Book Review: Crooked Kingdom

Title: Crooked Kingdom (Six of Crows #2)
Author: Leigh Bardugo
Genre: Young Adult | Fantasy
Publisher: Henry Holt and Company
Publication Date: September 20, 2017
Source: Purchased
Format:  Physical

When you can't beat the odds, change the game.

Kaz Brekker and his crew have just pulled off a heist so daring even they didn't think they'd survive. But instead of divvying up a fat reward, they're right back to fighting for their lives. Double-crossed and badly weakened, the crew is low on resources, allies, and hope. As powerful forces from around the world descend on Ketterdam to root out the secrets of the dangerous drug known as jurda parem, old rivals and new enemies emerge to challenge Kaz's cunning and test the team's fragile loyalties. A war will be waged on the city's dark and twisting streets―a battle for revenge and redemption that will decide the fate of the Grisha world. 

 

Are we sure there isn't going to be a Book 3?

Book Review: A Heart of Betrayal

Title: The Heart of Betrayal (The Remnant Chronicles #2)
Author: Mary E. Pearson
Genre: Young Adult // Fantasy // Romance 
Publisher: Henry Holt and Co (BYR)
Publication Date: July 7, 2015
Source: Borrowed (Library)
Format: Physical

Held captive in the barbarian kingdom of Venda, Lia and Rafe have little chance of escape. Desperate to save her life, Lia's erstwhile assassin, Kaden, has told the Vendan Komizar that she has the gift, and the Komizar's interest in Lia is greater than anyone could have foreseen.
Meanwhile, nothing is straightforward: there's Rafe, who lied to Lia, but has sacrificed his freedom to protect her; Kaden, who meant to assassinate her but has now saved her life; and the Vendans, whom Lia always believed to be barbarians. Now that she lives amongst them, however, she realizes that may be far from the truth. Wrestling with her upbringing, her gift, and her sense of self, Lia must make powerful choices that will affect her country... and her own destiny (goodreads).

 

The Heart of  Betrayal was a welcomed second installment which I enjoyed more than Kiss of Deception. 

[Meme]Waiting on Wednesday [#72]

Hosted by Breaking the Spine

Title: Heart of Betrayal (The Remnant Chronicles #2)
Author: Mary E. Pearson
Genre: Young Adult // Fantasy // Romance
Publisher: Henry Holt and Co (BYR)
Publication Date: July 7,2015

Intrigue abounds in this hotly anticipated sequel to The Kiss of Deception!

Held captive in the barbarian kingdom of Venda, Lia and Rafe have little chance of escape. Desperate to save her life, Lia's erstwhile assassin, Kaden, has told the Vendan Komizar that she has the gift, and the Komizar's interest in Lia is greater than anyone could have foreseen.


Meanwhile, nothing is straightforward: there's Rafe, who lied to Lia, but has sacrificed his freedom to protect her; Kaden, who meant to assassinate her but has now saved her life; and the Vendans, whom Lia always believed to be barbarians. Now that she lives amongst them, however, she realizes that may be far from the truth. Wrestling with her upbringing, her gift, and her sense of self, Lia must make powerful choices that will affect her country... and her own destiny (goodreads).

My thoughts on The Kiss of Deception were pretty luke warm. Until the last fifty or so pages. Then it got interesting. Here's hoping it gets even MORE interesting!

Book Review: Ruin and Rising

Title: Ruin and Rising (The Grisha Trilogy #3)
Author: Leigh Bardugo
Publisher: Henry Holt and Co.
Publication Date: June 17, 2014
Genre: Young Adult // Magic // High Fantasy // Romance
Format: Physical Copy
Source: Library

 The capital has fallen.
The Darkling rules Ravka from his shadow throne.
Now the nation's fate rests with a broken Sun Summoner, a disgraced tracker, and the shattered remnants of a once-great magical army.
Deep in an ancient network of tunnels and caverns, a weakened Alina must submit to the dubious protection of the Apparat and the zealots who worship her as a Saint. Yet her plans lie elsewhere, with the hunt for the elusive firebird and the hope that an outlaw prince still survives.
Alina will have to forge new alliances and put aside old rivalries as she and Mal race to find the last of Morozova's amplifiers. But as she begins to unravel the Darkling's secrets, she reveals a past that will forever alter her understanding of the bond they share and the power she wields. The firebird is the one thing that stands between Ravka and destruction—and claiming it could cost Alina the very future she’s fighting for (goodreads).

