Blog Tour: A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas (Review + Giveaway)

A Court of Thorns and Roses
by Sarah J. Maas

Genre: New Adult, Fantasy, Romance
Release Date: May 5,  2015
Publisher: Bloomsbury Children's
Source: Borrowed (Thank you, Louisse!)
Links: Goodreads 

SYNOPSIS

A thrilling, seductive new series from New York Timesbestselling author Sarah J. Maas, blending Beauty and the Beast with faerie lore.

When nineteen-year-old huntress Feyre kills a wolf in the woods, a beast-like creature arrives to demand retribution for it. Dragged to a treacherous magical land she only knows about from legends, Feyre discovers that her captor is not an animal, but Tamlin—one of the lethal, immortal faeries who once ruled their world.

As she dwells on his estate, her feelings for Tamlin transform from icy hostility into a fiery passion that burns through every lie and warning she's been told about the beautiful, dangerous world of the Fae. But an ancient, wicked shadow grows over the faerie lands, and Feyre must find a way to stop it . . . or doom Tamlin—and his world—forever.

Review: Unspoken Sarah Rees Brennan

Unspoken (The Lynburn Legacy #1) 

by Sarah Rees Brennan 

Genre: Young Adult, Romance, Fantasy, Mystery

Release Date: September 11th 2012

Publisher:  Random House Books for Young Readers

Source: Bought/Own Copy

Links: Goodreads | Amazon | Author's Blog

SYNOPSIS

Kami Glass is in love with someone she’s never met – a boy the rest of the world is convinced is imaginary. This has made her an outsider in the sleepy English town of Sorry-in-the-Vale, but she doesn’t complain. She runs the school newspaper and keeps to herself for the most part – until disturbing events begin to happen. There has been screaming in the woods and the dark, abandoned manor on the hill overlooking the town has lit up for the first time in 10 years. The Lynburn family, who ruled the town a generation ago and who all left without warning, have returned. As Kami starts to investigate for the paper, she finds out that the town she has loved all her life is hiding a multitude of secrets- and a murderer- and the key to it all just might be the boy in her head. The boy who everyone thought was imaginary may be real…and he may be dangerous.

REVIEW

I've seen so many people rave about Unspoken so many times, so when I saw a copy on our local bookstore, I decided to buy it without even bothering to read the synopsis. Only when I was about to read the book did I read the synopsis. I wasn't really amazed by it because it reminded me Beautiful Creatures; a book which I thought was boring. But then I opened and I saw a map. I am a huge fan of maps, so I thought there was a chance that I would end up liking Unspoken. And I did. The only problem was that it only lasted for about 50 pages or so before I started getting annoyed. And from then on, the story just went downhill.

I honestly don't know why this book has been receiving a lot of hype lately. I would say it’s me, not the book, but then I would be lying because I honestly believe that it’s the book. First of all, the dialogue was just so unrealistic. I don't think there was a conversation in this book didn’t have a joke in it. Second, the protagonist, Kami, was just hard to connect to. I think the main problem I had with her is that there’s a huge difference between brave and reckless and I believe her to be the latter. It was just frustrating to see her get herself into trouble. I tried my to understand her actions, but I just can’t. Also, she tells Jared that she's always on his side, yet she suspects him as the killer. Really, Kami?  Lastly, there were no transitions. I really hate it when a POV changes without a warning and when characters transport from one place to another. This book really needs to use some transition markers or maybe a page break. I would site more reasons why I don’t think this book isn’t worth the hype, but I wouldn’t want to spoil anyone, so I’ll just leave it be.

Despite the weird dialogue, the annoying heroine, and the sudden transportations, I still enjoyed bits of Unspoken. Secondary characters—Angelica, Holly, and Rusty— were very fun to know, especially Angelica (you know what I mean if you’ve read the book!). The plot also managed to intrigue me. Well, at least the first part did where there were no corny jokes, the heroine wasn’t that self-destructive, and the mystery was still a mystery. So yes, I did enjoy BITS of Unspoken.

Unfortunately, those bits still weren’t enough. I still don’t like Unspoken. I won’t even  recommend it, but if you really want to read Unspoken, then you’re free to do so (because who am I to stop you?). But don’t say I didn’t warn you!

