Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson (Trilogy and Sequel)

      

Hello Everyone! I'm trying to get better about posting reviews. So I think I will try to write them on days I work late. I really love being able to do a review on a complete series and just cover it as a whole. I feel I can express my feelings for the series so much better as a whole and give better details for those who may not want to join in for the long hall.

Girl of Fire and Thorns, Crown of Embers and The Bitter Kingdom are the trilogy that tells the story of  Lucero-Elisa De Riqueza, the bearing of a God Stone. This is only given to one person 100 years, so she is special and has been given it to fulfill a task from God, unknown to her. This trilogy follows her journey as she is married off to the King of  Joya d'Arena and her mission to save a country on the verge of Civil War and bring the world together in peace. Along the way she loses loved ones and finds true love, while also stopping two major threats to her kingdom. Also learning how to harness the power of her God Stone and find the Location where all the magic powers in the world come from.

Empire of Dreams follows these three books, and was released much later, follow the story of Elisa's new gained companion, Red Sparklestone, a half breed as she tries to find her new place in the kingdom of Joya  d'Arena. This comes after being saved from a life of slavery and finding the Kindness of Queen Elisa. 

First, Rae Carson has created a heroine who is relatable and is actually not a stick, which makes me so happy. I feel characters like this fail to exist in stories and I hate that people like me are so unrepresented in stories. So i love that she has given us a character to relate to. Someone who just never felt pretty or like she was worth anything and some who we see grow and change through her stories into a strong women who could rely on her looks for it.

Secondly, its always interesting to find a story that stands so close to Christianity and the catholic church in some aspects. Just in the way somethings are worded. The connections are there and it makes for a very interesting read in that aspect as well. For some who aren't super secure in their faith it could be confusing. I really enjoyed being able to draw parallels between my faith and the one in these books. It really added a whole other level of depth for me.

Third, I love me a slow burn romance! Two, almost three books it took of Elisa to finally figure it out! and I'm so glad she did. :) I wont say more. But if you enjoy slow burns, you'll enjoy this.

Fourth, the children in these books are simply lovable and play such and essential part to the plot line. Red, Rosario and I wont give things away, but other children just added a level of love and tenderness to a story that was so full of adventure and turmoil.

This series was really an adventure I would advise to most people. Giving it a solid 5 out of 5 stars. It was fill with love, betrayal adventure and had so many plot twists I wasn't sure where it was going to go next. Elisa's service to God was definitely something I didn't see coming and she learned a valuable lesson through it all. There were so many likable characters and even some I wasn't sure I should like, but did. Storm by far became one of my favorites. His sarcastic way was definitely a factor when I decided he was one of my favorites! We also can't forget Red Sparklestone, who is the main character for Empire of Dreams, the sequel to the trilogy.

I really hope you will take a chance and pick up these lovely books! They are really a joy and a forgotten gem in the YA fantasy world. The characters are great and developed and the world is expansive and deep.

Entwined Paths by M. L. Greye

*MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS FOR FIRST BOOK*

Hello, again my lovely readers! I am here again with another review and this one is for a friend of mine and I truly love her books! This book is the second book in the swift shadows series and follows the before. In the first book, we got a little bit of background of what happened before  Of Rioters and Royals (ORAR). We got glimpses of Emry and Declan's pasts in the smallest bits, but never truely what led them up to the points we see them in the first book. This second book, Entwined Paths, answers many questions we may have collected from the first and tells a great story of getting us to the place we find Emry and Declan in the first book.

Greye manages to tell a prequel story in a descriptive and captivating way that keeps you hooked from the moment you true the first page. Follow Declan through his past of struggle with himself and the things he's done and he finds solace in the one person who seems familiar to him, Emry. His tormented past leads him on a journey of self-survival.

We also follow Emry as she goes on her journey to be the Queen she wants to see for the kingdom and her journeys through the lands she is to rule and where she will become The Mistress we have come to find her to be in ORAR. See her go through a change to become the person she pushes herself to be and the relationships she builds on this journey. Greye also manages to make us fall in love with new characters that make us question our loyalty to the OTP!

Greye has yet again written a great YA fantasy novel and stays true to her unique magic system and I can not wait to see what she has in store. This store pulls and captivates its readers and truly made me want to be a part of the world she has written. I wanted to walk beside Emry and help Declan through the challenges.

