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In a society steeped in tradition, Princess Lia’s life follows a preordained course. As First Daughter, she is expected to have the revered gift of sight—but she doesn’t—and she knows her parents are perpetrating a sham when they arrange her marriage to secure an alliance with a neighboring kingdom—to a prince she has never met. On the morning of her wedding, Lia flees to a distant village. She settles into a new life, hopeful when two mysterious and handsome strangers arrive—and unaware that one is the jilted prince and the other an assassin sent to kill her. Deception abounds, and Lia finds herself on the brink of unlocking perilous secrets—even as she finds herself falling in love. The Kiss of Deception is the first book in Mary E. Pearson's Remnant Chronicles, published in 2014 by Henry Holt. Summary via Amazon So going into this novel, I had no idea what to expect. The summary had sounded very intriguing and I thought that I would give it a try--after all, I adore romances and royalty. I'm glad to say that I wasn't disappointed at all. In fact, I was pleasantly pleased and love the way the plot was set out. For me, it worked out to my advantage but for others (like my friends) it ended up confusing them.
Mary tells the story in a specific way-- we know there's an assassin out to kill Lia, and there's the stunted prince who's out to find Lia. We meet both these men at the same time, but are never told who is who, only their names and descriptions. I adored this part of the story line and although I had made a guess as to who was who and hoped I was right (I was), I almost changed my mind multiple times because of Mary's very, very specific wording. As for the characters, I really liked both of the male leads (until a certain point and I definitely had my favorite a quarter of the way into the book) and I actually really liked Lia. Normally, I would have considered her a coward for running away from her wedding--in the end, I couldn't think of her as one. It takes a certain kind of bravery to follow your own heart after all. Lia did end up having character development (oh thank you so much) and I loved her interaction with the boys. I couldn't end up hating her and her willingness to drop her princess status and work for something actually made me like her even more. She was so determined to do a good job, but still managed to stand up for herself like the princess she was. She was contradicting at times, but it worked for her. Once we hit the second half of the novel, things really start to get heated and pave the way for the second book. Overall, this was an enjoyable novel and I'm really looking forward to reading Heart of Betrayal, which comes out in July 2015. Some spoilers below the cut. Continue reading and then discuss with me what you thought about this book! -Talia :Each night at precisely 4:33 am, while sixteen-year-old London Lane is asleep, her memory of that day is erased. In the morning, all she can "remember" are events from her future. London is used to relying on reminder notes and a trusted friend to get through the day, but things get complicated when a new boy at school enters the picture. Luke Henry is not someone you'd easily forget, yet try as she might, London can't find him in her memories of things to come. When London starts experiencing disturbing flashbacks, or flash-forwards, as the case may be, she realizes it's time to learn about the past she keeps forgetting-before it destroys her future. Amazon Summary Okay, so I reviewed another of Cat Patrick's books, Just Like Fate, the other day and figured that this is now the only one I haven't yet read I might as well read it. I was NOT DISAPPOINTED again, because obviously Cat Patrick is amazing and my favorite author. She knows how to weave suspense into a story. I think London is awesome, and quite quick-witted. Luke and she are probably some of my favorite of Cat Patrick's couples, after Sean and Lizzie in The Originals. I honestly think that Cat Patrick's debut novel is one of her best because it's really bold. And I love how, in the back, it gives you the source of inspiration. I think that the romance in this story is very well written because even though it's evidently essential to the plot it is still not THE ONLY THING IN THE BOOK like it has been in other, similar books I've read. Overall, this book is a 9/10 for me! Read on for spoilers! -Mallory Book two of the dazzling Winner's Trilogy is a fight to the death as Kestrel risks betrayal of country for love. The engagement of Lady Kestrel to Valoria’s crown prince means one celebration after another. But to Kestrel it means living in a cage of her own making. As the wedding approaches, she aches to tell Arin the truth about her engagement…if she could only trust him. Yet can she even trust herself? For—unknown to Arin—Kestrel is becoming a skilled practitioner of deceit: an anonymous spy passing information to Herran, and close to uncovering a shocking secret. As Arin enlists dangerous allies in the struggle to keep his country’s freedom, he can’t fight the suspicion that Kestrel knows more than she shows. In the end, it might not be a dagger in the dark that cuts him open, but the truth. And when that happens, Kestrel and Arin learn just how much their crimes will cost them. Summary from Goodreads Didn't read the The Winner's Curse, the first book? Check out our video review of it here!
