Death's Mistress by Terry Goodkind (2017)

Title: Death's Mistress

Author: Terry Goodkind
Series: Sister of Darkness: The Nicci Chronicles #1

Pages: 468

Published: Jan 24th 2017

Publisher: Head of Zeus

This is a book that I judged by is cover. I came across it in Waterstones and the deal was £4 off the hardcover and seeing as it was the first in a series and I was craving some serious high fantasy I bought it. The cover itself was indeed beautiful and very tempting.

I did not start reading it straight away however. After purchasing the book I looked it up and I saw that Nicci is a major character is Terry Goodkind's fantasy series Sword of Truth of some 15 odd books. I was slightly put off as I did not know whether I would be able to immerse myself in  fantasy world that I did not understand. Seeing as he has gotten quite some criticism for the last few books in the series I was unsure whether this book would be worth it or not.

A year later however I decided to give it a go. This is not the best fantasy book I have read. Not by far. My biggest issue was probably Nicci, the protagonist. I do understand that she is the badass assassin with a heart of stone and ruthless killing habits but I could not connect to her at all. Not until the very end, and even so it was not a lot. To be honest I much more appreciated the attitude of the wizard Nathan Rhal who had much more charisma, Bannon who's backstories were always more interesting than the book itself, and Thistle who added personality to the whole story. In fact Nicci became quite annoying. She did not seem badass and dangerous but rather boring and I quickly lost my respect for her. I do not know if this is due to my lack of backstory of her since I have not read the Sword of Truth series, the author's storytelling or just the character.

As a story the book followed a simple storyline. Days of walking, finding a town/village, helping that town/village and then out to walk again to stumble upon another town/village and helping them out. After the third round I desperately needed the narrative to move forward to a more concrete story. And it did. The last third of the book is actually much more exciting and it really does pick up. Nicci becomes more bearable, thanks to Thistle's addition to the story and it did end on a very good note. I do intend to read the sequel, but not straight away.

I would have appreciated more world building and perhaps a bigger picture as the plot only concerned the three adventurers but nothing of the world as a whole. It was quite isolated. However, this makes it a light read and I do recommend reading this book for readers who are new to fantasy as it is not intimidating in length, politics, or amount of characters. Although it is a fairly quick fantasy read, it is not a page turner as such and not the most exciting of high fantasy.

Plot Summary:

Sister of the Light, Sister of the Dark, The Slave Queen, Death's Mistress...
Nicci has gone by many names and faced many challenges.
But that's in the past.
Now, on the far horizons of a world forget anew, she much head the witch woman's words:
'and the Sorceress must save the world'.

My Rating:

5/10


Other Books by Terry Goodkind:

Wizard's First Rule (Sword of Truth #1)
Stone of Tears (Sword of Truth #2)
Blood of the Fold (Sword of Truth #3)
Temple of the Winds (Sword of Truth #4)
Soul of the Fire (Sword of Truth #5)
Faith of the Fallen (Sword of Truth #6)
The Pillars of Creation (Sword of Truth #7)
Naked Empire (Sword of Truth #8)
Chainfire (Sword of Truth #9)
Phantom (Sword of Truth #10)
Confessor (Sword of Truth #11)
The Omen Machine (Sword of Truth #12)
The Third Kingdom (Sword of Truth #13)
Severed Souls (Sword of Truth #14)
Warheart (Sword of Truth #15)
Death's Mistress (Sister of Darkness: The Nicci Chronicles #1)
Shroud of Eternity (Sister of Darkness: The Nicci Chronicles #2)
Siege of Stone (Sister of Darkness: The Nicci Chronicles #3)

The Invasion of the Tearling by Erika Johansen (2015)

Title: The Invasion of the Tearling

Author: Erika Johansen 
Series: The Queen of the Tearling #2

Pages: 515

Published: Jun 9th 2015

Publisher: Harper, Bantam Press


Having a certain love for the audiobook of Queen of the Tearling I was quite disappointed when I found out that it wasn't narrated by Katherine Kellgren. Instead it was performed by Davina Porter and I was pleasantly surprised that she was just as good. These audiobooks are truly amazing.

This sequel is taking The Queen of the Tearling Trilogy one step further. This series is different from the usual high fantasy with its references to 'The Crossing' and a Land referred to as New England, New London and Europe. As if though England as we know today once existed.

And it did. In this book we get to see more of Kelsea's visions, about a young woman called Lily who lived in the United States, pre-crossing. At first, I wasn't too keen on these sections of the book, but I quickly got hooked. The bigger picture started to make itself clear and I wanted to know more and more. This is such an interesting take on fantasy where a new dystopian sci-fi sub genre is introduced and one can almost relate to the world, because it is becoming more and more similar to our own.

