WRAP-UP: July 2015

This month was a fairly productive reading month for me. Though I wasn't able to get through all the books I listed on my TBR, I did get through most of them. Importantly, I got through four massive tomes that have been sitting on my shelf for about a year, just waiting to be read. This was the Throne of Glass series by Sarah J. Maas. Based on this series alone, I read 1,819 pages! That number truly astounds me, and I can't believe I was able to get through all of those pages and more in one month. So it was a very successful reading month for me, and I enjoyed most of the books I read.

The Assassin's Blade

by Sarah J. Maas

I read most of this one in June, but finished it off in July. The prequel novellas in this volume added to the world-building and character developments that are expanded upon in Throne of Glass. It was mostly entertaining, but a little slow at times. The best thing about this collection was seeing Celaena's life as Adarlan's kick-ass Assassin.

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆ // Full Review

Throne of Glass

by Sarah J. Maas

Then I dove into re-reading Throne of Glass, and I enjoyed it so much more than when I first read it in August last year. Though my enjoyment was mostly because I had read The Assassin's Blade beforehand, I think this book is still deserving of its four stars. It was thrilling and entertaining, and Celaena is a wonderful leading character.

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆ // Full Review

Saga, Volume 3

by Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples
To avoid entering into a reading slump from reading the massive tomes of the Throne of Glass series, I picked up the third volume of Saga. It was the perfectly light, easy read that I needed before diving into Crown of Midnight. I really enjoyed this volume, and what it lacked in action it made up for in fascinating character developments.

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆ // Full Review

Crown of Midnight

by Sarah J. Maas
I really, really, really loved this sequel. I definitely enjoyed it more than Throne of Glass, because it was mysterious, unpredictable, romanctic, witty, clever, and a thrill-ride from the very first page. My only issue was that perhaps there was too much going on, and I often became confused by the multiple plot lines. But all-in-all, it was an absolutely fantastic read.

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆ // Full Review

Saga, Volume 4

by Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples
Then I picked up the final published volume of Saga, and I was a little underwhelmed by it. It seemed to lack the gusto of previous volumes, which I found a little disappointing. It was filled with some crazy awesome characters in a dynamic world that compelled me to continue reading, but in the end this one felt a lot like a "filler" volume.

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆ // Full Review

Ms. Marvel, Volume 1: No Normal

by G. Willow Wilson and Adrian Alphona
After reading Saga, Volume 4, I was in the mood for another quick read, so I picked up the first volume of the rebooted Ms. Marvel series. And it was a delight; I loved the diversity, Kamala herself, and the genuine, good-natured humour throughout. Though it had a few clichés and stereotypes, it was still a wonderful introduction to the world of superheroes.

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆ // Full Review

Coda

by C.D. Reiss
I was pretty disappointed by this novella. I had hoped it would make me fall in love with Reiss's world and characters all over again, but it just didn't work for me. It felt like there was no structure to this novella, and random things happened just for the sake of having something to write a book about. Though I did appreciate the raw emotion, it was mostly a disappointment.

Rating: ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ // Series Review

Heir of Fire

by Sarah J. Maas
This book was a total chore to read. The first 400 pages or so were so boring that they drove me crazy. The last 200 were moderately interesting. This book was just filled with a whole lot unnecessary characters and uninteresting plot lines. Even Celaena lost some of her charm in this one.

Rating: ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ // Full Review



And so, my reading achievements for the month of July are...

• I read a total of eight books. And some of them were mahoosive!
• I am now completely up-to-date on two series! I have read all the published volumes of Saga, and all the published novels of the Throne of Glass series.
• I finished a series! Coda was an additional novella to the Songs of Submission series, and although it wasn't necessary reading, I feel like I have a bit more closure on the series and the beautiful characters.

Though I wish I could continue to read this amount of books next month, I know that won't be possible. My uni semester has just started up again, and already I'm overwhelmed by the weekly readings and assignments. I do hope to keep reading something, at least, so look forward to my August TBR tomorrow!

BOOK REVIEW: Heir of Fire by Sarah J. Maas

Heir of Fire

Author: Sarah J. Maas

Series: Throne of Glass, #3

Published: 2 September 2014 by Bloomsbury

Genres: Young Adult, Fantasy

Format: Hardback

Source: Purchased

Links: Goodreads

Synopsis:

She was the heir of ash and fire, and she would bow to no one.

Celaena Sardothien has survived deadly contests and shattering heartbreak—but at an unspeakable cost. Now she must travel to a new land to confront her darkest truth...a truth about her heritage that could change her life—and her future—forever.

Meanwhile, brutal and monstrous forces are gathering on the horizon, intent on enslaving her world. To defeat them, Celaena must find the strength to not only fight her inner demons but to battle the evil that is about to be unleashed.

The king's assassin takes on an even greater destiny and burns brighter than ever before in this follow-up to the New York Times bestselling Crown of Midnight.

