Tag Archives: Fantasy

A Court of Silver Flames — Sarah J. Maas — ACOTAR #4

Genre: Fantasy, Romance
Actually Rating: 5 stars
Spicy meter: 5+ fire emojis
Content Warning: (Very) Graphic violence and explicit sexual content.

“A Court of Silver Flames” is currently the last published book in the ACOTAR series, and it follows Nesta Archeron, Feyre’s eldest sister, as she comes to peace with all she’s had to face and all the power that flows through her veins. So in comes the great Illyrian warrior, Cassian, to help her along, in more than one way.

Oh God, I had forgotten you could love fictional characters this much. I am not ready to let this story go. I drew it on, reading this book in bits and pieces, just so I could keep going back to the comfort that were Nesta and Cassian, and Gwyn and Emerie and every single character in this world. SARAH J. MAAS NEEDS TO STOP PUBLISHING OTHER BOOKS AND COME BACK FOR ACOTAR #5 ASAP. Words can’t describe how much I need this.

And I mean, ACOTAR books have all had their fair share of spicy, romantic content…. but oh did Nesta and Cass take the cake. And all the fighting, and history, and alliances, and betrayals. This book could’ve been dragged on to a series of its own–and I kind of wish it had been.

If you like fantasy books with strong character development, then this is the book for you. Out of all the ACOTAR books, I feel like this one represented unconditional friendship the best. If you haven’t started on this fantasy series: WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?

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ARC — Together We Burn — Isabel Ibañez

“Because it isn’t about my not wanting you, (…) I do, damn it. I do. So stay and talk to me, because if I can’t have more, then let me have less.”

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy
Actual Rating: 3.5 stars
Spicy Meter: 2 fire emojis
Content Warnings: Mentions parental death, violence, and animal death.

“Together We Burn” follows Zarela Zaldivar, a known flamenco dancer who’s the daughter of a famous Dragonador (so like, a matador but with dragons instead of bulls), as she tries to keep her family business afloat after her father is injured during one of the shows. To do so, she’ll need some help, and so in comes Arturo Diaz de Montserra, a dragon hunter who immediately sets it off with the wrong foot with Zarela. But after another accident takes place, Zarela starts to think that perhaps these aren’t accidents at all, but someone looking to bring the Zaldivar family down. Will Zarela and Arturo overlook their differences and work together to save things they both hold dear? Will truths be uncovered?

You know when a book captivates you right from the first line? Well, this was it. Isabel Ibañez wrote “My mother died screaming my name,” and she had me. I read this book in one sitting.

I loved the Spanglish aspects of this novel since Spanish is my native language. I loved the characters and the love story that was woven into the adventurous parts of this fantasy novel. And it wasn’t only Zarela and Arturo, no, I loved the side characters and, well, just from the premise of the book I knew animal cruelty would be involved, so keep that in mind, but it certainly wasn’t overly gruesome or as sensationalized as it could be. Ibañez simply writes it as it is, in this world of fantasy. The only think I didn’t like about this book (other than the animal cruelty) was that it could be overdramatic at times–which I guess is to be expected of a YA novel, but oh well.

I would recommend this book if you like the enemies-to-lovers trope, if you know and appreciate Spanish culture, or if you’re looking for a relatively short but entertaining fantasy standalone book. The world-building was complex but it didn’t feel forced. This was truly a masterpiece.

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ARC provided by NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press in exchange for an honest review.

“He’s all of the warm and sultry flavors of Santivilla. I hold smoke and fire and sweet wine in my mouth. We catch on fire under a million stars. Together we burn.”

Publication Date: May 31, 2022

A Court of Frost and Starlight — Sarah J. Maas — ACOTAR #3.1

Genre: Fantasy, Romance
Actually Rating: 3 stars
Content Warning: Explicit sexual content and some violence.

“A Court of Frost and Starlight” follows Feyre, Rhysand, and their friends and family as they celebrate the Winter Solstice. That’s it. It’s just a whole, filler book.

I mean, yeah, we can all agree Sarah J. Maas is a great writer but I don’t know… this book wasn’t really my cup of tea. If I want fluff and puff, I’d grab a YA or New Adult romance novel, not a fantasy novel. And I know they say this book sets the scene for the rest of the series, but I don’t see how that’s possible. Nothing of importance really happened in this book, it was just a filler book if I’ve ever seen one.

