Bridgerton Book Tag

Hey there guys, how are you? I’m so excited because a few days ago the second part of Bridgerton season 3 finally dropped, and I’m so happy about it. I may be in the minority but I truly have a soft spot for Penelope and Colin, and this could become one of my favourite seasons of the show. So today I want to do a book tag related to this TV show, the original can be found on “Sin Libros No Soy Nada” channel on Youtube. I’ve done an English translation from Spanish. Let’s get started!

 

1. Anthony Bridgerton – A book that it’s not from a genre you love, but you ended up liking it anyway.

I would like to say I enjoyed Anthony’s season, but I wouldn’t want to lie, I’m sorry. By the way, a book I really enjoyed that was out of my comfort zone was The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides. I usually don’t read mystery books or thrillers, but this one blew me away, it was just so good.

 

 

2. Benedict Bridgerton – A retelling I would recommend to everybody

Cruel Beauty by Rosamund Hodge is a book I read years and years ago, but to this day it is still my favourite Beauty and the Beast retelling ever. It’s dark, and it’s also very compelling to read, I remember really loving it.

 

 

3. Colin Bridgerton – A book that made you feel like you were travelling and that made you discover other worlds

Did you know Colin went to Europe? He might have mentioned it a few times during this season lol. A book that made me discover other worlds was for sure the Throne of Glass series by Sarah J. Maas, it has a really good fantasy world building and for a good part of the series the characters are travelling, so there’s that.

 

 

 

4. Daphne Bridgerton – A book that’s completely in your comfort zone

Maybe not the coziest answer, but for sure The Secret History by Donna Tartt. It’s one of my favourite books ever for a reason, I love pretentious kids doing crimes, talking about literature and speaking in Latin, what can I do about it?

 

 

 

5. Eloise Bridgerton – A book where letters/diaries have a very important part in the story

We Contain Multitudes by Sarah Henstra, a book I loved that’s told mainly through letters exchanged between the two main characters. The writing is lyrical, and I would really recommend it.

 

 

6. Francesca Bridgerton – A book with a memorable love story and with a slow-burn pacing

Well, let me introduce you to the slow-burn queen of Romance, Mariana Zapata. Her book From Lukov with Love really encompasses all of these characteristics and it’s one of my favourite romances of all time, this book will make you burn, quoting Bridgerton.

 

 

7. Gregory Bridgerton – A book that, despite being criticized, you will read

Nothing comes to my mind in this moment, so I will slightly change the prompt to “a sequel of a book I will read despite not really liking the first one”. I really didn’t enjoy Sword Catcher by Cassandra Clare, so I’m still not sure about reading the sequel, but there was something really interesting going on with the romance, so maybe I will pick up the second one, just for the fun of it all.

 

 

8. Hyacinth Bridgerton – The last book you added to your TBR and that you want to read right away

Under the Lupine Moon by A. Knightley is the last book I’ve sent to my best friend saying “we need to read that” and I still stand by that. It comes out in July and I needed it like yesterday.

 

 

 

9. Violet Bridgerton – A book you love for the values that it conveys

This is a hard question for me, because I usually don’t read books for their values, but I think Little Women by Louisa May Alcott really portrays a good depiction of how womanhood can encompass very different types of representation, every one beautiful in their own way, so I will use that as an answer.

 

 

 10. Lady Danbury – A book with a wonderful story but that it’s not loved by everyone

I simply cannot answer this question, to be honest. I thought about it, but every book will have people who love it and people who didn’t like it, what is underrated to me could be not so underrated for someone else, and so on, so I will skip this one.

 

 11. Simon Bassett – A book that deals with problems during childhood/adolescence with themes of neglecting/abuse/bullying that I would recommend

I have not read this book, but I’ve seen the movie, and I still think it’s one of the best that deals with these themes, and that’s The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky. It’s so delicate and vulnerable, and it always makes me tear up.

 

 

 

 12. Penelope Featherington – A book with a wonderful female character that really fascinated me

May be controversial, but she’s still my best girl, so I will say The Atlas Six by Olivie Blake. I didn’t love this series, but God if I love Libby Rhodes. I support her rights, and I support her wrongs, I love her to death, that’s just it.

 

 

 

Okay guys, this was my take on this tag. I hope you enjoyed it, and please let me know who is your favourite Bridgerton character in the comments down below (and PLEASE don’t spoil season 3, it’s been 48 hours).

