Queen of Shadows by Sarah J. Maas Book Review

General Info

Queen of Shadows by Sarah J. Maas

Published September 2015 by Bloomsbury USA Childrens

(SPOILERS)

648 Pages

Hardcover - Goodreads

Plot Summary

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 Personal Favorites

I absolutely loved this fourth installment in the series. It took me about a month to get through this book because it's extremely huge. So let's just get right into all of the good stuff. The story starts off with Dorian's POV now that he has been possessed by the Valg Prince. My heart couldn't take it.

Dorian is my baby and I hated seeing him like that. Next thing I would like to talk about is the whole rescue sequence to get Aedion back. It was amazing how Aelin acted like a dancer and the whole black roses were actuallysmoke bombs. It was so epic and when Aelin and Aedion finally reunited my heart dropped. Then when Aelin almost killed Dorian, I was just sitting there like if you kill Dorian off I'm not reading the next book. I was glad when Nesryn swooped in and saved the day. Now let' talk about

Rowan. Yes ROWAN IS BACK. This ship has sailed and it won't sink......HOPEFULLY. Rowan is the sweetest guy ever and when Aelin put on that golden dress, he was basically drooling all over the place. I love them together. I basically loved everything in this book.

My Personal Dislikes

Even though I loved everything about this book, I did have a couple minor problems. First off, I didn't like that ever since Celaena became Aelin, her whole personality changed and it wasn't for the better. She suddenly turned mean. I also didn't like that Sarah basically tried to make everyone hate Chaol. I loved Chaol since the beginning but I hated that this book depicted him to be the bad guy. This made it pretty obvious that the Chaolaena ship has finally sunk and it sucks because I was Team Chaol for like ever. 

Rating

4.9/5 Stars

My Final Thoughts

This book was really good and I can't wait to read the next one. I will be having a theories post coming soon because I want to put them out there so I can be first. Anyways see you in the next post.

~Naya J.

August Wrap Up

This month I read 5 books and three graphic novels which is a lot since I did fall into a reading slump towards the middle of the month. Overall I read some pretty good books that I am excited to share with you so let's just get right into it.
1) We Were Liars by E. Lockhart - 5/5 Stars
This was my very first read of the month and it was soooooooo good. It definitely threw me when the plot twist came because I totally didn't expect it.
2) Me and Earl and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews - 4/5 Stars
I laughed so hard during this one and I liked it way more than I thought I would. I gave this book 4 stars instead of 5 stars because I felt no connection with any of the characters.
3) Every Last Word by Tamera Ireland Stone - 5/5 Stars
This is definitely one of my new favorite books of all time. I loved the poetry aspect of the book and the characters.
4) Ruin and Rising by Leigh Bardugo - 5/5 Stars
Favorite read of the month hands down! I can't wait for Six of Crows coming out this month.
5) The Rent Collector by Cameron Wright - 4/5 Stars
For a book assigned for summer reading, this was pretty good.
6) The Amulet Series (Books 1-3) - I really didn't like this that much.

Reviews
1) We Were Liars by E. Lockhart - http://mylittleinfinityofbookss.blogspot.com/2015/08/we-were-liars-by-e-lockhart-book-review.html
2) Me and Earl and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews - http://mylittleinfinityofbookss.blogspot.com/2015/08/me-and-earl-and-dying-girl-by-jesse.html
3) Every Last Word by Tamera Ireland Stone - http://mylittleinfinityofbookss.blogspot.com/2015/08/every-last-word-by-tamera-ireland-stone.html
4) Ruin and Rising by Leigh Bardugo - http://mylittleinfinityofbookss.blogspot.com/2015/08/ruin-and-rising-by-leigh-bardugo-review.html
5) The Amulet Series (Books 1-3) - http://mylittleinfinityofbookss.blogspot.com/2015/08/the-amulet-series-books-1-3-review.html

Ruin and Rising by Leigh Bardugo Review

General Info

Ruin and Rising by Leigh Bardugo

Published June 2014 By Henry Holt & Co.

(SPOILERS)

422 Pages

Hardcover - Goodreads

Plot Summary

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.

