throne of glass – Zakiya N. Jamal

Book Review: The Assassin’s Blade

Posted on December 22, 2016December 22, 2016 by Zakiya N. Jamal in Book Reviews, Books to Buy

Synopsis:

Celaena Sardothien is Adarlan’s most feared assassin. As part of the Assassin’s Guild, she’s sworn to her master, Arobynn Hamel, yet Celaena listens to no one and trusts only her fellow killer for hire, Sam.

In these action-packed prequel novellas to Throne of Glass, Celaena embarks on five daring missions. They take her from remote islands to hostile deserts, where she fights to liberate slaves and avenge tyranny. But by acting on her own terms, will Celaena truly free herself from her master, or will she suffer an unimaginable punishment for such treachery?

This bind-up features all four of the previously published e-novellas along with a story now available in the US for the first time, The Assassin and the Healer.

Purchase From:

Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Book Depository

Review

*This book is part of my POPSUGAR 2016 Reading Challenge.*

It took me forever, but I finally finished the Throne of Glass series. The Assassin’s Blade was the only book holding me back but after realizing I was behind on my Goodreads challenge I finally got the push I needed to finish it. It took me so long to read this book not because it was bad but because I knew how it would end and I wasn’t looking forward to that ending. In truth, the book was actually very good.

I really enjoyed learning more about Celaena’s past and her relationship with Sam. Now I finally understand why everyone loves him. He was amazing and my heart hurts for him and what he went through. This book also made me realize even more why I do not like Arobynn. He is honestly a trash human being and so incredibly manipulative that it tittered the line of unbelievable.

Reading this novel after I read Empire of Storms definitely cleared up a lot of questions I had about Empire of Storms. In The Assassin’s Blade I learned the history of the Silent Assassins, Ansel, and the Pirate Lord, all of which comes in handy with where the series is currently at.

Overall, The Assassin’s Blade was definitely worth a read and I’m glad I finally read it and can now say I’ve read all of Sarah J. Maas books this year. It’s crazy to think I didn’t even know who she was a year ago. Make sure to check out Maas’ novels if you haven’t yet. They’re all spectacular.

Stars:

Favorite Line:

“I love you. And from today onward, I want to never be separated from you. Wherever you go, I go. Even if that means going to Hell itself, wherever you are, that’s where I want to be. Forever.”

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‘Nevernight,’ ‘The Assassin’s Blade,’ and More Books On My December TBR

Posted on December 2, 2016November 30, 2016 by Zakiya N. Jamal in Blog

I haven’t made a TBR post since June and that’s so sad. I’m happy to start doing this again and hopefully I’ll be able to stick to my TBR this month but I do have grad school applications to work on so we’ll see. However, most of these are library books so I actually do need to read these soon. Here’s my reading plan for December.

1. The Rest of Us Just Live Here by Patrick Ness

I’ve never read a Patrick Ness book so I figure it’s time I give his writing a try. So far I’m liking it but I’m only 15 pages in. I plan to finish this book by the end of this month.

2. Nevernight by Jay Kristoff

I absolutely loved the Illuminae series by Jay Kristoff and Amie Kaufman so when I heard Kristoff was writing an adult novel I was excited. I’m participating in a readalong for this novel in the month of December, which you can get more info about here.

3. Burned by Ellen Hopkins

I actually read this novel a few years ago but I need to reread it so I can finally read the sequel. I remember how Burned ended but not all the details. I do know enough to remember this book will break my heart (again) but I’m ready.

4. Smoke by Ellen Hopkins

This is literally the only book by Ellen Hopkins I’ve never read and it’s killing me so I must read it. I’m hoping for a happy ending but having read almost all of Hopkins novels I know not to get my hopes up.

5. The Wrath & the Dawn by Renée Ahdieh

After my friend read this duology and told me how much she loved it I requested a copy from the library…and still haven’t read it. I believe I’ve renewed this book at least once already so I need to read it before it’s due again.

6. Dash & Lily’s Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan

This is another reread for me but it’s honestly the perfect book for the holidays. However, I’m really rereading it because I want to read the sequel and I haven’t read Dash & Lily in years so I need a refresher before I see what they’re up to these days.

7. The Twelve Days of Dash & Lily by Rachel Cohn & David Levithan

I’m excited to read this book since I loved Dash & Lily so much. Also, I just love Christmas books in general so this will be a fun read.

8. The Assassin’s Blade by Sarah J. Maas

This is the second time I’ve checked out this book from the library so I absolutely have to finish it this time. I’ve read the first two novellas so I’m hoping this will be the month I finish the rest. Wish me luck!

What are you planning to read this month? Let me know in the comments below!

Book Review: Empire of Storms

Posted on November 29, 2016November 30, 2016 by Zakiya N. Jamal in Book Reviews, Books to Buy

Synopsis:

The long path to the throne has only just begun for Aelin Galathynius. Loyalties have been broken and bought, friends have been lost and gained, and those who possess magic find themselves at odds with those who don’t.

With her heart sworn to the warrior-prince by her side, and her fealty pledged to the people she is determined to save, Aelin will delve into the depths of her power to protect those she loves. But as monsters emerge from the horrors of the past, and dark forces become poised to claim her world, the only chance for salvation will lie in a desperate quest that may mark the end of everything Aelin holds dear.

In this breathtaking fifth installment of the New York Times bestselling Throne of Glass series, Aelin will have to choose what — and who — to sacrifice if she’s to keep the world of Erilea from breaking apart.

Purchase From:

Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Book Depository

Review

*Warning: This review will contain some spoilers. If you don’t want to be spoiled please don’t read.*

I borrowed Empire of Storms from the library because I’m on a book buying ban and honestly I’m having a hard time returning it. I don’t want to give it back. I want to keep it forever. I want to reread it immediately. I need it on my shelves. It was so good!

Empire of Storms picks up a little after where Queen of Shadows ended. Aelin is finally headed back to Terrasen to reclaim her throne but things don’t go as planned. Lord Darrow, who’s one of the biggest jerks in this novel, basically tells Aelin she can’t be queen and if she tries to take her throne back they (the Lords of Terrasen) will see it as an act of war. So rude. Although Aelin is pissed, and rightfully so, she doesn’t fight and instead gets to work on putting her many plans in motion.

This novel followed a lot of characters so there were a lot of different plot lines going on. The Valg king, Erawan, attacked Rifthold and Rowan had to go rescue Dorian and then they ended up going to Skull’s Bay to pay the Pirate Lord a visit. Manon, who’s such a softie, was dealing with her terrible grandmother and the other witches and ended up making a choice that led to a big revelation, altering her fate. My favorite lady, Elide, was freed from Morath but had to try to find Aelin/Caelena who she didn’t know was the same person. On her way to Terrasen she was hunted by Lorcan, who was still looking for the Wyrdkeys. They ended up partnering up and thus a new ship was born.

Of course all these different storylines ended up coming together and it led to a huge revelation about Aelin’s fate and a devastating ending. Empire of Storms was filled with a lot of action as Aelin & Co. had to fight not only Erawan’s forces but also Maeve’s, the Queen of the Fae. This novel also contained a lot of romance. Basically everyone hooked up with someone in this novel. Seriously, there was a lot of kisses and sex and declarations of love, which also caused for some hilarity since the Fae can tell when someone had sex or desires someone. Speaking of hilarity, Aelin still had the same level of sass we’ve come to know and love but there were also some new characters that were great additions to the sass in this book. Particularly, Fenrys, who’s one of the Fae in Rowan’s “cadre.” He was fantastic.

Overall, I am in love with this book. I already started rereading it even though I know I have to return it soon. I still love Queen of Shadows because it had a much happier ending but Empire of Storms is a great novel. It’s well written, the characters are great, and the twists were perfect. There were twists that dated all the way back to the second book. That’s crazy!

Definitely read this book if you haven’t already. You’ll love it!

Stars:

Favorite Line:

“Even when this world is a forgotten whisper of dust between the stars, I will love you.”