Thanks for reading,

 

 

 

The Fairy Tale Book Tag

Hey guys, how are you? I haven’t done a tag article in so much time, so I felt like it was time to do so, and to unite two of my favourite things, fairy tales and books. There’s nothing I love more than a classic fairytale retelling, the tropes, the atmosphere, the drama of it all, everything just calls out to me.
This tag was created by Rachel Reads on Youtube and I will leave her channer here.
I hope you enjoy it and let’s get started.

1. Rapunzel – A long book you gave five stars (over 450 pgs).

This is very easy for me, The Secret History by Donna Tartt, one of my favourite books of all time, and the blueprint for the dark academia genre. It’s so compelling, you won’t even feel the 559 pages it is composed of. It’s a lyrical masterpiece, and a compelling story I will think about forever.

2. The Little Mermaid – A book that took your breath away

Literally The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides. I don’t read a lot of mystery books but when I do, I try to search the ones that could appeal to me more, and I loved this book to pieces. Most of all, the plot twist really shocked me, as I didn’t see it coming at all. Sometimes I still think about it and how good it was. Really mind-blowing.

3. Swan Lake – A book with the theme of sacrifice

I literally don’t want to sponsor this author on this blog, so keep in mind I stand apart from everything J.K. Rowling says or does as I could not be more far from her way of thinking, but I can’t help but think about the Harry Potter series. What I want to get from these books, and what I want to remember them by are the mesmerizing acts of love that the characters put in act in order to save the ones they love. And that’s all I have to say.

4. Rumpelstiltskin – A book that changed you

This is a huge question to which I have a simple answer, since it can’t be everything else for me: Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë. It mesmerized little 12-year-old me and made me see literature in a way I had never seen it before. I always loved to read and to discover new stories, but that one made me want to study this subject for real in my life, and I still think about the very gentle lady that recommended me this book in the bookshop. I hope she’s good and I’d love for her to know she changed everything for me, and I will forever be grateful.

5. Cinderella – A book with a self-sufficient character (but not snobby)

I’m not sure I get this question 100% but I’ll go with Feyre from the A Court of Thorns and Roses series by Sarah J. Maas. She is used to do everything on her own and to provide for her sisters, she’s literally the rock in the family and she deserves everything.

6. The Twelve Dancing Princesses – A long series you love (or) a book with a lot of characters

Why not both? And why not another Sarah J. Maas book series? The Throne of Glass series is one of my favourites of all time and I grew so close to all of the characters (and they are a lot). They feel like real people to me and in those seven books I grew so attached to them, it’s insane to think about. I’d gladly read another seven books of their lives.

7. Sleeping Beauty – A book with a slow plot

For this one I for sure have to say one of my most recent reads: Sword Catcher by Cassandra Clare. I usually love her writing, but this book was just too slow, and the plot really started at the 70% of the novel, and that is just too late in my mind.

8. Mulan – A book with a lot of action

I usually do not read a lot of action-packed books, so my first answer is for sure The Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins, a book I read when I was a teenager, and the most popular in that dystopian phase the editorial world had for a while. It for sure is full of action, and it’s never boring.

9. Aladdin – A book that transported you to a whole new world

Love the song reference in this question. And for this one I would say every Sarah J. Maas’ book, but for the sake of variety, I will say The Cruel Prince trilogy by Holly Black. I loved the fairyland, Elfhame, and its lush atmosphere, it really seemed to be there, and I love everything remotely folkloristic.

10. Alice in Wonderland – A frabjous book with a great cast of side characters

For this one I have to go with Daisy Jones and The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid, the main character is Daisy for sure, but it reads like a choral novel, where each and every single one of the other characters has literally its own voice and a great role in the overall plot. I will forever love this book with my whole heart.

11. Wild Card – Your favourite fairy-tale retelling couple

It is a mostly unknown book, but I’ll perish on this hill and say that Cruel Beauty by Rosamund Hodge is the best Beauty and the Beast retelling to this day, so the main couple in this book is my answer for this. They are dark but fit to the story in the real way a fairy-tale couple should be, and the book per se is amazing.

Okay guys, these were my answers to this tag. Let me know if you enjoyed it and please let me know which is your favourite fairy-tale in the comments.

