Book Review: Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas

It's incredible what a good book can be for you: A refuge during times of change or stress; a companion when you're just plain bored; or a window into others' minds and thoughts and emotions. Needless to say, these aren't the only forms books can take. Its magical, really. When I found out that "Crown of Midnight", the sequel to Sarah J. Maas's thrilling novel "Throne of Glass", was finally coming out near the end of last month, I knew I'd find all of those things in this one book, with Celaena whooping people's butts with her knives and undeniable wit!

Eighteen-year-old Celaena Sardothien has finally become the King's Champion, dispatched to assassinate threats to the kingdom. Yet Celaena is far from loyal to the crown--a secret she keeps even from those who are closest to her heart. Keeping up such a dangerous charade could mean life or death, not just for Celaena herself, but for her dearest friends. But when the King tasks her with killing someone from her past, Celaena finds herself caught up in an increasingly tangled web of lies, secrets and deceit--including one that could alter the fate of the entire kingdom. Where do the assassin's loyalties lie, and who is she most willing to fight for?

If I loved Celaena in "Throne of Glass", then I completely bonded with her in "Crown of Midnight". What I mean by this is that I found myself seeing her as more than a totally bad-ass assassin, as a girl who's really the same age as I am and deals with issues that any teenager has to deal with. It was through these moments of empathy and understanding--like awkward encounters with exes or the utter feeling of devotion toward a pet--that made Celaena a truly relatable protagonist. Even the problems normal kids usually (and hopefully!) don't have to deal with, such as having to assassinate potential threats to royalty, become believable and understandable. This is because we see Celaena grow as a person and as someone who's human, just like the rest of us. So it's easy to imagine what we'd feel if we were put in the same situation. And that's what Ms. Maas does extremely well--crafting a unique and powerful heroine who, at the same time, is just like us.

The same can be said about the other main characters in the series, like Chaol and Dorian. I really liked how some of the chapters were told from Chaol's and Dorian's perspective, since it really helped to heighten the tension and give us juicy looks into their thoughts and emotions. (And by this, I especially mean thoughts and emotions regarding the love triangle! Who doesn't love some good romantic tension?) Seeing things from their points of view also makes them more dynamic characters, since they become somewhat more real as you experience their worries and discoveries alongside them. There's also some great stuff going on with the other, more minor characters. Nehemia, of course, remains the wise, statuesque princess--not to mention Celaena's best friend and guide. She's definitely a shining beacon in the story, and you can see why Celaena regards her as her soul-friend. There's also Archer, the strikingly beautiful courtesan who grew up with Celaena when she was training to become an assassin. I think Ms. Maas does a great job with depicting his character and shifting our perceptions of him as the story progresses. Handsome men can't always be trusted, eh?

Luckily for us, "Crown of Midnight" doesn't succumb to the 'sequel syndrome', where sequels end up...well, sucking. Instead, the storyline of the novel starts off exciting, and ends up all the more so! The twists and turns in the plot as Celaena discovers more and more things about the mysterious Wyrdmarks and magic really keep tensions running high, and I found my heart thumping rapidly in the really intense scenes (and trust me, there are lots of them). What I especially like about the storyline is that despite all of these revelations, they're never introduced too suddenly; Ms. Maas cleverly weaves in hints into the plot that build up to these turning points in the novel. And that ending! I don't know whether I can say for sure that I saw it coming, but talk about a cliffhanger!

Overall, "Crown of Midnight" is a compelling second installment in the "Throne of Glass" series, with an awesomely butt-kicking heroine, well-developed characters and an exciting storyline that hooks you in and never lets go. If you haven't read the first book, I urge you to go pick up a copy now--it's worth it!

Rating: 5/5

Book Review: Dark Triumph by Robin LaFevers

Historical fiction novels never fail to be new and exciting--it's like you're holding a time travel machine in your hands, and you don't need to worry about any of the tricky cause-and-effect business that could change the world as you know it. What's even better is when you have a kick-ass heroine to top it all off, and that's precisely what you get with Robin LaFevers's "His Fair Assassin" trilogy. "Dark Triumph" is the sequel to "Grave Mercy", which I remember gobbling up in a matter of hours, so naturally I squealed in excitement when I saw that the second installment of the trilogy was being released earlier this April!

Sybella thought she had finally escaped the prison of her home, thought that she was finally free from her brutal, merciless father and her brother's twisted love for her. But when the convent sends her back, armed with an assassin's skills of death and seduction, Sybella is thrust back into the darkness of her childhood home. And while Sybella is a weapon of justice wrought by the god of Death himself, He must give her a reason to live. When she discovers an unexpected ally imprisoned in the dungeons, will a daughter of Death find something other than vengeance to live for?

