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knitreadkate's Reviews (85)

Legends & Lattes

Travis Baldree

5.0

adventurous funny lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

This was the perfect autumn cosy read complete with those warm and fuzzy feelings.

I had a hard time putting it down and was so invested in the world.

I loved the way the book was written. I enjoyed getting to see Viv build her cafe from scratch and try to entice people to try bean water for the first time.

I love that as the menu grows, so does Viv’s community of friends.

And that menu is delicious - I need a latte and a chocolate croissant.

I loved the characters, the story, the coffee, the pastries and how it made me feel all warm and content. I already want to read this again, I’m flicking back to parts that made me love the characters.

There are plenty of great one liners with Viv and Laney that gave a great chortle.
Amity was a clear favourite and I want to know more about her.

I would absolutely recommend this book for those looking for a story on belonging, friendship, the labour of building something from scratch and have in interest in milky bean water.

Servo

David Goodwin

DID NOT FINISH: 34%

Return library loan.

Dark: And the Boy in the Hole

M.A. Batten

4.0

adventurous dark mysterious slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

The book delves deeply into folklore, myths, and legends, offering a rich tapestry of narrative that is highly descriptive and vivid. Minotaurs, cockatrice, lykkan’s and more.

This book was outside my comfort zone but I enjoyed it.

Crown of Midnight

Sarah J. Maas

5.0

adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

Absolutely tore through the last 25% of the book - what an ending!

SJM has a thing for big reveals in the second book.

It was hard to care, she realized as she started the trek back to the castle. Incredibly hard to care, when you didn’t have anyone left to care about.

📖
The first half of the book is a slow burn. You're gathering information, bits and pieces that I didn't put together until the reveal at the end.

I found it a surprise to find out within the first few chapters that Celaena, as the King's Champion, had not killed a single person. Had instead faked their deaths and presented this to the King who accepted it. This is such a huge risk considering the threat the King gave to kill Chaol and Nehemia if she stepped out of line. Maybe I'm over thinking it - but part of me thought back to Throne of Glass when she said she wanted to be a healer. Maybe deep down, Celaena doesn't want to be an assassin?

And all of this—every death she faked, every lie she told—put them at risk. Nehemia shook her head but didn’t reply. Whenever the princess or Chaol or even Dorian looked at her like that, it was almost too much to bear. But they had to believe the lies, too. For their own safety

💖 The Main Relationship:
There is a lot of tension between Chaol, Dorian and Celaena left over from Throne of Glass. Slowly through out the first 40% of the book, we get those small moment of Celaena and Chaol getting along and I was fully invested.

Faster, never faltering, never breaking her stare.The rest of the world quieted into nothing. In that moment, after ten long years, Celaena looked at Chaol and realized she was home.

The moonlight and the garden and the golden glow from the ballroom blurred together, now miles away. “We’ll never be a normal boy and girl, will we?” she managed to say.“No,” he breathed, eyes blazing. “We won’t.”

It was so wonderful, warm, and heartwarming for that short run.

I'm still so upset that Celaena won't get past what happened. I thought Chaol was a perfect fit and felt so strongly for them. I felt like it had always been Chaol since she was taken out of Endovier. The quote below from Choal broke me:

He’d realized it the moment Celaena had turned to him in Nehemia’s bedroom. He had lost her. And she would never, in a thousand lifetimes, let him in again.

💖 Friendship:
Nehemia and Dorian's friendship was an important part of the book. Dorian in the first half to me felt jaded and hurt from being rejected by Celaena in Throne of Glass.

Nehemia and Celaena's friendship grew close and I was feeling so strongly connected with their bond. Nehemia was still fighting the good fight, trying to have conditions in Calaculla and Endovier as the conditions int he slave labor camps had become abhorrent. Nehemia was a voice of reason, understanding and motivation to Celeana.

I loved Nehemia and was so upset when she was murdered. I felt like it was a cheap plot point to create a catalyst of reaction to her plight and Celaena's. Couldn't there have been another way?

