Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

Throne of Glass

written by Sarah J Maas

published on August 7th 2012 by Bloomsbury USA

book #1 of Throne of Glass series

Young Adult/Fantasy/Romance

404 pages

***

After serving out a year of hard labor in the salt mines of Endovier for her crimes, 18-year-old assassin Celaena Sardothien is dragged before the Crown Prince. Prince Dorian offers her her freedom on one condition: she must act as his champion in a competition to find a new royal assassin. Her opponents are men-thieves and assassins and warriors from across the empire, each sponsored by a member of the king's council. If she beats her opponents in a series of eliminations, she'll serve the kingdom for three years and then be granted her freedom.

Celaena finds her training sessions with the captain of the guard, Westfall, challenging and exhilirating. But she's bored stiff by court life. Things get a little more interesting when the prince starts to show interest in her... but it's the gruff Captain Westfall who seems to understand her best.

Then one of the other contestants turns up dead... quickly followed by another.

Can Celaena figure out who the killer is before she becomes a victim? As the young assassin investigates, her search leads her to discover a greater destiny than she could possibly have imagined.

“My name is Celaena Sardothien. But it makes no difference if my name's Celaena or Lillian or Bitch, because I'd still beat you, no matter what you call me.”   

Throne of Glass is definitely that book which makes you seriously question yourself with the sentence: "Why didn't I read this sooner?!" It's an immensely entertaining high fantasy with a strong, badass, remarkable female main character that everyone who's looking for a good quality YA fantasy should look up to. Thank you, everyone out there, who feels like they haven't praised the book enough. You got me read this one.

Celaena Sardothien, a young asassin in the country of Erilea, was thrown into a salt mine prison after getting caught three years ago. For a long time she became a slave in that mine, but she endured it. Now the Crown Prince, Dorian Havilliard, offers to grant Celaena her freedom, if only she could become the Kings' Champion and prove that she, indeed, is the best. To get the title, though, Celaena has to beat other strong opponents in a deadly competition. Things get confusing when one by one, Celaena's opponents are found dead in dreadful conditions. Who might be the killer and what's the motivation behind the killings?

In this debut fantasy novel by Sarah J Maas, she writes a thorougly convincing and enjoyable high but light fantasy. There's something about the way she writes that makes us, as readers, believe in her words. The strong characterization of Celaena is one proof of it. (By the way, isn't the girl's name one of the best YA literary name, ever? I mean, CELAENA SARDOTHIEN. So much swag in two words. I really appreciate the author's ability to come up with some quite epic names that acually fits for her characters) As the best (and probably the youngest) assassin in Erilea, she has this harsh and powerful side of her, with so much badassery contained in one body. [The swordfighting scene with Chaol actually took my breath away!] Celaena knows not merely how to fight, but how to fight hard. This girl values herself because she knows that she's good at killing, that she deseves a high amount of respect for what she has accomplished in such a young age. Her self-boastness is something to be expected.  What I didn't expect was the girlish, teenagery side of her that surfaces every now and then. Like any other normal 18 years old girls out there, Celaena is still excited over the thought of parties, ballgowns, and other feminine matters which I admit, makes her not only so overly CUTE, but also lovable! She's like this ferocious, grumpy cat that will turn into a fluffy kitten when offered candies. This girl also has so much snark and fun-ness in oneself! I really really enjoyed every smartypants, wit-filled conversations that she exhanged with Chaol (and other characters as well) throughout the book. As if all of that are not enough, Sarah J Maas coerced me to love this girl even more when her passion toward literature and libraries is revealed. That way I started to believe that Celaena is truly powerful, strong, and unbeatable, but she's also a normal 18 years old girl who still wants to enjoy life as it is.

“Over a million? A million books?” Her heart leapt and danced, and she cracked a smile. “I’d die before I even got through half of that!” 

“You like to read?” 

She raised an eyebrow. “Don’t you?”   

*

“Libraries were full of ideas–perhaps the most dangerous and powerful of all weapons.”

The plot line flows seamlessly, alternating between scenes where Celaena is happily enjoying herself being showered by the luxury of palace life after three years living in a salt mine, the training, the get-to-know-you parts between her and other characters (Dorian, Chaol, Lady Nehemia, Nox, and others. I'm happy to say that it's clear Sarah J Maas put a lot of attentions to her side characters, because even Nehemia is a well complicatedly written character who actually holds an important role in the book), and the competition itself. There's a few letdown of the book, though, for the synopsis somehow created this quite high expectation that the 'competition' parts would be more like Hunger Games-y, while actually it's not that bad. Arrow shooting, running, one-on-one fight, identifying poisoned liquid, and all that. If I have to be honest, this book needs more action. More brutal fights, more mess. I want the assassin side of Celaena to be given lights more often. Show us, Sarah J Maas, SHOW US. Also, I am never a fan of love triangle, and while Throne of Glass' romance does not really qualify as love triangle, the somehow grey-ish relationship between Celaena, Prince Dorian, and Chaol got me torn for a while. I know clearly who I'm rooting for (CHAOL WESTFALL, of course. You have to read the book to grasp this INTENSE attraction between him and Celaena, which is like, the best thing ever. They're so special), I could not help but to enjoy all her moments with the other boy, too. These two boys can't help it but to get blown away by Celaena's astonishing charms, ha ha.

All in all, I would suggest this series to any of you who's currently looking for a good quality Young Adult series, especially for fantasy maniacs! Eventhough the turn of events might seem predictable at times, the story is supported by some well-crafted qualities such as good characterization, good dialogs, emotions play, and also filled with beautiful lines here and there. The series is set for six books (three books already out so far, which I will completely devour soon!) along half of dozen novellas that you can enjoy in between. 

