Review of THE CROWN OF EMBERS (Fire & Thorns #1) by Rae Carson

(Blurb from Goodreads.com)
Elisa is a hero.

She led her people to victory over a terrifying, sorcerous army. Her place as the country's ruler should be secure. But it isn't.

Her enemies come at her like ghosts in a dream, from foreign realms and even from within her own court. And her destiny as the chosen one has not yet been fulfilled.

To conquer the power she bears, once and for all, Elisa must follow a trial of long-forgotten—and forbidden—clues, from the deep, hidden catacombs of her own city to the treacherous seas. With her go a one-eyed spy, a traitor, and the man whom—despite everything—she is falling in love with.

If she's lucky, she will return from this journey. But there will be a cost.

The way I read it ~

Firstly...



So thrilled where this story took me in this second book. I'm totally blown away.


The Crown of Embers continues the tale of Elisa on her journey to finding out the kind woman she is and what her ultimate destiny entails. Her 'coming of age' truly intensifies as she grapples with the reality that she is responsible for so many lives and she continues to question whether or not she is equipped to be a great ruler. She forms new alliances this time around as she recovers from past devastation and loss. She also is faced with the challenge of staying true to herself and her faith while discovering underlying threats beginning to surface and enemies she cannot see. I enjoy stories where the heroine is constantly underestimated and in proving her worth becomes more than even she imagined.

Let's see... what else did I like?

1. Epic storytelling. I loved the vast landscapes created here. In The Girl of Fire and Thorns you were allowed a good glimpse at this unique world. I was happily surprised to read that there was so much more and the vivid detailing just brought it all together for me.

2. Intrigue. There it was again, urging me on to page after page. I like knowing when to expect the unexpected and The Girl of Fire and Thorns definitely taught me that. I was clueless as to who the true villain would be. It left me feeling both anxious and hopeful at the same time.

3. Spiritual references. It hits you in the gut when you least expect it but doesn't strangle you. I sensed the urgency here and maybe an underlying message about faith and the power of prayer. Maybe it occurs that much more to me as I was going through spiritual revelations in my own life while I read it. But I totally got it. Totally. It was a comfort in a way and the eloquence with which Rae Carson related the religious aspects of this world and these characters is something I won't forget.

4. Love angst. I loved how it was well paced and intense. It was told with such beauty that I 'awwww'ed and sighed every damn chapter.



It's a heart twisting romance that had many obstacles and constant setbacks. You were given a taste and then that morsel was yanked away and dangled in front of you. Urgh! It pissed me off while I enjoyed every single word.

Can't a guy and girl get a break?



5. That ending!!!

RATED SWEET: 4 out of 5 Sugar cubes

Reviewed by Leelo

Review of THE GIRL OF FIRE AND THORNS (Fire & Thorns #1) by Rae Carson

(Blurb from Goodreads.com)

Once a century, one person is chosen for greatness.

Elisa is the chosen one. 

But she is also the younger of two princesses, the one who has never done anything remarkable. She can't see how she ever will. 

Now, on her sixteenth birthday, she has become the secret wife of a handsome and worldly king—a king whose country is in turmoil. A king who needs the chosen one, not a failure of a princess.

And he's not the only one who seeks her. Savage enemies seething with dark magic are hunting her. A daring, determined revolutionary thinks she could be his people's savior. And he looks at her in a way that no man has ever looked at her before. Soon it is not just her life, but her very heart that is at stake.

Elisa could be everything to those who need her most. If the prophecy is fulfilled. If she finds the power deep within herself. If she doesn't die young.

Most of the chosen do.

The way I read it ~

The Girl of Fire and Thorns is a coming of age story for Elisa. She's the second daughter of a King and feels like she isn't worthy of anything spectacular or can accomplish anything of great importance but she's so endearing in her doubt and lack of self confidence that I couldn't help empathize with her. She doesn't consider herself beautiful and was extremely jealous of her sister Alodia's natural grace or what she perceives as natural. I never really got to understand Alodia's character and at first instance (she was barely in the story) I detested her because she seemed callous and uncaring towards Elisa. But in retrospect, maybe that was older sibling tough love. And maybe Elisa needed it to become who she was by the end of the story. What Elisa did have going for her was her intelligence and her devout faith. If nothing else this fueled her emotions and guided her instincts, which could have led her all over the place.

