REVIEW - Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

Title: Throne of Glass

Author: Sarah J. Maas

Series: Throne of Glass #1
Publisher: Bloomsbury

Published: 2nd August 2012
Links: Goodreads / Amazon

Source: Won paperback

Goodreads:

After serving out a year of hard labor in the salt mines of Endovier for her crimes, 18-year-old assassin Celaena Sardothien is dragged before the Crown Prince. Prince Dorian offers her her freedom on one condition: she must act as his champion in a competition to find a new royal assassin. Her opponents are men-thieves and assassins and warriors from across the empire, each sponsored by a member of the king's council. If she beats her opponents in a series of eliminations, she'll serve the kingdom for three years and then be granted her freedom. Celaena finds her training sessions with the captain of the guard, Westfall, challenging and exhilarating. But she's bored stiff by court life. Things get a little more interesting when the prince starts to show interest in her... but it's the gruff Captain Westfall who seems to understand her best. Then one of the other contestants turns up dead... quickly followed by another. Can Celaena figure out who the killer is before she becomes a victim? As the young assassin investigates, her search leads her to discover a greater destiny than she could possibly have imagined.

5/5

I LOVED this book! It was creative and unique and has everything you could want in a book. Sarah has created a fantasy world like no other. Her imagination knows no boundaries. 

Celaena was an excellent character. She might have an ice tough exterior but underneath she is just a girl who is just trying to survive in a harsh world. She is one of my new favourite characters. She is the very definition of kick-ass. She is everything I want in a character - sarcastic, tough as nails and smart. I loved her back story and can't wait to find out more about her. She is a girl don't forget and so she finds herself getting feelings for the Prince and Chaol. And who wouldn't?! These two are great love interests. Even though I despise love-triangles, this one didn't annoying as much as I thought it would. You have Prince Dorian, who is flirty and arrogant. And then you have Chaol, who is solemn and stoic, watching from the sidelines. At first I was kind of caught between the two but I am now definitely on Team Chaol. He just seems more, I dunno, dependable and caring and someone who would be able to handle Celaena's wild ways. 

The storyline was very imaginative and the writing flowed beautifully. Never once did I find myself bored or wanting to skip ahead. I was glued to the page and just couldn't get enough. Although, as with most fantasy novels, I found it difficult to pronounce some of the place names, it didn't stop me from enjoying this amazing book. There was no shortage of action - as you would expect - and the way the author described the fights scenes was very detailed and a bit gruesome at some points. It kept me engaged and I couldn't wait for the next action scene. The magic element of the story was interesting and I wanted to find out more.

Overall this was an amazing fantasy book packed full of action, humor, betrayal, romance and much more. I recommend everyone to read this!

Giveaway!

Nely Cab is doing yet another Giveaway for Creatura so make sure to go check it out.

Click here to enter

Waiting on Wednesday (#23)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine,

which spotlights upcoming books we can't wait to read.

My WoW for this week is:

Violet Midnight (Violet Night Trilogy #1) by Lynn Rush

Goodreads Summary:

Let the Hunt begin…

Blending in with her college co-eds proves difficult for vampire Hunter, Emma Martin, considering the mystical tattoo on her wrist glows whenever Vamps are near. And after three months of silence, the glow is back with a vengeance.

Jake Cunningham witnesses Emma, a violet-eyed beauty, using unimaginable powers to fight off a fanged creature. Finally, after two years of searching, he may have found out what he’s become—a Hunter, like Emma.

Thankful for an ally in the fight against the Vamps, Emma finds hope and comfort in Jake’s arms. As she learns more about her new love’s family and its dark heritage, she may be forced not only to hunt them but to sacrifice her life to save Jake’s soul.

***Portion of all proceeds donated to American Cancer Society***

My thoughts:

Firstly, I love the cover. Secondly, this book sounds awesome because who doesn't love a girl who can kick some butt. Plus I love that it's set with them in college. It's a nice change from all the high school books. Can't wait to read this :)

Expected Release Date: October 2012

What book are you waiting for?

Yvonne

REVIEW - Chrysalis by Michel Prince

Title: Chrysalis

Author: Michel Prince

Series: Chrysalis #1

Publisher: Rebel Ink Press LLC

Published: 17th April 2012

Links: Goodreads / Amazon
Source: eARC

Summary:

In the annals of dysfunctional families, the Chisholm’s are working their way to the top. Drug abuse, an unwed mother with multiple fathers, and the questionable cash flow for the 'pretty one'. All this from a seemingly normal, two parent middle class family. But were the choices truly made of their free will?

Bad choices are a Chisholm family trait, one that confounds the youngest child, Ellie, who's trying to separate herself by making smart decisions. And falling for Oscar Jeffreys, the hottest guy at school, would be number one on the list of Chisholm family disasters. Yet the crazy part is it’s not a one sided attraction. Somehow Ellie has caught Oscar Jeffreys’ eye. Sure she could see the barriers between them. Race, age, popularity. They were at opposite ends of the spectrum. But a demon set to destroy her family? She can't see that.

Oscar provides security and acceptance Ellie never imagined she deserved. As the passion of first love grows, Ellie honestly believes she has a chance to beat the odds and live a happy, normal life. Then her world collapses around her. With the help of a guardian angel, Ellie learns of a world that has unknowingly surrounded her for years. And she'll have to find strength buried deep inside to save not only her future, but flush out and stop the demon in her midst.

And Ellie will have to learn that sometimes the hardest lesson about growing up is accepting that you're worth more.

4/5

This was a very moving and thought-provoking novel. The issues that are addressed are heartbreaking and are dealt with in a very real and honest way. Even though this is a paranormal read, it is also very true to life and could easily pass for a contemporary if the paranormal aspect was removed.

I loved both Ellie and Oscar. They are were perfect for each other. They both have a past that they need to confront if they are to have any hope of a happy future together. Ellie is a very vulnerable and damaged character. She has to deal with a family that is falling apart at the seams. With parents that don't notice her, a brother that is a drug addict, and two sisters who have no respect for their bodies or themselves, with one of them one step away from being a prostitute. Ellie must fight her inner demons that say she is no better than her sisters and is destined to have a life like theirs. She has to find the confidence and the courage to make more of herself and to realise that she deserves to be loved and to be happy for once.

Oscar also has his own past to deal with. He has to show people that he is no longer the school playboy but has grown up and wants to be a better man.

These two are perfect for each other. Their love is so real and sweet. They are each others rock and they help one another to grow and become stronger. 

Along with all these issues, they also have to deal with the stigma of an inter-racial relationship. This I thought was dealt with in a very convincing way by the author. Oscar, the black senior, and Ellie, the white sophomore, come up against a lot of prejudice and hate. They have to deal with a constant stream of threats and insults that are thrown their way, especially Ellie. Their relationship comes under pressure as they try to not let the rumors and insults get to them. I have personally never witnessed problems with inter-racial couples where I live but I know that in America it is very different. I felt that the author dealt with the issue in a very honest way, she didn't sugar-coat anything.

Up until around the half-way mark you would be forgiven for thinking that this is a contemporary novel but we are slowly introduced to the bigger issue at hand. The story behind why Ellie's family is tormented by a demon was simple yet effective but I still feel that we haven't gotten the whole story and we can expect plenty more to be revealed in book #2.

Overall, this is a gripping, moving and thought-provoking novel that will appeal to both contemporary and paranormal lovers alike.

*Note 1: There were a few grammatical errors throughout the book but I received an ARC version so these errors might not be present in the final edition.

*Note 2: Due to the use of foul language and quite a lot of sexual references, I would recommend this to a more mature age group.

*I received an e-copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review*

Creatura Giveaway

Nely Cab, author of Creatura is having an international giveaway for a signed copy of the book as well as 2 mystery prizes. Make sure to go check it out :)
Giveaway