geeky girl
Queen of Shadows by Sarah J. Maas **WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD**
![IMG_7475[1]](https://thenerdybookmark.files.wordpress.com/2016/03/img_74751.png?w=705)
Book Description:
The queen has returned.
Everyone Celaena Sardothien loves has been taken from her. But she’s at last returned to the empire—for vengeance, to rescue her once-glorious kingdom, and to confront the shadows of her past…
She has embraced her identity as Aelin Galathynius, Queen of Terrasen. But before she can reclaim her throne, she must fight.
She will fight for her cousin, a warrior prepared to die for her. She will fight for her friend, a young man trapped in an unspeakable prison. And she will fight for her people, enslaved to a brutal king and awaiting their lost queen’s triumphant return.
The fourth volume in the New York Times bestselling series continues Celaena’s epic journey and builds to a passionate, agonizing crescendo that might just shatter her world.
My Rating: 5/5
AHHHH! I HATE reading unfinished series! I NEED to know what’s going to happen next!
- What’s going on with this war?
- How does Aelin handle her new position?
- How does Dorian handle his new position?
- How does everyone adjust to their new beginnings especially with this war a brewin?!
And the witches! Manon getting…. feelings? I mean, yeah we’ve seen glimpses of it through out but now she almost resembles a human!
This book definitely made me appreciate Heir of Fire a lot more. With everything it built up to, wow, just wow.
I wasn’t sure I liked where the story was turning and how it has changed so much and now I am so glad it did. It’s more action packed, more suspenseful, less childish more adult through their experiences. If you want a book with great character development, look no further! Each character changes, grows in ways you don’t expect, it’s amazing.
I need to address some scenes:
Happy scene: I’m so so so so soooo happy Rowan came back. I mean, that bath scene with Aelin and Rowan, meow ;] I wasn’t a huge fan of him in the beginning but now he is complete and utter SWOONworthy. That sexy, sexy man. And if him and Aelin don’t do it within the first half of the next book, I’m going to explode. The sexual frustration is killing meeee!
Pg 525:
![IMG_7494[1]](https://thenerdybookmark.files.wordpress.com/2016/03/img_74941.jpg?w=705)
Ermergerdddd…. is it getting hot in here or what?…
Sad scene: When Aelin visits Sams grave and confesses her self to him – ughhh, pull on my heart strings why don’t you! So sad but so sweet and heart warming .. and did I mention sad?!
Shocking scene: Aelin helping Manon – I mean they were fighting to the death and Manon is about to die and Aelin saves her – what?! At first I was pissed, I was all, “LET THE BITCH DIE! WASN’T THAT THE POINT?!” but later when Aelin fully reveals her reason behind helping Manon avoid falling to her death, it made sense and dare I say it was quite noble of her!
Brutal scene: Chaol and Aelin walk up to the castle and all of Chaol’s mean are spiked outside the castle, mauled, tortured. INSANE!
I love all of the elements this series brings. From the raw emotions, to the brutality, to the excitement and the giddyness, these books have it all.
Heir of Fire by Sarah J. Maas
Book Description:
She was the heir of ash and fire, and she would bow to no one.
Meanwhile, brutal and monstrous forces are gathering on the horizon, intent on enslaving her world. To defeat them, Celaena must find the strength to not only fight her inner demons but to battle the evil that is about to be unleashed.
My Rating: 4/5
I don’t know what happened with Heir of Fire or how it has the highest rating out of all of the books so far. This book is definitely slower than the others – starts slow, continues slow, ends … well it actually ends really good *snicker snicker*. There were maybe 2-3 scenes that could be classified as “exciting” but nothing at all like the novellas or the first 2 books. I thought the book started to pick up around pg. 160, but it did not. It faltered. Even if it did pick up and soar, that’s still an unusual start for a Sarah J. Maas book!
Besides it being a suuuuper slow read, the story takes a different turn, different environment completely which took me a while to adjust to. If the witches were from the get go, I might’ve enjoyed it more or if they were in their own story altogether, I just do not like them in this series. It felt awkward. I’m still confused by it!
