 Author: Richelle Mead
Pages: 327 Overall: 4.5/5 Setting: 4.5/5 Characters: 5/5 Plot and Themes: 4/5 Cheers Factor: 4/5 Pairing: Prisoner Red Blend by Orin Swift This one is the same for the whole series! Take a Shot: Rose and Dmitri can’t be together for obvious reasons. Tasha Ozera comes into the picture and clearly has eyes for Dimitri however, Rose is intent to not let it get to her so she starts dating the loving and adorable Mason. However, things are starting to get weird and our characters are starting to learn the Strigoi are getting smart which could be life threatening for our favorite Moroi and Dhampir alike. “‘This changes everything doesn’t it?’ I asked. ‘Yeah,’ he said. “It does.’” Setting I like the setting of this title more than the first of this book. I enjoyed that it takes place more away from the school and we get to see our characters outside of the academic setting. Characters My favorite character of this series is introduced in this book so it obviously takes the cake for 5/5. There’s a really great broadening of characters that appear in Rose and Lissa’s lives and it makes it much more interesting. Plus I like a villain redemption arc and we start to get that with one character in this one so it’s nice. Plots and Themes I like the stakes of the plot more in this one than the first one. There’s a greater sense of urgency in this book behind all of the actions of our characters and the plot moves quickly with it to the ultimate ending. I do think occasionally it felt very convenient how a lot of the characters were able to solve their problems. However, I did love the obvious way the plot allowed Rose to become a true leader that people are willing to follow. I also appreciate the move Rose makes away from her forbidden love given that she’s still a minor. It’s a nice move that I think Mead executed well in order to avoid it becoming more problematic than what is originally implied as already kind of is. Conclusion I like the pivot this book takes from the first one and definitely recommend sticking around with the series even if the first wasn’t a favorite. Reasons to Raise a Glass: STRONG. FEMALE. CHARACTER., realistic stakes and consequences Too Strong: convenience of plot lines, questionable age gap relationship (it’s not aggressive, but definitely there and definitely something to consider) Spoiler review if you click Read More! Or check out the review of book one by clicking the button below!
0 Comments
 Author: Richelle Mead
Pages: 332 Overall: 4/5 Setting: 4/5 Characters: 5/5 Plot and Themes: 4/5 Cheers Factor: 4/5 Pairing: Prisoner Red Blend by Orin Swift This is my pairing for the entire series because it’s such a quick read. I read the first 4 books in 2 days because I’m crazy so I literally only have one pairing. Also a good bottle of red is perfect for this series. It’s one of my favorite series and Prisoner is one of my parent’s favorite bottles of wine and is quickly becoming mine. Take a Shot: Rose Hathaway and her best friend Vasalissa Dragomir have been on the run for the better part of a 2 years after running away from their school. Oh and Lissa is a Moroi vampire meaning she’s technically not undead and has magic and Rose is a Dhampir which makes her half Moroi and half human. Upon being captured and brought back to St. Vladamir’s Academy strange things start to happen that scare even Dimitri, the sexy Russian Dhampir that’s Lissa’s new guardian seeing as she is the last Dragomir from one of the twelve royal bloodlines.  Author: Alexandra Christo Pages: 344 Overall: 5/5 Setting: 4.5/5 Characters: 5/5 Plot and Themes: 5/5 Cheers Factor: 5/5 Pairing: Drag Me Under This deep blue cocktail reminds me of the ocean that Lira calls home and I think it feels deep when you look at it which was the goal. Ingredients 1 oz vodka (I used Kettle One) 1 oz white rum (I used Bacardi White Rum) 1 oz Blue Curacao 1 oz raspberry liquor (I used di’ Amore) Lime wedge Ice  “That’s what a story is. A bunch of lies.”
