Shiny New Book.....

Hey Lovelies I just recieved a beautiful new autographed copy of Jodi Meadows latest book Before She Ignites.

Can you see why I am so intrigued by this book ? Its YA (young adult), features dragons and the main character is a woman of color. Finally we are getting a sci fi YA character of color. I am really looking forward to curling up with this in the next few weeks. I will be sure to leave a first impressions post on here and on Litsy.

Here is the synopsis of the book:

Mira has always been a symbol of hope for the Fallen Isles, perfect and beautiful—or at least that’s how she’s forced to appear. But when she uncovers a dangerous secret, Mira is betrayed by those closest to her and sentenced to the deadliest prison in the Fallen Isles. Except Mira is over being a pawn. Fighting to survive against outer threats and inner demons of mental illness, Mira must find her inner fire and the scorching truth about her own endangered magic—before her very world collapses. And that’s all before she ignites (From Amazon).

Here is a fan made book trailer I found as well:

Magical Jewels, Traitors, Evil Immortals and a bit of mystery: My Review of The Queen Of The Tearling

                                       

                         The Bookbabe Reviews: The Queen of the Tearling by Erika Johnasen

I came upon this book last year during the summer but had not decided to purchase it until I saw it in paperback this spring. I had heard some wonderful things about it. Calling it Hunger Games meets Game of Thrones; honestly I do not understand the Hunger Games reference but, it does have that GOT feel. In The Queen of the Tearling, Johansen gives us a head strong, unlikely young Queen in Kelsea Raleigh. Kelsea is a bookish, plain and slightly overweight young woman. She has spent the past 19 years of her life living in secret and away from "The Keep" and the problems plaguing her homeland. She is taught history, politics, war strategy, etc. However, nothing prepares her for being taken from the only home she has ever known and being whisked away to New London and "The Keep". Once there Kelsea has to witness the hell that her subjects live in. There is little or no food, jobs, medicine, doctors, and educational opportunites. Worst of all villagers names at put into a lottery at birth; and once a month folks are chosen to be taken as part of a shipment to Mortmense. This shipment helps keep the peace with the Red Queen of the Mort; it was part of the treaty between Kelsea's mother, Queen Elyssa and the Queen. Once Kelsea witnesses the men, women and children being loaded into cages she orders her guard and the army to stop the shipment. Stopping the shipment means that she has now violated the treaty; giving the Red Queen the right to invade the Tearling and take its citizens by force. During the course of the novel we see Kelsea try to come to terms with what she's done but we also see her trying to right some wrongs within her kingdom. This includes  getting rid of the Regent, her uncle. We see him expelled in grand fashion during the first assassination attempt when Kelsea is wounded. It is during this moment that I really begun to respect the character. Kelsea has what it takes to be queen and she will not back down. This becomes an important character trait as we approach the climax of the book. 

Johansen also does an amazing job at leaving some very poignant and important questions hanging in the air; and even though they go unanswered  they do not overshadow the novel. Such as where did the Red Queen come from? Why does she not have a name? Who is Kelsea's father, and why does no one know? Also, how did a modern America end? The latter question is the most interesting to me because Kelsea mentions the "crossing" and America frequently; not to mention J.K. Rowling's seven "volumes" and Tolkien's Lord of the Rings. The saddest parts of the book comes when one of the queens guards is found out for treachery. This is the point where we see what type of person Kelsea is: compassionate. What she does in the moment is sad and heartbreaking even though it is necessary. 

Another thing that I loved about this book was that the author really builds the tension. Making it every easy to keep the pages turning and yearning to find out what happens next. Of course, the story did have its bumps and the beginning is very slow. Also, there are things that are mentioned in the beginning that are not thoroughly explained and we all know what a turn off that can be. But overall I liked it. I will definitely read the entire series because I just need to know what happens to Kelsea but also because I want to know more about the Red Queen.  

Quotes I Loved:

" I am death. I come quickly, I come slowly, but I am not cheated"

"Everyone dies eventually. I think it's better to die clean" 

"Barty always used to say there were three things men were stupid about: their beer, their cocks and their pride"

"Even a book can be dangerous in the wrong hands, and when that happens, you blame the hands, but you also read the book" 

"I see this land flowing with books, Father. Widespread literacy. Books everywhere...."

"Children conceived by this woman would only be cannibalized by her womb....."Then you don't risk in the lottery, do you? You have no children, you don't look strong enough for labor, and you're really too old to appeal to anyone for sex."

"Once, he'd explained to Kelsea that addiction wa like having a crack in your life. "It's a deep crack, Kel, but you can build guards around it. You can put up a fence."

"I've been dead since the invasion, sir. It's only the past few years I've begun to rot" 

For more of my reviews be sure to follow me at www.delawarebookaddict.blogspot.com and www.facebook.com/thebookbabeofde

The Bookbabe Reviews: Heir of Fire by Sarah J. Maas

Okay, this books finally chapters had me on twitter asking Sarah J. Maas to consider moving up the publication date of the next book (which is slated to come out in September). So much happened in this book that kept me up nights trying to get to the next chapter. So in this book we find Celanea in Wendlyn trying to gain intel in the royal family so that she can warn them about the King of Adarlan. She doesn't get to accomplish this mission because she ends up running into Rowan; a Fae male warrior and Prince that comes looking for her. He takes her to Mistward a fortess full on Demi Fae where she comes to meet her Aunt Maeve, Queen of the Fae. Celaena only agrees to come because she needs information about the Wyrdkeys and how she can find and destory them. Along the way we see Celaena fight her way through her grief as she deals with the lost of Nehemia. We  also get to know Rowan a little better; at first he is very aloof and keeps Celaena at arms length. But, by the end of the book things has changed. He has sworned to protect her and I think there may be something else growing there too. (Though they are distant cousins and that would be rather strange if anything does happen). There are a few things that I loved about this installment into the series. First, we get to meet some new and very interesting characters such as Manon Blackbeak and her 13. These witches are badass. These women live to be ruthless and cunning and are raised to believe that they where born without a heart of soul. We also meet Aedion Ashryver, who is a relative of Celaena's and is as loyal to the King as he would like some in the court to believe. Second, we also get to see Dorian come into his own and that comes in part with him actually accepting who he is and with his new found love Sorscha. I was really rooting for this couple but, wow oh wow how the King set them up. The last few chapters of the book really had me wanting to cry and scream and oh the feels. Last but not least; we get some deeper insights into the deaths of Celaen's parents. We also get a glimpse at King of Adarlan before the end of magic in their lands. We find out that he may have some power of his own and not power that was bought on from the ring that he wears. I am hoping that my theory about him is correct and that there is more to him than meets the eye. All I can say is that the next installment of this series can not come soon enough. My over all rating for this book is 5 stars; it more than exceeds my expectations for the third book in a series. It is one of the best sequels I have read in some time.

Quotes I loved: 

Quote:

"There were cells in the bowels of the mines that they  used to punish slaves. Cells so dark you would wake up in them and think you'd been blinded. They locked me in there sometimes - once for three weeks straight. And the only thing that got me through it was reminding myself of my name, over and over and over again - I am Celaena Sardothien......Celaena Who did not fear or despair, Celaena who was a weapon honed by death"

Quote: "It would not take a monster to destroy a monster - but light, light to drive out darkness.

Quote:

"All I want is for my people to be free and my queen restored to her throne" (Aedion)

"They Burned the antler throne, Aedion. There is no throne for her"

"Then I will build one myself from the bones of our enemies"

For more Bookbabe reviews please continue to follow me at www.delawarebookaddict.blogpost.com and www.facebook.com/thebookbabeofde.