Rating:

Review and Discussion:

I debated long and hard before deciding on a 2-star rating. I almost gave it 3 stars for its slight redemption towards the end, but I couldn't deny myself the truth about this book: it was entirely underwhelming, disappointing, and enragingly boring.

The other books in this series were amazing, and set up for what I had hoped would be an amazing series... which only made this book so much more disappointing. The series had hyped it up, and I had extremely high expectations. I went into this thinking I would rate it a full five stars at the end, but obviously I didn't get to that point. Let me explain to you all the things that derailed this series for me in this trainwreck of a book.

For one, I hated the unnecessary, excessive plot lines that were explored in this book. There were at least seven plot lines in this book, with many of them interwoven throughout and blended into one at times, and it was just too much for me to keep up with. There were storylines from Celaena (obviously), Chaol, Dorian, Adeion, Sorscha, Rowan and Manon, and all together in an almost-600-page-book was just overwhelming. I couldn't keep up half the time, and the focus shifted so frequently that I lost interest in each story very quickly.

Related to this, I felt that there were too many new characters, and that Maas was trying to get me to care about them. But I just couldn't. I had no interest in all these unnecessary, additional characters; all I wanted was to read about Celaena being a badass and claiming her world.

Manon's storyline bored me in particular. I could tolerate, and at times appreciate, the others, but I had no interest in Manon or what she was doing, and ended up skimming most of her chapters. I particularly didn't appreciate the animal fighting scenes that were present in much of her story, and I get that it's part of her character and what-not, but I hate the normalisation of animal violence. I cannot stomach it, even in fiction. It's a personal thing to me, but it just makes me uncomfortable and ultimately swayed my perception of Manon and her story. Not a fan at all. Not even in the end. Especially not in the end, actually! I was hoping that her story would be made relevant to the rest of the story by the end, with some detail linking her to Celaena or Chaol or Dorian or whatever, but that never came. So in the end, it just felt like unnecessary filler to increase the page count.

Which brings me to my next point: this book could have been amazing if it had been 200 pages shorter. It was unnecessarily long. This book had no suspense, no excitement, no drive for me to read it. I really had to force myself in the beginning, and by the time I got to the halfway mark, I was reading quickly just to get it over and done with. There were too many boring characters introduced that I just could not care about, and boring plot lines for them to exist. This book really just offered nothing, and it felt much more like a filler book than a book deserving of the "number one bestselling" title. Maas's writing was great, but the dull story just couldn't be saved by any amount of her skill.

As for some of the characters...

I didn't care anything for Rowan, and can't understand why the world has gone crazy for him. Rowan is hugely over-rated, and that annoys me because people aren't seeing him for what he really is: he is selfish, manipulative and cruel, and has absolutely zero good qualities about him. Maybe some people like that sorta guy, but I'm not interested in idolising fuckboys. The ridiculous thing where he was wordlessly communicating with Celaena was also ridiculous. Everything about him is stupid and I hate him and I can't stand that he is a part of Celaena's life now. I just want him gone.

Sorscha was the only new character that I liked, even though her storyline bored me to death. Her character was interesting, and I enjoyed learning about her. I just wish Maas would have given her a storyline more fitting for her awesomeness. Her character deserved so much better than developing a forbidden romance with the Crown Prince. And in the end, the potential of her character was ultimately wasted. Which was hugely disappointing, again.

Celaena lacked the badass punch she brought in the previous novels. Perhaps it's because she's in a new land or in her Fae form or whatever, but she just wasn't the same. She felt like a completely different character, one whom I hardly knew. Her identity as Aelin didn't really interest me, except for when she was talking about her history. I have come to adore Celaena, not Aelin, and I really hope that Maas can respect readers' favour for Celaena and not try to force us to love Aelin. I get that Aelin is a part of Celaena, but ultimately I feel that Celaena is her true identity. We are the makers of our own destiny, and she has made herself as Celaena for so many years that it would be a betrayal to neglect her and go back to being Aelin.

Which leads me to consider the question of whether I am interested enough to continue on with the story now. After Crown of Midnight, I thought I would undeniably love this series for anything and everything it offered. Heir of Fire proved naive me so very, very wrong. I definitely won't be pre-ordering Queen of Shadows, but I do still think I will read it eventually. At this stage, I won't be reading it in 2015. I will let its release day come and go, read some reviews from bloggers and reviewers that I trust, and pick it up when the mood strikes me. I think it's time for me to take a break from YA fantasy and read more of what I natually enjoy before forcing myself through another unecessarily long book.

TOP TEN TUESDAY: Characters Who Are Fellow Book Nerds

I love when authors craft a character who loves books as much as we do! Personally, it makes me enjoy the book a little bit more, just knowing that the author understands what it is like to be a book nerd, and to be able to relate to a character so well. So here are a few of my favourites!

These are in no particular order. It was a real struggle to try and rank these beautiful characters, so I have listed them in the order that I discovered them, from first to latest.

Hermione Granger

Hermione was the first bookworm character I read about, and one of the first characters I really, truly connected with as a child. I love that she is unashamed by her passion for reading, for learning, for thriving in her knowledge of the world. She is an incredibly inspiring character for children, and I'm truly grateful that I was able to grow up with her.