Instructions -Fill shaker with ice and combine vodka, rum and blue curacao and shake -Strain over fresh ice in glass -Pour raspberry liqueur over a spoon to layer on top -Garnish with lime wedge -Enjoy “Look at you. My monster come to find me.” Take a Shot: In this little mermaid retelling you get a sexy and dark side of both perspectives. It’s subtle and yet compelling and you want to see what will happen to the prince of gold and the future queen of death.  Author: Sarah J Maas Pages: 757 Overall: 4.5/5 Setting: 4/5 Characters: 5/5 Plot and Themes: 4/5 Cheers Factor: 5/5 Pairing: Fire in My Veins If you’re heard anything about this book you know it sets something aflame. So this fun little drink is truly perfect not just in its coloring, but in the kick it brings. Ingredients 2oz silver tequila (I used Jose Cuervo) ¾ oz lime juice ¾ oz grenadine 4-5 dashes bitters Ice “She had the courage to tell me the truth.”  Instructions
-Combine all ingredients in shaker with ice -Strain in glass with fresh ice -Garnish with lime wedge -Enjoy “And I have never hated you, Cassian.” Take a Shot: (18+ for sexual content and discussion around mental health) It’s been 18 months since the war and Nesta is on a downward spiral. Her sister doesn’t know what to do with her and no one not even Cassian or Amren can get through to her. So as a form of rehab she’s forced to start training and working in the library. Go along with Nesta as she heals wounds she never thought she could heal and starts to love those in her life and more importantly herself.  Author: Sarah J Maas Pages: 700 Overall: 4.5/5 Setting: 4/5 Characters: 5/5 Plot and Themes: 4.5/5 Cheers Factor: 5/5 Pairing: The High Lady This is a really fun little drink that made me feel like a High Lady in all honesty. It’s pretty powerful and still packs a punch but is sweet and pretty to look at. Ingredients ½ oz Blue Curacao ½ oz Midori 2oz vodka (I used Kettle One) ½ oz simple syrup ¾ oz lemon juice Ice  Instructions
-Add Blue Curacao to a martini glass -Gently layer the Midori on top using a spoon -Combine vodka, simple syrup, lemon juice and ice to a shaker and shake -Gently layer from shaker using a spoon -Enjoy “When do you come home to me?” Take a Shot: Feyre is in the Spring Court after being taken back by Tamlin so that she could save the Inner Circle and her sisters after Hybern nearly killed them all. Now they all must start preparing for a war that none of them feel all too equipped to fight given all the new wheels that are turning that are setting them behind in a way they weren’t in the previous war.  Author: Emma Straub Pages: 356 Overall: 2.5/5 Setting: 3/5 Characters: 2/5 Plot and Themes: 2/5 Cheers Factor: 2/5 Pairing: Dirty Martini Because there isn’t something that seems more adult than basically drinking vodka straight with olive juice. Ingredients -2 ounces Grey Goose Vodka (any good quality works but I personally like Grey Goose the best) -1 ounce dry vermouth -½ ounce olive brine -2 olives -ice -toothpick Instructions -In a shaker combine the vodka, vermouth and olive brine together with ice -Stir together with a stirring spoon -Strain into chilled martini glass -skewer olives on toothpick and use for garnish -Enjoy  Take a Shot: Astrid is a mother to her three grown children with budding families of their own experiences, a life changing event that has her questioning everything about the way she is living her life. In a weird series of events all of her children end up back in their hometown and confront the demons of growing up and the imperfections that life brings about and parenting.
 Author: Helen Hoang Pages: 323 Overall: 5/5 Setting: 4/5 Characters: 5/5 Plot and Themes: 5/5 Cheers Factor: 4/5 Pairing: Panty Dropper This has no pun intended; it's a pomegranate margarita. It’s a panty dropper because any gal who knows tequila knows. IYKYK. This drink makes you want to read this little book. Ingredients 1 ½ ounces tequila ¾ ounce lime juice ¼ ounce pomegranate juice ½ ounce triple sec Agave to taste Ice Salt Instructions -dip the rim of a margarita glass in a plate with water -salt the rim -combine all remaining ingredients in a shaker -shake, strain and enjoy  Take a Shot: (18+ for sexual content) Stella Lane is so incredibly smart and loves her work as an econometrician, but she is also very clearly aware of how her autism affects her life and is dearly wanting to make her family happy and fulfill her life by finding a boyfriend and later a husband. However, she believes she needs more help so she hires Michael, a male escort, to teach her how to be a better lover and to overcome some of her impediments when it comes to men and the bedroom. I want to give this a preface though that Hoang does a magnificent job of ensuring that Stella’s autism is not the defining characteristic of her essence and that her disability is not seen as a disability, but more a facet of who she truly is.
|
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
July 2022
Genres
All
|
RSS Feed