Author: Sarah J. Maas Pages: 689 Overall: 5/5 Setting: 5/5 Characters: 5/5 Plot and Themes: 5/5 Cheers Factor: 5/5 Pairing: Unwitting Pawn Let me tell you, this drink packs a huge punch. It hits just about as hard as this book did and it’s perfect for all the crying you will do. I think everyone at the end of this book deserves at least 1-5 of these bad boys. This is a brutal one and definitely not a cocktail and it’s the first of it’s kind here at cheers. I’m sure this book feels great about itself in the fact that it is the one bestowed the honor of being the first shot on here. “She’d been in love with him for a while now. Longer than she wanted to admit.” Ingredients -1 oz St. Germain -1 oz limoncello -prosecco -frozen raspberries Instructions -Combine all liquid ingredients in a coupe glass -Skewer 2-3 raspberries on a cocktail skewer and add to glass -Enjoy responsibly “Love had broken a perfect killing tool.”
Take a Shot: The King of Adarlan is dead and Erawan is rising and rallying his forces in hopes to snuff out both Aelin and Dorian and anyone who would fight with or for them. This fast paced novel follows our beloved cast of characters as they race against time to gather the necessary tools, allies and resources to finally face the evil Valg King Erawan once and for all. Full of plot twists and heartbreak this one is sure to have you rushing to grab the final two novels. “‘One of us has to live, Dorian.’” Setting WE FINALLY GET TO SEE TERRASEN. Okay well part of it and that’s enough for me for now. We also finally get to see a lot of the parts of the world that are hinted at or mentioned throughout so much of the series. We get Skull’s Bay, which arguably yes we have already seen in Assassin’s Blade, but it feels different now somewhat better because we are there for a very different reason this go around. We also get to see Eyllwe which is all kinds of emotions swirling in one. I love the traveling nature of this book because the setting informs so much of the plot and that keeps things ridiculously interesting. “‘It is not such a hard thing, is it - to die for your friends.’” Characters This book is so full of characters scheming and it’s wonderful. It’s hard to talk about this without giving away spoilers because this novel is explosive and magnificent, but the characters all really guard secrets and act like a court more than ever and that’s a magical thing. We start to finally see the bonds the characters have with each other and their willingness to sacrifice so much for each other and the cause. While I always gush about the characters, their friendships and bonds in this novel are what have brought me humbly to my knees. “‘I wanted to go to Perranth with you.’” Plots and Themes Sarah is a GENIUS. I don’t know if I would have guessed all that is revealed in this book, particularly some major plot points. Obviously the second time around I was rewarded with all the nuances of the plot that quite plainly spell out what is going to happen, but all I can say is damn. This book, to this day, is still one of the best books I’ve ever read. I don’t say that lightly and I don’t say it without conviction. I love the manner that the plot is slowly unfolded and revealed and not in the way a cheesy mystery novel is. Information is given when it is purposeful and necessary which makes the ending work so well for it. The plot of this novel is truly the shining star and I think it’s the strongest plot wise of the entire series to be honest. I know long after my first read I would discuss the plot of this novel with friends constantly. It’s by far one of the best crafted fantasy plots I’ve seen in a while. “‘None of you are being taken prisoner.’ Aelin growled.” Overall I just love this book. Even on my second read I cried at all the same parts and laughed at the same ones. The inevitable end really gets you in a tizzy because it is tough and hurts. It really does. I do think this is the best book of the series thus far. Truly Heir of Fire is great, but this one really comes for your throat with iron nails (haha see what I did there? iykyk). I would recommend this series to anyone if only so they could read the series until this book. And at that rate they will obviously finish it because the cliff hanger will make you. Too Strong: How many times must we tell all the characters they are not expendable? One or a hundred more times might be necessary, but it’s aggravating (in a good way?) Reasons to Raise a Glass: CLEVER PLOTS - I absolutely and unequivocally love clever plots. I love feeling rewarded for paying attention and this book does just that. I cannot tell you my astonishment in the manner of weaving that was done with this story. I just can’t and you have to read it so we can sit in awe together. “'Bring her home.'” Beware spoilers ahead. Read on/click read more at your own risk.
