The Prisoner’s Throne by Holly Black (Stolen Heir duology book 2)

SPOILER ALERT! If you haven’t read the first book in the series, The Stolen Heir, Stop! I don’t want to ruin the story for you.

“An imprisoned prince. A vengeful queen. And a battle that will determine the future of Elfhame.

 

Prince Oak is paying for his betrayal. Imprisoned in the icy north and bound to the will of a monstrous new queen, he must rely on charm and calculation to survive. With High King Cardan and High Queen Jude willing to use any means necessary to retrieve their stolen heir, Oak will have to decide whether to attempt regaining the trust of the girl he’s always loved or to remain loyal to Elfhame and hand over the means to end her reign—even if it means ending Wren, too.



 

With a new war looming on the horizon and treachery lurking in every corner, neither Oak’s guile nor his wit will be enough to keep everyone he loves alive. It’s just a question of whom he will doom.” - taken from Goodreads

As The Stolen Heir was told from Suren’s POV, this book is pure Oak. Continuing the story, the race is on for Oak to discover who is plotting against his sister and the throne. The ending includes action with Jade and Carden.

Visit Holly Black’s website.

Skyhunter by Marie Lu (Skyhunter book 1)

 

“A broken world.

An overwhelming evil.

A team of warriors ready to strike back.

Talin is a Striker, a member of an elite fighting force that stands as the last defense for the only free nation in the world: Mara.

A refugee, Talin knows firsthand the horrors of the Federation, a world-dominating war machine responsible for destroying nation after nation with its terrifying army of mutant beasts known only as Ghosts.

But when a mysterious prisoner is brought from the front to Mara's capital, Talin senses there’s more to him than meets the eye. Is he a spy from the Federation? What secrets is he hiding?

Only one thing is clear: Talin is ready to fight to the death alongside her fellow Strikers for the only homeland she has left... with or without the boy who might just be the weapon to save—or destroy—them all.

Loyalty is life.” - taken from Goodreads.com

I absolutely adore Marie Lu. she writes the best closings/epilogues to her books that no other writer can dream to come close to. I was so excited to pick up the start of her newest series. As I started reading, my first thought was that this was going to be a redo of her Legend trilogy and some readers may see it that way. Please don't stop reading but continue on. I love Talin’s character and she definitely has not lived a sheltered life. And the way she risked her life for Red time and time again shows the true strength of her character. Talin’s friend circle is supportive and has a family feel to it. I cannot wait to see what happens in the next book. 

Book two is expected in 2021.

Visit Marie Lu’s website.

The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken (The Darkest Minds book 1)

The Darkest Minds book 1

“When Ruby woke up on her tenth birthday, something about her had changed. Something frightening enough to make her parents lock her in the garage and call the police. Something that got her sent to Thurmond, a brutal government “rehabilitation camp.” She might have survived the mysterious disease that had killed most of America’s children, but she and the others emerged with something far worse: frightening abilities they could not control.

Now sixteen, Ruby is one of the dangerous ones. When the truth comes out, Ruby barely escapes Thurmond with her life. She is on the run, desperate to find the only safe haven left for kids like her—East River. She joins a group of kids who have escaped their own camp. Liam, their brave leader, is falling hard for Ruby. But no matter how much she aches for him, Ruby can’t risk getting close. Not after what happened to her parents. When they arrive at East River, nothing is as it seems, least of all its mysterious leader. But there are other forces at work, people who will stop at nothing to use Ruby in their fight against the government. Ruby will be faced with a terrible choice, one that may mean giving up her only chance at having a life worth living.” taken from Goodreads.com

This is one of those books that has been on my TBR list for the past five years. I knew that I wanted to start this series over the summer since book four as well as the movie is coming out later this summer. I picked this book up on a whim because I was without a new book when I just finished the last one but I had my phone with me. My question is, why did I wait so long to start this series? I was quickly sucked in.

