Review: A Court of Silver Flames (A Court of Thorns and Roses #4) by Sarah J Maas

A Court of Silver Flames (A Court of Thorns and Roses #4) by Sarah J Maas
Release Date: February 16, 2021
Goodreads | Amazon UK | Amazon | The Book Depository

Nesta Archeron has always been prickly-proud, swift to anger, and slow to forgive. And ever since being forced into the Cauldron and becoming High Fae against her will, she's struggled to find a place for herself within the strange, deadly world she inhabits. Worse, she can't seem to move past the horrors of the war with Hybern and all she lost in it.

The one person who ignites her temper more than any other is Cassian, the battle-scarred warrior whose position in Rhysand and Feyre's Night Court keeps him constantly in Nesta's orbit. But her temper isn't the only thing Cassian ignites. The fire between them is undeniable, and only burns hotter as they are forced into close quarters with each other.

Meanwhile, the treacherous human queens who returned to the Continent during the last war have forged a dangerous new alliance, threatening the fragile peace that has settled over the realms. And the key to halting them might very well rely on Cassian and Nesta facing their haunting pasts.

Against the sweeping backdrop of a world seared by war and plagued with uncertainty, Nesta and Cassian battle monsters from within and without as they search for acceptance-and healing-in each other's arms.

*No spoilers for ACOSF, possible spoilers for the previous ACOTAR books*

ACOSF stole my heart. After finishing A Court of Wings and Ruin a few years ago, I knew that whatever Maas wrote in her next books in the series would also be the death of me. I was definitely correct on that. I initially was not too excited about this book being about Nesta as she was not one of my favourite characters previously. She's cold and can be extremely cruel and her character was never really developed past that. But oh how that changes in this book. Nesta really said "oh so you want character development? Let me shove that in your face!"

This installment follows the Nesta and the inner circle months after the war in ACOWAR. Prythian is healing from the horrors that hit their home and the human queens are beginning to scheme again. While Feyre and Rhysand are busy looking after the Night court and building their own home, Elain is tending to the gardens around Velaris, Nesta on the other hand is fighting a string of inner demons that have haunted her since she was thrust into the cauldron. She lives on the not-so-nice side of Velaris and aims to distract and destroy herself by any means possible. As a form of intervention, Feyre gives her two options: stay at the House of Wind and train with Cassian each morning while working in the bottomless library beneath. Or pack up and be dumped in the human lands. Thankfully she picks the more exciting option.

The story is told from Nesta and Cassian's perspectives which I really, really enjoyed. Previous books were told from Feyre's first-person POV and it did get tiresome at some points. I cannot put into words how much this book touched me. The themes that were explored include mental health as a broad topic, depression, trauma, and fighting with your inner demons. The themes were incorporated and unraveled with characters who will truly touch your heart. These new characters Emerie and Gwyn are women who have survived horrors and have the courage to tell their stories and fight each day to remember who they are past the trauma that they have experienced. These two characters are so important in Nesta's journey and are now some of my favorite characters. 

The library of priestesses played a large role in this book and was important to Nesta's growth as well. I enjoyed learning more about the priestesses here and what they do as this was touched on in previous books but this installment focuses on it as one of the main set scenes. Half-way through ACOSF you will start asking yourself whether you are in love with the House of Wind. Literally. Am I in love with the House? This may have something to do with how the magic of the house enjoys smut and regularly gives Nesta its recommendations.

Nesta's journey itself was what pushed me through this book so fast (okay, fine, and all the steamy scenes). It was so inspiring. I found myself relating to the inner war that she has with herself. A lot of what Nesta is dealing with is something that a lot of people might be able to connect with. She is angry, she is struggling, and she is drowning in her own mind. For her in this story to find her way out of that and find a way to accept who she is with the help of those close to her. That. Was. Everything.

We all knew that this book would be filled with steam. I mean, it's Nesta and Cassian as our main characters how could it possibly not be? But the level of spicy-ness... I was NOT ready for that. This installment is aimed at all of the older readers of ACOTAR that loved the series a few years back and therefore are more mature now. And I like how Maas matured this story to reflect that. You really thought chapter 55 was hot? Okay, speak to me after reading this, please.