Thanks for reading,

Kingdom of Ash by Sarah J. Maas – Review

Title: Kingdom of Ash

Author: Sarah J. Maas

Synopsis (from Goodreads): Aelin Galathynius’s journey from slave to king’s assassin to the queen of a once-great kingdom reaches its heart-rending finale as war erupts across her world. . .
Aelin has risked everything to save her people-but at a tremendous cost. Locked within an iron coffin by the Queen of the Fae, Aelin must draw upon her fiery will as she endures months of torture. Aware that yielding to Maeve will doom those she loves keeps her from breaking, though her resolve begins to unravel with each passing day…
With Aelin captured, Aedion and Lysandra remain the last line of defense to protect Terrasen from utter destruction. Yet they soon realize that the many allies they’ve gathered to battle Erawan’s hordes might not be enough to save them. Scattered across the continent and racing against time, Chaol, Manon, and Dorian are forced to forge their own paths to meet their fates. Hanging in the balance is any hope of salvation-and a better world.
And across the sea, his companions unwavering beside him, Rowan hunts to find his captured wife and queen-before she is lost to him forever.
As the threads of fate weave together at last, all must fight, if they are to have a chance at a future. Some bonds will grow even deeper, while others will be severed forever in the explosive final chapter of the Throne of Glass series.

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

This review contains major spoilers.

Hey readers! Welcome to the last review regarding the Throne of Glass series! OMG I’m so surprised that I really managed to finish reading the last final huge book and that I emotionally survived it. Anyway, let’s get started!
First of all, I’d like to start with the only thing I wasn’t the biggest fan of: the amount of pages. Even though everything was useful for the plot and the development of the characters, I felt the number of pages being a burden for me at times. As soon as I reached the end of the first part I was a bit discomforted by how many things were still left to say. Probably some things could have been easily cut out or summed up. But apart from that, I did see why Maas needed to tell us every single thing and how everything was built up, so I understand her decision.
Talking about the cast of characters, I was so happy when they finally were able to meet for the final battle. Seeing each one of them together made my heart melt with joy. And seeing Aelin’s final journey was a hell of a rollercoaster: from her mind being broken, to seeing her being fully back during the last battle against Erawan and Maeve, made me appreciate her even more. I just loved her character, it has always felt so real and full of different nuances that made her as human as me. Not to mention her sassiness. Gosh, I just love her sharp tongue, and when she tries to set a trap for Erawan in the end I laughed so much. She is so brilliant and I need to give Maas a huge praise for the work she has done. Not only with her, but with Rowan, Chaol, Dorian, Manon, Yrene, Lysandra and the entire cast of characters. They were all amazing with their pros and cons and I felt them like a family. When I reached the final chapters after the last battle I just kept weeping at each thing they were uttering and I was so sad when I left them after the final page. I will miss them forever.
Finally, let me say a few words about the series in general. This is by far one of the most articulated and well-done series I have ever read. Nothing is left on its own without a reason and in every book I read I saw a well-planned series from page 1. Everything fell perfectly in place, and even though some things were a bit too easy to work out, I have nothing bad to say about the entire series. I’m so thankful I had the chance to read and enjoy it.
Now, before I reach the end of this article, I just wanted to remind you that during the next four months I will continue my 2023 reading challenge with another series, The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater. Next month I will post the review of the first book, so don’t miss it!
As always, thanks for reading my review and if you would like to share your own thoughts about this book or about what I said, leave it in a comment down below.

Tower of Dawn by Sarah J. Maas – Review

Title: Tower of Dawn

Author: Sarah J. Maas

Synopsis (from Goodreads): Chaol Westfall has always defined himself by his unwavering loyalty, his strength, and his position as the Captain of the Guard. But all of that has changed since the glass castle shattered, since his men were slaughtered, since the King of Adarlan spared him from a killing blow, but left his body broken.
His only shot at recovery lies with the legendary healers of the Torre Cesme in Antica–the stronghold of the southern continent’s mighty empire. And with war looming over Dorian and Aelin back home, their survival might lie with Chaol and Nesryn convincing its rulers to ally with them.
But what they discover in Antica will change them both–and be more vital to saving Erilea than they could have imagined.

Rating: 4/5 stars

This review contains major spoilers.