Bella Swan

Ah, Bella; the hugely controversial character whom I cannot help but adore. Bella holds a permanent place in my heart, and although I can acknowledge she is problematic in some aspects, I will always love and admire her. Her love of reading is a huge part of her character, and the books she reads inspire her own plot lines. Her love for Wuthering Heights inspired me to pick up that book myself, and it quickly became one of my favourite books of all-time. I really can connect to Bella's character, and perhaps we even share a similar taste in the books we read!

Hazel Grace Lancaster

Hazel is a special kind of book nerd... she only reads the one book over and over again, but wow does she geek out over it! I've never been obsessed with a book to the point that I want to track down the author and demand a sequel, but I can certainly appreciate Hazel's passion. Though I don't think I could ever re-read a book as much as Hazel does, I can certainly understand her obsession and connection with a particular story and the characters within.

Alaska Young

It has been a while since I last read Looking for Alaska, so I can't really remember whether I loved, tolerated, or disliked Alaska. But I know that I loved this book, and Alaska's love for books was a pretty major part of her character, and ultimately the story. Alaska's bedroom is filled with books, from floor to ceiling, in disorganised stacks—the complete opposite of mine! I'm partial to a well-organised bookshelf, so although Alaska's disorganisation frustrates the neat freak within me, I do admire her love for reading.

Katy Schwartz

Katy was the first character I encountered who was a book blogger. Her love for books was a huge part of her character, and it really helped me to connect with her. My favourite bookish scene from this series is when Daemon enters in on her vlog, commenting on the ridiculous covers and synopses—I felt every single emotion Katy went through in that scene, and it was wonderful! It just goes to show how much Armentrout understands and appreciates her readers, which is the best feeling a reader can have.

Cath Avery

I've never been one to enter the world of fanfiction, but reading Fangirl made me love it. The way reading and fanfiction shaped Cath's experiences at university was such an inspiring story. It really helped me in my own experiences and struggles, allowing me to think back to Cath and understand things from her own life lessons, and make them my own. Reading was a huge part of her life, and she showed that she didn't have to give it up just to be loved or accepted as she transitioned to a new stage in her life.

Leisel Meminger

I'm not sure what to say about Leisel, because anything that I do say will not do her justice. She is a special kind of book nerd, one who was drawn to books for reasons very different from everyone else on this list. Growing up in Nazi Germany would have been the most difficult thing for children of the time, as we can see from The Book Thief, and it makes her passion for reading all the most uplifting, inspiring, and joyful.

Tessa Gray and Will Herondale

These two are (a) adorable, and (b) adorable book nerds. They find a connection to each other through their love for books, and although it allows Will's arrogance to run wild, it also allows Tessa to see his softer side. It's been a while since I read the series, so the details are sketchy, but their love for books still shines through in my memories, and is one of the most beautiful elements of this series.

Celaena Sardothien

There are many wonderful qualities to Celaena's character, one of them being her unashamed love for books. Though it is not integral to her character, it is a lovely bonus. Her appreciation for books and the magic they hold within is beautiful to read about, and it allows for some wonderfully hilarious scenes throughout the series. Sharing her passion with Dorian is also a sweet addition, and just an all-round joy to read.

Alana

And the most entertaining book nerd, by far, is Alana from Saga. She is a little like Hazel Grace Lancaster, now that I think about it: hugely obsessed with one book, seeing the hidden symbolism and reading between the lines, so much so that she takes it as the author's radical call for peace in a war that has been raging for centuries. Like Hazel, Alana tracks down the author to find out more about their motives and reasoning behind the book, and it only adds to the craziness that already occurs within the series. If you're looking for a badass bookworm, definitely check out Alana.


Let me know of your favourite bookworm characters!

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Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. I tend to participate only when the topic tickles my fancy and isn’t too difficult. Today was one of those occasions.

TOP 5 WEDNESDAY: Anticipated Pre-orders for the Rest of the Year

This year, I've been focusing on reading all the books that I currently have on my bookshelf without adding too much to my ridiculously long TBR list. So this list was a little tricky to put together, because I only had two books on my mind that I wanted to pre-order. But after perusing my Goodreads books, I realised that I am looking forward to a few releases in the next few months, and thus, I managed to reach my top five.

5. Love and Always by Sophie Jackson

This is a short novella that follows the first book in the series, A Pound of Flesh. Essentially, this novella is a continuation of the story between Carter and Kat, focusing on the trials and tribulations they endure to maintain their relationship. I'm so excited for this novella, because I was absolutely obsessed with their story in A Pound of Flesh. So, so, so excited!

Release Date: 3 August 2015 // Goodreads

Book Review: A Pound of Flesh by Sophie Jackson

4. Oblivion by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Who knows when this one will be released. No exact date has been given, and in all likelihood, it could be pushed back for whatever publishing reasons. I mean, it hasn't even got a cover yet. But nevertheless, I am excited for this book. The Lux series is one of my favourites, and though Daemon's point of view did annoy me in the main series, I am excited to see the beginning of the story from his POV.

Release Date: December 2015 // Goodreads

3. Sweet Temptation by Wendy Higgins

Although the tagline, "he's the boy your daddy warned you about," has me absolutely cringing from the sexism, I am so freaking excited about this book. A whole novel, from Kaidan Rowe's point of view! He's an insensitive, arrogant jerk, but goshdarn I love him unconditionally. I will likely re-read the series before diving into this one to refresh my memory before diving into the mind of Kaidan. I can't even deal.

Release Date: 8 September 2015 // Goodreads

2. Saga, Volume 5 by Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples

Over the last few weeks, I have become addicted to this comic book series. I was nervous about trying out this new reading format, but I came away thoroughly impressed and eager to try out new stuff. I have already read and loved the four volumes that have already been released, and I know this is one of those series I will avidly follow for as long as it is published.

Release Date: 6 October 2015 // Goodreads

Book Review: Saga, Volume 1 by Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples

1. Queen of Shadows by Sarah J. Maas

At the time of writing this post, I have just finished Crown of Midnight, so I have no idea what to expect for the rest of the series, but I know I want to be a part of it. I am just so excited by the potential of this series, and how much it has entertained me so far. I am currently in the midst of an obsession with Celaena Sardothian, and I know she is going to be an idol of mine in young adult literature for many years to come.

Release Date: 1 September 2015 // Goodreads

Book Review: The Assassin's Blade by Sarah J. Maas

Writing this post has now filled me with a special kind of frustration, which I'm sure you're all familiar with: the frustration that you cannot yet read the books you most want to read because they have not been published! I am now off to place my pre-orders... and perhaps purchase a few bonus ones along the way ;)

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Top 5 Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Lainey of gingerreadslainey. I tend to participate only when the topic tickles my fancy and isn’t too difficult. Today was one of those occasions.

BOOK REVIEW: Ms. Marvel, Volume 1: No Normal by G. Willow Wilson and Adrian Alphona

Ms. Marvel, Volume 1: No Normal

Author: G. Willow Wilson

Artist: Adrian Alphona

Series: Ms. Marvel (Marvel NOW!), #1-5

Published: 30 October 2014 by Marvel

Genres: Young Adult, Superheroes, Comic

Format: Trade Paperback

Source: Purchased

Links: Goodreads

Synopsis:

Kamala Khan is an ordinary girl from Jersey City — until she's suddenly empowered with extraordinary gifts. But who truly is the new Ms. Marvel? Teenager? Muslim? Inhuman? Find out as she takes the Marvel Universe by storm! When Kamala discovers the dangers of her newfound powers, she unlocks a secret behind them, as well. Is Kamala ready to wield these immense new gifts? Or will the weight of the legacy before her be too much to bear? Kamala has no idea, either. But she's comin' for you, Jersey!

Rating:

Review and Discussion:

This volume was a pure delight. I was not too sure what to expect from this comic series, as I have never consumed Marvel media in the past, but I was pleasantly surprised. I have no experience with superheroes, and very limited exposure to comics, but I'm confident in saying that Ms. Marvel looks to be a promising series that embraces diversity and celebrates feminism.

My favourite thing about this volume was the humour. I can strongly relate to Kamala's sense of humour, her sarcastic wit, and the good nature of her humour. She is smart and funny, and these qualities really drew me in and allowed me to strongly connect with her character. Her friendships were also a delight to read, and her family was an absolute joy. I think her brother is my favourite character so far, but it's hard not to love everyone.

Though this was a hugely enjoyable first volume, I did have an issue with the clichés and stereotypes. As I mentioned, I am not familiar with any superhero stories, but Kamala's beginnings just felt like a cliché. Sneaking out of home, randomly getting superpowers, embracing those powers without really figuring out why she suddenly has them, having a family who doesn't understand, and a best friend who you argue with but then make up with who helps and supports you. It felt like I had read it so many times before, just with characters changed here and there.

And although the diversity is wonderful, I worry that perhaps Kamala's family, friends and religion are somewhat stereotyped and oversimplified. From my perspective, Kamala's diversity was presented in a positive light with an entertaining twist, but it is easy to see how her brother's character, her parents' over-bearing concern, and the emphasis of her religion may have been stereotyped. I'm hoping that future volumes will explore more of Kamala's diversity and allow us to explore all the characters to give them a purpose beyond their stereotypes.

I'm also hoping that some of the confusion I have (such as how she even got her powers in the first place) are explored in later volumes. But so far, this first volume was wonderful, and I can't wait to see how everything else develops.