Kelsea herself is growing as a character as well. Strong as a queen, brave and her visions make her more interesting. It is slowly changing her appearance, strangely, and I am not quite sure what it adds to her characters apart from the fact that it doesn't change people's initial opinions of her (no matter how beautiful she becomes). Apart from visions, the sapphires have also allowed her powers which she is now experiencing - pain. And it makes her scarier to read about as it is a part of her that I do not enjoy as much - the Queen of Spades. The enemy of the Red Queen. I will leave it at that as I do not wish to spoil anymore for you.

All in all, this series has truly developed and as more things are revealed of the Tearling the more I want to know. And also, who doesn't like Pen? I quite like their relationship as it adds a subtle romantic interest but Kelsea stays true to her throne rather than love.

Plot Summary:

Kelsea Glynn is the Queen of the Tearling. Despite her youth, she has quickly asserted herself as a fair, just and powerful ruler.
However, power is a double-edged sword, and small actions can have grave consequences. In trying to do what is right - stopping a vile trade in humankind - Kelsea has crossed the Red Queen, a ruthless monarch whose rule is bound with dark magic and the spilling of blood. The Red Queen's armies are poised to invade the Tearling, and it seems nothing can stop them.
Yet there was a time before the Crossing, and there Kelsea finds a strange and possibly dangerous ally, someone who might hold the key to the fate of the Tearling, and indeed to Kelsea's own soul. But time is running out...

- Goodreads

My Rating:

8/10

Other Books in the Series:

The Queen of the Tearling (The Queen of the Tearling #1)
The Invasion of the Tearling (The Queen of the Tearling #2)
The Fate of the Tearling (The Queen of the Tearling #3)
The Boy (The Queen of the Tearling novella)

Buy This Book on:

Amazon
Waterstones
Book Depository

Mask of Shadows by Linsey Miller (2017)

Title: Mask of Shadows

Author: Linsey Miller

Series: Untitled
Pages: 384

Expected publication: Sep 5th 2017

Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire

This ARC was given to me as an ebook by Sourcebooks Fire via NetGalley. Thank you for the opportunity to read this book.

I didn't finish this book after 66% because sadly I did not enjoy it.

This book featured a gender fluid character called Sallot (Sal). Sal is attending an audition to become Opal, a member of the Queen's left-hand. This audition felt too much like a weak copy of Sarah J. Maas's Throne of Glass and I could not escape that. I didn't truly understand how the audition was laid out and the proper rules. The plot felt like it was altogether weak.

And unfortunately Sallot infuriated me. They were arrogant and cocky and I had absolutely no sympathy for them. I got increasingly annoyed and when Sal then showed some actual fear towards the Shadows it felt fake. I felt like Sal was mostly unsympathetic and rude, too full of themselves and I personally felt it very hard to read about a person like this, especially in first person. Sal make a point in the beginning that they has never killed anyone before, but then when they kill of people later it feels childish and like painted on bravery or carelessness. All of their decisions seem abrupt and stupid and they make a big deal of how feared they were but I didn't understand half of the decisions  they made. I understand that Sal had deep feelings for their homeland and wanted revenge but it appeared silly and I never felt like I was given real background to this country or what had actually happened. Why was there a war? What happened during the war? What are the Shadows? I felt lost. Sometimes little facts were thrown at the reader but to little for it to make sense or matter to me. I needed some real background to the world and history.

The other characters were all referred to by the number they were given before they entered the audition. Sal was 23. But because all the others were known to Sal as different numbers I constantly got confused with who was who and therefore got confused with Sal's feelings towards each of them. I couldn't form any relationships with those characters and it was very impersonal.

As stated above Sal is gender fluid and the characters do make a deal of it in the book. It is the first time I've experience this topic in a fantasy and I think it is very brave of Miller to bring up such a subject in fantasy when it seems to fit in more in the YA contemporary genre. Personally it didn't bother me and I think that was the upside of the book, and I see that as a success. I mostly depended on what Sal was wearing in the scene but if I didn't know I didn't matter too much. This however doesn't change Sal's personality and characteristics in the narrative which I was not in favour of.

The only character I felt like I could actually deal with was Elise, Sal's writing tutor and love interest. She was cute enough and I did enjoy some of their scenes together but again I was not a fan of Sal's flirting. They were cocky and they acted like they weren't interested but they were and I got tired of it. Toward the 60% mark Sal and Elise share an intimate moment and Sal says they find it intimate  and they are nervous, but I got absolutely no feels what so ever.

