we once knew. She is a shell of herself operating only on the hope that Meave, the Fae Queen of her mother's bloodline, would somehow give the answers she needs to fuel her upon return to Adarlan, to Chaol and her friend Dorian. But she got more what she bargained for. She got a Fae prince (Rowan) breathing down her neck to train her in exchange for what she seeks. And with that she comes face to face with the fate she had abandoned a decade before the night her family died and her kingdom fell: to reclaim the rightful position as the heir of Terrasen, their queen.

There were new characters in play like Sorscha, Aedion Ashryver and a character whom I think would be one of my favorites: Manon Blackbeak.

I had goosebumps on the part where Celaena reclaimed and succumbed to her fate. The part wehre she was battling the Valg prince and she finally accepted that she is Aelin Galathynius (Galathynius, seriously this name seems like something from the outer space). And Rowan. I knew that she will once again be involved *ahem* romantically *ahem* with someone. Really, Celaena? Really? LOL! I can't wait to read the 4th book.

Till the next read...

From the shelf: Crown of Midnight (Throne of Glass #2)

Title: Crown of Midnight (Throne of Glass #2)

Author: Sarah J. Maas
Genre: YA, Fantasy
Date read: March 28-30, 2016
Dawn Rates: ★★★★★ (5/5)

Summary (cr: goodreads)

"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: (also in goodreads)

Lookback: Throne of Glass (Throne of Glass #1)

I always had qualms in continuing a series. The first book should be interesting enough to help me decide if I should pick up the sequel or not. Oftentimes the sequel for me would be my make or break if this particular series will hold my interest. Sometimes the first book sucks then the sequel gives them the redemption they deserve. Rare are those times where the sequel is a whole tad better than the first book. And this is one of those times.

I loved, loved, loved Crown of Midnight more than Throne of Glass. Finally! This is how I envisioned Calaena Sardothien who they claimed is the most notorious assassin who ever existed. Everyone feared her and trembled at the echo of her name. This is how I wanted to see her. In her true form. The first book was interesting, but Calaena was too girly and not quite herself there that I wanted to shake her to wake her up. And this sequel didn't disappoint. This is the most ruthless, cunning Celaena I hae ever seen and I liked it. Finally some action!

The moment that Dorian and Celaena bid their goodbyes ending their romantic relationship at the first book, I knew then and there that Chaol will grab the opportunity. Don't get me wrong, I love Chaol...but I don't see him with her romantically. Sure they had their time, (Yes, I was cringing when they had those couple moments) but I really didn't see Chaol with her in the long term. I saw him as her best friend. It even came to a point that  when I wanted to break them up, especially when a sorrowful, significant death happened: I was too happy reading her not wanting to have Chaol back in her life. Okay, so I was partly rooting for Dorian. I only wanted Chaol as her dear friend not in a romantic way.

I have this feeling that Gavin (First King of Adarlan) and Elena (First Queen of Terassen) have something to do with Dorian and Celaena's fates. At least that is what I would like to think about. I often wondered if they are the reincarnations of the two, but it will be awfully complicated if that were true.

This book is like a homecoming. This is where events must take place to pave all of the things that would happen later in the series. Yes, I loved the second book too much that I can't wait to get my hands on the third book. SJ Maas, you've done a great job. Although I couldn't imagine how empty I will feel the moment I will read the last book (so far) in the series.

Ashryver eyes

The fairest eyes, from legends old

Of brightest blue, ringed with gold.

Till the next read...

From the shelf: Throne of Glass (Throne of Glass #1)

Title: Throne of Glass (Throne of Glass #1)

Author: Sarah J. Maas
Genre: YA, Fantasy
Date read: March 24-26, 2016
Dawn Rates: ★★★★ (4/5)

Summary (cr: goodreads)

In a land without magic, where the king rules with an iron hand, an assassin is summoned to the castle. She comes not to kill the king, but to win her freedom. If she defeats twenty-three killers, thieves, and warriors in a competition, she is released from prison to serve as the king's champion. Her name is Celaena Sardothien.

