A Court of Mist and Fury

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I knew that Rhysand would have a much more important role in Feyre's future the moment he showed up in A Court of Thorns and Roses. The way he was described, and the way he helped her with little to no personal gain. 

What I didn't know was that he knew Feyre before he met her. 

It's interesting to see Rhysand's life and the beautiful world of the Night Court. Sarah J. Maas does a wonderful job developing Feyre's character and revealing the twist of the story. 

Feyre was given barely a choice while she lived at the Spring Court. Tamlin doesn't even consider her to be the High Lady. She is merely a consort, and her power is limited in terms of the court. 

Rhysand treats Feyre with more respect, and he truly cares for her. He always gives her the option to leave or stay, and Feyre finds a more welcoming environment at the Night court. 

The twist in this book was no surprise to me, because the author did so well dropping hints in the first book A Court of Thorns and Roses. From the begining, Feyre is drawn to Rhysand, and in this book, we learn why. Watching Feyre change from a helpless consort to a powerful queen was an incredible process. I think this book speaks volumes for teens on the meaning of a healthy relationship versus a toxic one. 

So often the male leads in teen YA are possessive and easily angry. That's taken to be "exciting" and "edgy" but in reality, it's not. It's seriously unhealthy. 

Feyre and Rhys are a team, and I belive that is really important for the young readers of today. The model of a healthy relationship really made this book for me. 

I loved it, and I give it five stars who listen. 

My favorite quote is an exchange between Feyre and Rhysand. 

"To the people who looked at the stars and wished, Rhys" - Feyre

"To the stars who listened and the dreams that are answered." - Rhysand. 

Warrior by Sean Golden

This is my Dad's novel, and it's epic! It's a story of magic, myth and adventure that is growing to more than your average hero's quest. It weaves between the philosophies of the world, the ties of myth and the human condition. 

Although he is smart and strong, Lirak is ostracized from most of the Dwon village. His dreams, although useful in hunting, bring great fear to the Elders. With rumors of his missing father and a different looking mother surrounding him, he is able to confide in his older brother Jerok, younger friend Patrick and the fiery Mayrie. At the age of sixteen, he is ready to become a man through the tasks the Elders choose for him, but he has a difficult totem to bear: the Eagle. Those of the Eagle totem are known to journey far and never return, and through their wanderings they can bring with them danger and doom.  

As Lirak grows from a boy to a man, he is destined for a legacy much grander than he can even imagine. Chosen by the goddess Kathoias, both beautiful and ruthless, Lirak begins a grand adventure through the world he once believed to be a mystery. But this adventure requires bravery, intelligence and sacrifice. The more Lirak learns, the more he wonders: is he a pawn of the gods, or is he creating his own legacy?

This story is amazing, and Lirak's journey from a boy to a man is a powerful tale of humanity. What it means to be human, and what it takes to look beyond what you have been told.

I give it five out of five Eagle totems!

I recommend this book to readers of Lord of the Rings, Eragon, Ender's Game, Hyperion, and many more fantasy epics. And it's just the beginning! This book is part of The War Chronicles trilogy, and I can't wait to read book 2! 

Warrior is now available on Kindle here: 

http://www.amazon.com/Warrior-War-Chronicles-Book-I-ebook/dp/B00SGCWXYU/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1421799471&sr=8-5&keywords=sean+golden

For more info on Warrior and The War Chronicles: you can visit the brand new website here: 

https://thewarchronicles.wordpress.com

Tiger's Curse by Colleen Houck

Have you ever read a book, and felt like it was written for you? That you could have wrote it at some point in your life if it wasn't already written? It's almost like a story soul mate. It has everything you love about stories, and the characters are almost real. 

That's what it was like reading Tiger's Curse. 

The prolouge swept me away into this story's world, and I haven't returned :) 

Kelsey Hayes is a recent graduate of High School, and she's looking for a job to help her decide what to do next. Which college should she go too? What is her purpose and destiny?

She finds volunteer work at the local circus, hoping to add some credits to her summer credit requirements. Instead, she finds an adventure more exciting and magical than she could have ever imagined. 

It began with a tiger named Ren. While Kelsey learns how to care for the animal, she discovers he is not as simple as he seems, and he doesn't act like an average tiger. She begins to keep him company, and during her last week of volunteer work, a man from India arrives and tells her a story: a story about two princes, and a curse that began 300 years ago. Then he offers her a choice, to go to India with the Tiger or say her goodbyes. 

