House of Flame and Shadow by Sarah J. Maas

 

House of Flame and Shadow (Crescent City #3) by Sarah J. Maas, 816 p.

"The stunning third book in the sexy, action-packed Crescent City series, following the global bestsellers House of Earth and Blood and House of Sky and Breath.

Bryce Quinlan never expected to see a world other than Midgard, but now that she has, all she wants is to get back. Everything she loves is in Midgard: her family, her friends, her mate. Stranded in a strange new world, she's going to need all her wits about her to get home again. And that's no easy feat when she has no idea who to trust.

Hunt Athalar has found himself in some deep holes in his life, but this one might be the deepest of all. After a few brief months with everything he ever wanted, he's in the Asteri's dungeons again, stripped of his freedom and without a clue as to Bryce's fate. He's desperate to help her, but until he can escape the Asteri's leash, his hands are quite literally tied.

In this sexy, breathtaking sequel to the #1 bestsellers House of Earth and Blood and House of Sky and Breath, Sarah J. Maas's Crescent City series reaches new heights as Bryce and Hunt's world is brought to the brink of collapse-with its future resting on their shoulders." --Amazon blurb

House of Sky and Breath by Sarah J. Maas

House of Sky and Breath (Crescent City #2) by Sarah J. Maas

"Bryce Quinlan and Hunt Athalar are trying to get back to normal―they may have saved Crescent City, but with so much upheaval in their lives lately, they mostly want a chance to relax. Slow down. Figure out what the future holds.

The Asteri have kept their word so far, leaving Bryce and Hunt alone. But with the rebels chipping away at the Asteri’s power, the threat the rulers pose is growing. As Bryce, Hunt, and their friends get pulled into the rebels’ plans, the choice becomes clear: stay silent while others are oppressed, or fight for what’s right. And they’ve never been very good at staying silent. " --Amazon blurb

Crescent City by Sarah J. Maas

Crescent City (Crescent City #1) by Sarah J. Maas, 803 p.

"Bryce Quinlan had the perfect life-working hard all day and partying all night-until a demon murdered her closest friends, leaving her bereft, wounded, and alone. When the accused is behind bars but the crimes start up again, Bryce finds herself at the heart of the investigation. She'll do whatever it takes to avenge their deaths.

Hunt Athalar is a notorious Fallen angel, now enslaved to the Archangels he once attempted to overthrow. His brutal skills and incredible strength have been set to one purpose-to assassinate his boss's enemies, no questions asked. But with a demon wreaking havoc in the city, he's offered an irresistible deal: help Bryce find the murderer, and his freedom will be within reach.

As Bryce and Hunt dig deep into Crescent City's underbelly, they discover a dark power that threatens everything and everyone they hold dear, and they find, in each other, a blazing passion-one that could set them both free, if they'd only let it." --Amazon blurb

A Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J. Maas

A Court of Silver Flames (A Court of Thorns and Roses #4)  by Sarah J. Maas, 757 p.

"Nesta Archeron has always been prickly – proud, swift to anger and slow to forgive. And since the war – since being made High Fae against her will – she's struggled to forget the horrors she endured and find a place for herself within the strange and deadly Night Court.

The person who ignites her temper more than any other is Cassian, the battle-scarred, winged warrior who is there at Nesta's every turn. But her temper isn't the only thing Cassian ignites. And when they are forced to train in battle together, sparks become flame.

As the threat of war casts its shadow over them once again, Nesta and Cassian must fight monsters from within and without if they are to stand a chance of halting the enemies of their court. But the ultimate risk will be searching for acceptance – and healing – in each other's arms."--Goodreads blurb 

As this was a re-read, here is my original review - "Well Maas knew what she was doing when she set everybody up to hate Nesta. Write a whole book about her and get people to feel sorry for her and feel guilty into liking her. Well it generally worked. Nesta makes a lot of decisions in this book that are frustrating, but her character development, romantic relationship and friendship developments are great in this book. I really enjoyed it." After this re-read, I feel like I like Nesta even more, and I feel like there's a love triangle brewing for Elaine.  

A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J. Maas

 

A Court of Wings and Ruin (A Court of Thorns and Roses #3) by Sarah J. Maas, 705 p.

