Book Review - Sea of Shadows by Kelley Armstrong

Sea of Shadows

(Age of Legends #1)

Author: Kelley Armstrong

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Paranormal

Published: April 8 2014

Pages: 406 pages (Paperback Edition) (Atom)

Read: July 2014

Rating: 5 Stars

They hear the spirits. They must obey.

In the Forest of the Dead, where the empire's worst criminals are exiled, twin sisters Moria and Ashyn are charged with a dangerous task. For they are the Keeper and the Seeker, and each year they must quiet the enraged souls of the damned.

Only this year, the souls will not be quieted.

Ambushed by an ancient evil, Moria and Ashyn must race to warn the empire of a terrifying threat. Accompanied by a dashing thief and a warrior with a dark history, the sisters battle their way across a wasteland filled with reawakened monsters of legend. But there are more sinister enemies waiting for them at court - and a secret that will alter the balance of their world forever.

The first volume in the Age of Legends trilogy, Sea of Shadows is a thrilling dark fantasy where evil hides in every shadow and the deadliest monsters of all come in human form . . .

Sea of Shadows is the first book of a new series, Age of Legends, by Kelley Armstrong. It is a fantasy tale, following twin sisters Moira and Ashyn as they battle a restless, ancient evil to save their people and world.

The plot of 'Sea of Shadows' is a plot that can keep you hooked and intrigued. I will admit that the plot is slow but it is all worth while. For me, I thoroughly enjoyed the story. Kelley Armstrong's writing style is addictive and her use of descriptive language and imagery makes this book darkly intense with a high level of suspense and mysterious and of course there's some fluffy romantic notions added here and there. 

I have heard from other readers, some of them my friends, that they found this book boring, confusing and hard to get through. I, on the other hand, would have to disagree. This is a dark ad haunting tale which kept me gripped to the pages the whole way through. The plot twists that happened without a speak of warning only added to my enjoyment of this book, but I'll shush now about the plot - I don't want to spoil anything for anyone.

Character wise - I loved them all!!! 

Perhaps I have found a new fictional boyfriend, Gavril *nudge, nudge*. But, we'll see how things play out - currently he has my heart in pieces!!

There are two main protagonists in 'Sea of Shadows' - Ashyn and Moira - the twin Seeker and Keeper. Each protagonist tells her point of view to a continuous story through alternating points of view every few chapters. Both these girls are different - personality wise - and I find that that adds to the enjoyment of the story. It is easy to distinguish between them and to know who is telling the story when, if you missed the name at the start of the chapter. I enjoyed both characters point of views but if I had to pick a favourite, it would be Moira's. I'll let you guys decide for yourselves once you read the book...

There is also one other character I forgot to mention and that is Ronan. Ronan is seen from the very start and is a likeable character. Not a character that goes on your most favourite characters in the whole literary world, but a likeable character none the less. 

One who may join that list mentioned above may be Tyrus. He seems very very likeable in his short period of the book, and I do mean short. We just meet the guy near the end!!

Overall, all these characters were amazing, likeable, relate-able and most importantly connect-able. Because what is a book truly, if you cannot connect with the characters?

I liked nearly everything about this book - the writing style, the plot, the characters. Honestly, I can't think of anything right now that I disliked about 'Sea of Shadows'. I gave it five stars!! That should say it all. And damn it, that cover is drop dead gorgeous...It is distracting me!!

Oh, the ending. As you can tell by now, I am having a special paragraph where I discuss the ending (in a non-spoiler way) for all the books I've read and are reviewing because honestly the ending can make or break a book.

Now about the ending in 'Sea of Shadows', what an ending it was. I had not expected what happened at all. It was such a shock. A heartbreaking shock too. But, this ending sets up nicely for the next book. I have no idea what's going to happen, only maybe one aspect, but that is not nearly enough!! I need to know what happens!!!

BREAKING NEWS!!

