A Court of Silver Flames: Sarah J. Maas

Nesta Archeron has always been prickly-proud, swift to anger, and slow to forgive. And ever since being forced into the Cauldron and becoming High Fae against her will, she's struggled to find a place for herself within the strange, deadly world she inhabits. Worse, she can't seem to move past the horrors of the war with Hybern and all she lost in it.

The one person who ignites her temper more than any other is Cassian, the battle-scarred warrior whose position in Rhysand and Feyre's Night Court keeps him constantly in Nesta's orbit. But her temper isn't the only thing Cassian ignites. The fire between them is undeniable, and only burns hotter as they are forced into close quarters with each other.

Meanwhile, the treacherous human queens who returned to the Continent during the last war have forged a dangerous new alliance, threatening the fragile peace that has settled over the realms. And the key to halting them might very well rely on Cassian and Nesta facing their haunting pasts.

Against the sweeping backdrop of a world seared by war and plagued with uncertainty, Nesta and Cassian battle monsters from within and without as they search for acceptance-and healing-in each other's arms.

(Goodreads)

Okay, first and foremost, I still don't like Nesta. I understand her, I understand why she is the way she is... But I still don't like her and I don't think I ever will. I feel like the people who didn't connect with Feyre connect more with Nesta, and that isn't me. I may lash out at others when I'm depressed but nowhere near the capacity of pain like Nesta. She's just so goddamn mean.

Now, Nesta's story isn't anything new. Just like Maas's other stories, A Court of Silver Flames is a story of found family and healing. And it's cute, if not a bit overdone. I liked that this book focused so much on the importance of accepting help from others, and channeling that into something productive. In this case, it was physical strength, and wanting to bring back the valkyries. The female empowerment, despite what has happened to each individual was so motivating. And as a victim myself, it was beautiful. The companionship of the girls was so heartwarming and cute! The way the house of winds became of sentient being as well was just so interesting, and how the house doted on Nesta was endearing.

Now let's get to my man Cassian. I WOULD DIE FOR CASSIAN. I hate that so many fans have assigned Cassian into being the classic jock, a typical meathead who's pretty. But Cassian is so much more than the box the fandom has placed him in, and this book did just a good job showcasing that. Cassian is loving and caring, he's smart and kind and witty and sexy. And god I am absolutely in love with him. Unfortunately, the book did not have enough Cassian for me, which is a damn shame. This man deserves to have so much more, and I will die on this soapbox.

Alright to the hard stuff. Even though the book is pretty good, there are still a lot of problems with it. The main one being how she wrote Rhysand and Feyre. Yes, they're involved in the book, and it's very very minimal. They only show up for three main scenes. Anyway, the problem for me with Maas's writing is the fact that she kind of erased everything that made those characters lovable for the sake of the book. Feyre is so fucking passive it's annoying, and Rhys is the worst he's ever been. I know he can be antagonistic, but it's like Sarah purposefully diminished them so that she could create conflict. And I believe it's because she made them too perfect. It's unreal, obviously, it's a book and that's why they get away with it, but now that she plans to create more books it's become a problem. The other issue and these go hand in hand, is that she made Feyre and Rhys too goddamn powerful. All the issues in this book could have been solved by Feyre and Rhys if she weren't pregnant. Legit the conflict felt so vain the main baddie was the one princess who turned into a crone. She was mad at Nesta for "stealing" all the magic of the cauldron and turning her ugly... like? What? That's it! That was essentially the entire conflict in the book and trying to find these ancient weapons that were cauldron made. It was all pretty anti-climatic. 

Don't even get me started on the sex. I get it, I am fully aware that Maas wrote an adult book. But goddamn this book was just pure erotica and it was fucking annoying. Where is the plot? The dialogue? Apparently, it's left the building with this book. After Nesta and Cassian come to an "agreement" they have sex EVERY GODDAMN CHAPTER. AND THEY ARE LONG ASS SCENES. I couldn't even skip them because she would put character development in the FUCKING SEX SCENES. THE AUDACITY. I was not prepared for the amount of unnecessary smut in this book. And I'm okay with an occasional sex scene, but when it gets to the point that it's overwhelming? It becomes too much and takes away from the story itself. It was truly disappointing.