I wasn’t even sure about posting this review because I really don’t want to bring down this series that I’ve dearly loved, but I just feel like this side book wasn’t really worth my time. I mean, at least it was short? But I definitely wouldn’t recommend “A Court of Frost and Starlight” if what you’re looking for is magical action. That’s all I’m going to say.

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A Court of Wings and Ruin — Sarah J. Maas — ACOTAR #3

“You do not fear. You do not falter. You do not yield. You go in, you get her, and you come out again.”

Genre: Fantasy, Romance
Actually Rating: 5 stars
Spicy meter: 5 fire emojis
Content Warning: (Very) Graphic violence and explicit sexual content.

“A Court of Wings and Ruin” is the third book in the A Court of Thorns and Roses series. This book follows Feyre, a mortal-human-turned-immortal-high-fae, as the war against Hybern begins. Feyre joins the Spring Court as a Night Court spy, riddled with anxiety as she doesn’t know if her sisters or her friends at the Night Court are safe. After two Hybern royals try to kill her and Lucien, they run away to the Night Court, now becoming more or less fugitives, and this will only be the start of so many adventures and challenges to come.

First of all, do y’all think Sarah J. Maas planned the abbreviation of this novel? You know how we’ve been shortening the titles–ACOTAR, ACOMAF, etc…– well, this book’s abbreviation is ACOWAR, and it’s pretty much all about a war… so there’s that.

I really enjoyed this book. Probably more than the others. Some aspects of it were very predictable, but others really weren’t. I am actually surprised I liked it as much as I did because I usually find war books to be very boring, but Maas found a way to always keep you on your toes. I loved all the alliances made in this book. I loved how Tamlin was shown as a complex character, not just a pure evil enemy. This is a very stressful read, I cried in 3 different parts, but it was so worth it.

I couldn’t recommend this series enough. Definitely grab this book and series if you enjoy fantasy books, and love magic combat, detailed world-building, and magical war books.

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“It’s a rare person to face who they are and not run from it – not be broken by it.”

A Court of Mist and Fury — Sarah J. Maas — ACOTAR #2

“When you spend so long trapped in darkness (…), you find that the darkness begins to stare back.”

Genre: Fantasy, Romance
Actually Rating: 5+ stars
Content Warning: (Very) Graphic violence and explicit sexual content.

“A Court of Mist and Fury” is the second book in the A Court of Thorns and Roses series. This book follows Feyre, a mortal-human-turned-immortal-high-fae, as she explores her relationships with the High Lord of the Spring Court, the High Lord of the Night Court, and, most importantly, with herself and her new-found immortality.

I write mostly spoiler-less reviews, but OH GOD, how hard it is to not gush about everything that happened in this book. Yes, it’s a long book, but it’s not slow-paced at all, something is always happening. I loved it. I loved the action, the quests, the romance. This book was definitely spicier than the first installment in this series. There was mist and there was fury, alright? Our girl Feyre really did step up for herself.

I can’t wait to see where this series goes. I would recommend this book and series to readers who enjoy fantasy books, and who love fae, magic combat, detailed world-building, and potential magic wars.

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“I was not a pet, not a doll, not an animal. I was a survivor, and I was strong. I would not be weak, or helpless again. I would not, could not be broken. Tamed.”

“Don’t let the hard days win.”

A Court of Thorns and Roses — Sarah J. Maas — ACOTAR #1

“I love you, (…) thorns and all.”

Genre: Fantasy, Romance
Actually Rating: 5+ stars
Content Warning: Graphic violence and some sexual content.

“A Court of Thorns and Roses” is a fantasy novel that takes place in a world where humans and faeries are mortal enemies after fighting a deadly war against each other. Within this world, Feyre is a human young woman who hunts out of necessity. When, by mistake, she kills a faerie while hunting, she is given two options: either be killed on the spot or be taken to the faerie kingdom, back to one of the Faerie realms called Prythian, to live out the rest of her days. This is how she meets Tamlin, a High Fae who’s the High Lord of the Spring Court, and who’s become her captor? Of sorts? It didn’t feel like any normal prison to Feyre… But that’s for her to experience and for us to read.

