jessicareadsit's reviews
1057 reviews

Queen of Shadows by Sarah J. Maas

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4.0

Finalllyyyyyy we see Arobynn Hamel, King of Assassins ! Damn he was everything I expected and more. “Tell me what I must do to atone; tell me to crawl over hot coals, to sleep on a bed of nails, to carve up my flesh. Say the word, and it is done. But let me care for you as I once did, before … before that madness poisoned my heart. Punish me, torture me, wreck me, but let me help you. Do this small thing for me—and let me lay the world at your feet.” I did not know if to laugh or cry or get my panties wet. So sick but so good !!! Even in death he ruled.

Next development for me was Chaol. The clash she had with him was a bit disappointing to me as I expected more drama ! I mean she left with him being her so called love and then she comes back and they don't get into a tiff?

“Do you understand what it was like for us here? While you were off playing with magic, off gallivanting with your faerie prince, do you understand what happened to me—to Dorian? Do you understand what’s happening every day in this city? Because your antics in Wendlyn might very well have been the cause of all this."

“There is no we.” He unfastened the Eye of Elena from around his neck and chucked it at her. . “There hasn’t been a we for a while, Celaena—”

Ouch x million.... dude harshhh...that was a hard pill to swallow.

Chaol is basically gutting her and beating her down from where she was. It really pissed me off when he labelled her a monster. I mean WTF. He is an idiot with his thoughts. I feel as if he doesn't know her at all man. With his new main Nesryn (more on her later)

"Honestly, he didn’t know what he’d expected when the queen returned.Not this."

"You do not get to pick and choose which parts of her to love, Dorian had once said to him. He’d been right. So painfully right".

Thank the higher above that she finally got her head in the game

"You remind me of what the world ought to be; what the world can be, she’d once said to Chaol.
Her face burned. A girl had said those things; a girl so desperate to survive, to make it through each day, that she hadn’t questioned why he served the true monster of their world." Just a side not this was in my first review and I totally love when the author references past quotes. I think this is confrontation was an important stepping stone for her because:

"She could forgive the girl who had needed a captain of the guard to offer stability after a year in hell; forgive the girl who had needed a captain to be her champion.But she was her own champion now. And she would not add another name of her beloved dead to her flesh."

YESSSSSS this is the bad ass bitch I read about and she is blossoming into her own.

Another character who I had a bitter sweet feeling for was Kaltain. It should come as no surprise that under all that darkness her light shone in the end. To me it was poetic justice as its finest as she became "Death, Devourer of the world"

Manon the white demon I was getting really bored with their story in the previous books because oh gorsh their scenes we so dragged out and just blehhhhh. Some really spicy things happened in this book which made the wait worth it. Having grown with no love, sense of family or connection it was really awesome to see the complete 180 the thirteen made. Even Abraxos was part of the transition but Asterin to me was the biggest contributing factor. I think they finally recognized that their curse is self inflicted.

The line that hinted to me there might be a higher calling for her was “You show me yours and I’ll show you mine, Prince." Dorian and Manon hrmmmm I like this combination

The introduction of other characters I think only enhanced the story such as Elide who I am super excited to read about her journey and Miss Lysandra !! Damn, hello woman.......... She is one of my favorite types of characters blunt with some slut in between bravado and dirty humor. I totally loved her and her journey to finding people to call friends.

I wanted to talk about Rowan last but I will save that honor for Dorian. Rowan is so powerful and just yum that I got the tingles just reading the scenes between her carranam and queenie.

"She should not have loved him, and he should not have dared to love her"

"She rolled her eyes and released the towel, turning as he stood in a mighty movement, water sloshing everywhere. It was an effort not to peek over her shoulder.Don’t you even dare, a voice hissed in her head.Right. She’d call that voice Common Sense—and she’d listen to it from now on"

"I kept thinking about how you might never know that I missed you with only an ocean between us. But if it was death separating us … I would find you. I don’t care how many rules it would break. Even if I had to get all three keys myself and open a gate, I would find you again. Always.” Awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Then she smiled with every last shred of courage, of desperation, of hope for the glimmer of that glorious future. “Let’s go rattle the stars.”

My dear Dorian, after succumbing to the darkness for but a moment their scenes were so powerful:

“Aelin began weeping, even as blood leaked down her nose from his nearness. “I came back for you. Just like I promised.”

"Aelin extended her hand—a question and an offer and a promise. “To a better future,” she said.

“You came back,” he said, as if that were an answer.

They joined hands.

So the world ended.

And the next one began.

They were infinite.

