The Wizard of Rondo

After an entire year of delaying reading book number two, I finally have finished reading The Wizard of Rondo. 

Interested in the first book?  Click here to read the review.

The Wizard of Rondo does not disappoint.  The insane, but lovable world of Rondo is just as crazy as it was in the first book.  Talking chickens, missing wizards, walking pots!  Young reader, fantasy lovers are sure to love the magical world of Rondo.

I think Emily Rodda has a fantastic voice.  Of course I am a bit biased, having grown up reading her Deltora Quest series (WHICH I LOVE) I would read anything she put on a shelf.  Her writing manages to be whimsical, hilarious, and sarcastic all at once in these books.  Don’t go into reading these books expecting a straight fantasy story.  These books thrive off of making fun of themselves and fairy tale traditions. 

I think, partly, this is why I think the books are so successful. 4 stars for this pretty fantastic second book!

As a closing remark, I want to leave you with some snippets from my favorite character: the cooking pot! 

“After only a few minutes, however, the new cooking pot began whimpering and dragging its feet.  ‘Legs sore, Conkie!’ it wailed in a tinny voice. ‘Carry me?’

(…)

The pot wriggled in the flames, giggling and flapping its handle up and down.  ‘Tickles, Conkie!’ it shrieked.  Water and shreds of dried meat and onion slopped onto the fire.  Most of the flames went out, and smoke billowed from the charred, wet wood, making everyone cough.

‘Now look what you’ve done!’ Conker roared at the pot.  He kicked at it furiously.  It screamed and dodged, spilling most of its remaining contents over the last struggling flames which died at once.

‘Fire all gone,’ the pot said in surprise, shifting uncomfortably in the black, watery mess of dead coals, meat, and chopped onions that now filled the neat little fireplace.”

Ravensblood

*This book was given to me in exchange for an honest review*

Goodreads Synopsis:

In a life of impossible choices when sometimes death magic is the lesser of the evils, can a dark mage save the world and his own soul?

Corwyn Ravenscroft. Raven. The last heir of an ancient family of dark mages, he holds the secret to recreating the Ravensblood, a legendary magical artifact of immense power.

Cassandra Greensdowne is a Guardian. Magical law enforcement for the elected council — and Raven’s former apprentice and lover. She is trying to live down her past. And then her past comes to the door, asking for her help.

As a youth, Raven wanted to be a Guardian but was rejected because of his ancestry. In his pride and his anger, he had turned to William, the darkest and most powerful mage of their time. William wants a return to the old ways, where the most powerful mage was ruler absolute. But William would not be a True King from the fairy tales. He would reign in blood and terror and darkest magic.

Raven discovers that he does have a conscience. It’s rather inconvenient.

He becomes a spy for the council that William wants to overthrow, with Cassandra as his contact.
Cass and Raven have a plan to trap William outside his warded sanctuary. But William is one step ahead of the game, with Raven’s life, his soul, and the Ravensblood all in danger.


Honestly I had no inkling of how much I would love this book. It was a magical cop drama. And it was AWESOME. It reminded me very much of Kim Harrison's Hollows Series with protagonist Rachael Morgan.

I'm not going to lie, I have a thing for "the bad guy" with a heart of gold. Raven stole mine from the moment he stepped onto the page. Seriously. No "bad" character has had this much of a claim to my affections since Snape, and let me tell you- I am embarrassingly in love with Snape. Just take my word, Raven is irresistible.

Ravensblood was well-written, fast paced, action-packed, and amazing. I cannot wait to read book two.

Have you read Ravensblood? What did you think!?

The Night Circus

While I was in England last summer sewing for the TV show Ren one of the other seamstresses recommended this book to me.  I wrote it down and put it on my bulletin board.  A few months ago a co-worker handed me the book and said "READ IT".  Yet it sat on my shelf for three months until I read it this weekend. 

The universe was basically shoving this book at me.  I should have listened sooner.  It was amazing.  So amazing.  I consumed it in about 3 hours on the plane, and at times had to be comforted by my boyfriend who noticed me wringing my hands in distress.

The back cover synopsis:
The circus arrives without warning. No announcements precede it. It is simply there, when yesterday it was not. Within the black-and-white striped canvas tents is an utterly unique experience full of breathtaking amazements. It is called "Le Cirque des Reves," and it is only open at night.

But behind the scenes, a fierce competition is underway--a duel between two young magicians, Celia and Marco, who have been trained since childhood expressly for this purpose by their mercurial instructors. Unbeknownst to them, this is a game in which only one can be left standing, and the circus is but the stage for a remarkable battle of imagination and will. Despite themselves, however, Celia and Marco tumble headfirst into love - a deep, magical love that makes the lights flicker and the room grow warm whenever they so much as brush hands.

True love or not, the game must play out, and the fates of everyone involved, from the cast of extraordinary circus per-formers to the patrons, hang in the balance, suspended as precariously as the daring acrobats overhead.

The story was awesome.  The back cover exaggerates and doesn't do a great job summing up what is the Night Circus, but still.  Give it a read.