BOOK REVIEW: Saga, Volume 4 by Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples

Saga, Volume 4

Author: Brian K. Vaughan
Artist: Fiona Staples
Series: Saga, #19-24
Published: 17 December 2014 by Image Comics
Genres: Adult, Science Fiction, Fantasy, Comic
Format: Trade Paperback
Source: Purchased
Links: Goodreads, Publisher

Synopsis:

From the Eisner Award-winning duo of Brian K. Vaughan (The Private Eye, Pride of Baghdad) and Fiona Staples (Mystery Society, Thor), Saga is the sweeping tale of one young family fighting to find their place in the universe. As they visit a strange new world and encounter even more adversaries, baby Hazel finally becomes a toddler, while her star-crossed parents Marko and Alana struggle to stay on their feet.

Rating:

Review and Discussion:

I'm not sure why, but I just didn't enjoy this volume as much as I have enjoyed the previous ones. This volume certainly had the charm of the others, but to me it lacked something vital that prevented me from enjoying it one hundred percent, but I can't quite put my finger on what that was.

Perhaps there are too many characters, too many interwoven plot lines, that I struggle to keep up and get lost along the way. Perhaps it was Alana and Marko's relationship struggles that made me reluctant to enjoy the rest of the story because I was so worried about the state of their marriage. I'm not entirely sure why I didn't love this volume, but I just struggled to fully engage.

There was a lot less action in this volume, which made it a bit slower to read. I guess that's the thing I love about the earlier volumes: the fast-paced, action-filled plot that keeps me going. That was somewhat lacking in this volume, and the action that we did see was kinda unnecessary or could have been avoided.

I also felt that this volume lacked much of the humour and wit that had been evident in previous volumes, and the characters felt a little strange. I felt like the Marko and Alana that I had gotten to know in previous volumes weren't here anymore, but rather carbon copies who lacked the same gusto as my favourite characters. I felt like they both made decisions that they would not have normally made, that they diverged so far from their characters that I struggled to recognise them. It was rather disappointing, but I'm hoping they can come back to themselves in later volumes.

Essentially, this volume felt like a "filler" volume, preparing character developments and plot lines for what is to come. It picked up a little in the final two chapters, leaving off with a cliffhanger at the end, so I am still keen to continue on with the series. I will just have to work on reforming my expectations for what is going to happen so that I can try and enjoy it as much as the earlier volumes.

I am planning to re-read Volumes 1-4 prior to the release of Volume 5 in October, and so maybe then, after having some time to let the series settle in my mind, I will be able to enjoy this volume more. But at this stage, it was the least enjoyable volume in the series so far.

BOOK REVIEW: Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas

Crown of Midnight

Author: Sarah J. Maas
Series: Throne of Glass, #2
Published: 27 August 2013 by Bloomsbury
Genres: Young Adult, Fantasy
Format: Hardback
Source: Purchased
Links: Goodreads

Synopsis:

From the throne of glass rules a king with a fist of iron and a soul as black as pitch. Assassin Celaena Sardothien won a brutal contest to become his Champion. Yet Celaena is far from loyal to the crown. She hides her secret vigilantly; she knows that the man she serves is bent on evil.

Keeping up the deadly charade becomes increasingly difficult when Celaena realizes she is not the only one seeking justice. As she tries to untangle the mysteries buried deep within the glass castle, her closest relationships suffer. It seems no one is above questioning her allegiances—not the Crown Prince Dorian; not Chaol, the Captain of the Guard; not even her best friend, Nehemia, a foreign princess with a rebel heart.

Then one terrible night, the secrets they have all been keeping lead to an unspeakable tragedy. As Celaena's world shatters, she will be forced to give up the very thing most precious to her and decide once and for all where her true loyalties lie... and whom she is ultimately willing to fight for.

Rating:

Review and Discussion:

Firstly: this book was incredible. I read this non-stop between work and sleep, but even with all the interruptions, I was angry at myself for reading it too quickly. It was fantastic from beginning to end, and it left off on such a teasing cliffhanger that makes me so grateful to already have Heir of Fire sitting on my shelf waiting to be picked up and read straight away.

Secondly: I have no idea how much of a review this post is going to be; I strongly suspect that it will, instead, be one massive gush fest over Crown of Midnight, Celaena Sardothian and Chaol Westfall. With an appropriate excess of question marks because I have so many questions as to where the story will go on from here.

And so, without further ado...

U.K. Edition

How the heck can anyone prefer Dorian over Chaol?? Chaol is perfect for Celaena, and Celaena perfect for Chaol. Though he does have his many faults—blind loyalty to the king being the main one—he is completely excused because he has never known any better. His whole life, he has been conditioned to blindly serve the king. This ultimately causes his relationship with Celaena to fracture, but I think that served as a huge wake-up call for him. He is coming to re-assess his loyalties, and figure out what he wants for himself, and what is best for the kingdom. I understand that he and Celaena cannot be together for the time being, but by the end of the series, I hope that he will sort out his priorities and find his way back to Celaena's heart. #Chaolaena <3

And just to justify why I am not on board with Dorian and Celaena ending up together... Dorian is the king's son, and that can never change. Though Dorian may change his heart and mind on matters and choose to not align himself with the king's agenda in the future, the fact of the matter is that Dorian has been there, supporting the king, throughout the king's reign. Even if Dorian does 'rebel' and attempt to rise up against the king, he will always be the son of an awful tyrant, and is therefore ineligible for Celaena's heart (in my most humble opinion).