I think that because I was so focused on the romance and Nesta's personal journey of "finding her self" (essentially), I did not mind that the overarching plot of the story was slightly weaker. I remember hitting the last hundred pages of this 750-page book and thinking, how in the hell is everything getting wrapped up in such a short space of time. The answer to this is that the ending to this plot was slightly less impactful, and Maas ties everything up quickly within the inner circle at the end to give us a happy ending. It was a solid end to the book but it did leave me wanting a bit more. However, knowing that there will be more books definitely makes me feel a lot better.

A few complaints: there is no Lucien, no Lucien at all. Well, he made like two appearances but if you're looking for your Lucien fix you will not find it here. There is no Mor either, she spends the books dealing with some political conflict across the seas, so don't expect to see her much either. This I found very sad as I love her character and I felt I forget it a little in this book. 

Overall, I would definitely recommend ACOSF to any lovers of new-adult/adult high fantasy. The world is crafted beautifully and the characters are so developed at this point in the ACOTAR series that they all just feel like family. Here's how I'll try to sum up the best bits of this book: steamy romance, Nessian, the amazing handling of important themes, impactful strong female characters, the beauty of friendship, the importance of reaching out your hand to someone struggling, Cassian being amazing, Cassian being everything I could ever want, Cassian and Azriel.

Rating

5 Falling Books

Waiting on Wednesday (168)

This week I am super excited for...

A Dark and Hollow Star by Ashley Shuttleworth

Release Date: February 23, 2021

Goodreads | Amazon UK | Book Depository

Choose your player.

The half-fae outcast, desperate for acceptance.

The tempestuous Fury, exiled and hellbent on revenge.

The dutiful prince, determined to earn his place.

The brooding guardian, burdened by a terrible secret.

Each holds a key to solving a series of ritualistic murders that threaten to expose faeries to the human world. But they cannot do it alone. To track down the killer, they will have to form a tenuous alliance, putting their differences – and conflicts – aside.

Failure risks the destruction of the faerie and human worlds alike. And time is running out.

Time to roll the dice.

With LGBTQ+ representation set in an enthralling fantasy world I cannot wait to read this. It sounds like it is the perfect mix of fae and some explosive action.

Let me know in the comments below what titles you cannot wait for this year. 

Review: Storm and Fury (The Harbinger #1)

Storm and Fury (The Harbinger #1) by Jennifer L Armentrout
Release Date: June 11, 2019
Goodreads | Amazon UK | Amazon | The Book Depository

Eighteen-year-old Trinity Marrow may be going blind, but she can see and communicate with ghosts and spirits. Her unique gift is part of a secret so dangerous that she’s been in hiding for years in an isolated compound fiercely guarded by Wardens—gargoyle shape-shifters who protect humankind from demons. If the demons discover the truth about Trinity, they’ll devour her, flesh and bone, to enhance their own powers.

When Wardens from another clan arrive with disturbing reports that something out there is killing both demons and Wardens, Trinity’s safe world implodes. Not the least because one of the outsiders is the most annoying and fascinating person she’s ever met. Zayne has secrets of his own that will upend her world yet again—but working together becomes imperative once demons breach the compound and Trinity’s secret comes to light. To save her family and maybe the world, she’ll have to put her trust in Zayne. But all bets are off as a supernatural war is unleashed…

After loving The Dark Elements trilogy with all my heart, I can safely say that this book stole what was left of it. This book drew me straight out of my reading slump and reminded me why I love JLA's books so much. This is a fantastic paranormal romance read that works as an excellent spin-off of where Every Last Breath (The Dark Elements #3) leaves off.

Storm and Fury follows Trinity who lives with the gargoyle Wardens in a compound that is so safely guarded you wouldn't want to live anywhere else. However, news of wardens and demons being killed outside the compound rattles them to the core. This is worsened when the compound is attacked and Trinity's bound protector is taken. Trinity will do anything to get her friend back, even if that means following Zayne, a gloriously beautiful Warden, to DC to uncover what mystery lies behind the attacks.

For those who have not read The Dark Elements trilogy I can say you do not have to have read it. However, it does make the story easier to follow and gives you a better understanding of the dynamic between the characters if you have indeed read it. Therefore if you have time then I would definitely recommend you read that trilogy before moving on to this one. Zayne is a key character in the Dark Elements and reading that story will allow you to have a better understanding of his character and history. The main characters of the trilogy, Layla and Roth, also play a role in this book and it's always great to see your favourite characters again.

What I loved about this book was how JLA embedded a piece of herself into her main character Trinity, who suffers from a degenerative eye condition that means she is slowly losing her vision. This is the same condition that JLA has openly shared that she has been diagnosed with and I felt that it was a truly beautiful element to have embedded in her main character. I loved that it re enforced how not all disabilities can be seen. Trinity shows us how she lives with this condition and the knowing that one day she may be completely blind. She is a kickass heroine for this story and I found it hard not to love her.

There are more demons packed into this instalment which I enjoyed and also the appearance of ghosts and spirits. Trinity can see ghosts and I was laughing out loud at her ghost friend Peanut, who just seems to float into the room whenever Zayne is half naked. When I tell you I was laughing on the train, I really was laughing on the train! The pacing of the story was good but I do feel that all the action seemed to be jammed into the end. Nevertheless, I enjoyed how the story slowly unfolded throughout and I didn't mind that there was a heavier focus on the blossoming romance. Trinity and Zayne's chemistry just made me laugh and was so organic. If you didn't get enough of Zayne in The Dark Elements  this will definitely give you your fix! This book leaves us on a pretty good note, but knowing that the next instalment Rage and Ruin  is definitely going to be filled with some crazy shenanigans. 

Overall, I would recommend this to anyone that wants a paranormal romance that is easy to slip into. It's got demons, witches, ghosts, and gargoyles! Storm and Fury is a whirlwind of a story that swept me off my feet and stole my heart. If you have not read a book by JLA then I would highly recommend you start with The Dark Elements trilogy before reading this as a spin-off series. That way you get the full impact of the story and fall a little harder for the characters. I cannot wait to read Rage and Ruin  and see what direction this story takes. 

Rating

4.5 Falling Books

Previous reviews:

White Hot Kiss (The Dark Elements #1)

Stone Cold Touch (The Dark Elements #2)

Every Last Breath (The Dark Elements #3)

Waiting on Wednesday (167)

Happy Wednesday!

This week I am waiting on...

Grace and Glory (The Harbinger #3) by Jennifer L Armentrout

Release Date: June 1, 2021

When Angels Fall...

Trinity Marrow has lost the battle and her beloved Protector. Even with both demons and Wardens on her side, Trin may not win the war against the Harbinger.

Bringing Lucifer back to the world to fight the Harbinger is probably a really, really bad idea, but they’re out of options—and the world’s ultimate fallen angel is the only being powerful enough to impact the outcome.

As Trin and Zayne form a new and more dangerous bond and Lucifer unleashes Hell on earth, the apocalypse looms and the world teeters on the end of forever. Win or lose, one thing is certain—nothing will ever be the same.

I have just finished Rage and Ruin and I CANNOT wait for this final installment. I really loved the Dark Elements trilogy but the characters in the Harbinger and just making me fall in love with this world even harder.

I will hopefully get round to writing a review for Storm and Fury (The Harbinger #1) and Ruin and Rising (The Harbinger #2) soon!

Other reviews you may be interested in:

White Hot Kiss (The Dark Elements #1)

Stone Cold Touch (The Dark Elements #2)

Every Last Breath (The Dark Elements #3)

Review: The Wrath and The Dawn by Renee Ahdieh

The Wrath and the Dawn (The Wrath and The Dawn #1) by Renee Ahdieh
Release Date: May 12, 2015
Goodreads | Amazon | Amazon UK | The Book Depository

One Life to One Dawn.
In a land ruled by a murderous boy-king, each dawn brings heartache to a new family. Khalid, the eighteen-year-old Caliph of Khorasan, is a monster. Each night he takes a new bride only to have a silk cord wrapped around her throat come morning. When sixteen-year-old Shahrzad's dearest friend falls victim to Khalid, Shahrzad vows vengeance and volunteers to be his next bride. Shahrzad is determined not only to stay alive, but to end the caliph's reign of terror once and for all.

