Books

House of Earth and Blood

September 26, 2021 by Michelle Leave a Comment

At the beginning of May, I finished reading Passion of the Vampire King. It’s the fifth book in the Blood Fire saga by Bella Klaus. This one was probably my least favorite in the series so far. It just felt like nothing in this book really moved the story along and it wasn’t really keeping my attention, so I had to force myself to get through it. Of course, it ended on yet another cliffhanger, but at this point I’m kind of feeling like who cares. And for a book titled Passion of the Vampire King, there has been very little of it compared to the other books in the series.

The one thing I did like was the description of how Mera gets herself to sleep. It’s basically a meditation/mind-stilling practice and how she gets her mind to quiet. She said that Istabel taught her to imagine a staircase that goes down for infinity and she inhales when she puts her foot on the step and then exhales when she brings her other foot to join it. And she just goes step by step, focusing on that and her breathing. It made me think of Nesta going down the stairs and thinking “step to step” in her mind. I did actually try this and it was pretty effective at quieting my mind and letting me focus on my breathing to go to sleep.

As I was finishing up this book, I was trying to decide what to read next and I wanted something that would be really good and keep my attention like my reread of ACOTAR. It really came down to deciding between reading Crescent City, the new Sarah J. Maas book or starting a reread of the Fever series by Karen Marie Moning so that I can read the new book that just came out. I decided to do a poll on Instagram and see what the results were.

No contest, really. So, I picked up Crescent City and dove in. It’s actually the first book in a new series and this book is The House of Earth and Blood.

I admit that the first few chapters I felt so lost. She’s giving you ALL this information and you’re trying to sift through people and places and relationships and all the world-building. After awhile the story itself took hold and I was hooked. I loved Bryce. I love how sassy and no bullshit she is. A friend of mine had said that this book was grittier than the ACOTAR series, and she was right. It is. And I loved that about it. I loved that this was more of a mystery too.

In true SJM form though, it was a slow burn between the main characters, but with plenty of surprise twists along the way.

The ending was so so good. It tore me up something fierce and I bawled my eyes out repeatedly. I can’t wait for the next book in the series, House of Sky and Breath, which I think is due out in February. I’ll definitely be rereading this one again before I dive into the next one. Highly recommend this one! And the artwork on the cover and endpapers is gorgeous.

After finishing Crescent City, I needed another palate cleanser so I was back to the Blood Fire saga. This one wasn’t any better than the last one, just more of the same. I’m liking Hades more and more as a character though. Especially because he doesn’t have a stick up his ass like Valentine does. This is the sixth book in the series. I think there’s one more.

I decided to check out the library’s ebooks to see if they had any of the Jennifer L. Armentrout books. Specifically, I really want to read From Blood and Ash, but they didn’t have that one. My friend, Marty, had recommended the Dark Elements series by her as well, so I thought I’d give it a try.

This book reminded me a bit of the Cassandra Clare Mortal Instruments series. I really enjoyed the book and I thought it was really interesting that the Wardens are gargoyles. I don’t think I’ve ever run into a book with gargoyles before. I’m a little surprised how quickly I zipped through this considering it’s over 700 pages. But I really enjoyed it and I really LOVE Roth and can’t wait to read more about him.

So, that wraps up what I read in May!

Night Triumphant and the Stars Eternal

May 21, 2021 by Michelle Leave a Comment

After finishing the latest book in the A Court of Thorns and Roses series by Sarah J Maas, I wanted to do a post to delve into it a little further than I have in my recaps of what I’ve been reading and focus on this series. This post DOES contain spoilers, so if you haven’t finished the entire series you might bookmark this post for later.