They were the beginning and the ending; they were eternity.

Woah Nelly, I cannot wait to read the next book !


Empire of Storms by Sarah J. Maas

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4.0

The Queen of Flame and Shadow. The Heir of fire, Aelin of the wildfire, fireheart. She burned through each title, even as she became them, became what those foreign ambassadors has hissed when they reported on a child-queens growing, unstable power in Terrasen. A promise that had been whispered into the blackness.

Okay so this is a total spoiler alert and I am so pissed with the cliffhanger !! WTFFFFFFF

Alein the heir of fire facing off with Erawan the king of darkness ? And Elena oh girl you put yourself in a tizzy. I am really glad she got explanations for Nehemia and the entire Wyrdkey situation but the sacrifice (trying not to ruin it) Then there is the appearance of Brannon himself and even Deanna.

I will start with Aedion and Lysandra because even with all the action from the book before this girl is still killing it shape shifter style Seadragon like seriously ?? Even through to the end when you realize Aelins plan is unfolding you see her commitment to the end. A mirror of her !!

Their relationship was really humorous but powerful:

“Good thing I know how to make women purr.”

" His pronouncement that she was to be Princess Lysandra Ashryver (goosebumps)"

The meeting with his father was super tenuous but unavoidable looking forward to seeing a real father/son bond in future book(s)

Then there's Dorian/ Manon hrmmmmmmm.

Manon really developed as a prominent character in this series and not only because of her heritage. Having to lead one of her thirteen to slaughter breaks her to the point of rebellion.

When she brought that Wind-Cleaver down upon her Gram .WHATTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT Crochan Queen my gorsh... Friggin excitement to the fmax...I did not see that coming

Her and Abraxos connected even more :“You and me,” she promised him. “From now until the Darkness claims us.”

She has really matured throughout the books... proud of her struggles and sorry for her loss.

“I am going to find the Crochans. And I am going to raise an army with them. For Aelin Galathynius. And her people. And for ours.”


As for Dorian.., Oh boyo that flirtation I really missed “Find me when you change your mind, Blackbeak.” and "I can think of better uses for my hands lol !!!"

As a young boy to man “It is not such a hard thing, is it—to die for your friends.”
"I have known many kings in my life, Dorian Havilliard. And it was a rare man indeed who asked for help when he needed it, who would put aside pride.”

Elide turned out to be an unlikely development with her boddy undertones with Lorcan. Bossing him around and calling him husband? Somebody grew some big balls overnight. Her beautiful declaration:

“I want to see life—see the world,” Marion said, her voice softening. “I want to see everything

Lorcan eventually developed feelings for her:
'Lorcan had never met anyone who was so unimpressed by him (funny) in his 500 years"

"I made a promise to protect you. I will not break it Elide," "I will always find you" Sooo romantic "I promise"

She kissed him on his stubble cheek ?? "I will always find you too Lorcan"

And then their flirtation is my favorite... oh so subtle :

“I don’t think you even know what happiness is.”

His face grew grave—thoughtful. “I do not mind … being around you.”

“Is that a compliment?”

Then the love and deep emotions started kicking in:

" I would hide you in Perranth .... You would have a place there. With me"

She kissed him...Girl you are crazy and I love it

Their journey touched me the most. His hardness against her softness. humanizing the beast.

" Like a prayer that's how her name sounded on her lips. He hasn't wanted to think about what her kiss had done to him. How it had utterly wrecked him and still twisted up his guts in ways he wasn't sure he could live with."

During the fight with the three warriors Elide took a deadly blow for him... She took a chunk off her arm and forced him to drop his only protection his shield so that they could heal her. He looked at her and said ""I wanted to go to Perranth with you" *tears*

She had been kind to him... she had offered him a glimpse of peace and she had offered him a home.

I am really glad Elide got some closure from Aelin with her mum

"you look so much like your mother" ‘Tell my Elide I love her very much.’”

Then the proclamation between them both: I choose this !

Then of course Aelin and Rowan. I do not even know where to begin with these two my word.

After those bitches told her you shall remain a princess by blood but not a queen.

"They say she’s beautiful as sin—and colder than ice. They say she’s a tyrant, a coward, a whore. They say she’s gods-blessed—or gods-damned. Who knows?"