And now the ending, the girls are badasses and have been forcibly thrown into the selection thing god I can't remember the actual name anyways they're the winners, it's all cool. And then Feyre goes into labor AND FUCKING DIES. THAT'S RIGHT. SHE FUCKING DIES. Everything we went through in the past three books for her to get offed by her winged baby, all because she and Rhys are kinky shits. Nesta finally bucks up and becomes a good sister and confesses her love to Feyre and tells her how sorry she is she didn't do anything to help her and manages to save Feyre with her cauldron magic and changes her womb into a wing friendly one. She also changed her own anatomy to a wing friendly womb too because of my mans Cassian And thus begins the cutest part of the book, the wedding proposal. Nesta Finally acknowledges the mating bond between herself and Cassian and she asks him to marry with an ultimatum, she wants a big wedding I'm crying. Cassian the little shit he is, asks her cheekily what if he doesn't want a big wedding, and Nesta pulls out a slice of bread and offers it to him. So it's either the slice of bread or the wedding. Cassian honestly wanted a big wedding too and it's legit the cutest thing ever. The wedding is spectacular, Rhys is back to his old self, and Nesta is so happy with Cassian. And I was genuinely happy for this ending, it's one that they both deserve. They deserve to be the happiest they could possibly be after all the things they've gone through.

Overall, the book was good. And I did like it, not my absolute favorite. But still a good book, I just want to know how she plans to continue the stand alone books with how everything has been left off. Because even the book addressed the issue of Feyre and Rhys's overpowered-ness.

Anyways,

Until next time readers <3

The Wicked King: Holly Black

You must be strong enough to strike and strike and strike again without tiring.

The first lesson is to make yourself strong.

After the jaw-dropping revelation that Oak is the heir to Faerie, Jude must keep her younger brother safe. To do so, she has bound the wicked king, Cardan, to her, and made herself the power behind the throne. Navigating the constantly shifting political alliances of Faerie would be difficult enough if Cardan were easy to control. But he does everything in his power to humiliate and undermine her even as his fascination with her remains undiminished.

When it becomes all too clear that someone close to Jude means to betray her, threatening her own life and the lives of everyone she loves, Jude must uncover the traitor and fight her own complicated feelings for Cardan to maintain control as a mortal in a Faerie world.
(Goodreads)

This literally starts right where the last one ended. Well, technically six months after The Cruel Prince, and Jude is nowhere near figuring out how to keep Cardan in line after her year and one day is finished. 
She's tired, she's frustrated, and now her sister is getting married and they want the whole family to be there..... So now she has to figure out how to get her brother here safely and keeps him safe from anyone who wants to kill him... It's not a fun time honestly.
Holly Black did an amazing job of making this book feel dangerously whimsical. The stakes are up and anything can happen.
But freaking! She and Cardan did the do, they did the sexy. And Cardan obviously cares for Jude.... SO HOW THE HELL DID HE GET FOOLED BY HER SISTER!?!?! screams into the void
Everything about this book is frustrating in the most exquisite way. And now I have to wait for the next book.... at least I don't have to suffer alone... sorry bestie not really
And last but not least:
Jude... My dude... I feel you.... Like, I too have wallowed and watched Yuri On Ice!! while eating ice cream... many times  too many times
Until next time readers <3

Love Kat 

Lord of shadows: Cassandra Clare

The year was 2010, Clockwork Angel had just come out and my friend Karla introduced me to one of the greatest series I had read at the time. I was a young 14 year old and this one off my first kind of "mature books" in the since that it had a better story line, better character development, and better romance. City of bones became one of my favorite series, until I read Clockwork Angel. To this day I still think this is the best series in the shadowhunter world.
Anyway the year is 2017, Cassie Clare has just released the second book to her third series. The Dark Artifices. And I am disappointed. And here  are the reasons why, which I'll list as I go.

1. The romance

•     Specifically Emma and Julian's romance. From the moment Cassie told her readers, how much we were going to LOVE them.... I knew something was up, and I probably wouldn't like them. Flash forward to me reading Lady Midnight... guess what, I really didn't like Emma or Julian. Their relationship just felt weird to me. Like Cassie was trying to hard for this to happen. The romance was just unnatural with how fast it moved. And in Lord of Shadows it just gets worse. I'm kind of bored of Cassie's over use of "we can't love each other because blank." Cassie has pulled it off before and I loved it! But I just feels forced in this book, it was too fast. I feel like if she had done it like the other books where she took it slowly, maybe it wouldn't have been so forced.
• Mark and Cristina, be still my beating heart! My god these two characters are so interesting, they are so engaging. And the two times they kiss, I literally swooned. This is what I excepted Emma and Julian to be. Mark and Cristina were attracted to each other but it wasn't an instant love thing. It took them forever to finally kiss, and anytime they were together I couldn't help but want them to kiss! Or hug or hold hands, or something! This is want I wanted, they learned and grew from their past relationships. I just love these two so much 😻
• Cristina and Kieran, my god I am swooning for these two. Cristina just understands Kieran so well and I just love their dynamic. 

