Queen Of Shadows

Title: Queen of Shadows

Author: Sarah J Maas

Genre: Fantasy

Page Count: 645

Description: Everyone Celaena Sardothien loves has been taken from her. Now she returns to the empire – to confront the shadows of her past …

Bloodthirsty for revenge on the two men responsible for destroying her life, and desperate to find out if the prince and his captain are safe, Celaena returns to Rifthold. She has accepted her identity as Aelin Galathynius, the lost Queen of Terrasen. But before she can reclaim her throne, there are dark truths to learn and debts to be paid. Aelin must stay hidden beneath her assassin’s hood and draw on her mortal strength as Celaena to prevent the King of Adarlan from tearing her world apart. Only then can she fight for her people.

Readers will be held rapt as Celaena’s story builds to an agonising crescendo, packed with heart-pounding action and searing romance.

Queen of Shadows is the fourth book in the Throne of Glass series and it brings the reader to the point of where Celaena is embracing her new identity but she has loose ends to take care of before she can continue to take claim of her kingdom.

This book is another step up from the last one. The pacing, the action and the drama all reach a whole new level as we’re introduced to bigger threats, even greater than what we originally thought there was. And knowing how book three ended, I knew that this one had to bring us to another level of suspense and I was not disappointed at all where I was being led.

There are characters in this series that I adore, without question. Some I didn’t think I did from the last book until this one. The first is of course Celaena/Aelin. As a female lead, she brings a lot to the table. As Celaena, she is the rogue, heartless and fearless assassin who has no qualms with beating someone to a bloody pulp as long as it got the job done. But as Aelin, she is a queen who will, without question, protect those who are loyal to her and she does it just as powerfully as when she had to do what needed to be done as an assassin. The next character that I adore is Manon Blackbeak, who is a witch from the Ironteeth clan. She was introduced in Heir of Fire and I instantly fell in love with her storyline. I’m a sucker for wyverns and dragons, unashamedly. But Manon’s story in this book gives us more of an insight into her struggle as a leader and being part of her clan. She wants to be obedient to her grandmother and follow orders but she is also seeing the suffering that is taking place and knows she can’t turn a blind eye to it.

And even the Valg, which we discovered were the actually bad guys, have this creepy feel to them. They are like the bogeyman of the whole land, these villains that used to terrorise the whole kingdom and have someone made their way back to try and come back. I love the fact that they are slowly stepping out from the shadows but we still don’t know what they’re a hundred percent like.

Like I said, this book was even more thrill seeking than book three was and I thoroughly enjoyed book three. We had those clever moments from Celaena that I can’t even begin to even wonder how Sarah J Maas came up with it, like pretending that she was under the spell to fool Arobynn. Even though there is plenty of thrills and exciting moments in the book, there is also very real moments and some breath-taking moments that definitely put me in feels that I didn’t know I would have for a book.

The pacing was very good, it kept you on your toes while not overloading you with action. There were well placed moments that you needed to have, so you could figure out exactly what was going on or if you needed to see what the others were doing. When there is so many characters involved, it can sometimes become overwhelming or some characters are forgotten about but this story really keeps the pace bearable so you can see from all perspectives.

I know I felt like I was always either catching my breath or breathing a sigh of relief when I was reading. Which personally for me, I love having my breath taken away as I’m reading, that just shows how invested in the book that I am.

When I first started the Throne of Glass series, I had to push myself to get through book one. I wasn’t gelling all that well with the story though I was intrigued to how it was going to develop. But since then I am glad that I persevered because every book since has done nothing but be exciting and down right thrilling. I honestly can’t recommend this series enough, knowing how hard I had to push to get to where I was, plus seeing all the love this series had on social media, I thought I was going to hate it but I’m glad I didn’t because I am excited for the next books, to see how this story ends.

Golden Son

Title: Golden Son

Author: Pierce Brown

Genre: Science Fiction

Page Count: 442

Description: Darrow is a rebel forged by tragedy. For years he and his fellow Reds worked the mines, toiling to make the surface of Mars inhabitable. They were, they believed, mankind’s last hope. Until Darrow discovered that it was all a lie, and that the Red were nothing more than unwitting slaves to an elitist ruling class, the Golds, who had been living on Mars in luxury for generations.

In RED RISING, Darrow infiltrated Gold society, to fight in secret for a better future for his people. Now fully embedded amongst the Gold ruling class, Darrow continues his dangerous work to bring them down from within. It’s a journey that will take him further than he’s ever been before – but is Darrow truly willing to pay the price that rebellion demands?

Golden Son cover

The first book, Red Rising was exhilarating. It showed us a future of what would happen if Mars was even colonized and set up the premise of hardship and oppression. Darrow was only 16 when we first meet him before he was thrown into a rebellion he didn’t even wanted.

Then we come to book two, Golden Son and Darrow is now 20. He’s been living in the Gold society for 4 years and not only living but climbing its ranks. And even though he is trying to do the mission that was given to him, he is still struggling so badly with the guilt of Eo, his wife who was executed, which began this whole mess for him. He struggles to give into the anger and the injustice done and just kill every Gold he saw but he has come to care for some of the people, seeing them as friends and family even though he knows he is not one of them.