I don’t have much to say about Heir of Fire because….well….there wasn’t much going on. I still enjoyed reading it though. It wasn’t TERRIBLE, it just wasn’t the same.
Conclusion: Sluggishly Slow But Good.
Happy Reading! xo
Day of the Dragon by Richard A. Knaak
Book Description:
In the mist-shrouded haze of the past, the world of Azeroth teemed with wondrous creatures of every kind. Mysterious Elves and hardy Dwarves walked among tribes of man in relative peace and harmony – until the arrival of the demonic army known as Burning Legion shattered the world’s tranquility forever.
My Rating: 5/5
I swear this is not just because I’m a Warcraft nut, but because the way this story just ascends! How can you not love Rhonin?! This is the first book I’ve decided to start reading under the Warcraft lore. I’ve played the game for about 8+ years now (I’m getting so olddd, wahhh) and it’s so awesome reading these characters to life that I’ve already come to know. Even if you’re not a player of any of the Warcraft games or don’t even know what it is, I’d still recommend it if you’re in to fantasy/adventure!! If you’re wanting to get in to the Warcraft lore, there’s so many forums out there that argue which book you should actually start out with. I’ve racked my brain and the one I chose to follow along with (because it made the most sense to me) was this one –>
Now you by no means have to follow this, but this is what I’m going by so I thought I’d share!
I already grabbed the “second” book.. I tread lightly with these words…. and I can’t wait to see where this one takes me next (while also comparing Richard Knaak’s writing with Christie Golden’s)!
Happy Reading! ^_^
Identity Crisis!
Formally: Kay_Reads
So as you can clearly tell, I’m having a sort of “identity crisis..” When I originally started this blog, I was so eager to write my book reviews that I just picked the most uncreative name I could think of. I was never a fan of “Kay_Reads,” it didn’t speak to me, it didn’t stand out… it was just something to use for the time being. I read everywhere that changing your identity was a bad idea, blah blah blah. But the only thing I had to change with every platform I was using were the user names! I didn’t lose any of my wonderful followers, I didn’t have to ask anyone to ‘like’ this one, follow this new page, and the best part of all, I didn’t have to spend several hours customizing and reposting everything 😀
So I apologize for any confusion, but the new name is here and it is here to stay!
So with that, I re-welcome you to the not-so-new:
TheNerdyBookmark
Thank you for your understanding & Happy Reading!
Divergent Series Wrap Up
Series Description:
Divergent: One choice can transform you. This debut is a gripping dystopian tale of electrifying choices, powerful consequences, unexpected romance, and a deeply flawed “perfect society.”
Insurgent: One choice can destroy you. This story continues the dystopian thrill ride. As war surges in the factions all around her, Tris attempts to save those she loves—and herself—while grappling with haunting questions of grief and forgiveness, identity and loyalty, politics and love.
Allegiant: The explosive conclusion to the Divergent trilogy reveals the secrets of the dystopian world that has captivated millions of readers.
Four: A Divergent Collection: A companion volume to the Divergent series, told from the perspective of Tobias. The four pieces included—”The Transfer,” “The Initiate,” “The Son,” and “The Traitor”—plus three additional exclusive scenes, give readers a fascinating glimpse into the history and heart of Tobias, and set the stage for the epic saga of the Divergent trilogy.
My Rating: 5/5
Some might argue that Four: A Divergent Collection should not be included in the series. Do you need to read it? Absolutely not. But if you’re a fan of Divergent, Insurgent and Allegiant than I must urge you to grab this companion novel. To me, it IS apart of the series – it gives you insight on some scenes throughout the trilogy that will may you go, “ahhh – that’s why he did that!”
This series is a series that will stay on my bookshelf probably forever. If you’re a fan of The Hunger Games or The Maze Runner series, there’s no doubt in my mind that you won’t enjoy what Veronica Roth has to offer. And it’s set in Chicago gaiz, greatest city everrr 😛 (Yes, I’m biased). You will be taken on an emotional roller coaster, you will experience heart pounding action, you get romance, you get breathtaking scenery. Everything you could want in a YA/Dystopian novel, you get that and more. I personally hope we get to read more of Veronica Roth in the future :] Thank you for taking me on an incredible adventure, Mrs. Roth!
