Quick Reviews: Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

Throne of Glass
Sarah J. Maas
Bloomsbury USA Childrens
May 7 2013
paperback, 404 pages, bought, high fantasy


From 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 Thoughts:

I have officially found my new favorite fantasy author!  Of course, I have a lot of favorites; but Sarah J. Maas is on fire with her writing!!  Seriously, she is one awesome creative lady!

Throne of Glass has everything you would expect in a high fantasy: magic, fighting, and a little bit of romance.   What makes it much different is our protagonist is a kick ass female.  Celaena is one of the coolest heroines in the Young Adult genre right now.  
She is a huge complex character that has this exterior that seems so solid and strong; but then when we start delve deeper into her actions we see how broken she really is.  

There is a hint to a love triangle but it doesn't overtake the plot at all.  Rather, it works well with the problems that arise throughout the story and brings out the positives of both male characters.  I don't know how she chooses but I kinda agree with her choice as well.  He is AWESOME SAUCE!  

Throne of Glass introduces us to a world that could be so beautiful if it wasn't ruled by this evil  man who sucks the life out of everything special.  That is what is amazing about the author's writing, she can construct this dark awful person and then turn around and create someone so good that you have to have hope for the world.  She gives us a world that holds both darkness and light as well as a character that has both traits battling inside her.  

I loved this book right off the bat and jumped on ordering the next two books instantly.  If you are huge fantasy fans or even just love strong kick ass heroines who are intelligent and super funny then I urge you to pick this book up.  It is witty and snarky and has some awesome fight scenes that are comparable to epic movies.  

Grab your own copy:

Amazon |Barnes & Noble

Connect with Sarah J. Maas:

Goodreads|Twitter|Website|

Book Review: Dark Triumph by R.L. LaFevers { Book 2: His Fair Assassin}

Title: Dark Triumph
Author: Robin LaFevers
Series: His Fair Assassins
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Books  for Children
Date of Publication: April 2, 2013
Source: bought, hardcover, 385 pages
Links to buy: Amazon | Barnes & Noble |

From Goodreads:

Sybella's duty as Death's assassin in 15th-century France forces her return home to the personal hell that she had finally escaped. Love and romance, history and magic, vengeance and salvation converge in this thrilling sequel to Grave Mercy.
Sybella arrives at the convent’s doorstep half mad with grief and despair. Those that serve Death are only too happy to offer her refuge—but at a price. The convent views Sybella, naturally skilled in the arts of both death and seduction, as one of their most dangerous weapons. But those assassin's skills are little comfort when the convent returns her to a life that nearly drove her mad. And while Sybella is a weapon of justice wrought by the god of Death himself, He must give her a reason to live. When she discovers an unexpected ally imprisoned in the dungeons, will a daughter of Death find something other than vengeance to live for?

My Thoughts:

I have totally completely and whole-heartedly fell in love with this series! It combines everything that I love in a book: suspense, romance, strong female characters that can kill twenty ways to sundown, and a huge paranormal vibe going through the story set in a historical fiction.  It is honestly the best of all genres and I am so glad that I jumped into this series head first!

Okay....I will try to go through this review like a big girl, instead of a fan girl screaming like a maniac.   

*composes self* 
*takes deep breath*  

ILOVETHISFREAKINGBOOKSOMUCH!!!!!!

Now, I am much better.  

Dark Triumph is very similar to Grave Mercy but in a lot of ways it is far different too.  In Dark Triumph, Sybella goes through her own hell and really starts to question her belief in Death, especially her place in his world.  Just as Isme went through her personal revelation in Grave Mercy, Sybella has to go through her own as well.  
But Dark Triumph seems much more darker than Grave Mercy.  Okay, chill out.. I know what you're thinking: " Um they are daughters of Death who kill for a living and as a religion..of course it is dark!!" 
And you're right the overall series is dark....but Sybella's life really brought the utmost pain to me.  The things this woman has went through, and continues to go through, is beyond what I think any normal woman could live through and still be somewhat sane.  
Our main female protagonist is one of the strongest characters I have ever read!  I love that she is so dangerous and yet there is this fragility about her that really breaks your heart.  Sybella always has to be on guard because her very existence stays in danger constantly.  And yet even with all this darkness surrounding her, she still finds some things beautiful.  Like her friendship with Isme, her adoration for her younger sisters, and the growing attraction between her and "Beast".  She is one of the most complex and fulfilling character I have ever read.  There is so much going on with Sybella that you will definitely have an emotional thrill ride with her.  

