Crown of Midnight (Throne of Glass, #2) by Sarah J. Maas

 Crown of Midnight (Throne of Glass, #2) by Sarah J. Maas-418 pages

I enjoyed reading Throne of Glass, so I wanted to read the second in the long series by Maas. This one did not disappoint. In fact, I found this second installment even more thrilling and enjoyable. I especially liked the ending. A secret is revealed at the end that will change Adarlan, Terrasen, and all of Erilea forever. Celaena is a character that I am rooting for, along with Chaol and Dorian. This secret revealed will change the nature of their relationship forever, also. 

The Queen of Nothing by Holly Black

The Queen of Nothing
The Folk of the Air #3
by Holly Black
308 pages









Now as the exiled mortal Queen of Faerie, Jude is powerless and left reeling from Cardan’s betrayal. She bides her time determined to reclaim everything he took from her. Opportunity arrives in the form of her deceptive twin sister, Taryn, whose mortal life is in peril.

Jude must risk venturing back into the treacherous Faerie Court, and confront her lingering feelings for Cardan, if she wishes to save her sister. But Elfhame is not as she left it. War is brewing. As Jude slips deep within enemy lines she becomes ensnared in the conflict’s bloody politics.

And, when a dormant yet powerful curse is unleashed, panic spreads throughout the land, forcing her to choose between her ambition and her humanity…

The Wicked King by Holly Black

The Wicked King
The Folk of the Air #2
by Holly Black
326 pages









After the jaw-dropping revelation that Oak is the heir to Faerie, Jude must keep her younger brother safe. To do so, she has bound the wicked king, Cardan, to her, and made herself the power behind the throne. Navigating the constantly shifting political alliances of Faerie would be difficult enough if Cardan were easy to control. But he does everything in his power to humiliate and undermine her even as his fascination with her remains undiminished.

When it becomes all too clear that someone close to Jude means to betray her, threatening her own life and the lives of everyone she loves, Jude must uncover the traitor and fight her own complicated feelings for Cardan to maintain control as a mortal in a Faerie world.

Royally Yours by Emma Chase

Royally Yours by Emma Chase -- 313 pages

Princess Lenora Celeste Beatrice Arabella Pembrook had an unusual childhood. She was raised to be a Queen—the first Queen of Wessco. It’s a big deal. When she’s crowned at just nineteen, the beautiful young monarch is prepared to rule. She’s charming, clever, confident and cunning. What she isn’t… is married. It’s her advising council’s first priority. It’s what Parliament is demanding, and what her people want. Lenora has no desire to tie herself to a man—particularly one who only wants her for her crown. But compromises must be made and royals must do their duty. Even Queens. Especially them.

Years ago, Edward Langdon Richard Dorian Rourke, walked away from his title and country. Now he’s an adventurer—climbing mountains, exploring jungles, going wherever he wants, when he wants—until family devotion brings him home. And a sacred promise keeps him there. To Edward, the haughty, guarded little Queen is intriguing, infuriating…and utterly captivating. Wanting her just might drive him mad—or become his greatest adventure.

Within the cold, stone walls of the royal palace—mistrust threatens, wills clash, and an undeniable, passionate love will change the future of the monarchy forever. Every dynasty has a beginning. Every legend starts with a story. This is theirs. 

Royally Matched by Emma Chase

Royally Matched by Emma Chase -- 264 pages

Some men are born responsible, some men have responsibility thrust upon them. Henry Charles Albert Edgar Pembrook, Prince of Wessco, just got the motherlode of all responsibility dumped in his regal lap. He’s not handling it well.

Hoping to force her grandson to rise to the occasion, Queen Lenora goes on a much-needed safari holiday—and when the Queen’s away, the Prince will play. After a chance meeting with an American television producer, Henry finally makes a decision all on his own:

Welcome to Matched: Royal Edition.

A reality TV dating game show featuring twenty of the world's most beautiful blue bloods gathered in the same castle. Only one will win the diamond tiara, only one will capture the handsome prince’s heart. While Henry revels in the antics of the contestants as they fight, literally, for his affection, it’s the quiet, bespectacled girl in the corner—with the voice of an angel and a body that would tempt a saint—who catches his eye.

The more Henry gets to know Sarah Mirabelle Zinnia Von Titebottum, the more enamored he becomes of her simple beauty, her strength, her kind spirit…and her naughty sense of humor. But Rome wasn’t built in a day—and irresponsible royals aren’t reformed overnight. As he endeavors to right his wrongs, old words take on whole new meanings for the dashing Prince. Words like, Duty, Honor and most of all—Love.

