QUOTES
"You could rattle the stars," she whispered. "You could do anything if you only dared." --Sarah J. Maas, Throne of Glass

"To the stars who listen--and the dreams that are answered."--Sarah J. Maas, A Court of Mist and Fury

"Sometimes it seems safer to hold it all in, where the only person who can judge you is yourself."-- Sarah Dessen

"Life is full of screw ups. You're supposed to fail sometimes. It's a required part of the human existence."--Sarah Dessen, Along for the Ride

Monday, March 8, 2021

February 2021 Wrap Up πŸ’˜πŸ“šπŸ€“


February was an exciting month!! We got the new book in ACOTAR series, A Court of Silver Flames. That was the highlight of 2021 (so far). It's Nesta & Cassian's story AND it's in the Adult section not YA. My official review will be down below...to say I LOVED it would be an understatement. ALSO, I was fortunate enough to attend the ACOSF virtual book tour. I have some info on that below too. Another new release was Sancte Diaboli by Amo Jones. Amo did not disappoint. This book left me speechless & gasping for air. As mentioned before, Amo is one of my fav dark & twisted romance authors and Brantley+Saint weren't any different. Honestly the music in this book & the smut is out of this world. The final release for February was The Heir by Frost Kay. Frost did a wonderful job wrapping up her Twisted Kingdoms series. I thoroughly enjoyed the books & even re-read to prepare for this epic conclusion. All in all, this was a great month of new releases & new books to review! I only re-read two things & I'll have links to their reviews down below. Let's dive right into my thoughts on my February Wrap Up books. 

Official Reviews

A Court Of Silver Flames 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
By: Sarah J. Maas (Book #4 ACOTAR Series)

About A Court of Silver Flames:
Nesta Archeron has always been prickly-proud, swift to anger, and slow to forgive. And ever since being forced into the Cauldron and becoming High Fae against her will, she's struggled to find a place for herself within the strange, deadly world she inhabits. Worse, she can't seem to move past the horrors of the war with Hybern and all she lost in it.

The one person who ignites her temper more than any other is Cassian, the battle-scarred warrior whose position in Rhysand and Feyre's Night Court keeps him constantly in Nesta's orbit. But her temper isn't the only thing Cassian ignites. The fire between them is undeniable, and only burns hotter as they are forced into close quarters with each other.

Meanwhile, the treacherous human queens who returned to the Continent during the last war have forged a dangerous new alliance, threatening the fragile peace that has settled over the realms. And the key to halting them might very well rely on Cassian and Nesta facing their haunting pasts.

Against the sweeping backdrop of a world seared by war and plagued with uncertainty, Nesta and Cassian battle monsters from within and without as they search for acceptance-and healing-in each other's arms.
Applause. Sarah, you have outdone yourself. Let me start this by saying I'm a Feysand super fan. They are my favorite. Rhys is my #1 book boyfriend and will probably always be. Nesta, was not my favorite character when reading through the ACOTAR books. I did enjoy her verbal sparring with Cassian, but I was not a fan of her treatment towards her sister. I went into this book with a clear open mind. I wanted to see inside Nesta's mind. I wanted to understand her hang ups and see why she was this way to everyone. I also of course wanted to see into my main dude, Cassian's mind too. You get all of this and SO MUCH MORE. Sarah dives into mental health & let's us see an internal struggle for Nesta. She also helps us see how Nesta works through those mental health issues and overcome them.

Be warned. You will finish this book loving Nesta. The journey Nesta follows throughout this book will break your heart and repair it. It's a long road to recovery for Nesta and I rooted for her the entire way. The relationships she builds & fix are the best. I cried, I laughed, I cried some more and I LOVED this book. I loved the fighting, the romance (of course), getting to see the inner circle doing what they do best. Getting some FEYSAND in the book (no spoilers) but let's just say that's a journey in itself and I'm gonna need WAY more details Sarah!!! SO MUCH stuff takes place in this book I could write a paper on it. Getting to see Nesta train & see how it differs with Feyre was so fun to read. The open ends left in this novel makes me so excited to see where Sarah takes us next. There's a lot of opportunity, whether that be with Azriel, Elain, Tamlin, Gwyn, Emmerie, Feysand, Mor, Amren, and who knows what I missed!!

The romance in this book....Sarah flew out of YA and landed in the smutt universe. That's all I'm gonna say. I have read many smutty romance novels and Sarah is just getting started. I'm very excited to see how she write up a certain shadow singer ;)

All in all, I'm extremely pleased with how ACOSF came out. Its made me want to dive back into the ACOTAR world and re-read it all over again....

