Evershore (Skyward Flight #3)

Defending Elysium

Author: Brandon Sanderson

Evershore – see the blurb here.

Back with the Skyward Flight and this time from Jorgen’s point of view.

Jorgen has lost a lot in a short time, he’s ready to fall apart but he can’t, answers and solutions are needed and he’s the right guy for the job!

There’s loads of action, was emosh and a total journey for him and the Kitsen (I adore them!!)

I also adore Arturo and Alanik. I need more! They need their own novella!

Need that last book now, countdown begins!

Defending Elysium – see the blurb here.

I felt like I needed to read this to complete my knowledge of this world and the author says himself that he felt it was time to talk about Jason and his story, and how it related to Spensa and her story. And to be honest, I can’t get enough of the world!

Although short, this story gives us insight to the beginnings of Jason Write. Of an interesting fact about Jason but I won’t spill that here and it’s probably not what you think.

I’m not sure but from what I learned in Cytonic to what was here, I can piece a bit more together.

‘The Phone Company had arrived.’

Top Ten Tuesday is featured by That Artsy Reader Girl It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.

Topic = New-to-Me Authors I Discovered in 2021

Discovering new authors is one of the reasons I love getting book boxes. They introduce me to books and authors that I might not have read!

Here’s a selection I discovered in 2021:

❤ Cassandra Clare
❤ TJ Klune
❤ Susan Ee
❤ Katherine Arden
❤ Zoey Draven
❤ Destiny Soria
❤ Elizabeth Lim
❤ Xiran Jay Zhao
❤ Cari Thomas
❤ Deborah Harkness

Title: Lord of Shadows

Series: The Dark Artifices

Author: Cassandra Clare

Would you trade your soul mate for your soul?

A Shadowhunter’s life is bound by duty. Constrained by honor. The word of a Shadowhunter is a solemn pledge, and no vow is more sacred than the vow that binds parabatai, warrior partners—sworn to fight together, die together, but never to fall in love.

Emma Carstairs has learned that the love she shares with her parabatai, Julian Blackthorn, isn’t just forbidden—it could destroy them both. She knows she should run from Julian. But how can she when the Blackthorns are threatened by enemies on all sides?

Their only hope is the Black Volume of the Dead, a spell book of terrible power. Everyone wants it. Only the Blackthorns can find it. Spurred on by a dark bargain with the Seelie Queen, Emma; her best friend, Cristina; and Mark and Julian Blackthorn journey into the Courts of Faerie, where glittering revels hide bloody danger and no promise can be trusted. Meanwhile, rising tension between Shadowhunters and Downworlders has produced the Cohort, an extremist group of Shadowhunters dedicated to registering Downworlders and “unsuitable” Nephilim. They’ll do anything in their power to expose Julian’s secrets and take the Los Angeles Institute for their own.

When Downworlders turn against the Clave, a new threat rises in the form of the Lord of Shadows—the Unseelie King, who sends his greatest warriors to slaughter those with Blackthorn blood and seize the Black Volume. As dangers close in, Julian devises a risky scheme that depends on the cooperation of an unpredictable enemy. But success may come with a price he and Emma cannot even imagine, one that will bring with it a reckoning of blood that could have repercussions for everyone and everything they hold dear.

So I went straight into book 2 as I needed more!

The Cold Peace has hurt so many people and it carries on……with the Blackthorns and some others helping in the fight to put an end to it.

This is what we’ve got here:

* We have the Faeries back in full force,
* We have the leader of the Wild Hunt trying to romance a Shadowhunter (and I bloody loved that!!),
* We have Magnus and Alec in their gloriousness,
* We have a disgusting group called The Cohorts who sicken me to my very core,
* We have Julian and Emma making me want to punch things,
* We have Emma who makes me realise she really is the number 1 bad a,
* We have Kit, Livvy and Ty who I have fallen in love with,
* We have Mark, Kieran and Cristina who I love with everything I have. I keep picturing Kieran looking like Legolas and that makes it even better!!!!

Read this.
Really.
Read it.

Oh but jeez that ending devastated me!

Title: Lady Midnight

Series: The Dark Artifices

Author: Cassandra Clare

It’s been five years since the events of City of Heavenly Fire that brought the Shadowhunters to the brink of oblivion. Emma Carstairs is no longer a child in mourning, but a young woman bent on discovering what killed her parents and avenging her losses.