Hey readers, here we are with our monthly appointment to talk about the seventh book of my 2023 reading challenge! Even this time, Maas knew how to keep me hooked to the story, even though I had some initial difficulties. But let’s talk about it better.
First thing first, I’d like to say that it was interesting to focus the entire story around Chaol and his injury. I was very curious about his POV and it didn’t disappoint. I’m very pleased I got to know him more and better, I really like his character and I think Maas did a great job. In my opinion, since Chaol and Aelin are the two characters that we are able to see completely, they feel so real and human like no other.
And it was so nice to see Yrene back in the game again. I really liked her novella and I’m very glad I finally had the chance to fully meet her and discover her past life. I like her and I can see why she is the perfect fit for Chaol. I was so entertained by the interactions and fights between Chaol and Yrene, but mostly I adored to witness their love blossom. I was ready for them being a couple since their first meeting. And every time Yrene mentioned the scrap of paper that was given to her by Celaena, my heart dropped. I was ready to throw the book if the author wasn’t going to make at least Chaol realise that it was Celaena the one Yrene met all those years ago, but I’m glad this happened in the end (even though Maas decided to wait until the last chapter).
The main problem I had while reading this book was the pace of the first part. Usually, the author is very good in taking her time to prepare the ground for what is about to happen in the next pages, but this time I think Maas took too much time. The first part was too slow for my taste and the various moments of action and pathos were few and small. The second part was, luckily, faster and enjoyable and I was so happy about that. To be honest I think that another reason why I felt the book going so slow was the same one that occurred when I read Heir of Fire: the drastic change of location and the new cast of characters that we meet in the first pages. I had some difficulties in understanding who was who and this got me a bit frustrated, but that’s totally on my side because I’m slow in remembering things.
Anyway, apart from that, I enjoyed reading even this book of the series and now I can’t literally wait to see how everything will wrap up. I can’t believe I’m about to start Kingdom of Ash, it seems yesterday I started reading this series. I’m not ready to say goodbye to all those characters, but mostly I’m not ready to face the hugeness of that novel.

So, these were my opinions about Tower of Dawn by Sarah J. Mass, hope you liked reading about them. If you would like to let me know your own thoughts about this book or what I said in this review, just leave them in a comment down below. Thanks for reading!

Books as Songs from Speak Now (Taylor’s Version) – From the Vault

 Hey there guys, last week the most wonderful thing ever happened, and that is that the new version (Taylor’s Version) of Speak Now finally came out. For years, Speak Now has been my favourite Taylor’s album, and then Folklore came and it took my heart by storm, but Speak Now will always have a special place in my heart considering it has been the soundtrack of my teenage years. And this time we had the most superior vault tracks ever. They are all so good, I love all of them so much. For this reason I decided to give you some bookish recommendations based on your favourite one.
Are you ready… for it?
Let’s go.

 

Electric Touch (ft. Fall Out Boy)

“All I know is this could either break my heart or bring it back to life
Got a feelin’ your electric touch could fill this ghost town up with life
And I want you now, wanna need you forever
In the heat of your electric touch”

Book: Twilight by Stephenie Meyer

I mean, this album came out in the Twilight years, what do you want me to say? We all had a Twilight phase (I still have, it never went away) and this song strongly reminds me of an insta-love situation. What better than Edward and Bella? They describe the ups and downs of first love just so well… even if one of them is a vampire. This classic is the right fit if you like Electric Touch. Also, Taylor and FoB slapped so hard, this song is a bop.

 

 

When Emma Falls in Love

“’Cause she’s the kind of book that you can’t put down
Like if Cleopatra grew up in a small town
And all the bad boys would be good boys
If they only had a chance to love her
And to tell you the truth, sometimes I wish I was her”

Book: Better Than the Movies by Lynn Painter

We have a new IT girl in the T-Swift fandom, and I have to say this one is by far my favourite song from the Vault. I see so much of myself in it, and it even reminds me of a dear friend of mine, so yes, it’s quite important to me. And it immediately made me think of Better Than the Movies by Lynn Painter. This is such a cute YA romance book, and the main character, Liz, really reminds me of Emma, as Taylor sings about her in this song. She has such a big heart, and she’s also in love with love, but at the same time she’s quite scared of it, even if she won’t admit. It’s a lovely book that really surprised me, and I really recommend it.