The Crown Prince will provoke her. The Captain of the Guard will protect her. But something evil dwells in the castle of glass--and it's there to kill. When her competitors start dying one by one, Celaena's fight for freedom becomes a fight for survival, and a desperate quest to root out the evil before it destroys her world. 

My Review: (also in goodreads)

My sister has been raving about this for quite a while now and even pestering me on reading this series. I am the kind of reader who does not care whatever genre the book is as long as it gives me a great story and that I would recommend to readers and non readers alike. Okay, try to scold me for reading this far too late (and having my book signed 'Court of Thorns and Roses' before starting this series. Yep, the author was here for a book signing and I will tell you all about it later). So did I enjoy this?

YAASSSS....YAASSSS and more YAASS...

But first let me start on saying that saying the names in the book is a mouthful. Really? Celaena Sardothien. Oh, Okay....Ellywe....oh...right. Uhm, Nehemia Ytger. OHHHHKAAAAY.

Anyway, the premise really caught me. A skilled assassin fighting for her freedom. YEP! Fae? Sign me up. I am a fan of Holly Black's Tithe series (guys, read that...because....Rath Roiben Rye 'nuff said.) and with other elements in the scene, this really made me curious. The story starts with Celaena wasting away in the salt mines of Endovier not until Chaol Westfall comes to her and tells her that she has been chosen as the crown prince's champion. And in order to regain he freedom she must win and server the king for 4 years. That is a good bargain for her so she accepts although not at first. Also, she has to conceal that she is THE Celaena Sardothien....an assassin feared by many. 

It was too obvious that Dorian, crown prince of Adarlan, is obviously smitten during the course of the book. But of course there was a foreshadowing of complications if their relationship will push through: first of all, HE is the crown prince of Adarlan, a country who keeps on declaring war to conquer the countries around it and she is from Terrasen. I could also see a possible triangle between Dorian, Celaena and Chaol. I would like Chaol to be that one friend that Celaena could trust and not as a love interest. There are many questions left by this book: first of all, what the heck happened to Arobynn, who is Sam, what happened to Nox when he escaped, the wydmark on her forehead and many among others. Will I read the sequel? Definitely.

Oh, and I saw that Rick Riordan loved this book. I am a fan of his works. Definitely a fan, I have all of his books....in hardbound.

Till the next read...

From the shelf: Glass Sword (Red Queen #2)

Title: Red Queen (Red Queen #1)
Author: Victoria Aveyard
Genre: YA, Fantasy
Date read: March 22-24, 2016
Dawn Rates: ★★★★★ (5/5)

Summary (cr: goodreads)

If there’s one thing Mare Barrow knows, it’s that she’s different.

Mare Barrow’s blood is red—the color of common folk—but her Silver ability, the power to control lightning, has turned her into a weapon that the royal court tries to control. 

The crown calls her an impossibility, a fake, but as she makes her escape from Maven, the prince—the friend—who betrayed her, Mare uncovers something startling: she is not the only one of her kind.

Pursued by Maven, now a vindictive king, Mare sets out to find and recruit other Red-and-Silver fighters to join in the struggle against her oppressors. 

But Mare finds herself on a deadly path, at risk of becoming exactly the kind of monster she is trying to defeat. 

Will she shatter under the weight of the lives that are the cost of rebellion? Or have treachery and betrayal hardened her forever?

The electrifying next installment in the Red Queen series escalates the struggle between the growing rebel army and the blood-segregated world they’ve always known—and pits Mare against the darkness that has grown in her soul.

My Review: (also in goodreads)

Lookback: Red Queen (Red Queen #1), Cruel Crown (Red Queen #0.5)

Anyone can betray anyone.

I  read this for 3 days (whyyy) in between things in life. Oh well.