Together with her parabatai Julian Blackthorn, Emma must learn to trust her head and her heart as she investigates a demonic plot that stretches across Los Angeles, from the Sunset Strip to the enchanted sea that pounds the beaches of Santa Monica. If only her heart didn’t lead her in treacherous directions…

Making things even more complicated, Julian’s brother Mark—who was captured by the faeries five years ago—has been returned as a bargaining chip. The faeries are desperate to find out who is murdering their kind—and they need the Shadowhunters’ help to do it. But time works differently in faerie, so Mark has barely aged and doesn’t recognize his family. Can he ever truly return to them? Will the faeries really allow it?

Glitz, glamours, and Shadowhunters abound in this heartrending opening to Cassandra Clare’s Dark Artifices series.

I’m back in the world of the Shadowhunters! I had a couple of months break and now I’m ready for more!

This series primarily follows Emma Carstairs and Julian Blackthorn and the whole Blackthorn clan are featured. I love them! A family with so much grief but they’ve stuck together, all because of Julian. Such a weight on a young boys shoulders.

I’m not going to talk about plot, but characters. If you want the plot you’ll need to read it!!

My faves = Kieran and Mark. Talk about heart singing! I would forgive Kieran for anything!!! I loved every time Mark spoke in his old style Faerie talk, bought a smile to my face!!

Emma and Jules, omg the tension!!! This author seems to torture her characters with love. I am here for it but the bloomin angst, I could punch something!!

‘If my heart was a canvas, every square inch of it would’ve painted over with you.’

Gaaaah the agony of my heart!

Another great start to a series in a series….and was lovely to see Tessa and Jem again (but Will remains my fave ever!!!)

Title: Daughter of the Moon Goddess

Series: The Celestial Kingdom #1

Author: Sue Lynn Tan

Growing up on the moon, Xingyin is accustomed to solitude, unaware that she is being hidden from the feared Celestial Emperor who exiled her mother for stealing his elixir of immortality. But when Xingyin’s magic flares and her existence is discovered, she is forced to flee her home, leaving her mother behind.

Alone, powerless, and afraid, she makes her way to the Celestial Kingdom, a land of wonder and secrets. Disguising her identity, she seizes an opportunity to learn alongside the emperor’s son, mastering archery and magic, even as passion flames between her and the prince.

To save her mother, Xingyin embarks on a perilous quest, confronting legendary creatures and vicious enemies across the earth and skies. But when treachery looms and forbidden magic threatens the kingdom, she must challenge the ruthless Celestial Emperor for her dream—striking a dangerous bargain in which she is torn between losing all she loves or plunging the realm into chaos.

First of all, can we all take a moment to appreciate this beautiful cover…..I love it!

Xingyin is the daughter of the banished Chang’e, who flees to save their lives and hopefully to change their lives.

Xingyin ends up in the Celestial Kingdom with Prince Leiwei and what follows is a journey badically of self discovery.

Here are a few bits:
* The world building is utterly fab,
* The writing is so good, 
* The romance is cute but the dreaded triangle!
* Loved Xingyin, Leiwei and Wenzhi for different reasons!!!
* The pacing was fast, then slow……I did find it dragged a bit in the middle.

The ending had my heart melting and shouting I can’t wait! What will come next?!

Title: Cytonic

Series: Skyward #3

Author: Brandon Sanderson

Spensa’s life as a Defiant Defense Force pilot has been far from ordinary. She proved herself one of the best starfighters in the human enclave of Detritus and she saved her people from extermination at the hands of the Krell—the enigmatic alien species that has been holding them captive for decades. What’s more, she traveled light-years from home as an undercover spy to infiltrate the Superiority, where she learned of the galaxy beyond her small, desolate planet home.

Now, the Superiority—the governing galactic alliance bent on dominating all human life—has started a galaxy-wide war. And Spensa’s seen the weapons they plan to use to end it: the Delvers. Ancient, mysterious alien forces that can wipe out entire planetary systems in an instant. Spensa knows that no matter how many pilots the DDF has, there is no defeating this predator.

Except that Spensa is Cytonic. She faced down a Delver and saw something eerily familiar about it. And maybe, if she’s able to figure out what she is, she could be more than just another pilot in this unfolding war. She could save the galaxy.

The only way she can discover what she really is, though, is to leave behind all she knows and enter the Nowhere. A place from which few ever return.

To have courage means facing fear. And this mission is terrifying.

Back again with Spensa……in the Nowhere.

Firstly….a bit of chitter chatter. I’m English and we don’t really have people called ‘Chet’ so reading the name just flashed up images of the young Bill Paxton from Weird Science in my head! Anyway I’ll stop telling you my odd thoughts and get to my actual review, well sort of a review! This is more a dump of my thoughts!