 

 

I Can See You

“But what would you do if I went to touch you now?
What would you do if they never found us out?
What would you do if we never made a sound?
‘Cause I can see you waitin’ down the hall from me
And I could see you up against the wall with me
And what would you do? Baby, if you only knew, oh, oh, oh
That I could see you”

Book: The Cruel Prince by Holly Black

This is my least favourite song from the Vault, and it still slaps so hard, it still is the biggest bop, Speak Now really has no bad songs. Also, this song really reminds me of the enemies to lovers trope, no lies here, it just gives me that… tension. And The Cruel Prince has one of the best enemies to lovers relationships of the last few years. Cardan and Jude really deliver that tension I was talking about. You won’t be disappointed.

 

 

Castles Crumbling (feat. Hayley Williams)

“My foes and friends watch my reign end
I don’t know how it could’ve ended this way
Smoke billows from my ships in the harbor
People look at me like I’m a monster
Now they’re screamin’ at the palace’s front gates
Used to chant my name
Now they’re screaming that they hate me
Never wanted you to hate me”

Book: The Throne of Glass series by Sarah J. Maas

This song is just so good, it really has Folklore vibes, no wonder I love it so much. And from the first listen, this reminded me of Throne of Glass. The imagery really recalls a high fantasy novel, and I highly connect it with some of the main characters in that series that’s just so good, and so well-thought. It surely is one of my favourites of all times. Also, the bridge of this song carries it all, that’s the point in the song that really screams Throne of Glass to me.

 

 

Foolish One

“Foolish one
Stop checkin’ your mailbox for confessions of love
That ain’t never gonna come
You will take the long way, you will take the long way down
Foolish one
Stop checkin’ your mailbox for confessions of love
That ain’t never gonna come
You will learn the hard way instead of just walkin’ out”

Book: The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks

I have to admit I only saw the movie adaptation of this novel, but after I listened to this song (that actually talks about me personally lol) I immediately thought of this story of Nicholas Sparks. Obviously I think it’s because of the mailbox element to it, I think you all know the story, but if you don’t just know that the main characters really wait next to their mailbox for confessions of love that ain’t never gonna come. Of course, here the reason is quite different, but I think this could be a good comparison.

 

 

Timeless

“And you were headed off to fight in the war
You still would’ve been mine
We would have been timeless
I would’ve read your love letters every single night
And prayed to God you’d be comin’ home all right
And you would’ve been fine
We would have been timeless
‘Cause I believe that we were supposed to find this
So, even in a different life, you still would’ve been mine
We would’ve been timeless”

Book: In Memoriam by Alice Winn

I was sobbing by the end of this book and I was sobbing by the end of this song, so we already are in for a good start. I strongly believe that this is one of the best songs Taylor has ever written in her career ever, and I really don’t know how she decided to leave it out of the OG Speak Now. And In Memoriam is one of the best books I’ve read this year, point blank. It is a really sad read, I want to prepare you for that, it follows the story of two boys that fell in love in college (unbeknownst to each other’s feelings) and divided by The First World War. I found myself crying my eyes out at various points of this novel but it was totally worth it.

Okay guys, we have come to the end of this article, I hope you enjoyed it, let me know if you listened to Speak Now (Taylor’s Version) and which your favourite Vault track is.
Thank you so much for reading,

Empire of Storms by Sarah J. Maas – Review

Title: Empire of Storms

Author: Sarah J. Maas

Synopsis (from Goodreads): The long path to the throne has only just begun for Aelin Galathynius as war looms on the horizon. 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.

Rating: 4.75/5 stars

This review contains major spoilers.

Hey everyone and welcome back to another article in which I praise Sarah J. Maas and her writing style. I thought that after Queen of Shadows nothing could be that good, but gosh if I was wrong, and I’m very glad I’m able to say so. Let’s talk about it better!
After the ending of the previous book, I thought that the plot would concentrate more on Terrasen and how Aelin would claim what was hers, but the author decided otherwise and I was ready to take a trip in all the new lands and islands I didn’t have the chance to see before. I really liked what Maas created with this book, all the different battles and fights, I was entertained all the time. My only complaint, and that’s why I didn’t gave this book a full 5-star rating, is that at times I felt the narration going too slow for my taste. Don’t get me wrong, I really loved this novel and how Maas takes her time to explain things and build a perfect climax, but at times I found the pace very slow and too descriptive. Anyway, apart from that this book was SO enjoyable.
I was also very happy that finally most of the characters had the chance to meet, even though I don’t understand why the author has always to transform this interesting moment into a fight or a battle among the various characters. Can I have at least a peaceful meeting point of the various plots, please? I’m not asking for the Moon. Also, talking about characters that finally met, I sobbed so hard at Elide and Aelin’s meeting. In that moment my heart just stopped. I was so happy for them but also sad remembering Elide’s mother and what she had done to save Aelin.
Now, let’s skip to the juiciest part of the book: the final one. When I was reading it, I was gasping at every page. Maas decided to go hard on her readers and put plot twist after plot twist with some new explanations about the past that I didn’t see coming at all. Not to mention that final cliffhanger and the closing chapters. I have no words to describe how mad I was when I read what was happening. And now I even have to wait and read Chaol’s POV in Tower of Dawn before I know what will happen to Aelin and the box she is in. Oh gosh, I can’t even describe how I’m craving for the last book. I’m not ready to say goodbye to these characters.
But before heading to the conclusion of this series, I have to follow the order and read Tower of Dawn. I don’t know what to expect from that book because that thing is 640 pages long and I don’t know what Maas plans to do in such amount of paper. I hope to be surprised by it.

