Assassin's Heart by Sarah Ahiers

Book blurb:

" In the kingdom of Lovero, nine rival Families of assassins lawfully kill people for a price. As a highly skilled member of one of these powerful clans, seventeen-year-old Lea Saldana has always trusted in the strength of her Family. Until she awakens to find them murdered and her home in flames. The Da Vias, the Saldanas’ biggest enemy, must be responsible—and Lea should have seen it coming. But her secret relationship with the Da Vias’ son, Val, has clouded her otherwise killer instinct—and given the Da Vias more reason than ever to take her Family down. Racked with guilt and shattered over Val’s probable betrayal, Lea sets out to even the score, with her heart set on retaliation and only one thought clear in her mind: make the Da Vias pay."

My review:

A few months ago, I began to read a digital ARC of this AMAZING book. I am so excited to know all your thoughts about it once it is released on February 2nd 2016. I recommend it to all fantasy and Young adult lovers. 

I was fascinated from the start by this story. It pulled me in and I couldn't stop until I've reached the last page. And even after that, I wanted more. The world created by the author was great and I would love to read another book from her. It was quick and easy to read because of its fast pace. It was full of intrigue and action so you won't get bored. It was about family and revenge. There was also a sweet touch of romance in it but it really wasn't focused on that and it didn't feel forced, so this was a good point. 

Oleander Saldana is one strong and capable heroine and I am not going to forget her anytime soon, that's for sure! She is an assassin (it's written in the title, duh) and I loved when she fought and used her skills. I hope you will enjoy her character as much as I did ! I liked the ending but I'm not sure if there will be a sequel and I really would like to have more of these characters. Overall, you need to get your hands on a copy of this incredible fantasy book. 

PS: Look at that cover, isn't it so beautiful ? I would absolutely love having it on my bookshelf. 

***I wanted to thank HarperTeen for letting me read and review this book.***

You can find it on Goodreads: here. 

Sword and Verse by Kathy MacMillan

Book blurb 

"Raisa was just a child when she was sold to work as a slave in the kingdom of Qilara. Despite her young age, her father was teaching her to read and write, grooming her to take his place as a Learned One. In Qilara, the Arnathim, like Raisa, are the lowest class, and literacy is a capital offense. What’s more, only the king, prince, tutor, and tutor-in-training are allowed to learn the very highest order language, the language of the gods. So when the tutor-in-training is executed for teaching slaves this sacred language, and Raisa is selected to replace her, Raisa knows any slipup on her part could mean death. 

Keeping her secret is hard enough, but the romance that’s been growing between her and Prince Mati isn’t helping matters. Then Raisa is approached by the Resistance—an underground army of slave rebels—to help liberate Arnath slaves. She wants to free her people, but that would mean aiding a war against Mati. As Raisa struggles with what to do, she discovers a secret that the Qilarites have been hiding for centuries—one that, if uncovered, could bring the kingdom to its knees."

My review:

Sword and Verse is an interesting high fantasy book. Once I started reading, I couldn't put it down even though I was a little scared that there won't be enough action. However, I am grateful to have been allowed to read and review this digital ARC. This book will be released on January 19th, 2016 and I am excited to know your thoughts about this book. 

The main character, Raisa, is a slave girl who has been chosen to be the next 'tutor' when the last one was executed for treason. She learnt how to read and write in order to teach the next heir. Prince Mati has been studying with her in the palace and even though they both know they can't have a relationship, they cannot ignore their feelings for long either. 

A Resistance is forming against the slavery of her people and she will have to choose between helping them at the risk of her life and the loss of Mati's trust, or ignoring them.

Raisa could be a little frustrating at times but I still enjoyed reading her story. What happened to her family pained me. I was scared for a moment that Mati would turn out to be a jerk when Soraya arrived at the palace but in the end, their story was nicely written. I also like that it's a standalone instead of ending with a huge cliffhanger. I found that the ending was solved a little too easily but I still enjoyed it. 

***I wanted to thank HarperTeen for letting me read and review this ARC.***

You can find it here on Goodreads. 

Queen of Shadows (Throne of Glass #4) by Sarah J. Maas

Book blurb:

" The queen has returned.

Everyone Celaena Sardothien loves has been taken from her. But she’s at last returned to the empire—for vengeance, to rescue her once-glorious kingdom, and to confront the shadows of her past…

She has embraced her identity as Aelin Galathynius, Queen of Terrasen. But before she can reclaim her throne, she must fight.

She will fight for her cousin, a warrior prepared to die for her. She will fight for her friend, a young man trapped in an unspeakable prison. And she will fight for her people, enslaved to a brutal king and awaiting their lost queen’s triumphant return.

The fourth volume in the New York Times bestselling series continues Celaena’s epic journey and builds to a passionate, agonizing crescendo that might just shatter her world. "

My review: 

In one word: Brilliant.

This book was everything I could ask for and more. Queen of Shadows was one of the most anticipated books I wanted to read this year and I wasn't disappointed. It is probably my favorite book in the series. There are so many things happening, I cried, laughed and swooned over some characters. I was completely hooked by the story. The ending was just perfect. 

If you haven't read this series yet, please go read it! It's absolutely fantastic. 

You can find it on Goodreads here.

Ice Like Fire by Sara Raasch

Book blurb:

" It’s been three months since the Winterians were freed and Spring’s king, Angra, disappeared—thanks largely to the help of Cordell.

Meira just wants her people to be safe. When Cordellan debt forces the Winterians to dig their mines for payment, they unearth something powerful and possibly dangerous: Primoria’s lost chasm of magic. Theron sees this find as an opportunity—with this much magic, the world can finally stand against threats like Angra. But Meira fears the danger the chasm poses—the last time the world had access to so much magic, it spawned the Decay. So when the king of Cordell orders the two on a mission across the kingdoms of Primoria to discover the chasm’s secrets, Meira plans to use the trip to garner support to keep the chasm shut and Winter safe—even if it means clashing with Theron. But can she do so without endangering the people she loves?

Mather just wants to be free. The horrors inflicted on the Winterians hang fresh and raw in Januari—leaving Winter vulnerable to Cordell’s growing oppression. When Meira leaves to search for allies, he decides to take Winter’s security into his own hands. Can he rebuild his broken kingdom and protect them from new threats?

As the web of power and deception weaves tighter, Theron fights for magic, Mather fights for freedom—and Meira starts to wonder if she should be fighting not just for Winter, but for the world."

My review:

I enjoyed reading the first book so I was excited to keep reading the series. I wanted Meira to act like a Queen in this book and sometimes she was acting as such but other times I couldn't believe how she could be so stupid (at least at first), especially concerning Theron and the keys. Also, I couldn't really stand Theron in this book. Mather's chapters were interesting at first (but I ended up skimming some of them). In the end it still feels like their relationship isn't going to happen anytime soon. 

Overall, the pace was slow except for the last 30% of the book where a lot more action happened than in the entire book. Here we get to know other kingdoms (Seasons and Rhythms) and it was a lot more focused on the politics and the betrayals some people could face. You might enjoy it, but for me too much politics gets a little tiring in the end.

I am still curious about the next book, and I want Winter to be able to stand up for themselves and be their own kingdom. I hope Meira will be able to achieve that. 

***I wanted to thank Balzer + Bray for letting me read and review a digital copy of this book.***

You can find it here on Goodreads.

Snow Like Ashes by Sara Raasch

Book blurb:  

"A heartbroken girl. A fierce warrior. A hero in the making. 

Sixteen years ago the Kingdom of Winter was conquered and its citizens enslaved, leaving them without magic or a monarch. Now, the Winterians’ only hope for freedom is the eight survivors who managed to escape, and who have been waiting for the opportunity to steal back Winter’s magic and rebuild the kingdom ever since. 

Orphaned as an infant during Winter’s defeat, Meira has lived her whole life as a refugee, raised by the Winterians’ general, Sir. Training to be a warrior—and desperately in love with her best friend, and future king, Mather — she would do anything to help her kingdom rise to power again.

So when scouts discover the location of the ancient locket that can restore Winter’s magic, Meira decides to go after it herself. Finally, she’s scaling towers, fighting enemy soldiers, and serving her kingdom just as she’s always dreamed she would. But the mission doesn’t go as planned, and Meira soon finds herself thrust into a world of evil magic and dangerous politics – and ultimately comes to realize that her destiny is not, never has been, her own. "

My review:

I really enjoyed reading this fantasy book. It was captivating especially toward the end and I am super excited to read more about Meira, Mather and Theron !

The beginning of the book was slower. I thought Meira could be a little reckless sometimes and there were some moments where she didn't do anything and I just wanted her to react and do something. It frustrated me a little... The ending and the big "revelation" wasn't that surprising but I liked the turn of events. The last 30% of the books are the best part for me. It was really good !

***I wanted to thank Balzer + Bray for letting me read and review a digital copy of this book. ***

You can find it here on Goodreads. 

Siren's Fury (The Storm Siren Trilogy #2) by Mary Weber

Book blurb:

" Nym has saved Faelen only to discover that Draewulf stole everything she valued. Now he’s destroyed her Elemental storm-summoning ability as well.

When Nym sneaks off with a host of delegates to Bron, Lord Myles offers her the chance for a new kind of power and the whispered hope that it may do more than simply defeat the monster she loathes. But the secrets the Bron people have kept concealed, along with the horrors Draewulf has developed, may require more than simply harnessing a darker ability. 

They may require who she is.
Set against the stark metallic backdrop of the Bron kingdom, Nym is faced with the chance to change the future. Or was that Draewulf’s plan for her all along? "

My review:

Before diving into this sequel, I had to go back into the world created by the author in Storm Siren. I needed a little reminding of the different characters and their role. After that, the reading in itself was pretty smooth. I enjoyed reading it, there was action and an interesting plot with Draewulf hiding inside another body. However I did find the pace slower and I just wanted it to be faster. Also, even though Nym has great powers at the end I felt like she was often losing and failing... and that disappointed me a little bit. I will read the next book because I want to see Nym use her powers efficiently and I'd like to see a little romance added into it. Overall, I enjoy reading this series but I preferred Storm Siren. 