SJM Virtual Book Tour⭐⭐⭐⭐

So, I was fortunate enough to get to purchase a ticket for the US virtual tour for ACOSF. I have been to one other SJM book tour before and I was starry eyed and so excited to attend. This tour I was excited but it was different. It honestly reminded me of an Instagram live only the MC for this tour was rough. I was not a fan of Eva Chen & her commentary during the QA. This was supposed to be about SJM and her writing processes, all things ACOTAR (no spoilers tho), and fan questions. BUT, Eva would ask the questions and then give her own answer instead of giving Sarah a chance to answer. I'm sorry, but it's about Sarah...not Eva. Idk if anyone else felt this way but I was annoyed that my hour event was also spent hearing about an author I didn't really want to know about.....maybe it's just me, but I didn't fully enjoy that. I did enjoy hearing about Sarah's journey creating Nesta and hearing how she relates with Nesta the most. Having an author talk about their mental health was awesome since even today, it seems to be a difficult topic for people to discuss. I will say, I think the New Zealand virtual event got more insightful information than the US. I saw an IG post that recapped SJM's event and their MC/questions were more detailed and beneficial. They discussed SJM going to New Zealand and experiences a hike similar to the one Nesta & Cassian do in ACOSF. Sarah also discusses how so reached out and tried to learn about sword training so she could accurately reflect on the pain Nesta would feel. It all seemed very interesting. The writing process isn't just in your head, but required research and maybe actually attempting what they have their characters doing. 

The Elite Kings Club
By: Amo Jones

Book 5: Malum Part 2 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

About Malum Part 2:
Some girls don’t like pretty things.
Some girls like things that are destructive, and toxic. Things that fuel our bodies with adrenaline and bring our demons to their knees.
They say magic isn’t real, but it’s it the closest way to describe love? It doesn’t exist physically. It merely exists around us, within us, possessing our souls and making us do stupid shit. Shit like falling in love with a boy who knows how to rip my world apart and raise hell with a simple flick of his wrist. Their secrets are now mine. I’m not just in the middle of this game, I’m helping orchestrate it. Can the cries of my aching soul be enough to drown out the burning embers of my mistakes?
The mind strengthens the heart, roughing the edges to prepare it for war. This is a war I will not win.
This is a war of fate.