* We are introduced to new characters, a new world and new species,
* There was lots of drama and action,
* Lots of bits that made my heart go soggy,
* Superb character growth of Spensa,
* M-Bot made my life again! I love him! He is beautiful AI!
* I loved seeing the Nowhere and actually I’d love to live there, hopping about on fragments, exploring!
* Jaw dropping secrets and an absolutely fabulous ending.

But it’s not the end for Spensa!! I’m off to listen to Evershore and then set up my countdown for Defiant!

Title: Wolfsong

Series: Green Creek #1

Author: TJ Klune

Ox was twelve when his daddy taught him a very valuable lesson. He said that Ox wasn’t worth anything and people would never understand him. Then he left.

Ox was sixteen when he met the boy on the road, the boy who talked and talked and talked. Ox found out later the boy hadn’t spoken in almost two years before that day, and that the boy belonged to a family who had moved into the house at the end of the lane.

Ox was seventeen when he found out the boy’s secret, and it painted the world around him in colors of red and orange and violet, of Alpha and Beta and Omega.

Ox was twenty-three when murder came to town and tore a hole in his head and heart. The boy chased after the monster with revenge in his bloodred eyes, leaving Ox behind to pick up the pieces.

It’s been three years since that fateful day—and the boy is back. Except now he’s a man, and Ox can no longer ignore the song that howls between them.

Oh wow, this was wonderful! I listened to the audio and loved it!

Another story of found family from this author but this time…..wolves!!!!!

Ox lives in a small town, born and bred. Horrible Dad, lovely shining light of a Mum and he meets the Bennett’s who live down the lane. And then it all starts……..

I love Ox. He is an utterly beautiful soul. So innocent with a good heart. I loved that we saw him growing up from a boy to a man.

Joe I took a bit longer to like but as Ox is just so adorable, I think it took my shining light from Joe!

All of the characters were so good and I especially loved the garage guys but there was one who stood out for me in this whole book…………Carter Bennett. I think he has a book out and can’t wait to read it!

The story was built up and up and I ate up every word! Magical, wolfy and beautiful.

Top Ten Tuesday is featured by That Artsy Reader Girl. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.

Topic:  2021 Releases I Was Excited to Read But Didn’t Get To

Sometimes I struggle getting 10 Books for these lists but with today’s topic I could’ve done close to 100!!!!! 😂

🖤 Gods and Monsters by Shelby Mahurin
🖤 Steelstriker by Marie Lu
🖤 Kingdom of the Cursed by Kerri Maniscalco
🖤 Redemptor by Jordan Ifueko
🖤 Untethered by Kaylynn Flanders
🖤 Namesake by Adrienne Young
🖤 Broken Web by Lori M Lee
🖤 All the Feels by Olivia McDade
🖤 The Heart Principle by Helen Hoang

Title: Red Rising

Series: Red Rising Saga #1

Author: Pierce Brown

Darrow is a Red, a member of the lowest caste in the color-coded society of the future. Like his fellow Reds, he works all day, believing that he and his people are making the surface of Mars livable for future generations.

Yet he spends his life willingly, knowing that his blood and sweat will one day result in a better world for his children.

But Darrow and his kind have been betrayed. Soon he discovers that humanity already reached the surface generations ago. Vast cities and sprawling parks spread across the planet. Darrow—and Reds like him—are nothing more than slaves to a decadent ruling class.

Inspired by a longing for justice, and driven by the memory of lost love, Darrow sacrifices everything to infiltrate the legendary Institute, a proving ground for the dominant Gold caste, where the next generation of humanity’s overlords struggle for power. He will be forced to compete for his life and the very future of civilization against the best and most brutal of Society’s ruling class. There, he will stop at nothing to bring down his enemies… even if it means he has to become one of them to do so.

I’m late to reading this but am buddy reading with a lovely group of ladies!

Darrow is a Helldiver, a red, the lowest cast on Mars, married young to Eo, and he works in the mines so he can help society to live on the surface.

But they have all been lied to and betrayed.

‘Break the Chains’

The hierarchy of the colours was fascinating, if not a bit unpleasant, the world building was fabulous, it was action packed, emosh and had my stomach in a knot half the time wondering what betrayal would come next! I don’t really want to say more about the plot because you need to experience it yourself, it’s really like nothing I’ve ever read before!

Although Darrow is our main lead and I really liked him, Sevro is my fave character and I really hope to see more of him in the next book!