Of Rioters and Royals by M. L. Greye

So, I just want to start off with I’m not one to just read a book because someone asked me to leave an honest review. Unless it’s something I feel I might like. After reading the synopsis first I felt like this would be a good book and decided to read and see what adventure this book would take me on. After all I love myself a good fantasy and the name Declan. 

The book is as definitely filled with twists and turns and had me on my toes as well as good characters who carried the story along. Kept it moving with motives that drove to the ending. The unique fantasy aspect of eyes showing what power someone has was absolutely brilliant! I’ve never seen someone even think of something like that before and it really intrigued me. 

There were points in the book where I was like: “wait!!! Hold on! No! That can’t happen!!” And others where I was “um yes! I dig this!” Definitely for those fans who want a good solid read that is easy to read. Easy in the sense that it’s easy to follow and know what’s going on without conflicting issues clouding the main plot. 

I really can’t wait to read the next book and see what happens to our pair. I don’t want to give away the story. So as a fan of many of the best sellers out there, I strongly advise you to pick up this book! Give it a shot. I really enjoyed this read!

The Confectioner Chronicles by Claire Luana

The Confectioner Chronicles
by Claire Luana

So I really wanted to write a review for each book as I read them, but time got away from me and that just didn't happen as I wished it to. Time slips away from us and we wish we were one of the gifted to help us out with that. Definitely, wish I had some time magic on my side when it comes to reading and some luck magic in the dating world. I could use my self a Lucas Imbris. Anyways, I am going to do my best to give a review without spoilers. But I am not making any promises as these books stole my heart and I am so sad the series is over. 

 

First, I just want to address how beautiful the cover art is. Each book has a similar cover that brings them all together as a series. Guild, Coup, and Truth as all consecutive with Exile being a prequel novella covering the story of Hale, a member of the Confectioner's Guild. I did read the books in the order they are pictured here in my blog. I am not sure of the correct order, but it didn't ruin anything for me in this order. In fact, it gave me much insight into Hale in the last two books of the series.

Let me begin this review with: Someone summarized this book as a magical, killer cupcake. Once I heard that I had to read it. I had no doubt it had to happen and then I was able to get the first book free from Amazon and that began my slow decline into this world. Which I am now completely in love with. So I got my hands on the EBook and read and then I bought the last three. Can't be upset about it now, my heart is sold.

Now let us really jump into this review, I have ranted enough. So since I read all four before I am doing this review, I will try to keep it brief and not just summarize the entire plot of the entire series.

The series follows Wren an orphan taken in by a confectionary maker and is taught his art. While learning this art she is summoned to the Confectioner's Guild, one of many guilds in the city, for her abilities. A Guild master dies and it is pinned on her (he ate a cupcake made by her) and it is part of her responsibility to prove her innocence and find the real killer. This story is Wren's search to find out who killed the guild master and to save herself and one other, who has put their life on the line for her and believed she is truly innocent when no one else did. As the series continues it becomes more than just standing up for herself, but standing up for what is right and save her home from those who have taken it. She must defend those she loves and take life-threatening risks to save everyone and the place she lives as she knows it. With the help of her friends and allies, she learns to overcome hurt and realize what her heart truly wants amidst all the chaos.

This story has everything you could ever want in a book: mystery, crime, action, romance, magic, adventure and so much more. There is even an LGBTQ romance within its pages. There are characters you will go on a roller coaster ride with and characters you will love and characters you will love to hate. There is no lack of page-turning wonder as you wonder how on earth Wren will deal with each new thing that is happening. You may even cry. I know I did. On an airplane. Thank you, Claire, for those tears. I would cry reading them again and again. The beginning of each one is a little slow at first, but I find that with most books that have a "solve the mystery, crime" feel because you have to build up the search for evidence before you can reach the climax of the story to find out who did it. The fun part is trying to put the pieces together and figure it out before the characters of the story do.

I'll be honest I wasn't able to figure it out in Guild. Then the stories took a turn. The second was more adventure and sadness and the third was the page-turning action to save the world. Gosh, the climb to the climax I never wanted to put the books down. For each one, I was drawn in.

Now if you want to purchase these books there are a few options that I know of and I will link them:

The Confectioner's Guild Ebook and Physical - Amazon
The Confectioner's Guild - Barnes and Noble