Oh wow. This book is something else. It broke me and brought me back together. The world-building and plot were immaculate. The romance wasn’t as spicy as I expected, but I’ve been told it gets better with time (props to Nicole for recommending this series, I can already tell these will be some of my favorite reads of 2022).

“A Court of Thorns and Roses” is an action-pack, fast-paced read. Yes, it’s long, but trust me when I say it’s fast-paced, it’s only so long because so many things happen within the chapters of this book. It’s amazing how I fell in love with all characters, even with the villains, throughout this story. Filled with descriptive narratives and dynamic interactions, there’s really nothing I would change about the first installment in this series.

I would recommend this book to anyone willing to commit to reading the rest of the series. It’s not even that they leave us in a cliffhanger or anything, it’s just that you’ll end up wanting more after finishing this read. So, if you like fantasy books and faeries, then this is the book for you.

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Lovestruck — Kate Watson

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Romance
Actual Rating: 3 stars
Content Warnings: None that I can think of.

“Lovestruck” follows Kalixta, a 16-year-old cupid-in-training, who’s the daughter of Eros and Psyche and is very frustrated over the fact that the Fates control everyone’s future. In a turn of events, she accidentally gets struck with one of her own arrows and ends up head-over-heels over a young, human boy called Ben—but that may or may not be her fate. This book follows this young goddess as she searches for a way to break the love spell put on by the arrow and make everything right.

Mixing mythology and young adult literature together, Kate Watson has brought together a nice, light read. This book is fast-paced and entertaining, but I would say it’s been wrongly labeled as being a romance. Young Adult and Fantasy? Yeah. Romance? Absolutely not. But it was still a nice read, maybe just not my speed anymore.

I would recommend this book to teenagers, around the ages of 14-18, who like Greek mythology and light-hearted books.

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King’s Cage — Victoria Aveyard — Red Queen #3

“Now I’m in a king’s cage. But so is he. My chains are Silent Stone. His is the crown.”

Genre: Young Adult, Dystopian, Fantasy
Actual Rating: 2 stars
Content Warnings: Contains violence and is extremely boring.

“King’s Cage” is the third installment in the Red Queen series. It follows Mare Barrow as she is kept as a war prisoner by the Silver royalty, a.k.a. by her ex-fiancé, now-boy-king Maven, and brother of her ex-love-interest Cal.

I guess this one is supposed to be about Stockholm syndrome—but is it? Mare is a “prisoner” in a palace, treated like no other normal prisoner would be treated. She literally gets everything she wants, except access to her powers… the powers she didn’t even know she had not too long ago. Her wining was excruciating and repetitive. There was no character development on any fronts and honestly all “different” points of view just sounded like the same narrators, they just happened to have different names and were supposed to be different characters.

Sadly, I won’t be embarking on the last book of this series. I tried, I really did, but it’s just really not worth the time.

I will not be recommending this series to pretty much anyone. The first book was the best one in my opinion, and it wasn’t even that good.

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Glass Sword — Victoria Aveyard — Red Queen #2

“If I am a sword, I am a sword made of glass, and I feel myself beginning to shatter.”

Genre: Young Adult, Dystopian, Fantasy
Actual Rating: 3.5 stars
Content Warnings: This one is so so so violent.

“Glass Sword” is the second book in the Red Queen series. This series takes place in a dystopian reality where people are born either into the upper class Silver bloods or the lower class Red bloods. Silvers have super powers while Reds are just regular humans… or are they? “Glass Sword” still follows Mare Barrow, this time around as she grows stronger and sets out to find others like her—Reds with super powers—with the help of the rebels, the Scarlet Guard.

This one was action packed to an extreme. Essentially all they did was fight and have conversations in between and as they traveled to their next attack site. Did I like it? Well, I liked it better than the last one. Will I keep reading this series? I’m not sure. I came to this series with the thought that it’d have more romance involved, but it really hasn’t (even though the publisher keeps marking it down under “YA Romance”).

If you like violent fantasy books, this series is for you. I wouldn’t recommend this to people that read the Hunger Games mostly for the love triangle and not for the adventurous action side of it.

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