King's Cage

King's Cage by Victoria Aveyard is the latest book in the Red Queen series.

Mare Barrow is a prisoner, powerless without her lightning, tormented by her lethal mistakes. She lives at the mercy of a boy she once loved, a boy made of lies and betrayal. Now a king, Maven Calore continues weaving his dead mother's web in an attempt to maintain control over his country—and his prisoner.

As Mare bears the weight of Silent Stone in the palace, her once-ragtag band of newbloods and Reds continue organizing, training, and expanding. They prepare for war, no longer able to linger in the shadows. And Cal, the exiled prince with his own claim on Mare's heart, will stop at nothing to bring her back.

When blood turns on blood, and ability on ability, there may be no one left to put out the fire—leaving Norta as Mare knows it to burn all the way down.

The Breakdown:
1. I just want to start by saying this has not been my favorite book of the series.  The book was very slow moving, with most of the book spent with Mare as Maven's captive.   I did like that Aveyard added in other perspectives from Mare, which made the story more dynamic.

2. Despite the slowing moving story line, I enjoyed Mare more in this book that I did in Glass Sword.  She is slowly growing as a character.  In the previous book, she was almost to angsty to be likable, and this book, even in her terrible situation, she a little more likable.  She seems to be growing as a character, and learning to deal with her emotions and situations better.

3. By far the best character development goes to Evangeline.  In the first two books, I really hated her and thought she was just a power hungry Silver.  In this book, not only does she do the unexpected, but Aveyard gives her several chapters from her perspective.  In a way, she is just as trapped in her position as Mare is at times. I am interested to see how this progresses in the next book.

4.  I am so disappointed in Cal's character.  He appears to be unable to decided were he really stands on the Reds vs. Silvers issue.  And good gods, that man does not seem capable of making a decision for himself.  As much as I hate Maven, he does have a valid point when he says that Cal is a soldier used to taking orders, not a King to make them. Just once I want him to take a strong stance on an issue.

5. Speaking of Maven, he is one messed up dude.  After learning what his own mother did him, it is no wonder he has so many issues.  At times I don't know whether to truly hate him for what he is doing or pity him from what has been done to him.

6. While the book is a little slow moving for my taste, it does bring some important things to light.  I feel like this book is more of a stepping stone to set up for the next book.  With the ending, I am interested to see where Aveyard takes the next book and the characters' journeys.

To Read or Not to Read:
Read

Audiobook: The Queen of the Tearling

The Queen of the Tearling is written by Erika Johansen and narrated by Katherine Kellgren and is the first book of the series of the same name.

An untested young princess must claim her throne, learn to become a queen, and combat a malevolent sorceress in an epic battle between light and darkness in this spectacular debut—the first novel in a trilogy.

Young Kelsea Raleigh was raised in hiding after the death of her mother, Queen Elyssa, far from the intrigues of the royal Keep and in the care of two devoted servants who pledged their lives to protect her. Growing up in a cottage deep in the woods, Kelsea knows little of her kingdom's haunted past . . . or that its fate will soon rest in her hands.

Long ago, Kelsea's forefathers sailed away from a decaying world to establish a new land free of modern technology. Three hundred years later, this feudal society has divided into three fearful nations who pay duties to a fourth: the powerful Mortmesne, ruled by the cunning Red Queen. Now, on Kelsea's nineteenth birthday, the tattered remnants of the Queen's Guard—loyal soldiers who protect the throne—have appeared to escort the princess on a perilous journey to the capital to ascend to her rightful place as the new Queen of the Tearling.

Though born of royal blood and in possession of the Tear sapphire, a jewel of immense power and magic, Kelsea has never felt more uncertain of her ability to rule. But the shocking evil she discovers in the heart of her realm will precipitate an act of immense daring, throwing the entire kingdom into turmoil—and unleashing the Red Queen's vengeance. A cabal of enemies with an array of deadly weapons, from crimson-caped assassins to the darkest blood magic, plots to destroy her. But Kelsea is growing in strength and stealth, her steely resolve earning her loyal allies, including the Queen's Guard, led by the enigmatic Lazarus, and the intriguing outlaw known simply as "the Fetch."

Kelsea's quest to save her kingdom and meet her destiny has only just begun. Riddled with mysteries, betrayals, and treacherous battles, Kelsea's journey is a trial by fire that will either forge a legend . . . or destroy her.

