One Dark Throne

Dear Lila,

So as you know I was lucky enough to receive a sampler of One Dark Throne by Kendare Blake through Netgalley, needless to say that I was very pleased.

I really enjoyed Three Dark Crowns and was really looking forward to seeing how the story progressed, and the sampler did not disappoint, it picks up where Three Dark Crowns left off, just after the eventful Quickening and the aftermath that will surely follow.

(trying to avoid spoilers here)... I'm really intrigued to see how things are going to develop after the revelation at the end of book one, which I'm still pleased I predicted, will the third sister develop her own gift, the same as someone else, none at all? How will that play out. Will they get round out in their lies? 

What will happen when Mirabella meets back up with Joseph and Jules. 

What will Katharine do when she sees Pietyr again? 

Will Arsinoe go too far dabbling with low magic? 

Which sister will get to the others first, who will come out triumphant? 

Full of intrigue, politics and feuds that have lasted lifetimes. Magic, power, poison, animal familiars. What more could you want!

Can't wait to read the full book. 

Book 17. Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor

Dear Lila, 

Strange the dreamer. What can I say? 

Firstly, expectations are always high when it's a Laini book and she never disappoints! 

Secondly, the cover is gorgeous and the colour is perfect. As she says 

"Blue as opals, pale blue. Blue as cornflowers, or dragonfly wings, or a spring—not summer—sky." 

I LOVED IT! I knew I would, I could have put money on the fact that I would. 

The prologue really stuck in my mind to start with and then I forgot about a bit while I went on... But I anyways find that interesting as when you show yourself to remember you wonder who it is going to be about. 

As you know, I dream A LOT! and often very unusual, colourful, imaginative dreams (of only I was that creative in life) so I always particularly like stories about dreams as I feel like they are not meant for me, that's silly, but they resonate with me I guess. 

I really liked Lazlo. He reminded me of someone but I can't think who. Did he remind you of anyone? 

As you know from the texts I sent, I was making some speculation along the way and was right on one of the counts to do with Lazlo. 

I also love that Laini liked my tweet about when I started reading the Muse of Nightmares chapter and a Moth flew in my window. I thought that was so cool on both counts, that she liked it and that the timing of that moth was so perfect. 

I really liked Sarai and nice to know how to pronounce it as I wasn't sure and kept thinking of it as Sarah. 

I like that I had the whole thought process of whether it would be Sparrow or Sarai, especially when they were putting plums in their pockets and then discussing that with Laini and her saying that's what she had hoped would be the case. So that's just really cool. Love having conversations like that with authors. 

I thought the ending was pretty obvious with regards to what Minya did and said though, didn't you!? 

Really pleased it's not a one off, as I hadn't remembered you saying it was a duology. Yay.

Clearly *****

Love, Rach x 

Book 16. Frost Blood by Elly Blake

Dear Lila, 

So, this is a book I either got for 99p or free, I can't remember. I also can't remember if I saw someone recommend it or what, but I put it on my TBR list and then when I was searching for something in between Lord of Shadows and Strange the Dreamer, I looked up the goodreads rating and went for this. 

I liked it, it reminded me of The Healer Series, mixed in with a bit of Red Queen (well elements of it anyway). It's in the kind of setting we like, slightly medieval feel to it, even with people having gifts etc. 

I liked the main characters, they really reminded me of others, but I can't really think who. 

I'll definitely be reading the next one. 

I gave it ****

Love, Rach x

Book 15. Lord of shadows by Cassandra Clare

Dear Lila,

So I can't actually look at my Lord of Shadows copy now without getting a little bit sad about the water that spilt from Jed's cup and made the pages that were once so pretty, become less so... I had to keep it in the airing cupboard for A WEEK!!

Anyway, i digress.

I really liked this second book, lots of story to it and cool to see the other places like in Cornwall etc. I'm struggling to remember whether some of the bits I'm thinking of are from book 1 or book 2, like the scene when they all go to Fairie? Was that book 1 or 2. Anyway...

I think Julian became even more complex in this one though and I sometimes forget how going they are meant to be... Especially when he is in father mode, which I think he is really good at by the way. I feel like him and Emma could do with being a couple of years older, but I guess then it wouldn't be so much YA!?

Anyway, i also like that I'd never noticed the tower of London on its side until you pointed it out, don't think I would ever have noticed that!

Looking forward to the next one, is it a trilogy or more?

***** obviously

Love, Rach x

Book 14. Lady Midnight by Cassandra Clare

Dear Lila,

As is to be expected I really enjoyed this book. I feel like the Shadowhunters is just a world I like reading about, regardless of who the story is following. I really liked Emma and Julian, who is a bit of an enigma I think.