So, these were my opinions about Empire of Storms by Sarah J. Mass, hope you liked reading about them. If you would like to let me know your own thoughts about this book or what I said in this review, just leave them in a comment down below. Thanks for reading!

Queen of Shadows by Sarah J. Maas – Review

Title: Queen of Shadows

Author: Sarah J. Maas

Synopsis (from Goodreads): 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.

Rating: 5/5 stars

This review contains major spoilers.

I’m so glad to say that this is probably my favourite book of the entire series so far! I didn’t expect to love it so much, I couldn’t put it down at times because I was too captured by what was happening. Let’s see why.
I was a bit afraid to start Queen of Shadows because I found Heir of Fire a bit slow and, even though I gave it a high rating, I wasn’t completely happy with what happened. There were few plot twists and not so much action. But this time, Maas redeemed herself and created a well-plotted novel with so many plot twists and turning tables that I was gasping at every page. I have to admit that at a certain point some things were predictable and following the same pattern, but I was really glad that it entertained me so much.
Another thing that I found difficult in the previous book was Manon’s pov. I don’t know why but I wasn’t the biggest fan of it and every time she came up on the scene I was already sighing. But this time, thanks also to Elide’s character, I was always curious to see what was happening to them. I finally became interested in every single aspect of this series. Not to mention that the different plotlines finally met in this book. As soon as I understood that this was going to happen, I was already screaming.
Overall, I found the plot well-constructed with the right timings and sections. It definitely helped my reading pace and my attention. Also, the various missions were so interesting to read and to see how Aelin plotted every single thing was amazing. From the rescue of her cousin, to the murder of Arobynn, to finally bringing back magic to Erilea. With all these things checked, now it seems like I’m stepping into the second part of the Throne of Glass series. Now that every single piece of the puzzle has been placed, we are ready for the war that is coming. Aelin was finally able to get rid of her past, from killing Arobynn to the King of Adarlan, and now it’s time to take Erawan down.
I didn’t expect the King to be “””innocent””” but I’m happy that I was finally able to understand is character better and why he did what he did. Another character that I really admired was Lysandra. I just loved her! Finally, it was time to get her redemption and I just loved to see her character development and I hope to see her and Evangeline again in the following books. And I can’t leave out of this review Kaltain. When I read the chapter that explained what was going on inside of her and the fight she was having with the demon, I was stunned, I didn’t expect something like that. And seeing her in the end using the power she gained was perfection. I just loved everything of this book.
Now I’m very eager to know what will happen next in the final three books. I’m so curious to see what will happen to Aelin and Rowan and if Elide will finally be able to meet them. Also, I’m crossing my fingers for Chaol that he will be able to heal.

So, these were my opinions about Queen of Shadows by Sarah J. Mass, hope you liked reading about them. If you would like to let me know your own thoughts about this book or what I said in this review, just leave them in a comment down below. Thanks for reading!

Heir of Fire by Sarah J. Maas – Review

Title: Heir of Fire

Author: Sarah J. Maas

Synopsis (from Goodreads): Celaena Sardothien 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. To defeat them, Celaena must find the strength to not only fight her inner demons but to battle the evil that is about to be unleashed.
The king’s assassin takes on an even greater destiny and burns brighter than ever before in this follow-up to the New York Times bestselling Crown of Midnight.

Rating: 4/5 stars

This review contains major spoilers.

