Empire of Storms

 Empire of Storms by Sarah J. Maas Bk 5 733 pages

Synopsis: The long path to the throne has only just begun for Aelin Galathynius as war looms on the horizon. Loyalties have been broken and bought, friends have been lost and gained, and those who possess magic find themselves at odds with those who don't.

With her heart sworn to the warrior-prince by her side, and her fealty pledged to the people she is determined to save, Aelin will delve into the depths of her power to protect those she loves. But as monsters emerge from the horrors of the past and dark forces become poised to claim her world, the only chance for salvation will lie in a desperate quest that may mark the end of everything Aelin holds dear.

My Thoughts: This book really sets Aelin in stone as a major character who wants to save her kingdom and ultimately the world. She's the anti-hero you didn't know you needed to read about. The choices each character has to make are heart-wrenching, and all of these choices are leading up to the big war. 

Queen of Shadows

 Queen of Shadows by Sarah J. Maas 672 pages bk 4

Synopsis: Aelin Galathynius, Queen of Terrasen. But before she can reclaim her throne, she must fight.

She will fight for her cousin, a warrior prepared to die for her. She will fight for her friend, a young man trapped in an unspeakable prison. And she will fight for her people, enslaved to a brutal king and awaiting their lost queen's triumphant return.

Everyone Aelin loves has been taken from her. Everything she holds dear is in danger. But she has the heart of a queen-and that heart beats for vengeance.

My Thoughts: I love Throne of Glass. I haven't read this series in a long long time, and I began it again, and I forgot how much I love book 4. The pacing, the plot, the characters. I love that this is the first series she wrote, and she wrote it more plot-driven than the other series she's created. I always cry at the end; Aelin is the most 3-dimensional character I have ever witnessed, and she is one of my favorites. 

We Used to Live Here

 

We Used to Live Here by Marcus Kliewer - 312 pages

Synopsis: As a young, queer couple who flip houses, Charlie and Eve can’t believe the killer deal they’ve just gotten on an old house in a picturesque neighborhood. As they’re working in the house one day, there’s a knock on the door. A man stands there with his family, claiming to have lived there years before and asking if it would be alright if he showed his kids around. People pleaser to a fault, Eve lets them in.

As soon as the strangers enter their home, inexplicable things start happening, including the family’s youngest child going missing and a ghostly presence materializing in the basement. Even more weird, the family can’t seem to take the hint that their visit should be over. And when Charlie suddenly vanishes, Eve slowly loses her grip on reality. Something is terribly wrong with the house and with the visiting family—or is Eve just imagining things?

My Thoughts: The story was fun, it absolutely flew by and was a very easy read. The main mystery kept me hooked throughout, even though I didn't love the characters. I kept hearing that the ending was terrible but I really didn't mind it. There were also some fun dynamics introduced that were completely abandoned partway through. All in all, it was okay - very fun but not super high quality. 

Enchantra

 Enchantra Bk 2  by Kaylie Smith 448 pages

Summary: Genevieve Grimm has felt adrift ever since her sister became the head of the family. So when a mysterious friend of their mother's invites her to Italy, she accepts. She arrives at his grand palace, expecting passion and magic, decadence and luxury... perhaps even a midnight ball.

She doesn't expect the owner's ruthlessly handsome son to slam the door in her face. Rowin Silver is tall, dark, and exceptionally rude, and invitation or not, he demands Genevieve leave and never come back. But Genevieve follows nobody's orders, especially those of arrogant rich boys. She slips inside—and immediately discovers her mistake.

Rowin and his family are caught in an insidious game of hide and seek, where only one can win. The rest will be trapped in Hell... until the competition begins again.

Genevieve must either join the hunt or forfeit any hope of escaping. But to her dismay, her best chance of survival lies with Rowin. Since lovers may play as a pair, Rowin and Genevieve agree to form an alliance under the guise of a fake courtship. However, as they race through the game's elaborate labyrinth, trapped among gleaming gold and shining marble, their loathing gives way to irresistible attraction. Only Rowin is keeping secrets, especially when it comes to his ruthless family, and Genevieve can't help but wonder if she's trapped in two treacherous games: Enchantra and the one Rowin is playing with her heart.

My Thoughts: This book was very different from the first of the series, Phantasma. We didn't get to truly understand Genevieve in the first book and I loved the deeper look we got into her in this book! The Games were in a sense more interesting in this book, because the games revolve around Immortals and they have to play it each year, whereas in the first book, random humans would play and then never play again. So the dynamic was definitely different, Exciting read, the ending was pretty fast, and I hope there's another book as there are TOO many unanswered questions from both books