Then there is our main male protagonist and I am so glad he is the one that is in this book.  I loved him so much in Grave Mercy and I am thrilled that LaFevers chose Beast as the male equivalent for Sybella.  On the outside, he has these scars and isn't the most beautiful man alive.  Many females run from him just for his looks, when they are perhaps missing out on the most admirable man alive.  Beast was a great guy and I enjoyed reading more about his life too.  

As I read Dark Triumph, I kept thinking to myself what a small world it really was.  There are so many tie ins for these two characters that it almost seems like fate was involved.  Which could be true?  Who knows?  

I love that LaFevers took a important event in history and twisted it slightly with a paranormal feel to it.  I also love that she personifies Death, giving him this fatherly personality to him.  It could really be compared to religion in this day and age.  Okay please stop before you get your torches and start screaming "sacrilegious" at me.  Let me explain.....
You know how you have this faith but these awful things keep happening to you and sometimes your faith wavers, causing you to question your life, your creation, and your very existence.  Well the handmaidens in His Fair Assassin series do this as well.  Throughout the stories these ladies think he has forsaken them (sound familiar?) and in a special moment usually at our rock bottom, we find our faith and we see that our Father was there for us all along.  
I really just completely fell in love with the similarities that LaFevers gives us when Isme and Sybella question their lives and beliefs  and they find that their father was watching all along.  
I guess I rambled there a lot but I really had a point and I hoped I made it.  
Anyways, back to the review.
LaFevers also does a wonderful job of world building.  She takes this amazing time in history but alternates it to fit the paranormal view of it.  As she writes, I really feel like I am transported back in time with the characters in this historical fiction.  Oh and is it just me but man I would love to have one of those dresses so bad!  

All in all, Dark Triumph is an overload for our emotions.  We get so many going on: despair, love, fear, hatred, and hope.  But probably most importantly, forgiveness.  There are a few surprises through out the story and we find out who our real enemies are and those that we can truly trust.  
Also be prepared for a abrupt ending.  I would have loved a little bit more but I guess I will just impatiently wait till the next book.  

One more thing.  Raise of hands: Who really wants to punch the Reverend Mother all the way back to the convent?  I don't know how much I can take of her until I have to get a punching bag with a picture of her face on it!?!?!

I had to give Dark Triumph five out of five hearts!  

Connect with Robin LaFevers:
Website | Goodreads | Twitter | Facebook | 

Check out my review of Grave Mercy, book 1 in His Fair Assassin here.

Book Review: Grave Mercy { His Fair Assassin Trilogy } by Robin LaFevers

Title:  Grave Mercy
Series: His Fair Assassin book 1
Author: Robin LaFevers
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Books 
Date of Publication: April 3, 2012
Source: bought, Kindle, 576 pages
Links to Buy: Amazon   | Barnes & Noble |

Book Synopsis:

Why be the sheep, when you can be the wolf? Seventeen-year-old Ismae escapes from the brutality of an arranged marriage into the sanctuary of the convent of St. Mortain, where the sisters still serve the gods of old. Here she learns that the god of Death Himself has blessed her with dangerous gifts—and a violent destiny. If she chooses to stay at the convent, she will be trained as an assassin and serve as a handmaiden to Death. To claim her new life, she must destroy the lives of others.
Ismae’s most important assignment takes her straight into the high court of Brittany—where she finds herself woefully under prepared—not only for the deadly games of intrigue and treason, but for the impossible choices she must make. For how can she deliver Death’s vengeance upon a target who, against her will, has stolen her heart?

-from Amazon page

My Thoughts:

This was such a killer of a book (sorry for the pun- couldn't help myself) and I absolutely loved every minute of it!  

Everyone that knows me, knows I am a huge fan of historical fiction.  I just love the old rustic medieval feel of a good story.  I love the outfits, I love the feel that comes with the sensation when I read about the Queen and her advisors, or those that mean to overthrow her.  Sorry, I just get excited when I think about historical fiction.  

So Ismae is probably one of my favorite characters of this year.  First, this lady is tough!  Oh my goodness I get chills thinking about how good she is at her calling.  She is like the James Bond of France in this book.  She even has some neat little tools she uses to get her "job" done.  I am telling you: Ismae is one tough female; almost like a Rambo in her day and age.  

But besides all the brawn, Ismae is no fool.  That is what I loved about her as well.  Sure she has been through a lot of anguish and yet she still uses her brain, instead of her hatred for men.  Even though I know there were times she wanted to go with that too.  

