Tag Archives: best books

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April 19, 2018

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Amazing series by SJ Maas!

Court of wings and ruin

Action-packed masterpiece!

As war bears down on Prythian, Feyre finds herself deep in enemy lands at the Spring court. She is determined to make Tamlin pay for the betrayal that cost both her human and Fae family so dearly. To do so, she must play a deadly game of deceit and it will take every weapon in her arsenal, and more to ally the High-Lords to protect the two worlds she loves so dearly.

What a roller-coaster, magnificent masterpiece! Maas weaves a fantasy world full of adventure, beauty, treacherous betrayal and romance. She adds additional characters in this installment with rich back-stories that deserve dedicated novels of their own. I was already in love with the rich characters of the Night court but this novel continued their stories of personal growth, making me fall in love all over again. This one is action-packed and will have you in tears, in stitches and swooning!

 

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April 15, 2018

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Top favorite fantasy series!

Court of mist and fury

Fantastic fantasy!

 

Feyre died under the mountain, at the hands of Amarantha. Now, reborn as Feyre curse-breaker, she returns to the Spring court to take her place at the side of the man she loves. But she cannot forget the things she was forced to do to save Tamlin’s people anymore than he can forget watching her die. Then there is the matter of her debt to Rhysand, High-Lord of the night court, who arrives at the most inopportune moment to collect on Feyre’s promise while the threat of war looms.

Epic, fantastic, thrilling and romantic are just some of the words I would use to describe this installment of the series. Rhysand has quickly become one of my favorite characters of all time and definitely book-boyfriend worthy! The chemistry and often gentle tenderness he has with Feyre makes for a gripping page-turner.

Feyre’s personal development is a beautiful, perfect arc. From broken human girl to fierce warrior, she makes the change with a wonderful cast of strong supporting characters by her side, each with his or her own, richly woven back-story.

The fantasy world of Prythian is richer, lighter and full of hope in this novel. The detail with which Maas spins this emotional, imaginative and descriptive tale is breath-taking. This is definitely one of my favorite series!

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March 17, 2018

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Get ready to open your mind with Dan Brown’s “Origin”.

Origin

 

Where do we come from? Where are we going?

Professor Robert Langdon is intrigued when he receives an invitation to a mysterious presentation from his friend, futurist Edmond Kirsch. He is even more curious when, just before the presentation, his friend admits that he has made a break through scientific discovery that will change the face of religion. But Kirsch’s presentation is cut short when he is assassinated on live television. Robert Langdon and Kirsch’s friend Ambra Vidal are determined to find the password that will release Kirsch’s discovery to the world.

Dan Brown remains one of my favorite authors. It’s impossible to read a Dan Brown book without opening your mind to new ways of thinking and emerging with more insight, and often more questions, on the other side. Origin seeks to answer the greatest questions of all time: Where do we come from and where are we going? Brown tackles the conflicting schools of science versus religion with boldness and tact. Like a true scientist, he provides the facts and encourages each reader to find his or her own truth.

Brown’s descriptions of Spain and in particular, Basilica de la sagrada familia, are so vivid and exquisite that his book is sure to ignite a fresh wave of tourism. His references to technology and how it could shape the future of humanity are both exciting and frightening. It may be fiction, but I hope that each of us hears and heeds the underlying messages of warning and of hope for a better future.

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January 27, 2018

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The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

The hate u give

Hard-hitting but inspiring

There are two Starrs. The one who goes to the preppy suburban neighborhood school and the one who grew up in drug-infested Garden Heights. Starr balances between her two lives, drawing the lines so that they never meet until…

Starr witnesses a police shooting of a childhood friend. Soon, she is thrust into the spotlight as the community seeks the truth and demands justice.

These are the kind of stories I love most – thought-provoking and hard-hitting. Angie Thomas addresses highly controversial topics in a gripping and creative narrative. Topics like modern day racism, hidden, disguised and perpetuated with words, money, and laws are laid bare, forcing the reader to dissect and examine each situation and intention.