The Breakdown:
1. Johansen writes a fantastic adventure in this book. I adored most everything about it.  From her world building to her characters, all were so well written and so well thought out.   The world was especially intriguing to me.  It seems to be set somewhere in the future, where people have made "The Crossing" from the old world, i.e. USA, Britain, and other European countries, to this new land.  But in "The Crossing" much of technology and medical advances where lost to the Tearling, and they are essentially living in a pre-industrial revolution country.

2. Kellgren was an amazing narrator for this story. Her voices for each character were great, and she did an absolute perfect job reading the action scenes. During those scenes her inflections with the increasing drama of the scene really made the listener drawn into the action.

3. The character of Kelsea was wonderful.  I like that she is described as rather plain, and that her stand out feature is her mind. She is smart and cunning, and tries to rule with a fair hand, even when it would just be easy to continue with previously set up convention.  Plus the interactions between her and Lazarus were so well written.  The characters obviously had great chemistry in a relationship that was almost like an older brother mentoring to his sister.

4. I like the fact that Johansen follows supporting characters stories when needed.  They really add a lot to the story,  especially the glimpses of the Red Queen. Her supporting characters are just as well fleshed out as her main characters.

5.  I cannot wait to start the next book in the series. (Side note, I have to wait until April when I get my next Audible credit.) There are some many things I need to know still. Like who are the Fetch, and the Red Queen, exactly?  Why are the Tear sapphires so powerful? Among many other things.

To Read or Not to Read:
Must Read

Caraval

Caraval is by debut author Stehphanie Garber and is the first book of a duology of the same name.

Scarlett has never left the tiny island where she and her beloved sister, Tella, live with their powerful, and cruel, father. Now Scarlett’s father has arranged a marriage for her, and Scarlett thinks her dreams of seeing Caraval, the far-away, once-a-year performance where the audience participates in the show, are over.

But this year, Scarlett’s long-dreamt of invitation finally arrives. With the help of a mysterious sailor, Tella whisks Scarlett away to the show. Only, as soon as they arrive, Tella is kidnapped by Caraval’s mastermind organizer, Legend. It turns out that this season’s Caraval revolves around Tella, and whoever finds her first is the winner.

Scarlett has been told that everything that happens during Caraval is only an elaborate performance. But she nevertheless becomes enmeshed in a game of love, heartbreak, and magic with the other players in the game. And whether Caraval is real or not, she must find Tella before the five nights of the game are over, a dangerous domino effect of consequences is set off, and her sister disappears forever.

The Breakdown:
1.  Garber weaves a fantastic adventure in her debut novel.  It is a lovely mix of mystery, fantasy, and romance in the book. I adored the world building of this book. The magic of the Caraval is expressed beautifully in Garber's writing. The Caraval players are an interesting mix of people, and you never know who is a player in Caraval and who is working for Legend.

2.  Scarlett is an interesting character.  She wants to keep her sister safe, especially from their father.   She sees her upcoming marriage as her way out, but has never met her finance and only has letters from him to give her clues to what kind of man he is.  She has basically lived her life in fear of her father, and Caraval is what truly seems to bring her alive and help her to find passion.

3. Julian is quite the mysterious character. He is full of secrets, and a times I am not sure if he is helping Scarlett or hindering her.   He definitely knows more about the Caraval than he lets on to Scarlett, and yet, as the story progress, you can tell he is really starting to care for her.

4.  Legend is a very mysterious, and as the story progress, Garber lets on that he has a interesting connection to Scarlett and Tella. I am never quite sure if he is really a villain or just very good at playing at one.  Speaking of villains, Scarlett and Tella's father is a horrible person.  The things he has done to them to keep them under his control are truly horrible.

5.  This book in a intricate tale with lots of twist and turns in the story.  The ending was quite the surprise for me, and I am excited to see what Garber does with the second book.

To Read or Not to Read:
Read

The Hate U Give

The Hate U Give is by debut author Angie Thomas.

Sixteen-year-old Starr Carter moves between two worlds: the poor neighborhood where she lives and the fancy suburban prep school she attends. The uneasy balance between these worlds is shattered when Starr witnesses the fatal shooting of her childhood best friend, Khalil, at the hands of a police officer. Khalil was unarmed.

Soon afterward, Khalil’s death is a national headline. Some are calling him a thug, maybe even a drug dealer and a gangbanger. Starr’s best friend at school suggests he may have had it coming. When it becomes clear the police have little interest in investigating the incident, protesters take to the streets and Starr’s neighborhood becomes a war zone. What everyone wants to know is: What really went down that night? And the only person alive who can answer that is Starr.

