Author: Sarah J Maas Pages: 805 Overall: 4.5/5 Setting: 5/5 Characters: 5/5 Plot and Themes: 4.5/5 Cheers Factor: 4.5/5 Pairing: Give Me Relief I feel like the name of this cocktail feels like how I wanted the characters to feel. The drink is refreshing and pleasant and absolutely calming. The cucumber mixed with the botanicals of the gin are great. But truly I wanted the characters to have some sense of relief and knowing Sarah we would get nothing of the sort for our band of characters and in her style she did indeed deliver. "And every horror, every nightmare...all of it had been worth it for her." Ingredients -2 oz empress gin -½ oz simple syrup -cucumber slices -mint sprigs -soda water -ice Instructions -Put 4-5 cucumber slices in a glass with simple syrup and a few mint leaves and muddle -Add in gin and stir with stirring spoon -To a rocks glass put ice and add optional garnish of cucumber slices to ice -Strain gin into glass and top with soda water -Add optional mint sprig garnish -Enjoy responsibly Take a Shot: After the shocking events of book one we catch back up with our cast of characters as they attempt to return to a normal life, however they are destined for anything but when a new Archangel is set to take control of Lunathion and Bryce ends up betrothed to a distant cousin. Things are never boring for our frat pack plus Bryce and Hunt and they certainly will continue to surprise.
"Team Survive at All Costs - that was her team. She didn't care if that made her a coward." Setting I love Crescent City. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again I love it. I also really loved the additions we get to see of Tharion’s lodgings and his court as well as some of the other locales we get to visit like the submarine type ship that our band of characters gets to travel on. ""You'd be surprised what people will stomach when they find their families threatened." Characters I absolutely love that we get more of the side characters. I knew it was going to happen similar to Throne of Glass, but was so incredibly excited to get more of Flynn, Declan, Ruhn, Tharion and Ithan. I also loved the new characters we got to meet like The Hellhound, The Harpy, The Hind and the rest of their crew. It was nice to get their introductions and to also see them interact in the same space as many of the characters we became accustomed to in the last book. "Wherever you're headed when this life is over, Quinlan, that's where I want to be, too." Plot and Themes I thought the book was a little slow at points I won’t lie. It took me a beat to really get into it. I did love the new storyline we got and the deeper we get into the Asteri and their story it was truly illuminating. I also loved the introduction of Cormac and all his motivations that bled into those of our main characters. It was very well woven to bring all the characters together in true SJM fashion. She is a master of melding plots and themes together and I cannot speak highly enough about the way she does all this and it is something to be admired and studied in order to replicate to the best of one’s abilities so that all books may feel as clever as her plots. "The dead have little reason to lie." Overall I did indeed feel shocked at the end even though I had been spoiled prior to reading it. I really loved this book and loved all the new antics our crew got up to. I won’t say this is my favorite series of Sarah’s but I can say that if recency bias says anything it’s my favorite for the moment by way of both books in the series have both thoroughly enticed me. I recommend this series to anyone I come across and will continue to do so. Too Strong: Some slow pacing Reasons to Raise a Glass: RUHN. FUCKING. DANAAN. That’s all. I mean Hunt too, and Flynn but mainly RUHN. FUCKING. DANAAN. "Males will always try to control the females who scare them. Marriage and breeding are their go-to methods." Warning spoilers ahead if you click read more. Proceed at your own risk.
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Author: Sarah J Maas Pages: 803 Overall: 4.8/5 Setting: 5/5 Characters: 5/5 Plot and Themes: 4.5/5 Cheers Factor: 5/5 Pairing: Light it Up This drink will make you want to light it up both on the dance floor, in the club and then light it up alone so you can cry when you read this book. That’s not even me spoiling it because my friend who NEVER cries while reading sobbed at the end of this book and I sobbed when I read it and then when I listened to the audio book a week later. "Danika had died, and she was alone, and Bryce couldn't breath." Ingredients -2 oz tequila -3-4 cubes of watermelon -½ oz watermelon cranberry juice -1 oz lime juice -prosecco -lime slices -ice Instructions -Put watermelon and watermelon cranberry juice in a blender and blend thoroughly -Strain into stirring glass and add tequila and lemon juice and ice -Prepare wine glass with ice and garnish with optional lime slices -Stir thoroughly and strain into wine glass -Top with prosecco -Enjoy responsibly "Her goal was to protect you. Always. Even from yourself." Take a shot: Bryce Quinlan despite being half human half fae has the perfect life full of working hard and partying harder. Well had a perfect life until a demon murdered her closest friends and she was left to pick up the pieces two years later when it seems the demon may be killing again. In true Sarah J Maas style we get to see Bryce try to put the pieces together with more than one pieces of arm candy winged and not.