According to my Goodreads, I originally started this series back in November of 2016. My friend, Heather, who also shares my love of the Fever series, kept telling me to read A Court of Thorns and Roses. Repeatedly. But, it sat on my TBR list for months, mostly because I really didn’t know anything about it. Two things finally tipped me over the edge to read it – I read a review that said it was a retelling of the Beauty & the Beast story and Heather decided to reread the book and it’s sequel and again reiterated they were the best books she has read in a long time. Now, Beauty & the Beast is one of my absolute favorite fairytales ever. So, ok, now you have my attention. It took me awhile to finally get a hold of a copy of the book from my local library. At one point I believe I creeper stalked people in the YA section to see what books they had in their hands. But finally, finally, I managed to check it out.

Heather was not wrong. ACOTAR was so good. I was hesitant at first, but it quickly lured me in. I liked Tamlin. I was glad that Feyre was finally in a place where she wasn’t having to hunt and scrape to take care of a family that wouldn’t lift a finger to help. But, as the book proceeded, I did begin to also question why Tamlin wouldn’t let Feyre in. He wanted to keep her at arm’s length when it came to what was actually going on in the Spring Court. And the more Ianthe inserted herself, when she clearly had her own agenda, the more I understood Feyre’s unease. When I first read the book, I was sad for the end of her relationship with Tamlin, but of course rereading it and knowing what happens gives you the insight to pick up on more of the dynamic between them.

“There you are. I’ve been looking for you,” said a deep, sensual male voice I’d never heard.
A Court of THorns and Roses

A Court of Mist and Fury is my favorite book of the series. I think part of the reason I love this book so much, is that I identify with Feyre. I identify with feeling like she was the one to bear the responsibility of taking care of her family, and that after her time Under the Mountain, she is forever changed but no one can understand how it affected her. No one knows how much that broke her and how much she needed to heal. But somehow Rhys knows. He understands. And instead of trying to cage her, he sets her free. He gives her the tools to save herself, to become.

Then the darkness vanished. I smelled jasmine first – then saw stars. A sea of stars flickering beyond glowing pillars of moonstone that framed the sweeping view of endless snow capped mountains. “Welcome to the Night Court,” was all Rhys said.
A Court of Mist and Fury

I love that Feyre realized that she could make the powers her own and she could combine them in ways the High Lords they came from could not. I devoured this book, particularly the last third of it. From the scene in the Court of Nightmares to the end, I couldn’t stop.

When I came back and read this book a second time, there was so much I had forgotten. All those little details that you might miss the first time through. And watching the transformation Feyre goes through, as well as the relationship with Rhys, is so worthwhile.

“So I’m your huntress and thief?” His hands slid down to cup the backs of my knees as he said with a roguish grin. “You are my salvation, Feyre.”
A Court of Mist and Fury

This book. This is the one that gutted me. I can’t begin to imagine the willpower it takes Feyre to pretend with Tamlin and Lucien and all of them. To pretend she is there by choice and that she suffered at the hands of Rhys. But watching the small moves she makes on the chessboard is fascinating. And when she and Lucien have that confrontation with his brothers on the ice and afterwards when Cassian and Azriel take Feyre and Lucien to the townhouse and she first sees Rhys and just sort of crumples, like now she doesn’t have to be strong anymore. I know that feeling — that feeling that you’ve been holding it together, being strong but the second you don’t have to anymore you fall apart. And Rhys just picks her up and carries her inside to their bedroom and tells everyone to just clear off.

“You do not fear,” Rhys breathed. “You do not falter. You do not yield.” I nodded again, holding his stare. “Remember that you are a wolf. And you cannot be caged.”
A Court of Wings and Ruin

And like most of SJM’s books, the last third of this book just ripped me apart on a rollercoaster of emotions. How panicked Rhys and Feyre are when they can’t reach the other down the bond, the battle at Adriata, the meeting with the other High Lords and what a shit Tamlin is. How he treats Feyre, and Rhys. How pained Feyre is at the way Rhys is viewed, for what he did Under the Mountain to try to save his people.

Only you can decide what breaks you, Cursebreaker. Only you.
A Court of Wings and Ruin

The fourth book in the series (which is sometimes referred to as book 3.5), is a novella. I basically read this in a night. But, for a novella I really think there’s a lot packed into the book.

