War Storm by Victoria Aveyard 5 ✭

Title: War Storm

Author: Victoria Aveyard
Publisher: HarperTeen *

Series: Red Queen

Genre: Young Adult, Science Fiction, Fantasy, Dystopian

Publish Date: May 15, 2018
Sold by: HarperCollins Publishers *

Pages: 672

Ages: Teen

Rating: ✭✭✭✭✭

Victoria Aveyard has finished the Red Queen series in a fantastic way. The ending wasn't predictable, and it left me feeling satisfied; it felt complete. I really took my time finishing this book. I had to not only because it was over 600 pages, but because there are a ton of things going on. There are many perspective changes within the book, so you are able to see multiple sides of the many battles that happen. The bonus to these is you are able to understand each character's point of view, and how they perceive the world. It is written in a way that you are savoring each section for each person.

Mare isn't the main focus of this book I feel. I feel like it's every character is equally important. I was a little let down at the end, I was expecting more of her power like some ultimate reveal but we didn't really have that. She goes through a lot of changes in the previous books and in this one she still is a little, but I feel like she aware of who she is going to be.

Evangeline has become a lovable character to me. You see her soft side when she thinks her brother is gone. You see her intelligence show when she is piecing together things while Anabel Lerolan, Cal's grandmother, is talking. She is a strong badass on the battlefield and her strength to continue the fight is amazing. Her strong emotions and opinions, like how much she cares for her brother and is repulsed by her mother, or her hatred/love for her father while he uses her as a bargaining chip. Her love and adoration for Elane, and her desire to be with her, but she can't because it is considered abhorrent and a waste of power. Victoria Aveyard has a knack for writing strong badass female characters for sure. I think if she were the main character it could have been great too. I think she could have had her own book. 

Victoria Aveyard's greatest skill with this novel is the battle scenes. You read from Mare's perspective which she is at another location from the rest of the group and it is fast but intense and emotional. Then you get into Evangeline's perspective which when I was reading it I felt like it would be an amazing scene in a movie. You can feel the tension and the terror that Evangeline deals with while she is struggling to survive. That is just an example of only one of the many battles within the book. I loved reading the battles personally. 

I completely think this series AS A WHOLE is a must read if you enjoy young adult books. If I didn't read past the first book, I might not have recommended it as strongly. Now, since I've read all the books I have to push for this one. I've seen the writing improve through all the books. I've seen the characters develop into memorable people that leave a lasting impression. I feel satisfied with the whole outcoming and the meanings behind certain aspects of the book. 

You can read a Free Sample of War Storm below without leaving the page!

* I decided to add two new categories today while I was doing my blog. I have started picking up a few more E-Galley books recently and I decided that I want to start making note of which publishers I have read books from. I think that it would be worth noting for the future, for myself if nothing more. I haven't decided if I am going to go back to old posts to add this part in. What do you think? With so little of an amount, since my blog is young it might not be bad.

King's Cage by Victoria Aveyard 5 ✭

Title: King's Cage

Author: Victoria Aveyard

Series: Red Queen

Genre: Young Adult, Science Fiction, Fantasy, Dystopian

Publish Date: February 7, 2017

Pages: 528

Ages: Teen

Rating: ✭✭✭✭✭

King's Cage felt long but I enjoyed the value that it brought to the series. I have to warn this is going to have a little bit of spoiler to today's review; not much of a spoiler just a little. This book was horrible, wonderful, and intelligent all in one. I think reading while she was captured was boring to a lot of people because a lot of time is passing and Mare isn't able to do really anything. I think the author did that very well. You feel the passing of time. You read as there are things happening in the world beyond Mare's control and she barely hears about any of it. You see how hollow and desperate she is for escape while she spends months in her room alone with nothing but silence. While she is held as Maven's prisoner, she has to deal with all the emotions that she has been avoiding in the previous books. That must have been horrible and I felt for Mare, it was a horrible time for her. If you don't read all the books in a row like I am doing these weeks, you might very well miss out on those important things. You might not remember how in Glass Sword, she was merely a tool to be used to fight. She cut herself off from everyone around her so that she wouldn't have any more emotions. Mare didn't allow herself to think or feel about anything but completing the next task. The first half of King's Cage features Mare and is about her captivity and character growth. 