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Author: Shelby Mahurin Pages: 513 Overall: 4/5 Setting: 3/5 Characters: 4/5 Plot and Themes: 4/5 Cheers Factor: 4/5 Pairing: Red Beer I used to be opposed to this entire concept of drinking something that seemed so backwards, however I have come to learn that they are indeed quite yummy and taste quite good especially if you like Bloody Mary’s. I feel very much like foul mouthed Lou would love a drink like this because it is so unconventional. I also like this twist on a Bloody Mary in reference to Coco and her blood witch heritage. It’s very empathetic with blood rites and that sort of stuff which feels very relevant. “Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live.” Ingredients ½ Blue Moon Bottle 4 ounces Bloody Mary Mix ½ Lime Juice 2-3 dashes Tabasco Pepper (to taste) Ice Instructions Step one: Pour half of a bottle of Blue Moon into a glass with ice. Step two: Pour in Bloody Mary Mix Step three: Add lime juice, tabasco and pepper Step four: Stir and enjoy “But deep down, I knew better. Lou had broken in that moment. My wild-hearted, foul-mouthed, steel-willed heathen had broken. I had broken her.”
Setting A wonderful parisian setting that we get with this book because our characters are french. I really like the renaissance feel that isn’t explicitly explained given we are in a fantasy world. I think future books will develop more on the setting as the story continues to develop. Characters I really love the dichotomy we get with Lou and Reid. Lou is a loud mouthed, raunchy and self confident witch (haha get it). Whereas Reid is a man of the cloth and a devoted religious boy resembling that of an altar boy. The way that the two opposites interact is really great. I also really like the side characters. My first read I didn’t like them as much, but the second time around Coco and Ansel really did add to the story and I’m excited to follow our band of hooligans into future novels. Plots and Themes I mean come on a witch having to marry a witch hunter? That’s enemies to lovers GOLD. So naturally I was obsessed. I also liked the way that there’s this ever present danger of an unknown female presence that is hunting Lou. That adds a sense of a timeline to the story that helps with the pacing and obviously with the events that will take place in the next book. Overall I really liked this book. It was really great and pleasantly reminiscent of a Sarah J Maas novel with the dynamic of our characters which I really appreciated. I’m looking forward to the second installment and any that follow after that. Too Strong : I think it’s a little tough to grasp how all the characters really come together at the end, but it’s a first book so give it some grace. Reasons to Raise a Glass : Lou is really great and reminds me of Aelin, the relationship is really cute, ANSEL IS ADORABLE “Love makes fools of us all, darling” Beweare spoilers ahead. Read on/click read more at your own risk. Author: Sarah J. Maas Pages: 648 Overall: 4.5/5 Setting: 4/5 Characters: 4.5/5 Plot and Themes: 4.5/5 Cheers Factor: 4/5 Pairing: Apple Ale I always feel like this is what you would drink in a shoddy run down pub in Rifthold? It’s definitely far too yummy for that, but a girl can dream. I imagine this is what Arobynn was drinking the night Celaena showed up to see him that first night back in Rifthold. Ingredients -1 ½ oz vodka -1 ½ oz apple cider -ginger beer -caramel sauce -ice -apple slice Instructions -Add vodka and apple cider to a copper mule mug and caramel sauce (about a good squeeze of the bottle) and stir -Add in ice once other ingredients are combined specifically the caramel sauce -Top with ginger beer and garnish with optional apple wedges -Enjoy responsibly Take a shot: All our characters find themselves back in Rifthold as things are becoming very dire, very quickly. It quickly goes from dangerous to lethal as dark forces continue to work against our heroes and their fight to reclaim thrones, save friends and make a better world.
“For her friends, for her family, she would gladly become a monster.” Setting We are back in Rifthold and we don’t really get my time outside of it which is again why I’m back to four stars. I again think it is magical, but we’ve already seen it and we’ve seen what Sarah can do and I know it could have been more. I do love the addition of the illegal market under the streets of Rifthold and we obviously get more of Manon in the Ferian Gap and Elide down in Morath. Characters We get to meet the remainder of our gang of characters that we will hang out with for a long while. We get Nesryn the human woman fighting for a nation and a people she doesn’t feel entirely tied to. We get Lysandra the courtesan that’s full of surprises, but loyal beyond belief. We get to finally meet Arobynn and see just how ruthless he can be. And we get all the reunions that we have anticipated from the beginning. This book is my favorite for the characters to be honest and the way we bring in all the players that will play a role as we continue watching them fight against the evil powers of the Valg. Plots and Themes We get to really see scheming Aelin for the first time and it’s truly magical. She just does crazy things and sets wheels in to motion that play a huge role weeks later. How Sarah comes up with it all I do not know, but the connectedness of every event is truly amazing. I also love the way this books story as a whole is told. It’s a real turning point in the war that has been brewing for years and the events of this novel make it even more inevitable. It really solidifies the stance of every character and just what they all stand to lose. It’s also got some good action and good fighting. And we get sexual tension which I love because we have had minimal at best up until this point. Do not fight me on this you know what I’m talking about with the gold nightgown. Overall This is the best installment of books yet. However, it does not get the 5/5 stars its predecessor received for two small reasons. One being the setting and two being the frustrating shifts between characters. We are introduced to the storytelling format Maas uses in Heir of Fire and it’s more bearable in that book, but by this one we are so invested in the story and events with one character that it feels jarring to have to jump back and forth. It’s a great incentive to read the novel in one sitting, but frustrating nonetheless. However, not frustrating in a bad way? I just want to know what happens and patience isn’t a virtue of mine. My reasoning behind the lower rating is more of a personal preference and a genuine lack of patience. I tend to google the endings of books when they get this way. I still read them all the way through, but it for some reason makes me less restless. I did not do that with this one, but was darn near tempted. Too Strong: Perspective/character shifts, Sweet baby Dorian Reasons to Raise a Glass: STRONG FEMALE CHARACTERS - I say this a lot, but what’s so beautiful about this ensemble cast of women is their genuine depth. None of them feels flat which is a feat given how many of them there are. They are all such nuanced and full characters that it, at times, can be overwhelming to not feel they are real and truly someone you know. Their motivations are clear and their histories and backgrounds laid out for you to see plainly. I don’t know how Sarah did it in these books given the sheer scale of characters she has, but it totally works and she gets all my admiration for it. “‘What if we go on,’ he said, ‘only to more pain and despair? What if we go on only to find a horrible end waiting for us? Aelin looked northward, as if she could see all the way to Terrasen. ‘Then it is not the end.’” Beware spoilers beyond this point. Read on/click Read More 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: Stephanie Garber Pages: 478 Overall: 5/5 Setting: 4/5 Characters: 5/5 Plot and Themes: 5/5 Cheers Factor: 5/5 Pairing: Long Story Short Sauv Blanc 2020 This pairing felt like it was important to use for this title because it felt like I finished the book and explained it to someone by saying long story short they all fall in love. “Every story has four parts: the beginning, the middle, the almost ending, and the true ending. Most people give up at the part of the story where things are the worst, when the situation feels hopeless, but that is where hope is needed the most. Only those who persevere can find their true ending.” Take a Shot: In the final installment of the Caraval series we get a dual perspective look at the Dragna sisters story. Now that the Fates are freed and are wanting to destroy Legend and take his powers the world has never been more unsafe. However, both Tella and Scarlett are grappling with their love over the two men who they have fallen hard for. The question is whether that love is enough and can be reciprocated.
“Fear was a poison that people mistook for protection.” Setting We are back in the same locale as we were in Legendary where we are near Elantine’s Castle and at times we are in one of the Fate’s residences so that is interesting and new. I think the setting of these novels is very interesting, but at times it feels confusing to know truthfully where you are and what exactly everything happens. It’s the only gripe I really have with the series in general. Characters I loved the dual perspective. It was a really great tie in from Scarlett’s book and Tella’s book. I love getting to see both their love stories from their own eyes.I also really loved legend in this book and the juxtaposition we still get between Jacks and Legend. The concept of the immortal beings being unable to love is such a cool concept to see play out with them all. I enjoy seeing their lust and their obsession being the main topic between both of these characters. I also selfishly love seeing more of Julian. I’ve loved him since the first book and naturally knew he loved Scarlett (Crimson) so much more than she believed him to love her. Plot and Themes There was a slight lack of urgency in a lot of the plot if I’m being honest. It isn’t the kind of action that keeps you on the edge of your seat, however that is the style of these books. I did like the nuances we get with the relationships in this book as well as the plot twist that was apparent, but never called out enough that it felt spoiled before we knew it. Conclusion Overall this last book made it worth reading the first two. It was definitely my favorite installment of the series and it did a great job of tying everything in and giving closure to all of our characters. I love a good fantasy based story and this was grounded in more realism than a high fantasy even with the magical aspects so I did appreciate that. Reasons to Raise a Glass: Perspectives from both Dragna sisters, clever plot twist Too Strong: I got lost on where we were and where we were going, I lowkey wish it wasn’t so young adult cause that would have been fun “Dazzle was a lot like romance- fantastic while it lasted but it never lasted long enough.” Warning spoilers ahead if you click read more. Proceed at your own risk. Author: Katharine McGee Pages: 374 Overall: 4.5/5 Setting: 4/5 Characters: 4.5/5 Plot and Themes: 5/5 Cheers Factor: 5/5 Pairing: Empress Gin French 75 I know it’s the same drink as the first novel’s pairing, but this book felt like it was such a switch up when really it was the same so it felt fitting to change the flavor profile but keep it relatively the same. Ingredients -1oz Empress Gin -½ oz lemon juice -½ oz simple syrup -prosecco (or whatever sparkling wine you like) -ice -optional lemon peel Instructions -Add ice, gin, lemon juice and simple syrup to shaker -Shake and strain into champagne flute -Top with sparkling wine of choice -Option to garnish with lemon peel twist -Enjoy responsibly “Facimus quod faciendum est. We do what we must.”