"Aelin was no savior to rally behind, but a cataclysm to be weathered"

She looked over her shoulder. “To call in old debts and promises. To raise an army of assassins and thieves and exiles and commoners. To finish what was started long, long ago.” Ahhhhhhh savage I love it. She was not a rebel princess shattering enemy castles......She was a force of nature,, a calamity and a commander of immortal warriors of legend

"One does not deal with Celaena Sardothein ...one survives her" TRUTH

Rowan has grabbed my heart the entire time with his undying love:

“When you find me again, we will have that night. I don’t care where, or who is around.” He pressed a kiss to her neck and said onto her rain-slick skin, “You are my Fireheart.”

'Because I am the only one arrogant and insane enough to ask Mala the fire bringer to let me stay with the woman I love"

"I love you..there is no limit to what I can give you, no time I need. Even when this world is a forgotten whisper of dust between the stars I will love you"

To whatever end ! When they finally did it (whew) His heart. His loyalty. His friendship.

The bisexual undertones in this book are really blatant.. did anyone else notice this ?

All the players on the board to write the wrongs of Elena... all forces from throughout the realm to fight alongside the court that could change the world. For they wove a tapestry of dreams, all begging for that one thing,. a better world

“The Queen Who Was Promised,” Aelin said. “But not to the world. To the gods—to the keys.”

To pay the price. To be their sacrifice in order to seal the keys in the gate at last. To become Namelesss

The Warlord Wants Forever by Kresley Cole

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4.0

Daughters born of Freya and Woden through lightening to signal the birth of the Valkyrie. Super exciting !!!!!

I mean females who are attracted to scars or external evidence of pains.. The banter between Myst and Nikolai was funny, witty, steamy, passionate and a good hoot :

He drew in closer and lowered his voice to ask in all seriousness, "You're mad, aren't you?"
"As - a - hatter," she whispered back conspiratorially.

"Myst is such a slutty tease I love her flirting with Nikolai
Oh, you are good. Wroth, the old word for rage? That's a bingo idea for a name."

Fav line: "To envy was to lack."
A Hunger Like No Other by Kresley Cole

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4.0

Fate has given her to him when he needs her most, and God help him - and this city - if he can't find her. His brutality had been legendary, and he will unleash it without measure for her.

The Lykae is a brute who is rude and obnoxious and a little prick in my opinion at the beginning. After suffering in fire for centuries the scent of his mate propels him to break free and begin his hunt for her.

Poor Emmaline who is determined to make a life for herself goes to school in Paris away from the beauty and savagery of the Valkyrie to learn of her parentage. She starts off quite wussy and meak and fragile.

Their relationship was a whirlwind as Lachlain tries to retrain his beast while Emma comes to terms with her body and indemnity and more so who she is as a person. Two opposites, the wolf and half vampire/half Valkyrie try to understand each other yet her needs are so foreign to him along with everything modern in the new world.

"Lachlain had a vampire disguised as an angel"

"She sounded like she should be on the cigarettes and curles end of a sex line."

"This late at night cinemax usually meant Skinemax."

Then came her transition to Emma the Wanton when she took his blood. When she discovered that she was becoming a creature which one did not "f**k with" then finally "Emma, the King Killer".

His acceptance of her as his one true mate :

" I've never been more certain of anything in my life".

"I will still stay as it is in our way"

Emma became the beauty that calms the beast

Fav quote:
In all of us, even in good men, there is a lawless wild-beast nature, which peers out in sleep.

- Socrates (469-399 BCE)
No Rest for the Wicked by Kresley Cole

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4.0

From inception Sebastian has fought tooth and nail against the unnatural state of living as a Vampire. He is disgusted with himself both as a vampire and a person. I applaud the author for not going with the conventional rough, confident vampire and overtly sexy vampires.

Sebastian is a boy turned man who has never fully experienced pleasure yet is attracted to Kaderin who cannot feel (poetic justice lol). Kaderin the perfect killer is hesitant to kill Sebastian who has exiled himself in a castle for centuries. His very own Angel of death who made him feel. Similarly for Kadeline the unfeeling...her body was reacting in a way that confused her. Then the recognition began and she was his bride !

"Not a Bride to one of your kind. Never - "

"But you've made my heart beat." "you've made me feel" So romantic !!!!

Then they dry humped and found release and she wanted to flee? Then the fact that Nikolai was looking for him at the same time with his bride Myst? It continues on to see them both as competitors in the Hie.

The battles of the Hie were also a way for them to learn each other and grow and become closer. The fact that he was dedicated to win it for her spoke a lot of his dedication whilst she was still figuring things out.

"I awakened you physically and you awakened me emotionally"
"Kissed a vampire. And I was digging it."

Then the big whopper came as a premonition of death looming on the brink of the full moon. Especially with the fact they were tied by blood!