I have heard great reviews of this book so your reading experience may be completely different. These are my personal opinions of the book and as much as I know that reviews influence readers, don't judge the book by my review alone.

Plot Summary:

Sallot Leon is a thief, and a good one at that. But gender fluid Sal wants nothing more than to escape the drudgery of life as a high way robber and get closer to the upper-class - and the nobles who destroyed their home.
When Sal steals a flyer for an audition to become a member of The Left Hand - the Queen's personal assassins, named after the ring she wears - Sal Jumps at the chance to infiltrate the court and get revenge.
But the revenge is a fight to the death filled with clever circus acrobats, lethal apothecaries, and viscous ex-soldiers. A childhood as a common criminal hardly prepares Sal for the trials. And as Sal succeeds in the competition, and wins the heart of Elise, an intriguing scribe at court, they start to dream of a new life and a different future, but one that Sal can only have if they survive.
-NetGalley

My Rating:

2/10

Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas - video review

Title: Throne of Glass

Author: Sarah J. Maas

Series: Throne of Glass #1

Pages: 404

Published: Aug 2nd 2012

Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Childrens

Amazing first book of the series Throne of Glass.

This video is also available on my YouTube channel WickedIdeas here.

The Assassin's Blade by Sarah J. Maas (2012)

Title: The Assassin's Blade
Author: Sarah J. Maas
Series: Throne of Glass (Prequel)
Pages: 430
Published: Mar 4th 2014
Publisher: Bloomsbury Childrens


This book has been in my brother's book shelf for almost two years. I even helped my mum pick it out for him. I didn't realise it was the prequel to the Throne of Glass series until after I had started reading it and I thought I recognised the cover on the inside of the book. So I asked to borrow it (it has a home on my bookshelf though) and brought this with me to Antigua on holiday together with the second book 'Crown of Midnight' as I didn't own the third book. I am very happy that I read it then and not until after the series.

I highly recommend you read this book before the fourth book 'Queen of Shadows'!!!

These short stories stretch of a period of time a year before Celeana gets sent to the salt mines in Endovier when she still lives Arobynn Hamel's heir and assassin in the Assassin's Guild in Rifthold. It is a series of five short stories written in the order they take place in Celeana's life. Technically they are all part of one complete book, but are written so that one can read them separately (they were originally published as separate e-books). However, I recommend you read the book front to back as it will make more sense. The short stories are all written in chapter form so it feels almost as reading a normal novel rather than novellas. The stories tell Celeana's missions and tasks set by Arobynn and her relationship with Sam (who is mentioned in the Throne of Glass novels as a former lover).

When reading this I gained a deeper understanding for Celeana and understood her better in the following books in the series. I understood the references and her reasoning. It was very helpful to have read this before 'Queen of Shadows' as people will reoccur and it will make Celeana's relationship with Arobynn much more understandable. I felt like I truly connected with Celeana her and understood her deeper feelings and got a true insight to her background.

While reading 'Throne of Glass' I almost thought that Celeana's references to Sam was a obstacle in the way of Celeanas potential relationship with Chaol (or Dorian for that matter) but reading this book I truly fell in love with Sam and when I realised what had to happen in the end it killed me. The worst is knowing what is going to happen and you can't do anything to stop it and the future you start building up for the two is not a possibility at all. It leaves you in a form of dramatic irony where you know Celeana's future and she has a completely different view on it. It is completely heartbreaking and agonisingly hard to come to terms with. I recommend reading this as a complementary book to the 'Throne of Glass' novels as it will give you more insight and understanding for Celeana and her life.

Plot Summary:

The twist of a knife, 

the birth of a legend...

Celeana Sardothien owes her reputation to Arobynn Hamel. He gave her a home in the Assassin's Guild and taught her the skills she needed to survive.

Arobynn's enemies stretch far and wide - from Adarlan's rooftops and its filthy dens, to remote islands and hostile desert. Celeana is duty-bound to hunt them down. But behind her assignments lies a dark truth that will seal her fate - and cut her heart in two forever...

The prequels to the international bestseller Throne of Glass.

- as off the back of the book

Favourite Quote:

'"When we die," she said, "I don't think the gods will even know what to do with us." '- Celeana in 'The Assassin's Blade' by Sarah J. Maas

My Ranking:

9/10

Of course it is harder to settle with a book when the all the characters you've come to love is not included. Nevertheless, for being a prequel this book was fantastic and Sarah J. Maas does not disappoint!