As I mentioned before, one of the things I love the most about the "His Fair Assassin" trilogy are its undeniably strong heroines. "Grave Mercy" had the incredibly compelling Ismae, and with "Dark Triumph", we have the darker, mysterious Sybella. I was a little iffy when I found out that the second book wouldn't be in Ismae's point of view anymore, since I just loved her character so much. Nonetheless, it was still exciting to enter the perspective of another character from "Grave Mercy", and there's something undeniably fresh and new about that. Sybella has had a dark childhood, one that's left her scarred, distrustful and independent. I do have to admit, however, that while her plight is horrible and her character strong, Sybella herself wasn't as compelling a heroine to me as Ismae was. She was just too serious the entire time, and there was a sprinkle too much of her fighting her emotions for me to really get into her character. This is not to say that she isn't an interesting protagonist to follow throughout the novel; instead, I feel like there could've been more to her character that would've made her even more likable and engaging.

That being said, there's some great stuff going on with the overall cast of characters. I was especially happy to see that Beast was making a reappearance, this time as an even more major character, though I was a little surprised to find out that he's actually pretty young. I somehow got the impression that he was in his fifties when I was reading "Grave Mercy"... Regardless, Beast is a loyal, lovable character who is the perfect match for Sybella, especially with their similarities in their love of fighting and loyalty. D'Albret was also the perfect villain, made all the more heinous as Sybella's own father. He made me feel all icky inside--no wonder Sybella had to escape from her own home! But one character that I found particularly interesting was Julian, Sybella's half brother who loves her more than a brother should. While the whole idea of incest painted him in a dark light, Julian became more understandable and open to sympathy as the novel progressed and details about their history was revealed, rendering him as a complex character whom I couldn't help but feel pity for towards the end of the book.

One thing I was a little disappointed at, however, was the plot. I felt like there wasn't anything that was on-the-edge-of-your-seat exciting save for the showdown at the end. The storyline, to me, was fairly linear, with nothing too compelling that had me flipping through the pages. The climax was exciting, but other than that I wasn't entirely invested in what was going on, especially with all the political stuff going on in fifteenth century Brittany that's a little hard to follow if you don't pay attention. There's such amazing potential for a gripping, thrilling story, but ultimately, it fell a little flat.

Overall, "Dark Triumph" possesses amazing potential, with great character development and a strong, independent heroine. In the end, however, it fell short of the standards set by the first book in the "His Fair Assassin" trilogy, but it's still definitely worth a read.

Rating: 3.5/5

Book Review: Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare

To me, one of the greatest things about urban fantasy is its ability to take the world as you know it and completely transform it into a place of otherworldly magic. That's probably one of the reasons why I fell head over heels in love with "The Mortal Instruments" series by Cassandra Clare, which, obviously led me to a fit of squeals and shrieks when I found out a couple years ago that a sister series "The Infernal Devices" was coming out! Even more demons, angels and Shadowhunters, oh my! Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end--in this case, in the form of "Clockwork Princess", the third and final book in "The Infernal Devices" trilogy.

Tessa Gray should be happy--aren't all brides happy? Yet as she prepares for her wedding with Jem, the silver-haired, gentle boy she's found herself falling in love with, a net of shadows begins to tighten around the Shadowhunters of the London Institute. Mortmain is lurking from a distance, but he only needs one thing to complete his army of merciless automatons: Tessa. As she deals with Jem's fatal sickness and her conflicting feelings for Will, Tessa knows that it's only a matter of time before Mortmain comes for her, and she'll stop at nothing to protect the two boys she loves and the family she's grown into at the Institute--even if it means making dangerous choices that could threaten the survival of all Shadowhunters.

What I found extremely impressive in "Clockwork Princess" was, of course, the way Ms. Clare played out the love triangle between Tessa, Will and Jem, romance being one of the ever-present elements of the series. Usually you see the whole annoying thing where the heroine constantly wavers between the two boys, with melodramatic spiels on how she thinks she loves Boy #1, but wait, Boy #2 is not too shabby looking himself. Which, inevitably, leads to kissing both boys and messing around with them. But in "The Infernal Devices" trilogy, you get a romantic conflict that's dealt in a pretty mature manner, which I am ever grateful for. Tessa's a responsible, strong and loving heroine who's a delight to follow throughout the novel, and, on a completely different and not-so-salient note, all the more likable now that I know how she looks like! I mean, how beautiful is the cover? But I digress. I don't entirely know how I feel about how the love triangle turned out, but I definitely know that it was very clever of Ms. Clare, very clever indeed! Plus it's quite fitting considering everything that's happened in the series, and surprising in a pleasant, warm way.