Here we are with another review about a novel by Sarah J. Maas. Right now, I am exactly in the middle of the series with four books read and four more left. Even with this novel I had a good time while diving into Aelin’s world and her adventures, but I had some ups and downs along the way. Let’s see why.
First of all, I loved that I was finally able to see something new about this world. Wendlyn is for sure an interesting land and I was very curious about the demi-Fae and their queen Maeve. But what captured completely my attention was Rowan. Well, what can I say, I’d like to add him to my list of fictional crushes of this series. I was so happy every time he was on the scene and his interactions with Aelin were always so funny and at times so deep. I have really enjoyed his character and how he changed since the first time he met Aelin. His character arc was definitely interesting, even though I preferred Aelin’s one. Seeing her finally come to terms with her past and, at the same time, being able to use her magic freely and in control felt very satisfying. Not to mention when, at the end, she gives Maeve a show of her power! I had chills all over my body and I cannot wait to see if it will be able to improve more than that
On the other hand, there were two things that didn’t meet my taste. The first one is that everything seems too simple at times. When there is a mystery, I get the feeling that it is worked out too easily and quickly. Even when a character isn’t saying something, the others are always able to figure out what they are hiding or thinking by simply connecting dots that aren’t obvious or clear to the reader.
The other thing that I wasn’t the biggest fan of was Manon. I was able to enjoy her storyline only when I was midway because at first I wasn’t really interested in her story. Also, since she is introduced in this novel for the first time, along with many information about the various clans and witches, I felt a bit confused and I had to re-read some pages to completely understand. I was hoping to see at least her plot connected to the others that we already know from the previous books, but I think this is something that will probably happen in the next installments.

So, these were my opinions about Heir of Fire by Sarah J. Mass, hope you liked reading about them. If you would like to let me know your own thoughts about this book or what I said in this review, just leave them in a comment down below. Thanks for reading!

Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas – Review

Title: Crown of Midnight

Author: Sarah J. Maas

Synopsis (from Goodreads):  An assassin’s loyalties are always in doubt but her heart never wavers Assassin Celaena Sardothien won a brutal contest to become the King’s Champion. But she is far from loyal to the crown. Though she hides her secret vigilantly, her deadly charade becomes difficult when she realizes she is not the only one seeking justice. No one is above questioning her allegiance not the Crown Prince Dorian; not Chaol, the Captain of the Guard; not even her best friend, Nehemia, a foreign princess with a rebel heart. Then, one terrible night, the secrets they have all been keeping lead to an unspeakable tragedy. As Celaena’s world shatters, she will be forced to decide once and for all where her true lovalties lie … and whom she is willing to fight for.

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

This review contains major SPOILERS!

Wow, this is the first thing I could possibly say after closing this book. This story is leaving me speechless and astonished by how well-written and designed it is. But let’s talk about it better.

Let’s start with my main thoughts about the plot. What I really enjoyed about this book was how well constructed it was and how everything fell into place page after page. I was shocked when I saw how tiny little details and things that appeared in the previous book were now useful and not mere objects that appeared from nowhere. I could see how Maas had these novels planned out and I’m so happy about that. Not to mention her writing style, it is captivating like no others and I ended up reading something like 300 pages in less than two days. I can’t explain you enough how glad I am that I finally started reading this series.
Also, I’d like to praise how this second novel was so balanced in terms of action, revelations and romance. Everything kept me glued to the pages and I couldn’t stop reading, I just wanted to know more things every second I read. And let me tell you how heartbroken I am to see Chaol and Celaena split apart after what happened to Nehemia. I was rooting for them and I was so interested in seeing where their relationship was heading that when everything changed, I felt my heart split in two.
Now, let’s talk about the major spoiler of this book. Unfortunately, I spoiled myself some things about Crown of Midnight. One of them was Nehemia’s death. Even though I already knew her destiny, I wasn’t aware about how it happened and all the subplots that were behind it and I must say that I was still shocked about all the things we discover about her plans. About Celaena’s true identity, I will tell you this: the first time Maas mentioned about this lost princess Aelin I already figured out it could probably be Celaena and I had my confirmation when I saw a post on Instagram yesterday in which there was a candle with this name and the image of Celaena. Let’s say that I half-spoiled it but I didn’t mind because when I read the last chapter Maas was still able to surprise me with how well planned was her next destination and I had to wait her explanations to finally figure out where the story was heading. I was so surprised that I couldn’t even believe it myself.
The last thing I’m going to talk about is Dorian’s magic. I understood it thanks to the different hints that Maas left here and there in this book, but when Celaena finds out that he has magic too and she has a calm reaction, I felt it a bit too unrealistic. I don’t know, I expected her at least to be surprised, but this is something related to my own personality.
In March I will read the Assassin’s Blade and after that I cannot really wait to uncover what Maas has in store for us with her future books, I’m so excited!

