Goodreads Look-in!

So, I've been reading a lot, and because of this I can't always review the books I have read. So now, I'll be doing to occasional Goodreads look-in where I will be showing my ratings and a few thoughts of the books I have read.

Here we go:

A Sky Painted Gold by Laura Wood: 5 Stars. Such a beautiful book, really made me wish to be in the pages and part of the glitz and glamour.

I Invited Her In by Adele Parks: 4 Stars. Definitely a surprising ending, and a good venture out of my usual book genre, just goes to show I need to expand my genre's more often!

Sea Witch by Sarah Henning: 5 Stars. I adored this retelling, it gave some interesting views on everything and was just beautiful.

A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas: 5 Stars. I re-read this series and it was just as breathtaking, if not more so than before. This is still my favourite book of the series.

Empire of Storms by Sarah J. Maas: 5 Stars. This was a re-read and wow I loved it, and that ending. I'm glad I decided to re-read near to the new/last book of the series coming out so it is fresh in my mind.

Heart of Thorns by Bree Barton: 4 Stars. I got into this quite slowly, but it definitely kept me wondering what would happen, and it ended in a perfect place to leave me wanting more.

Ariadnis by Josh Martin: 4 Stars. Definitely an interesting concept, and I loved the way it went through both POVs of the main characters. I can't wait to get the next book.

The Warrior Queen by Emily R. King: 5 Stars. An amazing ending to a great series, I loved seeing different characters and places, and I'm glad it ended the way it did.

Beautiful Darkness by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl: 4 Stars. I've always wondered what happened after the first book as I've seen the movies, it was definitely an interesting way to take the series.

The Mystery of the Three Quarters by Sophie Hannah: 4.5 stars. I've always watched Poirot and never read one of Agatha Christie's books, I think I definitely need to now, and definitely need to read more mystery.

Damsel by Elana K. Arnold: 4 Stars. This book really intrigued me trying to figure out what was happening. I absolutely loved this take on princesses, princes and dragons, and the ending blew me away. I would say though it is quite a dark tale!

Arrowood by Mick Finlay: 4.5 Stars. I've recently got into reading mystery, and this one definitely didn't disappoint, I loved the setting, the characters and the story and I can't wait to read the second book. Definitely happy to have picked this up from HQ crime night!

This is just a few of the many books I've read and only reviewed on Goodreads, have you read any? What did you think of them? I'll be posting another Goodreads look-in in a few months!

ARC Review: The Rogue Queen by Emily R. King

I received this e-book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review, which is going to follow:

So, this is a book that I have been so excited for and waiting ages for too. I've reviewed both book one and book two (BOOK ONE - BOOK TWO). So, please be aware that there may be spoilers for both the first books in this review if you read ahead!

I didn't actually realise that this was on Netgalley until this week, so this was a really quick read for me, as I wanted to post this review before the book is out on 13th February!

Here it is:

In the explosive third volume of The Hundredth Queen Series, the queen of fire faces off against a demon of ice.

Despite the odds, Kalinda has survived it all: Marriage to a tyrant. Tournaments to the death. The forbidden power to rule fire. The icy touch of a demon.

That same demon now disguises itself as Rajah Tarek, Kalinda’s late husband and a man who has never stopped haunting her. Upon taking control of the palace and the army, the demon brands Kalinda and her companions as traitors to the empire. They flee across the sea, seeking haven in the Southern Isles.

In Lestari, Kalinda’s powers are not condemned, as they are in her land. Now free to use them to protect those she loves, Kalinda soon realizes that the demon has tainted her with a cold poison, rendering her fire uncontrollable. But the lack of control may be just what she needs to send the demon back to the darkest depths of the Void.

To take back the empire, Kalinda will ally with those she distrusts—and risk losing those most loyal to her—to defeat the demon and bring peace to a divided nation.

Okay, first off, let me just say this: Wow.

This third book did not disappoint me at all. It was fast-paced, full of action and I never would have guessed where this went if I'd tried. That is the main thing I liked about this book - the fast pace of it. There was so much action, especially in the latter half of the book, that it felt like you were immersed in everything that was happening.

Also, I will comment on the fact that there was a love-triangle in this again: something that I adore in books, and that I have commented on in the second book's review. This time though it was definitely more intense between Kalinda and Ashwin than I expected - as Kalinda found something with Ashwin that helped her with her inner fire after the Voider demon breathed his icy breath into her, and I never would have guessed just why that was (and I won't spoil it for those who want to guess when they read the book).

The chapters go between both Kalinda's and Devens POV - starting out when they were together, and then leading to separate adventures. I found this interesting because you got to see the relationship between them from both of their eyes and also got to see what was going on in the different places they were throughout the chapters.

I loved that you also got to see more of the competitors from the second book - and also saw more about both their worlds, and that they all banded together to help each other as much as possible. As well as that you see the Tarek's wives and courtesans stand together to fight for their lives. So, I think the message of unity in this book is amazing, and it's definitely something I loved to see.

I could talk about this book for ages, especially the ending and the little twist right at the end - but I won't make you read all of my rambling thoughts.

I give this book: 5 cats!

Have you read this series, or this book? Did you love it as much as me? Comment below!

ARC Review: The Fire Queen by Emily R. King

So I got this book from the publisher via Netgalley, in the form of an e-book, in exchange for a review.

And boy, was I excited I got accepted when I absolutely adored the first book in the series. This book is out on the 26th of September, and I highly suggest you read it, and the first book (my review for The Hundredth Queen can be found HERE).