Elisa finds herself thrust into a new life. She's married off unexpectedly and quite urgently to a man she doesn't know and has never met and moves to a new place where nothing and no one is who they seem. So of course she can't trust anyone and mostly,I think she couldn't trust herself to survive it. All of that drama is centered around the Secret! she holds and if it is revealed she's in mortal danger. 

I truly began to enjoy the characters by the second half. I think I didn't know what to make of them or if to like any of them. I loved the progression of the story. As Elisa matured and came into her own, the scenery of the books changed with her. I clearly saw the evolution although there were one or two slumps in the story telling that I couldn't ignore and frustrated me to no end. I almost didn't finish the book. But I did. Why?

My Spidey-book sense.

It tingled along with my frustration because I knew there was more to the story and with two sequels, I was inevitably intrigued. Ultimately that is my downfall. Intrigue me enough Authors and I will read on!

I'm looking forward to the rest of this tale. It's without a doubt unlike anything I've ever read and maybe it isn't like most other fantasy books out there... Maybe (as I haven't read them all).

I like it. I like it a lot.

Oh and before I go... there was one part. 

This part totally sucker-punched me. I couldn't breathe. I choked on my rage.


Why Rae Carson, Why?!!! 

But then I really noticed 'dreamboat'.

You. Are. Forgiven.

RATED SWEET: 4 out of 5 Sugar cubes

Reviewed by Leelo

Review of THE SUM OF ALL KISSES by Julia Quinn

(Blurb from Goodreads.com)

Hugh Prentice has never had patience for dramatic females, and if Lady Sarah Pleinsworth has ever been acquainted with the words shy or retiring, she's long since tossed them out the window. Besides, a reckless duel has left this brilliant mathematician with a ruined leg, and now he could never court a woman like Sarah, much less dream of marrying her.

Sarah has never forgiven Hugh for the duel he fought that nearly destroyed her family. But even if she could find a way to forgive him, it wouldn't matter. She doesn't care that his leg is less than perfect, it's his personality she can't abide. But forced to spend a week in close company they discover that first impressions are not always reliable. And when one kiss leads to two, three, and four, the mathematician may lose count, and the lady may, for the first time, find herself speechless ...

The way I read it ~

The Sum of All Kisses turned out really to be 'The Sum of various sarcastically flirtatious conversations that had absolutely nothing to do with kissing till almost to the end of the story'



I kept waiting for the kissing.  And waiting and waiting.....




Till finally they kissed....





Which made up for the long wait.



I loved all the witty banter between Hugh and Sarah. Neither character was what I expected them be. Which was delightfully surprising. 

I fully expected the surly 'I always get what I want, when I want and I want it now' British Lord. But Hugh was intense yes, though in a laid back, sarcastically flippant and funny way. Outrageously funny. Outrageously daring. So naughty.

Sarah was very opinionated yet still naive in most ways common to gentlewomen of her time. She was sassy but never too outspoken to be considered rude or impolite. I disliked her at first and found it difficult to sympathize with her. She was borderline inconsiderate with her choice of words and overly dramatic, yes definitely. But her personality altered and developed as the story progressed and through it all, her penchant for sarcasm was such a force to be reckoned with. 

And in that Hugh sure did reckon with it. 



They were characters who were both very sure of themselves (even though at times I felt, not very aware of themselves) , what they said and how they said it. Which was probably why they butted heads and totally disliked each other instantly.

Which all translated to me as



The writing was marvelously done. I loved how Julia Quinn kept it light and engaging. I rather enjoyed The 17th/18th century slang, once I allowed myself to swim with the words rather than against them. I learnt a few new ones here. It was great! 

And yes I totally read with an English Accent.

A point to consider:
This is the third in a quartet. You will meet characters who've had their own stories told. But I didn't feel like I missed anything in reading this first. All characters were given their due entrance and part in the story line and it may make you curious. The Sum of All Kisses can absolutely be read as a stand-alone though feel free to read in order. I simply 'happened upon' this one and didn't read the blurb.

Sometimes it works out best that way, makes the journey that much more intriguing. 

RATED SWEET: 4 out of 5 Sugar cubes

Reviewed by Leelo