I still have so many questions with Nehemia. I felt like Nehemia knew who Celaena truly is. How did Nehemia actually know about the 10th anniversary of Celaena's parent's death?

I think that's why she was so blunt to Celeana, why she really called her a coward. I felt like Nehemia being the Princess Heir was a reflection of what Celeana would have been like if her parents were still alive.

While I agree with Nehemia below, it's such a deep cut that hurts my heart.

“And what is so wrong with wanting my freedom? Haven’t I suffered enough to deserve it? So what if the means are unpleasant?”
“I won’t deny that you have suffered, Elentiya, but there are thousands more who have also suffered—and suffered more. And they do not sell themselves to the king to get what they, too, deserve. With each person you kill, I am finding fewer and fewer excuses for remaining your friend.”

😱 That Big Reveal
If you're a clever one, you're probably pieced a few parts at this point. I was not, and enjoyed the ride of that last 25% of the book. It was only after going back through my annotations I could see those clues.

Has Dorian met Celaena/Aelin in the past as a child?

What sort of throne would he inherit someday? If the heir of Terrasen, Aelin Galathynius, had lived, would she have become a friend, an ally? His bride, perhaps?
He’d met her once, in the days before her kingdom became a charnel house. The memory was hazy, but she’d been a precocious, wild girl—and had set her nasty, brutish older cousin on him in order to teach Dorian a lesson for spilling tea on her dress.

Celaena's fae and is the heir of Terrasen! THAT IS HUGE!

There were many sassy, funny moments in the book but the latter half were so emotional and action-packed. I enjoyed Crown of midnight more than Throne of Glass, it was wonderfully written.

Now, on to Heir of Fire!

I have a read along everyone is welcome to joint if they like. It's open until 31st May 2025 next year.
https://app.thestorygraph.com/readalongs/c906d102-66c5-4fbd-b2dd-0367b8ee9f3b

Content Warnings

Throne of Glass

Sarah J. Maas

4.0

adventurous emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Seven years ago, I couldn't get past the first few chapters of Throne of Glass. Celaena's arrogance and vanity put me off completely. I couldn't stand her.

But after finishing ACOTAR, I need more Sarah J. Maas so picked up the book again. Celaena still grated on me at first, but she grew on me.

The first quarter of the book felt like a really slow start. I wasn't enjoying the characters or understanding much of the world they were in. By the time Celaena arrive's at the castle, I was starting the enjoy the read.

The part with Celaena going to the Ball gave some strong Cinderella vibes. Her sparkling gown sounded as gorgeous as Feyre's Starfall gown.

For an author's very first published book, I thought it was fantastic. There is no way I could ever write this well. By the end, I really enjoyed being immersed in their world and I'm looking forward to Crown of Midnight.

A Court of Mist and Fury : Rhysand's POV

illyriantremors

emotional tense medium-paced

For non-book records, review text and ratings are hidden. Only mood, pace, and content warnings are visible.

A Court of Thorns and Roses : Rhysand's POV

illyriantremors

emotional slow-paced

For non-book records, review text and ratings are hidden. Only mood, pace, and content warnings are visible.

A Court of Silver Flames

Sarah J. Maas

3.0

adventurous challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Overall, I loved it.

I felt Feyre’s personality changed and wasn’t her witty, fiery self in previous books.

I did enjoy the book. Ignore the plot, I felt this was mostly about Cassian and Nesta and their growth.

I think it touched it some wonderful topics of the strength of friendship and family, to keep reaching your hand out even when it gets bit and that feeling of worthless anger that you fling out at everyone around you.

Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones

James Clear

3.0

informative medium-paced

Review coming.

A Court of Frost and Starlight

Sarah J. Maas

4.0

funny lighthearted medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

I really loved it.
It’s a light, fluffy, sentimental book of moments between the characters I love.

It’s like getting that extra glimpse of time with characters you’ve spent so many hours with.

It does run a bit like a hallmark Christmas movie but I wouldn’t change a thing.

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