Night after night, Shahrzad beguiles Khalid, weaving stories that enchant, ensuring her survival, though she knows each dawn could be her last. But something she never expected begins to happen: Khalid is nothing like what she'd imagined him to be. This monster is a boy with a tormented heart. Incredibly, Shahrzad finds herself falling in love. How is this possible? It's an unforgivable betrayal. Still, Shahrzad has come to understand all is not as it seems in this palace of marble and stone. She resolves to uncover whatever secrets lurk and, despite her love, be ready to take Khalid's life as retribution for the many lives he's stolen. Can their love survive this world of stories and secrets?

I have fallen ridiculously hard for this book. It has been sitting on my shelf for months watching me go through extended reading slumps but pulled me out of it in seconds. The Wrath and the Dawn is a beautifully written retelling of A Thousand and One Nights that kept me up all night.

A kingdom ruled by a king that marries a new girl each day to then kill her by sunrise. Shahrzad intends to get revenge on the king for killing her best friend. She volunteers herself to be his bride and tells him stories each night that is left on a cliffhanger to convince him to keep her alive for just one more day. With each day she attempts to plot how she may kill him, however, she finds herself falling for Khalid as he is not quite the monster she imagined. While this is happening within the walls of the castle, Shahrzad's childhood love is doing everything he can to get to her and rescue her. He teams up with Shahrzad's father who is into some pretty crazy magic in order to get her back. The different POVs added a nice dimension to the book as we also get to see what life is like outside the castle while also watching the slow-burning romance unfold between our main characters.

“My soul sees its equal in you.” 

There are some truly swoon-worthy quotes in this book that made my heart soar. I loved how the romance unfolded between Shahrzad and Khalid. Every time he referred to her as joonam "my everything", I fell in love a little harder. There are some aspects that I hope are addressed in the sequel, for example, I don't quite understand why Khalid found Shahrzad special enough not to kill her straight away. In the book, he says that there was something about her that drew him in, but this was never explained further. 

Another thing I was slightly sad about is that this story introduces us to magic within the world but doesn't delve into anything below the surface. Shahzad is hinted at from the beginning to hold some kind of magic but this is not explored too much in this book. Perhaps it's being saved for the sequel? I am unsure but hope that some of my lingering questions are answered!

Overall, The Wrath and the Dawn made me smile and made my heart ache like it has not done in a while. I cannot wait to read more books by Ahdieh and would definitely recommend this a thousand times over to anyone who loves an enemy to lovers romance with a good plot and world-building.

Rating

5 Failling Books 

Review: Blood & Honey

Blood & Honey (Serpent & Dove #2) by Shelby Mahurin
Release Date: September 1, 2020

Goodreads | Amazon UK | Amazon | The Book Depository

After narrowly escaping death at the hands of the Dames Blanches, Lou, Reid, Coco, and Ansel are on the run from coven, kingdom, and church—fugitives with nowhere to hide.

To elude the scores of witches and throngs of chasseurs at their heels, Lou and Reid need allies. Strong ones. But protection comes at a price, and the group is forced to embark on separate quests to build their forces. As Lou and Reid try to close the widening rift between them, the dastardly Morgane baits them in a lethal game of cat and mouse that threatens to destroy something worth more than any coven.

*May contain mild spoilers for Serpent & Dove*

Blood & Honey really did have me at hello. It is a masterpiece sequel that is filled to the brim with action, character growth, humour, magic and everything that I could have hoped for a sequel. If you have yet to read Serpent & Dove, please go and do so before the release of this book as you will definitely want to be ready for this next installment.