Take a Shot: In an America with Royals and the recent death of the monarch Beatrice must step up and take the throne long before she thought she would. She also must marry because of political instability due to her gender. She’s also marrying the man her sister loves and Sam is not about that. Nina and Jeff are no longer dating because of the way the media harassed her and Daphne sees this as her in. Read along as these characters all navigate their way through heartbreak and back to love. “In real life, no one would make the person they loved social climb to prove their worth.” Setting I said this last time, but I love the setting. I also love the addition of new locations and new names like Orange for what is now the California region. I love the changes that the residence gets too and the more we get to see as wedding preparations begin for the family. Characters Once again the characters are so good and I loved them a lot. I think in this one we see a lot more in depth sides of all characters particularly Daphne and that’s really refreshing to see and a reason to read in and of itself. I still want more of the other characters, particularly Jeff. He’s literally a royal sibling and he’s in like a pitiful amount of chapters. Plots and Themes The flip of the storylines from the first book was great to see how the characters come back. I originally was not a fan, but about halfway through fell in love with the way that the story was working. Each of the characters really changed and grew into themselves and it’s great to see. The theme of the character growth was my favorite part. Conclusion I think I originally was hesitant and didn’t love the book, but kept reading and truly grew to respect a lot of the characters and their decisions. It was truly a great duology. Reasons to Raise a Glass: character growth, realistic relationships Too Strong: WHERE IS MORE JEFF?, it’s hard to get through the beginning until you understand the characters motives Warning spoilers ahead if you click read more. Proceed at your own risk! Author: Katharine McGee Pages: 448 Overall: 4.5/5 Setting: 4/5 Characters: 5/5 Plot and Themes: 5/5 Cheers Factor: 4/5 Pairing: French 75 This is a very regal drink in my opinion that then goes beyond just being champagne or prosecco so it felt fitting for our cast of royals, tangential royals, and friends. Ingredients -1oz gin (I used Breckenridge) -½ oz lemon juice -champagne/prosecco, really whatever your favorite sparkling wine is you can switch it up and do cava too for my Spanish friends (; -dash simple syrup -lemon peel -ice Instructions -Add ice, gin, lemon juice and simple syrup to shaker -Shake generously -Strain into champagne flute (you could do a coupé glass but for this mix of a cocktail I think a flute is best to keep as much of the bubbles present as possible) -Top with sparkling wine of choice -Garnish with lemon twist -Enjoy responsibly *fun fact: the glass pictured below recently shattered into my dishwasher so this is my memorial to the glass itself Take a Shot: What would happen if George Washington hadn’t been the President of the United States and instead the Washingtons became the royal family of the United States? Well this book explores that as the three siblings of the royal family are the modern American equivalent of royals. Told from four women’s perspectives it’s a great look into the lives of a royal and those who run in the sphere of the family itself.