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Book Review: Queen of Shadows

Posted on November 8, 2016 by Zakiya N. Jamal in Book Reviews, Books to Buy

Synopsis:

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 just to see her again. 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.

Celaena’s epic journey has captured the hearts and imaginations of millions across the globe. This fourth volume will hold readers rapt as Celaena’s story builds to a passionate, agonizing crescendo that might just shatter her world.

Purchase From:

Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Book Depository

Review

*Warning: There will be spoilers about Heir of Fire in this review. Read at your own risk.*

Queen of Shadows is my favorite book in this series so far. I haven’t read The Assassin’s Blade but I feel confident in saying Queen of Shadows is my absolute favorite. Everything about it was great. There was a lot of action, drama, romance, and there were a lot of twists and secrets revealed. The novel began with Aelin back in Rifthold to start making moves to take back her kingdom and ultimately save the world from the dark clutches of the King of Adarlan. Unfortunately a lot had changed since Aelin was last in Rifthold.

Dorian was under the control of a Valg prince do to the nice little choker his father put on him after Chaol escaped from the castle. Aedion, Aelin’s cousin, was imprisoned in the castle awaiting his execution and people kept disappearing in Rifthold while the rebels in the city tried to save them all. Not to mention the fact that Aelin also needed to pay the Assassin King a visit because he had one of the Wyrdkeys. Needless to say Aelin had a lot of work to do in this novel and as per usual she handled it with a high degree of sass and swagger. Her plans continued to surprise me (and the other characters in this novel) and I never knew what to expect, which made this novel so fun to read.

It was heartbreaking to read the chapters about Dorian and his enslavement. I wanted to cry every time we had one of those chapters but I pushed through. This novel also contained some new characters that I fell in love with, mainly Lysandra and Nesyrn. I love all the bad ass women we get in this series and these two were an amazing addition to the growing cast of characters in these novels. We also learned more about Manon and the witches in this novel but honestly I didn’t really care all that much about them. Although I do love Manon’s wyern, Abraxos. He’s the best.

Like I said I absolutely loved this novel and I think you should buy it immediately if you haven’t already. It’s worth every penny and I’ve already reread it because I have no self-control. Sorry not sorry.

Stars:

Favorite Line:

“You make me want to live, Rowan. Not survive; not exist. Live.”

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Book Review: Heir of Fire

Posted on November 3, 2016November 3, 2016 by Zakiya N. Jamal in Book Reviews

Synopsis:

Celaena has survived deadly contests and shattering heartbreak-but at an unspeakable cost. Now, she must travel to a new land to confront her darkest truth . . . a truth about her heritage that could change her life-and her future-forever. Meanwhile, brutal and monstrous forces are gathering on the horizon, intent on enslaving her world. Will Celaena find the strength to not only fight her inner demons, but to take on the evil that is about to be unleashed?

Purchase From:

Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Book Depository

Review

*Warning: There will be spoilers about Crown of Midnight in this review. Read at your own risk.*

I was so excited to finally get to Heir of Fire because there were some characters I desperately needed to meet including Rowan, who I didn’t like as much as I thought I would. At least not at first. He has since grown on me and I love him now but I had to get used to him and how he interacted with Celaena. It was pretty harsh but I’m getting ahead of myself here.

Heir of Fire begins with Celaena now in Wendlyn where Chaol sent her thinking he was protecting her, which he kind of was but little did he know she’s also Aelin, the Queen of Terrasen, and kind of his enemy. Oops. Regardless, Chaol doesn’t really regret his decision but Celaena doesn’t exactly know what she’s doing. We find her in a pretty bad state when the novel begins, which is kind of understandable since she went through a lot of crap in Crown in Midnight. Enter Rowan and Maeve.

Maeve is kind of Celaena’s aunt (it’s complicated) and a goddess who wants to unleash Celaena’s power. Though Celaena would prefer not to she knows she has to do something if she’s ever going to fulfill her promise to Nehemia. So off Celaena goes to learn about her powers and how to shift into her Fae form from the formidable Fae prince, Rowan. As you may imagine their relationship doesn’t start on the best foot but just as Rowan grew on me they grow on each other.