But what Starr does—or does not—say could destroy her community. It could also endanger her life.

The Breakdown:
1.  Inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement and her own childhood, Thomas tackles a controversial topic.  This could have easily been a very heavy and preachy book, but Thomas keeps a well balance of the important issues and humor.

2. I loved the character of Starr.  She is a girl torn between two worlds.  The neighborhood she has grown up is a poorer African-American area where there are  gangs and drugs dealers easily spotted on the streets, but she goes to a upper class private school where is she is only one of a handful of black students.   Her life is turned upside down when she witnesses her friend killed by a police officer is a traffic stop.  She is not only dealing with the grief, but the fear of whether to speak out on what she saw or not.

3. I like that Thomas not only tackles racism in America, but the issue of black-on-black crime with the gang and drug issues.  She manages with call out racism issues in the police without making all policemen the bad guy.  I really appreciate this since my father is police officer, and taught me to judge people by their actions and not their skin color.

To Read or Not to Read:
Read

Audibook: The Night Circus

The Night Circus is written by Erin Morgenstern and narrated by Jim Dale.

The circus arrives without warning. No announcements precede it, no paper notices plastered on lampposts and billboards. It is simply there, when yesterday it was not. 

Within these nocturnal black-and-white striped tents awaits an utterly unique, a feast for the senses, where one can get lost in a maze of clouds, meander through a lush garden made of ice, stare in wonderment as the tattooed contortionist folds herself into a small glass box, and become deliciously tipsy from the scents of caramel and cinnamon that waft through the air. 

Welcome to Le Cirque des Rêves. 

Beyond the smoke and mirrors, however, a fierce competition is under way--a contest between two young illusionists, Celia and Marco, who have been trained since childhood to compete in a "game" to which they have been irrevocably bound by their mercurial masters. Unbeknownst to the players, this is a game in which only one can be left standing, and the circus is but the stage for a remarkable battle of imagination and will. 

As the circus travels around the world, the feats of magic gain fantastical new heights with every stop. The game is well under way and the lives of all those involved--the eccentric circus owner, the elusive contortionist, the mystical fortune-teller, and a pair of red-headed twins born backstage among them--are swept up in a wake of spells and charms. 

But when Celia discovers that Marco is her adversary, they begin to think of the game not as a competition but as a wonderful collaboration. With no knowledge of how the game must end, they innocently tumble headfirst into love. A deep, passionate, and magical love that makes the lights flicker and the room grow warm whenever they so much as brush hands. 

Their masters still pull the strings, however, and this unforeseen occurrence forces them to intervene with dangerous consequences, leaving the lives of everyone from the performers to the patrons hanging in the balance.

The Breakdown:
1.  Morgenstern is a master of writing beautiful imaginary. This book is filled with gorgeous descriptions of the circus and the characters that make them feel so real.  It is one of those book that I would love to see on the big screen and yet, dread for the fear that it would not be nearly as beautiful as Morgenstern describes.  At the end, I was sad that Le Cirque des Reves was not a real thing because I want to visit all the tents described.

2. So I was not crazy about the narrated, Jim Dale, at first, but as the story progressed I found that he really fit the part.  He is amazing at pulling you into the story, and makes you sad when you have to stop listening.

3. I adored Celia and Marco's courtship.  While not spending much time together,  they make beautiful love letters to each other in the form of the challenges in the different circus tents.  My heartbreaks for them when they learn what determines the end to the challenge.

4. Morgenstern's characters are so wonderfully well rounded, even the supporting characters are fantastic.   I think my favorite characters are Poppet, Widget, and Bailey. They are all so interesting, and when the three of them are together, their chemistry is amazing.

5. This book hit me right in the feels multiple times, which is a little awkward when you are tearing up while driving.  The ending was so perfect for this book.

To Read or Not to Read:
Must Read

The Wish Granter

The Wish Granter by C.J. Redwine is the second book of her Ravenspire series.

The world has turned upside down for Thad and Ari Glavan, the bastard twins of Súndraille’s king. Their mother was murdered. The royal family died mysteriously. And now Thad sits on the throne of a kingdom whose streets are suddenly overrun with violence he can’t stop.