There are a few things that I love about this story. The first is Darrow, he never wanted this at all. He just wanted to grieve for Eo, die and be left alone but he was chosen because of that tragedy. But once he was shown the truth, that the Reds who mine the planet were lied to, he knew something had to change. And he though he willingly took on the role as the new messiah, he has been fighting with it every step of the way, knowing that this is not who he is but what he has to become. Like the lesser of two evils.

Another thing I love is the relationship between Darrow and Sevro. Since book one, they were just connected even though they were completely different and it isn’t until about half way through this book that we find out that Sevro has a horse in this rebellion just as much as Darrow does. He will follow the Reaper, even though he now knows that Darrow isn’t a Gold and that kind of loyalty and friendship that was naturally built up is a wonderful thing to see, especially in the world that these two live in.

The one thing I didn’t appreciate was the last 100 pages, there about. They held the most massive and heartbreaking twist of all, leading us into book 3. And it genuinely caused so much heartbreak because of how unexpected it was. It has been all I can think of since I finished reading this book, even as I’m reading my next book now, which just shows how powerful it was.

Darrow

I genuinely don’t know if its because I’ve gotten older and I’m actually taking in the books fully or the authors have just gotten better but my feels are constantly being tested with every book I read and this one is up there. Not only is it fast paced, which leaves you wanting more and trying to catch up but the characters, each with their own pros and cons, leave you wanting to see what happens, even wanting a happy ending for most of them. And of course its all set in space and Mars, so all bets are off. Space is such a vast canvas that when people take the step to put their mark on it, you know its going to be something special.

And trust me when I say, I shall be eagerly waiting by the door for the postman to give me book 3.

The Toll

Title: The Toll

Author: Neal Shusterman

Genre: Young Adult Fantasy

Page Count: 631

Description: Everything has changed in the world of the scythes. Citra and Rowan have disappeared. The floating city of Endura is gone. It looks like nothing else stands between Scythe Goddard and absolute power. Now that the Thunderhead is silent, the question remains: Is there anyone left who can stop him?

The answer lies in the Tone, the Toll and the Thunder. 

So I finished this book last night and at the time I automatically gave it 5 stars because I think my mind was trying to catch up with what I just read but I’ve slept on it and, if I’m to be completely honest, it left me feeling a little… meh.

Now since I first read Scythe, this has been my favourite dystopian universe. I was instantly hooked at the thought of an organization in charge of death because people didn’t die anymore and that there is a sentient AI in charge of the world. Hooked, line and sinker, I’m in. Then I read Thunderhead at the start of this year and my god I was struggling to keep up with the twists and turns and outcomes of that book, it was running so fast but again, I was still in and excited to see how this would all end.

So needless to say, I was bubbling with anticipation to see how this story would end. Now don’t misunderstand me, it was fantastically written and I can only imagine how much went into it because there is a lot of time skips, meaning that we travel years ahead of when the first two was set. And I was with it, I really was. I was fascinated with how Greyson was becoming the Toll. Seeing how Anastacia was doing everything she could to de-throne Goddard and even feeling the fear and despair of Rowan as he sat waiting to be gleaned.

But unfortunately, I think I expected too much. For example:

I was convinced the Thunderhead was going to build itself a body. In a way it did with Cirrus but I wanted the Thunderhead to have that choice of essentially freedom. To fully experience for itself and not just inhabit someone else for a minute or two.

I had a theory that Rand would glean Goddard. She just had enough and gleaned him and I would have cheered so hard. But not seeing Goddard get the justice that was so needing to be given to him, really left me thirsty. All the destruction and bigoted regimes that he left behind in his wake and he was just supplanted, or erased. Goddard was a good villain and he needed to have his villainous ending.

And Citra and Rowan. I was very conflicted about this. On the one hand, I could see how they became close and feelings started to develop but they couldn’t have that forbidden love. On the other hand I don’t think it was necessary to have them fall in love. A brother and sister bond would have worked just as well and wouldn’t have compromised their characters stories. Citra as Scythe Anastasia had purpose, had a huge role to play in regarding scythedom ways. She would have been headlining not just the next generation of scythes but even more empathetic, compassionate and honorable scythes because she was a damn good scythe. But she stepped away. And even Rowan, he was the boogeyman that the scythes needed as Scythe Lucifer but to have him instantly regret his self made purpose and everything he had convinced himself, and us that he was here to do was very lack luster. It definitely made me question why we went through it all if he didn’t get his purpose fulfilled. Scythe Lucifer had a reason and it wasn’t finished.

The only one who had a story saw through to the end was Greyson. Since the end of book 2, we found Greyson’s purpose and we saw it develop as he became the Toll, which was the Tonist’s prophet but he never lost who he was and he developed as someone who went through hardships and knew how to show people that they could go through it too.