The author was born and raised in Arizona but attended the College of William and Mary here in Virginia. I was fascinated by the fact that our main character Ruby is from Salem. I loved when Ruby and her companions traveled down I-81 from Harrisonburg to Roanoke before heading east, especially since it's in our backyard. I was mesmerized by Ruby's journey of self-discovery and attempting to overcome her fears about her psi ability. While the ending may be a be a bit cliched, of course, this is an older book so others probably used her idea, I still loved the book and I cannot wait to start the next book or to see the movie.

SPOILER ALERT! Stop! Don’t read any further if you don’t want the story ruined.

Never Fade book 2

“Ruby never asked for the abilities that almost cost her her life. Now she must call upon them on a daily basis, leading dangerous missions to bring down a corrupt government and breaking into the minds of her enemies. Other kids in the Children’s League call Ruby “Leader”, but she knows what she really is: a monster. 

When Ruby is entrusted with an explosive secret, she must embark on her most dangerous mission yet: leaving the Children’s League behind. Crucial information about the disease that killed most of America’s children—and turned Ruby and the others who lived into feared and hated outcasts—has survived every attempt to destroy it. But the truth is only saved in one place: a flashdrive in the hands of Liam Stewart, the boy Ruby once believed was her future—and who now wouldn’t recognize her. 

As Ruby sets out across a desperate, lawless country to find Liam—and answers about the catastrophe that has ripped both her life and America apart—she is torn between old friends and the promise she made to serve the League. Ruby will do anything to protect the people she loves. But what if winning the war means losing herself?” - taken from Goodreads.com

So much happened in this book after Liam and Ruby parted ways when she joined the League. New characters are introduced and old favorites are pulled back into Ruby story. Jaw-dropping revelations occur leaving readers waiting for the next book.

In the Afterlight book 3

“Ruby can't look back. Fractured by an unbearable loss, she and the kids who survived the government's attack on Los Angeles travel north to regroup. With them is a prisoner: Clancy Gray, son of the president, and one of the few people Ruby has encountered with abilities like hers. Only Ruby has any power over him, and just one slip could lead to Clancy wreaking havoc on their minds. 

They are armed only with a volatile secret: proof of a government conspiracy to cover up the real cause of IAAN, the disease that has killed most of America's children and left Ruby and others like her with powers the government will kill to keep contained. But internal strife may destroy their only chance to free the "rehabilitation camps" housing thousands of other Psi kids.

Meanwhile, reunited with Liam, the boy she would-and did-sacrifice everything for to keep alive, Ruby must face the painful repercussions of having tampered with his memories of her. She turns to Cole, his older brother, to provide the intense training she knows she will need to take down Gray and the government. But Cole has demons of his own, and one fatal mistake may be the spark that sets the world on fire.” - taken from Goodreads.com

Ruby is reeling from the events that occurred at the end of book 2. Without spoiling what turned out to be an incredible and satisfying ending, I'm glad that I finally picked the series up off my TBR pile, just in time for the movie.

Through the Dark books 1.5, 2.5 & 3.5

This collection contains three novellas: In Time, Sparks Rise, and Beyond the Night.

IN TIME 

Gabe's life has been devastated in the wake of the economic crash. The only option left for someone like him to escape his tragic past is to leave his small town behind and to attempt to become a skiptracer. This already almost-impossible task is made all the more difficult by his first "score,"a young girl who won't speak, but who changes his life in ways he could never imagine. 

SPARKS RISE 

Sam didn't think things could get worse at Thurmand rehabilitation camp. Then the Reds arrive. Everyone assumed the kids with firepower had been killed years ago. Instead they were taken away, brainwashed, and returned as terrifyingly effective guards. To her horror, Sam recognizes one of them: Lucas, the one spark of light in Sam's dark childhood. Lucas has a deadly secret--he beat the brutal training that turned his fellow Reds into mindless drones. When Sam defends herself against an attack by a vile PSF guard and faces a harrowing punishment, Lucas must risk everything to save her. 