Kelsey's choice puts her on a dangerous path where myth and magic are real, and she soon learns that she has more courage and strength than she gives herself credit for. As they travel through India, Kelsey and Ren begin a quest to break the curse, appease the gods, and understand the thread of their destinies. 

This book was a wonderful surprise. I had seen it before on the shelves of the bookstore, but I never picked it up until I recieved a recomendation on iBooks. 

Kelsey is a wonderful main character, and she's no damsel in distress or lovestruck whiny teenager. She's an independent  and smart young woman who won the heart of a tiger. 

Ren is a strong, smart and brave tiger and prince. His struggle between the mind of the tiger and the mind of the man is an interesting one, and he is wise beyond his years. As he tries to understand the tweny-first century and find a way to break his curse, he still has a lot to learn. 

As Ren and Kelsey start their adventure, their back and forth bickering and bantering is almost as entertaining as the mystic path they seem to be on. 

As they try to understand their journey, and their complex relationship they must battle dangerous and challenging foes, talk to ancient dieties and still be able to blend in with everyday life in the twenty-first century. As their list of tasks grows, they must prove their courage, honesty, strength and determination. 

This is only book one of a series, and I'm grateful for it. 

I recommend this book to anyone who loves adventure, myth and magic. 

I give it five out of five tiger lilies. 

It is also soon to be a film ^_^ 

 

Ruin and Rising by Leigh Bardugo

Four months ago, I picked up a book called Shadow and Bone, and I was blown away! The story echoed the epics, with the conflict of light and dark, the symbolism of life and death, and the mythical creatures of folklore. Alina is a brave soul, and her path begins when she becomes a Sun Summoner, but not by choice. Her title wisks her away through the strange country of Ravka, battling the forces of the Darkling and all the while trying to stay true to herself. The first book, Shadow and Bone begins her tale, and reveals her purpose to find three great amplifiers of power in order to defeat the darkness and save the country of Ravka. The second book reveals the truth behind the legends she must chase.  But her journey is more complicated than it seems, for each amplifier is created at a high price, and none will be higher than her final task, to retrieve the fire bird. As Alina becomes more well known throughout Ravka, she goes from summoner to saint, and becomes more involved in the chaos of the war around her. This book concludes her story, and completes this saga of imagination, adventure and myth. 

Leigh Bardugo is able to create complex characters who are not always good or bad. Many villains have empathetic moments, and in turn, many heroes must make cruel decisions. Alina's decisions become more and more difficult as she chases the firebird, and each confrontation reveals a new dark secret about herself, and the world of Ravka. As the story progresses, Alina must use the strength of her humanity to confront the raw and cruel greed that comes with power.

This trilogy was amazing, and all three books are worth reading. The story is epic, and reflects many myths and legends from Europe, while still creating a mythology and history of its own. 

I give this book five out of five sunbursts!

Cruel Beauty by Rosamund Hodge

This book is both a retelling of Beauty and the Beast and its own story of myth and magic. 

The land of Arcadia is haunted by demons and the Gentle Lord is the only one who can control them. All of Arcadia fears the demon lord and his bargains. In a desperate attempt to save his own kingdom, Nyx's father promises her to the demon lord in return for safety and protection. But the promise is a trap. Raised to destroy the demon lord, Nyx is trained in the magic arts and promises her sister that she will kill the monster that controls their realm. But when she arrives, the demon lord is not surprised by her attempt to kill him, and gives her a chance to guess his name before retreating into the shadows. As Nyx searches for the fabled hearts of water, earth, fire and air, she must learn the truth behind the curse that not only threatens her life, but the life of all Arcadia. 

As she explores the castle, with the mysterious servant of the demon lord, she must face trials that none have survived and make sense of the truths and lies within the castle. 

I must admit that I enjoyed this book more than I thought I would. The story echoes greek myth and also creates a world of its own. I would compare this retelling to Beauty by Robin McKinley. The story is darker version of the original fairy tale, but the events read like a greek epic. 

I recommend this book to anyone who loves Beauty and the Beast, Cupid and Psyche, Persephone and Hades and Howl's Moving Castle. 

I give this book four out of five riddles. A must read for Beauty and the Beast fans! 

I also made a fan mix for it here: http://crystallizedheart.blogspot.com/2014/02/souls-of-light-and-dark-cruel-beauty.html