The Lykae was a powerful representation of love also in this book...fighting until death for his mate. Overall the gift from the Goddess made me glad he got his ending too.

Fav Quote:

And none will hear the postman's knock

Without a quickening of the heart.

For who can bear to feel himself forgotten?

- W. H. Auden






Wicked Deeds on a Winter's Night by Kresley Cole

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4.0

Begins with death and so it shall end in life?

Mariketa and Bowen MacRieve in the Hie share a moment of passion ruined by Bowens hate for witches who destroyed his family. Her body is responding to him yet he feels guilt for the loss of his mate Mariah. After abandoning them she curses him with mortality that forces him to face her or risk a war.

Poor Mari thinks of herself as an underachiever, which even an underachiever knew was sociology code for "overfailer."She was famous in the Lore for the simple fact that one day she might be worth being famous. All hype - no substance. That was Mari. Yet she was blessed with strengths of all factions.In theory, Mari was a witch warrior, healer, conjurer, seeress, and an enchantress.

Rewind to Bowen who was cursed by a Goddess by a spoiled princess and has led his life in despair.
The instinct finally returned to him, a sacred guiding force of the Lykae telling him Mari was his bride. Bowe then sets off to wuu her as his own.. his discovery of her her "lipstick" hahhahahahah'

Their journey leads to her discovering she is the Captromancer i.e. mirror witch.

His admissions to her were so raw and sexy and sweet:

"Then with you, everything looks different - feels different - and I... damn it, Mariketa, I want it. So bloody much."

"He crossed to her, clasped her upper arms, and pulled her to her feet. Gazing down at her, his voice breaking low, he said, "Doona bring me back to life only to destroy me once more."

"Enjoy a bounty if one falls in your lap. Savor it if it was lost by a careless man"

As they are now learning each other and growing with love Mariah shows uppppppp !!!! DRAMA Central. Then add to the fact she has to save her parents and all the souls imprisoned by the fallen Goddess.

But Bowen finally chooses her as for the first time in his lonely existence he loved !!! And she finally understood why people fight loosing battles !

Lovely story and epic ending
Dark Needs at Night's Edge by Kresley Cole

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4.0

Our heroine Neomi Laress was brutally murdered (yikes) however he spirit was too strong and she remained in this life due to her sheer willpower. Conrad Wroth, oh baby, I was really looking forward to his story because he seemed to be much darker and violent and his recovery would have been more intense. Conrad who swore his life to killing vampire has now become the hunted due to his transition which has made him into a weapon with the sole aim of tracking down his brothers and killing them. Little does he know the Wroth brothers are also seeking him as they forsake their king and their safety to defeat the bloodlust and cure Conrad.

After he arrives at Elancourt his place of imprisonment and ultimately his way to salvation their paths collide as he is the first person to see Neomi in decades. They begin a courting of sorts which I wouldn't lie was reallllyyyyy interesting to read about as she is a ghost trying to connect with a solid vampire. She pushes him to see past the blood craze and to grasp life as she so desperately wants to. As his brothers explained to their "virgin" brother only his bride could fight the craze within him.

- " her presence calmed his mind and she was happier than she's been in eight years."
- "Two broken souls together in this broken place and had found a kind of contentment"

I thought it was hilarious that Conrad charged through life taking and destroying with his strength which proved futile against Neomi and her incorporeality. When he finally admits he does not want the darkness anymore he realizes the consequences of his actions:
- "you show me what I could have had, if I'd been different... you're the perfect punishment for me".
- " Did any man ever want his penance so much?"

His pet name for her "bait" was very much in alignment with her purpose as she lured him away from the madness. "The only thing that could tempt me is you....... I would follow you anywhere... Even into the sun" ROMANTICCCCCCCCCCC

Then Ms. Neomi who knew ghosts could be voyeurs? Her French femme fatal really came out in this book also as she stripped for Conrad and showed him how to lure a woman ! Her personality really had me going "time to put away the popguns and engage the canons?" OMG I died laughing.

Her death really struck me in the end as well as the surprise ending !

Fav line: Is it so bad being directed if you like where you're headed?"


"You're whats wrong with my past. What has to be missing from my future"

Dark Desires After Dusk by Kresley Cole

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4.0

Cadeon Woede is one of the characters I really felt sorry for throughout the series thus far as he shoulders so much burden from the loss of the throne to the death of his foster family. Even in his love life he is to be denied his mate because she is human.In his attempt to redeem himself of his past deeds and to write the wrongs to his brother he sets off to attain the sword which can destroy his enemy and reclaim the kingdom.