Mare keeps this in mind and it makes her distrustful of anyone especially her brother and even her closest friend. Julian really seared this statement into her memory and she came to believe it when this has been done to her so many times. I know for a fact that she is obviously in love with Cal but distances herself because she needs to focus on the mission in surviving and tracking down people like her who is red blood but with silver abilities. I have a hunch though: is this because somewhere in history a red-blood mated with silver-born? LOL! But that's just me. Kilorn finally tells Mare how he feels (which was too obvious and too cliche: a childhood friend in love with the female protagonist) but Mare obviously turned him down. Yep, she is still pinning over Cal even though her mind tells her not to. Farley and Shade get together (I am a fan) but something terrible happens and that made me too sad. I wanted to ask Victoria, whyyyyy Victoria Aveyard? WHYYYY!!!!!

Everyone, even at the book signing, was in Team Maven but obviously I want Cal for Mare. I think they have this dream of having Mare let Maven realize the error of his ways and that she could turn him back into the Maven he used to. But for me that's not the case. Queen Elara might have pushed thoughts in his head but I think he already was like that. He was always in his brother's  shadow. Someone who won't get the crown, someone who their father won't favor openly. I think he is that jealous. And that is why he is obsessed with Mare. What he feels for Mare might have been love at first but what I can see is he thinks of her as a prize. Someone that could break Cal and someone he could call his. What he's doing is out of pure obsession. He is a serious stalker dude. Part of me wanted to strangle him and curse him out into oblivion. His malicious intent reminds me of Joffrey of 'Game of Thrones'. This boy has serious issues in life. Oh, and an important death happened. That definitely startled me. I wasn't expecting that character would be gone too soon but I guess it had to happen so that we could see the consequence and Maven's take on it.

Another character that made me curious is Jon. I think he will be one of the key players in the third book. Speaking of the third book, UGH! That last scene was one of the greatest cliffhangers ever. This is why I have a love-hate relationship when reading any series, the waiting game. The 3rd book will come out in 2017 and here I am waiting.

Till the next read...

From the shelf: More Than This

Title: More Than This
Author: Patrick Ness
Genre: YA, Science Fiction
Date read: March 14-15, 2016
Dawn Rates: ★★★★ (4/5)

Summary (cr: goodreads)

A boy drowns, desperate and alone in his final moments. He dies.

Then he wakes, naked and bruised and thirsty, but alive.

How can this be? And what is this strange deserted place?

As he struggles to understand what is happening, the boy dares to hope. Might this not be the end? Might there be more to this life, or perhaps this afterlife?

From multi-award-winning Patrick Ness comes one of the most provocative and moving novels of our time.

My Review: (also in goodreads)

I was in a bookstore one day just scanning the shelves when I saw this particular book and got curious. I immediately researched all reviews online and bought it saying 'what the heck, this would be like a blind date'. It also helped when a read that John Green had this review telling people to just read it.

The story starts with a very descriptive death of a boy then waking up in a place just hours after. It shifts from Seth's memories to his current state. At first I was confused but at the same time I was curious as I dove in deeper into the story. Its like being confused and addicted at the same time which makes it a brilliant read. If you look at the story in a literal way, you would be too confused at its flow but the nice thing about this was, the story could be interpreted in a much deeper way. There are times where I exclaimed OMG and there was even a time where I wanted to throw the book because I was surprised and that made me a bit dazed. I couldn't do a review without giving anything away so I will just mimic John Green's review: "Just read it". Just pick up the book and try to read it.

Till the next read...

From the shelf: Cruel Crown (Red Queen #0.5)

Title: Red Queen (Red Queen #0.5)
Author: Victoria Aveyard
Genre: YA, Fantasy
Date read: March 8, 2016
Dawn Rates: ★★★★ (4/5)

Summary (cr: goodreads)

Two women on either side of the Silver and Red divide tell the stories no one else knows.

Queen Song

Queen Coriane, first wife of King Tiberias, keeps a secret diary—how else can she ensure that no one at the palace will use her thoughts against her? Coriane recounts her heady courtship with the crown prince, the birth of a new prince, Cal, and the potentially deadly challenges that lay ahead for her in royal life.

