A Court of Throns and Roses By: Sarah J. Maas

Summary (Via: Goodreads):

A thrilling, seductive new series from New York Timesbestselling author Sarah J. Maas, blending Beauty and the Beast with faerie lore.

When nineteen-year-old huntress Feyre kills a wolf in the woods, a beast-like creature arrives to demand retribution for it. Dragged to a treacherous magical land she only knows about from legends, Feyre discovers that her captor is not an animal, but Tamlin—one of the lethal, immortal faeries who once ruled their world.

As she dwells on his estate, her feelings for Tamlin transform from icy hostility into a fiery passion that burns through every lie and warning she's been told about the beautiful, dangerous world of the Fae. But an ancient, wicked shadow grows over the faerie lands, and Feyre must find a way to stop it . . . or doom Tamlin—and his world—forever.

Perfect for fans of Kristin Cashore and George R. R. Martin, this first book in a sexy and action-packed new series is impossible to put down

My thoughts:

I was very excited when this book was announced because I am a huge fan of her Throne of Glass series, and I wanted to see what more she can do, and she didn't disappoint. While still in the high fantasy genre she took us into the world of  the Fae and used it to retell Beauty and the Beast. Feyre, serves as a Belle stand in, and I like Feyre, almost as much as I like Caelena from Throne of Glass. She's smart, and doesn't really put up with Tamlin's crap. Sarah J Mass also does a good job with world building as it is extremely hard to do so especially in the fantasty genre. Another main character is Tamlin, who is the Beast, and when he if first introduced it is almost like when the Beast first showed up in Beauty and The Beast. 

The first half is very devoted to the character development of both Feyre and Tamlin, and them getting to know each other and also fall in love. Mass does a very good job with the believably of them being in love rather then the insta-love which is found in many YA novels. The second half is more action packed with Feyre being forced to go through trials in order to save Tamlin, from the evil Armantha, who is a pretty decent villain, just the down side is that she was killed by the end of the book, and would of mainly wanted her to be the series main villain. 

Also there is a maybe love triangle between Feyre, Tamlin and Rhysand. As a hetero male I would go for Tamlin, mainly because she went through everything for him. Rhysand, I would describe as Eric, from True Blood, Damon from Vampire Diaries with little bit of Loki, and while that may turn girls on, I think Feyre and Tamlin are end game. 

This book was a very good start to what could be great series, which did a fantastic job mixing the romance elements with the fantasy elements

Score: 4.7/5

An Ember in the Ashes: Book Review (with Spoilers)

Summary(via Goodreads):
Laia is a slave. Elias is a soldier. Neither is free.

Under the Martial Empire, defiance is met with death. Those who do not vow their blood and bodies to the Emperor risk the execution of their loved ones and the destruction of all they hold dear.

It is in this brutal world, inspired by ancient Rome, that Laia lives with her grandparents and older brother. The family ekes out an existence in the Empire’s impoverished backstreets. They do not challenge the Empire. They’ve seen what happens to those who do.

But when Laia’s brother is arrested for treason, Laia is forced to make a decision. In exchange for help from rebels who promise to rescue her brother, she will risk her life to spy for them from within the Empire’s greatest military academy.

There, Laia meets Elias, the school’s finest soldier—and secretly, its most unwilling. Elias wants only to be free of the tyranny he’s being trained to enforce. He and Laia will soon realize that their destinies are intertwined—and that their choices will change the fate of the Empire itself.

My Thoughts:
First of all, THIS IS NOT A STAND ALONE, just the way it ended it has too many loose ends that needs to tie up, but thank god a sequel was announced and I am excited. This is one of the best books I read this year. I was skeptical at first because the book was very hyped up, and most times when anything is hyped up it usually disappoints, but this was not the case. 

The book does a very good job world building, and giving us a good setting and an idea of the conflict that is going on.  The characters are also very well written and developed. Laia gets pushed into the story by trying to help her brother after a raid kills her grandparents and arrests her brother, and is forced to work as a spy for a rebel group. Elias, wants to escape the Empire, and be free. It reminded me a lot of Legend, which also has two POV protagonists, both on opposite sides of  Empire spectrum. Another favorite character is Izzi, who Laia befriends while working at the Academy, and what is missing from alot of YA books is friendships, while romance is what sells books, friendships develops the characters. Other characters include an Augur named Cain, who is one of my favorite characters , the Commandant and Elias's mother who I would describe as a crazier version of Queen Cersie from Game of Thrones, Marcus, who is almost a Joffrey like Cadet and Helene, who I like to describe as a mix of Hermione and Annabeth.

The plot is also great as, Elias, and his other school mates are forced in what is basically a Hunger Games version of the Triwizard Tournament, which also further is relationship with Helene another school mate in the Trials, with Laia spying for the rebels. 

Yes, this book kinda has a love triangle, but its not a stupid love triangle or could be a love rhombus, between Laia, Elias, Keenan and Helene, but their characters are actually fully developed so its actually alright.

I know, there is so much more I should cover but honestly just read the book, its a great read, I give the book a 4.8 out of 5.

Introduction

Hello everyone,

Welcome to my blog; my name is Darnell and I am a student living in Boston who likes books, movies and tv shows, and this blog I give mt reviews and thoughts on them.