On my snoop of Goodreads I have just found that Book 2 of the Age of Legends is called Empire of Night!!! There is a blurb, there is a cover for one edition, not the edition I'm collecting, but it is beautiful!! I'm just hoping the other cover is as amazing as that one. And there is an expected publication date - April 2015 - CAN'T WAIT THAT LONG *crawls*

Rounding this all up now, I loved this book. LOVED! LOVED! STILL LOVE! FOREVER WILL LOVE! And yes I am excited for the next instalment and I would recommend this to lovers of Kelley Armstong and to lovers of the dark, fantasy genre.

So there it is guys :) My review for Sea of Shadow by Kelley Armstrong. Let me know what you think :) 

Teaser Tuesday #5

Teaser Tuesday #5

This meme is hosted by MizB at ShouldBeReading and what's involved is that you pick up the book you're currently reading, flip to a random page and write down a little teaser. 

This week's book is.....

Throne of Glass

by Sarah J. Maas

"If she wanted to escape, she simply had to turn left at the next hallway and take the stairs down three flights. The only thing all the intended disorientation had accomplished was to familiarize her with the building." - Chapter 1

 

On My Shelves #5

On My Shelves #5

These are books which are on my shelves at home but which I haven't got around to reading yet :(

This week's book is.....

WICKED LOVELY BY MELISSA MARR

Rule 3: Never stare at invisible faeries.

Aislinn has always seen faeries. Powerful and dangerous, they walk hidden in the mortal world.

Rule 2: Never speak to invisible faeries.

One of them, a beautiful faerie boy named Keenan, is trying to talk to her, asking questions Aislinn is afraid to answer.

Rule 1: Don't ever attract their attention.

Now it's too late. Keenan is the Summer King and is determined that Aislinn will become the Summer Queen at any cost. Without her, summer itself will perish...

I love faeries, so I could not pass up on the chance of a complete faerie story. I can't remember when I bought this but it may possibly be 3 or more years ago.

As for why I got this book?? It was answered above. I LOVE FAERIES!! and that it is simply. 

I don't know why I haven't read this yet but I plan to before this year is out. I shall read this whole series before 2014 is over!!

Have any of you guys read 'Wicked Lovely' or do you plan to. If so, leave a comment below!! :) 

June Book Haul

June 2014 Book Haul

It is now the 1st of July!!! Which means that June is over and my book buying for June 2014 is also over. So here it is guys the books I bought in June of 2014.

• Dreams of Gods and Monsters by Laini Taylor
• Half Bad by Sally Green
• Popular: A Memoir by Maya Van Wagenen
• Prodigy by Marie Lu
• The One by Kiera Cass
• A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin

By way of a staggering deception, Karou has taken control of the chimaera rebellion and is intent on steering its course away from dead-end vengeance. The future rests on her, if there can even be a future for the chimaera in war-ravaged Eretz.
Common enemy, common cause.
When Jael's brutal seraph army trespasses into the human world, the unthinkable becomes essential, and Karou and Akiva must ally their enemy armies against the threat. It is a twisted version of their long-ago dream, and they begin to hope that it might forge a way forward for their people.
And, perhaps, for themselves. Toward a new way of living, and maybe even love.
But there are bigger threats than Jael in the offing. A vicious queen is hunting Akiva, and, in the skies of Eretz ... something is happening. Massive stains are spreading like bruises from horizon to horizon; the great winged stormhunters are gathering as if summoned, ceaselessly circling, and a deep sense of wrong pervades the world.
What power can bruise the sky?
From the streets of Rome to the caves of the Kirin and beyond, humans, chimaera and seraphim will fight, strive, love, and die in an epic theater that transcends good and evil, right and wrong, friend and enemy. 
At the very barriers of space and time, what do gods and monsters dream of? And does anything else matter?

I can't wait to read this one!!! The last of the series, I know I'm going to be in tears...