A glimpse of awesomeness to Throne of Glass:

“Would you like to dance with me?”
He laughed. “With you? No.”
She looked at the marble floor, her chest tight. “You needn’t be so cruel.”
“Cruel? Celaena, Perrington is just over there. I’m sure he’s not happy about you being here, so I wouldn’t risk drawing his attention any more than necessary.”
“Coward.”
Chaol’s eyes softened. “If he weren’t here, I would have said yes.” 

(...)
“Anyway,” Chaol added, jerking his chin at Dorian, “I think you have far more attractive suitors vying for your attention. I’m boring company to keep.”
“I don’t mind being here with you.”
“I’m sure you don’t,” Chaol said dryly, though he met her stare.
“I mean it. Why aren’t you dancing with anyone? Aren’t there ladies whom you like?”
“I’m the Captain of the Guard—I’m not exactly a catch for any of them.” There was some sorrow in his eyes, though it was well concealed.
“Are you mad? You’re better than everyone in here. And you’re—you’re very handsome,” she said, taking his hand in her free one. There was beauty in Chaol’s face—and strength, and honor, and loyalty. She stopped hearing the crowd, and her mouth became dry as he stared at her. How had she missed it for so long?
“You think so?” he said after a moment, looking at their clasped hands.
She tightened her grasp. “Why, if I wasn’t—”

*   

“Right," Chaol said. "So you're just... memorizing that information now?"

"If you're suggesting that I have no reason to be here and to leave, then tell me to go." 

"I'm just trying to figure out what's so boring that you dozed off 10 minutes ago."

She propped herself up onto her elbows. "I did not!"

His eyebrows rose. "I heard you snoring."

"You're a liar, Chaol Westfall." She threw her paper at him at ploppedback on the couch. "I only closed my eyes for a minute."

He shook his head again and went back to work.

Celaena blushed. "I didn't really snore, did I?"

His face was utterly serious as he said, "Like a bear.”   

*

“You could be great. You could rattle the stars. You could do anything if only you dared.”

What are you reading lately? Are you having a lot of fun this weekend? I hope August is treating you well so far. If you have read the book and you love it, tell me!

If you're convinced to read the book after reading this review and you love it, tell me as well! It will seriously make my day. :)

Have fun and read some more!

Dreams of Gods and Monsters by Laini Taylor

Dreams of Gods and Monsters

written by Laini Taylor

publised on April 8th 2014

last book of Daughter of Smoke and Bones series

Young Adult/Fantasy/Romance

613 pages

Spoilers are whitened. You have to highlight to see it, so read this review at ease! 

***

By way of a staggering deception, Karou has taken control of the chimaera rebellion and is intent on steering its course away from dead-end vengeance. The future rests on her, if there can even be a future for the chimaera in war-ravaged Eretz.

Common enemy, common cause.

When Jael's brutal seraph army trespasses into the human world, the unthinkable becomes essential, and Karou and Akiva must ally their enemy armies against the threat. It is a twisted version of their long-ago dream, and they begin to hope that it might forge a way forward for their people.

And, perhaps, for themselves. Toward a new way of living, and maybe even love.

But there are bigger threats than Jael in the offing. A vicious queen is hunting Akiva, and, in the skies of Eretz ... something is happening. Massive stains are spreading like bruises from horizon to horizon; the great winged stormhunters are gathering as if summoned, ceaselessly circling, and a deep sense of wrong pervades the world.

What power can bruise the sky?

From the streets of Rome to the caves of the Kirin and beyond, humans, chimaera and seraphim will fight, strive, love, and die in an epic theater that transcends good and evil, right and wrong, friend and enemy.

At the very barriers of space and time, what do gods and monsters dream of? And does anything else matter?

“How could you tell if your instincts were just hope in disguise, and if your hope was really desperation parading as possibility?”

Going back into the world of seraphims and chimaeras that Laini Taylor created was not a bumpless road, I admit, for I had forgotten almost of what happened at the end of the second book. Within few pages in on Dreams of Gods and Monsters, though, all the memories slowly came back. Dreams of Gods and Monsters started right away at the moment where Akiva (and Liraz, though unwillingly) tried to persuade the chimaeras (Karou, of course, and The White Wolf, Thiago, who wasn't actually Thiago anymore because the body was inhabited by Ziri.) to join forces with them, the Misbegotten, to defeat Jael and his army. Of course, to unite two creatures who have been a lifelong enemies clearly was not an easy thing to do. Would Akiva Karou make it? And how could they unite their people if the relationship between them was still so fragile, so strained and heavy?

At this moment, Jael had already 'came down' to earth, wanting to ally with human in order to conquer both worlds. With the advice of Razgut, Jael believed that human would make the best army with our 'weapon of mass desctruction'. Also, by then, we've got to know a new human character named Eliza, who somehow kept dreaming about angels and monsters... things like that. Is there more reasons behind this strange, weird occurence in Eliza's life?

"There are maps in me but I am lost, and there are skies in me but they are dead."

Despite having read the two previous books, Laini Taylor still continued to amaze me with her eerie, magical, flowing words. To dwelve into her world was such an enjoyable journey. The pace of Dreams of Gods and Monsters is achingly slow, but in a very, very good way. I have to keep my self from flipping the pages too fast because I didn't want it to end! The book was filled with messages of forgiving, of love reunited, of struggle, vengeance, loss and sacrifices. All elements blended beautifully, making it a truly satifsying ending to the series.