Other Books in this Series:

The Assassin's Blade (Throne of Glass Prequel)

Throne of Glass (Throne of Glass #1)

Crown of Midnight (Throne of Glass #2)

Heir of Fire (Throne of Glass #3)

Queen of Shadows (Throne of Glass #4)
Empire of Storms (Throne of Glass #5)

Other Books by Sarah J. Maas:

A Court of Thorns and Roses (A Court of Thorns and Roses #1)

A Court of Mist and Fury (A Court of Thorns and Roses #2)

A Court of Wings and Ruin (A Court of Thorns and Roses #3)

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald (1925)

Title: The Great Gatsby

Author: F. Scott Fitzgerald

Pages:180

Published: Apr 10th 1925

Publisher: Scribner

I saw this book at Waterloo train station with my mum one day in London and she knew exactly which book it was. I had no idea. She new of the new film by Baz Luhrman as well (the book had the film cover) and I urged her on to buy it. Why wouldn't I. She did and I started reading it on the train home. I loved it.

I must admit that I haven't really given classics a chance or much time, but I didn't even know this was a classic. Leonardo diCaprio was on the cover and that was good enough for me. I managed to finish the book before the premier and I went to see it, as expected, with my mum - I cried.

The year after we started studying the book (my copy now has a hundred notes in it in every possible colour), but imagine how much a teacher can influence your opinion of a book. I didn't stop loving the book, but I hated what she had to say about it. I did not agree, and I think I was so negative of everything she had to say because 1) she questioned all my opinions, 2) I loved this book, I read it for pleasure and she made me analyse the minor details that I'm sure F. Scott Fitzgerald didn't bloody care about right then and 3) she was a horrible teacher overall (the only English teacher that I have ever disliked). I hated studying it. It ruined the pleasure of reading the book. A lot of people I know had to study it for their A-levels and hated it. Poor souls.

I'm happy I convinced my mum to buy it that one time at the train station (even though it had the film cover, I usually prefer the original cover), and that I managed to read it before it was too late!! Before my teacher started coming up with ideas and theories I didn't agree with. I'm happy I had enough time to go into WHSmith with my mum that one time sat Waterloo train station. I wonder what I would've thought of the book otherwise.

Plot Summary:
The Great Gatsby follows Fitzgerald-like, would-be writer Nick Carraway as he leaves the midwest and comes to New York in the spring of 1922, an era of loosening morals, glittering jazz, bootleg kings, and sky-rocketing stock. Chasing his own American Dream, Nick lands next door to a mysterious party-giving millionaire, Jay Gatsby, and across the bay from his cousin Daisy, and her philandering blue-blooded husband, Tom Buchanan. It is thus that Nick is drawn into the captivating world of the super rich, their illusions, love and deceits. As Nick bears witness, within and without the world he inhabits, he pens a tale of impossible love, incorruptible dreams and high-octane tragedy, and holds a mirror to our own modern times and struggles.

Favourite Quote:
He threw all those parties hoping she'd wander in one night...

My Rating:
10/10
One of the few classics I truly love.

Don't miss the 2013 film by Baz Luhrmann!!

Divergent by Veronica Roth (2011)

Title: Divergent

Author: Veronica Roth

Series: Divergent #1

Pages: 487

Published: Feb 28th 2012

Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books

I was at my friends house on a sleepover when I wanted to read something. We were three other people on a sleep over at her place and she and I decided to have a read. I always enjoy looking at her bookshelf. It's cramped. Having forgotten my book at home, I picked up Divergent and got to bring it home to finish it.

After that I borrowed the second book at the library and the third book I got to read on a friend's Kobo account because the library didn't have it available.

I love Tris' first person narrative (if you think about it The Hunger Games are written by a female first person narrator). It is very personal and her description of the events are crystal clear. The characters are very well developed and carefully picked out for a reason.

The idea that society would be divided into sections scares me and that other people would use one another like that. Not just manipulate them or brainwash them, but skipping that step and only injecting them with serum just to force them without even telling them, without warning. It scares me a lot. Just absolutely terrifying. Because they turned on each other. The fact that Tris had to go to the point and kill her friend, hurting other friends in turn - for not having another choice.

Plot Summary:
She turns to face the future in a world that's falling appart.
Three Flying Birds... One for each member of the family I left behind.
Sixteen-year-old Tris is forced to make a terrible choice. In a decided society where everyone must conform, Tris does not fit.
So she ventures out alone, determined to discover where she truly belongs. Shocked by her brutal new life, Tris can trust no one. And yet she is drawn to a boy who seems to booth threaten and protect her.
The hardest choice lies ahead.

Favourite Quote:
Be brave.

My Rating:
10/10
I was hooked from the first page.