You can't read, can't write, but you heal fast, even for a witch.
You get sick if you stay indoors after dark.
You hate White Witches but love Annalise, who is one.
You've been kept in a cage since you were fourteen.
All you've got to do is escape and find Mercury, the Black Witch who eats boys. And do that before your seventeenth birthday.
Easy.

I received this book from Penguin Publishers and have heard tremendous things about this, so I can't wait to start!!!

Stuck at the bottom of the social ladder at pretty much the lowest level of people at school who aren’t paid to be here,” Maya Van Wagenen decided to begin a unique social experiment: spend the school year following a 1950s popularity guide, written by former teen model Betty Cornell. Can curlers, girdles, Vaseline, and a strand of pearls help Maya on her quest to be popular? 
The real-life results are painful, funny, and include a wonderful and unexpected surprise—meeting and befriending Betty Cornell herself. Told with humor and grace, Maya’s journey offers readers of all ages a thoroughly contemporary example of kindness and self-confidence.

I also recievied this book from Penguin Publishers and I read this book in June!! First time ever I read a book in the same month I got it!! The review can be found here.

Injured and on the run, it has been seven days since June and Day barely escaped Los Angeles and the Republic with their lives. Day is believed dead having lost his own brother to an execution squad who thought they were assassinating him. June is now the Republic's most wanted traitor. Desperate for help, they turn to the Patriots - a vigilante rebel group sworn to bring down the Republic. But can they trust them or have they unwittingly become pawns in the most terrifying of political games?

I loved Legend and can't wait to sink into Prodigy!!!

For the four girls who remain at the palace, the friendships they’ve formed, rivalries they’ve struggled with and dangers they’ve faced have bound them to each other for the rest of their lives.
Now, the time has come for one winner to be chosen.
America never dreamed she would find herself anywhere close to the crown – or to Prince Maxon’s heart. But as the competition approaches its end and the threats outside the palace walls grow more vicious, America realises just how much she stands to lose – and how hard she’ll have to fight for the future she wants.

Eeeek, Isn't that cover beautiful? Anyway I still have to read The Elite but I couldn't help but buy The One cause it was on offer!!

Summers 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 where 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 deposed Dragon King has grown to maturity in exile in the Free Cities. He claims the Iron Throne.

I've heard plenty about this and can't wait to start reading this book!!!

Friday Finds #4

Friday Finds #4

This is a meme hosted by MizB at ShouldBeReading :) What you do is post up books that you have discovered from bookstores, friends or the web or whatever way you discovered them. You post the books you've only discovered during the week period.

The Books I Discovered This Week:

I discovered one book this week!!! And the book is......

Mortal Danger by Ann Aguirre

Revenge is a dish best served cold.
Edie Kramer has a score to settle with the beautiful people at Blackbriar Academy. Their cruelty drove her to the brink of despair, and four months ago, she couldn't imagine being strong enough to face her senior year. But thanks to a Faustian compact with the enigmatic Kian, she has the power to make the bullies pay. She's not supposed to think about Kian once the deal is done, but devastating pain burns behind his unearthly beauty, and he's impossible to forget.
In one short summer, her entire life changes, and she sweeps through Blackbriar, prepped to take the beautiful people down from the inside. A whisper here, a look there, and suddenly... bad things are happening. It's a heady rush, seeing her tormentors get what they deserve, but things that seem too good to be true usually are, and soon, the pranks and payback turns from delicious to deadly. Edie is alone in a world teeming with secrets and fiends lurking in the shadows. In this murky morass of devil's bargains, she isn't sure who—or what--she can trust. Not even her own mind...

I found this book on Goodreads after a few people I'm friends with added it to their to-read list. I love the concept of this book and I really can't wait to get my hands on it (August 2014!!) Ahhh a revenge novel!! A dark revenge novel. Bring it on!!!