I also liked the mystery they were trying to solve and the turn of events with regards to the one who is chosen and not allowed to be helped etc.

I was really routing for Emma and Julian too.

I also love that we got to see Jem and Tessa again.

***** obviously

Love, Rach x

Book 13. Autumn Rose by Abigail Gibbs

Dear Lila, 

So book 13 (unlucky for some, but not for me) was Autumn Rose. 

As you know I've read this before, but I'd read Dark Heroine and then ACOWAR and I needed a palette cleanser before tackling Lady Midnight. 

I enjoyed Autumn Rose again although I do think there's things that should have been different like their ages etc, but it's still a really easy read and I like Autumn and Fallon. 

Won't bother really reviewing though as you could just read this...

http://sistersinbooks.blogspot.co.uk/2014/03/autumn-rose.html?m=0

***

Love, Rach x

Book 12. A Court of Wings and Ruin by The Queen

Dear Lila,

So book 12, the MUCH anticipated ACOWAR.

Firstly, how pretty is the book. My favourite series and my favourite colour to boot. Just too nice! I actually couldn't stop looking at the cover.

While I remember, I also really like that the dedication she gave to her husband and her dog is also the last two sentences in the book. Cute.

So, I really enjoyed the book, loved h having it on kindle too so that I didn't have to wait until the evening to keep reading.

Spoilers below on the off chance anyone but us reads it.

#####

I was surprised how quickly in the story she made it back to Rhys, I thought that would have lasted longer. I was pleased that Lucien went with her though too.

I always find her powers crazy really and forget how many of them she has. Although how come Rhys never gets any of the others either? I didn't get that!

I cried at the speech Rhys gave, but again love we said on text I do think that do often when stuff happens I do now always think "oh no did that really happen?" and then by the time you've read on a bit thinking about it's been resolved.

I'm struggling to believe the absolute lack of casualties, I mean I'm happy about it, don't get me wrong, but it's very unbelievable with the level of the battles they had. I was so worried the whole time it would be Cassian or Az.

I liked that the bits with Cassian and Nesta and Elain and Lucien weren't all wrapped up in a bow... And I liked Mor's explanation to Feyre about Az.

The whole fire bird thing was a bit random I think, but I guess with everything else isn't that far fetched.

Am pleased there will be other stories. I wonder what direction they'll go in? There's obviously lots of stories to be told in the other courts. Tarquin, Varian and Amren, Viviane and Kallias, Helion and Lucien etc. All good and I'd happily read about any of them.

I liked that Helion too had always been putting on a bad demeanour etc.

I also really liked Az and Elain.

I love SJM books, feels weird to think that I only started reading her books in January 2015.

Here's to her next one !

***** OBVIOUSLY!

Love, Rach x

Book 11. The Dark Heroine by Abigail Gibbs

Dear Lila, 

So, I know I originally read this in July 2013, but after I finished my last book and had only a few days before ACOWAR came out I didn't want to start something new and then be in the middle of reading it. So I thought of this one. 

It was still a very easy read, only took a couple of days and I did enjoy it and even started Autumn Rose, but then ACOWAR arrived so I had to stop. Naturally. 

Not much point revising this as you've already read it. 

Love,  Rach x

Book 10. The Secret of Spellshadow Manor by Bella Forrest

Dear Lila, 

So, I came across this book on Facebook randomly. It was tagged as THE book to read after Harry Potter! I mean what a claim! 

It was only 99p on kindle at the time and I've read a few of her books before, the A Shade of Vampire books. They were easy reads, so I thought I'd give it a go. I probably would have read all the shade of vamps books, as i read a number of them, but then she wrote about 30 of them or something crazy so I just have up .

Anyway, back to this book. It in NO way justifies the Harry reference except that the story relates sound a magic school. 

It was a very easy read though, it reminded me of The Magisterium books, very similar I think. I will read the next one at some point, because there's elements of it that I'm really wondering about how they'll turn out. Not a major spoiler, as you find out in chapter 2 or 3 I think, that it isn't like the parents waving them off at platform 9 3/4, they don't know they've gone and I couldn't get that out of my head. I need to know what the parents think has happened to them! 

I gave it ***

Rach x

Book 9. A Conjuring of Light by V.E Schwab

Dear Lila,

I'm really pleased you introduced me to this series. Really enjoyed it! 

I thought this was a great conclusion to the series, would happily have read more books though. 

I feel live each book in this series was a good book on its own, no fillers at all I don't think! 

Really big book too, always good. 

Definitely need to read more of her books, not sure which to start with though...? 

