Heir Of Fire

I am falling more and more in love with this series.  In the third installment we find Celaena begins to train and learn more about who she is the power that resides in the fae form.  While she is training she learns that there is someone or something targeting demi-fae and sucking the life energy out of them.  Meanwhile things at the castle are heating up and Chaol discovers more of the king's treachery as Dorian begins to fall for one of the healers who has a secret of her own.  Celaena grows stronger in her power and gains more allies to become the queen she is meant to be, but is she ready to take on this role and power that comes with it.  Is she ready to begin a battle save her kingdom and her people and rebuild all that they have lost?

I think so far this is one my favorite books in the series.  I loved that there was more of her fae form and she comes to accept who and what she is.  I also suspect a new potential love interest in Rowen.  Even though the book doesn't focus on that and doesn't suggest it, as a reader who loves the characters I want to ship them even is Maas doesn't.  I wish we had a little bit more from Rowen, but the mystery adds to the charm of his character.  I expect to see great things from him in the next novel, and interested to see how Chaol will react to his presence.  I liked how all three books have flowed together seamlessly.  It didn't feel like I have stopped reading the series for a couple of months.  It picked up right where the last one left off and provided enough backstory to remind readers of what happened in the previous novels, but not too much that made readers think it was simply re-telling the previous volumes.

Sarah Maas is an exceptional story teller.  I admit I was a little weary of the series when I started it, but I simply cannot wait to get my hands on the next book and have already started telling people they need to read this series.  Mass captures her readers from the very first words and develops a world that makes readers want to visit become a part of. I found the Blackbeak story line interesting as well and look forward to seeing more from them and seeing how Manon changes as we already started to see.

Overall this is a fantastic book that fantasy lover will enjoy greatly.  If you haven't started reading this series then you need to begin it,  I give this book in the series a 5 out of 5 as it just keeps getting better.  Characters remain flawless and continue to develop even when you think they can't anymore.

Crown of Midnight by Sarah Maas

Crown of Midnight is the second novel in Sarah Maas' Throne of Glass series.  The book picks up after Celeana has been named the King's Champion, and she defeated the evil within the castle only to discover something more sinister is happening.  This book opens with her carrying out one of the King's orders.  All this time Celeana has been giving her marks an option to  fake their death and leave or she kills them.  When she is given an order to kill a former associate, she decides to try and gather more information about a rebel uprising.  While looking for secrets and answers Celeana stumbles upon another passageway leading to a big iron door.  Throughout the book, she discovers a throng of secrets being held from her, even from those who are the closest to her: Crown Prince Dorian, Princess Nehemia, and Captain of the Guard Chaol.  Who can she trust, if anyone?  What lies underneath the castle?  What kind of secrets is the King himself keeping?

There are no words to describe this novel, it was so engrossing I actually stayed up until 2 A.M reading the book because I couldn't wait to see what happens to Celeana and her friends.  Crown of Midnight is chalk full of secrets including Celeana's own secrets.  We get a lot more information in this novel, but there are still a number of questions left open for the next novel.  The end was surprising and left readers craving more, Maas expertly closes one story and opens the door for the next installment.  She completely blows fans away with the ending of this novel.  Everything in the novel feels like it happens naturally and isn't forced.  Everything unravels perfectly until the perfect cliffhanger ending.

The beginning of the book starts out slow and appears to be about political agendas, but as the book progresses into the story line, it picks up the pace.  I admit I was one of the girls that was hoping for something to happen between Chaol and Celeana, but who knows what the future will hold for these two.  There is nothing predictable about this book, there are so many twists and turns you would think you are on a country road in West Virginia.   There is not one moment when you are not on the edge of your seat waiting for what will happen next.  I couldn't turn the pages fast enough. 

Some books that show a political side tend to make it difficult to read or understand, but not the Throne of Glass series, Maas makes it interesting as she weaves it into the story of magic and what happened to magic of the land.  I cannot begin to recommend this book enough.  I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and cannot wait to move on to the next one Heir of Fire. I give this novel a 5 out of 5 star rating.  Excellent.

Shadow's Edge

Title: Shadow's Edge by Brent Weeks
Media source: Paperback
Rating: 3 out 5 stars

Recommendation: I would recommend this novel to any fantasy lover, or someone who enjoys assassins, politics, war-like novels, and magic.

Shadow's Edge is the second novel in the Night Angel trilogy, the first being The Way of Shadows.  It picks up the story of Kylar Stern, a young assassin who just survived an uprising that killed not only his mentor, but also his best friend.  Now he is trying to live a life outside of that of a killer.  Can he do it?  Or will the calling of a wet boy forever call out to him?

Kylar is trying to leave the assassin's life behind him.  He has lost his mentor Durzo, as well as his best friend Logan.  He leaves the city with Elene, the woman he loves, and Uly a young child they have taken in.  In the new city he tries a new profession, one where he is helping people heal rather than killing them.  When his childhood best friend comes to his new phone proclaiming his best friend Logan is still alive, Kylar has a decision to make.  Does he accept the contract Jarl presents to him, or turn his back on his friends?

I had a little bit of a hard time with this book.  It jumped around more than The Way of Shadows did.  So many different storylines to follow until they become one.  They are all interesting stories and are needed to make the plot move along, but keeping track got a little difficult.  The story with Kylar in a different city was one of my favorite storylines, with his frustrations at being an apothecary and struggling against the desire to be a wetboy still calling out to him.  Throughout the story we see him struggling to change who he is.  He develops greatly from the last time we seen him. 

The ideas of the Talent and Ka'kari are interesting and I kind of wanted more explanation and usage of the ka'kari.  One of my favorite parts was when he used it to disguise himself and save the girl from hoodlums.  There is non-stop action throughout the novel, no matter which storyline you were reading, there was something happening.  Each descriptions was in depth and excessively descriptive.  It is so well done, you are able to picture every last detail.  His dialogue is well written, when each character speaks you can almost hear their own voices and nuances.  There were plenty of times when I was reading that I let out an audible gasp. 

The rating I gave the book of 3 stars is because it was full of political talk and strategy which I admit is a little harder for me to understand.  The first book was more of Kylar becoming the assassin he is and the trials along the way.  I devoured The Way of Shadows, I think I expected Shadow's Edge to something along the same lines.  I will continue with the series with Beyond the Shadows because I am interested in this amazing tale.