Royally Screwed by Emma Chase

Royally Screwed by Emma Chase -- 276 pages

Nicholas Arthur Frederick Edward Pembrook, Crowned Prince of Wessco, aka His Royal Hotness, is wickedly charming, devastatingly handsome, and unabashedly arrogant; hard not to be when people are constantly bowing down to you. Then, one snowy night in Manhattan, the prince meets a dark haired beauty who doesn't bow down. Instead, she throws a pie in his face. Nicholas wants to find out if she tastes as good as her pie, and this heir apparent is used to getting what he wants.

Dating a prince isn't what waitress Olivia Hammond ever imagined it would be. There's a disapproving queen, a wildly inappropriate spare heir, relentless paparazzi, and brutal public scrutiny. While they've traded in horse drawn carriages for Rolls Royces, and haven't chopped anyone's head off lately, the royals are far from accepting of this commoner. But to Olivia, Nicholas is worth it.

Nicholas grew up with the whole world watching, and now Marriage Watch is in full force. In the end, Nicholas has to decide who he is and, more importantly, who he wants to be: a King... or the man who gets to love Olivia forever. 

Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas

Crown of Midnight
(The second book in the Throne of Glass series)
By Sarah J. Maas
418 pages









Celaena Sardothien is the king's Champion--yet she is far from loyal to the crown, for the man she serves is bent on evil. Working against her master in secret is no easy task. As Celaena tries to untangle the mysteries buried within the glass castle, she can trust no one, not even her supposed allies Crown Prince Dorian, Captain of the Guard Chaol, or foreign Princess Nehemia.

Then an unspeakable tragedy shatters Celaena's world. She must decide once and for all where her loyalties lie....and whom she will fight for.

She is the greatest assassin her world has ever known. But does she have the heart of a killer?

A Clash of Kings, George R.R. Martin

A Clash of Kings by George R.R. Martin, 761 pages

*SPOILER ALERT*

     A Clash of Kings is the second book in George R.R. Martin's fantasy series, A Song of Fire and Ice,  and therefore picks up almost immediately where the first book left off.  The title is fitting as everybody who is anybody in the kingdom of Westeros declares himself as king following the death of Robert Barantheon, former ruler of the seven kingdoms.  The book was most entertaining, so much that in fact that I have started the third one and shall blog about it upon finishing.  Anyway, the series so far has my seal of approval.    

A Game of Thrones, by George R.R. Martin

A game of Thrones, by George R.R. Martin, 694 pages

A Game of Thrones is the first book in A Song of Ice and Fire, a five book series by George R.R. Martin.  The book introduces what I can only assume are major characters to the series, being that it is the first in it.  I've never read a fantasy type book before, but it was recommended to me by a friend whose opinion I value and I must say I was impressed.  For a fantasy novel, there was less magic and such than I would have guessed there to be, but also I have never really read in the genre, so yeah.  Anyway, the story takes place in the fictional land of Westeros where seasons last longer or shorter than they would regularly, which I suppose will be important towards the general plot of the series and follows the struggle of three major houses: The Starks, the Lannisters, and the Barantheons.  The Barantheons hold the crown but the king married a Lannister and fathered three heirs with her, while making Eddard Stark the king's hand, which is kind of like the Vice President.  Well, to make a long story short, some stuff happens and then other things happen because of the initial stuff happening.  The book was good.  Read it, or don't.  I liked it.  Oh, and also HBO made a t.v. show from it.  From what I have seen of it, the show follows the book pretty faithfully, which is somewhat of a rarity for film adaptations of books.   

A Game of Thrones, by George R.R. Martin

A Game of Thrones (A Song of Ice and Fire #1), by George R.R. Martin, 835 pages

Here is a story of kings, knights, ladies and dragons, but it feels like reading historical fiction. For that reason, I think this could have appeal to readers other than those who stick to fantasy   The story is told from several different characters, all living in a fantasy realm where winter can last years, dead men can walk, dragons are thought to be extinct, and there is no end to the scheming of nobles when it comes to who sits upon the realm's throne.  It's definitely lengthy, but it has the feel of a wide-reaching saga that keeps the reader enthralled and waiting to find out what happens next.  The sex and violence is definitely not glossed over, so I wouldn't necessarily recommend it to any squeamish readers.