I've said that the Karou we met in second book wasn't my favorite person, because she kept assuming and not seeing reasons beyond what her eyes showed her, but in Dreams of Gods and Monsters, Karou completely owned herself back. We could see that she had changed from book 1 Karou, but at the same time, she was still herself. She was now both Madrigal the chimaera and Karou the human. What I love best about her was that she finally dared to 'follow' her heart, just like what Issa told her. LOTS of torturous, ache-in-your-stomach, jab-to-the-heart, pent up sexual tensions come from Akiva and Karou (YESH!) as the result of this. My internal fangirl here was so busy screaming and flailing. All those darker, depressing times from Days of Blood and Starlight were definitely paid off.

Liraz, in the book, was the character with the most progressive character development. This murderous, brutal angel mostly came out as annoying, for me, but then she gradually changed beautifully through some turn of events and she ended up as a really different person at the end of Dreams of Gods and Monsters. (Spoiler: I SHIP HER HARD WITH ZIRI. SRSLY. LAINI PLS WRITE A NOVELLA ABOUT THEM THANKYOU) Violin boy Mik and our lovely rabid fairy Zuzana, another favorite couple, kept providing the 'lightness' of the story in the midst of all violence, suspenseful tension between the seraphims and chimaeras, with their humour and witty, lovely, sharp remarks. And this time they actually contributed something big to the plot! Thank Laini for Mik and Zuzana <3

“You are a conniving, deceitful hussy. I stand in awe." 

"You're sitting."

"I sit in awe.” 

But what is a perfect, dashing book without one downside? The information dumpings on Dreams of Gods and Monsters was quite a letdown. It's not hard to be absorbed in them and understand the whole thing, but because this book is the last book of the series, it all just felt too much for me. About Eliza and her backstory, about Razgut and what actually happened to him in the past, about the Stelians and why they're chasing Akiva... There were lots to catch up. Nevertheless, my overall reaction about this book is just  the same because Laini managed to incorporated those things in the plot carefully. I was happy, I was astonished, I was impressed, I was woo-ed once again seeing the effort of Akiva (Akiva? SWOOOOONS) and Karou in making Eretz a much beautiful place for seraphims and chimaeras. Their never-ending attempt to build a longtime dream, to see both parties live peacefully alongside one another. It was one of a hell journey, going through a lifetime and more, and that's exactly why the ending becomes so much more meaningful and beautiful for me.

Kudos to Laini Taylor for creating such a magical fantasy! :'''')

"I want you, at the end of all this. The dream, peace, and you."

***

Read other reviews of Dreams of Gods and Monsters: Kristy from Book Nerd | Jen from The Starry Eyed Revue | Nara from Looking for The Panacea

If you haven't started this series.... Well you better do it right now!

Have fun and read some more,

World After by Susan Ee

World After

by Susan Ee

published on November 21st 2013 by Hodder & Stoughton

Young Adult/Post-Apocalypse/Urban Fantasy/Romance

part of Penryn and the End of Days series (book #2)

314 pages

***

In this sequel to the bestselling fantasy thriller, Angelfall, the survivors of the angel apocalypse begin to scrape back together what's left of the modern world.

When a group of people capture Penryn's sister Paige, thinking she's a monster, the situation ends in a massacre. Paige disappears. Humans are terrified. Mom is heartbroken.

Penryn drives through the streets of San Francisco looking for Paige. Why are the streets so empty? Where is everybody? Her search leads her into the heart of the angels' secret plans where she catches a glimpse of their motivations, and learns the horrifying extent to which the angels are willing to go.

Meanwhile, Raffe hunts for his wings. Without them, he can't rejoin the angels, can't take his rightful place as one of their leaders. When faced with recapturing his wings or helping Penryn survive, which will he choose?

“It is painful to see that people prefer a bad guy who looks like an angel to a good guy who looks like a demon.”

I read the first book of this series, Angelfall, last year, but didn't review it because I couldn't get absorbed enough in the story. I felt like the hype was too much and was disapponted when I didn't get it. But here I am, two days after finishing the second installment and still can't stop thinking about the book! Now I know. I think once you get past the gore and all (It took a while to get used to, because, well, there's cannibalism, low demon creatures in the form of little kids that could yank out your flesh with its sharp razor teeth, scorpion demons with long tail that sting and suck your body liquid until it dried... Things like that), once you're ready to read the *disturbing* parts of it, you'll start to enjoy the story better. I did.

Penryn continued to be her awesome kick-ass self in the second book. All along her motivation didn't waver a bit — To make sure her mom and Paige safe. World After is still filled with a lot of fighting scenes with SO much badassery. Seriously. Usually when an author write about a scene where the female main character was part of a fight, lots of sugarcoating ensued. The words were refined to soften the whole thing. But Susan Ee didn't do that! The fights were real. Penryn knew where to go, how to stand, what to do, which body part to kick to defeat her opponent in the best way. You'll want to stop a while or take a breath when she fights, for it's like watching an actual fight in front of your eyes.

My favorite fighting scene? The one in the ocean. SO MUCH WIN.

And the dark humor in Susan Ee's writing is definitely not like any other. It's the best thing, actually. From Penryn naming Raffe's (powerful, respected, strong archangel) sword with such a ridiculous name like POOKY BEAR, or where she dressed herself with a leopard jacket, tie, and color-mismatched socks. It's really strange that even with all the gore, horror, dark, sickening, super-creepy parts of the book, you still got a good laugh from it. Every aspects are so well-put. I'm in love.

“Pooky Bear."

He’s silent for so long I’m beginning to think he didn’t hear me when he finally says, “Pooky. Bear.” 

“It was just a little joke. I didn’t know.” 

“I’ve mentioned that names have power, right? Do you realize that when she fights battles, she’s going to have to announce herself to the opposing sword? She’ll be forced to say something ridiculous like, ‘I am Pooky Bear, from an ancient line of archangel swords.’ Or, ‘Bow down to me, Pooky Bear, who has only two other equals in all the worlds.’ ” He shakes his head. “How is she going to get any respect?”

Bad news: There wasn't much Raffe this time. Not as much as in the first book, at least. Thanks to POOKY BEAR, though, we all could get a glimpse to his memories of some events that happened in book one. Apparently Pooky was like a recording tape of her owner. And once Raffe and Penryn reunited (yes, don't you worry), umf, things got A LOT BETTER. THE SHIP SAILING HARD, people. The amount of obnoxious giggles that came out of me everytime they *flew* together, oh, you wouldn't believe.

I love their relationship even more in World After! They were strong as two individuals, but AMAZING when together. Now that it's clear for Raffe not to let Penryn be hurt (or dead) again, this pair's bond is better and stronger. And though I hope Raffe will still get his (original, beautiful snow white angel) wings back, it's good to see him started embracing and already knew how to handle the demon wings better.

It's rare to like the second book more than the first, and I hope the next books will continue to stay on this path. It's one of two series which features angels (or nephilim, or seraphim, well, similar creatures like that) that I actually like. The other one is Daughter of Smoke and Bone series (Akiva! Weee). Up to this date, Penryn & the End of Days is planned to have 5 books. Another awesome thing about this hugely praised series? It started out as a self-published eBook before Holder & Stoughton bought it! :)

“She wasn’t made to be alone.” 

“I guess none of us are.” 

Our eyes meet and an electric tingle runs through me. 

“She missed you,” I say in a whisper. 

“Did she?” His voice is a soft caress. His gaze into my eyes is so intense that I swear he sees straight into my soul. 

“Yes.” Warmth flushes my cheeks. I… “She thought about you all the time.” 

The candlelight flickers a soft glow along his jawline, along his lips. “I hated losing her.” His voice is a low growl. “I hadn’t realized just how attached I’d gotten.” He reaches and moves a strand of wet hair out of my face. “How dangerously addictive she could be.”

Hop on the boat! What other people said about World After: Jaime Arkin from Fic Fare | Jen from The Starry Eyed Revue

PS: Rumour has it that Angelfall is going to be made into a movie!!!!

Have you heard about the series before? Have you read this book? What do you think of it? Do you have any recommendation with similar themes like this one? Read anything good lately? Tell me!

Have fun and read some more! :)

Cruel Beauty by Rosamund Hodge

Cruel Beauty

a debut book by Rosamund Hodge
(will be) published on January 28th, 2014 by Harper-Collins
Young Adult/Fantasy/Fairytale Retelling/Romance/Mythology
a standalone
352 pages
finished reading on January 7th, 2014

***

Based on the classic fairy tale Beauty and the Beast, Cruel Beauty is a dazzling love story about our deepest desires and their power to change our destiny.

Since birth, Nyx has been betrothed to the evil ruler of her kingdom-all because of a foolish bargain struck by her father. And since birth, she has been in training to kill him.

With no choice but to fulfill her duty, Nyx resents her family for never trying to save her and hates herself for wanting to escape her fate. Still, on her seventeenth birthday, Nyx abandons everything she's ever known to marry the all-powerful, immortal Ignifex. Her plan? Seduce him, destroy his enchanted castle, and break the nine-hundred-year-old curse he put on her people.

But Ignifex is not at all what Nyx expected. The strangely charming lord beguiles her, and his castle-a shifting maze of magical rooms-enthralls her.

As Nyx searches for a way to free her homeland by uncovering Ignifex's secrets, she finds herself unwillingly drawn to him. Even if she could bring herself to love her sworn enemy, how can she refuse her duty to kill him? With time running out, Nyx must decide what is more important: the future of her kingdom, or the man she was never supposed to love.

"This house has many dangers. I cannot save you from most of them."

I let go and forced a smile. "I wasn't born to be saved."

First YA debut I read this year and I'm thoroughly impressed! So good, so good. Cruel Beauty is a fairytale retelling of Beauty and the Beast (my favorite fairytale!) but you're wrong if you think you already know all about this book just by hearing that fact. I'm still liking this style of review-writing so here they are, my opinions of Cruel Beauty, in points:

• I LOVE our heroine! In the original princess stories, the heroines are always depicted as someone who's kind-hearted, lovely, often receives bad treatment but still manage to keep a light spirit, which is, somehow, inhumane. Nyx Triskelion is the opposite! Her father had made an agreement with the devil, resulting in a marriage between the Gentle Lord and Nyx when she reached a certain age. Of course Nyx is full of hate, resentment, and despise toward her family: Her father, her aunt, even her sister too, because her sister is the one who'll stay while Nyx will be going to send off to live with (and kill) the devil (with the risque of, you know, getting killed herself). Nyx is totally NOT an innocent girl in this story. All the hateness and ugly thoughts of the main character, which we can feel clearly in Cruel Beauty, is decouraging at times, but the whole thing truly makes sense and it makes Nyx a multidimensional character, and the readers could totally relate to that.

• Not just Nyx! What I love about the characters of Cruel Beauty is that Rosamund makes sure all of them are not a cardboard cutout characters. They're mostly grey, each one of them have both good and bad side. One time they can say the sweetest things, next they will threaten Nyx's life.

• Rosamund Hodge chose to retell the story using the 'dark' way approach, and it works! It's edgy, different, there's no more happy, jolly, giddy feeling that usually appears when we read or watch Beauty and the Beast. This also helps with the world building and capturing the reader's attention. I'm fully immensed to the story after I learned about these two things: That Nyx is not your usual kind-hearted princess, and Arcadia is not your usual setting of disney stories.

