Audio Book Review: Kingdom of Ash by Sarah J. Maas

Kingdom of Ash by Sarah J. Maas
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

It has been one heck of a journey with Aelin and all the others. This book started at a very tough point in their lives. Got tougher. But we made it to the end. There maybe tears and laughs in getting here, but we're here.

War does a lot of things to people. From forming bonds of love to breaking those bonds and even the people. We see that through this book. So many emotions and realizations.

Things were looking badly without the fire heart in the beginning. Everyone was trying their best, and we could see the stress was high for them all. There are good and bad decisions, all done with the best of intentions for the kingdom.

This series is one whole journey that needs to be made from the beginning. And so worth the adventure.

I remember there was one character I wasn't fond of when I first met them. They turned out to be the one I was most moved for in the end. The most tears for. I loved the manifestation to who she became and getting there. Manon. Even Dorian became more than the sheltered prince.

Aelin and her swagger and quick clips are always great. But when she broke, it was hard. The ending was worth it all.

I'm left wanting to see how their lives go. I want to know about the families they have and how they stay in touch and what fun adventures they have. I want so much more with them all!

This series is worth the read or listen. Great to meet the characters and live through their wins and battles with life, each other, and fight for what they believe in.

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Audio Book Review: Tower of Dawn by Sarah J. Maas

Tower of Dawn by Sarah J. Maas
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book is of Chaol and Nesryn's journey to Antica to find Chaol healer(s) to help heal him to walk and to talk to them to bring home an army to help fight the Valg. What they find in Antica is so much more than they expected.

I've loved Chaol from the beginning. I thought he was getting a bit more brooding coming into this book. This book takes Chaol back to being himself again. Yrene is the healer that can help him. And she is great at standing up to him, although she has her own struggles to work past as well...Because Chaol is from the land whose soldiers killed her mother.

These two go head to head with their personal trauma. And in doing so, Yrene works through that barrier in Chaol. He is holding himself back with that darkness that's left feeding off of what he is holding in. Chaol slowly opens up to Yrene, as she does with him. They grow closer and closer.

Nesryn came with Chaol to her family's home land. She looks forward to seeing family here and feels even more comfortable here. She finds she has much in common with one of the Princes, Sartaq.

When Sartaq readies to fly out to his Rukhin troops, he asks Nesryn to go with him. She agrees. And their adventure begins. The dangers they face open their eyes to more than they wanted to admit. And they learn great details and information about Maeve and the Valg. So many details!

Oh wow. The things learned in this book. Just wait until they return to the others and share this information. WOW! It's going to make a HUGE difference!

I love where the people go in this story. Nesryn's adventures were ones I was looking forward to each time I listened to the story.

Have the Valg arrived at this continent too?

I love listening to this book. The narrator is amazing. I listened to it in tandem with Empire of Storms and they really compliment each other well. The things we learn...some major points picked up!

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Audio Book Review: Empire of Storms by Sarah J. Maas

Empire of Storms by Sarah J. Maas
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

There's one thing to be said about being late to a series. At least all the books are out.

I listened to this in tandem with Tower of Dawn. So it took me a LOT longer to get through this than normal.

This book is about Aelin, Rowan, Darian, Manon, Elide, and Lorcan's journey over time. All they had to do and endure to get to where they needed to be. To find the lock.

They all have separate journeys that come together as one.

I'll say. I'm amazed at the masterful planning of Aelin's mind. She's really learned some serious skills other than being an assassin from her former master. All her contacts in the past, through her short life and she's made the rounds, are seen here. We see how she's played her hand and who answers.

There's a little unexpected event that comes about at the end. But, Aelin saw when it happened and she quickly planned for it. Wow, she's quick on her feet.

This book was amazing. It's interesting to see how the different gods and goddesses influence their selected person through life to get to this point. Leading them to others that can help, and possibly fall in love with, to where they are needed.

They all bring a piece of the puzzle to Aelin with what they learn of the Valg, Morath, and other people and places that are involved.

I really do think this story and series is masterfully planned out and put into words.

The narrator is wonderful with her accents and personalities for the characters.

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Audio Book Review: Queen of Shadows by Sarah J. Maas

Queen of Shadows by Sarah J. Maas
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I think this is my favorite book so far.

So much happens and it all comes together. Celaena, or now known as Aelin, has lived a full life as an assassin. She has seen and lived many things in her life. And it all shows now. She takes all the things she's seen and learned and information about people and puts it all into play here.

I really liked that there's mysterious actions earlier in the book, then we get the answer as to what she was doing or where at. And then why. To see all that Aelin plans out. WOW! That girl has a creative mind and I love it.

I love that she surprises people with her plans too. She has a young personality and a mind full of information. She really does deserve a happy life.

I'm surprised at the arrival and play of one character in the story. Didn't expect to see that character do what they do. And I'm curious to see how things go with that character in the future and the plan for the wyrd keys... with that person and with Aelin.

I loved what we learned about the main characters in play. Oh, and then there's all our friends. So much happens! And they all come into play.

Such a great story with lots of movement and action. And we get results.

I'm sorry if this sounds vague. I don't want to spoil anything for anyone. So if you've read this book and want to talk details, I'm here for you!