"FEYRE WILL BRING VENGEANCE.

She has left the Night Court - and her High Lord - and is playing a deadly game of deceit. In the Spring Court, Tamlin is making deals with the invading king threatening to bring Prythian to its knees, and Feyre is determined to uncover his plans. But to do so she must weave a web of lies, and one slip may spell doom not only for Feyre, but for her world as well.As mighty armies grapple for power, Feyre must decide who to trust amongst the dazzling and lethal High Lords - and hunt for allies in unexpected places.

BUT WHILE WAR RAGES, IT IS HER HEART THAT WILL FACE THE GREATEST BATTLE." --Amazon blurb

This was a re-read for me, and I never mind catching up with Maas series. I feel like my my previous review stukk stands  - "I feel like this has been the best book for character development, though I felt there was quite a bit of filler in this book. Nesta is really, really hard to like, and Elaine grated on me a bit, too. How can she be so innocent with sisters like hers?" After this re-read, I feel like I like Nesta a lot more, and I feel like there's a love triangle brewing for Elaine. 

A Broken Blade by Melissa Blair

A Broken Blade (The Halfling Saga #1) by Melissa Blair, 427 p.

"Keera is a killer. As the King’s Blade, she is the most talented spy in the kingdom. And the King’s favored assassin. When a mysterious figure called the Shadow starts making moves against the Crown, Keera is forced to hunt the masked menace down.

She crosses into the magical lands of the Fae, trying to discern if her enemy is Mortal, Elf, or a Halfling like her. But the Faeland is not what it seems, and neither is the Shadow. Keera is shocked by what she discovers and can’t help but wonder who her enemy truly is…

The King that destroyed her people? The Prince that tortures them? Or the Shadow that threatens her place at court?As she searches for answers, Keera is haunted by a promise she made long ago. A promise not only to save herself but an entire kingdom."--Goodreads blurb

With the second book in this series set to release soon, I moved this up my TBR in anticipation. I've heard great things about this book and writer on social media, and the hype was deserved IMO. Great writing, great plot with emotion, twists, and intrigue. Looking forward to continuing the series.

 

The Stolen Heir by Holly Black

The Stolen Heir by Holly Black -- 356 pages

A runaway queen. A reluctant prince. And a quest that may destroy them both.

Eight years have passed since the Battle of the Serpent. But in the icy north, Lady Nore of the Court of Teeth has reclaimed the Ice Needle Citadel. There, she is using an ancient relic to create monsters of stick and snow who will do her bidding and exact her revenge.

Suren, child queen of the Court of Teeth, and the one person with power over her mother, fled to the human world. There, she lives feral in the woods. Lonely, and still haunted by the merciless torments she endured in the Court of Teeth, she bides her time by releasing mortals from foolish bargains. She believes herself forgotten until the storm hag, Bogdana chases her through the night streets. Suren is saved by none other than Prince Oak, heir to Elfhame, to whom she was once promised in marriage and who she has resented for years.

Now seventeen, Oak is charming, beautiful, and manipulative. He’s on a mission that will lead him into the north, and he wants Suren’s help. But if she agrees, it will mean guarding her heart against the boy she once knew and a prince she cannot trust, as well as confronting all the horrors she thought she left behind.

Damned Souls and a Sangria by Annette Marie

Damned Souls and a Sangria (The Guild Codex: Spellbound #8) by Annette Marie, 370

"Once upon a time, I was your average spunky redhead with the lamest employment history ever, a shaky relationship with my only family member, and no idea what I was doing with my life.

Now, I'm a pseudo mythic with the best bartending job in the world, the most amazing (and hot) best friends I never knew I needed, and a guild of misfit magic-users who've become my extended family. And I'm about to lose it all.

In my desperation to save Ezra, I stumbled into a web of ruthless deception—and seriously pissed off a sleeping hydra. Now its every murderous head is turned toward me and my guild, and I don't know how to stop it. I'm not sure I can. I'm not sure anyone can. But if we don't, we're all doomed—Ezra, Aaron, Kai, and my beloved guild."--Goodreads blurb

This was a fun series that I'm glad I heard about on bookish social media. They were fast, fun reads with good action and a strong, funny female lead. 