     2. The conflict

• Honestly it's too much drama. Like everything was set up to happen perfectly, Emma and Jules were going to get exiled (or whatever it's called), but then it doesn't happen. I know this was supposed to be super dramatic and, like, end of the world type of drama. But to me, it just felt like a cop out. It felt like Ms. Clare needed the drama to make the story work... and it didn't
• Livy's death.
• I'll have you know that I honestly didn't care the Livy died (heartless I know). But here's why, Livy's death did not feel genuine. It didn't feel organic to the plot, it didn't feel needed, it felt forced, it felt unnecessary. Yes I know in REAL life, death is unexpected. It is not planned. It just happens, but this is a book. And deaths in books usually help further the plot or have a great meaning. And this, to me, was neither of that.

Honestly I am disappointed. I have loved these books since I was young, but I truly felt cheated out of a better book. I have loved these books, and this author. To have this book be such a disappoint for me was tragic. Who knows, maybe the next book will be better. Maybe it won't. I'll read it.... But not as excitedly as I would read other books.

Until next time readers <3

Shadowsong: S. Jae-Jones

Six months after the end of 

Wintersong, Liesl is working toward furthering both her brother’s and her own musical careers. Although she is determined to look forward and not behind, life in the world above is not as easy as Liesl had hoped. Her younger brother Josef is cold, distant, and withdrawn, while Liesl can’t forget the austere young man she left beneath the earth, and the music he inspired in her. 
When troubling signs arise that the barrier between worlds is crumbling, Liesl must return to the Underground to unravel the mystery of life, death, and the Goblin King—who he was, who he is, and who he will be. What will it take to break the old laws once and for all? What is the true meaning of sacrifice when the fate of the world—or the ones Liesl loves—is in her hands?

(Goodreads) 

Honestly I have mixed feeling about this book, especially since the first one was just so incredible. This one was slow, and it was confusing, with multiple points of view, I sometimes didn't know who was speaking. But I got used to it. The characters didn't feel as the characters where as important. Kathe was just there, excited for the new life they had in Italy, but nothing important until the end. Francois was introduced.... But honestly didn't have anything to do with the plot, except that he was occasionally Josef's lover. And Josef... Josef was having an identity crisis long before he knew he was a changling, and once he did know he was a changling he jumped into a lake... Like? Why? The whole section with the count and his wife was just confusing and I personally didn't care for it. I didn't understand why they were with them, why suddenly out of know where, Kathe and Francois became important again. I don't know it was just weird and just very slow... 

BEWARE MAJOR SPOILERS AHEAD!! YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

WOLFGANG?!?!?!?!? Honestly that is the Goblin Kings name?! Why? I don't know why this bothers me so much but it totally does. Wolfgang, his name is Wolfgang
Wolfgang
That was the only important part, Liesl learning his name is flipping WOLFGANG
This bothers me more than Sep becoming the Goblin King and keeping his humanity because of Liesl's love. It was an interesting take. But I don't know.
That is honestly my overall feeling of the book, meh. It was meh, it could have been better. But it wasn't. It was mediocre which is disappointing since I loved the first one so much

Well until next time <3

Nameless (Tales of Beauty and Madness #1) By: Lili St. Crow

When Camille was six years old, she was discovered alone in the snow by Enrico Vultusino, godfather of the Seven—the powerful Families that rule magic-ridden New Haven. Papa Vultusino adopted the mute, scarred child, naming her after his dead wife and raising her in luxury on Haven Hill alongside his own son, Nico.
Now Cami is turning sixteen. She’s no longer mute, though she keeps her faded scars hidden under her school uniform, and though she opens up only to her two best friends, Ruby and Ellie, and to Nico, who has become more than a brother to her. But even though Cami is a pampered Vultusino heiress, she knows that she is not really Family. Unlike them, she is a mortal with a past that lies buried in trauma. And it’s not until she meets the mysterious Tor, who reveals scars of his own, that Cami begins to uncover the secrets of her birth…to find out where she comes from and why her past is threatening her now.