Victoria Aveyard gives us a reprieve from just reading about Mare in a plain room with nothing to do. She gives us a couple other characters perspectives in this novel. I appreciate that a lot because without that it would be a really boring book. You get to see what is continuing to happen for the Red Guard even though Mare isn't there. You even get to see from a silver's perspective, which I'm not going to say who, but I really liked that. I would love to continue but I think that would just ruin the "reveals" about that character and who they really are. 

It was wonderful to see the strength of the uprising. The strength of Montfort, the Ardent people, and their leader. Victoria Aveyard does a great job of bringing them into the world and showing their democracy. You also get a small taste of their battle tactics and it makes you curious even more. Like I wonder how extreme are they? To what ends are they willing to go to? Wonderful to see the full force of all the different people fighting together and against each other. You actually see what a battle full of abilities is like in this world. Both sides bring their A-Game. You get to see how powerful Mare really could be as she stands alone protecting herself surrounded by silvers. You get to see new alliances and relationships how they have changed in the many months since Mare's capture. Mare and Cal get a reunion and it feels like the pieces are really beginning to come together for the world. It had the feeling that the end was near and the author could have written a quick happily ever after. That is not what you get in this book.

One part that I had to bother my husband about because I thought it was sooooo good, was the political side of things. You get to see different people strategically moving to complete different tasks. Maven had it rough this book. You find out more about his damaged character, he is betrayed, and he has to repair his kingdom enough so they'll stop rebelling. He does a tour, but really it is just like today's politicians, going around town to town making promises and motivational speeches. I loved that, it makes you think about how much we hear and what is just someone trying to keep you dumb and ignorant of what's really going on. I think that fits perfectly with today's world of politics that it's almost scary. So bringing something like that in, and having it written well that you can understand the meaning at any age is pretty good. There are a lot of politics going on in this book, more than the others. You have even more people who are just trying to maneuver the things they control to get to the ending they want. It's done really good.

Cal is an idiot. I'm totally serious, he is an idiot

I 110% believe this deserves a 5-star rating. There is a sh*t ton of stuff that happens during this whole book. You meet many new leaders from different places, an escape attempt, a rescue, two major battles, a few reveals that were previously speculation at least for me. A little bit of love and a lot more loss.

For a Free Sample read, you can click below and you won't have to leave the page.

Cruel Crown by Victoria Aveyard 5 ✭

Title: Cruel Crown

Author: Victoria Aveyard

Series: Red Queen

Genre: Young Adult, Science Fiction, Fantasy,

Publish Date: January 5, 2016

Pages: 208

Ages: Teen

Rating: ✭✭✭✭✭

If you are reading this series this is an absolute MUST read. This is a novella short that features Queen Song and Steel Scars as well as a short preview to Glass Sword. I have already read Glass Sword and I'm glad I did. I 100% recommend anyone who has an interest in the series that they need to read this. For me, it is all about Queen Song. This whole part is about Cal's mother from her perspective. This part was like reading a tragic horror story that you know the end too but it is still a great read to see it unfold. To know what Coriane was thinking during her whole ordeal, from meeting the boy who will be her husband, to being a pregnant queen and feeling lost and depressed. I think it is really important to see this side because you can see how Cal has parts of his mother there too. 

(Slight spoiler) The Steel Scars section was about our favorite Scarlet Guard member, Captain Diana Farley, code name Lamb. It is also really good to see this side of the world too. You see a young girl who is given her first true task being a commander and gets to leave her father's side. It is her first time doing a solo mission and what that grows into becoming. It becomes the beginning of the whole revolution. Reading this after Glass Sword really helped me understand why she reacted the way she did at the end. Instead of knowing her skill level and prior circumstances. In Red Queen and Glass Sword, you always get the impression she is this amazing spy who has been doing this cloak and dagger for a long time. I loved reading it in this order.