Okay, okay, okay. There is so much more to this book than Celaena's romantic interests. They were just the first thing on my mind because my favourite part of any book is the romantic side of things.

Celaena was incredible in this book. Seeing her as the King's Champion was pure delight. It was similar to the side of Celaena we saw in The Assassin's Blade, yet so much more badass. She is more mature, more aware of herself and her role, and is thus able to wow me with her incredible skills. There were so many scenes that filled me with such pride for Celaena: the opening scenes, the warehouse scene, the scenes with Grave and Lord Mullison, and of course, the whole chunk at the end. She went through some amazing character development in this novel, and I was completely blown away by how wonderful she is. I will always be in this story for Celaena; her love interests and dramas are just an added bonus.

And it wasn't just Celaena's character development that amazed me. Chaol, Dorian, Nehemia, Kaltain, and even the king to a certain extent, all underwent considerable character developments that really helped to progress the story. I felt a little underwhelmed by Dorian and Nehemia in Throne of Glass, but I really came to love them in Crown of Midnight. Kaltain showed promise in the previous book, and I am devastated by what her fate has been so far, but I truly hope that she can reach her full potential in the rest of the series. I am quietly rooting for a strong friendship to emerge between Celaena and Kaltain, and that Celaena can be a strong mentor for Kaltain through all the horridness she would have to overcome.

We also explored more of the castle and the fantasy world in Crown of Midnight. Whereas we were quite limited in Throne of Glass, this novel allowed Celaena to explore more of the castle and Rifthold, which was fantastic. Through others' perspectives we also get to hear a little more about the rest of the world, such as Eyllwe and Terrase and Wendlyn, etc. Also learning about the different types of magic, how they came to an end ten years ago, and the way it is being used today was all an incredible learning journey, and I feel so immersed in this world that I might just never want to leave. It is what leaves me most excited for Heir of Fire; seeing more of the world in a completely different kingdom, with different perspectives on everything. It is so, so, so exciting!

But, above all, the most exciting part of this book for me was the surprise element, in that I never knew how it was going to end. Every twenty, fifty, hundred pages, my predictions of how the book would end changed drastically. Whereas the plot of Throne of Glass was hugely predictable, Crown of Midnight was full of surprises. It started off on a blank slate, and I had no idea where it was going to go. The surprises, twists and turns, and new characters kept me guessing the entire time, and compelled me to read the story as fast as I possibly could. The ending was completely unexpected, and such a cliffhanger, so I'm keen as a bean to read Heir of Fire as soon as possible.

And although I did absolutely love this book, I had a few minor issues that kept me from rating it a full five stars. My main concern was that there was just so much going on all at once, so many different plot lines, that I was easily confused at times, and wasn't able to fully engage with each line. Perhaps if the multiple plot lines had been streamed a little differently, I might have enjoyed it all a bit better, but alas, I was somewhat confused at times, which took away from the reading experience.

The death of a certain precious character was also not okay. I am still heartbroken, and although I can accept why that character had to die, I can't see at this moment why it was completely necessary.

I was also frustrated with Celaena's to-and-fro with Archer. It was reminiscent of the idiocy that we saw from Celaena in The Assassin's Blade, which had me all kinds of angry and frustrated. So much death and unnecessary heartache could have been avoided had Celaena not been so caught up in her past alliances and taken action on her own accord.

Despite these little setbacks, I did thoroughly enjoy this sequel, and I enjoyed it far more than Throne of Glass. This book left me feeling all kinds of excitement for the rest of the series, and so I'm going to conclude this review here and get into reading that lovely tome!

TOP TEN TUESDAY: Hyped Books I've Never Read

Hyped books are a strange thing. You first hear about them when everyone and their mother is raving about it, and you wonder to yourself... Why the heck aren't I reading that book too?? So you log onto your favourite online bookstore, pop a beautiful hardback edition into your cart (because you know you're going to love it enough to want a glorious tome on your bookshelf), and then you wait... And when you finally get a chance to read it, you wonder how in the heck you convinced yourself to buy a book without (1) reading the synopsis for youself, (2) reading the first chapter on Amazon before purchasing it, and (3) actually thinking for yourself whether you would enjoy the book.

I have fallen victim to purchasing hyped books many times before. I shared my thoughts on hyped books and those that I have read last month, and so I thought this week's Top Ten Tuesday would be a fun way to share the hyped books that I have never read. So, let's get onto that!

When I first started drafting this post, I had a list of 30+ books. But after careful revisions, I have narrowed this list down to the top ten most overhyped books that I, personally, have never read, and most of which I have no intention of ever reading.

10. Outlander by Diana Gabaldon

This is one that I do plan to read someday, but I don't have plans to do so in the immediate future. The hype for this one, in my experience, is fairly moderate compared to others. I am intrigued by the concept, and so this one legitimately appeals to me. The hype that I have heard comes from reviewers whom I trust, so hopefully it will live up to that hype when I eventually get around to reading it. The page count on this book does freak me out, though!