It isn't fast paced, but I read it in the blink of an eye.  It isn't a romance as it suggests, but there is romance in it.  It isn't a competitive duel, but a competition that spans over many many many years.  But the circus is beautiful, and the contest itself mysterious and intriguing.  

4 solid stars for this awesome book.

Read it?  Let me know what you thought!  I love hearing others' opinions!

Heir of Fire

This book was amazing!  It was, admittedly a bit slow to start, but it was AWESOME.  This is book three of the Throne of Glass series, see my reviews on books 1 and 2!

We get to see Celena in a whole different light in this book.  Bit by bit we get to see just how broken she is.  Now that the truth of who she is is out, she cannot hide anymore.  Change is coming and whether or not she is prepared for it is her own choice.

Official Goodreads synopsis:
Lost and broken, Celaena Sardothien’s only thought is to avenge the savage death of her dearest friend: as the King of Adarlan’s Assassin, she is bound to serve this tyrant, but he will pay for what he did. Any hope Celaena has of destroying the king lies in answers to be found in Wendlyn. Sacrificing his future, Chaol, the Captain of the King’s Guard, has sent Celaena there to protect her, but her darkest demons lay in that same place. If she can overcome them, she will be Adarlan’s biggest threat – and his own toughest enemy.

While Celaena learns of her true destiny, and the eyes of Erilea are on Wendlyn, a brutal and beastly force is preparing to take to the skies. Will Celaena find the strength not only to win her own battles, but to fight a war that could pit her loyalties to her own people against those she has grown to love?

 During this book Celena is trained by the exceedingly awesome Rowan.  I adored Rowan.  He almost made up for Chaol being the world's most idiotic male.  Almost.

Speaking of Chaol.  I used to ship Chaol and Celena, but after this book...I just don't know if I want her with him anymore.  He wavered between alliances, wouldn't make concrete choices, omitted important information from his best friend, and abandoned the woman he loves.  Chaol.  WHAT ARE YOU DOING?  I was really disappointed in his character.

Dorian.  Finally.  For the past two books Dorian has been a bit unsure and irresponsible.  He finally grows into his own skin in this book.  The end of his story line in this book ripped my heart apart.  I kept having to tell myself that book 4 will make everything right.  It has to.

Manon.  Manon was an interesting addition to the story.  She is fierce and awesome.  She reminded me a lot of the witches in Joseph Delaney's The Last Apprentice Series.  At first I thought she would be just a static, secondary antagonist.  A leader of one string of the King's forces.  But now... I am not so sure.  She isn't good, not by a long shot, but I think there might be some very interesting additional character development in book four that will make me adore her even more.

Queen Maeve.  I hated her.  She's an awesome character, but I HATE her.  

King of Adarlan.  This book made me hate him even more.  The intricate plots and movements of his followers in the general world were astounding.  While in the capitol we didn't really get a sense of just how evil he is.  Yeah, he's a bad dude, but in Heir of Fire we get to see just how long he has been planning this.  We also got to see several more pieces of his master plan fall into place.  I'm terrified.  Celena is going to need more than just her own abilities to stop him.  She's going to need a miracle.

My only complaint about this book is the cover.  DID THE DESIGNER EVEN READ IT BEFORE DRAWING IT?!  Celena trains with magic in this book.  Shifting and fire.  Not a bow.  And the back?  

She is mostly a scullery maid and in training clothes.  She's not even allowed in a dress when she meets with Queen Maeve!  SO WHY IS SHE IN A GOWN WITH (again) A BOW!  It's so irritating.

Despite the cover and the slow start, I give this book 5 stars.  Yet another amazing novel from Sarah J Maas.

Mortal Heart

I've raved about books 1 and 2 -- now it's time to rave about book 3. 

Book 3, Mortal Heart, follows Annith, a daughter of Mortian and one of his most talented handmaidens.  Only she's never been sent out of the abbey to do the bidding of the Lord of Death. 

Official Goodreads description:
Annith has watched her gifted sisters at the convent come and go, carrying out their dark dealings in the name of St. Mortain, patiently awaiting her own turn to serve Death. But her worst fears are realized when she discovers she is being groomed by the abbess as a Seeress, to be forever sequestered in the rock and stone womb of the convent. Feeling sorely betrayed, Annith decides to strike out on her own.

She has spent her whole life training to be an assassin. Just because the convent has changed its mind doesn't mean she has...

I devoured this book.  DEVOURED.  Annith's story was awesome, her love connection just as fulfilling as the last two books, and the intruige!  

We finally get to KNOW the Abbess.  Who she is, what she wants, what she is plotting.  All comes out in this book.  It's messy, awesome, and everything I wanted.  

Read these books. Seriously.  Action-filled, well-written, enough romance to keep you grinning like a fool, and enough court intrigue to have you biting your fingernails.  If I could give these books 6 stars, I would.

Kinky in Cancun

-I received a free copy of this story in exchange for an honest review-

Kinky in Cancun is a well-written, quick, erotic read.  Maren travels to Cancun to do an interview with the heir to Mexico's prime airline...only no one has ever seen him or done an interview with him.  I really enjoyed the setting and descriptions of this book.  The sex scenes were well written, mostly staying away from cheesy romance verbiage, which I really appreciate.