I really liked reading Rhys’s POV in this book and gaining some insight into him. Seeing how they rebuild after the war and how Feyre begins to realize that her painting can become a way to cope with what they’ve been through, to process the losses and the grief. Especially when she goes to the weaver while shopping for solstice gifts and she asks her how she can keep creating, despite what she’d lost. And the weaver tells her that she has to create or it was all for nothing and because she has no other way of voicing that loss and that grief. To create brings hope in the void.

This book also starts to focus more on Cassian and Nesta, so when I finished this one I was oh so ready for A Court of Silver Flames. And the release of ACOSF in April was what prompted me to reread the series again. And because this is one of my favorite series ever (if not the favorite), I decided to buy the hardbacks to have in my own library. (Also, they changed the cover style with ACOSF, and I love the original covers so much I wanted those.) So, after finishing ACOFAS, I ordered A Court of Silver Flames and I immediately dug into it when it arrived.

See? New cover style. I like the covers of the originals so much better. Anyway, I loved this book. As much as I can relate to Feyre in many ways, I also really relate to Nesta. In one of the books, maybe ACOMAF, Feyre says about Nesta that she comes across as rigid and vicious but that it’s a shield. That she thinks Nesta feels everything — sees too much, and that keeping that wall up helps her from being overwhelmed by it. And that little tidbit about Nesta so completely resonated with me. I have learned to let the wall down some, and to be more open. But it is a constant struggle to not be overwhelmed by everything I see and feel. It took me a long time to realize I’m an empath, and I’m still learning how to manage it. And given my struggles too with anxiety and depression, Nesta’s story, Nesta’s journey, really spoke to me.

And there is SO MUCH to Nesta’s journey that I can’t even hope to capture it – but she undergoes warrior training which completely changes her physically, the Mind-Stilling practice which allows her to center herself and quiet her thoughts. She develops friendships and a goal she can push toward with them to become Valkyries. She’s learning about her powers and what they can do, how she can use them. And then, of course, there’s her relationship with Cassian and how it evolves as she transforms. My word for 2021 is “Open”, and I chose it exactly because I wanted to focus on allowing myself to be open and vulnerable and to not put those walls up that cut myself off from people and opportunities and growth. And so, Nesta’s journey was really meaningful to me.

Keep reaching out your hand.
A Court of Silver Flames

I read ACOSF in a week and it is one hefty book. But, I found myself so drawn in that I couldn’t stop thinking about it when I wasn’t reading. I even took the book cover off at one point because I found that I was carrying the book around everywhere with me just to read a page or two whenever I had five minutes. After I finished it, I spent a few days reading another book (a palate cleanser), but couldn’t stop thinking about ACOSF. So, I read it again. And it was just as good, if not better, than it was the first time around. It didn’t lose anything by me reading it twice in three weeks.

I’m so looking forward to the next book, although I think we’ll probably have a while before we get a new one. I have a lot of theories about what might be in that book and I can’t wait to find out. I’m sure it will require another reread of the series before the next book, but luckily now I have them on my shelf to read whenever I want to.

Climb the Mountain

May 8, 2021 by Michelle Leave a Comment

At the end of March I started the fifth book in the A Court of Thorns and Roses series by Sarah J. Maas, A Court of Silver Flames. It is a pretty hefty book clocking in at 600+ pages. I think I ripped through it in about a week though. Once I picked it up, I couldn’t put it down. I found myself carrying the book around the house with me so that I could sneak a few pages in at every opportunity. This book was so good and I found myself thinking about it when I wasn’t reading, and going back and rereading parts of it over again. The last 30 pages or so just about killed me. SJM has this way of ripping out your heart but making you grateful for it. The moment I closed the book after that last page, I was contemplating rereading it. I am planning to do a post on this whole series too, so look for that.