Here are my links to each separate review:
Thanks for reading! :]
2015 October Wrap Up
Total Books = 7
Average Rating = 4
Overall, a great month for reading! 😀
1.) City of Words by Steven J. Carroll – 3.5/5
2.) Allegiant by Veronica Roth – 5/5
3.) Four by Veronica Roth – 4/5
4.) The Ice Dragon by George R.R. Martin – 4/5
5.) Beautiful Darkness by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl – 5/5
6.) Breed by Chase Novak – 3/5
7.) Far Far Away by Tom McNeal – 3.5/5
How many books did you get through this colorful month?
2015 October Bookhaul
Welcome to my October 2015 Bookhaul! Wooo! I think I have to put on the brakes after this one though cause in the last 2 months I’ve acquired 52 books that I gotta get through… eash. Plus with Thanksgiving around the corner (which my husband and I host for our military family) and then Christmasssss, oye!
On to the books! I’ll have a list below of each book pictured, where I got them, paperback or hardcover, special editions and how much my total purchase at each place was! If you have any more questions – or comments – about this months haul, please feel free to leave/ask them below 😀 Happy reading!
Total Books: 24
Total Amount Spent: $72
Barnes & Noble – $14
1.) The Host by Stephenie Meyer; paperback
2.) Fiend by Peter Stenson; hardcover
3.) Beautiful Chaos, Bk. 3 (Caster Chronicles/Beautiful Creatures Series) by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl; paperback
The Book Exchange – $22
1.) The Sea of Monsters, Bk. 2 (Percy Jackson and the Olympians) by Rick Riordan; paperback
2.) Reckless, Bk. 1 (Mirrorworld) by Cornelia Funke; hardcover
3.) Redwall, Bk. 1 (Redwall) by Brian Jacques; paperback
4.) The Tales of Beedle the Bard by J.K. Rowling; hardcover
5.) Deep Blue Bk. 1 (Waterfire Saga) by Jennifer Donnelly; hardcover
6.) Asylum, Bk. 1 (Asylum) by Madeleine Roux; paperback
Half Price Book Store – $7
1.) The Accursed by Joyce Carol Oates; paperback
2.) Stoneheart, Bk. 1 (Stoneheart Trilogy) by Charlie Fletcher; paperback
3.) The Awakening, Bk. 2 (Darkest Powers) by Kelley Armstrong; hardcover
4.) The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner, Bk. 3.5 (Twilight) by Stephenie Meyer; hardcover
BookOutlet – $30
1.) Dreamspinner, Bk. 7 (Nine Kingdoms) by Lynn Kurland; paperback
2.) House of Secrets, Bk. 1 (House of Secrets) by Chris Columbus & Ned Vizzini; hardcover
3.) Battle of the Beasts, Bk. 2 (House of Secrets) by Chris Columbus & Ned Vizzini; hardcover
4.) Eve & Adam, Bk. 1 (Eve & Adam) by Michael Grant & Katherine Applegate; paperback
5.) The Calling, Bk. 1 (Endgame) by James Frey & Nils Johnson-Shelton; hardcover
6.) Storybound, Bk. 1 (Storybound) by Marissa Burt; paperback
7.) Dream A Little Dream, Bk. 1 (The Silver Trilogy) by Kerstin Gier; hardcover
8.) Crank, Bk. 1 (Crank) by Ellen Hopkins, paperback
9.) Glass, Bk. 2 (Crank) by Ellen Hopkins, paperback
10.) Quintessence by David Walton; paperback
Giveaway Books – FREE
1.) Haze, Bk. 2 (The Rephaim) by Paula Weston; paperback
ARCs – FREE (I get these from work)
6 Romance Novels – these won’t be included in the total. I get these from work but I do not keep them, instead, I pass them on to my momma to read because she loves romance novels – and I do not… *shudder*
A Couple Days Of Absence. . .
