ARC Review: Heir of Fire by Sarah J. Maas

Heir of Fire

Series: Throne of Glass #3

Author: Sarah J. Maas

Source: eARC provided for review. Thank you!

My rating: 5 stars

GoodReads/ Amazon/ TBD

Summary

Lost and broken, Celaena Sardothien’s only thought is to avenge the savage death of her dearest friend: as the King of Adarlan’s Assassin, she is bound to serve this tyrant, but he will pay for what he did. Any hope Celaena has of destroying the king lies in answers to be found in Wendlyn. Sacrificing his future, Chaol, the Captain of the King’s Guard, has sent Celaena there to protect her, but her darkest demons lay in that same place. If she can overcome them, she will be Adarlan’s biggest threat – and his own toughest enemy. 

While Celaena learns of her true destiny, and the eyes of Erilea are on Wendlyn, a brutal and beastly force is preparing to take to the skies. Will Celaena find the strength not only to win her own battles, but to fight a war that could pit her loyalties to her own people against those she has grown to love?

*****

Two months ago I read the ARC of this book, and since that day I cannot stop thinking about it.

…I can’t even tell you how much I loved this book… mostly, the ending. It’s been a while since I don’t read a book with and cliffhanger that cruel!

I’m still speechless, heartbroken and shocked!

That being said I can only tell you that this book is probably the best of the series so far.

It was wicked, dark, thrilling and epic.

“They burned the antler throne (…). There is no throne for her.”

“Then I’ll build one myself from the bones of our enemy”

                                                            

The old and new characters were in their best. I think that the beginning was a little slow, but when it finally found its rhythm it was the best thing ever!

Crown of Midnight was action-packed and full of blood, while Heir of Fire it’s an emotionally draining roller-coaster. It has everything you need in a fantasy book.

From Celaena’s POV, it was thrilling and terrible, full of magic and mystery.

From the people near the king, it was suspense and tension. While one of the new characters’ perspective has all the bloody action we needed.

“At least if you’re going to hell,” he said, the vibrations in his chest rumbling against her, “then we’ll be there together.”

I’m also glad about the little romance in this book. It was unexpected and I can’t tell that I enjoyed it, but I liked it enough. I feel really, really horrible saying this but what happened with the couple in the end was… epic! (ohmygod I can’t believe I loved that part).

Overall, Heir of Fire is the best book in the Throne of Glass series. It’s impressive, strong and fantastic! 

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ARC Review: Snow Like Ashes by Sara Raasch

Snow Like Ashes

Series: Snow Like Ashes #1

Author: Sara Raasch

My rating: 5 stars

Source: e-ARC provided by Publisher. Thank you!

GoodReads/ Amazon/ TBD

Summary:

A heartbroken girl. A fierce warrior. A hero in the making. 

Sixteen years ago the Kingdom of Winter was conquered and its citizens enslaved, leaving them without magic or a monarch. Now, the Winterians’ only hope for freedom is the eight survivors who managed to escape, and who have been waiting for the opportunity to steal back Winter’s magic and rebuild the kingdom ever since.

Orphaned as an infant during Winter’s defeat, Meira has lived her whole life as a refugee, raised by the Winterians’ general, Sir. Training to be a warrior—and desperately in love with her best friend, and future king, Mather — she would do anything to help her kingdom rise to power again.

So when scouts discover the location of the ancient locket that can restore Winter’s magic, Meira decides to go after it herself. Finally, she’s scaling towers, fighting enemy soldiers, and serving her kingdom just as she’s always dreamed she would. But the mission doesn’t go as planned, and Meira soon finds herself thrust into a world of evil magic and dangerous politics – and ultimately comes to realize that her destiny is not, never has been, her own.

******

I must confess, I never read high fantasy books until I tried the Throne of Glass series. And since that day, I’ve been dying to read my next favorite book from this genre. I can’t say I’m a huge fan, but after that book, I enjoyed Of Beast and Beauty by Stacey Jay and…. Okay, I don’t remember any other high fantasy book that I loved.

Anyway, I’m saying this just to point out that I don’t read these books, but I fell in love with the cover of Snow Like Ashes and that’s why I started reading the eARC when I got the chance.

To be completely honest I was about to DNF this book when I was 30%. My biggest problem was that I couldn’t connect with Meira. She was too reckless, and I even found her a little selfish. I already fell for the Winterians, but I felt like she didn’t care about her people, even though she was fighting for them.

But I don’t DNF books, that’s why I kept reading and thanks God! because then I realized I was really enjoying Snow Like Ashes. This book is pure fantasy!

The second part of this book was a great surprise.

Meira’s became a stronger character; she grows up so much in this part.

The relationship between her and the other characters is fantastic and well built.

The twist and turns of the plot are extraordinarily startling. They had me on the edge of my seat. I was already in love with this story.

I am truthful to say that Snow Like Ashes is one of the few books that really shocked me since I became a reader.

There were some things I never expected, maybe because I’m a dystopian reader, maybe because I wasn’t trying to guess, who knows? The plot took me aback.

The world-building of Snow Like Ashes is magical and beautiful. The writing is “clean” and fast passed, though sometimes it felt a little modern (which I didn’t care).

Snow Like Ashes made me feel the pain of the Winterian, it made me feel loyal to them and devoted to the cause of freeing their kingdom.

Something I also loved about this book is that the romance wasn’t the main part of the story (yes, when it starts Meira thinks a lot about romance, but that ends!). I felt some hints of a love triangle but I’m not really sure if that was it. In any case, both boys were extraordinary.

I don’t want to say more about this book because I don’t want to risk any spoiler.

Just let me tell you this: Snow Like Ashes is an incredibly satisfying book.

I don’t even care that I felt Meira too stubborn in the first chapters, maybe I was the only one to feel this way. This book deserves the 5 stars, because of the amazing characters, the imaginative world created by Sara Raasch and that epic ending that will let you begging for more.

This is a book you have to read!

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