And, like any other novel in the rows and rows of books on shelves, the characters in them are of utmost importance. "Clockwork Princess" is chock full of engaging, wonderful characters who really end up forming an expansive, protective family you can't help but warming to. There's the iron-willed yet caring Charlotte, her kooky and adorable husband Henry, Gideon and Gabriel Lightwood, Will's sister Cecily, the brave and scarred Sophie, even Bridgett and Cecil! And, of course, Tessa, Jem and Will. I liked how the novel jumped around between different points of view of the characters, because you really get to know them all so intimately. There's so much to say about all the characters, but I don't want to go on and on and bore you, so I'll just stick to the two ever-important boys, Jem and Will. The bond between the two parabatai is so palpable and unbreakable, despite the fact that they're as different as night and day. I loved the way their pasts were revealed in "Clockwork Princess", and how each of their pasts made them who they are in the present. But one thing I especially love is Will's humour. My goodness, it had me chortling at one point--in fact, I have to share it:

"Mr. Rochester never courted Jane Eyre," Tessa pointed out.

"No, he dressed up as a woman and terrified the poor girl out of her wits. Is that what you want?"

"You would make a very ugly woman."

"I would not. I would be stunning."

For some reason, that had me giggling! Like Jace from "The Mortal Instuments" series, Will is just so full of dry, sarcastic wit that just gets me going and makes him that much more likable. Jeez, no wonder Tessa loves both of them.

One of the more disappointing elements of "Clockwork Princess" was the plot. While it did remain sufficiently engaging throughout, I felt like the plot was a little stretched out and lingered too much in unnecessary places, such as Will's ride to Wales. I definitely think the novel would've been more exciting (though, I deceive you not, it's plenty exciting!) if it had been a little more fast-paced. I sometimes found myself skimming over some parts, which is never a very good sign. Another thing was how quickly the climax seemed to be done and over with. There wasn't much of a struggle in the final scene between Mortmain and Tessa, and it was just poof-kill-and done! So maybe that could've been a little more well developed, since, after all, this is the very last book of such an amazing trilogy.

Overall, "Clockwork Princess" is the not-to-be-missed final installment to "The Infernal Devices" series, with a great cast of characters and beautiful, compelling writing that had me tearing up--something that books I've read recently haven't made me done in a while. It's bittersweet to be saying goodbye to these people you've gotten to know and grown to love, but the wonderful, magical thing about books is that you can always go back and revisit them! I highly recommend "The Infernal Devices" trilogy, as well as "The Mortal Instuments" series if you haven't read that yet!

Rating: 4.5/5

*News flash!* I just found out that there'll be a brand new Shadowhunters series called "The Dark Artifices" in 2015, centering around one Emma Carstairs (Jem's relative?!). Hopefully things won't become repetitive with the whole Shadowhunters/demons/angels business. Geeeeee I'm excited!! I can't wait. (:

Book Review: Out of the Easy by Ruta Sepetys

I remember reading "Between Shades of Grey" by Ruta Sepetys and being keenly affected by the poignant story of Lina, a girl who faces the chance of losing her family and friends during the Genocide of Baltic People. In fact, it inspired me to start writing my own historical fiction story! When I heard that "Out of the Easy" was being released last week, I knew I was in for an exciting adventure set in the past. I don't really know exactly how exciting that adventure was, but it was an adventure nonetheless.

It's 1950 in New Orleans, and while the French Quarter is simmering with secrets, seventeen-year old Josie Moraine is silently stirring a pot of her own. Infamously known among locals as the daughter of a brothel prostitute, Josie wants more out of life than the Big Easy has to offer, to go to college and escape from the wild cage of New Orleans. She devises a plan to get out, but a mysterious death in the Quarter leaves Josie tangled in an investigation that will challenge her allegiance to her mother, her own principles, and Willie Woodley, the brusque madam on Conti Street. With the stakes even higher than before, Josie is caught between her dream of an elite college and a clandestine underworld...and the truth behind the Big Easy.

One of the greatest things about reading historical fiction is that it transports you to a whole other world, one that actually existed, for a moment, in our past. To me, New Orleans in 1950 was exciting, raucous and full of adventure and mystery, and I think Ms. Sepetys did a wonderful job of bringing the French Quarter to life. But the real thing that really makes the setting is the people. They're vibrant and bubbling, full of life and joie de vivre. At the same time, though, they're just normal people, just like us. They live normal lives of running bookstores and driving cabs, and this is what makes the human emotions that are so central to the novel all the more poignant and relatable. It also renders the experiences of living in New Orleans at that time more realistic, so we can clearly imagine living in such a time and place even if it was more than half a century ago.