Meanwhile, Chaol and Dorian are adjusting to life in the castle without Celaena, especially now that her cousin, Aedion, has arrived. Chaol is desperate to keep Celaena’s secret causing a rift between him and Dorian that only gets deeper when Chaol becomes interested in the rebel cause. Thankfully Dorian is able to make a new friend that helps keep him (and his magic) in check.

I really loved this novel and getting to see what was happening to Celaena, Chaol, and Dorian. I really fell in love with Dorian in this book. I liked him before but this book really made me feel for Dorian and everything he has to go through. It was great getting to meet new characters as well, especially the demi-Fae Celaena comes into contact with. There wasn’t too much romance in this novel, especially compared to the other books in this series, but there was enough to be satisfied if you’re looking for that type of thing. This book was more about action scenes, magic, and dark twists.

I’m pretty sure I actually cried by the end of this novel because it tore me apart, which is saying something because Crown of Midnight was pretty heartbreaking but I didn’t cry when I read it. I say this all to say read it at your own risk. But seriously, read this book. It’s fantastic.

I’m almost done with the Throne of Glass series so if you don’t like this series sorry but I’ve got three more reviews coming your way. And then I’m done I swear.

Stars:

Favorite Line:

“She was the heir of ash and fire, and she would bow to no one.”

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Book Review: Throne of Glass

Posted on October 24, 2016October 27, 2016 by Zakiya N. Jamal in Book Reviews, Books to Buy

Synopsis:

In a land without magic, where the king rules with an iron hand, an assassin is summoned to the castle. She comes not to kill the king, but to win her freedom. If she defeats twenty-three killers, thieves, and warriors in a competition, she is released from prison to serve as the king’s champion. Her name is Celaena Sardothien.

The Crown Prince will provoke her. The Captain of the Guard will protect her. But something evil dwells in the castle of glass–and it’s there to kill. When her competitors start dying one by one, Celaena’s fight for freedom becomes a fight for survival, and a desperate quest to root out the evil before it destroys her world.

Purchase From:

Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Book Depository

Review

After reading A Court of Thorns and Roses everyone told me I had to read Throne of Glass. Well after waiting for the latest book to come out I’ve decided to binge read the whole series and I’m loving it so far. I just made it to book three and I’m so hooked. For now though I’m just going to discuss the first novel, which was a great start to the series.

The novel follows Celaena, an assassin that was enslaved after being betrayed. Now she’s made a deal with the Crown Prince, Dorian. In exchange for her freedom she will compete to become the King’s Champion and if she succeeds she will work for the King for a few years and then finally be really free. Of course nothing comes easy and living in the castle along with the nobility and the other criminals and warriors competing for the Champion title is difficult for Celaena. Especially when Dorian sees her as more than just his Champion and her friendship with the Captain of the Guard, Chaol, is so tumultuous it’s difficult to tell how he actually feels about her. Worse than anything, though, is the mysterious secrets the castle holds and the evil that’s lurking around every corner. Celaena will have to keep her guard up at all times to face off against threats but to also keep her own secrets.

Like I said I’m totally hooked. I couldn’t put this book down. There was romance, hilarity, mystery, and adventure. I absolutely love Chaol and he’s definitely my favorite but I also really liked Dorian and Nehemia, who befriends Celaena. This book made me laugh a lot but also made me swoon and a little concerned for my favorites. I was on the edge of my seat throughout this book and never knew what would happen next.

I’m excited to continue this series and see where it goes from here. I know I’m in for a lot of despair and crying but thankfully I’ve been warned enough that I feel emotionally prepared. At least I hope so. The point is you should really read this series if you haven’t already. As my friend once said, it’s never too late to join the bandwagon. So hop on my friends! It’ll be a wild ride.

Stars:

Favorite Line:

“You could rattle the stars. You could do anything, if only you dared. And deep down, you know it, too. That’s what scares you most.”

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