• Maybe it's because I've read too much books (not trying to be a snob here, nooo) or what, but I think I could already guess the truth about Shade and Ignifex since the first chapters (and I was happy to be proven true!). I'm not saying that Cruel Beauty is predictable, though! Some turn of events will have your eyebrows raised high and your mouth slightly agape, and this is FUN because you won't really know about the outcome of our Nyx and Ignifex until the very last pages.

• No, I don't enjoy the pseudo love triangle between our characters. Sigh.

• And the Greek Mythology side on this story? Sadly I can't say I fully understand about the whole thing. Between Ignifex, the shadows, The Kindly Ones, the last prince... I don't know. Maybe my brain's ability to absorb things have degraded A LOT but one thing for sure is that it is kind of complex.

• The relationship between Nyx and Ignifex is the one that sparked my excitement when I was reading Cruel Beauty! I love it! They started with a shaky ground, with Nyx having 'task' to kill Gentle Lord, but then Ignifex started to show another side of his personality, which I found really charming. In this story, he's as much a victim as he's the villain. The banters, the whole push-and-pull, the sweet times, the progress of their relationship, the getting-to-know stage... I enjoyed every one of them! This couple made me smile and giggle like a fool a lot. Favorite!

“You deserve all that and more. It made me happy to see you suffer. I would do it all over again if I could." I realized I was shaking as the words tumbled out of me. "I would do it again and again. Every night I would torment you and laugh. Do you understand? You are never safe with me." I drew a shuddering breath, trying to will away the sting of tears.

He opened his eyes and stared up at me as if I were the door out of Arcadia and back to the true sky. "That's what makes you my favorite." He reached up and wiped a tear off my cheek with his thumb. "Every wicked bit of you.” 

My final thought of Cruel Beauty is that I LOVE it! Rosamund Hodge had successfully made a good impression with her debut novel. Cruel Beauty is very, very different than the usual classic fairy tale series, and though it's not without some imperfections, it's the first book of the 'fairytale retelling' categories that I've finished. Yes, it's true! I've tried to read the famous Lunar stories by Marissa Meyer (retelling of Cinderella, Red Riding Hood and Rapunzel, they say) but up until this day, I still have not picked up Cinder where I've left it. I swear I WILL make it one of my goals this year to read all the book in that trilogy! And I've heard about Splintered (and Unhinged too), which have been told as 'alice-in-wonderland' retelling. Should I try that one, too? What do you think? I don't know if the reason I managed to finish Cruel Beauty is because Beauty & the Beast is my favorite fairytale, or what, but I'm clearly not disappointed by Cruel Beauty! Far from it! Make sure you check this one gem out at the end of this month ;)

What do Khanh and Katy (from Goodreads) think about Cruel Beauty? Click on their names and read on! (Beware of the spoilers, though)

For fun: Watch this enthralling book trailer of Cruel Beauty

What do you think about this one? Will you be interested in reading Cruel Beauty? What's your favorite fairytale stories? Do you think I should try other fairytale retellings like the ones I've mentioned above (Splintered, Cinder, Cress, etc)? Tell Me! On another note, have fun and read some more! :)

Night of Cake and Puppets by Laini Taylor

Night of Cake and Puppets
by Laini Taylor
published on November 26th 2013 by Hodder & Stoughton (UK)
ebook edition
Young Adult/Paranormal/Fantasy/Romance
#2,5 of The Daughter of Smoke and Bone Trilogy
79 pages (a novella!)
read in English

***

In Night of Cake & Puppets, Taylor brings to life a night only hinted at in the Daughter of Smoke & Bone trilogy—the magical first date of fan-favorites Zuzana and Mik. Told in alternating perspectives, it’s the perfect love story for fans of the series and new readers alike. Petite though she may be, Zuzana is not known for timidity. Her best friend, Karou, calls her “rabid fairy,” her “voodoo eyes” are said to freeze blood, and even her older brother fears her wrath. But when it comes to the simple matter of talking to Mik, or “Violin Boy,” her courage deserts her. Now, enough is enough. Zuzana is determined to meet him, and she has a fistful of magic and a plan. It’s a wonderfully elaborate treasure hunt of a plan that will take Mik all over Prague on a cold winter’s night before finally leading him to the treasure: Herself! Violin Boy’s not going to know what hit him.

"You almost hold up your piece of paper and say, 'The girl I like just gave me a treasure map to herself.'"

Night of Cake and Puppets was a very pleasant surprise! Zuzana and Mik were the secondary characters from The Daughter of Smoke and Bone trilogy, and just like other secondary characters in the series like Brimstone, Issa, Twiga... Zuze and her violin boy were special. They're unique in their own way, and I got to love them more after what happened in book two. So it was lovely to get to know more about their first date night. And it was told in dual POV! Yay!

Then again, what do you usually refer a date night to? Awkward glances, cheesy lines, expectation of a first kiss, the butterflies in the stomach.... Oh well, all those cliches. But cliche isn't something that could describe Laini Taylor. No, of course! First of all, Zuzana and Mik were no ordinary characters. Zuze was really cute! Like a ball of cuteness and excitedness bundled with pretty dresses, that's how I always envisioned her. She may be small and tiny, but this energy of her is huge! I love reading her minds, her thoughts... I love getting to know more about her, her family, her views about Karou, her life in Prague....

"Hey! My body may be small, but my soul is large. It's why I wear platforms. So I can reach the top of my soul" - Daughter of Smoke and Bone

"I might wear lace collars and laugh flower petals and pearls. People might try to pat me. I see them think it. My height triggers the puppy-kitten reflex- Must touch-and I've found that since you can't electrify yourself like a fence, the next best thing is to have murderer's eyes."