Setting It’s interesting to think about the White House being a palace, but it was definitely very interesting to see the way that the US could end up having royal estates. I loved all the parties that our characters were able to go to and all of the opulence that does exist for the rich and wealthy as well as political figures currently, but it was fun seeing it in a royalty context. Characters I love the way that we get the four different young women to follow in their stories. We get Sam who has a wild side, Nina who just wants to be herself, Beatrice who feels the pressure of the monarchy and Daphne who is manipulative until the end. Truthfully the range of all these lovely characters is the best part of them and it shows the depth of understanding McGee had for her characters. Plot and Themes I think the plot and themes are truly interesting and I love a good royalty novel, but I think it’s really neat to see it in an American context. I also felt that the story moved very well and wove all four of our main characters together quite well. Conclusion This book is really amazing and is great for fans of The Selection by Kiera Cass. It’s really well written and the story follows an entertaining format. Reasons to Raise a Glass: STRONG. FEMALE. CHARACTERS., four perspectives, dystopian but not, fun concept Too Strong: not enough communication between characters, not enough of the brother or other characters outside of our 4 Warning spoilers ahead if you click read more. Proceed at your own risk! Author: Sarah Henning Pages: 368 Overall: 3.5/5 Setting: 3.5/5 Characters: 4/5 Plot and Themes: 3/5 Cheers Factor: 3/5 Pairing: Taillefer’s Brew Fair warning this is obviously not poisonous duh, but I felt the name was clever given his proclivity towards experimenting. Ingredients -2oz gin (I used Breckenridge) -¾ oz lime juice -¾ oz simple syrup -Orange bitters -mint sprigs -Ice Instructions -Add mint to shaker and simple syrup and muddle -Add Ice -Combine gin, lime juice and a couple dashes of orange bitters in the shaker with other ingredients -Shake generously -Double strain into glass with fresh ice -Garnish with fresh mint sprig “Love doesn’t know anything about class, nor should it be bound by it.”
Take a Shot: In this gender flip of the Princess Bride, Princess Amarande is in love with the stableboy Luca and her father’s untimely death makes that more problematic than just loving a commoner would be for a princess. In order for Princess Amarande to rule she must first wed because she cannot ascend the throne on her own due to the succession rules not allowing women. Then Luca is kidnapped and is being held to sway Amarande to accept a marriage proposal and she must choose between playing politics to try to save her love or track him down and rescue him herself. “Power and strategic alliance wins out every time.” Setting The Itspi is interesting as well as the Torrent in terms of broad setting however, I don’t feel we ever really got a good description of any of the locales our characters were in. The Hand confused me as well as the place that the pirates brough Luca to stay at in the middle of the Torrent. It was confusing to follow at times. Characters I didn’t love Amarande as our leading lady and at times it was a little too aggressive to hear all the characters reiterate just how sexist their societies are, however I did love the strong female characters. I liked Koldo, Amarande, Ula and even the Dowager Queen. The intertwining of the characters was done really well and the connections of all of their stories which I really did enjoy and it was done well. I also just personally didn’t love that Amarande’s name reminded me so much of Amarantha from Sarah J. Maas’ A Court of Thorns and Roses series that made it hard to like her in general. This is strictly because of name association and has nothing to do with the character, but it’s the same concept as reading a character with the same name as your ex or nemesis. Plot and Themes I have always loved The Princess Bride truthfully and it was nice to see the storyline play out this way. The flow of the storytelling was strong as well. It was a little slow in the beginning, but picked up about halfway into the book. Conclusion Overall, I liked this book and the way that our characters moved through the story. I wasn’t my favorite, but it was quite good and a fun retelling of an old story. Reasons to Raise a Glass: The Princess Bride (this one is self explanatory), political intrigue, female driven plots Too Strong: Villains seemed a bit comical almost like Wile E. Coyote comical and not in a way that was becoming of them, too much reiteration of the women being oppressed by circumstances (this is strictly my opinion that I felt the topic was repeated so often it almost felt like the book thought I wasn’t paying attention and hadn’t picked up on it the first 5 times it was mentioned) “Men do not have a monopoly on strength.” Warning spoilers are ahead if you click read more. Proceed at your own risk! Author: Stephanie Garber Pages: 451 Overall: 4/5 Setting: 3.5/5 Characters: 4/5 Plot and Themes: 4/5 Cheers Factor: 3.5/5 Pairing: Storm on the Horizon This is a Dark and Stormy which truly makes me feel like it describes a lot of the relationships in this book! Ingredients 1/2 oz Simple Syrup 1/2 oz lime juice Ginger Beer (to almost fill glass roughly a can) 2 oz dark rum (I used Bacardi) ice Instructions -Fill a glass with ice -Combine Simple Syrup and lime juice in glass and stir -Add ginger beer leaving enough space for rum -Layer the rum using a stirring spoon to dilute -Garnish with a lime wheel -Enjoy! Take a Shot:
After her sister won Caraval, Tella is left still owing a debt to her unknown friend. However, the terms have changed and her friend now wants Legend’s identity in exchange for originally helping her. It won’t be easy, but now Tella has to play in order to find out who Legend is in exchange for the one thing she wants more than anything. Her mother. "Love turned the world into a garden so beguiling it was easy to forget rose petals were as ephemeral as feelings, eventually they would wilt and die, leaving nothing but thorns." Setting The setting felt a little confusing to me between the city and Elantine’s castle. I liked the temple that Dante and Tella went into, but I feel that for the most part I was pretty confused about where the characters were and what exactly they were doing. The locations also felt very convenient to me. Characters I love Dante. At first I was royally upset that it wasn’t from Scarlett’s perspective because I love Julian and her relationship from the first one, but I’ve started to realize that we needed both sister’s stories in order to get to where we are. Plus meeting Jacks and getting to know Dante better was worth Tella’s perspective. Plots and Themes I liked the plot line between Elantine and Tella and how Jacks fit into that. I liked the addition of a second Caraval and the fact that it’s more intense this go around. I enjoyed the escalation of the real life aspect of the game. I also liked the addition of the storyline regarding the Dragna’s mother. Conclusion Overall, this was a really great book and I really liked it. It’s not my favorite fantasy novel I’ve ever read but it’s not bad and has strong writing and characters. It is a fun game type set up that’s intriguing and fun to read the events play out. Reasons to Raise a Glass: Tall dark and mysterious love interest, quick pacing Too Strong: I was lost in the setting at points, I miss Scarlett Warning spoilers ahead if you click read more. Do not click read more unless you want spoilers! Author: Leigh Bardugo Pages: 465 Overall: 5/5 Setting: 5/5 Characters: 5/5 Plot and Themes: 5/5 Cheers Factor: 5/5 Pairing: Old Fashioned This is a Kaz Brekker drink if I’ve ever seen one. It’s serious, hardcore and perfect for a gangster like Kaz to hold in one hand with a weapon in the other. Ingredients
1 ½ oz whiskey 1 teaspoon of simple syrup from raw sugar A few dashes of water 2 dashes Aromatic bitters 1 ice ball Orange peel Instructions -Add simple syrup, dash of water and bitters to glass and combine by stirring -Add ice ball to glass -Rub orange peel on rim of glass -Pour whiskey into glass -Pinch orange peel over drink -Garnish with fresh orange peel -Enjoy “‘That’s what he wants, not what he needs,’ Kaz said. ‘Leverage is all about knowing the difference.’” Take a Shot: There is a mysterious drug circling around that is intensifying Grisha power and then subsequently killing them. Kaz Brekker is hired to break the scientist who created the jurda parem and he compiles a ragtag team of his friends and accomplices in order to get the job done Ocean’s Eleven style. “The life you live, the hat you feel - it’s poison. I can drink it no longer.” Setting I love Ketterdam! It’s super cool and grungy and an intriguing place to be. Bonus points because the book has a map. I also love all of the different locations we get to see. I do love the Ice Court as well; it's a very fun journey our characters take to fun and exciting locations. Characters I love the multiple perspectives from all of our motley crew. It’s really a great way to read an ensemble novel and Bardugo does an amazing job of weaving the different perspectives together. I love how Nina is depicted as being a curvier woman and that is never compromised and it also isn’t demonized as well. The diversity of backgrounds of the characters is also amazing too. We get to see a lot of them grow and become Also shameless plug for Kaz and Wylan. They are my two favorite characters and I love them. Plot and Themes The Ocean’s series with George Clooney and Brad Pitt have been some of my favorite movies for a very long time. Additionally, I love the show Peaky Blinders and this book is a perfect mix of that. The heist aspect of the novel is truly so well written that the action just keeps you guessing all the time. Conclusion This book made me fall in love with the Grishaverse and was truly a turning point in my love of Leigh Bardugo after finishing Shadow and Bone. It’s a great book for lovers of ensemble books with high stakes and great action. Reasons to Raise a Glass: STRONG. FEMALE. CHARACTERS., fast paced, good action, high stakes Too Strong: I wish it wasn’t YA so they could curse (like it would be so good) Click read more for more of my thoughts and spoilers! You have been warned spoilers are after the read more. |
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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