Which, of course, brings me to the characters. Josie is ambitious, clever and undeniably strong at heart. Yeah, she's had a rough childhood, but she's learned to pick herself up, dust herself off, and keep working towards her dreams. She's a pleasant character to follow throughout the novel, but what really makes her a protagonist is the unconditional support she has of her friends. There's sweet, loyal Cokie, who's taken care of Josie ever since she was a child, and Patrick, her best friend who, despite being charming and friendly, harbours his own secret. There's also Jesse, the leather-clad motorcyclist who has all the girls swooning over him, but only really has eyes for Josie. And, of course, there's Willie and the prostitutes at her house on Conti Street. They, almost more than anyone, are like a real, tight-knit family, with Willie acting as the stepmother/fairy godmother figure whom everyone secretly adores. In the end, it was really the amazing cast of characters that made the story, and through them, Ms. Sepetys was able to convey those human emotions that are so crucial to her novels.

One thing that disappointed me a little was the storyline. When I read the synopsis, I'd been led to believe that there'd be some exciting mystery full of danger and adventure. Instead, the whole murder portion of the entire novel was watered down to a single murder that was introduced early on in the book and very lightly, sparingly handled as the plot progressed. In fact, when I got to the end of the book, I thought back to the events of the story and thought to myself, "So what exactly was the point of the plot?" I never felt real tension or a fast pace either, which is a little bit of a let-down considering the incredible setting of New Orleans, which has huge potential for some more danger and mystery.

All in all, "Out of the Easy" is a story filled with a vibrant cast of characters and an exciting, jubilant setting of 1950 New Orleans. Although the plot never really peaked to a climax, nor had real tensions or an end-point to it, the historical fiction is worth a read for its rendering of the human emotions that we encounter in our daily lives.

Rating: 4/5

Book Review: The Diviners by Libba Bray

Let me just warn you now: this book is guaranteed to give you the heebie jeebies. Seriously. I was lying in bed last night in the dark and had to force myself to think of other, less creepy things. I usually don't ever watch scary movies, and though reading scary books isn't as visual, it definitely leaves more to the imagination. "The Diviners" by Libba Bray was released last month, but I'm almost glad that I saved it until now, since it definitely set the mood for Halloween next week. I guess I shoulda known, especially after I read the "Gemma Doyle" trilogy by Ms. Bray a couple years back. But after I skimmed through the blurb, I didn't even think that this book would be that scary--and hooey, was I wrong.

Seventeen-year old Evie O'Neill has always been more than a little wild. So when she's shipped off to New York City to stay with her uncle Will from her boring home at Ohio, she is posi-tute-ly thrilled. The city is the place of speakeasies, shopping, parties, theaters--every glamorous thing that Evie could ever think of. However, the bright lights of the bustling city mask an unspeakable danger. When a string of gruesome occult-based murders comes to light, Evie finds herself pulled into the thick of the mystery. What the others don't know is that Evie is hiding her own secret: a power that could help find the murderer--if he doesn't catch her first.

The language in "The Diviners" is just beautiful. I remember reading the opening chapter and being moved by the words and sentences. I could really picture the setting and could feel the buzzing excitement of the inhabitants of the 'golden city of the future'. I loved the early 1900's lingo used; it gave me a vivid sense of the times, and I really felt like I was in New York then and there with Evie and her pals. It's the cat's meow! At times, though, the descriptions were a little excessive--I found myself glossing over the wordy sentences to get to the dialogue and the action. I get that Ms. Bray's hold over language is really, really great, but scaling it down in some parts might have helped the already high-strung plot.

Speaking of plot, "The Diviners" is definitely one book that sucks you in and won't spit you back out. My heart literally raced as I flipped through the pages. I particularly devoured every word of the parts about Naughty John, the established bad guy (not a spoiler, so don't worry!), as he staked out and murdered his victims, as gruesome as that sounds. You get that tight feeling in your heart as you think "no no no no no no", right up to the point when it happens. And then you stare at the page at the end of the chapter and replay the horrible scene in your mind. Yup, it's that compelling. Even better (yes, there's more!) are the twists and turns that Ms. Bray uses to masterfully manipulate her readers. I remember getting to a twist and thinking, "Oh my, she's done it again!" It really lends to an incredibly heart-stopping roller coaster ride, trust me.

