Book Shelf: Amarok by Angela J. Townsend

Emma's life has been hell since she moved from sunny California to a remote Alaskan town. Abandoned by her father and living with the guilt of causing her mother's death, she makes a desperate dash for freedom from her abusive stepfather. But when her car skids off the icy road, her planned escape leads to further captivity in a world beyond her imagining.

Dragged across the tundra by an evil mountain man and his enormous black wolf, she learns that love can be found in the most unexpected places. Amarok, as she's nicknamed the wolf, is a young man from the gold-rush era enslaved by an ancient shaman. Emma's gentle touch and kind heart win his love and devotion.

When a vicious madman--trapped in bear form by the same Shaman--attacks the travelers and injures Amarok, Emma must find the strength to face her fears and free the wolf she's come to love. But that means she must face down the evil shaman, a Siberian mammoth hunter from the ice age, and he has no intention of giving up his power to her.

Add on Goodreads!


Review:

Angela J. Townsend’s debut novel Amarok is a richly descriptive tale of one girls fight for freedom and love, told against an Alaskan backdrop that is delightfully enjoyable!

Despite it’s slow pace, this book was surprisingly addictive and I easily read it in one sitting. It was well written and the lush world of the Alaskan wilderness provided a beautiful setting for the events of this novel. While it’s certainly not the best book I’ve read, nor did it blow me away, I found Amarok to be a really nice, enjoyable read. There were a few things I was unsure of in regards to plot, and at times I did struggle with the connection between Emma and Amarok that comes on so suddenly, but as a whole I easily found myself engrossed in this story.

Townsend tells of Native American tales as well as stories of Sharman and curses as she details Emma’s journey after being kidnapped by a reclusive and evil “mountain man”. Told in dual perspective, the short chapters revert back and forth between main characters Emma and the “wolf” Amarok.

As a heroine, Emma was decent enough and fit the story well. Strong and brave, with a tortured past and painful home life, Emma never gave up and was a fighter from the very beginning. I found I really adored Amarok and loved seeing things from his eyes, especially as a wolf. Townsend had written his POV very well and you can’t deny the anguish and frustration he feels being trapped as a wolf.

Admittedly, the bond that forms between Emma and Amarok stems a lot from the fact that they both have no one. Alone and lonely, both know only cruelty and the kindness and affection they find in one another connects them as they go through their tremendous journey. Honestly, I think the “love” they feel for one another, especially on Amarok’s side, comes on very suddenly but I still believe the bond they share, if not the love.

Overall, Amarok is an exciting read, one that left me wanting more!


Rating:
Source: Sent for review by Spencer Hill Press. (Thank you Kate!)
Format: Paperback ARC.
Pre-order it: Amazon // The Book Depository
Recommendation: If you're after something different.
Cover: I like the blue and the girl is how I picture Emma perfectly.
Will I read sequel/continue with series: This is a stand alone.

The Weekly Wrap-Up #1

Credit goes to Ashley of Ashley Loves Books for the picture and wrap up idea!

Hello my lovelies!

It's been a long time coming, but I've finally caved and decided to start a weekly wrap up post to showcase the goings on at The Rest Is Still Unwritten during the week! Seeing as I'm lazy right now (I know, I know, silly me) I've decided to pinch the wrap up picture from one of my fave blogs to browse Ashley Loves Books so thanks Ashley for the awesome picture!

The Weekly Wrap-Up will appear on Sundays and link to my reviews, interviews, blog tours, giveaways, etc for the week. You know the drill--there are tonnes of these kind of things around the blogosphere :)

I'll also be letting you know about any upcoming news that will happening on the blog in the coming days/months as well as any awesomeness I've discovered throguhout the week.

__________________     This week at The Rest Is Still Unwritten......   I showcase the fab books I recieved last week in my Owl Post!
  I Reviewed: - Spark by Brigid Kemmer 5/5 Stars! - Cinder by Marissa Meyer 4/5 stars!

I Interviewed: - Brigid Kemmer as part of the Aussie Blog Tour for Spark.         Coming Soon!  