"Let someone in, give them the power to hurt you, and they do exactly that, in the end." Setting I love the way that Crescent City really feels like the real world. I love the old buildings with the new feel. I like the inclusion of modern technology like “electricity” the internet, cell phones and everything in between. It makes this novel a really interesting one she has written given her settings are normally far less real world and find themselves wholly rooted in fantasy, but truly I loved the new vibe. Characters GODS SPARE ME HUNT ATHALAR. Now I know it’s an SJM book so I’m trying to not get too attached to Hunt Athalar, but I think he has to be end game. Sarah otherwise would seem a bit cliche given her previous two series and the main love interest switches that happen so often. But seriously I think if a winged angel sat by me on the couch with a backward hat and wanted to watch football/soccer (sunball is never explained but I’m leaning toward the former), I think I would fizzle into a puddle. I also love the adult language. This book feels very mature and it’s meant to be that way and I appreciate it given I can’t tell you how much I wanted Aelin to be able to curse in ToG. Now we get Bryce and Hunt who get to do it with reckless abandon and it feels very comparable to ACOSF with the character maturity which is great. Plots and Themes This is the only part I had a slight gripe about. The beginning is very interesting. The ending is incredible and I will not lie I UGLY cried. But the middle, while good, just felt a little long at points. Like I loved the sexual tension build up and the true relationship building between our love interests. It was actually one of my favorite parts of the book, but this circumstance to me felt like the plot warranted a more physical relationship than we got given the nature of how the relationship develops and we did not get that sadly. Overall I’ve read this book then subsequently bought the audio book to listen to it the week after. I cried at the same points, was anxious and nervous at the same points and that’s a sign. I truly think this is one of my favorite books by Maas and cannot wait for the rest of the series to unfold. I think she’s so talented and love the way that she reveals new information that it truly feels like a shock to the reader. I am forever in awe of the entirety of this woman’s work and this book was no exception. I even like the slow burn even though I like a good sexy time moment I found myself respecting it the more I think about it. Too Strong - The book is a little long at some parts and feels a little like it should move on, but it’s not that deterring. Reasons to Raise a Glass - HUNT. FUCKING. ATHALAR. He’s the new loml for book boyfriends and I now want a man obsessed with sunball to wear a backwards hat on my couch, Murder mystery, loss and death with purpose, great depression and PTSD traits and characteristics present with characters ina respectful, meaningful and realistic way "Momento Mori. Remember that you will die." Warning spoilers ahead if you read more. Proceed at your own risk. Author: Ernest Cline Pages: 375 Overall: 4/5 Setting: 5/5 Characters: 4/5 Plot and Themes: 4/5 Cheers Factor: 4/5 Pairing: Q*bert Okay I feel much more clever than I likely am with this drink but the famous video game was started in the 80’s and I didn’t even realize it worked with my drink and this book until I was writing this. Ingredients -Mango Sherbert -Prosecco -Cranberries This is so easy you put the sherbet in the glass and top with champagne then you garnish with the berries. If you wanted to spice it up you can always add a shot of vodka or dull the champagne with some club soda. Basically whatever works for you, but it’s super yummy and a nice way to drink your dessert.