*****

Rach x

Book 7. The Wrath and The Dawn by Renée Ahdieh

Dear Lila, 

I first heard about this book when Samantha Shannon was racing about it, so I've always been interested in taking it and then when you said about it being on offer I just had to get it. 

Like I've said to you before, I got serious dejavu, I felt like I'd read his of it before or heard the stories before but that feeling didn't actually last too long before I just forgot it and loved the story. 

It's the kind of song we like, although I feel like we have read a lot lately at in the desert...Rebel, Ember, sure there was another... But still. 

I really liked the main character, she reminds me of a lot of the female protagonists I like. Strong, willful, stubborn, they tend to have interesting conversations. Aelin, Feyre, Amani, you know the type. 

It's hard to say much about the story itself and how it unfolds without spoilers. So I'll just say you definitely need to read it. 

I gave it 4*s to start with as I was thinking 4.5*s but I upped it to 5*s as when I finished it I bought the second straight away, which always a good sign! 

Love, Rach x

Book 8. The Rose and the Dagger by Renée Ahdieh

Dear Lila, 

As you know, I started reading this one as soon as I finished the first as I was invested in the story and didn't want to wait. 

It's nice and refreshing to not only be able to read a while story in one go, but also to read something that isn't a trilogy or longer for a change. 

Sometimes the second book isn't as strong as the first, but I liked this one a lot, it had some real moments when I wasn't sure how things would turn out. 

Again, spoilers are too hard to avoid, so I'll just say I hope you like this series as much as I did. 

*****

I realised afterwards that because I've read Haroun and the sea of stories, maybe that's why it seemed familiar to me. 

Love, Rach x

Short Story. The Moth and the Flame by Renée Ahdieh

Dear Lila, 

This is a short story about two of the characters in the main books, both of whom I like, so was cool to read about them, worth a read too I think. 

****

Book 6. Three Dark Crowns by Kendare Blake

So, as you know, this was a Christmas present from Mum and Dad. Which is funny, because I picked it out in waterstones as I thought it'd be the kind of book we'd like so I suggested mum get it for you. Anyway, I'm pleased I got it! 

I also spotted it when it was only 99p on kindle which makes it so much easier for me to read as I can then read the book when I can and mostly on  kindle when Quinn is asleep or feeding. 

Basically, as the cover shows the are three sisters and only one crown and it's a fight to the death to claim it. 

There are also three books covers, one for each queen which is cool. Mine is the elemental Queen's. 

The three Queens are Mirabella, Katherine And Arsinoe. 

I like that the book has chapters about each Queen so you aren't obviously meant to be rooting for one over the others. I like elements of each Queen, although I warmed to Katherine the least, although I'm not sure I could put my finger on why. 

Am pleased that there is a sequel, that's cool. 

I'm really intrigued to see whether you wondered something major like I did from early on. You'll have to borrow it soon and let me know. 

****

Book 4. Traitor to the Throne by Alwyn Hamilton

When I started reading this I was getting really confused with the beginning of Ember, I had to remind myself of Rebel, but then I was on a roll. 

I really like Shazad and Amani's sisterly relationship. 

I found all the stuff in the harem interesting and her conversions with the Sultan were edgy and cool. I still love Jin and was quite pleased when nothing romantic was implied with Rahim as I was sure it would be, as it normally is. 

I think Alwyn is really cool so it makes me like the books even more. 

****

Book 3. Invasion of the Tearling by Erika Johansen

I liked being able to read this one straight after Queen.

Early on the whole leap to Lily's story threw me a bit, but it was an interesting story on its own and I did like those chapters and in the end I think it fitted in well.

The whole crossing thing is unusual, let's see how that develops.

I felt for Pen as well as he obviously really loves her. Hoping to get the new one on kindle soon.

****

Book 2. Queen of the Tearling by Erika Johansen

I really enjoyed this book. Again I feel like a lot of the books do blend together so then when I'm trying to recall the elements of each one I find it a little tricky. Like the way it started is similar to others etc.. But I really enjoyed it and wanted to keep reading it.

I found how fast she transitioned into "the true Queen" a bit off but I got over it. I liked the Mace and I did wonder for a while if he was her Dad, wonder if we'll ever find out who really is.

I do enjoy stories at in this kind of era/setting etc.

****

Book 1. A Gathering of shadows by V. E Schwab

First book of the year...

I really enjoyed this book. I was surprised how quickly Lila's powers developed by I guess she is special like Kell.

I was also surprised that Holland was still alive, I hadn't expected that.

I liked all the bits with Lila and Alucard and Alucard and Rhy. I think Alucard is a cool character, he kind of reminds me of Valek in the aloofness.

I was worried for Kell at the end of the book as that collar sounds awful, but that also reminded me of Dorian!