-The Amarok Blog Tour stops here tomorrow the 22nd of October and I'll be both reviewing and hosting author Angela J. Townsend, who'll guest post.   -I just finished reading The Diviners by Libba Bray and it was AWESOME! Well on the 29th of October I'll be both reviewing as well as giving away 5 copies to Australian followers as part of the Aussie Blog Tour thanks to Allen & Unwin.   - In a couple of weeks I'm going to be interviewing Gena Showalter, author of Alice in Zombieland, amongst many others, on the blog. I'll also be giving away a couple of copies of Alice in Zombieland to AU residents so stay tuned for more info on this! - And on a little bit of a personal note, Tuesday the 23rd of October is my birthday! The big 21! Fingers crossed the fam gets me lots of book goodness, but they've told me time and time again no books for brithdays/Christmas's etc, so we'll see ;)       Around the Blogosphere! -It's almost Halloween time again, and Confessions of a Bookaholic and A Life Bound By Books once more present us with Haunted Halloween complete with interviews, guest posts and giveaways all of the spooky kind. Find the complete event scedule here!     _____________   That's it for my first Weekly Wrap-Up! Hope you all have a fantastic week with lots of books and reading. More from me soon :)    

Book Shelf: Cinder (Lunar Chronicles #1) by Marissa Meyer

Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth’s fate hinges on one girl. . . .

Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She’s a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world’s future.

Add on Goodreads!


Review:

As far as fairytale retellings go Cinder is one of the best. Set in New Beijing, Cinder blends together the traditional fairytale of Cinderella with futuristic machines and royal affairs in a fun, easy read that you simply can’t help but get lost in! The traditional plot housed within Cinderella gets an overhaul as we see Cinder, a mechanic and cyborg navigate the world of New Beijing where she discovers secrets, finds blossoming romance and then faces some shocking truths.

One of the things this book had going for it was the setting and overall feeling! Marissa Meyer has done a fantastic job with her world building and her detail and descriptions easily allow you to fall into the story. The science fiction world that Cinder and her friends inhabit is enthralling. It’s captivating. You cannot help but become addicted to the story set within this amazing world. While the plot was somewhat predictable and not at all surprising it was easily entertaining. There was plenty of adventure and humour to keep me entertained and just the right amount of hinted romance to keep me on my toes. If ever there was a way for a been-there-done-that fairytale to get a makeover it’s Cinder!

With such a vivid world, the story needed a cast of fantastic characters to back it up and Meyer doesn’t disappoint! Almost every character Cinder meets throughout the story is fabulous and well crafted, especially the vibrant android Iko Cinder’s closest friend and the charming Prince Kai. They all helped build the story and make it what it was and their animated personalities and fun interactions with Cinder managed to steal my heart every time.

I loved Cinder! As the protagonist, she had plenty of fire and spirit, and despite her cyborg nature was very human. Considering that she’s part machine and that wires make up a lot of her internal system, I was thrilled to see how normal Cinder remained. She felt natural fears and insecurities a normal person would and even though she wasn’t able to show her emotions, she still felt them. Smart and quick thinking, with an intelligence that allowed her to look at things critically, Cinder was self sufficient and able to get what had to be done, done.

Now as for Prince Kaito, I found Kai to be charming, kind and extremely likeable. This guy is awesome! Unlike some male leads in fairytales, Mayer has managed to give him some actual personality and it was easy to see just how deeply he cared about his people, wanting to do right by them. Choosing their interests above his own shows a lot about his character and it’s no surprise that Cinder fell for him.

Throughout the story, with the future of the Eastern Commonwealth always on the line, it was interesting watching the friendship and even relationship that develops between Cinder and Kai. Knowing the secrets Cinder keeps and then learning more about her, as the reader you always know that their relationship is in for some tough times. However as it blossoms slowly, into a sweet and endearing one, I’d be lying if I didn’t say I’m vying for them. Meyer broke my heart with what she did to them and I’ll certainly be praying for a happy ending for them.

There are some big developments at the end of this book, ones that change everything Cinder knows. Marissa Meyer ends her first novel in The Lunar Chronicles with a cliffhanger that’s just downright mean! Cinder is an impressive futuristic debut by Meyer that will captivate you and leave you begging for more, more, MORE!


Rating:
Source: I bought. Format: Paperback.
AU Release Date: Available now!
Buy it: Booktopia // The Nile // The Book Depository
Recommendation: If you love fairytale retellings and sci-fi then this book is for you!
Cover: I LOVE this cover. It's simple but sooooo striking!
Will I read sequel/continue with series: YES!

 

Blog Tour: Spark by Brigid Kemmerer Interview

Welcome to the Australian blog tour for Spark by Brigid Kemmerer, thanks to Allen & Unwin and of course the lovely Brigid Kemmerer!