I couldn’t decide what to read after finishing ACOSF. Nothing was going to stand up to it, so I decided to go back to my Blood Fire Saga books. I figured it would tide me over until I figured out where I wanted to go next.

Thrall of the Vampire King by Bella Klaus is the fourth book in the Blood Fire Saga. One of the things I really like about this book is that Mera worked at a crystal shop, so she has knowledge of crystals and sound baths (sound healing with crystal bowls) as well as meditation and chakras. And she uses all those skills in The Flame. I find that really interesting. This book ended of course on yet another cliffhanger. But, I have to say that when Hades appears has has wings that are “blacker than the midnight sky” it immediately made me think of Rhys.

After finishing up Thrall of the Vampire King, I couldn’t help myself and started A Court of Silver Flames again. I found myself getting locking onto small details I didn’t catch originally. And just like the first time I read it, I found myself thinking about the book when I wasn’t reading it, remembering scenes, and then feeling like I had to go back and reread the scene again to remember exactly the way something was phrased. I definitely read this slower than I did the first time, but I think it allowed me to savor it and pick up on things I didn’t initially. I realized this time house much I loved the House and how it takes care of Nesta and understands her but still pushes her to do what she needs to do. When I finished it, I felt just as bereft as I did the first time. How would I move on to another book knowing it won’t be as good? I’m glad I read it again. I’m glad it was just as good, if not better, the second time.

I decided to go back to the Blood Fire Saga again and read the next book in line, Passion of the Vampire King.

This one is a carry over into May, so more on it next time.

Starfall

April 10, 2021 by Michelle Leave a Comment

Here’s a look back at what I read in March. I started the month with two books I was in the middle of reading, the first of those being The Haunting of Hill House.

The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson

I really loved the descriptions in the book – of Eleanor’s drive, of the way the doors in the house wouldn’t stay open, and how the house itself was the main character. The more they learn about the house and how all the angles of the house are just “off-square”, which gives it this jarring, unsettling, uneasy feeling. This was really good, somewhat creepy, and definitely my brand of gothic supernatural spooky. I will definitely be reading more Shirley Jackson.

Captive of the Vampire King by Bella Klaus

After finishing Hill House, I read a couple more Jade West books (because they’re basically like potato chips at this point), and then I went back to Captive of the Vampire King by Bella Klaus. This is the second book in the Blood Fire Saga (I think there are seven in total). I enjoyed this one and of course, it also ended on another freaking cliffhanger.

A Court of Frost and Starlight by Sarah J Maas

After finishing up another vampire book, I happily started the next book in the ACOTAR series. I purchased the original hardback so that I can add it to my growing library of Sarah J Maas books. This is book 4 in the series (although sometimes you’ll see it referred to as 3.5, because technically it’s considered a novella). I started reading this and unfortunately the first few days I barely got five minutes to read and hadn’t found time to read more than the first couple of chapters. Finally, I gave myself time to lose myself in this book – to have a good cry, to experience hope and wonder and possibilities. And when I read the ending and closed the book, I realized it was exactly what I needed. Rekindling my love of reading has been nothing short of a “lightning bolt that cracks me open so more light can get in,” After reading this book, I felt renewed and more in alignment with my word of the year – Open. This was my twentieth book of the year and I can’t wait to discover what awaits me in A Court of Silver Flames.

“All of us — in our finery for once — lifted ours in suit. I’d opted to wear my Starfall gown, forgoing my crown but wearing the diamond cuffs at my wrists. It sparkled and gleamed in my line of vision as I stood at Rhys’s side, taking in every plane of his beautiful face as he said, ‘To the blessed darkness from which we are born, and to which we return.’ Our glasses rose, and we drank.”
A Court of Frost and Starlight by Sarah J Maas

After finishing ACOFAS, I picked up the next book in the Blood Fire Saga, Soul of the Vampire King. I read this one in about a week. I’m still enjoying them, although I’m becoming increasingly aware that Mera gets these feelings/intuitions that things aren’t as they seem, but she just ignores them. Having done this myself for years, I wonder if others have watched my behavior as I said to myself “hmm, this doesn’t feel right. Eh, I’m sure it’s fine.” Anyway, of course this one also ended on, you guessed it, a cliffhanger. But, I’ll come back to this series later.