I looked up the reading order of the books and found on Victoria Aveyard's site that she recommended this to be the reading order. It's why I read them in the order I did and I suggest anyone else should too. 

1. Red Queen
2. Glass Sword
3. Cruel Crown (the two novellas)
4. King's Cage
5. War Storm

You can buy each novella separately as an ebook but I personally chose this paperback version since all the others I've owned have been physical copies.  I have linked the sample chapter for each book below, that links to the Kindle versions. 

Glass Sword by Victoria Aveyard 4 ✭

Title: Glass Sword

Author: Victoria Aveyard

Series: Red Queen

Genre: Young Adult, Science Fiction, Fantasy, Fairy Tales & Folklore

Publish Date: February 9, 2016

Pages: 464

Ages: Teen

Rating: ✭✭✭✭

I am very glad that I decided to continue the Red Queen series. The first book I felt was a little predictable, but it was also the intro to the characters and the world so I wanted to continue. 

When you start Glass Sword you have Mare and Cal being viewed by the country as an evil lying temptress and a murdering prince who killed his own father. All of this is done by the machinations of the Queen, Elara, who has used her whisper abilities to read everyone's minds and control others to her will. She had been hiding some of Mare's antics with the Red Guard to her own benefit to kill the king and exile the firstborn son. Elara is a mental master, and her son Maven is not just her puppet, but her willing accomplice. 

Mare has gone through so much change since the initial moments of Red Queen, it really is like she is stuck between who she was, is, and will be when necessary. The first book she was a thief who had no other skills, that her own family was completely disappointed with. Then they made her into the fake princess, who had to be cold-hearted around everyone. Then they go and kill anyone associated with her so that makes her lockdown. She needs to protect people but she isn't capable enough to do it alone. In Glass Sword that is one of her biggest conflicts with herself. She wants to care and worry about everyone, but she knows from the previous experiences that if she does she will be crushed and broken. So she makes herself emotionally distant from everyone around her. Her personal struggle is very important. You see her at her weakest, her strongest, and how far she is willing to go. 

Another thing is seeing the characters around her and how their opinions of her change. They praise her and raise her to a pedestal, only to then completely turn around and abhor what she has become. And for different side characters, it isn't even in the order. That makes you wonder who knows more than she does, who has also changed during this book, and who is true to Mare or not. I will be honest, I'm still not sure how the next book is going to turn out. Which is a nice change from the predictability of the first book. 

I am currently reading Cruel Crown which is two novellas that you can read additional. I've only started and I think that it is worth it. I got it for $5 and was happy about that. I'm looking to get King's Cage soon I hope. I'm sort of hooked on the cliffhanger of Glass sword at the moment. 

Read below for a free sampling of the start of Glass Sword by Victoria Aveyard 
without leaving the page.

Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard 3 ✭

Title: Her Dark Half

Author: Victoria Aveyard

Series: Red Queen

Genre: Young Adult, Supernatural

Publish Date: February 10. 2015

Pages: 398

Ages: Teen

Rating: ✭✭✭

I think this series has potential. It is definitely part of the trend of the 2015 dystopian book fever, however, it has a little change to it with half of the people, the silver bloods, having powers.

I rated this low because I found the major twist predictable. Overly predictable that when the scene played out I was almost uninterested in that section of the book. I say almost because it does continue at a good pace and I did want to see how it would continue from there.

The characters were pretty interesting throughout and it made me think of each scene "the game is afoot". Just because of the sneaky dealings, or background characters relationships the main character, Mare, isn't aware of.

Romantic interests in this is a little interesting because there are three. Maven who she has some feeling for and it seems like he might truly feel some too. Cal, who is Maven's brother does also and it's clear as day but they can't because of the circumstances they are all in. Lastly, we have the childhood best friend type. The one who she might have ended up with if she didn't meet the prince.