π‘†β„Žπ‘’’𝑠 π‘”π‘œπ‘–π‘›π‘” π‘‘π‘œ π‘π‘Ÿπ‘’π‘Žπ‘˜.
π‘†β„Žπ‘’’𝑠 π‘”π‘œπ‘–π‘›π‘” π‘‘π‘œ π‘“π‘Žπ‘™π‘™.
π‘†β„Žπ‘’ 𝑀𝑖𝑙𝑙 π‘’π‘£π‘’π‘›π‘‘π‘’π‘Žπ‘™π‘™π‘¦ π‘π‘œπ‘šπ‘’ π‘π‘Žπ‘π‘˜ π‘‘π‘œ π‘šπ‘’, π‘œπ‘› π‘Žπ‘™π‘™ π‘“π‘œπ‘’π‘Ÿπ‘ 
π΅π‘’π‘π‘Žπ‘’π‘ π‘’ π‘‘β„Žπ‘–π‘  𝑖𝑠𝑛’𝑑 π‘Ž π‘“π‘Žπ‘–π‘Ÿπ‘¦ π‘‘π‘Žπ‘™π‘’
𝐼 π‘Žπ‘š π‘›π‘œ π‘˜π‘›π‘–π‘”β„Žπ‘‘.
𝐼’𝑙𝑙 π‘‘π‘Žπ‘˜π‘’ π‘Žπ‘™π‘™ π‘œπ‘“ β„Žπ‘’π‘Ÿ π‘ π‘œπ‘’π‘™
𝐴𝑛𝑑 π‘π‘œπ‘’π‘Ÿ 𝑖𝑛 π‘šπ‘¦ 𝑠𝑝𝑖𝑑𝑒.
π‘π‘œ π‘™π‘–π‘”β„Žπ‘‘.
π‘π‘œ π‘™π‘–π‘”β„Žπ‘‘.
𝐸𝑣𝑒𝑛 π‘šπ‘¦ π‘‘π‘Žπ‘Ÿπ‘˜π‘›π‘’π‘ π‘ , π‘ π‘’π‘Ÿπ‘£π‘–π‘£π‘’π‘  𝑖𝑛 π‘‘π‘Žπ‘¦π‘™π‘–π‘”β„Žπ‘‘.
π‘‡β„Žπ‘–π‘  𝑖𝑠𝑛’𝑑 π‘Ž π‘“π‘Žπ‘–π‘Ÿπ‘¦-π‘‘π‘Žπ‘™π‘’.
𝐡𝑒𝑑 π‘™π‘œπ‘£π‘’ π‘‘π‘œπ‘’π‘  𝑀𝑖𝑛
π΅π‘’π‘π‘Žπ‘’π‘ π‘’ 𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑛 π‘‘β„Žπ‘Ÿπ‘œπ‘’π‘”β„Ž π‘‘β„Žπ‘’ 𝑠𝑖𝑛
𝐼𝑑’𝑠 β„Žπ‘’π‘Ÿ π‘‘β„Žπ‘Žπ‘‘ π‘™π‘–π‘›π‘”π‘’π‘Ÿπ‘  π‘€π‘–π‘‘β„Žπ‘–π‘›.
π‘†β„Žπ‘’ π‘π‘’π‘Žπ‘‘π‘  π‘‘β„Žπ‘Ÿπ‘œπ‘’π‘”β„Ž π‘šπ‘¦ 𝑣𝑒𝑖𝑛𝑠.
π‘Šβ„Žπ‘–π‘ π‘π‘’π‘Ÿπ‘  π‘œπ‘£π‘’π‘Ÿ π‘šπ‘¦ π‘“π‘™π‘’π‘ β„Ž
𝑇𝑒𝑔𝑠 π‘œπ‘› π‘šπ‘¦ β„Žπ‘’π‘Žπ‘Ÿπ‘‘ π‘ π‘‘π‘Ÿπ‘–π‘›π‘”π‘ 
πΏπ‘–π‘˜π‘’ π‘Ž 𝑝𝑒𝑝𝑝𝑒𝑑 π‘‘π‘Žπ‘›π‘”π‘™π‘’π‘‘ 𝑖𝑛 π‘Ž π‘šπ‘’π‘ π‘ 
π‘Šπ‘–π‘™π‘™ π‘šπ‘¦ β„Žπ‘’π‘Žπ‘Ÿπ‘‘ 𝑏𝑒 π‘’π‘›π‘œπ‘’π‘”β„Ž
π‘‡π‘œ π‘π‘Ÿπ‘–π‘›π‘” β„Žπ‘’π‘Ÿ π‘π‘Žπ‘π‘˜ π‘‘π‘œ 𝑙𝑖𝑓𝑒
π‘Šβ„Žπ‘’π‘› π‘‘β„Žπ‘’ π‘“π‘–π‘Ÿπ‘ π‘‘ π‘‘β„Žπ‘–π‘›π‘” π‘ β„Žπ‘’ π‘Ÿπ‘’π‘Žπ‘β„Žπ‘’π‘‘ π‘“π‘œπ‘Ÿ
π‘Šπ‘Žπ‘  π‘›π‘œπ‘‘ β„Žπ‘–π‘š
π‘‚π‘Ÿ β„Žπ‘–π‘š
π‘‚π‘Ÿ π‘šπ‘’
𝐼𝑑 π‘€π‘Žπ‘  π‘‘β„Žπ‘’ π‘œπ‘›π‘’ π‘π‘’π‘Ÿπ‘ π‘œπ‘› π‘‘β„Žπ‘Žπ‘‘ β„Žπ‘Žπ‘’π‘›π‘‘π‘’π‘‘ β„Žπ‘’π‘Ÿ, π‘–π‘›π‘‘π‘œ π‘šπ‘–π‘ π‘’π‘Ÿπ‘¦.
π‘‡β„Žπ‘–π‘  𝑖𝑠𝑛’𝑑 π‘Ž π‘”π‘Žπ‘šπ‘’.
π‘‡β„Žπ‘œπ‘ π‘’ π‘Žπ‘Ÿπ‘’π‘›’𝑑 π‘šπ‘¦ π‘‘π‘Ÿπ‘–π‘π‘˜π‘ 
𝐼𝑓 π‘ β„Žπ‘’ π‘‘π‘œπ‘’π‘ π‘›’𝑑 π‘œπ‘π‘’π‘¦
π‘‡β„Žπ‘’π‘Ÿπ‘’’𝑠 π‘Ž π‘›π‘’π‘šπ‘π‘’π‘Ÿ…
This book...it F***ED ME UP. Like wow my heart is gone it was like in the chapter 5 ripped out and shredded. This series kills me but also brings me back to life? I felt so much despair for Tillie and Nate. But also, for my OTP Madship. Like wtf Amo you’re putting them through a ringer. I’m so heartbroken for them. Tillie and Nate’s story is a roller coaster of emotions and drama and I don’t envy them. I just hope they find peace and happiness. I’m also very intrigued to read Bran Bran’s story next ;) Tillie and Bran Brans relationship was a savior throughout the book. He was definitely a rock for her and I loved it. Amo, you dark goddess, you rock my fictional world.