9. I Am the Messenger by Markus Zusak

I read The Book Thief early last year, and since then I have been intrigued by Zusak's writing. I have heard nothing but amazing things about this book, so it is definitely one that I want to read eventually. Australian authors tend to be under-hyped in the worldwide community of books, so it is great to see Zusak getting the critical acclaim he so earnestly deserves. I'm not too sure about the plot of this book, but I am still nonetheless excited to read this one.

8. All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr

In all honesty, the only reason that I haven't read this book yet is because it's so gosh-darn expensive. I want to get into more historican fiction, and this one has a synopsis that just has me all kinds of excited. So many people have raved about this one, and they are again reviewers that I trust. I hope to get around to buying myself a copy of this one day, perhaps when I have a gift certificate to cover the hefty price tag.

7. Cinder by Marissa Meyer

When a new book in the Lunar Chronicles is released, this book moves its way higher and higher up my TBR. I so desparately want to become hooked on this series like everyone else in the world, but this is unlike any book I've ever read before. Fantasy, science fiction and cyborgs is something I don't read very often, so I'm somewhat nervous as to whether I would like this series. But I've been recommended this series again and again, so I'm at least going to try the first book one day or another.

6. The D.U.F.F. by Kody Keplinger

I've heard from many that this book is over-hyped, and whilst the synopsis does intrigue me, I don't plan to ever read this book. I sampled the first chapter or two on Amazon last year, and could not appreciate the main character or her narration style. I have a hunch that this book would be built on a plethora of stereotypes and clichés, so I have no desire to waste my time reading this one.

5. The Selection by Kiera Cass

I have no desire to read this book or the series. All I've heard about these books is how annoying the main character is, and so I have no desire to spend my time reading a book that I will only complain about. The synopsis is reminiscent of The Bachelor, a show that I absolutely loathe and could not ever bring myself to watch. A book series with a similar premise therefore holds no appeal to me.

4. Delirium by Lauren Oliver

This book appealed to me a while ago when I was in the midst of my dystopian obsession, but since then, it's fallen out of my favour. The plot still has me intrigued, and I might cave and eventually read it one day, but I have heard too many mixed reviews about this series and Oliver's writing in her other books that this series has been knocked off my TBR list.

3. Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard

This book has been labelled over-hyped by so many reviewers whom I trust, so I will never find myself reading this book. The premise doesn't do anything for me, and the mixed reviews all have me turned off of this book. This book seemed to pop up out of nowhere at the start of this year, and it has since fallen off the radar again. To me, that screams over-hype and disappointment from readers who fell victim to over-marketing.

2. A Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin

This one was most recently recommended to me—again—last week at work. I was in the tearoom, reading another book on my lunch break, when one of my co-workers told me to read this book. These books are so incredibly hyped, especially with the TV show in full swing, but I just have no desire to read these books. Firstly, they are incredibly long, and secondly, they are high fantasy, and that kinda terrifies me. I will probably start watching the TV show one day, but I have no intention of ever reading this book.

1. Girl Online by Zoe Sugg

This one gets a giant NOPE! from me. I don't see myself ever reading this book. I used to watch Zoe's videos religiously, but I have since fallen out of favour with her style. This is nothing against Zoe; my tastes have just changed over the years. But from what I know of her creative style, I feel that she is incapable of writing a book that I would enjoy. When this book came out, it was surrounded by controversy, so I was tempted to pick it up just to see what the fuss is about, but since then, I've regained my senses and know that I will never find myself reading this book.


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Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. I tend to participate only when the topic tickles my fancy and isn’t too difficult. Today was one of those occasions.

BOOK REVIEW: Saga, Volume 3 by Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples

Saga, Volume 3

Author: Brian K. Vaughan
Artist: Fiona Staples
Series: Saga, #13-18
Published: 25 March 2014 by Image Comics
Genres: Adult, Science Fiction, Fantasy, Comic
Format: Trade Paperback
Source: Purchased
Links: Goodreads, Publisher

Synopsis:

From the Hugo Award-winning duo of Brian K. Vaughan (The Private Eye, Y: The Last Man) and Fiona Staples (North 40, Red Sonja), Saga is the sweeping tale of one young family fighting to find their place in the universe. Searching for their literary hero, new parents Marko and Alana travel to a cosmic lighthouse on the planet Quietus, while the couple's multiple pursuers finally close in on their targets.

Rating:

Review and Discussion:

I thoroughly enjoyed this volume, but I found that it just didn't pack the same punch as the first two. Volume 3 definitely had less action and more of a "lull" feel to it in the way it focused on developing a lot of characters. The action definitely picked up in the final chapter, which has made me incredibly excited to read Volume 4 pronto!

