It's been a polarizing week for me. A few days ago it was erotic thriller day, today it's epic fantasies. I've been in my reading cave for most of the week, totally lost in these worlds. I know a lot of you have read FALLING KINGDOMS (which is a Cherry Popped feature), as well as QUEEN OF SHADOWS. I'll be quick and just give you a rundown of my "feels" for both these books.
Happy Friday!
FALLING KINGDOMS | Morgan Rhodes | Falling Kingdoms 1
YA Fantasy | Razorbill | December 11, 2012 | Gift from Grace Books of Love
Goodreads | Amazon | Audible | Barnes & Noble | Kobo
I like the plot what with the three warring kingdoms, the elusive Watchers, magic, and the prophicied child who will wield all the elements, and all that. The pace was fast and I love how things quickly escalated from a wine deal gone awry to Kings falling in battle. Morgan Rhodes didn't hesitate killing off people right off the bat, and I so love cold and ruthless writers. It promises emotional torture for her readers later on.
FALLING KINGDOMS was just too "YA-juvenile" for me, I needed the story to be more complex in terms of character, plot, conflict, with lots of gray areas. Epic fantasy is usually a war tale and we all know it's never black and white. That said, now I understand why a lot of people loved this. The characters are interesting enough and I can tell there's going to be a shift in the good v. evil scale in the succeeding books. It would be interesting to see where the story will lead and how the players are going to evolve. I won't be rushing to get caught up in the series though, it'll be on stand-by for now.
QUEEN OF SHADOWS | Sarah J. Maas | Throne of Glass 4
YA Fantasy | Bloomsbury USA | September 1, 2015 | Purchased
Aelin Galathynius, or should I say, Sarah J. Maas, slayed me with QUEEN OF SHADOWS. The feels! I'm thankful I don't have a heart condition otherwise I might literally die from reading this 648 pages of pure epicness. THIS! This is the book I've been waiting for since I read the prequel novellas all those years ago! The dark, deadly, teasing, and sexy Celaena that I fell in love with is back and it looks like she's here to stay!
The build-up is fantastic and there were a LOT of clever twists and revelations, SJMaas really played with my emotions like a fiddle. I had countless moments of dry sobbing and heart clutching because it was just so overhwelming, having closure about Sam, facing Arobynn again, a new friendship forged with Lysandra, the angst with Chaol, the tragedy that is Dorian, not to mention falling in love with Manon and the rest of her Ironteeth witches. And Kaltain! OMG! Kaltain! I love you! Around the 500 page mark, things just started to swell, reverberate, and it just exploded. I have to say, if I was reading that moment standing up, I would probably fall to my knees from the weight of Aelin, Dorian, and the King's final confrontation.
Now if you haven't read QUEEN OF SHADOWS, let me advice you to: 1) Read it in private otherwise people will think that you're losing your marbles; 2) Have lots of coffee ready because there will be late nights; 3) Have some tissues handy, trust me you'll need it (alcohol is prescribed if you're of age). Lastly, there's a 99% chance that you'll have a book hangover.
The build-up is fantastic and there were a LOT of clever twists and revelations, SJMaas really played with my emotions like a fiddle. I had countless moments of dry sobbing and heart clutching because it was just so overhwelming, having closure about Sam, facing Arobynn again, a new friendship forged with Lysandra, the angst with Chaol, the tragedy that is Dorian, not to mention falling in love with Manon and the rest of her Ironteeth witches. And Kaltain! OMG! Kaltain! I love you! Around the 500 page mark, things just started to swell, reverberate, and it just exploded. I have to say, if I was reading that moment standing up, I would probably fall to my knees from the weight of Aelin, Dorian, and the King's final confrontation.
Now if you haven't read QUEEN OF SHADOWS, let me advice you to: 1) Read it in private otherwise people will think that you're losing your marbles; 2) Have lots of coffee ready because there will be late nights; 3) Have some tissues handy, trust me you'll need it (alcohol is prescribed if you're of age). Lastly, there's a 99% chance that you'll have a book hangover.
sorry it wasn't more for the first one. I have the first 2 Maas but I really need to get into them... soon... well one day
ReplyDeleteMaas' series is fucking badass!
DeleteHaven't read either of these Braine but I definitely want to get into Number 2, the YA thing just never appealed to me in the first place and NA is almost too young for me too. Thanks for the info and Happy Friday!
ReplyDeleteI feel you, I had a wild hair on my butt and decided to read YA for a change
DeleteI'm hoping to dive into FK soon. It's been sitting on my shelf for months now, and I really want to read it. QoS, I'm giving a couple more weeks. Can't wait to get back into Maas' world. I'm currently reading her other book ACoTaR, and It's okay right now.