Today, as part of my stop I will be chatting with Brigid about the second book in her Elemental's series, Spark. You can also check out my review of Spark in the previous post or head here.

__________________

 

Interview:

 

Hi Brigid! Thanks so much for agreeing to this little Q & A with me. I’m really excited about the chance to chat with you about your latest release Spark!

Let’s begin, shall we? :)

1. First I have to say congratulations on Sparks’s release! I quite literally devoured Spark the moment it hit my greedy little paws and I couldn’t help but feel the difference between it and its predecessor Storm. Obviously, this time we’re seeing things from Gabriel’s eyes and he’s quite different from his brother Chris, but what’s the biggest difference for you this time round?
Well, definitely the character. Chris was unsure and kind and struggling to find out how to stand out among his brothers. Gabriel is full of rage and guilt and doesn’t know how to deal with that. On top of that, Spark took a lot of research. I wanted to make sure I nailed the feel of being inside a fire, so I repeatedly interviewed my local fire chief, and even then, sent him dozens of midnight emails.

2. Readers all over the world have fallen in love with your series and I know I speak for them all when I say how excited we were to finally get to hear Gabriel’s tale. Tell us all the about workings going in your mind as you’re writing about him?
Gabriel is quite possibly the easiest Merrick brother to write. He thinks something, and he says or does it. I think we all have anger inside that we just can’t express, because of societal pressures or expectations or whatever (like, I can’t punch someone who steals my parking place). With Gabriel, if he feels it, you know it, and it was almost cathartic to write a character that way.

3. Gabriel may steal the show in Spark, but there’s no way I can forget about Layne. Despite her past, she’s such a strong, independent young woman. Is there anything of yourself written in Layne?
Oh, dear Layne! I used to ride horses competitively, so I definitely threw that in there from my own experiences. But she’s also shy and insecure but not afraid to stand up for herself. I was taunted and teased in grade school, and my mom taught me to stand up to those bullies, so there’s definitely some of that in Spark.

4. So far you’ve written about two awesome heroines, and both books have been filled with incredible characters but everyone is quite rightly going gaga over the four very different, but still oh so sexy Merrick brothers. I have a certain soft spot for Micheal, but is there a brother who holds an extra special place in your heart?
I love them all! Honestly, I could no sooner choose one of my kids. (Okay, I do have a special spot in my heart for Michael, too.)

5. Hehe. Glad I'm not the only one loving Michael ;) In most series authors give us a sexy male lead, sometimes two if we’re lucky. You’ve given us FIVE—the Merrick brothers AND Hunter! Let me just say THANK YOU! (Haha). One swoon worthy male character just wasn’t enough, huh?
Haha! I guess I just love the brotherly dynamic. They’re so much fun to write. In Spirit, which follows Hunter, it’s very different to see the Merrick brothers from the outside.

6. There’s so much depth to your novels. They’re not just action-packed and supernaturally driven, but rather stories full of flawed and layered characters. Why was that so important for you to write this way?
Thank you! When I started writing, I knew I wanted to write something paranormal, but I didn’t want to ignore the people. That’s what I like so much about television shows like Supernatural or The Vampire Diaries – there’s a human element, too.

7. You're more than welcome Brigid. Do you have a special place you like to write?
Yes! I love to go to Starbucks.

8. Who has been the biggest inspiration throughout your life?
My mom! She’s always supported me. My husband is pretty great, too.

9. Nawww. My mum's my biggest inspiration too--looks like we have that in common! If you could meet one person, living or read, real or fiction, who would you want to meet and why?
Christopher Pike! I was a big fan of his novels when I was a teenager, and I’d love to meet him and figure out how his brain works.

10. Your third Elemental novel, Spirit, will be released in May of next year. We all know it’s going to feature Hunter (yay!) but any hints on what we can expect?
Oh, Hunter! It was tough living inside Hunter’s head. He has a very different outlook on life. But don’t think you’ll be missing the Merrick brothers. After a fallout with his grandfather, Hunter finds himself needing a place to live…

6 Quick Questions:

1. Cats or dogs? Dogs!
2. Favourite colour? Green
3. Favourite food? French fries
4. Lucky number? I … don’t know.
5. Day or night? Day. I’m a morning person.

Thanks so much for answering my questions Brigid! Congrats once more on Sparks release and good luck with all your upcoming endeavours. I can’t wait to see what we get from you next!

_____________________

Check out Spark!  

  Gabriel Merrick plays with fire. Literally.

Sometimes he can even control it. And sometimes he can’t. Like the fire that killed his parents.