I snuck in another Jade West palate cleanser, and then it was on to A Court of Silver Flames…finally.

A Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J Maas

As you can see, this is a totally new cover design from the first four books. That’s what prompted me to add the others to my library before I couldn’t get those beautiful hardback covers anymore. But, after days of letting this taunt me on my desk, it was finally time to read Nesta and Cassian’s story. But, since I’m carrying this one over into April, those are thoughts for another post. (I, too, can use a cliffhanger. lol)

Cobwebs and Stardust

March 8, 2021 by Michelle Leave a Comment

A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J Maas

A look back at what I read in February. On the first, I started my next book in the ACOTAR series, A Court of Wings and Ruin. I ordered the original hardback so that I could add it to my collection. It took me about ten days to read this and there was a TON I had forgotten since the first time I read it. As usual with these books, I was sucked in immediately and hurtled along until the end. Feyre really comes into her own in this book, and you really start to see that strength and determination shine through. ACOMAF is my favorite of the series (so far), but there is something about Wings and Ruin that is like taking everything that you’ve learned, everything that has been brewing, and watch it as it is forged into steel.

“You do not fear. You do not falter. You do not yield. Remember that you are a wolf. And you cannot be caged.”
A Court of Wings and Ruin By Sarah J Maas

After finishing ACOWAR, I did a small stint through more of Jade West’s books. And then I decided to see if I could check ebooks out of the library. I’ve been feeling a bit sad with not being able to go to the library thanks to Covid, but ebooks would definitely be an option. And, as luck would have it, my library did offer that option. I decided to check out a book that was recommended as part of the Ex Libris Fibers Spectral Collection monthly club last year (the one that had me reading Frankenstein) and was also part of the Spooky Nerds Book Club on Instagram.

I’d never read any Shirley Jackson before, so I was looking forward to giving it a try. I love a good gothic spooky story, so this sounded perfect. I started this the night after Valentine’s Day when we were sitting in the house with no power (thanks, Texas electric company!), with candles for light, and wrapped up in quilts for warmth. Sadly, once my internet went down, I was without my book to read. I’ll talk more about my thoughts on this in my March review, since I didn’t finish it in February.

Allure of the Vampire King by Bella Klaus

In the midst of reading Haunting at Hill House, I got suckered into a book that I kept seeing advertised on Instagram. I mean, it had all the pre-requisites: vampires, check; romance, check; woman that works at a crystal shop and is interested in energy healing, check. Allure of the Vampire King is the first in the Blood Fire Saga by Bella Klaus (which is possibly the most ridiculous pen name I’ve ever heard. It’s just a bit too “on the nose”). I did really love that Mera works at a crystal shop and I enjoyed her talking about crystals and their properties. Spoiler alert: There was a part in the book where the Enforcers come after Mera, and her subsequent trial and imprisonment, that really reminded me of the show Motherland: Fort Salem, which is an interesting take on witches as a military unit. I really enjoyed this book. More than I thought I would. I read this in about four days. Of course, it ended on this huge cliffhanger, so then I had to read the next one.

I dove right into book two in the series (which I’m sure was the plan with the cliffhanger ending). McCavity, her cat, makes me laugh. Whenever he says “Meow”, instead of thinking of the sound of a cat meowing, it makes me think of a person saying “meow”. I love that he’s there to protect Mera. And, of course, this one ended on another freaking cliffhanger as well. I started this one at the tail end of February and it carried me into March.

A Train to Stamboul

February 12, 2021 by Michelle Leave a Comment

Since rekindling my love of reading, I have felt more like myself than I have in a long time. I wanted to make sure I brought that excitement and intention into the new year. And since I’m reading so much now, I decided I should probably break up my reviews into a monthly post, otherwise a post at the end of the year will be unwieldy. Here’s a look back at what I read in January.