Angie Thomas knows how to draw you in with witty dialogue and scenes that invoke all of the senses, including those of the heart. I love the familial and community scenes. There is tragedy, anger, and heart-ache in those scenes but also, a sense of community, sticking-together, sharing and greater-good.

While the topic may be tragic, I found the book uplifting and enlightening. It carries a message of hope and raises awareness of the society we should all be striving to build – one where the color of your skin truly doesn’t matter and where we all come together as one community to uplift one another.

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May 6, 2016

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Possibly one of the best books ever written

The raven King

Best books ever

Gansey and his court of friends are nearing the end of the search for the fabled Raven King. They are excited and yet fearful for the end of the search may mean death, and along the way, new friendships will be forged, secrets unravelled and dreams unmade.

There is something darkly magical about this series that marks it as one of my all time favorites. Reading a Maggie Stiefvater novel is an experience unlike any other. There is nothing straight forward about Stiefvater’s writing. She doesn’t tell. She doesn’t even show. She feels and makes you feel along with her. So much of this story is not woven into the plot or even into the characters, but rather, Stiefvater delves deeper into the very heart of the reader. She teases and tempts with her descriptions but never quite fully explains, preferring rather to stretch the imagination of the reader to impossible heights. She thrills, excites and terrorizes with her magical, lyrical prose and leaves you wanting more of something more…

Amazing, fantastic, frightening, dreamy…one of the best books ever written.

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April 22, 2016

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Earning a spot on my best series ever list…

Refuge

Best series list material

With a Master Vampire searching for her, Sara knows she’s a danger to everyone she loves. In a bid to keep her family and friends safe, she gives up her entire life and goes with the warrior Nikolas to live in a Mohiri compound. There, she will train with others like her, form friendships, make new enemies, and discover the truth about the man who saved her.

It’s been a long time since I got so immersed in a series, but this is one of those rare books that make you forget the real world exists. Nikolas’ absence from the first part of the story was not what I expected. I was a little disappointed at first because I wanted to see how their relationship would progress, but it ended up being just perfect for this story. His absence paved the way for a focussed journey of self discovery for Sara. I absolutely love the fantasy aspects of this series, and Sara’s training and her honing of skills broadens the fantasy elements. Lynch introduces even more unbelievable magical creatures and once again, she manages effortlessly to make them believable!

The relationship between Nikolas and Sara is taken to a whole new level, and yet their interaction does not detract from Sara’s own journey or her character’s independence. I love the intensity between them. This is pure, innocent and yet passionate romance, artfully inserted to compliment the main storyline.

So the real world can just wait because I’ve already started ‘Rogue’ and I won’t put it down until I know what happens to Nikolas and Sara!

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March 6, 2016

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Sea of stars

Action-packed fantasy!

Kricket Hollowell is not just in the middle of an Etharian war, she is the reason for it. As the most sought after commodity, she is hunted by all sides who believe that she will be the ultimate winning tool. But Kricket is determined that she will never belong to anyone – except the man she has given her heart to, who will do whatever it takes to keep her safe. Kyon, however, has other ideas.

As time frames go, this second installment covers a very short time span following on from the first novel. But what an action packed nail-biting time that is! I absolutely loved this book! The fantasy world created by Bartol in the first book follows through beautifully from the weapons and surveillance equipment to the transport and wild-life that populate this planet amongst a sea of stars. The action is non-stop from the first sentence to the very end. It’s an emotional roller-coaster.

Character wise, there’s a lot to fall in love with. Trey and his team are loyal, funny and bad ass. The interaction between Kricket and Trey, and the development of their relationship is romantic, hot and tender at once.

But there’s one character who surprised me quite a bit in this installment. At the end of book one, I was completely convinced that Kyon was evil incarnate. Now, I’m not so sure. There’s something very wrong about the way he obsesses over owning Kricket, but his complete dedication and tenderness toward her is kind of sexy too!

I’m completely in love with this series!

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November 16, 2015

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5 of 5 stars to ‘Queen of shadows’ by Sarah J Maas

Queen of shadows

Crescendo

It was Celaena Sardothien who left for Wendolyn but not she who returns. Forged by fire and friendship, a new woman – a queen – returns in her place. Will Aelin Galathynius finally defeat the evil King of Adarlan? Will she free her friends from their torture? Will she finally take her rightful place as Queen of Terrasen?