BEYOND THE NIGHT 

The government-run "rehabilitation camps" have been shut down, but kids with Psi powers are anything but free. Sam would rather be on her own than put in the care of a foster family and given the "cure"--a dangerous procedure that unclaimed kids across the country are being forced to undergo. But there's more at stake than just her own safety. Sam once made someone a promise, and the time has come to fulfill it. Now that she's out of her camp, Mia only has one thought in her head: finding Lucas, her beloved older brother. - taken from Goodreads.com

Visit Alexandra Bracken’s website.Visit The Darkest Minds website.

King's Cage by Victoria Aveyard (Red Queen book 3)

SPOILER ALERT! If you haven’t read the first two books in the series, Red Queen and Glass Sword, Stop! I don’t want to ruin one of my favorite series for you.

Here is a quick recap from Epic Reads of Red Queen and Glass Sword.

Please visit the Recaptains blog if you need an in depth refresher on Red Queen and Glass Sword.

Check out Book Series Recaps for refresher on the first two books.

“Allegiances are tested on every side. And when the Lightning Girl's spark is gone, who will light the way for the rebellion?

Mare Barrow is a prisoner, powerless without her lightning, tormented by her lethal mistakes. She lives at the mercy of a boy she once loved, a boy made of lies and betrayal. Now a king, Maven Calore continues weaving his dead mother's web in an attempt to maintain control over his country—and his prisoner.

As Mare bears the weight of Silent Stone in the palace, her once-ragtag band of newbloods and Reds continue organizing, training, and expanding. They prepare for war, no longer able to linger in the shadows. And Cal, the exiled prince with his own claim on Mare's heart, will stop at nothing to bring her back.

When blood turns on blood, and ability on ability, there may be no one left to put out the fire—leaving Norta as Mare knows it to burn all the way down” - taken from Goodreads.com

Wow, the build up! I found the first part of the book somewhat slow. Mare is Maven’s prisoner and we finally see what living with Elera as a mother was truly like and how it affected Maven’s life. Hints, back stories and jaw dropping revelations are slowly revealed building up to the BIG event. (No spoilers!) I flew through the last part of the book but the epilogue Ms. Aveyard wrote has me hoping for a happily ever after even for a character that I use to dislike but now understand so much better. Not quite a cliffhanger but everyone’s futures are definitely left up in the air.

The series will conclude with book four in 2018.

Visit Victoria Aveyard’s website.

The Winner's Kiss by Marie Rutkoski (The Winner's trilogy book 3)

SPOILER ALERT! If you haven’t read the first two books in the series, The Winner’s Curse and The Winner’s Crime, Stop! I don’t want to ruin one of my favorite series for you.

Please visit the Recaptains blog if you need a refresher on the series.

“Some kisses come at a price.”   

Arin has joined forces with Darca to fight back against Valoria and reclaim Herran for it’s people. Kestrel still haunts his memories but the pain of her betrayal no longer stings. What he doesn’t realize is that Kestrel was trying to protect him. Her letter to Arin was intercepted by her father who turned her in for treason against the Empire. She has been sent to the northern tundra to work in the sulfur mines. Kestrel hopes that she was able to pass a masker moth on to a Herrani man who in turn will take it to Arin, who  will realizes that she was his spy and is in danger. She also knows that she cannot depend on Arin and must come up with a plan of escape on her own.

Will Kestrel be able to escape from the work camp? Does the Herrani man take the moth to Arin? What happens when Arin learns of Kestral’s fate? Will Herran be able free itself from Valorian rule? Can the Emperor be defeated? What happens when Kestrel sees her father again? Do these star-crossed lovers be reunited or will war finally tear them apart?

Fans will be eager to see how Arin and Kestrel’s story will wrap up.

Visit Marie Rutkowski’s website.

Half Bad by Sally Green (Half Bad book 1)

Wanted by no one.
Hunted by everyone.