(Goodreads) 

This is the tale of Snow White, in a modern but twisted way, mixed with a healthy dose of paranormal. I thought I would have liked it more, because this is my cup of tea, I love books like this but this one was just a bore. I truly expected more. Now the story was interesting, I thought it was interesting how Ms. Crow twisted the story to fit that of Snow Whites. The seven dwarves were the seven clans of weird Vampires… yes vampires. But they’re not normal vampires, they are the mafia vampires that no one wants to mess with. Cami is 16 and weird things are starting to happen, she hears voices coming from the mirror, apples are a BIG no-no, and the snow is melancholy. The romance was sad, because of the sole reason that it was almost none existent. I thought it would have been more romantic, I mean come on! This is the story of Snow White; it should have had at least a little more romance. The main love interest was her adoptive brother, Nico, who was an annoying possessive boy that was just so annoying and macho… lord he was annoying. Now Cami wasn’t that bad, she wanted to learn how to protect herself, what her past was. What her scars mean. But no one in her family would let her do so. And it annoyed me, because they could have avoided many of the conflicts by telling her what she needed to know.

Anyways, later in the story a new boy arrives, Tor, and Cami sort of starts liking him leaving Nico in a fury (again annoying). Now Tor is different, he knows things and is willing to tell Cami these things IF (there is always an if) she hangs out with him (not that bad). But turns out he’s her brother and this psychotic Queen is after Cami to eat her heart and be pretty once again. Tor is helping the psychotic Queen, but feels bad because Cami is a good girl and he doesn’t want her to die, so he helps her. Then the end comes and all is well.

BORING. It has a lot of explaining and leads you up to something amazing, to at least a better ending but none of that happens, Cami goes home and cuddles with Nico (who at one point in the book tried to eat Cami {well drink her blood}). I truly expected more from this. Still really enjoyed the way Ms. Crow twisted the story around, but I wish it had been better. Because I think it had much more potential to be such a great book.  

Clockwork Prince (The Infernal Devices: book two) By: Cassandra Clare

In magical Victorian London, orphan Tessa found safety with the Shadowhunters, until traitors betray her to the Magister. He wants to marry her, but so do self-destructive Will and fiercely devoted Jem. Mage Magnus Bane returns to help them. Secrets to her parentage lie with the mist-shrouded Yorkshire Institute's aged manager Alyosius Starkweather.

(Goodreads)
 I love this series. That’s all I have to say about it. This is one of the best books I have read, and have reread it many times, and every time I think “WHY?!?! LORD Cassandra Clare why must you try to kill me with your cliff hangers!! OH the ending it breaks my heart so” :’(

Anyways… I believe Tessa is more of a Marry Sue in this one, trying to take everything on especially when it involves her beloved brother. And very giving, I mean she gave up her love for Will just because Jem had proposed to her…. Well that is a good reason, BUT right afterwards Tessa had burnt her hand badly because of the pain in her heart. I always thought she should have told him no, that she loves Will and save the rest of us all the pain and tears TT^TT. Now Clockwork Prince deals more with the threat of Mortmain and that threat becomes a reality when they face betrayal. There is plotting, lies, and the love of Will and Tessa J but there is also Jem, sweet, sweet Jem that is going to die and loves Tessa. And Tessa belongs to Will. Oh love triangles how much I love/hate you. So we have our dilemma, we have our evil, we have our heartbreak. And this is one of the happiest. Everything is still very happy nothing too serious has happened yet, so everyone is still happy (EXCEPT Tessa and Will. Except those Will and Tessa), they have won the bet against the Lightwoods, Charlotte is pregnant (with sweet little Buford), Tessa and Jem and engaged. All is well… For now. 

Now what I noticed from annotating the book what how hard Cassandra Clare tries to use old English, I mean at times it was ridiculous, it was just so funny! I didn’t notice this before, but now I just can’t help but giggle at times when it was over used. Also I noticed that this was all about Jem and Tessa’s relationship, with the occasional Will interference (except the ending! D’:). But I found it sort of sad that Tessa almost had sex with Jem at this spur of the moment kiss that went too far. I mean, at that time there virginity was sacred

and she almost lost it… I always thought that it went too far, but… meh -__-”

 

Endure By: Carrie Jones

Zara is at the center of an impending apocalypse. True, she’s successfully rescued Nick from Valhalla, but it simply isn’t enough. Evil pixies are ravaging Bedford, and they need much more than one great warrior; they need an army. Zara isn’t sure what her role is anymore. She’s not just fighting for her friends; she’s also a pixie queen. And to align her team of pixies with the humans she loves will be one of her greatest battles yet. Especially since she can’t even reconcile her growing feelings for her pixie king . . .
 