The first one of this series was amazing so thankfully this one was not disappointing. It brought in elements that weren't seen before in the first novel. The Winner's Curse had mainly taken place in the Valorian controlled Herranian territory up until we get a glimpse of the capital at the end when Kestrel speaks with the emperor and then returns to the Herranian peninsula. But in the Winner's Crime, Marie Rutkoski takes us all over her world as the characters travel. Kestrel herself mainly stays in the capital of Valoria with the emperor and the prince while Arin travels the realm visiting the "savage" eastern kingdom of Dacra, returns to Herran, and of course spends time in the capital with Kestrel. Some people think that the romance between the two was really heavy in the first book, so they'll be happy to hear that the romance in the sequel is much lighter. For the romantics out there, the struggles in Kestrel and Arin's relationship ARE REAL AND THEY HURT. We get to see the dynamics of their relationship change, for better or worse, and it's still realistic. Kestrel's not throwing away everything she has to be with Arin nor is he shirking his duties to steal away in a corner with her. They're still both trying to figure out where their loyalties lie and if their choices are going to harm more people than necessary. To be truthful, this book felt more like a filler book to me. The first one had its giant plot twist that made it a true story but this sequel was more of a development in the story than a crucial plot twist (not until the very end, that is). Rutkoski takes the time in the Winner's Crime to develop Arin and Kestrel's relationship and characters and build the plot and world around them by introducing new characters (killing them most of the time), building subplots and situations, and making readers and characters question themselves. For a sequel, The Winner's Crime was a thrilling read and leaves the reader waiting anxiously for the third one. Continue reading if you want to know more about this! In this stunning bridge book between Cress and Winter in the bestselling Lunar Chronicles, Queen Levana’s story is finally told. Mirror, mirror on the wall, Who is the fairest of them all? Pure evil has a name, hides behind a mask of deceit, and uses her "glamour" to gain power. But who is Queen Levana? Long before she crossed paths with Cinder, Scarlet, and Cress in The Lunar Chronicles, Levana lived a very different story—a story that has never been told . . . until now. Summary via Amazon/Goodreads So Fairest was published by Feiwel and Friends in 2015 and is sort of a prequel/add on to the wonderful Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer. This book delves into the past of our antagonist, Queen Levana, and we find out that maybe there is a plausible reason as to why she's certifiably insane.
I personally really enjoyed reading Fairest. It was a quick, short read, but it had plenty to add and definitely made me take another glance at Levana, if not changing the way I saw her (until I went back and reread the first three books again). I would only really suggest reading this book after you've read at least Cinder, but you can really read it any time. Marissa really does a fantastic job in adding more depth to her antagonist. A few spoilers and thoughts below the cut. Continue reading if you would like to discuss! -Talia Forgetting was only the beginning. When seventeen-year-old Sia wakes up on a park bench, she has no idea who or where she is. Yet after a week of being homeless, she’s reunited with her family. At school, she’s powerful and popular. At home, she’s wealthy beyond her dreams. But she quickly realizes her perfect life is a lie. Her family is falling apart and her friends are snobby, cruel and plastic. Worse still, she discovers she was the cruelest one. Mortified by her past, she embarks on a journey of redemption and falls for Kyle, the “geek” she once tormented. Yet all the time she wonders if, when her memories return, she’ll become the bully she was before…and if she’ll lose Kyle. Summary via Amazon I bought this book for a whopping ninety-nine cents, and so I didn't have...high expectations, to tell you the truth. However, I was pleasantly surprised to find that the characters, although lacking in exceptional depth, were very relatable and believable as the people they were chosen to represent. The romance plot in this book was very nice, but felt like an afterthought. The description stresses the romance's importance to the plot while it's not the most important element in reality, but overall it still serves its purpose. At times it seems a little unreasonably fake, like it's SO HARD to incorporate romance for this author that he just kind of... placed it there. It wasn't at all woven into the story like good romances are, but hey, it's not a romance book, right? Click Read More to see some spoilers and my opinions on some of the plot points! -Mallory Caroline is at a crossroads. Her grandmother is sick and, like the rest of her family, Caroline’s been at Gram’s bedside since her stroke. With the pressure building, all Caroline wants to do is escape—both her family and the reality of Gram’s failing health. So when Caroline’s best friend offers to take her to a party one fateful Friday night, she must choose: stay by Gram’s side, or go to the party for a few hours? The consequences of