Book Review - Popular by Maya Van Wagenen

Popular: A Memoir 

Author: Maya Van Wagenen

Genres: Non-Fiction, Autobiography, Memoir, Young Adult

Published: April 15th 2014

Pages: 272 pages (Paperback Edition) (Penguin)

Read: June 2014

Rating: 4 Stars

Stuck at the bottom of the social ladder at pretty much the lowest level of people at school who aren’t paid to be here,” Maya Van Wagenen decided to begin a unique social experiment: spend the school year following a 1950s popularity guide, written by former teen model Betty Cornell. Can curlers, girdles, Vaseline, and a strand of pearls help Maya on her quest to be popular? 

The real-life results are painful, funny, and include a wonderful and unexpected surprise—meeting and befriending Betty Cornell herself. Told with humor and grace, Maya’s journey offers readers of all ages a thoroughly contemporary example of kindness and self-confidence.

Popular: A Memoir is a non-fiction novel written by a young girl about a social experiment she leads in the dreaded school situation. Maya finds an old guide on how to be popular and uses these old fashioned tips to see the effect and all the while she journals her days as they pass, the events that unfurl and the conclusions she reaches.

This book is a really easy read with each chapter being labelled with a different topic as in the old popularity guide of Betty Cornell. We follow diary entries for the duration of a year which belong to Maya as she changes her lifestyle completely to gain 'popularity'. Maya does the perfect job of combining both her own thoughts, and the tips of the book as well as the events in her life to create an interesting read. 

Of course since this book is a non-fiction, memoir novel, our characters are real people. Our author is a character and I can tell you now that she is a brave, kind girl. In this novel she does things that many would never dream of doing and this gives her bravery and courage and in the end confidence.

What I liked about this novel is that it is completely relative. No matter what country you're in, no matter what school you go to, the is undoubtedly a popularity scale. There are cliques and groups. Whether you're in a school that is constantly being raided with drug dogs and lock-ups, like Maya's, or a day to day uneventful school, each one has it's similarities in the way of social interaction.

Maya's personality is what makes this novel enjoyable as well. We see her change from the very first page to the last, all for the better. She goes from quiet and shy to confident and outspoken, all because of a simple action. 

Honestly, I don't think I disliked anything about this novel. I know that this novel for me will probably be the only read once type of novel, but that is not a bad thing either. Even though I will only read this once, it was enjoyable and it did change my perspective in a way of social situations. 

The ending fit the story nicely. We see the differences as well as the hinted future and I just think that wraps a really nice novel up quite comfortably. 

In the end I really enjoyed this memoir. It was the first time I have ever read a non-fiction book. To tell the truth, I kind of cringed at the thought of reading a memoir, but once I started I knew that I would enjoy it. So, if any of you are being held back because this book is a non-fiction, memoir, go out there and grab it to read. You have my word, you will enjoy it. 

I would also recommend this book to those who are at that age of not knowing what to do and who aren't comfortable with myself. Even though I have passed those lines now, I would have been grateful to have this type of book five years ago when I was thirteen and facing those challenges.

So guys, there's my review. I hope you enjoyed it!! And let me know what you think of the book!!

Favourite Quotes:

"Popularity is more than looks. It's not clothes, hair or even possessions. When we let go of these labels, we see how flimsy and relative they actually are. Real popularity is kindness and acceptance. It is about who you are, and how you treat others."

*Thank you so much to Penguin Publishers for a copy of this book.*

Book Review - The Fiery Heart by Richelle Mead

The Fiery Heart 

(Bloodlines #4)

Author: Richelle Mead

Genres: Young Adult, Paranormal, Vampire, Romance

Published: November 19th 2013

Pages: 420 pages (Paperback Edition) (Penguin)

Read: June 2014

Rating: 5 Stars

WHEN PULSES QUICKEN NO SECRET IS SAFE.

Sydney always believed that alchemists were born to protect vampire secrets and human lives - until she met Marcus and turned her back on everything she once knew.

But she's not free yet. When her sister Zoe arrives, Sydney can only tell her half-truths about her past. And with every word she risks exposure - and the fatal consequences.

Consumed by passion and vengeance, Sydney must choose her path once and for all. Even if that means harnessing her magical powers to destroy the way of life she was raised to defend...

The Fiery Heart is the fourth book in the Bloodlines series by the author Richelle Mead. In this book we follow the antics and discoveries of the two main characters Sydney and Adrian - each having their own point of view.

The plot of The Fiery Heart is very captivating as the novel goes on. We see the recap of the previous books in the first few chapters along with some extra background information. I feel that at the beginning the plot was a bit slow but after finishing the book, I realised it was all a build up to the end and it worked perfectly. I can't necessarily talk about the plot without giving away major spoilers, but I can tell you this, in the last few chapters, there is a tremendous twist that leaves you gripping your chair with your heart pounding in your chest. That is how intense it is.

The characters are as lovable as ever, bar one (people who've read the book, you know who I'm talking about!!) One thing with Richelle Mead's story telling is that constantly, throughout all the book, we get deeper and deeper into the minds of the characters. We learn secrets, desires, fears ... everything, as the story continues to unfurl. These characters grow in every way possible in your heart and it is not just the main characters - Sydney and Adrian - but also the side ones, Eddie, Angeline, Jill, Neil, Trey. I can feel that this book and the next - Silver Shadows - is going to ultimately test the strength of all the characters as a massive turning point heads for them. 

I have a crackpot theory, perhaps it will happen, perhaps not. But, I decided to write down this theory on a scrap of paper right now and on the release date of Silver Shadows I will post a picture of this scrap of paper to see if my theory was completely off the board. If you guys want to participate in this, do!! Write on a piece of paper what you think will happen and then when I post the post for Silver Shadows release comment a picture of what you wrote and we'll see who is in the same mindset as Richelle Mead.

Now, to what I liked about The Fiery Heart - everything!! Well, that is very broad, but seriously the book is amazing and it is much easier to say what I didn't like than what I did.

So, what I didn't like. There was just one thing, well actually two. 

Number one, was that in some parts the story became really slow with nothing happening. But these parts were few and far apart.

Number two, a certain character. Ya'll know who it is and if you don't here are some clues...

IF YOU HAVE NOT READ OR FINISHED THIS BOOK DO NOT READ FURTHER.

The clues - it's a girl, she's new to the story, she's an Alchemist and is the biological sister of our main character - well done!! - you guessed it - Zoe!!!

She has made my blood boil and she continues to make my blood boil.

The ending of The Fiery Heart is practically a cliffhanger. It is an ending where you are left yearning for more and contemplating how the hell it will all turn out with your heart wrenching in your chest. And that, my friends, sums up the ending of 'The Fiery Heart'

As a round up, I loved this book, just like I loved all it's predecessors. This one had me in a range of emotions, from complete happiness to deep heart wrenching sadness. I would recommend this book to everyone who loves the 'Vampire Academy' series and to all paranormal and romance lovers.

I CANNOT WAIT FOR SILVER SHADOWS!!! (that just had to be said)

So guys, what do you think of the review? and more importantly what did you think of The Fiery Heart??? Or for those who haven't read it, are you planning to?

Some of My Favourite Quotes:

(I'll post these up soon when I find the paper I wrote them on!!!)

Currently Reading - 25 June 2014

Currently Reading - 25 June 2014

I am still currently reading these books from the last post:

• Harry Potter and the Sorceror's Stone

I abandoned these books to read again some other time from the last post:

• Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick

I have finished these books from the last post:

• City of Heavenly Fire by Cassandra Clare
• The Fiery Heart by Richelle Mead (Review to come soon!!)

Now added to my Currently Reading pile are:

Sea of Shadows by Kelley Armstrong

(Age of Legends #1)

They hear the spirits. They must obey.
In the Forest of the Dead, where the empire's worst criminals are exiled, twin sisters Moria and Ashyn are charged with a dangerous task. For they are the Keeper and the Seeker, and each year they must quiet the enraged souls of the damned.
Only this year, the souls will not be quieted.
Ambushed by an ancient evil, Moria and Ashyn must race to warn the empire of a terrifying threat. Accompanied by a dashing thief and a warrior with a dark history, the sisters battle their way across a wasteland filled with reawakened monsters of legend. But there are more sinister enemies waiting for them at court - and a secret that will alter the balance of their world forever.
The first volume in the Age of Legends trilogy, Sea of Shadows is a thrilling dark fantasy where evil hides in every shadow and the deadliest monsters of all come in human form . . 

This is the first book in a new series by Kelley Armstrong and I can admit I am already hooked and I'm not that far into the book. 

Popular: A Memoir by Maya Van Wagenen

Stuck at the bottom of the social ladder at pretty much the lowest level of people at school who aren’t paid to be here,” Maya Van Wagenen decided to begin a unique social experiment: spend the school year following a 1950s popularity guide, written by former teen model Betty Cornell. Can curlers, girdles, Vaseline, and a strand of pearls help Maya on her quest to be popular? 

The real-life results are painful, funny, and include a wonderful and unexpected surprise—meeting and befriending Betty Cornell herself. Told with humor and grace, Maya’s journey offers readers of all ages a thoroughly contemporary example of kindness and self-confidence.

This is a non-fiction novel about a young girl who is following a guide to survive the social classes of school. I received this book from the publishers and am currently reading it. I warn, this is not the type of book I would usually pick up and read, so let's see where it goes. 

Wishlist Wednesday #4

Wishlist Wednesday #4

Wishlist Wednesday is hosted by Pen to Paper and it is where you talk about one book which is on your wishlist.

My Wishlist Wednesday book is...

A GAME OF THRONES BY GEORGE R.R. MARTIN

Summers 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 where 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 deposed Dragon King has grown to maturity in exile in the Free Cities. He claims the Iron Throne.

A Game of Thrones is the newest addition to my wishlist. That doesn't mean I haven't heard about it... Of course I have, there's a tv show (which I haven't watched, but have heard tremendous good reviews about). I was contemplating for a long time about this series and whether to read it or not and then I decided that I will read it.

After I made this decision though, a raging battle ensued. Over the covers. I was stuck between the landscape covers and the other symbol covers. After seeing the symbol covers in the shop I said perhaps I would go for them but yesterday I saw the landscape cover in person and it is beautiful. The picture does not do it justice. So my heart is won and I am loving the landscape covers of 'A Game of Thrones'

The main answer to why I added this book to my wishlist is (don't hate me for this) the hype. These book as well as the tv series has been hyped up to perfection and for once (because I usually don't follow hypes) I decided to talk the dive and add this to my wishlist. 

But, the hype is not everything, these books appeal to me as well. God, look at the covers!! I already made my rant above, so I'm skipping this topic. The genre is something I can't look over. I am a fantasy freak!! and I hope that this will live up to my fantasy freak expectations. This is also an adult novel!! I have never read an adult novel yet, YA is my area, so this holds appeal in that way too. 

About the blurb, it doesn't really give away much, does it? There's battles and betrayals and a dangerous landscape. But that's all I can tell, so hmmm, I can't wait to see what this book holds and the story it leads.

As for the author - George R.R. Martin - I have never read any of his work before, but there is one quote that I love from him, which I believe in from this series of books.

"A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies, said Johen. The man who never reads lives only one."

So there is my Wishlist Wednesday number 4, what do you all think of my choice? 

Teaser Tuesday #4

Teaser Tuesday #4

This meme is hosted by MizB at ShouldBeReading and what's involved is that you pick up the book you're currently reading, flip to a random page and write down a little teaser. 

My book is........ *drumroll*

Sea Of Shadows

by Kelley Armstrong

"She remembered the noises she'd heard when the governor had been interrogating Cecil. She remembered seeing a blade flash, deep in the trees." - Chapter 7