What I didn't love so much was the way Maren associated with men.  Perhaps this is because I am a bit more old fashioned.  Click the spoiler button below to read a slight spoiler. I wanted to include the association I didn't appreciate for those who might be turned off by certain kinds of erotica, but didn't want to spoil the plot for anyone who might want to read the book.

In 42 pages Maren has associasions with 3 different men, and on one occasion trades a blow job for entrance to a party.  This particular scene just made me feel uncomfortable.  I personally don't find the idea of trading sexual favors to be sexy.  But that is me.

  

If you enjoy  reading erotic stories and don't mind main characters who get it on with nearly everyone they meet, then READ THIS STORY!  It's well written and worth your time. 

Have you read this book?  Let me know what you thought!

Dark Triumph

I was so nervous to read this book.  Grave Mercy was so good….how could a second book top it?

Dark Triumph is Sybella’s book which really made me nervous because Sybella is a bit insane.

But Oh. My. Goodness.  THIS BOOK WAS AMAZING.  I decided to read this book while waiting for Elder Scrolls Online to download.  It downloaded 1% in the time it took me to read this book. Whether that tells of how fast I read, or how slowly ESO downloads...

Sybella is awesome.  She is a survivor, albeit a broken one.  She is an absolute badass, and she loves fiercely.  Her character development was fantastically plotted.  The reveals along the way... I won't spoil them, but they were amazing.

Sybella’s family is FUCKED UP.  Not just a little.  A crap ton.  But how she gets through it, how she survives, how she opens up to the Beast…it is beautiful.  I actually cried during one part of this book.

We don’t get as much politics (government or convent) in this book, but all the signs of a storm brewing are there.  I am pretty excited for the culmination of all the intrigue and lies going on in the covent to happen in book three.

This book gets 5 out of 5 stars.  Definitely one of the best books i have read this year.

Fractured Dream

-I received a copy of this book to do an honest review-

 Have you ever wondered where fairytales go once they’re created?

It’s been eight years since Story Sparks last had a dream. Now they’re back, tormenting her as nightmares she can’t remember upon waking. The black waters of Lake Sandeen, where her Uncle Peter disappeared decades before, may hold the secret to Story’s hidden memories, or a truth she’d rather not know. On a bright summer afternoon, Story and her two best friends, Elliot and Adam, take a hike to the lake, where they dive into the cool water and never reemerge. What they find is beyond anything they’ve ever imagined could be possible, a world where dangers lurk in the form of Big Bad Wolves, living Nightmares and meddlesome witches and gods.

Now Story must remember who she really is and somehow stop two worlds from ultimate annihilation, all while trying not to be too distracted by the inexplicable pull she feels toward a certain dark-eyed traveler who seems to have secrets of his own. The fates of the worlds are counting on her.

This book was a fairytale dream.   A must read for fans of Once Upon a Time, Alice in Wonderland, and Kiersten White’s Paranormalcy series.  I can always tell when a book evokes an emotional response from me.  My reviews tend to get really long and geeky.

This post is going to be really long.

Things I loved!

I adored Story’s backstory.  The snippets we get of the Dreamer and Fiddler were fantastic.  The mythical land has its own myths!  Fantastic! 

Chapter 7 gave me chills.  Full body chills.  And I do not think I blinked once during the last two pages.  It was AWESOME.

The title, Fractured Dream, is perfect.  I won’t explain why it fits so well because SPOILERS, but trust me.  It’s perfect.

I loved Jess.  Take Traditional Little Red Riding Hood, add Once Upon a Time Red, and stir in a crackle of Selene from Underworld and you have Jess.  She was a firecracker.  I loved it.

LGBTQ.  This book had gay and lesbian characters!  *waves flag*  I love how Randall has her world treat gay characters.  No one hates or is disgusted by them, their interests are perfectly normal and valid.  I wish our world were as accepting!  In fact, it is even okay for a Thumbelina to like a human!  Cross-species love!  

*Spoiler* 

Morgana and Guinevere being in love was fantastic. As a huge Merlin/Mists of Avalon freak this made me supremely happy. Also- my favorite line came during this part: “In this story, there is no Lancelot.” I love it!

The things I didn’t like so much…

The main character, Story, did, at times, drive me a bit nuts.  She avoids doing things or realizing things that the reader has figured out chapters ago.  Her inability and refusal to do/realize things gets other people killed and hurt, and drags out the story unnecessarily.  In this way she reminded me of Evie from Paranormalcy.  It was the biggest complaint I had about that series as well.  And also…her name.  Story Sparks.  I hated it.  Fractured Dream is a fantastically imagined book, and the main character’s name is Story.  It makes me so sad.

Adam.  The other character I didn’t enjoy very much.  His constant refusal to believe anything about Story being the Dreamer drove me bonkers.  You are in a fairytale world.  Shuddup.

I did really enjoy this book although there were some things I didn’t love.  I stand by my earlier statement.  If you are a fan of Once Upon a Time, Alice in Wonderland, and Keirsten White’s Paranormalcy series you will love this book.