My Personal Favorites

This book is an epic conclusion to one of my all time favorite series. So the story begins with Alina and her crew underground basically being held captive by the Apparat. Alina is getting weaker and weaker by the second and her power is basically gone since she isn't in reach of the sun. She is also separated from Mal and the rest of her friends but not for long. They come up with a plan and it goes right. They quickly leave and now have to search for the firebird, but instead have a slight setback. While settling in the middle of the forest they are attacked by a militia. But our favorite guy Nikolai comes to the rescue. I love Nikolai so much btw. Anyway I'm going to stop telling the whole story and just state the main plot points. The attack at the Spinning Wheel took a detrimental toll on the good side. We lost Sergei, Banghra, Adrik's arm, and Nikolai is turned into a monster. This is one of my favorite scenes from the trilogy. It was so action packed. 

In this book the Darkling showed us that he needed someone like him and it broke my heart to see him die at the end. He was just too powerful and burdened with a life that would last for an eternity. I actually really enjoyed the way Alina could visit the Darkling without actually being there. We also saw him break after Banghra died and I am glad that Alina had a proper burial for him even though he was the bad guy. Honestly the Darkling is my favorite antagonist up to date.

In this book we definitely get to know Genya, David, Nadia, Tamar, Tolya, Zoya, Adrik, and our newest additions Misha and Harshaw. At first I didn't really think twice about these characters but I definitely grew to love them in this last book. I can't even choose a favorite because they are all just that great.

When we found out that Mal was the third amplifier, I knew that we were going to have to kill him. But before that we got the Mal and Alina sex scene and I really enjoyed it, It wasn't too graphic but it wasn't kid friendly either. I cried so hard when Alina stabbed him during the big battle at the end because I could have sworn that he was gone for good. But I am glad that he isn't.

People say they don't  like the ending but I think that it was a great ending for this series. I was kind of sad that Alina lost her power and didn't get the destiny she deserved but she lived a happy life with Mal and Misha. Nikolai is alive so that's a plus too. Honestly I was Team Nikolai since book two so I was a little disappointed when Alina ended up marrying Mal but at least Nikolai will be in Six of Crows.

There are a lot more favorites but this post is way too long.

My Personal Dislikes

The only thing that I can say is that I missed the Darkling a lot in this book.

Rating

5/ 5 Stars

My Final Thoughts

I love this trilogy so much and it is bittersweet to see it end. I can't wait to read more from Leigh Bardugo in the future so I'll definitely be buying Six of Crows next month.

See you in the next post.

~Naya J.

Me and Earl and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews Review

General Info

Me and Earl and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews

Published March 2012 by Amulet Books

(SPOILERS)

295 Pages

Paperback - Goodreads

Plot Summary

Greg Gaines is the last master of high school espionage, able to disappear at will into any social environment. He has only one friend, Earl, and together they spend their time making movies, their own incomprehensible versions of Coppola and Herzog cult classics.

Until Greg’s mother forces him to rekindle his childhood friendship with Rachel.

Rachel has been diagnosed with leukemia—-cue extreme adolescent awkwardness—-but a parental mandate has been issued and must be obeyed. When Rachel stops treatment, Greg and Earl decide the thing to do is to make a film for her, which turns into the Worst Film Ever Made and becomes a turning point in each of their lives.

And all at once Greg must abandon invisibility and stand in the spotlight.

My Personal Favorites

Surprisingly, I actually enjoyed this book thoroughly. It was hilarious and had me laughing all the way through.  My favorite character was Earl because he didn't care what people thought about him while Greg's life basically depended on it. This book isn't my absolute favorite but it was still pretty dang good.
My Personal Dislikes
Alright so let's get started. I know that I just said that I enjoyed this book but I still had some problems with it. So to start it off, I didn't feel connected to ANY of the characters. Like when Rachel died, I felt no remorse. It didn't make me feel sad or any types of emotions towards her. I also felt like the use of profanity was a little too much. Last thing is that all of characters felt static to me. They didn't change over the course of the story like I thought they would.
Rating
4/5 Stars
My Final Thoughts
Although this book was enjoyable, I still had problems with it. Anyways see you in the next post.
~Naya J.

 

July Wrap Up

Last month I only read 4 books which isn't a lot but I hope to read way more this month.

1) Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo - 5/5 Stars

This was definitely my favorite read of the month!

