Review: Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

Title: Throne of Glass

Author: Sarah J. Maas

Publisher: Bloomsbury

Publication Date: 8.7.2012

Pages: 404

Genre: Young Adult, High Fantasy

Series: Throne of Glass #1

Source: Finished copy from publisher

Rating: 5 Stars

Summary (from Goodreads):

After serving out a year of hard labor in the salt mines of Endovier for her crimes, 18-year-old assassin Celaena Sardothien is dragged before the Crown Prince. Prince Dorian offers her her freedom on one condition: she must act as his champion in a competition to find a new royal assassin. Her opponents are men-thieves and assassins and warriors from across the empire, each sponsored by a member of the king's council. If she beats her opponents in a series of eliminations, she'll serve the kingdom for three years and then be granted her freedom. 

Celaena finds her training sessions with the captain of the guard, Westfall, challenging and exhilirating. But she's bored stiff by court life. Things get a little more interesting when the prince starts to show interest in her... but it's the gruff Captain Westfall who seems to understand her best. 

Then one of the other contestants turns up dead... quickly followed by another. 

Can Celaena figure out who the killer is before she becomes a victim? As the young assassin investigates, her search leads her to discover a greater destiny than she could possibly have imagined.

Review:

Sarah J. Maas is a master at her craft. This book just blew me away. I caught myself gasping, whispering to myself "oh no", and getting mad along with the characters. I was definitely surprised by the turn of events.

The characters in this book are so amazing and have such depth that you can almost talk to them. Celaena is by far my favorite, as she should be. Maas did an amazing job getting you in her head, letting you in her heart. You think you know her, how she is, how she will react to something and then BAM! Your blown away by her. You begin to feel her scars and blush with her at the same time. Dorian and Chaol are no different. All of their personalities are so different yet you can relate and understand them and who they are. I love them all.

Maas has an eye for details. All of the little things she describes and inputs make this story that much more real. Exactly how Celaena was when she left camp, the fires, the glass castle, and the landscape give the perfect mental image and portray what Maas is giving you. I don't want to give to much away.

What I love most is Celaena's journey. How her priorities change and her heart seems to grow out of no where. And the hint of something deeper that she is keeping quiet and hidden. Also, the king. There are just question marks popping up all around and makes you weary for Celaena.

Maas has created an adventurous, mysterious tale that leaves you clueless, happy, hopeful and excited for what's to come.

Review: How to Love by Katie Cotugno

Title: How to Love

Author: Katie Cotugno

Publisher: Balzer + Bray

Publication Date: 10.1.2013

Pages: 389

Genre: Contemporary

Series: No

Source: ARC from BEA

Rating: A

Summary (from Goodreads):

Before: Reena Montero has loved Sawyer LeGrande for as long as she can remember: as natural as breathing, as endless as time. But he’s never seemed to notice that Reena even exists…until one day, impossibly, he does. Reena and Sawyer fall in messy, complicated love. But then Sawyer disappears from their humid Florida town without a word, leaving a devastated—and pregnant—Reena behind.

After: Almost three years have passed, and there’s a new love in Reena’s life: her daughter, Hannah. Reena’s gotten used to being without Sawyer, and she’s finally getting the hang of this strange, unexpected life. But just as swiftly and suddenly as he disappeared, Sawyer turns up again. Reena doesn’t want anything to do with him, though she’d be lying if she said Sawyer’s being back wasn’t stirring something in her. After everything that’s happened, can Reena really let herself love Sawyer LeGrande again?

Review:

Katie Cotugno, where have you been all my life?

That’s how I felt about mid-way through How to Love. This absolutely stunning, vibrant debut from Cotungo was definitely a highlight of my reading year. It’s an emotional ride that people simply cannot miss.

The story is told in alternating chapters by Reena. We flip back and forth from past to present to see what led up to Sawyer leaving Reena, seemingly alone and pregnant, to his return, and how they both deal and move on.

I loved that Cotugno didn’t victimize Reena. I feel like I’ve read a handful of books lately where the heroine simply reacts to what happens to her, but doesn’t try to do anything about it. Reena isn’t that girl: She’s one of the most visceral, utterly human characters I’ve read in a long time. She isn’t perfect. She’s made mistakes, but she’s a good mom and she has a strong support network.

The relationship with Reena and Sawyer was just magic, both past and present. I love that Sawyer didn’t burst back onto the scene with a, “Hi, honey, I’m home. We’re together again, right?” It wasn’t that simple. Sawyer had to work to earn back Reena’s trust, and that made their relationship all the more plausible and relatable.

All in all, this is a fabulous start to a promising new writing career. I cannot wait to see what Cotugno comes up with next!

Buy: Amazon