book reviews – Page 2

Rating: 3/5
Audience: Juvenile/YA, very very little language, some kissing, some violence
Length: 451 pages
Author: Kerstin Gier
Publisher: Henry Holt
Release Date: December 8th, 2010
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Gwen has a destiny to fulfill, but no one will tell her what it is. She’s only recently learned that she is the Ruby, the final member of the time-traveling Circle of Twelve, and since then nothing has been going right. She suspects the founder of the Circle, Count Saint-German, is up to something nefarious, but nobody will believe her. And she’s just learned that her charming time-traveling partner, Gideon, has probably been using her all along. Emerald Green is the stunning conclusion to Kerstin Gier’s Ruby Red Trilogy, picking up where Sapphire Blue left off, reaching new heights of intrigue and romance as Gwen finally uncovers the secrets of the time-traveling society and learns her fate.

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LACKING.

That’s what I finally realized upon finishing this series. It was altogether…lacking.

I never got a big enough back story on any character so my feelings for them remained superficial. There was also SO MANY characters. And any plot twists really only occurred in the epilogues. While things like, high school romances are “relatable,” the writing was so naive that it felt silly most of the time.

The story was there. Brimming under the surface but never breaching. I enjoyed at times where things were going. Yet, I’m sitting here writing this review only hours after finishing and I can’t even remember some pieces. It’s that forgettable.

While these are solely my opinions…you may enjoy this book! It’s all about time traveling and stopping the evil by circumventing history. Can be confusing to follow where each person is when. It is at least unique in this regard.

I think it may be more suitable for younger (than myself) audiences. With only maybe a curse word or two its a clean book. There’s some kissing, some I love you proclamations, and only an instance of innuendo. Some minor violence as well.

Book Review

Review: Tower of Dawn (Throne of Glass #6) by Sarah J. Maas

September 10, 2018 GoodeyReads

Rating: 5/5
Audience: New adult, some language, a romance scene, kissing/make-outs, violence
Length: 664 pages
Author: Sarah J. Maas
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Release Date: September 5th, 2017
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

In the next installment of the New York Times bestselling Throne of Glass series, follow Chaol on his sweeping journey to a distant empire.

Chaol Westfall has always defined himself by his unwavering loyalty, his strength, and his position as the Captain of the Guard. But all of that has changed since the glass castle shattered, since his men were slaughtered, since the King of Adarlan spared him from a killing blow, but left his body broken.

His only shot at recovery lies with the legendary healers of the Torre Cesme in Antica—the stronghold of the southern continent’s mighty empire. And with war looming over Dorian and Aelin back home, their survival might lie with Chaol and Nesryn convincing its rulers to ally with them.

But what they discover in Antica will change them both—and be more vital to saving Erilea than they could have imagined.
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CAN I HAVE A BOOK ALL ABOUT SARTAQ?

I decided he’s one of my top favorite side characters. I LOVE him and Nesryn. And now that he’s Heir it’ll give them an even bigger opportunity in the final battle! I need a ruk too. I’ll think of a name while I climb a mountain to find one.

I don’t love Chaol. Never really have. So I wasn’t originally excited to read this book. The first have is a bit slower because SJM word builds the Southern Continent. After that the action flows well and a lot, a lot, happens.

Chaol does get his story though. That boy was HURTING. I thought it was a unique play on what was causing his disability. And you really felt the emotional turmoil he had to endure and come to terms with to be able to find happiness.

If you’re like me and weren’t too excited, I would still say YOU HAVE TO READ THIS STORY. The critical Maeve information in here will shake you. And send you down a horrid spiral trying to figure out what’s happening to our girl in the coffin with the news.

Yrene will also play a mega role in KoA if you ask me. I’m not quite sure where her healing power sits in the pawns of war, but if we spent an entire book on it then it means something, right?

This book became so large it isn’t considered a novella. It rivals with the later books in ToG.

I FEEL SO PUMPED FOR KOA NOW. READY FOR SJM TO SHATTER MY SOUL.

This installment still leans towards new adult. There is some language. A romance scene that is much less in your face as ACOMAF/EOS. Only lightly descriptive as are the other scenes that are glossed over. Minor violence.

