Author: Matthew McConaughey Pages: 308 Overall: 4/5 Takeaways: 4/5 Cheers Factor: 5/5 Pairing: Green Tea Shot This in no way tastes like green tea to me and is also odd it has whiskey, but when it comes to shots it's an easy one and far better than shooting it straight (sorry not sorry Carrie Underwood I will never be that girl) Ingredients (makes 2) -2.5oz whiskey (I used Tin cup Colorado represent but it's usually made with Jameson) -1/2 oz lime juice -1/2 oz lemon juice -1/2 oz simple syrup -1 oz sprite -ice -can substitute lime, lemon and simple for sour mix I just made my own Directions -Combine all ingredients except sprite in a shaker and shake well -Strain into glasses then top with sprite -You can stir it if you want unless you want to shoot it with sprite first to cover the taste -Enjoy responsibly “No matter who’s in your bed each night, we sleep w/ ourselves. We either live or get sick and tired of it.”
“I was remembered by being forgotten." Take a Shot: Matthew McConaughey shares life lessons and his green lights that have kept him on his path. He takes on his career, his childhood, his marriage and many things inbetween. “Good from afar, but far from good.” If you don’t listen to the audiobook you are a fake fan. I can think of a short list of more exciting things than listening to McConaughey talk for 7 hours. I did indeed listen to it while working (if we work together you know I live to have my headphones in). But truthfully I feel like it was a great environment to listen to his wise words of wisdom. I really love when he talks about his time in Australia and the wacky times he had there. It reminds me of my own experience abroad, albeit in a different country, context and century, but nonetheless similar. I loved the way he so honestly described his desire to be a father and the way he spoke of his wife. I really loved the way that he elaborated in detail with candor about his career. I think someone who is very settled with themself can write those things from their own heart and that was my favorite part of the novel. There’s not message being shoved down your throat either. Now he may push you to follow your greenlights and to accept the things that present themselves to us in life, but it doesn’t feel condescending as though he has all the answers to life. He merely shares his own experiences in an inspiring manner that makes him relatable and easy to listen to (literally and metaphorically). “Don’t invent drama. It will come on its own.”
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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 Author: Kiera Cass Pages: 336 Overall: 4.5/5 Setting: 4.5/5 Characters: 4/5 Plot and Themes: 4.5/5 Cheers Factor: 4.5/5 Pairing: Something Blue I thought this cocktail matched the cover. I also think it’s a cute reference to marriage as the Selection is a competition with the ultimate goal being marriage to a prince and a future at being Queen. So we have something blue. Ingredients
-2oz vodka -1oz blue curacao -1oz lime -2.5oz cranberry juice -ice -lime wheel for garnish Instruction -Combine all liquid ingredients in a shake with ice -Strain into glass of choice -Garnish with lime wheel -Enjoy responsibly Take a Shot: America Singer is a 5. That makes her an artist in the Caste system of Illea. She’s musically driven whether it be through instruments or singing. However, because they are artists, they are unfortunately on the poorer end of society. They are far from being eights but much further from being ones. That is until the Selection begins because Prince Maxon Shreave is now of age for a bachelor style competition where women from different castes compete for his heart. America’s whole world changes when she herself is chosen and she’s taken on the journey of a lifetime. "I needed to hate him right now. That anger would keep me going." Setting I do really love Illea. And I really love the palace and America’s family home. I think there’s a really great mixture of contemporary technology and scenery. We get to see the palace and we see our ladies travel by air. I really love the way the palace is laid out as well and the ways that the women get to wander around the entirety of the scenery. Characters I’ve read this title several times and when I first read this I really think I fell in love with the characters. But I was also in early high school so take it with a grain of salt. I do still love the characters, but I think with a more mature presence I dislike aspects of them more and am able to pick out flaws in them more easily. I do really love them, but I think they have some flat aspects that lead me to feel they aren’t real people. At least in this first novel. Plots and Themes I love the bachelor-esque inclusion with a class system. I really think this is an incredible plot and theme concept. I’m not a huge fan of the “she’s not like other girls” trope which is seems America follows. It’s almost like we are trying too hard to make every female main character so far from the normal, when really she is just normal? I don’t know it really felt like Cass was trying to make America a Katniss. However, I think overall, I really liked the plots and I am a sucker for this trope even though I’d like to see something else reflected in popular works of contemporary literature. Overall This is one of my favorite series and this being the first one leads me to obviously like it. I’m very protective over this series as well. I read them in a very formative time in my life and I felt very attached so naturally as an adult they are near and dear to me. I’m a big girl, but I’m still young at heart and I don’t think I will ever be convinced that this is not one of my favorite series. Too Strong: “ShE’s Not LiKe OtHer GirLs.” trope Reasons to Raise a Glass: The bachelor plot line "After all this, I can only imagine what it would be like to see you actually try." Warning spoilers ahead if you click read more. Proceed at your own risk. Author: Katee Robert Pages: 380 Overall: 3.5/5 Setting: 4/5 Characters: 3/5 Plot and Themes: 3/5 Cheers Factor: 3.5/5 Pairing: Where Darkness Meets the Light This cocktail is super simple and has literally two ingredients, but the flavors all work really well together. It’s essentially a gin and soda with mango. Plus it has this really vibrant color contrast that reminds me of neon signs and I felt it worked really well with this title. Ingredients -1.5 oz empress gin -¾ of a can of Mango Bubbly -ice Instructions -Fill a short glass with ice -Add in bubbly leaving enough room for the gin -Using a stirring spoon gently layer the gin on top -Enjoy responsibly Take a shot: What if the greek gods lived today and Olympus was a place here on earth? What if Hades used a cellphone and had a Christian Grey style of interests? Well look no further you get all the spice with this Hades and Persephone retelling.