Steel Scars

Diana Farley was raised to be strong, but being tasked with planting the seeds of rebellion in Norta is a tougher job than expected. As she travels the land recruiting black market traders, smugglers, and extremists for her first attempt at an attack on the capital, she stumbles upon a connection that may prove to be the key to the entire operation—Mare Barrow.

My Review: (also in goodreads)

Two short stories that bridges the first book from the second one to further know the characters behind the history of the red queen world.

Queen Song

The first short story centers around Corianne, Cal's mother and the Queen of Norta. Her family is one of the elite but their wealth is no more. Their title and family history is all they have. She was very close to her brother Julian and hates it when her cousin teaches her to move like a true elite when she knows that they are only doing it so that she could go to Queenstrial and finally bring back their family glory. She didn't want it but everyone seem to see her as a threat as the frontrunner in the kingdom's Queenstrial event just because Tibe is fond of her. I liked how close knit the monarchy was and how they liked Corianne prior to the marriage. This cemented the fact on how much I hated Elara for what she did to everyone. A marriage founded on love is destroyed by greed. I was really saddened by what happened and what Corianne was made to do especially that she is a good person but at the same time it was an eye-opener.

Steel Scars

This is the story of how the members of the Scarlet Guard tried to infiltrate Norta and plant seeds of rebellion within the country. Farley is the commander assigned to do the pioneer mission in which she found Mare in the Stilts. I also liked the chemistry between Shade and Farley.

Till the next read...

From the shelf: Red Queen (Red Queen #1)

Title: Red Queen (Red Queen #1)
Author: Victoria Aveyard
Genre: YA, Fantasy
Date read: March 6, 2016
Dawn Rates: ★★★★ (4/5)

Summary (cr: goodreads)

This is a world divided by blood – red or silver.

The Reds are commoners, ruled by a Silver elite in possession of god-like superpowers. And to Mare Barrow, a seventeen-year-old Red girl from the poverty-stricken Stilts, it seems like nothing will ever change.

That is, until she finds herself working in the Silver Palace. Here, surrounded by the people she hates the most, Mare discovers that, despite her red blood, she possesses a deadly power of her own. One that threatens to destroy the balance of power.

Fearful of Mare’s potential, the Silvers hide her in plain view, declaring her a long-lost Silver princess, now engaged to a Silver prince. Despite knowing that one misstep would mean her death, Mare works silently to help the Red Guard, a militant resistance group, and bring down the Silver regime.

But this is a world of betrayal and lies, and Mare has entered a dangerous dance – Reds against Silvers, prince against prince, and Mare against her own heart

My Review: (also in goodreads)

My sister is such a fan of this book even before it actually came out based on the promotions it has at Epic Reads. She finally bought the book and constantly tried to sales talk me into reading it after her. It took about until the 2nd book to come out before she could finally convince me. This is not because I don't like the premise but because of my never ending to be read pile. I finally read the book on the day Victoria Aveyard visited Manila for the book signing event (yes, my sister was ecstatic and fangirling that day but I was busy finishing the book).

This is like a cross between fantasy and the dystopian genre. Aside from someone having superhuman powers, it also depicts the story of oppression from the kingdom. This actually is like the 'Game of Thrones' for young adults. The world is divided into 2 groups: the elite with their silver blood and extraordinary abilities and the common people with their red blood. Like any other kingdom who exalts being elite above everything else because they feel special, it led to the common people finally making a stand. The protagonist Mare Barrow wanted simply to escape the world she lives in but then discovered that she is different. And because of that, instead of running away from the kingdom she is brought into their world through the Queenstrial. In it, she experiences deception at its finest. Anyone can betray anyone. I think this is the theme of the story. 

Everyone was cheering on Team Maven (based on the people in the book signing) but based on the 1st book, I am for Team Cal. But because of circumstances it seems that Cal and Mare will have to wait. Oh, and while reading everything I really badly wanted to strangle Queen Elara so badly...yep she was that effective.

Till the next read...

