HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

 

Hi everyone!  This is a quick post to wish you all a very HAPPY HALLOWEEN :-).  Around this time of year I love seeing all the costumes, the over-the-top spooky decorations, and of course, the make-your-mouth-water candy.  I haven't posted in a few weeks, but I have been reading.

According to my Goodreads: 14 books in October--which is pretty freakin' great for me.

The books above are just a few of my favorites from the past month.  I hope to get back to reviewing shortly, but until then, live it up and trick or treat till you drop!!

Happy Halloween,

Ninja Girl

CROWN OF MIDNIGHT by Sarah J. Maas

Oh my, oh my, oh my!!  Adarlan's most kick butt assassin is back with a vengeance.  In Crown of Midnight, Celaena Sardothien reminds us exactly how she earned her title, and everything--the danger, the romance, the mystery, the kicka**ery--is turned up about 100 notches.

Honestly, I've been a fan of Maas's work since Throne of Glass, the amazing introduction to Celaena's cutthroat world.  But this book just took it to a whole other level!

In book 2, we find Adarlan exactly how we left it.

--Crazy, power-hungry king determined to keep Adarlan and its people under his thumb

--Dorian/Caleana/Chaol love triangle still unsettled (see: angst/confusion/who-will-it-be?)

--Danger (and magic) lurking behind every corner and everyone hiding their own secrets.

The main difference: Caleana is now the king's Champion.  That means she's in charge of carrying out his dirty work, including using her assassin-y mojo to dispose of anyone the king deems a traitor.  But our girl isn't very good with following orders--which is one of the many reasons why we love her J.

From beginning to end, Caleana blew me away.  Her bravery, just her overall independent attitude was spot on.  She's fierce.  She's ruthless.  And she's got the skills to take down her enemies and protect the people she loves.

There were 2 particularly awesome scenes where we get to see Caleana let loose.  One was the memory of her almost-escape from Endovier.   Sometimes memories can slow down the action, but this one only enriched the story.  Caleana went off on those cruel guards, cutting them down with a fierceness I always knew was in her.

Then there was Chaol's kidnapping.  That scene was just too good!!  I can't do it justice.  Again she goes to the quiet place in her head, a place where only her goal matters and anyone who stands in her way…well.  Let's just say, they won't be standing long.  Here's one of my fave quotes from that scene:

"Enough! We have enough enemies as it is! There are worse things out there to face!"

Celaena slowly turned to him, her face splattered with blood and eyes blazing bright. "No, there aren't," she said. "Because I'm here now."

Another great part: The Romance.  The triangle is finally put to rest.  No. I'm not going to ruin it, but…she made the right choice J.  Ninja happy dance, much love to Sarah J. Maas, thank-you-thank-you for letting our girl choose the right fella.  YAY!!

Okay, finished fangirling.

The best thing to me was that Crown totally lived up to the promise in book 1.  Everything that made me love the series was built upon and made even more fantastic/intriguing in book 2.  I'd definitely recommend to anyone who loves epic fantasy with a healthy dose of romance, mystery, and assassin-y goodness. 

Happy reading,

Ninja Girl

STACKING THE SHELVES (14)

 

Hi there! Stacking the Shelves is a meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews.  I got a new book this week :).  Just one...but it's a great one!

 

List of books: Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas

 

This is the sequel to Throne of Glass, and I'm so, so, SO excited to read!!  Can't wait to see how everyone else made out this week.

 

Ninja Girl

WAITING ON WEDNESDAY: Sequels by Sarahs!!

 

Hey there, "Waiting on Wednesday" is a meme hosted over at Breaking the Spine, featuring those books that you wish were out. Right. This. Second.

This week I'm featuring 2 fantastic sequels--both of which happen to be written by a different Sarah lol :-).

 

This book has AWESOME written all over it.  Sequels rock.  Yay Team Chaol!!!

 

Goodreads summary:

 

An assassin’s loyalties are always in doubt.  But her heart never wavers.

After a year of hard labor in the Salt Mines of Endovier, eighteen-year-old assassin Celaena Sardothien has won the king's contest to become the new royal assassin. Yet Celaena is far from loyal to the crown – a secret she hides from even her most intimate confidantes.

Keeping up the deadly charade—while pretending to do the king's bidding—will test her in frightening new ways, especially when she's given a task that could jeopardize everything she's come to care for. And there are far more dangerous forces gathering on the horizon -- forces that threaten to destroy her entire world, and will surely force Celaena to make a choice.

Where do the assassin’s loyalties lie, and who is she most willing to fight for?

 

 

And this one sounds like it could potentially break my ninja heart.  Kami & Jared must end up together.  Period.  Or I will lose all faith in humanity.  Do the right thing, Ms. Brennan!  *resorts to groveling* Pretty please... o_o

 

Goodreads summary:

 

Free from bonds, but not each other

It’s time to choose sides… On the surface, Sorry-in-the-Vale is a sleepy English town. But Kami Glass knows the truth. Sorry-in-the-Vale is full of magic. In the old days, the Lynburn family ruled with fear, terrifying the people into submission in order to kill for blood and power. Now the Lynburns are back, and Rob Lynburn is gathering sorcerers so that the town can return to the old ways.