I love to see the different dimensions that the author can bring to each book. In this one we saw Holly a Math nerd who pops OCD pills for everything. When she is kidnapped and releases her inner Valkyrie my inner diva did a silent "whooop whooop". She then begins the process of learning her Valkyrie nature with Caden as her guide and all around flirty hunk. He awakens her sexual desires and most importantly constantly reassures her that she is beautiful in her own skin (quirks and all).

"Nukcing Futs" is most prominent in this series as the ultimate Guardian and most kick ass Valkyrie. Her management of everyone on the cusp of war never ceases to humor and amaze me.

As the story progresses we see Holly became the bargaining chip as the vessel in exchange for Cade having a chance to relinquish all the hatred and animosity people often spurred upon him. The decision was realllllyyyyy difficult as both ends would benefit him greatly.

In this battle of love over duty I was thrown in every direction and really didn't know how it would turn out. Can't wait for Rydstroms story

Kiss of a Demon King by Kresley Cole

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Sabine, the Queen of Illusions who has suffered countless deaths growing up from the Vrekeners
plans to capture and give her virginity to Rydstrom who she would treat as her sex slave...... Beginnings of a great book me thinks !

Rydstrom, one of the oldest and most respected of members of the Lore is so full or rage and yearning for his mate however the kingdoms needs always came before a king. He mus focus on defeating Omort the Deathless to reclaim his crown and Castle Tornin which houses the Well of Souls.

The power of women is really prominent in this book. The reversal of roles where the woman is the dominant one seducing the male is quite delicious !!!! Her intricately slow seduction of him.....both by teasing and then outright slutty ways make for an interesting read

She wants to be his queen yet she is the furthest thing he pictured for his kingdom....he wanted a woman to rule beside him meek and powerful and without disrepute however she was a firecracker with a reputation to match. Sabine with her wickedly sinful illusions.....she is literally projecting pornos of his deepest darkest fetishes and desires !!!

In an incredulous tone, he said, "You don't know the meaning of virtue!""Of course I do-it means your thong must be white." HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAH

Lanthe is really interesting... I think there might be a relationship brewing Thronos the leader of the Vrekene in a future book and can't wait to read about that

Nukcing Futs is creating an army... I can't say enough that she is my favorite character in the entire series !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Army of Vertas I look forward to you.

That promise her made to Lotharie... I could definitely see that coming to bite him in the ass

I got a lot of closure in the relationship between Rydstrom and Cade in this book also:

Heading to the drive, Rydstrom looked back over his shoulder. "You'll be a great king."

Cadeon faced him with his eyes wet. "I don't want to be bloody king! And I don't want to lose my brother, just when things... just when you don't hate me."

"I never hated you." Rydstrom gruffly added, "I love you, brother. And I'm proud of the man you've become."

Their relationship has progressed form hate to love * teary eyed*

Fav lines:

"It's not my fault the truth and I are strangers-we were never properly introduced." LOL

"It's not true that she doesn't care about anything. She cares about nothing very much."
Deep Kiss of Winter by Gena Showalter, Kresley Cole

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4.0

Sad, sad Daniela the Cold , the broken doll who wants to be fixed has blooded the legendary ladies man Murdoch the "Suave". Their story is really similar to Neomi and Conrad with the no touching but I love how the author spins it in such a way where I never felt as if I was reading a repeat.

Their foreplay is really hot !!! I do not know how all that ice did not melt with the intensity between these two. Murdoch is beside himself with a bride he cannot touch :

"You don't have the sense to realize you were blooded by one of the only Valkyrie who would accept a vampire in her bed."

"To do precisely what there? Freeze?"

In a flash, she drew back her blistered hand to slap him.

"Do it, ice queen. And feel the sting with me."

Murdoch and Dani fight to comes to terms with a way in which they can love each other with hurting one another. Poor Murdoch "The seducer being seduced and the player being played"

His inability to accept is a far contrast of the other brothers who accepted their brides:

"Vallkyrie, I've never been more at odds with myself in my entire existence."

Then when he broke his vow and drank from her ?? BETRAYAL !!!!!

She returns to her home led by Jardin (who I do not trust) to be crowned Queen she feels a sense of loss which echoes Murdochs emotions. After all of their scenes together the ending where she gave him the ultimate show of trust by sweeping aside her hair for him to taste her was really sweet.

Daniella the cold became Dani knows for :"Getting exactly what they want when the odds are stacked against them. Oh, and how to reform rakes."

NIX I love you and I need more of her !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Fav line: When do you give up on somebody that you love?