The story picks up from where Serpent & Dove leaves off. The gang is hiding out from Morgane after an epic surprise attack to rescue Lou from being sacrificed by her mother. In doing so, Reid freed something within himself he never realised he had; magic. He is at a war with himself as chasseur who has been disciplined in all things anti-magic, he now realises he is a witch. After being rescued, Lou is also fighting her own demons and finds herself giving more and more over to her magic. Our characters go to some dark places in this book and I loved it. The duo POV works really well for us to understand the individual struggles our characters are going through. However, Morgane is still a threat, and to defeat her they will need allies. In this book, we meet La Voisin, the powerful leader of the blood witches, the dangerous werewolves, and a travelling circus crew with all sorts of abilities. Mahurin shows us more of the land of Belterra as our gang ventures to gather these allies in the hope of defeating Morgane. 

This book was so magical and I was engrossed from start to finish. There really was not a dull moment and at times could barely catch my breath in between all the action. It feels so far away from Lou and Coco sneaking around the Church and hiding their magic. Serpent & Dove feels lighthearted in comparison to the grittiness of this sequel. There is more at stake and danger lurking around every corner, which made this such a page-turner. I also loved meeting all of the new characters and learning more about the world outside of the Church. I was so happy when we were given more information about Coco's blood magic and experiencing the place of her people; the blood camp. We learn more about other magical beings and the powers possible in this world that wasn't touched on in-depth previously. There has even been talk of mermaids but sadly I think we'll have to wait until the final book to meet them.

This is one of the fantasy must-reads of 2020. If you enjoyed Serpent & Dove, Blood & Honey will most definitely satisfy those that have been on edge since the cliffhanger of the previous book. 

Rating

5 Falling Books

Thank you to Harper Teen for providing an eARC on Edelweiss.

Review: Sisters of Sword and Song by Rebecca Ross

Sisters of Sword and Song by Rebecca Ross

Release Date: June 23, 2020

Goodreads | Amazon UK | Amazon | The Book Depository

After eight long years, Evadne will finally be reunited with her older sister, Halcyon, who has been proudly serving in the queen’s army. But when Halcyon appears earlier than expected, Eva knows something has gone terribly wrong. Halcyon is on the run, hunted by her commander and charged with murder.

Though Halcyon’s life is spared during her trial, the punishment is heavy. And when Eva volunteers to serve part of Halcyon’s sentence, she’s determined to find out exactly what happened. But as Eva begins her sentence, she quickly learns that there are fates much worse than death.

Sisters of Sword and Song is a beautiful twist on Greek mythology that left me wanting more. It has a great story of sisterhood and friendship with a strong cast of characters. The writing flows easily allowing you to slip into the world and feel completely emersed in its richness. It follows Evadne and Halcyon, two sisters carrying out punishments for an accident that left Halcyon's shield mate in the queen's army dead at her hand. This turns out to be her commander Lord Straton's son. Evadne takes part of Halcyon's sentence and has to serve his household for the next few years to come. Straton's other son Damon is a mage and Evadne grows to learn more magic through him. Meanwhile, Halcyon is sent to the quarry where she struggles each day to stay alive. The story unravels as we learn more about the threats to the queen and a deadly mission to save the kingdom. The dangerous quest involved also reminded me of Percy Jackson with our heroes out to save the world. If you enjoy this classic storyline this book is perfect for you.  

The first thing that won me over in the book was the Greek-inspired mythology and the idea of the relics that all hold individual powers. This is set in a world where gods had once reigned and left magical relics behind for mortals so that they may be able to experience a small piece of magic. Some abandon their families in order to become relic hunters to attempt to get their hands on the few relics that are still lost. I would have liked a bit more explanation or back story to the relics as I found this to be a really interesting aspect of the mythology. There is a guide page at the beginning that lists the relics and their powers, which was very useful and it definitely set the mood for the book. 

The pacing in this book is brilliant and I was never bored. It had a brilliantly original concept that I was immediately interested in. I always find with books with dual POV that I occasionally dread to read one character’s chapters because I prefer the other character’s chapters. However, I did not feel like this at all in this book and found myself loving how it made the story feel complete. I loved that it was about sisters and embodied the depth of family love. The romance in this book does not take centre stage but adds such a nice element to the story in the midst of everything going on. I also loved how sweet and real it felt as it was a slow-burning romance that could have easily been a case of insta-love. For a standalone novel it had an ending that was satisfying overall and a great way to tie-up the story.