When I think of this book I think of the this quote:

Oh what a tangled web we weave;
When we first practise to deceive
- Sir Walter Scott

Grave Mercy is filled with so many plot twists, so many " oh my god" moments that I was just swept up into the rush of the story.  Everywhere you turn there is someone trying to stab someone else in the back; trying to up their political and court status at the expense of others.  Isn't it beautiful??? Sorry.

But then the author made this book even more tantalizing by adding an element of supernatural goodness to it.  Because not only are these La Femme Fatales a type of assassin they are a special type.  These are the daughters of Death himself.  Oh wholly goodness! Then she went and personified Death!  I love you,  Robin LaFevers! And it is an interesting mix of fear and understanding of Death throughout the story that I totally grips me and won't let go!

I fell in love with this story so deeply  I am having a very hard time waiting until I can buy the next book in the series, Dark Triumph.    I have to give this novel five hearts and I wish I could give it more like maybe a crazy looking out of this world heart for those that mean so much more to me than just five hearts!

ARC Review: Blade Song by J.C. Daniels

Title: Blade Song


Author: J.C. Daniels


Publisher/Date of Publication: Shiloh Walker, Inc./ Aug.1, 2012


Source: received from net galley as ARC 



Website: http://jcdanielsblog.wordpress.com/

*this is an Adult paranormal romance. If you are under 18, just skip on by this review please.  


Author's Blurb:

Kit Colbana—half breed, assassin, thief, jack of all trades—has a new job: track down the missing ward of one of the local alpha shapeshifters. It should be a piece of cake.

So why is she so nervous? It probably has something to do with the insanity that happens when you deal with shifters—especially sexy ones who come bearing promises of easy jobs and easier money.

Or maybe it’s all the other missing kids that Kit discovers while working the case, or the way her gut keeps screaming she’s gotten in over her head. Or maybe it’s because if she fails—she’s dead.

If she can stay just one step ahead, she should be okay. Maybe she’ll even live long to collect her fee…

My Feelings:

So ya'll know I do like a good cover.  Can't help it I know it is wrong but...there it is.  This cover had me with mixed feelings.  The model kinda put me in the mind of Brittany Spears in the video Hit Me Baby One More Time.  She looks so innocent and naive, like she couldn't possibly hurt a fly.  And then you see the big ass sword she has in her hands there.  I personally am a huge fan of swords and daggers.  I even collect some from time to time so I can appreciate the beautiful piece of artwork there.  

Oh and in the background I see a pretty handsome chest back there too.  Is this just my imagination or is that a man I see?  

So I liked the cover but I didn't love it.  

The book is however a different story.  From the first minute I read the blurb I fell in love with this girl!  

Kit Colbana is one tough kick ass heroine.  She has a smart ass mouth(reminds me of...me) and always has a great comeback to anyone daring enough to challenge her.

She has a seriously troubled past but was able to rise up from it and survive.  Kit could definitely rock the Survivor song by Destiny's Child.  Kit isn't quite human but she is something that is very original to me; she is an aniera.  Apparently they are descendants of Amazonians.  And Kit is every bit the warrior, even though you don't technically get to read a lot about her fighting in action, you can pick up on a lot of it.  Besides being able to wield a weapon powerfully she does have a few handy tricks too.  

Then to top things off, she has this sexy shifter that has put him as her bodyguard through the case she is working on.  Damon (or as Kit calls him "Demon") definitely causes Kit  trouble in every way of the word.  But he also shows a gentler side when he gets done being a jerk.  

This is an adult paranormal romance but it is so much more than that.  It is a paranormal thriller too.  While there are some definite steamy scenes, sex isn't all over the place.  It is placed in meaningful places instead thrown in every couple of pages.  I really enjoyed the flirting and sexual tension between the two more than the actual sex scene.  

If there was one thing that I didn't like about the book was how things were repeated often, not including the mantra Kit repeats to calm herself.  No, I am talking about how her sword was her mother's throughout the book.  I didn't forget the first time and the second time that I was told that but we hear it more and more.  

Other than that I freaking loved this story!  It has a little of everything in it for all of you: vampires, shifters, witches and even warrior witches.  The witches were pretty darn awesome too.  

Oh and the bad guy?  You will be shocked to say the least.  

I am already counting the days until the next book, Night Blade, comes out...

I gave it 5 hearts!

Get your copy of The Blade Song here:


Amazon/ Barnes and Noble