Take a Shot: The Oasis is the future of virtual reality. Set in the year 2045 almost all of the real world has fallen to neglect. Many people spend their time in The Oasis attempting to escape it. Five years ago James Halladay died and before he left behind the ultimate contest, a chance to win the keys to The Oasis. Wade Watts is a Gunter, a person who is hunting for the clues that lead to winning the contest. Come along as Wade and his reluctant allies continue their quest to win the prize of all prizes. Setting The Oasis is genuinely any dork, nerd or 80’s fan’s dream. I loved how the author added such nuances. Like the funeral scene from The Heathers, a truly great movie if you haven’t seen it. Or all of War Games, also a great movie if you haven’t seen it. Truly it is imperative for a fantasy novel to explain its setting efficiently and in detail without becoming redundant. This book does it so well, I truly felt immersed the whole time. Characters The only reason the characters don’t get 5 stars is because they are so ADAMANT to be annoying and rude to one another. It’s similar to Normal People where you want to pluck the characters from the novel, give them a stern shaking and some choice words due to their inability to comprehend the counterpart's love and interest towards them. It’s aggravating beyond belief. Plots and Themes I love the dorky nature of this film, it only further reminds me that deep down I do have dorky tendencies. The structure of this film and plot was so similar to that of a video game that I commend the author. The central villain was ominous, but also not all too threatening. I liked the drawn out process of the film as well. It greatly contradicts the film in that it takes place across a few days as opposed to the novel taking place roughly over a year. Overall I loved this book. It has inspired me to go watch War Games, again a great movie Matthew Broderick is great in it. But seriously this book really made me contemplate my vast 80’s knowledge as well as my genuine inner dork. I did love that and wouldn’t want anyone else to miss out on this hence why it’s high in my rating. Too Strong - character that refuse to admit they love one another (a truly annoying trope) Reasons to Raise a Glass - DORKY 80’s FACTS that is all like just read it then we can talk I loved this book. I won’t give it 5 stars because it wasn’t the best book I’ve ever read...well listened to, but it was so good and I truly loved it so much. I felt myself geeking out on all the films I knew as well as the video games and tv shows. I just felt like I was in on the inside joke. I liked that a lot and felt honored that I knew what was happening. Even though the book did a great job of explaining that you would know even if you didn’t, I still felt rewarded. I do want to address the STUPID annoying relationship of Artemis and Parzeval. Like JUST DATE ALREADY. It is not that freaking hard. Clearly they both love each other and I get the whole reluctance due to insecurities, but still I was like really? Come on. Author: Laura Thalassa Pages: 422 Overall: 4/5 Setting: 4/5 Characters: 4/5 Plot and Themes: 3.5/5 Cheers Factor: 3.5/5 Pairing: Pompette Clementine Berry Hard Sparkling Water “Most of all, I hate him because he is easier to hate than myself.”
Take a Shot: Callypso is a siren living amongst normal humans. She has a wonderful beaded bracelet that runs almost halfway up her arm and it might look beautiful, but it means she owes a favor to The Bargainer for each bead. However, she hasn’t seen him in seven years and he hasn’t ever attempted to call in one of his debts. Then he shows up in the middle of the night because something is terribly wrong in the Otherworld, the realm he rules in, and he needs Callie’s help. “I’m the one that can’t smother these feelings that have been festering inside me for years.” Setting I loved the combination of the real world with the Otherworld being the fae world. It reminds me of The Cruel Prince by Holly Black and from what I’ve heard Crescent City by Sarah J. Maas. I also love a good prep school, old english vibe and that’s definitely what I get from the Peel Academy. The combination of the real world with fae and supernatural is amazing. Characters I gotta admit I really like the characters. At first, I genuinely didn’t like any of the characters so be prepared, but once you read more about them you become greatly invested in them. I do struggle with the aggression that Temperance “Temper” is done in the way she is. I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again, I don’t like being treated like an idiot by an author and the way it’s pushed that Temper is a strong sassy black woman felt aggressive. Subtlety is a very nuanced art that sometimes authors struggle with. I wish that was the case with Temper because I promise as a reader I still would have gotten it. Plots and Themes The whole ominous scary character within a different realm that’s wanting to gather an evil army idea isn’t a new one; I’m not denying it. However, it really works in this book. The semi vampire children are also very interesting and I like the idea of there being a two dimensioned world. I’m intrigued to see where the story goes because it wasn’t amazing, although it suited my fancy, but it was intriguing enough to make it to book two. I also get Tamlin vibes from our main villain so we shall see what happens with that in book two. Overall I like the understanding of underage relationships and respect behind that. I like the resistance and reticence of the Bargainer to have a relationship with Callie before she’s of age despite being supernaturally “of age”. I also really loved the flashbacks at the beginning of each chapter. It was a unique a useful storytelling tool. Reasons to Raise a Glass: Sexy fae kings, new adult content, tall dark and broody, RESPECTFUL. MEN. Too Strong: The potential for an argument that the bargainer is a groomer, argument for cliche plot “Ten points to slytherin for the creepy answer.” Warning spoilers if you click read more. Proceed at your own risk. |
Cheers FactorEach book here at Cheers&Chapters is rated based off of certain categories that are genre specific, however every book will get a Cheers Factor. The Cheers Factor is how much we wanted to raise our glass while reading it. So get your glasses ready and cheers! Archives
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