 2) Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo - 4/ 5 Stars

I really liked this one but it didn't blow my mind like the first one.

3) None of the Above by I.W. Gregorio - 5/5 Stars

Everyone needs to read this!

4) The Kiss of Deception by Mary E. Pearson - 3/ 5 Stars

I really expected it to be better since most people like it so much but I didn't like it a lot. It was good but it didn't amaze me.

 

Links to my Reviews

Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo - http://mylittleinfinityofbookss.blogspot.com/2015/07/shadow-and-bone-by-leigh-bardugo-review.html

Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo - http://mylittleinfinityofbookss.blogspot.com/2015/07/siege-and-storm-by-leigh-bardugo-review.html

None of the Above by I.W. Gregorio - http://mylittleinfinityofbookss.blogspot.com/2015/07/none-of-above-by-iw-gregorio-review.html

The Kiss of Deception by Mary E. Pearson - http://mylittleinfinityofbookss.blogspot.com/2015/08/the-kiss-of-deception-by-mary-e-pearson.html

 

Young Adult Stereotypes Part 2!!

As you can see from the title, I am doing a second part for my Young Adult Stereotypes post. This is my most popular post on my blog so I wanted to do a second part since I do have more stereotypes to share. So let's hurry up and get into it.

1) Main Characters Do the NASTY In the Last Book In the Series
- This is so predictable because it happens in almost every book series. Throughout the series, the main characters have a TON of sexual tension between each other. This happens in countless last books like City of Heavenly Fire, Clockwork Princess, and I'm sure that it is going to happen in Ruin and Rising. I like those books, but it was incredibly predictable. But some books don't fall into this book trope like the Throne of Glass series and Daughter of Smoke and Bone series.
2) The Main Character Discovers That He/ She Has A Power That Can Save the World
- In almost every fantasy series, the main character discovers that they have a power that can save their people, land, or the whole world. I don't hate this one, but it is pretty annoying. Can you at least give me a weak main character that is defeated in the end? That actually leads me into my next point.
3) The Main Character ALWAYS Wins In the End
- I know this sounds mean but sometimes I want to see the character fail their mission/ quest and lose for once.
4) The Female Protagonist In the Story Has No Sexual Experience
- I don't know why authors want to make every female protagonist a virgin. Tell me why like please tell me why.
5) Guys Are Head Over Heels For the Main Character
- In almost every book the female protagonist has everyone trying to get with her. Like everyone!

Alright so that is it for this post and I hope you enjoyed it. I am also thinking of doing a SEX IN YA discussion in the future. Maybe this month or next month, I don't know. Anyways, see you in the next post.
                                                                                                                                      ~Naya J.

JULY TBR

Last month I read a whopping 7 books, which was amazing. And not to mention all of the books I read, I thoroughly enjoyed. But this month I lowered my TBR because I don't want to put too much pressure on myself as a reader. These books do not count to my BOOKTUBEATHON TBR, but I will be doing a separate post to explain that so let's just get started. I have a TBR jar and I picked two which came out to say start a new series and read a book someone else picked out for you. I chose Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo for start a new series and my sisters want me to read None of the Above by I.W. Gregorio and The Kiss of Deception by Mary E. Pearson. I am so excited to read these books and hopefully I like them all.

 

P.S. I am approaching my Goodreads reading goal of 35 books fast and I'm thinking if I should raise the bar higher. I don't know, tell me what you guys think about it.

 

QOTP: What are you reading this month and are you participating in Booktubeathon?