Setting Truly this was the best aspect of the novel. I think the setting was very interesting, setting up Hades as simply being in the lower city as the designation of Hell instead of traditional ways of showing where he resides. I also think the setting was very easy to see and create in my head. Characters I did like the characters oddly more than I do usually in this genre. However, I was quite annoyed with the repetition of things the characters did. I’m not a huge fan of the damsel concept anyway and it was so present in this. Like Persephone constantly needing to be taken care of by Hades because she forgets to eat or walks too long and over tires herself? It felt a little condescending and almost manufactured. I know everyone wants to be taken care of that way, but it just felt grating a little. Plots and Themes There was a real plot with a beginning, middle and end. That was a great addition because again in this genre plots can sometimes fall a little flat. I wish we had more resolution with the mother storyline, but I know there’s going to be more installments. I also wish there had been a little more elaboration on a number of small moments. It would have truly made a difference and I’m curious as to what future installments will bring. Overall This was a pleasant and quick read that I liked. It was an easy read and was paced well enough that I felt invested in the characters. Overall, I really liked it and will be reading future installments. Too strong - The character traits of neglectful damsel and overprotective male love interest Raise a Glass - Exhibitionism, dark and broody love interest, his name is Hades Warning spoilers ahead if you click read more. Proceed at your own risk. Author: Colleen Hoover Pages: 385 Overall: 4/5 Setting: 3/5 Characters: 4/5 Plot and Themes: 3.5/5 Cheers Factor: 4/5 Pairing: Self Love "I love it when the sky makes me feel insignificant." Ingredients -1 oz St. Germain -1/2 oz lemon juice -1 oz Empress Gin - Prosecco -ice Instructions - Combine St. Germain, lemon juice and gin in a shaker with ice -Shake and strain into a coupe glass -Top with prosecco -Enjoy responsibly Setting
I like the big city setting we get in this novel. I personally have never been to Boston, but I do feel like I romanticize the idea of living in a big city as a young person. I also loved the way it wasn't detracting from the story and it didn’t take away from the quintessential plot line. Characters I think the way that the characters are written is very interesting. The flashbacks to see the old relationship versus the new relationship are very intriguing in the way that time is shown passing between present day and the past. I think it helps to give the characters growth and experiences without having to genuinely witness it. Plots and Themes This is such a deep book that totally hit me out of left field. I did not know anything going in to this book and it did indeed take me by surprise. It felt very similar to when I read In Five Years and it was a hard hitting in the same way. Overall It has taken me a few days to truthfully come around to liking it. And by a few days I mean a couple of weeks. I think at first, this novel felt very triggering for a multitude of reasons and then I began to respect it as I continued to reflect. I think my heart hurt a lot and processing that was very difficult. Too Strong - check trigger warnings before reading Reasons to raise a glass - painful, but in a good way "Just because someone hurts you doesn't mean you can simply stop loving them." Warning spoilers ahead. Proceed at your own risk. 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. 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: Sarah J. Maas Pages: 565 Overall: 5/5 Setting: 5/5 Characters: 5/5 Plot and Themes: 5/5 Cheers Factor: 5/5 Pairing: Fire Blood This little concoction is unassuming and really hits you when you least expect it. I made it while hosting some friends and it was a hit. “I sent her to do what needs to be done.” Ingredients 1 ½ oz tequila ½ oz lime juice ½ oz grapefruit juice 1 topo chico Grenadine Lime wedge Instructions -Pour out around 3 ounces of topo chico (just below the emblem below the neck of the bottle) -Add tequila, lime juice, and grapefruit juice to topo chico bottle and shake gently to combine ingredients -Add enough grenadine to give a red tint (will seem sort of ombre due to the layering) -Add lime wedge for optional garnish -Enjoy responsibly “A boy in love with a wildfire - or believing he was in love with one.”