I really liked the diverse range of characters as well. You had the bubbly, attention-loving Evie; meek, gentle Mabel; coy, wolfish Sam; reserved, stoic Jericho; seductive, troubled Theta; charming, likable Memphis... and so many more! I loved being in each of their heads--they were all intriguing and believable. On the other hand, there seemed to be so many jumping around in between different people's perspectives that it got a little jarring. Of course, the main focus stayed on Evie, but I think there was a little too much focus on Memphis in the beginning and I just feel like some aspects of the story, such as the romance between Memphis and Theta, would be a lot more realistic if we'd seen more of them in that portion of the book. Despite this, however, I really enjoyed being with this cast of characters--very, very fun to be with.

I highly, highly recommend "The Diviners", even to those who usually don't enjoy getting the bajeesus scared out of them. It's incredibly well-written, with diverse, amazing characters and a heart-racing plot that made it extremely difficult to put the book down. True, it's a little long, but it's an enjoyable ride the whole way.

Rating: 5/5

Also, check out the trailer! I found it while I was somewhere toward the beginning/middle of the book, and it really gave me the chills. Evie also looks just the way I thought she would!

Book Review: Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

When I first saw "Throne of Glass" when I was looking for books to read, I knew right away that I just found myself a kick-ass heroine. If you guys have read my previous reviews, you'd know that I love stories with strong female protagonists, and find whiny, save-me-I'm-helpless-and-I-love-you-so-much girls just plain annoying. And Celaena sure didn't let me down!

Eighteen-year old Celaena Sardothien has spent the past year in the mines of Endovier, serving a life sentence for her assassinations. Her only mistake: being caught. When the Crown Prince of Adarlan offers her a deal--her freedom for winning a deadly tournament--Celaena can't refuse. Brought to the gleaming glass palace at Rifthold, the infamous assassin has to best the most gifted criminals to become the King's Champion--his personal killer. But things bigger than anything she's known are brewing, and Celaena is plunged into a world of mystery, murder and even love.

Since I've already dipped into it earlier in this review, I'll start with the characters! Celaena was a really fun, believable character to be with throughout the novel. Haughty yet compassionate, confident but still only a teenager, Celaena is an incredibly likable, witty heroine who really knows how to kick some serious butt.

It was also interesting, though, to see things from some other characters' perspectives as well. The love triangle (come on, you knew it was bound to happen!) between Celaena, Prince Dorian and Captain Chaol Westfall wasn't overpowering at all; in fact, it was firmly more of a subplot instead. Usually, I'd complain, but I didn't think this would bode well with the personality of our protagonist or with the intense plot itself. Seeing things from Dorian and Chaol's points of view upped the "aww" factor, but also rendered the subtle love triangle more realistic. For example, I was a little skeptical about Dorian's feelings for Celaena, since I kept seeing him as a typical flirty playboy type, but through his point of view, I got to see the sincerity of his emotions. As for Chaol, you really wouldn't have noticed his romantic feelings so much if Ms. Maas had only told the story from Celaena's point of view. So subtly woven in--I loved it! In the end, I had no idea who to root for, and this is pretty huge since I almost always side with one guy. So eager to see how things develop in the sequel!

I would probably talk on and on about the characters, but I feel like I'm rambling, so I'll sum it up super quick: So many villains you love to hate. Heartwarming friendships, especially with Nehemia. Broad range of characters with different, unique personalities.

Now moving on to plot. "Throne of Glass" was amazing in that it started off with a pretty straightforward storyline, but began to get more and more complex with the added complications and plot twists and subplots. I swear I got chills at one point from how spooky it got! I loved how the climax was really a climax, and not one of those three-page scenes that aren't even that intense. My heart was literally pounding as I rapidly flipped through the pages. Ms. Maas has definitely done an incredible job with the plot--I really couldn't put it down!

To wrap things up with a nice, shiny bow, I enjoyed "Throne of Glass" immensely. The characters were believable and their relationships realistic, and the storyline never dipped enough to prompt me to take a little break after a chapter. This is a book that lingers in your mind after you've set it down, and is a perfect refuge from boring, mundane, routine life. I highly, highly encourage you to pick up a copy--you're in for an exciting adventure.

Rating: 5/5

Here's a fun fact: "Throne of Glass" started off as an online story that Ms. Maas wrote when she was only sixteen-years old! After ten years of editing and rewriting--and more writing!--it ended up as the published novel that we know it as today. So inspiring!

Also, check out the book trailer here, since it might give you a more pithy and easier to understand description of what it's about!