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Audio Book Review: Heir of Fire by Sarah J. Maas

Heir of Fire by Sarah J. Maas
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

We follow Celaena as she travels to a new continent that has fae and magic. She has a job to do, but will she do it? She's found by Rowan, one of Maeve's warriors that's bound to her, and taken to see Maeve. Celaena's aunt wants to see what Celaena can do. She must train and show her powers to Queen Maeve to get into the Fae city and learn what she can of the Word Keys to save her home land.

Celaena has a knack for finding tough people who don't like her and she feels the same for them, and becoming the best of friends over time. Celaena does that with Rowan, like she did with Chaol. Rowan works with her to come into her fae form and powers. Lots of training. All while facing her past.

There's something on these lands killing demi-fae, the half fae. Rowan is investigating and has Celaena help him.

Celaena is one that comes up with amazing ideas. She's far smarter than her years. Being an assassin has helped her with this. Yet, she still has a young, naive reaction to things and does like to joke and dance.

I really enjoyed Celaena's adventures here. Though, I'm probably in the minority with the rest of the book.... I know all the characters are out on their own doing important things that will explain and lead to a lot. We even see new characters. But... I was bored with their sections of the book. Until the end. Which left me wanting to see what they all do next.

It's good to see the characters moving forward and stepping into adulthood. They are all young adults, 18-20 years old. The events happening are pushing them to make adult decisions and crossing lines to follow their beliefs. I do like that. I remember being that age and the tough decisions in love and life that happen.

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Audio Book Review: Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas

Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Sarah is great at creating characters we are invested in. We grow attached to them. I feel like she enjoys pulling my heart strings.

Celaena is the King's champion. She now is sent on missions to eliminate people on his list. Celaena has been doing things a little...differently with her missions. And she builds her relationships with Dorian, Chaol, and Nehemia.

Things aren't exactly what they seem. Celaena has been doing her own thing as are others.

I have mixed feelings with this book. There's something in the works. There's more happening behind the scenes than we are aware of. I'm not sure who's pulling the strings yet, but someone is. And there's powerful keys in the world that the King can't get...but he has at least one already.

So my mixed feelings come to Celaena and her feeling with one person who doesn't tell her something, that she could have prevented a terrible event. Something that hits me with this is because she was hiding information too. She didn't tell everything. She was playing her own agenda and keeping things secret. But she holds all that against another and looses that deep bond. They are still friends.

Celaena's hidden past is starting to surface. Oh the things that could come with this information...

I'm curious where life is taking Celaena next. Even if my heart is partly broken.

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Audio Book Review: Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

After being left heartbroken from the novellas leading up to the series, and Celeana's past, I finally jumped into to the first full length book. This book was great. I loved the potential threads here.

Celeana is broken, which we knew from before she was sent to the salt mines. (The previous novellas.) She had a different upbringing. This book takes her from the salt mines that were to be her death and puts her in the hope of winning her way to the King's Champion for her freedom in four years. There is a line Celeana has to walk and cross as the King is one she's not a fan of.

She will compete against other men who want this position as well. But while the competition is happening, there's another danger that is attacking the competitors. A very old danger that lingers in the shadows. And Celeana is drawn into it. She must survive not only the challenges to become the Champion but also the ancient beast set to destroy the potential champions.

As she goes through, Celeana makes new friends. I love the bonds she creates with her wit and charm. Her guard and who she trains with, Chaol, is a huge part of the story as he's always at her side...to make sure she doesn't kill the prince. The prince has other plans and enjoys spending time with Celeana. And we have a princess visiting who befriends Celeana. I love Nehemia. She is a strong woman with her country, training, and opinions. There is much, much more to her and we start to see that.

I have really enjoyed all the potential threads set in motion here in this book as we fight the evil here and see Celeana strengthen again in the challenges. I'm looking forward to listening to the rest of them


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Audio Book Review: The Assassin's Blade by Sarah J. Maas

The Assassin's Blade by Sarah J. Maas
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Oh wow. I'm afraid to go any further in this series. I fell in love and felt the heartbreak.

.1 The Assassin & The Pirate Lord
Celaena has strong values. Seems like she cares deeply for those in her circle. When she comes across something against her morals, she' can't just watch and go with it. However, I kept asking myself...Is this what it seems?

Celaena starts out rough, but I really liked her when things got moving. She's a smart lady at 16 years of age.

.2 The Assassin & the Healer
This is a short one.

Even in a fowl mood, Celaena is still a good person at heart. This is a follow up to the previous novella. Celaena does help a few woman out and sees hope...

.3 The Assassin & the Desert
This story felt a little slower in it's telling, but I know this story has lots of little gold nuggets to reference in the novels. I can't wait to see them all come to fruit. A lot of growth for Celaena in this one.

.4 The Assassin & the Underworld
I love Celaena returning home. Getting to see Sam and how his summer had gone. I had a feeling about this mission, and...I was right. My heart has been taken by Sam! I love him for Celaena. Action & love in this story. Celaena learns to be her own as well. Great steps for Celaena growing here.

.5 The Assassin & the Empire
I love Celaena and Sam together. They have struggles, still with Araban. But working on moving on. This story has me so worried for Sam! And...breaks my heart.


I want to keep going with these books, but had to take a break after this. I was so sad.

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