Book Review

The Queen and the Cure (The Bird and the Sword Chronicles #2) by Amy Harmon

September 5, 2018September 5, 2018 GoodeyReads

Rating: 5/5
Audience: YA, no language, a love scene, kisses, violence
Length: 342 pages
Author: Amy Harmon
Publisher: Independently published
Release Date: May 1st, 2017
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Kjell of Jeru had always known who he was. He’d never envied his brother or wanted to be king. He was the bastard son of the late King Zoltev and a servant girl, and the ignominy of his birth had never bothered him.

But there is more to a man than his parentage. More to a man than his blade, his size, or his skills, and all that Kjell once knew has shifted and changed. He is no longer simply Kjell of Jeru, a warrior defending the crown. Now he is a healer, one of the Gifted, and a man completely at odds with his power.

Called upon to rid the country of the last vestiges of the Volgar, Kjell stumbles upon a woman who has troubling glimpses of the future and no memory of the past. Armed with his unwanted gift and haunted by regret, Kjell becomes a reluctant savior, beset by old enemies and new expectations. With the woman by his side, Kjell embarks upon a journey where the greatest test may be finding the man she believes him to be.

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ALL GOOD THINGS.

I forgot how much I LOVE AMY HARMON BOOKS. She’s not super well known, so hopefully this review will convince you to read her books. Emotional torture is her strong suit and she does great fantasies and contemporaries.

This particular book is a fantasy romance. YAAAAAS. Sometimes that’s what kind of book you need in your life. There was angst, tears, love, guilt, and courage.

I couldn’t put it down and it had me from the first chapter, especially since this was book two. I already knew and loved these characters.

Kjell is a cinnamon roll who melts my soul every time he talks. A fierce warrior who is more tender than he knows what to do with. Watching him with Sasha will make you swoon.

While you can see the twist coming, you don’t see the fullness of it. Even I was stunned for a second trying to figure out where we were going. The ending was blissfully what you need.

A YA+ book with no language. Light descriptions of naked people (when Changers shift they have no clothes). A soft, tastefully scripted love scene. Some kissing and make-out scenes. Occasional violence.

Book Review

Review: Ruby Red (Precious Stones Trilogy #1) by Kerstin Gier

September 1, 2018September 5, 2018 GoodeyReads

Rating: 3.5/5
Audience: YA, no language, a kiss scene or two, a little violence
Length: 324 pages
Author: Kerstin Gier
Publisher: Henry Holt
Release Date: January 6th, 2009
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Gwyneth Shepherd’s sophisticated, beautiful cousin Charlotte has been prepared her entire life for traveling through time. But unexpectedly, it is Gwyneth, who in the middle of class takes a sudden spin to a different era!

Gwyneth must now unearth the mystery of why her mother would lie about her birth date to ward off suspicion about her ability, brush up on her history, and work with Gideon–the time traveler from a similarly gifted family that passes the gene through its male line, and whose presence becomes, in time, less insufferable and more essential. Together, Gwyneth and Gideon journey through time to discover who, in the 18th century and in contemporary London, they can trust.

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A TAD NAIVE.

I had multiple people recommend this to me, but it also had the unfortunate luck of following after reading my favorite series, so it lacked a bit. It’s an interesting story line enough that I will be reading the second book.

Gwyneth, while almost 17, acts closer to 14 most of the time. All of the time travel must truly be scattering her brain because she could definitely be more intelligent in some scenes. Her character does get better though. Towards the end as she understood what was happening she acted more mature about it all. I don’t love this narrative style where she comments on her own thoughts too often.

Since I personally haven’t figured out the ending, I’m going to keep reading them. I think the second book has the chance to build upon a unique world. As Gideon and Gwyneth have the chance to explore their friendship, I hope we get more of them.

There are A LOT of side characters with the time travel. It’s a bit to keep up with, but luckily there is a glossary of names at the back if you occasionally forgot who was who (whoops!).

The evil hasn’t fully presented itself either. There’s hints as to who the bad group is, yet have no way of knowing if that’s true or not. I hope I’m wrong, because I’m always down for a good plot twist.

The action picks up about half-way through and is a super quick read. There is no language, and only a kiss scene. Some violence (rather unexpected, go team for throwing me a little!).