this one decision will split Caroline’s fate into two separate paths—and she is about to live them both. Friendships are tested and family drama hits an all-new high as Caroline attempts to rebuild old relationships and even make a few new ones. If she stays, her longtime crush, Joel, might finally notice her, but if she goes, Chris, the charming college boy, might prove to be everything she’s ever wanted. Though there are two distinct ways for her fate to unfold, there is only one happy ending… Summary via Amazon I want to say is that I love this author. Cat Patrick is amaze! I love The Originals and Revived and all her other novels, so when I saw this and I saw her name on it I instantly had really high hopes. I wasn't disappointed. This book is told from the two different perspectives of "GO" and "STAY" and was incredibly well written. I will say, however, that I had to frequently remind myself which perspective I was reading. Still, very enjoyable. I most certainly recommend this to you if you are a science fiction nerd who wants to read realistic fiction; this is the perfectly low-key mix of the two. Caroline is very decisive and all-or-nothing, and overall a great character, with lots of believable depth. If I had one note, I think that if you're looking for something solid and formal and, well, normal, you're probably out of look. But I'm not complaining! This book is a great combo of romance, social drama, and parallel universes. I believe this book to be just a really nice twist on the classic high school drama story, something along the lines of college boys and blah.... but not with Cat Patrick and especially not with Suzanne Young; they put a whole new spin on it, and seamless transitions provide a great basis for romance, friendships, and family drama to unravel. Overall, as the two stories come together near the end, I was left pretty much 100% breathless and stayed up hours after I normally go to sleep just to finish! One thing--if you're all about the ending, you're out of luck. We are left forever wondering which path she actually chose. But it's all up to imagination, right? Thanks for reading! -Mallory She is the greatest assassin her world has ever known. But where will her conscience, and her heart, lead her? After a year of hard labor in the Salt Mines of Endovier, eighteen-year-old assassin Celaena Sardothien has won the king's contest to become the new royal assassin. Yet Celaena is far from loyal to the crown – a secret she hides from even her most intimate confidantes.Keeping up the deadly charade—while pretending to do the king's bidding—will test her in frightening new ways, especially when she's given a task that could jeopardize everything she's come to care for. And there are far more dangerous forces gathering on the horizon -- forces that threaten to destroy her entire world, and will surely force Celaena to make a choice. Where do the assassin’s loyalties lie, and who is she willing to fight for? Summary from Amazon Next up in Talia Talks... A review of Crown of Midnight, by Sarah J. Maas, published in 2013 by Bloomsbury. This is the second book in the Throne of Glass series.
Crown of Midnight was such a thrilling and exciting ride. I was gripping the edge of my seat the entire time to the point where I read it in one go. I literally could not put the book down. I thought that Throne of Glass had set a high bar and that it was going to be hard to overcome that, but Sarah has just proven her amazing writing skills to be over the top. Crown of Midnight was even more thrilling than Throne of Glass and deepened the plot even further for the next book. The world building just added on and used everything from the previous book to it's full extent. The mysteries continue adding up in this novel, but enough are solved that it's almost impossible to end up frustrated--instead, it leaves you wanting the next book. We only meet a few new characters, but these characters all have a depth that's rare to find in a second novel. We also find that Sarah has fun breaking her characters. After all, to make a character, first you have to break them (even though it breaks the readers hearts as well). If you haven't read Throne of Glass, then I highly recommend reading that! Crown of Midnight lives up to expectations, if not more. That's all for the non-spoliery part (well as non-spoilery as you can get for a second book in a series)! Continue reading if you want to discuss with me! Goodreads Summary: Peyton, Sydney's charismatic older brother, has always been the star of the family, receiving the lion's share of their parents' attention and—lately—concern. When Peyton's increasingly reckless behavior culminates in an accident, a drunk driving conviction, and a jail sentence, Sydney is cast adrift, searching for her place in the family and the world. When everyone else is so worried about Peyton, is she the only one concerned about the victim of the accident? Enter the Chathams, a warm, chaotic family who run a pizza parlor, play bluegrass on weekends, and pitch in to care for their mother, who has multiple sclerosis. Here Sydney experiences unquestioning acceptance. And here she meets Mac, gentle, watchful, and protective, who makes Sydney feel seen, really seen, for the first time. I received the sneak peek of this book (the first 3 or 4 chapters) from NetGalley since it hasn't come out yet so I decided to share my review