Setting I love that we get to finally see outside of Adarlan. We get to see Wendlyn while Celaena is sent on a mission. I also think that this is the book that really gives a lot more world building because we also get introduced to Morath and the Ferian Gap. Characters This book introduces us to a deeper level of characters than we were used to. We get to really see how the events of the previous two novels have truly dug so deeply into the souls of our characters and its impossible not to love them for being so vulnerable and human. I also love the introduction of our new fae warrior prince. I also love the addition of Aedion the Ashryver prince and cousin to Aelin Galathynius. He’s such an incredible add to the stories with Chaol and Dorian and I really love it a lot Plots and Themes I love the idea of healing presented for Celaena in this book as well as the journey that now involves both Chaol and Dorian. Everyone in this book starts to really feel the pain and the suffering that is to come and can truly feel the impending war that is upon them and just how small they are as pieces on the chess board. Overall This book is incredible and definitely a step up from the other two. That is not to say that they aren’t amazing, but it’s very important in the story that this series is telling. This book is the real turning point on whether the rest of the series will be successful given that by now, as a reader, you should be invested enough to continue reading the series or not. Heir of Fire really delivers that and turns everything truly on its head and the way that everything we believed about these characters and their journeys they will start to embark upon for the rest of the series. Too Strong - Frustrating going back and forth between all the characters, wanting our relationships to be more spicy Reasons raise a Glass- ROWAN that’s it that the reason we are raising a glass, STRONG FEMALE CHARACTERS “You didn’t need a weapon when you were born one.” Beware spoilers beyond this point. Read more at your own risk. Author: Sarah J. Maas Pages: 565 Overall: 4/5 Setting: 4/5 Characters: 4/5 Plot and Themes: 4/5 Cheers Factor: 4/5 Pairing: Flaming Crown This is basically a basic margarita just the lazy way that I like making, but I gave it a fun little twist. It reminds me of a bar here where I live and they cover everything with Tajin and I love it so I even bought my own. “Hide from fate all you like. But it shall soon find you.” Ingredients 2 oz lime juice 1 oz orange juice 1 ½ oz tequila ½ oz agave nectar Tajin salt Ice Instructions -Add ice to a shaker and combine lime juice, orange juice and tequila -Shake well -Add agave and shake again -Use a lime wedge to rim a glass and on a plate add generous amounts of tajin -Roll class gently and coat rim with tajin -Add ice to glass and strain cocktail in -Enjoy responsibly! “You have lived your life aware that you will never escape certain burdens.” Take a Shot: Celaena has been crowned the King’s Champion after narrowly winning his competition. Now she must journey to dispose of the enemies of the king. After ending her romance with the Crown Prince things start to heat up between her and the Captain of the Guard. However, it seems everyone is keeping secrets that might put them all in danger once again. Setting Again this book takes place in Adarlan which is meh. We still don’t see too much outside of the castle, but I do like the addition of the library and the secret library as well as the balls in the grand ballroom. Characters I love the way the story starts to splinter in this book and we really get to see more of Dorian and Chaol. I also love getting to see more of Nehemia. This book really starts to get into the psychology of each of the characters which is beautiful to see how deep they really are as well as the level of familiarity the author has with them. Plots and Themes This book is full of twists and turns from cute romance to devastating heartbreak. I do really love the way that all the events unfold and it sets the whole rest of the series up quite well with a lot of events that will likely inform the characters and their decisions moving forward throughout the rest of our time with them. Overall This is a really great second installment with a lot more character development that makes you even more excited to keep reading about the characters. It also makes you really learn a lot and truly care for the characters in a way you didn’t in the previous book. Reasons to raise a glass: Believable circumstances, character development, character insight Too Strong: the love triangle (it’s a worn out trope I just don’t love it when it’s in a fantasy book and yes I’m looking at you Twilight) “Death was her curse and her gift and death had been her good friends these long, long years.” Warning spoilers ahead after the read more button. 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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