Gabriel has always had his brothers to rely on, especially his twin, Nick. But when an arsonist starts wreaking havoc on their town, all the signs point to Gabriel. Only he’s not doing it.

More than Gabriel’s pride is at stake -- this could cost him his family, maybe his life. And no one seems to hear him. Except a shy sophomore named Layne, a brainiac who dresses in turtlenecks and jeans and keeps him totally off balance. Layne understands family problems, and she understands secrets. She has a few of her own.

Gabriel can’t let her guess about his brothers, about his abilities, about the danger that’s right at his heels. But there are some risks he can’t help taking.

The fuse is lit…

Add Spark on Goodreads!

Purhcase Spark:
The Nile // Booktopia // The Book Depository

    Meet Brigid Kemmerer!  

  Brigid Kemmerer finds the time to write somewhere between caring for her family and working at her day job, but sometimes she ends up mothering her coworkers and managing her family.


Visit Brigid!
Website // Facebook // Twitter // Goodreads      

  I'd like to thank both Brigid Kemmerer and Allen and Unwin for inviting me to be a part of this tour. Don't forget to check out the next tour stop with Erin over at Tales of the Inner Book Fanatic on the 22nd of October!

Book Shelf: Spark (Elemental #2) by Brigid Kemmerer

Gabriel Merrick plays with fire. Literally.

Sometimes he can even control it. And sometimes he can’t. Like the fire that killed his parents.

Gabriel has always had his brothers to rely on, especially his twin, Nick. But when an arsonist starts wreaking havoc on their town, all the signs point to Gabriel. Only he’s not doing it.

More than Gabriel’s pride is at stake -- this could cost him his family, maybe his life. And no one seems to hear him. Except a shy sophomore named Layne, a brainiac who dresses in turtlenecks and jeans and keeps him totally off balance.

Layne understands family problems, and she understands secrets. She has a few of her own. Gabriel can’t let her guess about his brothers, about his abilities, about the danger that’s right at his heels. But there are some risks he can’t help taking.

The fuse is lit...

Add on Goodreads!


Review:

Spark is the sizzling follow up to Brigid Kemmerer’s debut novel Storm and does not disappoint with its electric romance and exciting action!

After the brilliance that was the first book, I was so excited to have the chance to dive back into this series. The first book was amazing, and in my eyes this one was equally so---for the same reasons and more! Brigid Kemmerer delights one again with her world of Elementals with the high stakes action blending together with high school drama and a tangle of emotion.

My goodness is Brigid a talented writer! She blew us all away in Storm, and she once again shows us she’s not lacking in her humour and expert writing in Spark. Weaving together a novel full of action, romance and passion, the fabulous dialogue and humour found in Spark balance a perfectly planned story of the paranormal and with issues facing teens today. I think one of the most interesting things about this series is that Brigid looks at the whole picture. Her characters are largely flawed but with each book Kemmerer explores the why behind this. And there’s always a reason. Not shying away in any sense, Kemmerer looks at harsh issues like bullying and the effects it has on its victims. There’s so much emotion and raw vulnerability found in each book.

As tension continues to skyrocket for the Merrick brothers, the stakes are higher than ever as they embark on the next stage of the journey Brigid Kemmerer has them on. Kicking off right where Storm, left off Spark features Gabriel Merrick, the hot head of the family who often acts before he thinks. One of the best things about Gabriel’s characterisation is that he really is his element. Brigid Kemmerer writes Gabriel so that he truly personifies his element. He encompasses everything fire is; he’s passionate, explosive, fiery, volatile but he’s also so much more. So, SO much more. If you thought you knew Gabriel Merrick in Storm, I’ve got news for you....you don’t!

I was actually quite surprised to discover how much Gabriel struggles with his element, more so than any of his brothers. There’s a fire in him, both literally and metaphorically, that he can’t always control and this guarantees him a lot of trouble throughout the course of Spark. Gabriel struggles an awful lot with guilt over his parent’s deaths and finds himself not good enough over many aspects of his life. One again, this surprised me about Gabriel. In the previous book he appeared so cocky, and sure of himself, however throughout the course of this book we discover how much of a facade this is and glimpse the true pain and anguish he hides. Pain and aguish Gabriel so masterfully manages to hide from this loved ones with sarcasm and bad behaviour.

