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)

Carry On by Rainbow Rowell (2016)

Title: Carry On

Author: Rainbow Rowell

Pages: 528

Published: Feb 25th 2016

Publisher: Macmillan

After reading Fangirl I was very excited to read Carry On as I wanted to know more about Simon. Simon is a fictional character whom Cath writes fan fiction about on the book Fangirl. During uni she writes the fan fiction "Carry On Simon" as if though it was the eighth book in the Simon Snow series (yet to be published). In Cath's version, Simon and Bas (his least favourite friend and room mate) have a romantic relationship, so naturally there are some Simon and Bas love scenes in Carry On and it's so so good!

I felt like Carry On was a bit of a parody of Harry Potter and Twilight. Simon is the chosen one and he attends a magic boarding school but it's much more relaxed and funny. It's absolutely hilarious. It's kind of a light hearted version.

I suggest you read Fangirl first, to get the background story of this book. If feel like it would be more appreciated that way. Even though the book is obviously by Rainbow Rowell, I felt like I was reading fan fiction by Cath and it was an amazing feeling.

Plot Summary:

Simon Snow is the worst chosen one who's ever been chosen
That's what his roommate, Baz says. And Baz might be evil and a vampire and a complete git, but he's probably right.
Half the time Simon can't even make his wand work, and the other half, he sets something on fire. His mentor's avoiding him, his girlfriend broke up with him, and there's a magic-eating monster running around wearing Simon's face. Baz would be having a field day wit all this, if he were here - it's their last year at the Watford School of Magicks, and Simon's infuriating nemesis didn't even bother to show up.
- back of book

Favourite Quote:

'I didn't care if magic was real at that moment. Because roast beef and Yorkshire pudding are fucking real as rain.' - Simon

My Rating:

9/10

Other Books by Rainbow Rowell:

Fangirl
Carry On
Eleanor & Park
Landline
Attachments
Kindred Spirits
My True Love Gave To Me
Almost Midnight

The Bone Witch by Rin Chupeco (2017)

Title: The Bone Witch

Author: Rin Chupeco

Series: The Bone Witch #1

Pages: 411

Published: Mar 7th 2017

Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire


This eGalley was given to me for free in exchange for an honest review by Sourcebooks Fire via NetGalley.

I was completely captured by the cover for this book and it did not disappoint. This book is a fantasy following the journey of young Tea who is training to become an asha (who in description really reminded me of geishas) , a bone witch who guards the population from daevas, dragon like creatures.

The book is slow, but in a good way. It is very descriptive and everything is clearly beautiful in this world. It is not slowly as to make you bored, but rather there is a lot of world building and Chupeco truly takes her time in describing and revealing details of that world for the reader. There were a lot of different new words (I believe there is a glossary in the printed version, which would've been very helpful). It is a cozy, beautiful read, rather than an action filled fantasy. While there is no definite information about sequels or how long this potential series could be this first book felt like it was setting up the situation and world for the following books (if there are any). The Bone Witch did not end completely in a cliff hanger but prepares us for more and I'll be truly disappointed if I don't get to know what happens after.

The Bone Witch was written from two perspectives. The first (and major) was of the young Tea while she is training to become a Bone Witch. It is first person and told more in past tense as if though Tea is looking back at this. The second is more abstract. It is from the point of view of a story teller who is visiting a girl (supposedly Tea, although this is not clarified). This is at the end of each chapter, and much shorter. It seems to be told in present time. I got the feeling that the journey of Tea is leading up to this storyline of the girl. I realise, when I'm trying to explain this, that it may sound complicated, but it truly isn't. It's rather clever and I liked the interlocking narratives.

I would definitely recommend this as a different, more low key fantasy. I see it more as a magical book than a high fantasy. And although there are dragons it is not very action filled. As a first book of a series this looks very promising and I would highly recommend it because I truly enjoyed this.

Plot Summary:

The beast raged; it punctured the air with its spine. But the girl was fiercer. 
Tea is different from the other witches in her family. Her gift for necromancy makes her a bone witch, who is feared and ostracized in the kingdom. For theirs is a powerful, elemental magic that can reach beyond the boundaries of the living - and of the human.
- Goodreads

Favourite Quote:

"Return to me once you have entered a mind from where three heads sprout" - The Oracle from The Bone Witch by Rin Chupeco

My Rating:

8/10

Other Books by this Rin Chupeco:

The Girl from the Well
The Suffering

A Feast for Crows (A Song of Ice and Fire Book 4) by George R. R. Martin

Title: A Feast for Crown
Author: George R.R. Martin
Series: A Song of Ice and Fire #4
Pages: 1061
Published: Oct 17th 2005
Publisher: Bantam Books


This book is thick. But good. It focuses only on the characters that are Kings Landing which I think was good and bad. It made one understand what was going on in one place and things made sense. But I missed Deanarys and John Snow and the rest of the characters in this colossal story. At least Tyrion was present throughout and his story was the most thrilling.

The ending was absolutely thrilling. I really started to like Oberyn Martell and I really miss his cocky attitude now. It added some spark to King's Landind I thought. Tyrion's ending is incredibly exciting to read and I can't wait till his next book.