From the shelf: My Life Next Door

Title: My Life Next Door
Author: Huntley Fitzpatrick
Genre: YA, Contemporary Romance
Date read: January 24-26, 2016
Dawn Rates: ★★★☆ (3.5/5)

Summary (cr: goodreads)

"One thing my mother never knew, and would disapprove of most of all, was that I watched the Garretts. All the time."

The Garretts are everything the Reeds are not. Loud, messy, affectionate. And every day from her rooftop perch, Samantha Reed wishes she was one of them . . . until one summer evening, Jase Garrett climbs up next to her and changes everything.

As the two fall fiercely for each other, stumbling through the awkwardness and awesomeness of first love, Jase's family embraces Samantha - even as she keeps him a secret from her own. Then something unthinkable happens, and the bottom drops out of Samantha's world. She's suddenly faced with an impossible decision. Which perfect family will save her? Or is it time she saved herself?

A transporting debut about family, friendship, first romance, and how to be true to one person you love without betraying another. 

My Review: (also in goodreads)

Judging someone by how they want to live their life may be downright rude. And this is what Samantha has to live with. She has a mother who who hates their next door neighbor for no one knows why and a sister who is so free-spirited leaving their mother to be uptight to her and she had to live with that for years. But she had a secret. She used to follow the Garrett family like a movie on the side. Not until a Garrett talked to her, that's when everything changed. I liked the way she stood up for herself and tried to get to know her next door neighbors even behind her mother's back. What really annoyed me the most is Clay....definitely Clay.

Till the next read...

From the shelf: After You

Title: After You
Author: Jojo Moyes
Genre: Realistic Fiction, Romance, Chick-Lit
Date read: January 20-24, 2016
Dawn Rates: ★★★★ (4/5)

Summary (cr: goodreads)

11 hours, 6 minutes

How do you move on after losing the person you loved? How do you build a life worth living?

Louisa Clark is no longer just an ordinary girl living an ordinary life. After the transformative six months spent with Will Traynor, she is struggling without him. When an extraordinary accident forces Lou to return home to her family, she can’t help but feel she’s right back where she started.

Her body heals, but Lou herself knows that she needs to be kick-started back to life. Which is how she ends up in a church basement with the members of the Moving On support group, who share insights, laughter, frustrations, and terrible cookies. They will also lead her to the strong, capable Sam Fielding—the paramedic, whose business is life and death, and the one man who might be able to understand her. Then a figure from Will’s past appears and hijacks all her plans, propelling her into a very different future. . . .

For Lou Clark, life after Will Traynor means learning to fall in love again, with all the risks that brings. But here Jojo Moyes gives us two families, as real as our own, whose joys and sorrows will touch you deeply, and where both changes and surprises await.

After You is quintessential Jojo Moyes—a novel that will make you laugh, cry, and rejoice at being back in the world she creates. Here she does what few novelists can do—revisits beloved characters and takes them to places neither they nor we ever expected.

My Review: (also in goodreads)

Lookback: Me Before You

This is 18 months after the events in "Me Before You". I was one of those fans waiting for a sequel but at the same time I dreaded it. I have a lot of disappointments in sequels. But just like Lou, I needed the closure. I wanted to move on from Will Traynor's selfish decision to move on. Yes, I was that bitter. Luckily, Jojo Moyes announced that she is doing the aftermath sequel and here we are. This was the most real way I could think of on how Lou would cope up with Will's death. I know that some might judge her for being that way since she has known Will for just a short time, but for me it doesn't matter how long they have known each other...what they had was real and because of that decision, it was a sad love story. It was a big 'Might have been'. I don't blame Will though. He just wanted to escape from the life he had after having the life he supposed he had. The downside from that decision is the chance to have his happy ever after. This is a story about how people around Will did cope up with the aftermath of them all. How Lou tried to move on with her life just as she promised and how she failed to do so. She was like a shell of herself and because of that a reminder of Will came to remind her that she should move on with her life. I loved how this became a sort of closure to that part of her life. I think I also had my closure when I read the last page. For me what happened at the last scene was telling us that life is full of possibilities and that the future is bright ahead, its just that we needed that closure.

Till the next read...