Ruin and Rising is such a difficult book for me to review, because I had so many feelings, both good and bad!

Plot: Ruin and Rising picks up right after the cliffhanger in Siege and Storm. The Darkling has even more power now and Alina has finally come to terms with her attraction to her three gentlemen suitors (we can call them that, can't we?). Ruin and Rising was nonstop action that had me at the edge of my seat in hopes that everything ended well for these characters I have come to love. While Bardugo's writing was solid and kept me glued to the pages, I wasn't 100% satisfied with the ending for some of the characters (and out of fear of spoiling it, I'll leave it at that).

Characters: I have never been so torn about the love interest in a series as I have for The Grisha Trilogy. In Shadow and  Bone, The Darkling was such an attractive and seductive character and I couldn't help but fall in love with him. As the series progressed, he was portrayed more and more as our villain and it overwhelmed me. Did I still love the Darkling? Would he ever be redeemed? How am I supposed to feel?? Because I was so attached to him from Book 1 (hell, probably more attached than Alina), I didn't love the third book as much. The other characters were memorable and often brought a smile to my face or made me worry about their general safety. Alina's transformation is beautiful and it's what I want from all my female MCs from here on out. 

World Building: The world of the Grisha is one of my favorite worlds to be transported to and I felt that this world was even more enhanced with Bardugo's novellas that gave background to the culture and folktales. 

Short N Sweet: The Grisha Trilogy is one of my favorites stories of all time, while I wasn't completely sold on the ending, this is a world that I will never forget!

Book Review: Siege and Storm

Title: Siege and Storm (The Grisha Trilogy #3)
Author: Leigh Bardugo
Publisher: Henry Holt and Co
Publication Date: June 4, 2013
Genre: Young Adult // High Fantasy // Romance (??)
Format:  Physical Copy
Source: Library

Darkness never dies.
Hunted across the True Sea, haunted by the lives she took on the Fold, Alina must try to make a life with Mal in an unfamiliar land. She finds starting new is not easy while keeping her identity as the Sun Summoner a secret. She can’t outrun her past or her destiny for long.
The Darkling has emerged from the Shadow Fold with a terrifying new power and a dangerous plan that will test the very boundaries of the natural world. With the help of a notorious privateer, Alina returns to the country she abandoned, determined to fight the forces gathering against Ravka. But as her power grows, Alina slips deeper into the Darkling’s game of forbidden magic, and farther away from Mal. Somehow, she will have to choose between her country, her power, and the love she always thought would guide her--or risk losing everything to the oncoming storm (goodreads).

You know, I wasn't even going to continue this series, (remember how I said I was picky about series I read?) Thank God I did, because 

Plot: Seige and Storm picks up in the aftermath of book one and there is not a lull one second of the book. One second we're  hanging out in hiding, then there are dragons, and then we were along side Alina as she prepared an army. I'm happy to say that there was action every step of the way and I was never bored. Be it actual combat or political strategies. Many bloggers will let you know that The Darkling was missing for a good chunk of this book, but my eyes were glued to the pages when he did make an appearance!

Characters: This was the first time we actually got to see Mal as an independent character, not the "ideal man" version that Alina made up in the first book and I must say, that kid leaves much to be desired. I didn't mind Mal much at the beginning as he seemed to support Alina and did everything he could to protect her, then the novel continued and he just got whiny. Alina, on the other hand, grew fabulously and I loved seeing her struggle between trying to be the girl pre-Darkling and the girl post-Darkling. It's kind of like they say, you can never go back home. We are also introduced to some new characters who found their way into my heart, as well as reintroduced to some old characters from Shadow and Bone. Oh, needs more Darkling. 

World Building: It's unbelievable to me when authors can create a world out of thin air. Not only is this world imaginative, but Leigh Bardugo's writing makes it seem as though these lands could be placed on a map. Everything is described so well and the cultures and well developed. I don't want to leave. 

Short N Sweet: Siege and Storm is pretty close to perfection. It focuses on character relationships and has a moving plot every step of the way. Needs more Darkling though.