Growing up ignored by the nobility, Ari never wanted to be a proper princess. And when Thad suddenly starts training Ari to take his place, she realizes that her brother’s ascension to the throne wasn’t fate. It was the work of a Wish Granter named Alistair Teague who tricked Thad into wishing away both the safety of his people and his soul in exchange for the crown. 

So Ari recruits the help of Thad’s enigmatic new weapons master, Sebastian Vaughn, to teach her how to fight Teague. With secret ties to Teague’s criminal empire, Sebastian might just hold the key to discovering Alistair’s weaknesses, saving Ari’s brother—and herself. 

But Teague is ruthless and more than ready to destroy anyone who dares stand in his way—and now he has his sights set on the princess. And if Ari can’t outwit him, she’ll lose Sebastian, her brother…and her soul.

The Breakdown:
1.  This book is a re-telling of Rumplestiltskin, and y'all know how I love a good re-imagined fairy tale.  It is set in the same world as The Shadow Queen,  but can be read as a stand alone novel.  There really is not an over lap between the two books.  There is a just a brief cameo of Lorelai and Kol at a ballroom scene, but they do not even have any interactions with the characters in this book.

2. I really loved Ari, the ignored bastard daughter of the King who suddenly finds herself a proper princess. She is smart and not afraid to tell people what she thinks.  Bonus is that she loves to bake.  She and her brother, Thad, make for an interesting duo.  Thad who is the diplomatic one but she is really the problem solver. Case in point, when he tries to solve the problem without her, he ends up indebted to Alistair Teague.

3.  The character of Sebastian is  really an amazing survivor.  He grew up in the worst situation, but becomes a great man despite his circumstances.  He is kind and loyal.  I liked watching him grow in his relationship with Ari. They have great chemistry together.

4. The character of Alistair Teague reminds me very much of Rumplestiltskin/Gold from the tv series Once Upon A Time. He is a man that loves power and will do anything to get it.  His ruthlessness makes him one of the scarier book villains.

5. Redwine throws a few twist into the story that surprise me when they happen.  There are a couple of heartbreaking moments so be prepared for the feels.  Also there is an appearance by some other fairy-tale characters that make me wonder if they will be getting their own book.

To Read or Not to Read:
Must Read

Turbo Twenty-Three

Turbo Twenty-Three by Janet Evanovich and is the latest of her Stephanie Plum series.

In the heart of Trenton, N.J., a killer is out to make sure someone gets his just desserts.

Larry Virgil skipped out on his latest court date after he was arrested for hijacking an eighteen-wheeler full of premium bourbon. Fortunately for bounty hunter Stephanie Plum, Larry is just stupid enough to attempt almost the exact same crime again. Only this time he flees the scene, leaving behind a freezer truck loaded with Bogart ice cream and a dead body—frozen solid and covered in chocolate and chopped pecans.

As fate would have it, Stephanie’s mentor and occasional employer, Ranger, needs her to go undercover at the Bogart factory to find out who’s putting their employees on ice and sabotaging the business. It’s going to be hard for Stephanie to keep her hands off all that ice cream, and even harder for her to keep her hands off Ranger. It’s also going to be hard to explain to Trenton’s hottest cop, Joe Morelli, why she is spending late nights with Ranger, late nights with Lula and Randy Briggs—who are naked and afraid—and late nights keeping tabs on Grandma Mazur and her new fella. Stephanie Plum has a lot on her plate, but for a girl who claims to have “virtually no marketable skills,” these are the kinds of sweet assignments she does best.

The Breakdown:
1.  I enjoy reading this series.  The books are quick reads and just the right amount of humor and mystery.  All Evanovich's characters are unique and have their own interesting quirks.

2. I liked the ice cream factory mystery, although, it did make me hungry.  I think the covering of the body in chocolate and nuts was one of Evanovich's more interesting ways to dispose of a body.

3. I think my favorite thing was Stephanie's excitement about Disney World.  Since I have a huge love of WDW myself, it made me like her even more.  Plus, I just liked imagining her getting the dangerous Ranger into the park, riding rides and watching fireworks.

To Read or Not to Read:
Read

Audiobook: The Power

The Power is written by Jennifer L. Armentrout and narrated by Paul Boehmer and Justine Eyre and is the second book of the Titan series.

With any great change, there is always strife, and the Covenant University has become the frontline between pure-bloods who want the Breed Order reinstated and the half-bloods who want the right to control their own destinies.

Fate has other plans.