But Rob and his followers aren’t the only sorcerers in town. A decision must be made: pay the blood sacrifice, or fight. For Kami, this means more than just choosing between good and evil. With her link to Jared Lynburn severed, she’s now free to love anyone she chooses. But who should that be?

 

Have a great week!!

 

Ninja Girl



NINJA GIRL'S BEST OF 2012

Happy (almost) New Year everyone!!   Here's my list of the best books/authors I discovered in 2012.  Yes, I was a little late to the party on some.  But they still kicked major a** :-)

 

BEST YA CONTEMPORARY:

 

 

BEST YA PARANORMAL/FANTASY:

 

 

BEST ROMANCE:

 

 

BEST PARANORMAL ROMANCE:

 

 

BEST NEW YA SERIES:

 

 

BEST ADULT SERIES:

 

 

BEST NEW AUTHORS:

 

1) Ilona Andrews (I devoured the Kate Daniels series)

2) Stephanie Perkins (will read anything by her after AatFK)

3) Courtney Milan (the woman knows romance <3)

 

BEST HERO:

 

Three-way tie: Lucas (Easy) and Ash Turner (Unvelied) and Gavriel (Grave Mercy).

 

 

BEST HEROINE:

 

Kate Daniels (aka the most kick-ass chick you'll ever meet :p)

 

 

Hope everyone has an awesome New Year's!!

 

Ninja Girl





THRONE OF GLASS by Sarah J. Maas

I LOVED IT!!!

Oh gosh, I can't even…I don't even have the words.  Honestly, I can't understand why someone wouldn't love this book. To each her own, but for real: This book was such a great addition to the fantasy genre, the girls-kick-a** genre, and the I'm-so-excited-for-Book-2-I-think-I-may-go-nuts genre.  If you've ever read a fantastic introduction to a series, you know what I mean J

According to the acknowledgements, Throne of Glass took Sarah J. Maas ten years to write (i.e. from word one to "The End" and finally to publication).  Ten years!  Believe me when I say that not a second of that time was wasted.  Her heroine, Celaena, was absolutely masterful.  And when you put a fierce girl like that into a book driven by character, supported by setting, and positively brimming with adventure, mystery, and plot, it is a beautiful thing.

The story opens with Celaena Sardothien, Adarlan's #1 assassin.

For the past year, she's been imprisoned in the Salt Mines of Endovier--a place so brutal most people only last a month before they're broken.  When Chaol Westfall, the Captain of the Royal Guard, comes to escort her to the castle, Celaena thinks this must be it.  They must've finally decided to kill her.  However, the Crown Prince isn't interested in her death.  Instead he asks Caleana to be his representative in a competition to win her freedom and ultimately become the King's Champion.  Celaena isn't too concerned with the other 23 competitors.  She knows she's the most deadly of them all.  But when something starts attacking and killing champions, Celana discovers a terrible evil, long-forgotten magic, and a destiny that's been waiting for her.

Again, I really enjoyed Celaena.  One of my favorite things was that she knew exactly how deadly she was.  She was very guarded, having been betrayed once before (she believes that's how she ended up in Endovier; though it's never confirmed).  BUT, she's also impossible not to like/respect.  A will of steel, a kick-butt personality and the skills to back it up, Celaena Sardothien stood out in a crowded field of fantasy heroines.

And I might as well go ahead and say that I'm Team Chaol J

Loved Prince Dorian; he was carefree and sarcastic, yet capable of becoming a good king.  Still.  The Captain was my guy.  I loved Chaol Westfall more :-P  He was a little cold, a tougher nut to crack for sure than the playboy Prince.  Favorite line from the jacket cover: "The Crown Prince will provoke her.  The Captain of the Guard will protect her."  Explains both love interests in a nutshell.

Celaena didn't really need protecting, but when she did, Chaol was there.  Celaena had a deeper connection to him; plus, Chaol could totally kick Dorian's butt!  I REALLY hope they end up together.  The romance wasn't overpowering, but it was done with a deft hand.  Fan-freaking-tastic!

Oh, there's not enough room for all the awesome in this book.  It definitely reminded me of Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder (but better imo).  Maas put everything you need for a great fantasy into this book: great characters, plenty of action, a little mystery, a dash of romance and that certain something that makes the book completely unique.  Throne of Glass was tops.  I'd recommend it absolutely, without reservation.  If you're about fantasy girls kicking butt, you NEED this book!

Happy reading,

Ninja Girl

P.S. Here's the jacket summary b/c I just don't think I did it justice :D

When magic has gone from the world, and a vicious king rules from his throne of glass, an assassin comes to the castle.  She does not come to kill, but to win her freedom.  If she can defeat twenty-three killers, thieves, and warriors in a competition to find the greatest assassin in the land, she will become the King's Champion and be released from prison.

Her name is Celaena Sardothien.

The Crown Prince will provoke her.  The Captain of the Guard will protect her.

And a princess from a foreign land will become the one thing Celaena never thought she'd have again: a friend.

But something evil dwells in the castle--and it's there to kill.  When her competitors start dying, horribly, one by one, Celaena's fight for freedom becomes a fight for survival--and a desperate quest to root out the source of the evil before it destroys her world.