Off the Page by Jodi Picoult and Samantha Van Leer Review

General Info

Off the Page by Jodi Picoult and Samantha Van Leer
Published May 2015 by Delacorte Press
(SPOILERS!!)
384 Pages
Hardcover - Goodreads
Plot Summary
In the companion to Between the Lines, sixteen year old Delilah is finally united with her dream guy Oliver who happens to be an actual prince from a children's fairytale book. In order for Oliver to come to the real world, someone had to take his place in the book world. That is where Edgar comes in. Now that Edgar is in the book, Delilah has to help Oliver adapt to the human world. But when Edgar wants to come back, what will happen to Oliver?
My Personal Favorites
I loved this book way more than the first one. I loved all of the POVs but my definite favorite was Oliver. To be honest, Oliver is a better student in school than I am. He gets a perfect test score, tons of friends, and is all around great considering that he is out of a fairytale. When Seraphima and Jules switched spots, I couldn't stop laughing. Seraphima was so funny in the whole mall scene how she ran out the dressing room and showed everyone how her bra looked. Seraphima was just hilarious period. I also liked how everyone dealt with Frump's death. Being characters in a book, Oliver and Seraphima never even knew that death meant no coming back. That part had me in tears because Frump was Oliver's best friend and then he was just gone in the blink of an eye, and it kind of symbolized Oliver growing up mentally. I liked that this book took an emotional turn because it made me feel more attached to the characters. Like when Edgar's mom Jessamyn was diagnosed with a fatal brain tumor, I cried like a baby. I was glad when they solved that by taking her to the book world because I couldn't see another person I cared about die.
My Personal Dislikes
Wow! I don't think that I have anything to say in this section.
Rating
5/5 stars
My Final Thoughts
This will definitely be in my top books of 2015.I really recommend that you read Between the Lines first because you probably won't experience all the feels. That is all I have to say. See you in the next post.
~Naya J.



Between the Lines by Jodi Picoult and Samantha Van Leer Review



General Info

Between the Lines by Jodi Picoult and Samantha Van Leer

Published June 2012 by Simon Pulse Simon Schuster

(NO SPOILERS)

353 Pages

Hardcover - Goodreads

Plot Summary

15 year old Delilah loves to read but one day in her school library she comes across a children's fairytale Between the Lines and becomes obsessed. After rereading it over and over again, she discovers that one of the pictures have changed. And then the main character, Oliver starts talking to her. It turns out that he wants to get out of the book. Together Delilah and Oliver attempt to get him out of the book while falling in love with each other at the same time.

My Personal Favorites

I absolutely loved this book. It had a great storyline that I never read before and I loved the characters. I liked the whole idea of what happens once a book is closed. It was kind of like how kids thought that their toys would move while they were asleep or not there. And the pictures and color font were amazing. I thought that added a great touch to the story. If you're looking for a book that would have you laughing your heart out, this is definitely the book for you.

My Personal Dislikes

The only thing that I had problem with was the ending. It wasn't a major problem but I thought it was a little unrealistic. I looked pass this because the book for me was just for entertainment.

My Rating

4.8/5 stars

My Final Thoughts

Overall this book was a fun light read that I can see myself rereading in the future. Oh how I wish that Simon Lewis(aka Robert Sheehan version) would talk to me through the pages of The Mortal Instruments. I would do anything to get him out. If you plan on reading the companion novel Off the Page, I do recommend that you read this one first because I am currently reading it and Oliver just seems outright dumb without knowing his back story.

See you in the next post.

~Naya J.

 

 

Young Adult Stereotypes

So I admit that I LOVE LOVE the Young Adult category when it comes to books but over the past two years, I came to a realization that most books have similar elements. Like a lot of similar elements. It's almost like reading the same thing over and over again. I am not losing an interest in YA, I'm just making an observation. So to back this up, I'm going to tell you most of the stereotypes I've encountered in YA literature.
1. The Main Character Is Almost ALWAYS A Female.
-This annoys the crap out of me. I am a girl so sometimes I want to experience being in the mind of a  male. Come on authors give me some more male protagonists!
2. Girl Hates the Love Interest For the First Half Of the Book.
-  Okay I get that the author doesn't want to make the romance insta-love but does the boy and girl
   have to hate each other every single time. This happens in The Infernal Devices trilogy by  
   Cassandra Clare, The Lux series by Jennifer L. Armentrout, and many more. I love both of those
   series but it's kind of getting old. But I'll still read books like that because I really love the
    tension.
3. In a Love Triangle, The Girl Never Picks the Friend.
- This is with almost all love triangle when the choices are the main character's friend and
     someone they just met, they always pick the new guy. This happened in Twilight and The Mortal
     Instruments, but I'm sure that it happened many more times in literature. JUST PICK THE
     FRIEND ESPECIALLY IF IT WAS SIMON LEWIS!
This was my YA Stereotypes. I hope you enjoyed it because I might do a part since there are so many more that I didn't put in this post. Anyways see you later, I'm assuming in the next post :)
                                                                                                                         ~Naya J.