Now you don’t have to take my word as gospel, I am sure there are a lot more people out there who thoroughly felt satisfied when they finished this series but just for me, I didn’t. I had a lot more queries, questions and wonderings than I did at the start of this trilogy and personally I feel you should have a trilogy answer and leave you feeling satisfied.

It was only an hour or two after reading it that I thought… Oh.

Archibald Lox Volume 1: The Missing Princess

Title: Archibald Lox Volume 1: The Missing Princess

Author: Darren Shan

Genre: Fantasy

Page Count: 506

Description: When a young locksmith finds his way into the Merge, he discovers a parallel universe filled with an infinite number of bizarre, remarkable worlds. Setting off on the adventure of a lifetime, he soon makes allies and friends who help inform and direct him, but he must also overcome the threat of cold-blooded killers, ravenous hell jackals, evil Empresses and more. As his skills develop, he finds himself part of a perilous mission to save a realm from the forces of tyranny, but he holds the key to its success or failure, and he fears he might not be up to the task. The greatest challenge of his life awaits…

Favourite character(s): Inez is one of my favourites. She gives me Artful Dodger from Oliver Twist vibes and is not afraid to adapt the world around her mission than having to adapt to everyone else. Plus I also appreciate a good female lead. Another of my favourite characters was Argate and Orlan. We didn’t get much time with them but from what I was introduced to, is definitely up there for me. Good killers are hard to come by sometimes.

Least favourite character(s): For me it is Kurtis. He didn’t particularly rub me a wrong way but there’s just something unlikable about him. Maybe its how the book had portrayed his political background that its set to not like him. He’s like a cute looking snake, you look at it and maybe go ‘aww’ but there’s always that feeling that it will bite you if it gets close enough.

Final Thoughts: I am a huge Darren Shan fan so when I saw a new series I was quick to snatch it up. But this is a different world compared to what we know from the master of young horror. To be introduced to a place that is essentially a heaven for the murdered is such a fascinating concept. And it is quick paced which when you’re introduced to such an array of characters and situations, it can become tiring to slowly be introduced to them all. The Merge, I have a feeling, is an ever evolving world and I’m excited to follow and see how this all ends because like any good book, the more you read, the more questions you have and the more thirsty for the answers you become.

Godsgrave by Jay Kristoff

Title: Godsgrave

Author: Jay Kristoff

Genre: Fantasy Fiction

Page Count: 454

Description: Mia Corvere has found her place among the Blades of Our Lady of Blessed Murder, but many in the Red Church hierarchy think she’s far from earned it. Plying her bloody trade in a backwater of the Republic, she’s no closer to ending the men who destroyed her familia; in fact, she’s told directly that Consul Scaeva is off limits. But after a deadly confrontation with an old enemy, Mia’s suspicions about the Red Church’s true motives begin to grow.

The US cover on the left and the UK cover on the right

Favorite character: Mister Kindly.

Don’t get me wrong, I loved reading Mia’s growth and determination, she is a fantastic lead but I have a soft spot for sassy, slightly pessimistic shadow cats.

Least favorite character: Furian.

There’s nothing particularly wrong with his character, he made a great minor antagonist. However when we find out Furian’s story, how he got to be part of the gladiatii, there was something about it that didn’t sit right with me. Maybe I don’t understand why someone would atone for forgiveness in that way but there could have been so much more he could have done to feel like he made a difference from his past.

Final Thoughts: For a second book about assassins, never in a lifetime would I have pictured us to end up part of a gladiator fighting ring. It was so unexpected! And yet thrilling. And then the more we were introduced to the setting that Mia had put herself in, the more it made sense.

Also the fact that we still don’t really know a lot of Mia’s powers, makes that even more exciting. I like a good mystery especially when it comes to magic.

I definitely loved the twists and turns in this book. There were times when I’m reading it and thinking ‘damn, it’s going to kick off’. And then some of the reveals were genuinely not expected and they are the kind of reveals that make you think more and question what you think you knew.

The only thing that I did not appreciate was being made cry. Then again, it shows the power behind the written word.

Would I recommend?: Yes, a million times over. It was much more fast paced than book 1 which is exactly what you need for a sequel.

Page One

I have never tried to do a book blog before. And I’ve been an avid reader for years!

So now that I am into this whole blogging world, I’ve decided to start and see how well I can do and what everyone else thinks about how I do. I have always been trying to do so much with blogs before but then it would all become too much and I would end up falling behind on everything.

So I picked one thing to focus on at the moment and that is my books. As I said, I’ve been a avid reader since I was about twelve. And now in my later years, my book collection has just grown with ease and now my new books are piling up quickly as the authors are becoming more efficient in spitting out books.

They seriously need to stop writing books to give me a chance to at least catch up on plot lines or something. Common courtesy, really.

So this blog is all about books. Books I buy, books I’ve read, books I want to read, book signings, book/author events, book review YouTube channels… I think you get the idea. But that is basically all I will be concentrating on as it just seems that my attention span has an awful dose of stage fright.

So I hope you enjoy and I’m always here to listen to suggestions of books or if people have a different view or opinion on any of the books I review. Just remember to leave a comment, I’ll always see it.

Peace out x