Lost Talisman and a Tequila by Annette Marie

Lost Talisman and a Tequila (The Guild Codex: Spellbound #7) by Annette Marie, 344 p.

"You know that squirmy sensation in your gut when you have no idea what you're doing and you're about to screw everything up? Yeah, that feeling.

I thought I was a good judge of character, but recent events proved me very wrong. Now, in a brilliant demonstration of my newfound caution, I'm putting all my faith in a demon—a demon who's tried to kill me before. The squirmy feeling is making sense, right? Unfortunately, I don't have any other options. Ezra's time is almost up, which means I need answers and I need them fast. So it's time to toughen up, pack my gear, and find me one of the most illegal, reviled, and scarce mythics out there: a demon-mage summoner." And all I have to do is follow a demon's instructions on where to look. How could that go wrong?" -- Goodreads blurb

This was a fun series that I'm glad I heard about on bookish social media. They were fast, fun reads with good action and a strong, funny female lead. 

 

Druid Vices and a Vodka by Annette Marie

Druid Vices and a Vodka (The Guild Codex: Spellbound #6) by Annette Marie, 390 p.

"I've said it before, but sometimes I'm a bad person. I cheated on my twelfth grade math final, I've run countless yellow lights, and I gossip about how hot my kickass best friends are. (Good thing my job as a guild bartender doesn't require moral perfection.) 

But there's bad, and then there's bad. And I'm not sure which applies to a certain dark druid/wanted criminal/reluctant friend of mine. His transgressions include black-magic dealings, kidnapping, and murder, and he's about to add "revenge-fueled killing spree" to his resume—if I don't stop him. Should I stop him?

He and his nemesis are gearing up to tear each other apart, rogues and vultures are converging with their sights on the spoils, and the guilds that would normally stomp them into the ground are under attack. We're on the brink of an all-out criminal turf war, and my time to decide is almost up. Who's the real bad guy ... and do I dare stand in his way?"--Goodreads blurb

This was a fun series that I'm glad I heard about on bookish social media. They were fast, fun reads with good action and a strong, funny female lead. 

 

The Alchemist and an Amaretto by Annette Marie

The Alchemist and an Amaretto (The Guild Codex: Spellbound #5) by Annette Marie, 340 p.

"As a guild bartender, I can handle pretty much anything--mages, sorcerers, witches, the occasional demon. But show me anything family-related and I'd rather run for the hills. It doesn't even have to be my family. So I have no idea why I thought spending the holidays with Aaron's mom and pop was a good idea.

Meeting his famous parents is already terrifying enough, but I've got a bigger problem. Students of his family's renowned mage academy are being attacked on the grounds--and somehow no one has seen a single assailant? Unexplained tracks litter the nearby woods, rumors of forbidden alchemy are circulating the campus. . . and Ezra has been acting strangely since we arrived. Something deadly is brewing in the shadow of Sinclair Academy, and the longer we take to uncover it, the more dangerous it becomes. But no matter the risk, we'll protect the students. And Aaron's parents too, I suppose. If we have to."--Goodreads blurb

This was a fun series that I'm glad I heard about on bookish social media. They were fast, fun reads with good action and a strong, funny female lead. 

Demon Magic and a Martini by Annette Marie

Demon Magic and a Martini (The Guild Codex: Spellbound #4) by Annette Marie, 314 p.

"When I first landed a bartending job at the local guild, I didn't know a thing about magic. These days, I'm practically an expert on the different magical classes, but there's one nobody ever talks about: Demonica.

Turns out they have a good reason for that. My guild is strictly hellion-free, because who wants to risk life and limb to control the biggest bullies on the mythic playground? Well, some people do, and now a demon has been loosed in the city. My three best friends are determined to slay it, but even badass combat mages are critically out-magicked. And that's not all. The monster they're tracking—it's not hiding. It's not fleeing. It's not leaving a trail of corpses everywhere it goes.The demon is hunting too. And in a city full of mythics, it's searching for deadlier prey. If we can’t unravel the demon’s sinister motivations, more innocent people will die, but finding the answers means digging into dark secrets … and learning truths I never wanted to know." --Goodreads blurb

This was a fun series that I'm glad I heard about on bookish social media. They were fast, fun reads with good action and a strong, funny female lead. 

