11/29/14

Princess of Thorns by Stacey Jay Review!




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Game of Thrones meets the Grimm's fairy tales in this twisted, fast-paced romantic fantasy-adventure about Sleeping Beauty's daughter, a warrior princess who must fight to reclaim her throne.

Though she looks like a mere mortal, Princess Aurora is a fairy blessed with enhanced strength, bravery, and mercy yet cursed to destroy the free will of any male who kisses her. Disguised as a boy, she enlists the help of the handsome but also cursed Prince Niklaas to fight legions of evil and free her brother from the ogre queen who stole Aurora's throne ten years ago.

Will Aurora triumph over evil and reach her brother before it's too late? Can Aurora and Niklaas break the curses that will otherwise forever keep them from finding their one true love?

     Princess of Thorns was really interesting. I love books that involve traveling especially if it's in a fantasy world and the characters are traveling by horse, weird right? This way Aurora and Niklaas got time to interact and that was really entertaining to me. I was a little confused at what was happening in the beginning, but by the second chapter it was a little bit easier to understand. Princess of Thorns is full of action, adventure, and magic and I loved it. I even lost track of time when I read it. One minute, I was staring Princess of Thorns at midnight and the next, I was finishing the book at 5:30 AM. Beware this books is like a vortex. It's like you are transported into the book. As I read, the world around me fell away and I felt like I was in Aurora's place. I love books that captivate me like that because it's like you are living the story and it's just magical.
    I loved everything about this book, from the adventure and traveling across kingdoms, to fighting dark forces and ogres, and Aurora and Niklaas’ journey together. The fighting had me on edge and biting my nails every time a fighting scene came up. But Aurora is a fierce and stubborn heroine that I was cheering for the whole time. I could see a little of myself in her and that made the story that much easier to fall into. I sympathize with Aurora also. I felt how lonely she was. It made me like her a lot more because she shows her weaknesses a little through all the hard exterior and masks she puts up. I liked how strong and driven she was throughout the whole book too. The way she cares for Niklaas even though he is insufferable is endearing. Niklaas is extremely hardheaded and cocky, and I almost want to smack him half the time. But he grows on you. Slowly.  I slowly fell in love with him and I actually prefer that sometimes in books. Sometimes the strongest love takes the longest to form. How's THAT for poetic. On that note, I have to say that Aurora and Niklaa's love is so sweet and strong that you can't help but tear up a little at the ending. I did. I was so invested in their story that I was screaming at Niklaas for being such a bone head. However, it all worked out and my heart literally skipped a beat when that last chapter happened. Eeeee all the feels were had. This book has a perfect blend of action and romance. Not too much and not too little. It is full of lies, protective princes, and princesses who won't back down. It was amazing. This book is definitely another favorite. I highly recommend it to lovers of Fire, Graceling, A Girl of Fire and Thorns, and A Kiss of Deception. It really is a mix between the Grimm fairytales and A Game of Thrones. Who wouldn’t love that mix? I give it five out of five stars!

Be sure to preorder Princess of Thorns now because it comes out on December 9th and you don’t want to miss it!

11/28/14

A Curse Unbroken (Weird Girls #5) By Cecy Robson Review!




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The preternatural world is changing. After a massive magical throwdown tore apart the established order, the dark elements are rebuilding their ranks unopposed. Celia Wird’s world is changing, too. She’s the mate of the pureblood were Aric, and his Warriors are honor-bound to protect her family as she and her sisters recover from unimaginable horrors.

Celia hesitates to reveal the true extent of the Wird sisters’ trauma, but they aren’t the only ones keeping secrets: Aric and the werewolf Elders are tracking a stone that grants limitless power. So is a tough coven of witches. Then Misha, a master vampire with his own plans for the stone, sends Celia after it. Can she and the vamps beat both the weres and the witches to the treasure before it falls into the wrong hands?

Fearing for Celia’s safety, Aric begs her to stay out of the hunt. What they don’t realize is that they’re the ones being hunted. But Celia’s ready to prove that she’s not easy prey.

    A Curse Unbroken is a modern day book filled with magic beyond belief and I loved it. It is filled with action, mystery, romance, and dialogue that will have you rolling. Cecy has created yet another amazing installment of the Weird Girls series, and I can't say that I'm surprised! I loved every part of this book. I was so happy and ecstatic that I got an ARC of A Curse Unbroken that I read it in one sitting. I stayed up until 6 AM to finish it because I couldn't put it down. I refused to, and I am so glad I did. I was sitting in my room after I finished it with tears streaming down my face in happiness and sadness. Happy tears because Celia and Aric got what they deserved. They got their happy ending. Sad tears because I'm going to miss them. This is the end of Celia and Aric’s journey, but it isn't the end for the other Wird sisters’ journey. I cannot wait to see what else Cecy has in store for them because I have loved this roller-coaster ride so far, and I'm not likely to stop now. One of the many reasons I love it so much is because this story is pure creativity. From Celia and her sisters' powers, to the evil forces Celia has to battle, they aren't like anything I've ever read about. All of Cecy’s books are full of original creativity.