So, these were my opinions about Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Mass, hope you liked reading about them. If you would like to let me know your own thoughts about this book or what I said in this review, just leave them in a comment down below. Thanks for reading!

The Winter Essentials Book Tag

This lovely tag was created by taylor reads on Youtube (you can find it here), and I decided to do it because it’s quite cold where I live, and it really feels like Winter. In these days I just want to read curled up under a blanket, with a hot beverage on my bedside. So, let’s get started.

1. Crackling Fire – Who is your favourite cold character who warmed up towards the end?

There is only one answer, and that is Baz from “Carry On” by Rainbow Rowell. Baz is simply one of my favourite characters of all time, the complexity Rowell used to depict him simply astonishes me. Baz is a wonderfully layered character, who comes across as cold, but has a heart of gold.

2. Snowflakes – What is a book that was full of unique characters?

For sure, “The Secret History” by Donna Tartt. The characters are what makes this book so great. They are all so different from each other, in particular Henry is a character that I consider one of a kind, I’ve never read anything like him before or after I read this novel. I still think about him sometimes.

3. Gingerbread Family – Which fictional family would you want to be a part of?

 The Blackthorn family from “The Dark Artifices” by Cassandra Clare. I just think it’s one of the best families I have ever read about. It is not the happiest family for sure, but the love between them is just so special and I get tears in my eyes when I think about what Julian Blackthorn did for his family.

4. Blizzard – What is a book that had you confused the whole time?

“The 7 and a half deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle” by Stuart Turton. I’m not the biggest mystery girl out there, but this book just left me confused, and maybe it was a me thing, but I also think it was a book thing. It is actually too long, in my opinion, and the ending not quite so satisfying after what it put me through the whole time. Personal opinion, of course.

5. Gift Giving – What is the last book that was gifted to you?

I received a lot of amazing books for Christmas from my wonderful friends, they would be too many to list, I’m that lucky, but just to say some of them, “Her Majesty’s Royal Coven” by Juno Dawson, “The Spanish Love Deception” by Elena Armas and “The Lost Apothecary” by Sarah Penner.

6. Snowball – What is the biggest book you’ve ever read?

I think to this day it still is “Kingdom of Ash” by Sarah J. Maas, but it was so worth it to be honest, it’s one of my favourite last books in a series ever.

7. Wrapping Paper – What is your most beat up book?

I would have to say “The Nowhere Girls” by Amy Reed. I only read it once, but I was drinking hot chocolate while reading it, and it did not end well for the poor book, I’ll be honest.

8. Christmas Lights – What is a book you own that has many colours on the cover?

I think “I’ll Give You the Sun” by Jandy Nelson, a wonderful book with a wonderful cover, that I highly recommend.

9. Ice Skating – What is a book that had a plot that was all over the place?

“This is How You Lose the Time War” by Amal El-Mothar and Max Gladstone. It was not at all a bad book, but the plot is convoluted, and sometimes it left you wondering where we are and what we are talking about. I would have liked maybe a bit more pages, so the plot could have been better explained.

10. Christmas Tree – Who is your favourite character of all time? Yes, you can only choose one.

I don’t even have to think about it one second, it’s Will Herondale from “The Infernal Devices” trilogy by Cassandra Clare. Will for me is a real person, I know it’s crazy, but I grew so attached to this brilliant and complex boy, that I will always think about him as a person I really know, a friend almost. Will is an amazing character, I have never read about anyone that could compare to him after these books.

11. The Star – What’s a book you look forward to re-reading each year?

 I don’t re-read books, almost never, but this year I re-read “Daisy Jones and the Six” by Taylor Jenkins Reid in anticipation of the TV Show, and this book held up so freaking well for me. It’s just an amazing novel, one of my favourites of all times, I just think the characters feel so real, the format is really strong, and this story touches my heart every time.

Okay guys, we have come to the end of this tag. Let me know down below some of the answers you would give to these questions, if you want, and I’ll talk to you soon,