Two Witches and a Whiskey by Annette Marie

 

Two Witches and a Whiskey (The Guild Codex: Spellbound #3) by Annette Marie, 328 p.

"Three months ago, I landed a job as a bartender. But not at a bar—at a guild. Yeah, the magic kind.

I'm not a badass mage like my three smokin' hot best friends. I'm not a sorcerer or an alchemist, or even a wussy witch. I'm just a human, slinging drinks like a pro and keeping my non-magical nose out of mythic business. Seriously, I know my limits. So why am I currently standing in a black-magic ritual circle across from a fae lord?

Somewhere behind me, my three mage friends are battling for their lives. Somewhere near my feet is the rogue witch I just knocked out with a stolen spell. And I have about five seconds to convince this very angry sea god not to shmoosh me like a bug. I'm pretty sure this wasn't part of the job description."--Goodreads blurb

This was a fun series that I'm glad I heard about on bookish social media. They were fast, fun reads with good action and a strong, funny female lead. 

Dark Arts and a Daiquiri by Annette Marie

Dark Arts and a Daiquiri (The Guild Codex: Spellbound #2) by Annette Marie, 308 p.  

"When I found myself facing down the scariest black-magic felon in the city, practically daring him to abduct me, I had to wonder exactly how I ended up here. It all started when I accidentally landed a job as a bartender--but not at a bar. At a guild, populated by mages, sorcerers, alchemists, witches, and psychics. Good thing this lame-o human is adaptable, right?

Then my favorite guild members--three sexy, powerful, and intermittently charming mages--asked for my help. Did they want access to my encyclopedic knowledge of cocktails? Oh no. They wanted to wrap me up in a pretty ribbon and plunk me in the crosshairs of a murderous rogue to lure him out of hiding.

So that's what we did. And that's why I'm here. About to be kidnapped. Oh, and our grand plan for safely capturing said murderous rogue? Yeah, that completely fell apart about two minutes ago. Why did I agree to this again?"--Goodreads blurb

This was a fun series that I'm glad I heard about on bookish social media. They were fast, fun reads with good action and a strong, funny female lead. 

Three Mages and a Margarita by Annette Marie

 

Three Mages and a Margarita (The Guild Codex: Spellbound #1) by Annette Marie, 312 p.

"Broke, almost homeless, and recently fired. Those are my official reasons for answering a wanted ad for a skeevy-looking bartender gig.

It went downhill the moment they asked me to do a trial shift instead of an interview - to see if I'd mesh with their "special" clientele. I think that part went great. Their customers were complete dickheads, and I was an asshole right back. That's the definition of fitting in, right? I expected to get thrown out on my ass. Instead, they...offered me the job?

It turns out this place isn't a bar. It's a guild. And the three cocky guys I drenched with a margarita during my trial? Yeah, they were mages. Either I'm exactly the kind of takes-no-sh*t bartender this guild needs, or there's a good reason no one else wants to work here. So what's a broke girl to do? Take the job, of course - with a pay raise."-Goodreads blurb

This was a fun series that I'm glad I heard about on bookish social media. They were fast, fun reads with good action and a strong, funny female lead. 

Tower of Dawn (Throne of Glass, #6) by Sarah J. Maas

Tower of Dawn (Throne of Glass, #6) by Sarah J. Maas-660 pages

I finally got back to reading this after reading other books for a while. I really liked this one. I think this is my favorite in the series so far. Tower of Dawn is full of twists and turns and ancient secrets revealed. The reader is introduced to a new continent (the Southern Continent) of Erilea and to a whole new cast of characters. Chaol Westfall and Nesryn Faliq arrive in Antica to plead with the Khagan to raise an army to help the Northern Continent fight Erawan and his dark army. The Khagan has many sons and daughters, one of whom will be the Heir and one day Khagan himself or herself. The royal family is full of interesting characters. The Torre Cesme in Antica is home to the famed healers. One such healer is Yrene Towers. She is tasked with healing Chaol from his spinal wound suffered earlier in the series. I really like where Maas is going with the story and how it all is coming together for the next and final book, Kingdom of Ash. I am eager to find out how the series ends. It has been a long, eventful ride. I would rate this book 5 out of 5 stars. 

