 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.
0 Comments
 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 phsyical 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: Penelope Douglas Pages: 349 Overall: 3/5 Setting: 3/5 Characters: 3/5 Plot and Themes: 3/5 Cheers Factor: 3/5 Pairing: Young Summer I know this book doesn’t really take place during the summer, but I like the vibe of reading it during the summer so here we are. Ingredients -1 ½ oz vodka -½ oz agave nectar -3 slices of a fresh nectarine -about a glass of white wine (or more it’s a choose your own adventure) -ice (enough for a slushie) Instructions -Combine vodka, agave, nectarine, wine and ice in a blender -Blend baby blend -Pour into glass of choice and optional garnish with a slice of nectarine  “People have worked to make you think you’re not worthy of their attention.”
Take a Shot: Jordan is alone on her nineteenth birthday in a movie theatre when by happenstance she ends up meeting this sweet and sexy older man. However, things get turned upside down when she realizes he is her boyfriend’s dad and they both have to move in with him. Cue the sexual tension when Jordan’s boyfriend starts to distance himself because he doesn’t have the best relationship with his dad. Then the real fun begins in this age gap, spicy romance. Setting It was pretty bland in its descriptors. Also we never really see the characters anywhere else besides the house and their respective locations of work. I kind of wish we had gotten to see Jordan interact in some sense in her college classes or with more kids her own age besides her really creepy ex boyfriend. Characters I really didn’t feel connected to any of these characters to be honest. There wasn’t inherently anything wrong with them, I just didn’t feel like they were that believable as real people to be quite honest. Plot and Themes This is the part I have been waiting to talk about because truthfully there was 350 some odd pages of little to no plot. Now, I am a huge fan of a good sexy spicy romance where there isn’t much plot, but I didn’t get that either. I found myself feeling like I was halfway done with the book and had nothing to show for it in terms of events that had happened and that to me was my first inclination that I shouldn’t finish the book. For the record, I did, but I sort of didn’t want to. Overall I had really high hopes for this one because I had heard amazing things about Penelope Douglas and had seen a lot of people post about this book in general across my socials, but it really fell flat for me personally. I’m not sure whether it was that I had a lot going on personally so I didn’t invest as much emotionally as I would have if I had been less distracted. However, it is what it is. The way I feel after reading this is a little how I felt after reading The Cruel Prince series where I’m not overwhelmed with passion for it, but can understand why others are. “I should thank you, actually. I’ve been trying for years, it seems, to be the kind of woman I admire and all of a sudden I feel like I am that woman now. I know I’m worth it. You’re just not.” Warning spoilers ahead if you click read more. Proceed at your own risk.  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.  Author: Sarah J. Maas Pages: 626 Overall: 5/5 Setting: 5/5 Characters: 5/5 Plot and Themes: 5/5 Cheers Factor: 5/5 Pairing: Starfall Empress Gin has a stunning color. For this drink there is no substitution on the liquor merely for the color. The light purple you get with this drink reminds me of starfall and the colors that our characters see in the sky. It’s such a hopeful time and it’s truly a wonderful moment for Feyre. I think it’s when she truly begins to forgive herself and I love that a very light drink can represent that. Ingredients -2oz Empress Gin -1oz fresh lemon juice -¾ ounce egg white -ice Instructions -Add all ingredients to a shaker with ice -Shake and strain to remove ice -Shake again without ice -Fine strain into glass  “Love- love was a balm as much as it was a poison.”
Take a Shot: After surviving the harrowing events of Under the Mountain Feyre and Tamlin are trying to forget the horrors they both suffered. However, forgetting might not happen as easily as either of them assumed. With their upcoming nuptials Feyre is feeling scared and still so broken from surviving Amarantha’s trials while also adjusting to her new life as a High Fae. Then she has to remember her bargain with Rhys and when he conveniently calls upon their bargain during her wedding day events begin to unfold that will put Feyre on a path that maybe she was meant to be on all along.  Author: Sarah J. Maas Pages: 432 Overall: 4/5 Setting: 5/5 Characters: 4/5 Plot and Themes: 4/5 Cheers Factor: 4/5 Pairing: Faerie Wine This is what I imagine the wine Feyre drinks at the Summer Solstice would taste like. Slight warning it uses the whole bottle of champagne so you can share with friends...or not I’m not here to judge you.  Ingredients -1 bottle of Champagne chilled (I used Lamarca Prosecco it achieves the same purpose and just depends on which type of sparkling wine you prefer) -1 bottle of ginger ale (2 liter) -2 10oz bags of frozen strawberries Instructions -Combine ingredients in pitcher or punch bowl serve and enjoy "Be glad of your human heart, Feyre. Pity those who don't feel anything at all." Take a Shot: In this Beauty and the Beast retelling follow Feyre as she is taken North of the wall into Prythian, the faerie realm, to pay a debt where no human has gone and come back from. Watch as the secrets of what is happening in this foreign land entangle themselves with Feyre’s life and she finds herself as the one who could potentially save the man she loves and his entire species.
 Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout Pages: 634 Overall: 4.5/5 Setting: 4/5 Characters: 5/5 Plot and Themes: 4.5/5 Cheers Factor: 5/5 Pairing: Sippin’ Pretty Tequila Mule I love, love, love Sippin’ Prettys so very much. I recently discovered this fun twist on them and I have not gone back. It is a very quirky and aggressive take on a classic mule and it reminds me of Poppy and her personality. Ingredients -1 ¼ oz Silver Tequila -2 parts Sippin’ Pretty -1 part ginger beer -A lime wedge -Ice Instructions Step one: Measure out all ingredients Step two: Mix all ingredients in a shaker and shake Step three: Pour into a glass or Copper Mule Mug  Take a Shot: (18+ for sexual content) Poppy is the Maiden. As the Maiden she is not allowed to speak with anyone, show her face, have close relationships or even be touched. Her entire life she has been sequestered and guarded. Her closest companions are her assigned lady Tawny and Viktor her guard. However, events have been set into motion for some time that will change the course of her life and they start when she ends up in a tavern room alone with the new sexy guard Hawke Flynn. If you love Sarah J. Maas and Game of Thrones this is the book for you.  I have seen this book for months on TikTok and I hate to admit that TikTok made me do it, but this book was awesome so I’m not that mad. I saw it on many TikToks for spicy books and boy did it deliver. I don’t want to get too much into it, but it’s great like actually great. The sexual tension could be cut with a knife and I read this one in a day and a half because I was so ready to read what was going to happen to our sweet Poppy. The characters in this title are amazing. Poppy is written to be naive in her lack of awareness because of the seclusion of her position in the world and Hawke is seductive and experienced and is a great counter and adds a good balance. I also really like Poppy’s inability to wrestle her aggressive side into submission. She’s spicy in all the right ways that make it perfect for her not to conform to the role that she is supposed to do. The only problem that I had was with the plot and the setting. They weren’t bad, but there were many moments where I was confused as to what was even happening and why she was the maiden. A lot is explained at the end of the book, but as a forewarning it can be confusing to read a book when you don’t know what is happening and you are purposefully being left in the dark like in this book. That’s the only issue I took with the book, but that’s also typical of 1st books in series and now I feel like I’m prepared to keep reading the series because I’m informed from the first one. Overall though I feel like my new book boyfriend is Hawke and it definitely was worth raising a glass to. It’s a great fantasy world with a good amount of spice that makes it a great read for those who are wanting to get their YA fix with adult themes. Definitely don’t recommend it to your mom...or do I’m not gonna tell you what to do.  Take this as a much needed lesson Penallaphe. Some truths do nothing but destroy and decay what they do not obliterate. Truths do not always set one free. Only a fool who has spent their entire life being fed lies believes that.”
 Author: Sarah J. Maas Pages: 448 Overall: 3.5/5 Setting: 5/5 Characters: 3.4/5 Plot and Themes: 3.5/5 Cheers Factor: 3.5/5 Pairing: Peanut Butter and Banana Smoothie My roommates and I are currently on a slight health kick so that means no alcohol and I have been good about it. We are holding out until around Christmas because two of us are going to be by the beach soon. This smoothie is one I used to make back when I was on a huge health kick. I make no claims that it’s crazy healthy, but I enjoyed it and used to drink it in the mornings. Plus this seems like something Celaena would drink because she loves food and sugar and all the decadence that is life. Ingredients 1 ½ cup milk (I use coconut so it’s not actually dairy) 1 tablespoon peanut butter 1 banana 1 cup of ice Instructions Step 1: Measure out ingredients and combine in a blender Step 2: Blend until combined Step 3: Enjoy This reminds me more of making flavored milk, but I really like drinking it and you get a serving of fruit and some protein from the peanut butter. Again, I’m making no claims that this is super good for you. There is a lot of sugar in it from the banana and the peanut butter, but it is a nice substitute for things like soda or juice which I drink lots of.  Take A Shot: The Assassin’s Blade is a set of novellas that take place before the first book in the Throne of Glass series. There is popular debate about when it should be read and whether reading it entirely before the series is more appropriate or in publishing order. If you read it in publishing order then it comes after book 2, Crown of Midnight. However, the individual novellas were actually written around the same time book 1 was published so to each their own. I read TAB long after I had finished the entire series because I was impatient and wanted to know what happened and I didn’t want to go back in time. However, upon reading it I see how it could be important to read before Empire of Storms in that lots of characters are delved into in TAB that come back in EoS. That being said this series follows Celaena Sardothien who is Adarlan’s greatest assassin trained to be the heir to the Assassin’s Guild of Adarlan. She’s a ruthless character with a penchant for exquisite dresses and jewelry. However, there is so much more to her story than meets the eye and I’m not just talking about the men that fall in love with her. That’s about all I can give without spoiling anything, but just read her books, they are magnificent. I love this entire series.
Ingredients 3oz Pomegranate Juice 1oz vodka ½ oz triple sec ½ lime A few pomegranate seeds ice Step one: Cut a pomegranate and take a few seeds and place in bottom of a chilled martini glass Step two: Measure out pomegranate juice, vodka and triple sec then combine with ice in shaker Step three: Use a hand juicer to juice half a lime into the shaker Step four: Shake until shaker is cold to the touch and ingredients are thoroughly mixed Step five: Strain into the martini glass and serve immediately Optional addition: If the pomegranate juice is too strong top with a little bit of club soda to give it a fizzy twist!  Take a Shot: By now Twilight has been a best selling book series, an international blockbuster movie franchise and a cult classic to many. Since the story of Bella and Edward began in 2005 their endeavors have been inspiration for parodies, fan-fiction and memes alike. However, now 15 years later the Twi-hards have a brand new installment with Midnight Sun. This novel follows the events of the first book, Twilight, entirely from Edward’s perspective. After the original version of this story was leaked and Meyers simply published the few chapters on her website, many thought that was the end of our journey into Edward’s head. Meyers thankfully was not done with this story and released the completed novel this year. I don’t want to give too much away especially since most people already know the story anyway, but I will say read all of Twilight before reading Midnight Sun. This is mainly because that’s how we all (I myself am a Twi-hard so that’s who we implies) had to do it and plus it helps with consistency of understanding the perspective of Bella solely in her words and then understanding Edward’s in retrospect.
 |
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 2023
Genres
All
|
RSS Feed