So, anyways, here's the book:

In the second book in The Hundredth Queen Series, Emily R. King once again follows a young warrior queen’s rise to meet her destiny in a richly imagined world of sorcery and forbidden powers.

Though the tyrant rajah she was forced to marry is dead, Kalinda’s troubles are far from over. A warlord has invaded the imperial city, and now she’s in exile. But she isn’t alone. Kalinda has the allegiance of Captain Deven Naik, her guard and beloved, imprisoned for treason and stripped of command. With the empire at war, their best hope is to find Prince Ashwin, the rajah’s son, who has promised Deven’s freedom on one condition: that Kalinda will fight and defeat three formidable opponents.

But as Kalinda’s tournament strengths are once again challenged, so too is her relationship with Deven. While Deven fears her powers, Ashwin reveres them—as well as the courageous woman who wields them. Kalinda comes to regard Ashwin as the only man who can repair a warring world and finds herself torn between her allegiance to Deven and a newly found respect for the young prince.

With both the responsibility to protect her people and the fate of those she loves weighing heavily upon her, Kalinda is forced again to compete. She must test the limits of her fire powers and her hard-won wisdom. But will that be enough to unite the empire without sacrificing all she holds dear?

So, as you can tell from the Blurb of this, the Rajah from the first book is dead, and boy was I happy that happened! But it did leave me wondering just where the plot would go after that. And I was not disappointed at all.

In this book, you meet the Rajah's son, Ashwin, who will eventually go on to be the newest Rajah once he gains control of his city again. And Guys, I guessed correctly, there is a love triangle here! Granted, it's not much of one as Kalinda is still very much in love with Deven, but I can't wait to see where this subtle little triangle will go in the next book.

Because by now, you should know I love a good love triangle.

But, that's not all about the book that interested me of course, there was a new place to explore in this little world of Emily's, and with that came a whole load of new imagery, and a slightly different portrayal of the religious beliefs, and that's always interesting to read about, how different places differ in their ways of practising religion. (though this isn't a real religion, as stated at the beginning of both books)

But yes, I love the imagery in this, and I love the relationship between Kalinda and Deven as well, it's good to see the inner workings of it, especially when there is a new player in the game (Prince Ashwin).

It's not all about the love triangle though guys, you get to see the workings of Bhuta's a bit more in this book, especially in the new land where they are allowed to be part of the Sultan's guard, and it's great to see just how powerful they can be when they aren't shunned like they were in the first book.

Kalinda also definitely learns to grow into her powers in this, and I absolutely loved that about her in this book, She got to learn just how powerful she really is.

So, altogether, I give this book: 5 cats!

I just love that it goes into a bit more detail for everything in this, and I feel like the 3rd book is going to be amazing too when it comes out.

Don't forget, this second book is out the 26th September!

Have you read either of these books? Do you agree with me? Will you be buying this book when it's out? Comment below!

Review: The Hundredth Queen by Emily R. King

So, I got this as a kindle First book, which meant I got it a month before the release date in the UK. I don't tend to get kindle First books unless they really draw me in with the cover and the description, and boy did this one draw me in.

The cover for this book is amazing, bright reds and golds mix together and with my weakness for nice book covers, I just had to buy it.

 I didn't actually read it until it was released as I was so busy with work, but when I did read it, I was amazed and breezed through it rather quickly for a kindle book!

Anyways, here it is:

As an orphan ward of the Sisterhood, eighteen-year-old Kalinda is destined for nothing more than a life of seclusion and prayer. Plagued by fevers, she’s an unlikely candidate for even a servant’s position, let alone a courtesan or wife. Her sole dream is to continue living in peace in the Sisterhood’s mountain temple.

But a visit from the tyrant Rajah Tarek disrupts Kalinda’s life. Within hours, she is ripped from the comfort of her home, set on a desert trek, and ordered to fight for her place among the rajah’s ninety-nine wives and numerous courtesans. Her only solace comes in the company of her guard, the stoic but kind Captain Deven Naik.

Faced with the danger of a tournament to the death—and her growing affection for Deven—Kalinda has only one hope for escape, and it lies in an arcane, forbidden power buried within her.

In Emily R. King’s thrilling fantasy debut, an orphan girl blossoms into a warrior, summoning courage and confidence in her fearless quest to upend tradition, overthrow an empire, and reclaim her life as her own.

Now, as I said I breezed through this book, and I've even gone through it a second time since the first, as I did love the plot so much. Kalinda, the main character, is an orphan who has lived her life with the Sisterhood, and yet despite her fevers she gets chosen to be the Rajah's 100th wife, where she has to compete with numerous courtesan's to keep that position as his last, and final wife.

I just loved Kalinda, she was feisty, and I like feisty female main characters. I love that she keeps her feistyness despite everything that happens to her in the book, and I was routing for her to fall in love with someone (not the creepy Rajah). However, I must admit that I did think the love between Kalinda and Deven was very quickly built up, but I can't help but love their relationship anyway.

Plus, I love the fantasy part of this book. Bhuta's (people with elemental powers) are trying to regain their lost legacy after it was stolen by the Rajah, and while doing so they mix in with Kalinda and shape her plans for her tournament, while adding a little bit more excitement to the mix of the book!

The ending to this book had me wanting more, which is always a good way to leave it don't you think? And the next book, The Fire Queen (out 26th September) has a description that makes me think there may be a slight love triangle (I like love triangles so here's hoping) so I can't wait to read it!

Altogether, I give this book 4 Cats! (if it was more of a slow-go with the relationship it would have been 5)

Have any of you read this book? Do you agree with my review? Comment below!