Empire of Storms (Throne of Glass, #5) by Sarah J. Maas

Empire of Storms (Throne of Glass, #5) by Sarah J. Maas-689 pages

This was a bit slow in the beginning, but it really picked up in the second half. Everything comes together at the end of the book and provides a nice transition for the next books. Plans and secrets are revealed and the battle for Terrasen and Erilea begins in earnest. I really enjoyed this book and the ending is terrific. I eagerly look forward to reading the final two books in this series. 

How the King of Elfhame Learned to Hate Stories by Holly Black

How the King of Elfhame Learned to Hate Stories by Holly Black -- 200 pages

An irresistible return to the captivating world of Elfhame.

Once upon a time, there was a boy with a wicked tongue.

Before he was a cruel prince or a wicked king, he was a faerie child with a heart of stone . Revealing a deeper look into the dramatic life of Elfhame’s enigmatic high king, Cardan, his tale includes delicious details of life before The Cruel Prince, an adventure beyond The Queen of Nothing, and familiar moments from The Folk of the Air trilogy, told wholly from Cardan’s perspective.

This new installment in the Folk of the Air series is a return to the heart-racing romance, danger, humor, and drama that enchanted readers everywhere. Each chapter is paired with lavish and luminous full-color art, making this the perfect collector’s item to be enjoyed by both new audiences and old.

House of Sky and Breath by Sarah J. Maas

House of Sky and Breath (Crescent City #2) by Sarah J. Maas, 805 p.

"Bryce Quinlan and Hunt Athalar are trying to get back to normal―they may have saved Crescent City, but with so much upheaval in their lives lately, they mostly want a chance to relax. Slow down. Figure out what the future holds.

The Asteri have kept their word so far, leaving Bryce and Hunt alone. But with the rebels chipping away at the Asteri’s power, the threat the rulers pose is growing. As Bryce, Hunt, and their friends get pulled into the rebels’ plans, the choice becomes clear: stay silent while others are oppressed, or fight for what’s right. And they’ve never been very good at staying silent.

In this sexy, action-packed sequel to the #1 bestseller House of Earth and Blood, Sarah J. Maas weaves a captivating story of a world about to explode―and the people who will do anything to save it."--Goodreads blurb

After looking forward to this second book so much, it just fell a bit flat for me. I really liked the character development between Bryce and Ruhn and other friends, and there were some good twists, but this second installment lacked the emotion of the first. I did like that we got chapters from different character viewpoints and new magical abilities were revealed that set up the next book in the series. While this one suffered a sophomore slump, the third book will be on my must-read.
 

House of Earth and Blood by Sarah J. Maas

House of Earth and Blood (Crescent City #1) by Sarah J. Maas, 803 p.
 

"Bryce Quinlan had the perfect life—working hard all day and partying all night—until a demon murdered her closest friends, leaving her bereft, wounded, and alone. When the accused is behind bars but the crimes start up again, Bryce finds herself at the heart of the investigation. She’ll do whatever it takes to avenge their deaths.

Hunt Athalar is a notorious Fallen angel, now enslaved to the Archangels he once attempted to overthrow. His brutal skills and incredible strength have been set to one purpose—to assassinate his boss’s enemies, no questions asked. But with a demon wreaking havoc in the city, he’s offered an irresistible deal: help Bryce find the murderer, and his freedom will be within reach.

As Bryce and Hunt dig deep into Crescent City’s underbelly, they discover a dark power that threatens everything and everyone they hold dear, and they find, in each other, a blazing passion—one that could set them both free, if they’d only let it."--Goodreads blurb

This was a re-read for me to prepare for the release of the second book. Maas is one of my go-to, easy read and while I love all of her big series, this newer series from her has become my favorite. As usual with Maas, a strong female lead takes center stage, with great friendship and relationship bonds. Great twists and turns with this story, and while I shed real actual tears with this one too. Looking forward to the second one!