The first few chapters of this, the fourth installment in the ‘Throne of Glass’ series had me worried. After having journeyed with Celaena through the first three books, the beginning of this novel felt like a step back in terms of her character development. The woman who had shed blood, tears and fire to become a queen, seemed to have shriveled back into the shell that was Celaena Sardothien.
And then Rowan arrived…
The action snowballed into a crescendo, characters bloomed, and the plot reached a magnificent high. One of my favorite things about this particular novel is the way Maas has tied up the strings in the last few chapters. She knows exactly how to round off the story and leave a reader satisfied, while still creating excitement for the novels to come.

Once again, the fantasy aspects were thrilling and I loved the inclusion of magic. The witches added a darker dimension, but this time, with a hint of hope. The love angle was a little disturbing at first because of the expectations created in the first few novels around the characters of Chaol and Rowan, but Maas paced the relationship development well.

I can’t wait to find out what happens next!

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August 30, 2015

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5 of 5 stars to ‘A Shade of Blood’ by Bella Forrest

Shade of blood

Addictive

No human has ever left the Shade alive. Now, after weeks of captivity on the sunless vampire island, Sofia is given the choice: stay, and remain with her beloved Derek Novak as his human slave; or return to her life with Ben and have some chance of normality. Can she live with the choice she must make?

Book 2 continues the series exactly where book 1 left off. If there’s one thing that jars me a little when reading this series, it’s that there are no clearly defined beginnings and endings to each of the novels. Each book seems far too short and ends abruptly, leaving you hanging, wondering what is next. Sheer genius of Bella Forrest, I think. I know that as readers, we like tidy little packages with all the ends neatly ribboned off, but when you’re reading a series, there has to be a reason to move on to the next book, and Bella Forrest certainly knows how to provide that. So, I’ve made peace with this series by viewing it as one long book that has been broken down into smaller chunks. And it’s one of those fast-paced series you have to read from cover to cover!

Book two featured a greater variety of character’s POV. I particularly enjoyed this, since it gave depth to many of the characters that I felt was missing in book 1. Strangely enough, I relished Lukas’ POV, it was just fresh and unusual to see things from the POV of the villain.

The emotional intensity from the first book was heightened in this one. I felt that Derek’s ‘fall’ following Sofia’s decision made him more ‘human’ and ‘inhuman’ at the same time. The chemistry and intensity between Sofia and Derek remained intact and there was some lovely character development all round, including for Ben.

This is definitely an addictive series.

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August 12, 2015

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5 of 5 stars to ‘A Shade of vampire” by Bella Forrest

Shade of vampire

Where has this book been hiding?

On the eve of her seventeenth birthday, Sofia Claremont is abducted into a dark and dangerous world. In the Shade, the sun never shines and humans live as slaves to their cruel, master vampires. Sofia is selected to be part of a gift to the newly awakened Prince Derek Novak and soon realizes that her best chance at survival is to stay in Derek’s good graces. But neither Derek not Sofia reckoned on the growing attraction between them, or the danger it would pose to Sofia’s life.

Stop the bus, where has this book been hiding? Bella Forrest has smashed her way straight to my top author list with this sexy, dangerous story. There is clear talent in her writing style, with scenes that unfold perfectly to move this fast-paced plot along. The premise is a popular one, and certainly not unique. I found myself drawing many comparisons with Twilight at the end, but it’s always been more about the telling of the story for me than the story itself.

Bella Forrest is like a master painter. She so easily creates vivid scenery and rich, passionate emotions with her choice of powerful words. The characters she has created, while not rich in history (yet?), are so intense that you can’t help but fall in love with them. Derek has that animalistic, protective nature all girls want in a book-boyfriend and Bella has the beauty and fragility to match. Telling the story from both character’s POV was a stroke of genius from Forrest. It added so much intensity to their interactions.

The ending was rather abrupt – but achieved it’s aim because I’m itching to find out what happens! This one’s a fantastic read, so don’t miss out!