With a series of arson attacks in town making his brothers question if he’s behind them and his twin Nick following in Chris’s footsteps and finding romance of his own, Gabriel feels more alone than ever. And then along comes Layne Forrest; brainy, shy, quite happy to fly under the radar and the last person Gabriel expects to connect with, but he does......

Layne Forrest isn’t like other girls. With a painful history and a parentless home life, Layne is scarred both inside and out. She’s happy to hide behind her clothes and her books, but when Gabriel Merrick needs her help Layne’s acts without thinking, soon realizing that he isn’t the heartless jock she thought him to be. Layne was a wonderful character to follow in Spark and she certainly wasn’t the shy, quiet person she appeared on the outside; rather a strong, independent young woman who stood up for, and took care of, her younger brother Simon. Once more Kemmerer writes Layne beautifully, with her vulnerabilities perfectly emphasisable and understandable; her insecurities something that as a reader you can understand and feel.

Amazingly Gabriel and Layne were a perfect match! Considering their histories and the fires that played a part, these two connected beautifully. I think it was terribly smart of Brigid to write in their histories and give them something truly substantial to connect over. Here are two individuals who couldn’t appear any different on the outside; a jock and a brainiac, and yet who share such similar insecurities and pains that the bond that develops between them burns so bright it’s undeniable. Their romance develops steadily over time, and is both endearing and electric. These two are too perfect for words!

Despite the amazing idea of Elementals that Kemmerer has thought up, the main driving point that makes series so special is the four brothers it focuses on and the bond they share. They have such a complicated history and their relationships are turbulent at times, but Michael, Gabriel, Nick and Chris share such a great family dynamic throughout both books. Their brotherly relationship is one I’ve loved from the very beginning and it was wonderfully to see Brigid explore it in such a real way with brothers bonding and struggling too. I loved seeing Michael and Gabriel share so many sweet moments in this book and though he may not be a Merrick brother by blood, the friendship that Gabriel struck up with Hunter during Spark also tugged on my heartstrings.

Both mystery and romance feature heavily in this book as Kemmerer races her characters through danger after danger that will leave you breathless with it’s intensity and wondering just what on earth is going to happen next!

Rating:
Source: Sent for review by Allen & Unwin (Thank you Lara!)
Format: Paperback.
AU Release Date: Available now!
Buy it: Booktopia // The Nile // The Book Depository
Recommendation: This book is one you don't want to miss!
Cover: Awesome--the AU covers in this series are epic.
Will I read sequel/continue with series: Absolutley!

 

Owl Post #6

Hello my lovelies and welcome to another Owl Post here at The Rest Is Still Unwritten!

Inspired by The Story Siren's In My Mailbox, Owl Post allows us bloggers to showcase the books we've bought, won or received throughout the week and is hosted by Brodie over at Eleusinian Mysteries. We all know that the Owl Post is the fastest way to send and receive mail and they certainly make me happy every time they drop a book off.  
Here's what I got this week.........

For Review: 

 

 From Random House Australia.....

- Mystic City by Theo Lawrence

This book looks amazingly good--the kind I love and I cannot wait to read it. Oh, and I just LOVE the cover!

 

- Time Between Us by Tamara Ireland Stone

I hadn't heard of this one before it ended up on my doorstep, but I'm quite excited to read it. Makes me think of The Time Travellers Wife and looks so sweet.

 

....Thank you Dorothy and Random House!

 

 

From Bloomsbury Australia.....

 

- Breathe by Sarah Crossan

YAY! Soooo wanna read this book. Sounds so amazing!

 

.....Thank you Sonia and Bloomsbury Australia!

 

 

From Allen & Unwin......

 

- The Diviners by Libba Bray

Although I wasn't thrilled with how Libba's Gemma Doyle Trilogy ended, I'm quite a fan of Libba Bray's writing. This book looks incredible and I'm about to start it now! Love our Aussie cover!!

 

.....Thank you Lara and Allen and Unwin!

       That's me for this week :) Tell me what the owls dropped off in YOUR mailbox this week!    

Book Shelf: Throne of Glass (Throne of Glass, #1) by Sarah J. Maas

Meet Celaena Sardothien.
Beautiful. Deadly. Destined for greatness.

In the dark, filthy salt mines of Endovier, an eighteen-year-old girl is serving a life sentence. She is a trained assassin, the best of her kind, but she made a fatal mistake: she got caught.

Young Captain Westfall offers her a deal: her freedom in return for one huge sacrifice. Celaena must represent the prince in a to-the-death tournament—fighting the most gifted thieves and assassins in the land. Live or die, Celaena will be free. Win or lose, she is about to discover her true destiny. But will her assassin’s heart be melted?