In Night of Cake and Puppets, Zuzana finally gathered her courage and made Mik a treasure hunt map to follow. A treasure hunt as a way of telling someone how she feels about him! And the treasure itself was Zuze herself! How brave, how lovely. See, I told you, there's nothing ordinary about Laini and the way her world works. 

To be honest, from the two previous books, I didn't really have much opinion about Mik, other than this boy seemed to be really in love with his girl. Yes, it showed! Through Night of Cake and Puppets, though, Laini Taylor provided us with much information about how they met, how they first noticed each other, and all about that while we follow Mik going over his treasure hunt. A clue leads to another clue, and another, and another... But then Mik had another plan! So will the treasure hunt ended up as how Zuze wanted it to be?

The setting of Prague in the novella was even clearer and clearer in this book, and this ist exactly one of Laini's strongest point: She's the expert of describing the places in her book. It was so well-described. Prague is, once again, officially on the top list of my most wanted to visit places in the world. The magicalness, eerieness, strangeness of the city... I fell in love with it! It was a blatant show of how much Laini knows the place, the world that she had created in the trilogy.

Another thing that I love from the novella is that the readers could feel how strong the bond between Zuze and Karou, about how special their friendship for each one of them. Zuze is Karou's best supporter, and vice versa. Eventhough Karou couldn't always be around all the times, it didn't deter their closeness at all. Karou let Zuze have some of her scuppies to help with the date night, and troughout the night they kept texting to each other, giving updates of how the night went.

All in all, I love Night of Cake and Puppets! Zuzana and Mik were such a lovely couple, and this kind of cuteness that Laini Taylor wrote about their magical date night is something different altogether from all the cuteness that we usually read from other books! Also, beautiful proses, beautiful proses everywhere. Love, love it. Zuze and Mik's story was a pleasant bridge while we wait for the final book in the trilogy, Dreams of Gods and Monsters, which will be out in 2014! Eeeeek, can't wait!

“His eyes are blue, and blue eyes up close are a celestial phenomenon: nebulae as seen through telescopes, the light of unnamed stars diffused through dusts and elements and endlessness. Layers of light. Blue eyes are starlight.”

Quick Recap #1: From Unravel Me until Meant to Be

So. I've just decided to add a new thing. This idea came up to me while blogwalking some other bookblogs and read a confession (Deidra's post here, to be exact) about the amount of books we actually read and the ones we also write the review. For me, there's a big difference! You know how lazy I am to write a proper review... In a week I could manage to finish up to 5-6 books, but I only write 1 book review heheh :D

So this quick recap will sum up about books I've read in a week/more (or books in the past that I haven't review), and I'm gonna review them in some sentences. Thus, no books will be missed or feeling left out and I won't feel guilty anymore!

Ok, we'll start with five books first, this time. The book that I read in bahasa (translated edition) written here in bahasa.

Unravel Me by Tahereh Mafi.

Woah, the cover. Woah, the sequel. Woah, the whole book.

I'm so satisfied!

I started the book with my heart still captivated by Adam (and no, I haven't read Destroy Me) and dude, it was really hard not to fall for Warner. Now I know what you all meant back then. #TeamBoth! :p

For a book which main character I didn't like that much, I ended up really liking Unravel Me. By all means, the ending wasn't what I wanted (because there are many aspects that for me, were still left out hanging), but I think it's perfect for the book. If you have read Shatter Me, don't take much time to read the sequel!

Dare You To by Katie McGarry

Gah, man. This book was intense. Golden boy meets troubled girl. Angst, angst, angst everywhere. I haven't read Pushing the Limits, so I read this with nothing in my mind. I had a hard time liking Beth, actually, with her being super annoying to her (awesome) uncle, crazy mom which chose to stay in an abusive relationship, her push and pull game with Isaiah, but I love the Beth I read when she was with Ryan. I love how being together made them a better person.

“I like you. I. Like. You. I'll admit you're annoying. Sometimes you agitate me to the brink of insanity, but you can throw it back at me like no one else. When you laugh, I want to laugh. When you smile, I want to smile. Hell, I want to be the one to make you smile.” 

Slammed by Colleen Hoover

Gimana rasanya jatuh cinta sama cowok yang ternyata adalah gurumu sendiri di sekolah? Well, well...

Untuk ukuran buku terjemahan, Slammed nggak mengecewakan. Konfliknya sebenernya simpel, tapi ada konflik-konflik tambahan yang bikin ceritanya tetep jalan & menarik. Untungnya Will bukan tipe cowok-cowok YA yang nggak punya pendirian; hanya karena dia jatuh cinta sama Layken, nggak berarti dia pasrah aja dan jadi nggak profesional atau jadi nggak peduli tentang masalah keluarganya sendiri (juga keluarga Layken). Aspek Slams/pertunjukan puisi yang ada di buku termasuk hal baru yang menarik buat saya, jadi itu juga yang nambah poin plus! :)

Eon by Alison Goodman

Covernya bagus yah!

Saya tertarik baca Eon gara-gara rekomendasi beberapa orang di twitter BookClubID. Secara keseluruhan, menarik sih, jalan ceritanya bagus (I found dragons to be really cute hehe) dan dipermanis dengan legenda-legenda naga yang agak kompleks. Tapi terjemahannya enak dibaca. This is one of those book that could sucked you into their world while reading. Minus point-nya, the lack of romance (I knooww, I'm so lame heheh) but if you love fantasy and you prefer reading books that doesn't focus in romance, I'd highly recommend Eon.