ReplyDeleteI need to read ACoTaR
DeleteI'm so excited for Queen of Shadows! I need to get my hands on a copy!
ReplyDeleteYou will love it!
DeleteMe and fantasy don't gel lol I have heard how amazing Maas's series is but it's sooo long.
ReplyDeleteWhiny reader lol
Karen @For What It's Worth
I whine a lot too, ;)
DeleteMy SIL ordered me to read Sarah's books. Guess I really need to get on that- in private, you say? :)
ReplyDeleteYes, it will wreck you!
DeleteWell, we all know I've not have much luck with Ms. Maas' books. So her latest is not even on my radar. I do own Rhodes's Falling Kingdom though, and much as I've always wanted to read them, I'm a little wary now. It doesn't sound like it reached its potential as far as high fantasy goes.
ReplyDeleteIt's very YA, it has a big scope but it's muted. Didn't really reach the level of EPICNESS that I crave
DeleteI totally need to sit down and spend some time with Maas, I still haven't read Heir of Fire. I hope to tackle both in November. I am super excited.
ReplyDeleteI hope your plans don't get derailed, it'll be a good binge read for sure
DeleteOh, man, I haven't read either... I stopped after Throne of Glass - I SO need to get back and get myself up to date on the series! Happy weekend, lovely :)
ReplyDeleteDid you like ToG?
DeleteAhhhh one day I will try Maas. Yall always make those sound so tempting!
ReplyDeleteIt's so good! Though the romance is muted, I know you love romance
DeleteI haven't read this author and while this sounds pretty good, I don't know if it's the right book for me. Thanks for the review.
ReplyDeleteNo worries, thanks for checking it out still
DeleteI am afraid Celeana was a bit too much for me
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear that
DeleteFalling Kingdoms does have a brilliant cover though. :)
ReplyDeleteI have heard so much good about the Maas books. I have the first one but I just haven't gotten to it yet. Might have to try to work it in the schedule. :)
Start with the prequels, it should whet your appetite :)
DeleteLOVE your review of QoS! I've tried coffee, but even that isn't helping me stay up late at night to get in some extra reading time. The spirit is willing, but the body is just exhausted- I caught myself twice this week nodding off while trying to read this, and it most definitely is NOT the book's fault, lol!
ReplyDeleteI was so exhausted when the weekend came!
DeleteYess I'm glad you loved it as much as I did :') I binge read it so badly and my boyfriend was staying at the time and I just ignored him all day because I had to know what was happening, I squealed a lot whilst I read and cried a little too :')
ReplyDeleteHahaha! I didn't come up for air!
DeleteI have the FALLING KINGDOMS series on my shelf, so I should totally get it to it soon. And gahh, your review of QUEEN OF SHADOWS makes me want to pick up THRONE OF GLASS immediately, but sadly it’s on my shelf at home while I’m at uni *cries*. Great reviews!! :D
ReplyDeleteI hope you find time to read the books soon. It's so hard to juggle everything, we need more hours and extra heads!
DeleteI couldn't decide on what to read next, but I believe it's time for QoS!!
ReplyDeleteSo did you get to read it?
DeleteI couldn't agree more with you about these book. I liked Falling Kingdoms but not enough to continue with the series.
ReplyDeleteAnd yes, Queen of Shadows was awesome!! I listened to the audiobook and it was great. Narrator does a great job.
Queen of Shadows was so fantastic and I am SO glad you loved it too! UGH that series is just amazing.
ReplyDeleteGah! I have a book hangover already just from reading your review. I have got to get my hands on QoS! I keep checking my library but they seem to be taking their sweet time on getting a copy in. I don't remember... is it the last book in the series? Either way, the fact that I'm gonna need tissues and alcohol means it's going to be a rough and emotional read.
ReplyDeleteI have just bought all of the Throne of Glass books and reading reviews like yours just make me want to jump on them now!!
ReplyDeleteHeather | Random Redheaded Ramblings
You are totally freaking me out over Queen of Shadows. I am putting it off to increase the suspense!
ReplyDeleteThe Morgan Rhodes series does get better Braine. I'm glad that you finally got to read it. I totally enjoyed Queen of Shadows. I hope you do love all your new books.
ReplyDeleteGrace @ Books of Love
Hahaha. Love the Miley glif. lol. Sounds like a few good ones though. :) Thank you!
ReplyDeleteI think I can safely skip Falling Kingdoms. But...but...but SJ Maas is an author that I, apparently, *need* to check out!! Great reviews, Braine.
ReplyDelete