    I really liked how Cecy started out by reiterating the epilogue from the last book in the first chapter. Instead of starting where she left of, she takes us back to where the last book ended. It really helped me remember where the story ended. Sometimes in a series it's easy to forget what has happened in the past books. We started off kicking and screaming, literally, and that was when I knew that the rest of this book was going to keep me on edge.  Reading about Celia and Aric, her sisters and the pack, Misha and his crazy vampires, was like coming home.  I have been on this journey with them for a year and I still love it, 5 books later. A Curse Unbroken had me laughing my butt of at 4 AM until I cried one minute and feeling like my heart was going to explode the next. I will tell you this; Cecy has a way of pulling at the heart strings. I feel like Celia is a part of me now, and all that she has been through just tears at me. My heart hurts for her and it stills does throughout this book. Tears were shed. I cried. I sobbed. Those last two chapters had me sobbing because I was so happy. This series will always hold a special place in my heart. Thank you Cecy, for this series and for Celia's story. This book gains a spot on my “favorites” shelf and five stars from me.
You can read my review of the fourth book in the Weird Girls series, A Cursed Bloodline, here: http://thehopelessreader.blogspot.com/2014/09/a-cursed-bloodline-weird-girls-4-by.html

Don’t forget to preorder A Curse Unbroken, which comes out March 18, 2015! You won’t want to miss out.

11/21/14

Snow Like Ashes by Sara Raasch Review!


 

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A heartbroken girl. A fierce warrior. A hero in the making.

Sixteen years ago the Kingdom of Winter was conquered and its citizens enslaved, leaving them without magic or a monarch. Now, the Winterians’ only hope for freedom is the eight survivors who managed to escape, and who have been waiting for the opportunity to steal back Winter’s magic and rebuild the kingdom ever since.

Orphaned as an infant during Winter’s defeat, Meira has lived her whole life as a refugee, raised by the Winterians’ general, Sir. Training to be a warrior—and desperately in love with her best friend, and future king, Mather — she would do anything to help her kingdom rise to power again.

So when scouts discover the location of the ancient locket that can restore Winter’s magic, Meira decides to go after it herself. Finally, she’s scaling towers, fighting enemy soldiers, and serving her kingdom just as she’s always dreamed she would. But the mission doesn’t go as planned, and Meira soon finds herself thrust into a world of evil magic and dangerous politics – and ultimately comes to realize that her destiny is not, never has been, her own.

 

      Snow Like Ashes is full of magic, mystery, adventure, and sacrifice, and I loved every moment of it. The book starts off with a bang and every chapter after that only gets better, if that’s possible. The world Sara has created is so magical and creative that you just get swept up into the world, and it is something to experience. I love how the story moves along throughout the kingdoms and we are able to ‘see’ so many beautiful and vastly different landscapes. The story keeps you on the edge of your seat because there is so much at stake, and from the start you are cheering for Meira, Mather, Theron, and Sir. I was definitely cheering for the Winterians. Also, there are plot twists that really have you clutching your heart. I instantly connect with Meira because I have a soft spot for unrequited love, and the way she acts so selflessly when it comes to Mather astounds me.  I love the relationship between them. There is only a hint of the relationship for a while but I love it nonetheless. Then there is Theron and Meira’s relationship. I love how their interactions make my heart stutter. There is something about them that I love and cannot get enough of. Meira is such a strong heroine and she is so brave. She is another heroine that I will add to the list of characters to love. She is able to fight, protect others, and stand up to the darkest magic in the Kingdom, and it is amazing. I felt for Meria because her fate had always been decided for her, and there were many scenes in the book that had be screaming because I was so mad on her behalf. As I have said so many times before, only the books that I truly connect with and love can make me feel so in tuned to the story, and Snow Like Ashes had me hooked. I must have the next book ASAP! Believe me when I say that I will do anything to get an ARC of the next book. Those of you who loved Throne of Glass, The Kiss of Deception, or The Girl of Fire and Thorns will absolutely adore this book. It is now among my favorite books and I highly recommend it. I give it five out of five stars!