 The violence is escalating and war between the races seems inevitable, and it couldn’t come at a worse time. Hyperion may be out of commission, but Josie and Seth know they have only earned a reprieve.  Seth must get Josie fully prepared, which means controlling her newfound abilities, and they need to find the other demigods before the Titans do.

But the gods are sensing a greater threat. 

Only one thing is more dangerous than a bunch of starved Titans, and that’s an out-of-control Apollyon. The aether in Josie is drawing Seth in deeper, and when lust mixes with love and gives way to power, he knows being close to her is not only dangerous to her, but to everyone around them, but letting her go requires a level of selflessness that just isn’t Seth’s style.

The paths taken in the past are becoming the roads of the future.

Just as chaos breaks out, familiar faces from the past return, complicating the already strained bond between Josie and Seth, and when the danger from the Titans erupts with devastating consequences, the dark allure of power calls to Seth again, but this time Josie might not be able to pull him back.

 And when the struggle between power and love becomes the deadliest battleground, there may be no salvation.

The Breakdown:
1. All my readers know, that I huge lover JLA.  This is my first time doing an audiobook for her novels, and I really enjoyed it.  I liked there were different narrators for Seth and Josie, and both did such a great job of capturing the characters.   Although, I could not help but wondering during the steamier scenes if the cars around me knew exactly what I was listening to, i.e. que the blushing.

2.  I very much enjoyed the growth of both Josie and Seth in this book. Josie's determination to make Seth realize he is more than his mistakes. The sense of wonder she gives him when she tells him she loves him breaks my heart a little, especially when he says no one has ever told him that before.  Then there is Seth working so hard to make up for his past.  Believing he is undeserving of Josie's love but is too selfish to let her go.  He has a hardcore struggle going on with his desire for aether and his desire to love Josie. My heartbreaks for him a little bit multiple times.

3. This book sees the return of Alex and Aiden to the mortal realm.  They make quite the entrance, and throw in new dynamic into the relationship between Josie and Seth. Like Deacon, I was super excited to see them in this book.

4. Can I just take a moment to respect JLA's own fangirling?  Her devotion to Supernatural in that she expresses in her characters in many of her books is awesome. Because who does not love Sam and Dean Winchester?

5.  Just like in the Covenant series, JLA does manage to crush my heart a little bit.  Just as I am thinking a character is super amazing and should get their own story, she sends them on Tartarus.  I may have gotten a little teary eyed.

To Read or Not to Read:
Read

Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy

Tales from Shadowhunter Academy is a series of novella written by Cassandra Clare, Sarah Rees Brennan, Maureen Johnson, and Robin Wasserman.

Simon Lewis has been a human and a vampire, and now he is becoming a Shadowhunter. But the events of City of Heavenly Fire left him stripped of his memories, and Simon isn’t sure who he is anymore. He knows he was friends with Clary, and that he convinced the total goddess Isabelle Lightwood to go out with him…but he doesn’t know how. And when Clary and Isabelle look at him, expecting him to be a man he doesn’t remember…Simon can’t take it.

So when the Shadowhunter Academy reopens, Simon throws himself into this new world of demon-hunting, determined to find himself again. His new self. Whomever this new Simon might be.

But the Academy is a Shadowhunter institution, which means it has some problems. Like the fact that non-Shadowhunter students have to live in the basement. And that differences—like being a former vampire—are greatly looked down upon. At least Simon is trained in weaponry—even if it’s only from hours of playing D&D.

Join Simon on his journey to become a Shadowhunter, and learn about the Academy’s illustrious history along the way, through guest lecturers such as Jace Herondale, Tessa Gray, and Magnus Bane. 

The Breakdown:
1.  These stories take place between the end of the Mortal Instruments and the beginning of Dark Artifices.  The authors not only give Simon's journey to becoming a Shadowhunter,  but stories of past Shadowhunters and keeping of with my favorite characters.

2.  I loved getting to see Simon grow from someone who could not remember his life before and his heroic acts to becoming confident in himself even before he gains his memories back.  He is funny and still hold on to his nerdiness while under going some intense training.

3.  I think my favorite story was Born to Endless Night.  It tells the story of how Alec and Magnus adopt there child, Max.  I kinda of loved seeing all the Lightwoods go crazy over this baby.

4. This book also does a lot to set up for the Dark Artifices, and the relations between Shadowhunters and the Fae.  Including an encounter with the Wild Hunt and Mark Blackthorn, and how Shadowhunters are treating those with Fae blood.

To Read or Not to Read:
Read