of it. I'll be doing a full review of the book once it does come out so this review will be spoiler free. I absolutely love Sarah Dessen so this was exciting for me to read. Dessen always has a serious issue going on in her stories that always makes them seem less shallow than it would have been without it but is still able to have a thorough plot about romance and not overwhelm the reader with real modern issues and this one is no different. The main's brother is jailed for drunk driving and injuring someone and we see the family slowly falling apart just within the first couple chapters, Dessen gets right to the point without writing unnecessary fluff. One can already tell the main character is relatable just like many of Dessen's characters and I appreciate she has continued putting her girls in high school so high schoolers can connect with them. Sydney (the main) has always been outshone by her older's brother's achievements up until those achievements changed to him being a juvenile delinquent. She's accepted her fate as being the "invisible" (I believe that will be a motif throughout the novel) though cherishes the moments she is given attention by her parents. Though up until the point I read to, she (obviously) didn't have much character development yet so she seems a bit like a Mary Sue archetype at the moment but a touch less of the "I'm lonely and beautiful" since she does have some close friends and is outshone by her brother's looks. Dessen's fans know that she likes to put special Easter eggs from her other books into her latest novel so her fans won't be disappointed by any lack of them since there is a healthy abundance of them within just the first few chapters. I'm really excited to learn the significance of the title, what do you think it means? 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. Sumary from Amazon Today's review is of Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas. Published by Bloomsbury in 2012, this stunning debut novel is the first in a series of six. Although I've already read Throne of Glass a few times (and the others that are currently out in the series), I thought that I'd do a review on this fantastic book. Clearly, I love this book. I find it fascinating (and while there are a few lulls, it's not enough to bring one to boredom at all) and I absolutely adore the plot. I'm a sucker for books that include royalty, but once you throw in assassins I'm gone for sure. It's been a trend for the past few years, but badass female main characters have really become the spotlight feature of novels. In this novel, we meet Celaena Sardothien, the most renowned assassin in the land--and she's managed to land herself in a competition to become the King's Champion. Celaena, while she is a little full of herself, does go through changes and has very human responses that are easy to relate to and understand. Through the novel, we slowly start to see the girl behind the cold assassin front--and she's just as badass, if not more, than her assassin facade. The other main characters, are all just as memorable. There's Dorian Havilliard, the Crown Prince, who although comes off arrogant at first, really starts to show his caring and compassionate side, proving that not all princes are jerks (and he's hot, but that was a given, right?). For me, his character was super lovable and I couldn't wait to see more of him and his interactions with Celaena (they are so cute come on). We are also introduced to Chaol Westfall, Captain of the King's Guard, and a fascinating character as well. Although we don't get to see him as much as we see Dorian, there's a clear shift from his harsh act to Celaena in the beginning of the book and after he gets to know her. It's also quite great how Chaol (with his limited page time) does manage to start going through some character development--and it's deep. To incorporate that into the first book of a series, well, bravo to Sarah. :) Those are the big three for now, but there are plenty more characters who play a large role in the plot and each of them are just as intriguing as the last. Being an avid reader, especially of YA books, I was pleasantly surprised to say that I was unable to predict a lot of happenings in this novel. Of course, there were things that were easily predictable, but it didn't take away from the plot at all. The fact that the plot revolves around an assassin working for royalty and fighting in a competition--to me it just spells it out clearly that this plot has places to go and it's going to go there. I really enjoyed the air of mystery that surrounds this novel--it really keeps one on their toes and it's very enjoyable to read this book. Being a first book in a series, I have to admit that the world building was phenomenal. I had a clear picture of things and as I read, the world just kept on expanding. I was utterly engrossed in it and I love that this series has such a strong base to build off of. Overall, I highly, highly, highly, recommend this novel. There are few books that I think can compare to it and it's definitely at the top of it's game. Pick it up and try it out--I swear you won't be disappointed. That's it for the non-spoilery review, but keep on reading if you've already finished Throne of Glass and want to hear my opinions on the book and/or if you want to discuss! -Talia |
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