LOOK AT THESE BOOKENDS which of course I don’t intend to use as their purpose. I got these babies on 75% off clearance at my Barnes & Noble (originally: $60 sale price: $15)
So this post has absolutely no purpose except to let you guys know that I will not be posting this week, therefore, I have provided 3 new posts all at once down below for you to enjoy in my absence :] I am leaving today for Chicago to visit family and will be back Friday, so please hang tight!
Until Then,
Happy reading! ❤
Breed by Chase Novak
Book Description:
Alex and Leslie Twisden told each other they would do anything to have children. The price didn’t matter. But the experimental procedure they found had costs they couldn’t foresee.
Adam and Alice Twisden’s lives seem perfectly normal. Except that, every night, without fail, their parents lock them into their rooms.
And the twins know that the sounds they can hear are not just their imagination. They’re real. And they’re getting louder…
My Rating: 3/5
A decent read with a surprising ending. Can’t say that I saw it coming and I was pleasantly surprised. I was actually giggling a bit because it was just 100% not a thought in my mind that that was gonna happen. As I read it I thought, “Well that escalated quickly..” so I couldn’t help but giggle. Nonetheless, strong ending :]
I was also really shocked at how vulgar this book was. Maybe it’s because I read mostly YA/Fantasy novels which would definitely lack some sexual/abusive details. . . I just forgot this world existed so you can imagine my eyeballs popping out of my head at some of these descriptions bahaha!
One thing I really disliked about this book though (which has nothing to do with the story itself so it did not impact my rating) is the fact that there’s NO CHAPTERS! Ehhhhh.. it was always hard to find a good stopping point. I’m the type of reader that’ll finish a chapter before I put a book down for the sake of not stopping smack dab in the middle of a conversation or a thought or whatever it might be. But this book forced me to do so, so the best I could really do was to stop at the end of a page before I flipped to the next. SUCH TRAGEDY!
I was reading this as an “in-between” book as well as a book I was going to take with me when I travel. I was planning on starting it here where I live and was hoping to read it through out my trip while visiting my family, as I wanted a book I wouldn’t mind getting interrupted on or one I wouldn’t mind not being able to pick up the few days I’m away. Unfortunately, that didn’t happen. I read through this book in 2 days. I leave for my trip tomorrow evening. Whoopsies! I also chose this one particularly to read a “Halloween/October” themed book and did it fit the part! While this was an entertaining, quick read, I don’t think I’ll be picking it up again but I did enjoy it enough to where I would recommend reading it once! So because of that, I might do a giveaway with my copy (which is in mint condition because I’m a book snob) to let someone else enjoy this adventure :]
*FOREWARNING: If you’re sensitive to animal killings like I am, there are a few parts in the book that will make you wince. Chase Novak by no means drags out these scenes. They’re quick and to the point. I would still recommend this read if it interests you, but I would have liked a warning myself 😛
The Ice Dragon by George R. R. Martin
Book Description:
In the world of A Song of Ice and Fire the ice dragon was a creature of legend and fear, for no man had ever tamed one. When it flew overhead, it left in its wake desolate cold and frozen land. But Adara was not afraid. For Adara was a winter child, born during the worst freeze that anyone, even the Old Ones, could remember.
Adara could not remember the first time she had seen the ice dragon. It seemed that it had always been in her life, glimpsed from afar as she played in the frigid snow long after the other children had fled the cold. In her fourth year she touched it, and in her fifth year she rode upon its broad, chilled back for the first time. Then, in her seventh year, on a calm summer day, fiery dragons from the North swooped down upon the peaceful farm that was Adara’s home. And only a winter child—and the ice dragon who loved her—could save her world from utter destruction.
My Rating: 4/5
Beautifully done! There’s not much to say about this short story. The illustrations are gorgeous, the story is lightly impactful. I would have devoured this when I was younger. This is a great fast read for adults as well. I read this to break from my “series” binge before I dive into finishing off another and it was perfect for that. Definitely recommend it to children as well as adults who are either fans of George R. R. Martin (because there are definitely pieces of him in here that you may already know and love) or fans of fantasy!
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