I did like this book enough that I ordered the next book in the series. I want to give it a chance and the storyline itself is pretty good. I really enjoyed the writing and the world building. Especially when you are reading about the different parts of the lands. The silvers live in the wonderful cities and the reds get the dirty towns, or the towns full of radiation.

The second book in the series should be here in a couple days, so I am going to be reading the next book in the series after my current book. 

If you would like to read the beginning of Red Queen, you can check it ou below without leaving the page. 

The Dark Calling by Kresley Cole 5 ✭

Title: The Dark Calling

Author: Kresley Cole

Series: Arcana Chronicles

Genre: Dystopian, Horror, Science Fiction, Romance

Publish Date: February 13, 2018

Pages: 350

Ages: Teen *

Rating: ✭✭✭✭✭

This is the best book yet in the series. I personally feel like this series keeps getting better. Things are coming together and coming in line with the finale to come. Which if I'm not mistaken is the next (?) book. There were some things that were left hanging before that have been answered. There were more events in this book then should have been possible in the short number of pages of the book. This book felt FULL. Full of chaos, full of conflict, and full of emotions. Real emotions that leave you feeling heartbroken for Death, Evie, and Jack. This book is more than a happily ever after reading like some of the other series by Kresley Cole. The three in this triangle are truly cursed it seems. If anything is going well it's bound to turn. That continues in this segment of the series.

There were so many unpredictable events and maybe one or two things that you come to expect. I don't want to spoil anything from this book because it is very important to the whole series. The alliances of Major Arcana are hit hard by a major TRAITOR. It was one event I did not see coming and wouldn't have imagined it. With the few who confirm that these games are going to be different. That there will be a cataclysmic ending. Most of the Major Arcana are changing, either losing control of their powers or just developing stronger. The Minor Arcana want an end to the games so they can begin the new world. They inform the others that Evie and Death have angered the gods by creating life. Evie is stuck between having no power at all and feeling helpless to stop herself from eventually becoming the red witch.

working together to end the games and protect themselves against the Emperor and Lady Luck, you forget that there are other factors out there. Like the Minor Arcana that we heard about. Evie and others finally meet some and it all but

Plus there are hints in the whole book about the next book. I can't quit this series. Evie can't remember something she thinks is important. I think whatever this part is leading to will be huge in the next book. Plus, we still don't even know if the Fool is on her side or not. Or if his card has reversed. It seems like it may have. Just like some of her allies were hiding their true strength or losing control of their massive powers, you just don't know at this point.

If I am right and the next book is the last book in the series I am going to lose it. I hope that it lives up to my personal hype.

*I feel like the content in this book would be for a mature teen who is ok with some mention of sexual content.

Check out a free sample below of The Dark Calling without leaving the page!

** Post Edit: Formatting issues.

Raging Falcon by Stephen C Perkins 3 ✭

One of the things everyone thinks about is government control and whether they abuse the power that they have access to. Is it for the good of the people or is it harming the people? And depending on the world that we lived in what could it look like if you add magic and wars? 

In this world, a spy agency has taken control of the government and has used its power to control with blackmail, terror kills, bombings and stuff like that. Control with fear. This is something that you see in the current day even, so reading this is chilling ( not sure if that's the word I want to use). This book feels like a realistic possibility of things that could come, that could happen. 

The characters are really interesting to read about also. So not only is the world build great, the people are good too. You have Stacy Keogh (aka Iron Major) who is married and has a son named Jim. Jim Keogh is convicted of murder for the woman he is in love with. There is also Larisa Ustinov who has this weird love triangle thing going on. 

The whole dystopian world with black magic mental battles was super cool to me. However, the political side was the main takeaway for me. This was an excellent read and I feel greatly privileged to have received a free copy to offer my honest view of this amazing book.

Click Preview below to check out a free sample of Raging Falcon.

Or Skip that and go straight to Amazon.com this book is currently a Kindle Unlimited book so that means that you can pick up this book and read it for free if you are a Kindle Unlimited Subscriber.