RATING

Hunger Games meets Graceling: Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

Throne of Glass

by Sarah J. Maas

Genre: Young Adult, Romance, High Fantasy

Release Date: August 7, 2012

Publisher: Bloomsbury

Source: Bought/Own Copy

Links: Goodreads | Amazon | Author's Website

Synopsis:

In a land without magic, where the king rules with an iron hand, an assassin is summoned to the castle. She comes not to kill the king, but to win her freedom. If she defeats twenty-three killers, thieves, and warriors in a competition, she is released from prison to serve as the king's champion. Her name is Celaena Sardothien.

The Crown Prince will provoke her. The Captain of the Guard will protect her. But something evil dwells in the castle of glass--and it's there to kill. When her competitors start dying one by one, Celaena's fight for freedom becomes a fight for survival, and a desperate quest to root out the evil before it destroys her world.

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Review: 

First and foremost, I would like to thank Sarah J. Maas for creating such a wonderful story. This book has once again rendered me speechless. It shocks me how this book have managed to grip me for the second time since not all books can do that for they usually lose their magic the second time I read them, but Maas somehow made this book compelling that it makes me want to reread it all over again. It has everything of what I look for when it comes to YA novels; strong heroine, action, mystery, romance and as always, a swoon-worthy boy, or boys, rather. Not to mention its very unique plot. 

Celaena Sardothien used to be Adarlan's most notorious assassin. Not only was she famous for her killer skills, but also for her deadly looks. But everything changed the moment she got captured. She was no longer Adarlan's most notorious assassin but a mere slave in the salty mines of Endovier. After a year of slavery, she's now greeted by the Crown Prince of Adarlan, Dorian Havilliard, and the captain of the guard, Chaol Westfall, with a chance to regain her freedom by participating in a contest which will decide who'll be the champion of the King she hates so much. 

I am completely in awe of the plot. It is so engaging to the point that I couldn't put the book down while I was reading it. There was never a dull moment in it—every moment either had romance, mystery or action in it. The way she blended those 3 aspects into one story makes me want to give this book more than five stars. Though the story did remind me of Hunger Games and Graceling, I can assure you that Throne of Glass is very different from those two. The only thing that it has in common with Graceling is the high-fantasy world and the heroine being an assassin whilst the competition in the Hunger Games being similar to the competition in this book. Asides from those and that they’re all in my all-time favorites shelf, it's safe to say that Throne of Glass has nothing more in common with those two books. 

Plot aside, the writing style of Maas is something to die for. It certainly did an excellent job in making this book even more beautiful. I love that it's written in third person pov and that she sometimes didn't immediately reveal who the narrator was, thus adding more mystique to the book.

“My name is Celaena Sardothien. But it makes no difference if my name's Celaena or Lillian or Bitch, because I'd still beat you, no matter what you call me.” 

It's no secret that I'm a sucker for strong-heroines and Celaena Sardothien is no exception. To say that I liked her is an understatement. Celaena has got to be part of my top 10 most loved heroines. I loved everything about her character. She knows she’s beautiful and she doesn't fish for compliments. Despite her being an assassin; she's feminine—she reads, dress up and play music. Though she may look strong outside, she's actually quite vulnerable. And the best part is that she’s not one of those self-pity type of character. She doesn't let other people stand on her, instead she fights back.

As for Celaena’s love interest or should I say, interests, Prince Dorian and Chaol Westfall are both handsome lads. Chaol being a cold guy on the surface, but actually sweet and protective inside. Prince Dorian, on the other hand, is kind, charming and also sweet. It was tough choosing who do I want Celaena to be with between those two, but I have to give it to the captain Chaol. I think Celaena's more fitting to be with him since she has more chemistry with Chaol than with Dorian, though I do love him. It's just that I didn't feel anything when they were together, but when Celaena is with Chaol, that's a different story.

All in all, I think that Throne of Glass is an astounding novel. It has a plot that will surely keep you awake, a clever main character who uses things to her advantage and a love triangle which, surprisingly, isn't annoying.

Rating: