Lion Heart ARC Review

What did I think of...

Lady Thief by A.C. Gaughen

Description:

The eagerly-awaited conclusion to the Scarlet trilogy delivers another action-packed
and romance-filled adventure.

 

Scarlet has captured the hearts of readers as well as the heart of Robin Hood, and after ceaseless obstacles and countless threats, readers will finally find out the fate of the Lady Thief.

Imprisoned by Prince John for months, Scarlet finds herself a long way from Nottinghamshire. After a daring escape from the Prince's clutches, she learns that King Richard’s life is in jeopardy, and Eleanor of Aquitaine demands a service Scarlet can’t refuse: spy for her and help bring Richard home safe. But fate—and her heart—won’t allow her to stay away from Nottinghamshire for long, and together, Scarlet and Rob must stop Prince John from going through with his dark plans for England. They can not rest until he’s stopped, but will their love be enough to save them once and for all?

 

 



Genre: Historical Romance/ Adventure/ Fairy Tale retelling/ YA
Series: Scarlet
Published on: May 19th, 2015
Pages: 348 pages
Format: Digital Copy- Kindle
Source: NetGalley
Average rating: 4.28 stars
My rating: 2 stars

I first read Scarlet about 6 months to a year ago, and immediately fell in love. But, when I started Lady Thief, I was disappointed, and DNF at 70%. It wasn't bad, it just... stalled for me. Then a better book came along, and I switched. It wasn't so much of a "I'm not reading this anymore" as a, "I'll pick it back up later". When I saw Lion Heart was on NetGalley, I was thrilled! Because I was still in love with the heart of the story, the one in Scarlet, and hoped that Lion Heart would have gained some of that spark... but it didn't, and today, I officially marked this, too, a DNF, albeit reluctantly.
Don't mistake me for saying the book wasn't bad, because it wasn't. The story just, couldn't capture my attention, and couldn't hold me down to the pages like so many others- and the first book- have done.

I was SUPER disappointed when, at the beginning, Scarlet turned into a lady. I don't mean that she was treated as such because her secret was out, I mean this as her thoughts and her actions were all defeated and broken, and as such she was treated like such, let others defend her. There's a difference between being weak from imprisonment, and being broken and dispirited.
This ruined the book for me, and I couldn't get past it.

Some of you might get past it, recognize it as the landmark on the journey that it was, but that person was not me.

XOXO,
Kat

Crown of Midnight Review

What did I think...

Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas

 



Description:  

"A line that should never be crossed is about to be breached.
It puts this entire castle in jeopardy—and the life of your friend."

From the throne of glass rules a king with a fist of iron and a soul as black as pitch. Assassin Celaena Sardothien won a brutal contest to become his Champion. Yet Celaena is far from loyal to the crown. She hides her secret vigilantly; she knows that the man she serves is bent on evil.

Keeping up the deadly charade becomes increasingly difficult when Celaena realizes she is not the only one seeking justice. As she tries to untangle the mysteries buried deep within the glass castle, her closest relationships suffer. It seems no one is above questioning her allegiances—not the Crown Prince Dorian; not Chaol, the Captain of the Guard; not even her best friend, Nehemia, a foreign princess with a rebel heart.

Then one terrible night, the secrets they have all been keeping lead to an unspeakable tragedy. As Celaena's world shatters, she will be forced to give up the very thing most precious to her and decide once and for all where her true loyalties lie...and whom she is ultimately willing to fight for.

 



Genre: High fantasy
Series: Throne of Glass
Published on: August 27th, 2013
Pages: 418 pages
Format: ebook- Kindle
Source: Amazon
Average rating: 4.5 stars
My rating: 5 stars

Genre's:

 

 

This is the second time I've read Crown of Midnight, and it was almost as good as the first time, now that that "big twist" has already been revealed. 



In Crown of Midnight, Celaena Sardothien, Adarlan's resident Assassin and King's Champion, is serving the King's wishes, by offing his competition, but in her own way.
After dealing with the evil in the castle with Cain from Throne of Glass, something new and far worse comes to light... the king's plans and Celaena's deepest secrets are revealed... and someone close to her heart leaves Celaena forever, and the True, Darkest part of Celaena Sardothien is revealed. Through saving the kingdom, herself and the people from the King's plans.

 

Celaena Sardothien is probably one of my favorite character's I've ever read. She's so complex in her layers, such a contradiction and made more real in her flaws and emotions than any other I've read. Sarah J. Maas truly knew what she was doing writing Celaena, and must have uncanny knowledge of how people's brain think, what makes humans be humans.

There was the slightest attempt at a love triangle in the first book, Throne of Glass, but here, in Crown of Midnight, and I say slightest because you could tell romance was definitely on the back burner, there. Here, it was a little different (you'll have to read it, hehehe!). Chaol, the rugged, capable Captain of the Guard, of which Celaena feels inexplicit feelings for. Prince Dorian, the Crown Prince, and a Havillard, one of the name Calaena despises most, yet feels drawn to, nonetheless.

 

Did I mention I'm totally Team Chaol... with Dorian as the best friend.

 

I've never read a series quite like Throne of Glass, and now that I'm reading it for a second time, I agree even more adamantly.

 

This is how serious I am: I would trade Throne of Glass/Crown of Midnight/Heir of Fire for a Kristen Ashley book, any day.

Yes. I said it. I know. I might cry, too. Because I never thought the day would come.

 

 

Highly recommended!

 

XOXO,

Kat