If you are looking for YA fantasy with kick-ass characters and great world-building I would highly recommend this book. It is a strong standalone with a lot of heart and I cannot wait to get my hands on other books by Rebecca Ross. 

Rating
4.5 Falling Books

A review copy was provided by HarperTeen on Edelweiss.

Book Haul (#110)

This is my book haul for the last two weeks. I've been able to buy some books on Facebook Marketplace and I am loving secondhand book-buying life. 

Sisters of Sword and Song by Rebecca Ross - ARC (Release: June 23, 2020)

Thank you Harper Teen for the eARC on Edelweiss! This book sounds and looks like my dream. It's a story with a twist on Greek gods and humans with magic. 

Defiance (Defiance #1) by C.J. Redwine - Bought

Deception (Defiance #2) by C.J. Redwine - Bought

Deliverance (Defiance #3) by C.J. Redwine - Bought

I bought this beautiful US hardback trilogy and I cannot wait to dive in. I actually read Defiance and Deception previously and rated them highly but cannot for the life of me remember the story. I think it will be interesting to give these a re-read six years later to see if I think they're still just as awesome. And it will also be good to finally finish it after all these years! I must not have been able to get my hands on the finale, but I am so excited to get back into this world again. If you have not heard of this trilogy it's a YA fantasy/dystopian. 

If you have a book haul this week link it in the comments and I would love to check it out! Also if you've read any of the books that I've shown let me know what you think. 

Waiting on Wednesday (166)

This week I am waiting for:

The Court of Miracles by Kester Grant

Release Date: June 2, 2020

In the violent urban jungle of an alternate 1828 Paris, the French Revolution has failed and the city is divided between merciless royalty and nine underworld criminal guilds, known as the Court of Miracles. Eponine (Nina) Thénardier is a talented cat burglar and member of the Thieves Guild. Nina's life is midnight robberies, avoiding her father's fists, and watching over her naïve adopted sister, Cosette (Ettie). When Ettie attracts the eye of the Tiger--the ruthless lord of the Guild of Flesh--Nina is caught in a desperate race to keep the younger girl safe. Her vow takes her from the city's dark underbelly to the glittering court of Louis XVII. And it also forces Nina to make a terrible choice--protect Ettie and set off a brutal war between the guilds, or forever lose her sister to the Tiger.

This book has been described as a Les Miserables meets Six of Crows so I am very intrigued. It's set in Paris during the French revolution. It's giving me historical criminal extravaganza! I don't think I've come across anything like it in a while and I truly hope that the story is just as good as the cover. 

Leave a link to your WoW post in the comments below so I can check it out!

Book Haul (#109)

Recently I have been able to get back into reading, which has felt amazing. Maybe it's because of lock-down or maybe it's because I'm in my final term of university completing my degree and exams from home and every cell in my body is screaming for me to procrastinate. Either way, I can't be sure. Here are a few books I've picked up in the last few weeks.

To Kill a Kingdom by Alexandra Christo - Bought 

I have wanted to read this book for the longest time as it sounded like an amazing twist on The Little Mermaid. I have indeed finished it since I bought it as it wasn't a very long read and I did thoroughly enjoy it. I will aim to have a review up soon. 

Blood & Honey (Serpent & Dove #2) by Shelby Mahurin - ARC from Edelweiss

I read Serpent & Dove about two weeks ago and I absolutely adored it (check out my review here). It's a witch meets witch-hunter, enemies(ish) to lovers kind of book that I found myself finishing at 4am when I only sat down to read for 20 minutes! Massive thank you to Harper Teen on Edelweiss for access to this ARC. I am so freaking excited for more Lou and Reid! And Ansel and Coco... and all of them, I miss everyone.

The Betrothed (The Betrothed #1) by Kiera Cass - ARC from Edelweiss

Another thank you to Harper Teen for this ARC. I enjoyed The Selection series by this author and this book seems to be a similar type of royal romance! Can't wait to get started on it.

My previous reviews: The Selection (#1), The Elite (#2), The One (#3), The Heir (#4)

Leave a comment with a link to your book haul or let me know which books you're excited about!