"Sixteen-year-old Nathan lives in a cage: beaten, shackled, trained to kill. In a modern-day England where two warring factions of witches live amongst humans, Nathan is an abomination, the illegitimate son of the world's most terrifying and violent witch, Marcus. Nathan's only hope for survival is to escape his captors, track down Marcus, and receive the three gifts that will bring him into his own magical powers—before it's too late. But how can Nathan find his father when there is no one safe to trust, not even family, not even the girl he loves?" - taken from Goodreads.com

Nathan's story continues with book two i the trilogy, Half Wild.

Visit Sally Green's website.

Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

Eighteen-year-old Celaena Sardothien, Adarlan’s most notorious assassin has spent the past year in slavery toiling in the salt mines of Endovier as punishment. Tough, most prisoners don’t survive the first month and yet Celaena almost escaped four months earlier. At the age of eight, someone found her half dead along a frozen riverbank and brought her to the King of the Assassins, who trained her to be ruthless. Now she is being escorted by a contingent of guards through a building to parts unknown. To her surprise, Chaol Westfall, Captain of the Royal Guard, has brought her to the throne room to meet Dorian Havillard, the Crown Prince of Adarlan. She is dismayed to find him handsome. He wonders what has made her so tough.

Dorian has come with a proposition for Celaena; work as a loyal servant of the king, become his assassin. In return, she can earn her freedom after six years of service. The catch is the King is hosting a competition. He invited the twenty-three members of his council to bring their champions to train in the glass castle and compete in duels. The ultimate winner becomes the official assassin of Adarlan. Dorian wants Celaena to be his champion and compete against other thieves and assassins from across Erilea. He tells her she will have to compete under a false name to keep her identity a secret. Celaena is famous throughout Erilea and it wouldn’t look good that such a young girl held Adarlan captive. Dorian and Celaena bargain down to four years of service for her freedom. The next morning under guard, Celaena travels to the capital, Rifthold, with Dorian and Chaol.

Once at the castle, word spreads that Celaena is Dorian’s newest lady friend. To the champions, she is a jewel thief and will keep her skills unknown to the others. When the King calls them all together, Celaena is terrified and recalls her sentencing. Dorian and Chaol reassure her. Turns out she is the only female amongst the champions. Over the next thirteen weeks, they will train daily and be tested once a week where one person will be eliminated. Some will die or be let go through additional testing. After the Yulemas holiday, the four remaining will duel each to determining the winner. The court knows that a contest is being held but the details and participants will be kept secret. The King will be gone on business until Yulemas but will receive updates about the contest and any problems.

Celaena begins training with Chaol the next morning and finds that she is a bit out of shape after a year of salt mining. The first week, Celaena trains on her own and privately with Chaol. The day of the first test, Celaena knows something is terribly wrong when Chaol doesn’t join her. In the training room, she finds out that one of the champions was found dead in a hallway that morning. Soon a pattern emerges, the body of a slain champion is found just before each test. Not knowing who to trust, Celaena is just hoping not to end up back in Endovier.

Who or what is killing the champions and why? Will Celaena be able to survive to the end and become the King’s assassin? What happens when her feelings become conflicted not only for Dorian but Chaol as well? Is someone using Celaena as a pawn? Can Celaena stop the killer before it comes for her? And what does the king have in mind for her?

This book is a must read for those who liked Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers and the ending doesn’t leave readers hanging but opens the door for a sequel.

Visit Sarah J. Maas' website.

The author published four novellas that provide background information about Celaena Sardothien prior to her sentencing to Endovier.

 

Book 0.1 – The Assassin and the Pirate Lord

Readers get a brief glimpse of Celaena’s relationship with Sam Cortland when they go on a mission to Skull Bay.

 

Book 0.2 – The Assassin and the Desert

Two months after the events of The Pirate Lord, Celaena is training with the Silent Assassins in the desert as punishment for her actions in Skull Bay.

 

Book 0.3 – The Assassin and the Underworld

Celaena has returned from the desert to confront her feelings not only for her mentor, Arobynn but Sam Cortland as well.

 

Book 0.4 – The Assassin and the Empire

Celaena has everything she has ever hoped for but it is about to come crashing down around her.