I find it quite hard to write about these books because so much happens in them and I don't know where to starts without spoiling things. Because that would be a shame I think and then you wouldn't want to read them, which I understand.

Plot Summary:

The Lannisters are in power on the Iron Throne.

The war in the Seven Kingdom has burned itself out, but in its bitter aftermath new conflicts spark to life. The Martells of Dorne and the Starks of Winterfell seek revenge for the dead. Euron Crow's Eye, as black a pirate as ever raised a sail, returns from the smoking ruins of Valyria to claim the Iron Isles.

From the icy north, where Others threaten the Wall, apprentice Maester Samwell Tarly brings a mysterious babe in arms to the Citadel. As plots, intrigue and battle threaten to engulf Westeros, victory will go to the men and women possessed of the coldest steel and the coldest hearts.

My Rating:

9/10

It's terribly long and I missed some of my favorite characters, but the ending was wicked!

Other books in this series:

A Game of Thrones (A Song of Ice and Fire Book 1)

A Clash of Kings (A Song of Ice and Fire Book 2)

A Storm of Swords 1: Steel and Snow (A Song of Ice and Fire Book 3 Part 1)

A Storm of Swords 2: Blood and Gold (A Song of Ice and Fire Book 3 Part 2)

A Feast for Crows (A Song of Ice and Fire Book 4)

A Dance with Dragons 1: Dreams and Dust (A Song of Ice and Fire Book 5 Part 1)

A Dance with Dragons 2: After the Feast (A Song of Ice and Fire Book 5 Part 2)

A Game of Thrones (A Song of Ice and Fire Book 1) by George R. R. Martin

Title: A Game of Thrones

Author: George R.R. Martin

Series: A Song of Ice and Fire

Pages: 835

Published: Aug 6th 1996

Publisher: Bantam

I must say that I love these series. And there is only going to be minor criticism.

I heard about the TV series when they first came out in 2011, the posters were everywhere. Not having Sky however, I had a major problem and couldn't watch it (but believe me, I was dying for it). It had everything I could ask for: fantasy, history, dragons, magic, costumes, castles, royalties. I love that kind of stuff. Guilty.

So I bought the book. I got it at WHSmith for half price for buying The Fault in our Stars as well. This was back in 2012 and my mum had forbidden me to buy a new book unless I finished five because I had a ridiculous amount of unread books at home (I love buying books, don't have as much time to read them all). I bought them anyways and hid them. True story.

Anyways, onto the book. I love it. Not having watched the TV series I built my own interpretations of the characters and it was wonderful. The Stark children are younger which I appreciate because being 14 at the time, they were still older and I could really connect with them. They were still older than me. It took me a few chapters to understand which bastard was which, but we got there in the end.

The chapters I enjoyed the most were John Snow's, Daenarys and Arya's. I can't remember if I loved or hated Tyrions chapters. I love them nowadays and have loved them for a good while because he's so much like me in the way he behaves and his attitude. Please don't judge now.

However, the chapters I could not stand were Caitlyn's. I didn't like her as a character. I understood her, but I didn't like her. I didn't like Bran's too much either. Mainly because there were so many of them and I felt like we weren't getting anywhere. Now, I don't like politics, mainly because I don't understand a thing about it and can't be bother (I know, it's bad) and Ned's chapters were full of politics. I learnt to like it though because A Game of Thrones wouldn't get anywhere without politics. A fight between seven kingdoms. WITHOUT POLITICS?! Not possible. Sorry mate. I don't think I realized how much I appreciated Ned's character until the very end when I knew that I would read no more chapter of him. I wondered how the series could possibly go on without him. He died after the first book and it pretty much centred around him. I was wrong.

I love the world. Just like Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings it was been so well thought through. Not a plot hole. The fact that it's based on pieces of history that I enjoy a lot, like the War of the Roses, makes me understand it better. It was probably the first proper fantasy book I pick now I've opened up to that genre completely. When I go into bookstores I go straight to that shelf. I always loved fantasy films but never really read anything until I picked this book up so thank you very much!

Plot Summary:

Summer span decades. Winter can last a lifetime. And the struggle for the Iron Throne has begun.

As Warden of the north, Lord Eddard Stark counts  it a curse when King Robert bestows on him the office of the Hand. his honour weighs him down at court wher a true man does what he will, not what he must... and a dead enemy is a thing of beauty.

The old gods have no power in the south, Stark's family is split and there is treachery at court. Worse, the vengeance-mad heir of the Dragon King has grown to maturity in exile in the free Cities. He claims the Iron Throne.

-as by the book cover

My Rating:

10/10

Other books in this Series:

A Game of Thrones (A Song of Ice and Fire Book 1)
A Clash of Kings (A Song of Ice and Fire Book 2)
A Storm of Swords 1: Steel and Snow (A Song of Ice and Fire Book 3 Part 1)
A Storm of Swords 2: Blood and Gold (A Song of Ice and Fire Book 3 Part 2)
A Feast for Crows (A Song of Ice and Fire Book 4)
A Dance with Dragons 1: After the Feast (A Song of Ice and Fire Book 5 Part 1)
A Dance with Dragons 2: Dreams and Dust (A Song of Ice and Fire Book 5 Part 2)

Available on:

Amazon
Book Depository
Waterstone