Meant to Be by Lauren Morrill

Meant to Be by Lauren Morrill actually has almost all that's a contemporary book needs to be a hit. Setting: London. Characters: nerd girl & popular jock boy. Plot: they're teamed up together in an educational trip in London and the boy wants to make the girl 'loosen up a little'. So he brings her to a party, sneaking out to a downtown London instead of following the initerary... And so on.
Plus point: Everything! It's romance. It's funny. It's light, fun, fluffy and everything happened in London.
Minus point: It's really-really predictable. 

But I wouldn't mind someone like Jason to be my MTB *winks*

Winterlicht (Finnikin of the Rock) by Melina Marchetta

Winterlicht

Judul: Winterlicht (Finnikin of the Rock) - Lumatere Chronicles #1

Penulis: Melina Marchetta

Penerjemah: Leinovar Bahfein & Devi Riana Safitri

Penerbit: Ufuk Fiction

Tebal: 578 hlm

***

Kutukan menyelimuti Lumatere. Tidak ada yang bisa memasuki atau meninggalkan negara itu. Hanya Finnikin yang mampu menemukan pewaris takhta yang hilang dan membawanya kembali ke Lumatere. Pertemuan Finnikin dengan seorang gadis cantik bernama Evanjalin membawanya dalam sebuah misi yang penuh bahaya. Mampukah dia menyelamatkan negerinya? Ataukah pesona dan keangkuhan Evanjalin justru menghalangi rencananya?

***

‘Dark will lead the light, and our resurdus will rise.

And he will hold two hands of the one he pledged to save.

And then the gate will fall, but his pain shall never cease

His seed will issue kings, but he will never reign.'

Seharusnya semua buku Melina Marchetta itu diberi tanda 'Jaminan Keren' di setiap covernya. Dari semua novel beliau yang udah saya baca, nggak ada yang nggak saya suka. Termasuk buku pertama dari Lumatere Chronicles ini. Meskipun sempet ragu sama kemampuan beliau nulis cerita fantasy, this book successfully proved that she's a truly skilled author.

Awalnya Finnikin merasa terganggu dengan kehadiran Evanjalin, biarawati berpakaian lusuh yang kini mengikuti perjalanannya dengan Sir Topher. Evanjalin meyakinkan mereka bahwa Pangeran Balthazar masih hidup, dan ia bisa membawa mereka kepada Sang Pangeran untuk kemudian kembali merebut tanah Lumatere yang terkutuk setelah peristiwa 5 Hari Tak Terperikan yang memilukan terjadi, sepuluh tahun lalu. Peristiwa itu telah memaksa seluruh warga Lumatere terpecah belah, sebagian berhasil melarikan diri pergi ke negara lain, namun harus berkubang dalam kesulitan hidup di tanah pengungsi. Sebagian lagi terkurung dalam Lumatere dan tak bisa kemana-mana akibat kutukan Seranonna, dan harus merasakan kejamnya pemerintahan Raja Gadungan yang telah merebut kekuasaan dan melakukan pembunuhan keji terhadap keluarga kerajaan yang dulu, yang amat dicintai dan dihormati rakyat Lumatere.

Jelas Finnikin tidak bisa memercayai Evanjalin, karena siapalah gadis itu? Namun setelah mereka terlibat dalam runtutan kejadian yang membuat Finnikin dipenjara di sebuah tambang negara Sorel dan berhasil menemui Ayahnya, Kapten Trevanion yang selama ini dikira sudah mati, lalu bergabung kembali dengan Pasukan Keamanan di Yutlind berkat petunjuk Evanjalin, Finnikin menyadari bahwa biarawati itu bukan gadis biasa. Evanjalin mengaku punya kemampuan untuk masuk ke dalam mimpi penduduk Lumatere yang masih hidup, hingga ia dapat mengetahui keberadaan mereka. Ia juga bersikeras agar Finnikin membawa rakyat Lumatere kembali ke tanah mereka dan melakukan pembalasan. Tapi mereka tidak dapat menembus kutukan bila tak ada Pangeran Balthazar. Benarkah Balthazar masih hidup? Dan siapa sebenarnya Evanjalin?

“There are worse things than a lie and there are better things than the truth!”

Days of Blood and Starlight by Laini Taylor

Days of Blood and Starlight (Goodreads)

Title: Days of Blood and Starlight

Author: Laini Taylor

Publisher: Little Brown (November 2012)

Pages: 517 pg

Read in Ebook copy

***

Once upon a time, an angel and a devil fell in love and dared to imagine a world free of bloodshed and war.
This is not that world.

Art student and monster's apprentice Karou finally has the answers she has always sought. She knows who she is—and what she is. But with this knowledge comes another truth she would give anything to undo: She loved the enemy and he betrayed her, and a world suffered for it.

In this stunning sequel to the highly acclaimed Daughter of Smoke & Bone, Karou must decide how far she'll go to avenge her people. Filled with heartbreak and beauty, secrets and impossible choices, Days of Blood & Starlight finds Karou and Akiva on opposing sides as an age-old war stirs back to life.

While Karou and her allies build a monstrous army in a land of dust and starlight, Akiva wages a different sort of battle: a battle for redemption. For hope.

But can any hope be salvaged from the ashes of their broken dream?

***

“Light coursed through Karou and darkness chased it-burning through her, chilling her, shimmer and shadow, ice and fire, blood and starlight, rushing, roaring, filling her."