Looking forward to seeing how it all ends but wish there were more in the series.

Was cool to meet Victoria at Yalc too.

****

Book 5. Dawn Study by Maria v. Snyder

So, you know how much I love MVS books and I really do think the Chronicles of Ixia books are done of my favourites. They are just so easy to read and I love all the characters and as you sis, it was like all the old gang getting together. 

##spoilers below##

I liked that I had read Shattered Glass recently so that I knew where Opal has been etc and all the history behind her story and the Stormdancers etc. 

I really love that Yelena and Valek got their happy ending with Liana, Valek is so cute and romantic and protective, he's one of my favourites. 

I'm glad how it ended with the Commander too, would have been sad if Valek had killed him at he would have regretted it so much. It's sweet he sent Liana a big diamond too. 

I realised that I only realised while reading this book that Yelena's chapters are always in the first person whereas all the other chapters are in the third person. Strange that I never noticed before. 

Anyway, love these books. Not counting the little novellas, this is the 14th MVS book I've read, I think that is the most for any author for me. Have you read the Healer series yet and Inside Out/Outside In? If not, why? 

****

Seeing out 2016

Ok, so the last time I wrote up a blog was for Fire which I read back in September, so realistically trying to write a blog for each of the following books just isn't going to happen.

So, I'm going to wrap up the books in one blog and then start afresh in 2017.

Since I last blogged I've read...

24. Bitterblue by Kristin Cashore
...I loved this series, I didn't enjoy Bitterblue as much as I did the others but still loved reading the conclusion to the story and having the crossover at the end between books 2 and 3. Will definitely buy this series for others. ****

25. Empire of storms by Sarah J. Maas
... This clearly speaks for itself. I loved it, I always am grateful for how big they are as well. I read this one while on honeymoon, so it was lovely and uninterrupted reading too. I was gutted at the end, and I couldn't believe the bargain Aelin made with Lysandra which is really dark but brilliant of Sarah to have thought of. Can't wait to see where it goes and looking forward to the Chaol book etc. I liked the bits with Dorian and Manon, I found that an interesting partnership. Clearly *****

26. A darker shade of magic by V.E Schwab
... Firstly, thank you for buying this for me as a YALC present it was very sweet of you. I really enjoyed it and looking forward to reading the last one in the series soon. I really like the main characters and the different worlds. ****

I read some short stories...
SS. Short Stories from Hogwarts of Heroism, Hardship and Dangerous Hobbies **
SS. Short Stories from Hogwarts of Power, Politics and Pesky Poltergeists **
SS. Hogwarts: An Incomplete and Unreliable Guide **
Sad to give HP stuff ** but I didn't actually find them that exciting to read, shocking I know but a lot of it we knew already.

27. An ember in the ashes by Sabaa Tahir
... I loved this book, total crush on Elias, obviously! And I really loved the whole world and I liked the relationship between him and his friends. Definitely one I'll buy for others ****

28. Six of crows by Leigh Bardugo
... Such a good book, really enjoyed her other series and cool to see elements of the Grisha world from a darker point of view. I love chapter books where it changes perspective each time. Nina is so cool in my opinion and Matthias, but I liked reading all of the characters, lovely big book too. *****

29. Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo
... Again, lovely big book, parts of it made me cry, I'm sure you know which bit, I was really hoping for a happy ending for all! Would definitely re-read this series *****

30. The bronze key,  magisterium by Cassandra Clare and Holly Black
... I gave this *** they are a really easy read and I enjoy them but I wouldn't say I'm desperate to get from to keep reading it at the time etc although I will keep reading the series, if that makes sense.

SS. The king of rats by Melinda Salisbury
...Nice little short story, looking forward to Scarecrow Queen and adore the covers, some of the best we own.

31. A torch against the night by Sabaa Tahir
...The magical elements of this wasn't what I expected but I still really enjoyed it and can't wait to see what happens... Hard to remember all aspects of it now as I feel that series and Rebel have kind of meshed together in my head. ****

32. Glass sword... I FINALLY read it, I remember buying it as soon as it came out as I loved Red Queen so much but due to the size of it I just keep putting off reading it. Thought the bit with Farley's revelation was obvious. Really enjoyed it and am worried for Mare after that ending ****

SS.  Shattered Glass... Nice little short story, you know how much I love all things MVS and is cool to have read it as it all ties in with Dawn Study which I'm currently reading. ***

33. Cruel Crown.. I liked these and enjoyed reading more about Cal's Mum and Maven's mum. I like that Cal got his love of mechanics etc from his Mum and thought it was sad how her life got messed with etc. ***

Now on to 2017...