Again, I loved everything that this comic book series has to offer. The humour, the artwork, the eclectic cast of characters, the craziness, the absurdities, and the incredible writing are just some of my favourite elements of this series. My favourite character remains Alana, but I am now particularly intrigued by The Will and The Brand, especially after the little teaser at the end! Also, Hazel is the cutest little baby, and the sassiest narrator I've ever come across.

This series offers something for everyone, and it's no wonder why it has received so much critical acclaim. If you're curious about the hype, or wanting to get into comic books or graphic novels, I would definitely recommend that you pick up Saga. It is so wonderfully entertaining, and everyone should experience the wonder of reading this series.

BOOK REVIEW: Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

Throne of Glass

Author: Sarah J. Maas
Series: Throne of Glass, #1
Published: 7 August 2012 by Bloomsbury
Genres: Young Adult, Fantasy
Format: Hardback
Source: Purchased
Links: Goodreads

Synopsis:

When magic has gone from the world, and a vicious king rules from his throne of glass, an assassin comes to the castle. She does not come to kill, but to win her freedom. If she can defeat twenty-three killers, thieves, and warriors in a competition to find the greatest assassin in the land, she will become the King's Champion and be released from prison.

Her name is Celaena Sardothien.

The Crown Prince will provoke her. The Captain of the Guard will protect her.

And a princess from a foreign land will become the one thing Celaena never thought she'd have again: a friend.

But something evil dwells in the castle—and it's there to kill. When her competitors start dying, horribly, one by one, Celaena's fight for freedom becomes a fight for survival—and a desperate quest to root out the source of the evil before it destroys her world.

Rating:

Review and Discussion:

I now feel that I can rate this book four stars with much more conviction than when I read it the first time around. Then, I had forced myself to love it because of the hype. Now, I feel like I am able to honestly express my appreciation for this book and rate it the four stars it deserves. I now feel much better about the characters and this fantasy world, and am now legitimately excited to dive into the rest of this series.

“She stood not ten feet from the King of Ardalan. Freedom or death lay at his table. Her past and future were seated on a glass throne.”

Reading The Assassin's Blade is what allowed me to enjoy Throne of Glass to its full potential. The prequel novellas allowed me to get to know Celaena Sardothian as Adarlan's Assassin. I was able to know who she was as herself before she became the Crown Prince's Champion. I feel that Throne of Glass, on its own, does not adequately explore Celaena's character. It alludes to her past, but doesn't give any details, yet uses her past as a significant driving force for her actions, her morals and her ambitions. The first time around, it was incredibly frustrating to not have enough information given about Celaena's character. After reading The Assassin's Blade, however, I feel that I was able to appreciate and understand her character on a whole new level.

U.K. Edition

Admittedly, this is a negative critique of Throne of Glass and its feasibility to serve as an adequate first novel in a high fantasy series. It falls short in a lot of ways, but it presents the reader with so much potential for what the rest of the series could be. Readers shouldn't have to read The Assassin's Blade before reading Throne of Glass, but in my experiences, if they want to get as clear a picture of the characters and the world of this fantasy series, it is an absolute requirement. Which is hugely disappointing, because the prequel novellas should not be required reading to enjoy the actual series.

Another shortfall of Throne of Glass is its lack of world exploration. The world building is excellent, but I found that the book itself didn't explore enough of the world to enhance the building that took place. We hear of all these places in Erilea—Bellhaven, Skull's Bay, Terrasen, the Red Desert, Eyllwe, etc—but none of them are explored. We are restricted to the castle at Rifthold, and very briefly, the death camp in Endovier. With so much of the world alluded to, it was disappointing that we explored so very little of it. The Assassin's Blade definitely compensates for this, and it allowed me to better appreciate the world when reading Throne of Glass.

Thus, without having read The Assassin's Blade, I know I would not have enjoyed Throne of Glass to its full potential. Given a full appreciation of the world and Celaena's incredible character, Throne of Glass becomes a fantastic read. It is epic, thrilling, mysterious, intelligent, witty, hilarious, wholesome and inspiring.

I definitely enjoyed the first half of the book much more than the second half, mostly because the love triangle really starts to emerge and I have no time for the ridiculous love triangle forming. I also found that the double plot was almost too much for this one novel, and could have been explored a bit more than what was allowed. I was definitely more interested in the competition story line than the mysterious murders story line, but alas, they were both entertaining enough to keep me hooked.

Celaena's character was definitely the highlight for me, and her character development is what has me keen to continue on with Crown of Midnight. Her love interests, the plot, the motivations of other characters are all the least of my worries; I am invested in Celaena's character, and she is my first interest in reading these books. Everything else now is just an added bonus.

I'm hoping the rest of the series won't now disappoint me, as I've worked so hard to finally enjoy this first book. Having heard tidbits over the years of the intense shipping rivalries, I'm nervous as to how that will impact the story, Celaena's character, and my enjoyment overall. I've also heard of some pretty significant backlash against Sarah J. Maas herself recently for her poor interactions with readers, which makes me nervous about investing my time in the series. Alas, I am keen as a bean to read Crown of Midnight, and I'll be sure to share my thoughts with you on that when I'm finished.