Pernah dengar kata-kata 'assumption kills'? Yup. Asumsi merusak segalanya. Sewaktu selesai membaca Daughter of Smoke and Bone, kita menutup cerita dengan adegan Karou yang pergi menembus portal menuju Eretz (dunia para seraph dan chimaera) dengan bantuan Razgut. Karou dipenuhi dengan rasa bersalah and remorse, sebagian dirinya membenci Akiva karena Akiva ikut berperan dalam pembantaian kaum chimaera (termasuk Brimstone, Twiga, Issa dan Yasri yang selama ini adalah keluarga bagi Karou) sebagian lagi membenci dirinya sendiri karena telah mencintai dan menyelamatkan Akiva, 17 tahun yang lalu, bahkan setelah Karou/Madrigal dihukum pancung. Ia menyelamatkan Akiva, dan sekarang Akiva justru menyebabkan keluarganya, bangsanya hampir punah.

Akiva yang kemudian menyusul Karou, berusaha menemukan dan menyelamatkan gadis itu dari situasi perang di Eretz, justru kemudian menemukan sebuah thurible (wadah yang dipakai untuk menampung jiwa yang mati sebelum 'dimasukkan' ke dalam tubuh baru) bertuliskan nama Karou. Lagi-lagi asumsi: Karou telah mati. Dan sekarang, tidak ada yang bisa membangkitkan Karou lagi karena Brimstone, satu-satunya chimaera yang dapat melakukan praktek resurrection, telah dibunuh oleh bangsa seraph.

Laini Taylor continues to awe me with her wonderful & beautiful writing. She told everything in details. Kita diajak lebih jauh untuk masuk ke dalam Eretz (Praha yang indah dan eksotis itu rasanya udah terlupakan deh) dan mengeksplor lebih detail tentang situasi hidup seraph dan chimaera yang sesungguhnya. Tapi persis seperti yang tertulis di sinopsis,  "Filled with heartbreak and beauty, secrets and impossible choices, Days of Blood & Starlight finds Karou and Akiva on opposing sides as an age-old war stirs back to life" buku kedua ini nuansanya lebih dark dan muram. Kalau dari awal pengennya baca kisah cinta Karou dan Akiva yang makin berbunga-bunga, well you have to wash that hopes away. Untuk sampe di poin dimana Akiva dan Karou akhirnya ketemu aja harus nunggu sampai setengah buku T_T

Days of Blood and Starlight mengajarkan bahwa asumsi dan prasangka yang salah pasti akan merusak semuanya. Mimpi Karou dan Akiva yang ingin mewujudkan satu dunia, satu Eretz dimana bangsa chimaera dan seraph bisa hidup berdampingan dalam damai, kini rusak. Hancur dan hilang oleh perbuatan mereka sendiri. Ini jadi kayak cerminan besar keadaan kita sesungguhnya di real life, ya. Seperti kata guru les saya, banyak bangsa manusia yang sejak lama bermusuhan satu sama lain atas dasar hal-hal yang tidak bisa mereka pilih karena sudah dari sananya begitu sejak lahir (ras, agama, warna kulit, kelas sosial) tapi mereka justru dihinakan oleh manusia lain karena hal-hal tersebut. Di dunia Karou dan Akiva, para seraph dan chimaera di dunia sekarang pun tidak tahu alasan awal mereka bermusuhan hingga terlibat dalam perang ratusan tahun. Yang mereka tahu, mereka terlahir sudah menjadi satu diantaranya, dan hidup dengan memusuhi bangsa lawan. Akiva pun hanya menyebutkan bahwa para seraph dahulu pernah diserang, dihancurkan, dan dimusnahkan bersama sejarah dan buku-buku sihir mereka, namun alasan penyerangan itu, mereka tidak mengerti apa-apa. Karena itulah, kini para seraph membalas dendam dengan cara membakar semua portal dan memusnahkan para chimaera yang masih hidup.

Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor

Dari Asap dan Tulang

Judul: Daughter of Smoke and Bone (Dari Asap dan Tulang)

Penulis: Laini Taylor

Penerjemah: Primadonna Angela

Penerbit: Gramedia Pustaka Utama

Harga: Rp 65.000

***

Pada zaman dahulu,
seorang malaikat dan iblis jatuh cinta.
Kisah cinta mereka tidak berakhir indah.

Langit terbelah dan banyak sosok asing berwajah rupawan turun ke bumi, menyembunyikan sayap api mereka dalam ilusi agar bisa berbaur dengan manusia. Birai-birai pintu di penjuru dunia mereka tandai dengan cap tangan hitam yang melesak terbakar pada kayu atau logam.

Sementara itu, di suatu tempat di Praha, Karou, gadis 17 tahun, siswa sekolah seni di Praha, menjalani kehidupannya yang tampak normal. Tetapi ia selalu membawa-bawa buku sketsanya yang berisi gambar monster-monster aneh dan menyeramkan––chimaera yang merupakan makhkluk terdekat yang ia punya sebagai keluarga.

Kehidupan Karou akan berubah dalam semalam. Tanpa ia sadari, peperangan antardua dunia yang kejam akan melibatkan dirinya. 

***

Daughter of Smoke and Bone adalah buku pertama Laini Taylor yang saya baca, dan waktu itu masih dalam bahasa inggris karena belum diterjemahkan oleh GPU. Begitu tahu GPU bulan September menerbitkan terjemahannya, saya pun beli lagi. Soalnya, buku ini buat saya itu -yang sebenarnya nggak suka-suka amat sama genre fantasi- masuk ke dalam tingkatan: Ya ampun.

Suka, banget! Dan unik banget. Meskipun awalnya sempat pesimis karena baca kata-kata 'malaikat' (berhubung pengalaman saya dengan novel-novel YA yang mengandung karakter malaikat/nephilim/seraphim sebelumnya tidak berlanjut baik :p), tapi Laini Taylor menyuguhkan sesuatu yang berbeda dalam cerita Daughter of Smoke and Bone.