***I wanted to thank HarperCollins for letting me read and review a digital copy of this book. ***

You can find it here on Goodreads. 

The Great Hunt by Wendy Higgins

Book blurb:  

" Kill the beast. Win the girl. 

A strange beast stirs fear in the kingdom of Lochlanach, terrorizing towns with its brutality and hunger. In an act of desperation, a proclamation is sent to all of Eurona—kill the creature and win the ultimate prize: the daughter of King Lochson’s hand in marriage.

Princess Aerity understands her duty to the kingdom though it pains her to imagine marrying a stranger. It would be foolish to set her sights on any particular man in the great hunt, but when a brooding local hunter, Paxton Seabolt, catches her attention, there’s no denying the unspoken lure between them…or his mysterious resentment.

Paxton is not keen on marriage. Nor does he care much for spoiled royals and their arcane laws. He’s determined to keep his focus on the task at hand—ridding the kingdom of the beast and protecting his family—yet Princess Aerity continues to challenge his notions with her unpredictability and charm. But as past secrets collide with present desires, dire choices threaten everything Paxton holds dear. "

My review:

This book was so, SO GOOD. 

The Great Hunt is the first book I've read written by this author. I enjoy going back to High Fantasy once in a while. It's one of the genre in books I really love reading, along with Young Adults books. I think it's a nice change of pace and atmosphere from contemporary romance for example, and this one was pretty amazing. I loved the world building, the characters, and the story line.

It was fast paced with lots of action. It was quick to read and I was hooked from the start and now, I can barely wait for the next book, especially with that ending! The turns of events broke my heart for the main characters though. The romance and the chemistry were there and I loved it but come on, I admit that I can be a greedy reader sometimes and I want more.

I am so excited to learn where this story is headed. Also, I can't help but feel a little wary toward Lord Alvi. I'm really interested about how it will be developed. I hope you will enjoy it as much as I did, either when this book is released (on January 19th 2016) or if you manage to get your hands on an ARC like I did. 

***I wanted to thank HarperTeen for letting me read and review a digital ARC of this book.***

You can find it on Goodreads: here.

A Madness So Discreet by Mindy McGinnis

 "So are we really that different? The healthy and the ill?" Grace asked."I would argue there is no difference at all," Thornhollow said. "To me the insane are simply people who have chosen not to participate in the world in the same manner as the majority, and there are days I don't wonder if they've got the right of it." "You make it sound as if hardly anyone is insane with a definition as narrow as that." "Quite the opposite, my definition is too broad. I think we're all quite mad. Some of us are just more discreet about it."

When I started reading this book, I didn't know what to expect. The only thing I knew for sure is that it has a great cover and an interesting title and blurb. I was intrigued so when i was downloading Windows 10, I did exactly what they told me to do: to get comfortable for a while so I picked up this ARC, of course. But anyway, back to the actual book! 

It starts with Grace Mae who's in an asylum in Boston. People assume that she is mute because she never talks to anyone. The thing is, she learnt that no one was listening to her in the past so she gave up. You quickly find out that she is here because her parents didn't want her while she was pregnant and that she is supposed to go back home afterward.

She understood babies now, and their reluctance to be born. Once hers was forced into the light and taken away, her body would be of no more use.

She isn't treated well, and that is an understatement. Between the lack of food and the constant punishments she has to face, the outcome isn't pretty and it broke my heart as the same time. Then we meet Falsteed. He's a mysterious and complicated man but I got attached to him. She met him in the asylum's darkness and I wish we would have seen more of him in the book. I loved him. 

"Who is this Dr. Thornhollow you spoke of?" She aked.
"Him ? He's the sanest of us all."
"Why is that?"
"Because he knows he's insane."

Then we meet Dr. Thornhollow but he definitely isn't your typical doctor. Not at all. He visits the asylum to make the "loud" patients into numb and docile ones. It involves blood and brain surgery. But after meeting Grace, he agrees to help her to get away from the asylum and in exchange she'll work with him in order to catch murderers. 

Thornhollow peered into Grace's eyes and shook his head. "How I've found myself the guardian of a young woman, I'm not sure I'll ever know." 

He knows she has skills (she has a really good memory and a quick mind) that can be used and he's also interested in teaching her his science.

All the details of her life, caught forever in her mind. Inescapable.

I wasn't sure where the story was headed at first, but in the end, even if there is no romance and that it's not my typical read, it worked for me. I enjoyed reading about Grace's story. I was hooked by this book right from the start, I liked the intrigue and writing even though the pace could be slow at some moments. 

***I wanted to thank HarperTeen for letting me read and review this book.*** 

You can find it on Goodreads: here.