Book 6: Sancte Diaboli ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

About Sancte Diaboli:
The Devil comes with baggage, and not the kind you can lose. I was two years old when he saved me. I didn’t understand much at that age, but I remember the pale boy with hair as dark as ink, saving me from two evils. He said he would protect me; I just didn’t know he meant from himself. I was raised in the arms of evil, tailored for the Devil like a custom Armani suit, and every day he wore it like a weapon. Brantley thought by keeping me locked in his manor that it would protect me, and it did.
Until it didn’t.

As I slowly adapt to The Elite Kings Club and the dark, sinister world that exists around the outlaws in suits, I come to learn that the monster everyone fears is the very same one I crave.

Like a prized trophy, I sit on his throne…
Something quite pretty, an object he owns…

She’s a porcelain doll, so shiny, so clean…
Something I want to polish, but to never be seen…

The time has come, I am in his world…
Now his Dea, can be admired by all…

The thing with porcelain is it’s fragile and delicate…
It would only take a second for me to eradicate it…
What. The. Heck. HOW?!? How can it end like that??? I need answers now!!! God danger Amo. You cruel dark queen. Gah, I loved this. Saint is perfect! Like wow, we needed someone like her. Don’t get me wrong I seem to love all the female leads Amo creates but Saint is different. She so pure and yet she welcomes the darkness in. And BranBran. God, he is more than I ever expected. I loved Bishop and Nate was alright too ;) but I think BranBran will jump to second place. I loved that we got clarification for Madship (thank you goddess Amo). I hope they get their crap together ASAP. I loved getting to see more of Tillie and her sassy self with everyone and BranBran. Saint will learn a lot from that girl. I truly enjoyed getting more insight into the EKC. But buckle up guys, you’re gonna go a wild twisty ride. Amo really pops off in this one. Be warned!!

P.S. The music for theses books??? AMAZING!

Dark Harmony ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
By: Laura Thalassa (Book #3)

About Dark Harmony:
There are worse things than death. Things that lurk in the shadows and slip into your dreams. Things that have no business existing. Things that once slept … but have now awoken.

For Callypso Lillis, the fae magic that now runs through her veins is equal parts curse and good fortune. For the very thing that bonds her to Desmond Flynn, the King of the Night, also makes her vulnerable to the Thief of Souls, a man who wants to break the world … and Callie along with it.

But it’s not just the Thief whose shadow looms over the Otherworld. Des’s father is back from the dead, and he wants revenge on the son who sent him to the grave in the first place.

Des and Callie must figure out how to stop both men, and time is running out. Because there are forces at play working to tear the lovers apart once and for all … and unfortunately for them, death is no longer the worst thing to fear.
What an ending...can I just say, I freaking love the sass that I is Callie & Des. I mean Callie is just a ball of energy and witty commentary. I loved hearing her view point and becoming faerie. Like she is hilarious. Her talking about her new found powers and glamouring everyone. It was so cool seeing her grow and accept her new role with Des. I hate the thief and I’m not even a little sorry about how his story ends. Desmond I’d like to make a deal with you because you just seem like an all around fun dude to know. He is dark and wicked and I love that. Him and Callie balance each other out. Temper is everything I need in a best friend and I do wish we had a side story about her and Malaki. I feel like there’s a lot that could be said with them. I’m not fully ready to say goodbye to the world Laura has created but I did thoroughly enjoy the journey. From book 1 I was enthralled and it only grew with each addition. Plus you get more details on the other courts and some extra Janus. He seems like an interesting guy and I wouldn’t mind seeing inside his head too. I’d definitely recommend this series to anyone who likes a good dark and lovable HEA.

The Heir ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
By: Frost Kay (Book #3)

About The Heir:
All hail the assassin queen.

Becoming the depraved king’s consort was never the plan–neither was being tossed in the turbulent waters of the Crown’s court–but Tempest was trained to roll with the punches. Even if it means getting her hands dirty and betraying what her heart wants the most.

But being the king’s betrothed is no protection. One wrong move, she finds herself in more danger than she ever imagined. Surrounded by too many corrupt enemies and not sure whom to trust, Tempest turns to the only person who is more devious than Destin – the Jester.

With war looming on the horizon, Tempest is thrust into his seductive Dark Court once. The time for indecision is over. She must set aside her prejudice and pick a side before the king destroys all that she holds dear – including her wily kitsune.

Falling for the enemy is always dangerous. But living without your mate is even worse.

 What a great conclusion (kinda of there’s a spin off)!! I am so happy I read Pyre & Tempest story. The growth for their characters was awesome. I loved the banter and I loved seeing Temp grow as a human and as a hound. Her dynamic with her uncles is so sweet and I thoroughly enjoyed her relationship with Brine & Ansette. Definitely worth the read and I can’t wait to see what happens next within the Twisted Kingdoms setting ❤️

Related Links:
Review for A Court of Frost and Starlight: Official Review: For All of Sarah J. Maas Books
-
Labels:

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)