Add on Goodreads!


Review:

Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas’s is a beguiling debut which blends high stakes fantasy with court politics and action, all the while brimming with friendship, love and romance.

Going into this novel, I must say I had quite high hopes. And while the book didn’t live up to my expectations entirely, I found Throne of Glass to be quite an enjoyable read. The book is steady paced and admittedly seems long at times with very little occasionally going on, but the mystery that surrounds the goings on at the palace are enough to keep one entertained, with the relationships that develop between the characters and the plotline demanding your focus.

Sarah J. Maas is extensively talented for a debut novelest. From the very beginning her writing draws you into the story. Written in the third person, it’s beautiful and extensively descriptive; detailing a fantasy world incredibly vivid. Maas spared us nothing; painting a rich, lyrical world both war torn and beautiful. Maa’s plotline is intricate and politically driven. Intrigue and deception go hand in hand with friendship, trust and loyalty all playing important roles within the story.

It’s quite clear that Maas has put a lot of thought into the creation of the world of Erilea. Evident from the detailed map we see at the beginning of Throne of Glass, Maas’s world building shines with ancient history warring with current tradition. Magic and leaders from the past haunt of heroine and shape the novel. With so much left unexplained, but hints towards more made throughout, I’ve looking forward to where Maas intends to take this world.

Featuring such an alluring setting, Throne of Glass was lucky to feature a handful of really fabulous characters. Maas’s characters were surprisingly layered, where assassins and thieves prove be kind-hearted and deep and those of the court (unsurprisingly) were deceptive and self driven. Obviously, Celaena stands out as long with male leads, Prince Dorian and Captian Chaol Westfall, but Nehemia, the princess of Eyllwe and Nox a charming thief all prove to be fantastic additions to the storyline.

Our heroine, Celaena Sardothien is the world’s best assassin. Beautifully. Deadly. And quite an exceptional leading lady. It took me a little while to warm up to her, but as the book progressed, I really came to like Celaena. A trained assassin more than capable of killing with her bare hands, Celaena is a delicious mix of innocence and killer. There’s no mistaking the strength of her. Celaena was all sassy arrogance and snark on the outside, but surprising sweetness and femininity inside. There was a definite difference to face she projected to court society and the Celaena she was to those she grew close to. I found I really loved the contradictions to her; fighter one moment, girly the next. I liked that she had insecurities as a woman but strength and confidence in her fighting skills and who she was as an assassin. Intelligence, courage and bravery all shone from her. Here is a girl who truly didn’t need a man to survive and was fully capable of taking care of herself and I found that empowering!

Throughout Throne of Glass there are two prominent male leads. Crown Prince Dorian and his best friend Captain Chaol Westfall. As the novel is told in third person, we get glimpses into these two very different yet still so intriguing young men. One the future king; cocky, arrogant and a complete womaniser and the other Captain of the guard; quiet, shy and guarded but with a mesmerising personality. Both have amazing heart and intentions and both clearly come to adore Celaena as they get to know her and she worms her way into their hearts.

Maas writes Celaena’s relationships with both men wonderful. There are two very different relationships here and yet both were so perfect. Celaena and Dorian’s relationship is flirty and fun, while Celaena and Chaol bond over their shared skills and experiences. Both male leads have chemistry with Celaena, sharing endearing moments with her. It’s really impossible to see where this love triangle will go—really, at this point it’s anyone’s guess. There’s an added complication that both Chaol and Dorian are close friends and while I’m still not completely sure who Celaena will choose, I know who my heart belongs to. I have a special place in my heart for Dorian (He reminds me of Adrian from Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead) but at this point I’m strictly on Team Chaol. There’s just something so appealing about that deep, stoic solider that I can’t fight.

Featuring an exciting, edge of your seat battle leading up towards the ending, fans of Maria V. Snyder’s Poison Study will adore this book and with this stage of Celaena’s journey wrapped up nicely, I find myself very eager for the next instalment!


Rating:
Source: Sent for review by Bloomsbury Australia (Thank you guys!).
Format: Paperback.
AU Release Date: Available now!
Buy it: Booktopia // The Nile // The Book Depository
Recommendation: This is one for fantasy fans and those who love Maria V. Snyder's books!
Cover: It's pretty kick-ass, although I am partial to the US one a bit more.
Will I read sequel/continue with series: Yes, I will. I'm eager to see what happens next.