So this is the final book to the Need series, and I really didn't like it, the first three were amazing, but  I don't know, this one was sort of disappointing. Nick was a jerk the entire book, all because Zara turned pixie to SAVE him!! And then he goes all jerk on her... Meh. Now Zara, she was just awesome, she wasn't like other female leads, that have others do everything for them. Even when Zara was depixied she was still kick-a and tried to do things. She lead an army, went to Hel and back, freed Loki, then sacrificed herself to save the world from the apocalypse. Overall the book wasn't bad, it just took me forever to read. And I found myself skipping pages, and paragraphs. I just expected more from this book.

Clockwork Angel (The Infernal Devices: book one) By: Cassandra Clare

So this is my third time reading it, and I also annotated my book (I felt so guilty at first), and I realized something, this book focuses on the Tess/Will relationship and Jem is not that important a character. I personally love this book, and enjoy it more that the Immortal Instruments (also by Cassandra Clare). This trilogy follows Theresa (Tessa) Gray, William (Will) Herondale, and James (Jem) Carstairs. Specifically Tessa.
Anyways... The book starts off with the death of a mundane (human) in London in the year 1878 that Will and Jem find, from there the point of view changes to Tessa, who lives in American. There, Tessa's Aunt dies leaving her alone because her brother Nate is in London working. she then receives a letter from Nate with a ticket to London. Now once Tessa gets to London she might as well have been kidnapped by these sisters called the Dark Sisters. Tessa is then stuck with the Dark sisters for three weeks, being tortured (ish) because Tessa has a peculiar power to change shape to anyone, as long as she has something of theirs. Then at the end of the three weeks the Dark sisters are getting her prepared to marry the Majister when she is saved by a sexy shirtless leather bound shadowhunter. Love at first hit... So anyways Tessa is now living at the institute with the shadowhunters there. From here there are trials, betrayals, and trying to figure out who the Majister is.
Characters:

• Tessa Gray: She is such a strong and independent girl. She had gone through so much and was still able to be as "normal" as possible. With her being able to change shape, she has the advantage but, as in the book, she fears loosing who she truly is. Also I absolutely love her little arguments with Will, and her love for books.
• Will Herondale: What can I say about Will, he is just so awesome!! He's the tall, dark, handsome boy of the trilogy with a mysterious past causing him to push others away from himself. Perfect :3
• Jem Carstairs: In the first book he really isn't that important until later on in the book. But he is the kinder side of Will, he is Will's parabatai, but is bound to die... For now he is kind and gentle.

I absolutely love this book (as I said before) and I would definitely recommend this to those who enjoyed The City of Bones, Hush Hush, and other angel books.

Clockwork Angel (The Infernal Devices: book one) By: Cassandra Clare

So this is my third time reading it, and I also annotated my book (I felt so guilty at first), and I realized something, this book focuses on the Tess/Will relationship and Jem is not that important a character. I personally love this book, and enjoy it more that the Immortal Instruments (also by Cassandra Clare). This trilogy follows Theresa (Tessa) Gray, William (Will) Herondale, and James (Jem) Carstairs. Specifically Tessa.
Anyways... The book starts off with the death of a mundane (human) in London in the year 1878 that Will and Jem find, from there the point of view changes to Tessa, who lives in American. There, Tessa's Aunt dies leaving her alone because her brother Nate is in London working. she then receives a letter from Nate with a ticket to London. Now once Tessa gets to London she might as well have been kidnapped by these sisters called the Dark Sisters. Tessa is then stuck with the Dark sisters for three weeks, being tortured (ish) because Tessa has a peculiar power to change shape to anyone, as long as she has something of theirs. Then at the end of the three weeks the Dark sisters are getting her prepared to marry the Majister when she is saved by a sexy shirtless leather bound shadowhunter. Love at first hit... So anyways Tessa is now living at the institute with the shadowhunters there. From here there are trials, betrayals, and trying to figure out who the Majister is.
Characters:

• Tessa Gray: She is such a strong and independent girl. She had gone through so much and was still able to be as "normal" as possible. With her being able to change shape, she has the advantage but, as in the book, she fears loosing who she truly is. Also I absolutely love her little arguments with Will, and her love for books.
• Will Herondale: What can I say about Will, he is just so awesome!! He's the tall, dark, handsome boy of the trilogy with a mysterious past causing him to push others away from himself. Perfect :3
• Jem Carstairs: In the first book he really isn't that important until later on in the book. But he is the kinder side of Will, he is Will's parabatai, but is bound to die... For now he is kind and gentle.

I absolutely love this book (as I said before) and I would definitely recommend this to those who enjoyed The City of Bones, Hush Hush, and other angel books.