I saved A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas to start on New Year’s Day. I started my reread of this series back in December, but this time I’m adding the books to my own personal library (with the original gorgeous covers, of course). I had forgotten so much of this book. I had forgotten how scenes from A Court of Thorns and Roses take on an entirely different meaning once more is revealed. This book is my favorite of the series and maybe that’s because of Feyre’s transformation, maybe it’s because I resonate so much with the Night Court, maybe it’s because of Rhysand (it’s definitely because of Rhysand), but I gobbled this book up in a week.

But I met his stare as I clinked my glass against his, the crystal ringing clear and bright over the crashing sea far below, and said, “To the people who look at the stars and wish, Rhys.” He picked up his glass, his gaze so piercing that I wondered why I had bothered blushing at all for Tarquin. Rhys clinked his glass against mine. “To the stars who listen – and the dreams that are answered.”
A Court of Mist and Fury

A friend of mine and I were talking books in late December and she mentioned that she was ripping her way through books by Jade West and was currently reading her book, Bait. Jade West’s books are firmly in the erotic romance genre, some in the dark erotic romance. My friend cautioned me to make sure I had read the summary of Bait and that I was fully aware of what I was getting into before reading it. I appreciated her caution though, because there’s a good bit in this book that needs a trigger warning for sure. But, if you like tattooed, pierced guys and dark, unconventional smut – this is a good read. I tore through this in two days.

And speaking of tattooed and pierced guys . . . while I was reading Bait, it reminded me of an old Twilight fanfiction called Clipped Wings and Inked Armor. You may recall that I went back and read another old fanfic last year and thoroughly enjoyed it, so when Bait reminded me of CWAIA, I decided to dig it out. The basic premise is that Edward is a tattoo artist and part owner at a tattoo shop, he meets Bella who works at the bookshop across the street. She’s trying to start over and move on from a traumatic event in her past, and so is Edward. I admit that when I first picked this up, I was not convinced I was going to be able to read it. It just wasn’t holding my attention. But, the further I read, the better it got. I’m not really sure when it happened exactly, but I got hooked. So hooked that I couldn’t stop picking this up. It took me about a week to read what basically clocked in as about 700+ pages. I really enjoyed it, once I got going, and I’m so glad I reread it. The author has actually published this fic, but broke it up into three books.

After I finished Clipped Wings and Inked Armor, I went on a huge Jade West binge. I read one of her books where the main character is an art teacher (which was kind of the segue from Edward being a tattoo artist, and then I read the four books in her Dirty Bad series. Some I liked more than others, but I was basically reading them like potato chips. I kind of burned myself out on them, to be honest. So, then I went looking for something completely different to read, but I didn’t want something too long because my copy of the next book in the A Court of Thorns and Roses series was on its way.

I decided to pick up a book that I started and never finished back in 2017, Murder on the Orient Express. I had originally picked it up to read when the movie came out. I read a ton of Agatha Christie in middle school and junior high, so I’m sure I read Orient Express then, but really had no memory of the plot. I am also a huge fan of the Hercule Poirot played by David Suchet in the tv series that I used to watch religiously in my college years. So, I decided it was time to pick this back up and read it. And actually finish it this time.

The first thing that struck me at the beginning of the book was the reference to Stamboul. Being unfamiliar with the term, I looked it up. Apparently, the city of Instanbul has been known by a number of different names. The most notable, besides the modern Turkish name, are Byzantium, Constantinople, and Stamboul. When I first read the name, I didn’t think too much about it. But later on the same page, within the same conversation with Lieutenant Dubosc, there is also a reference to Constantinople, which made me think that perhaps Stamboul was a reference to Instanbul. Now, why both names are referenced as though they are different places I’m not sure about. The other thing that struck me was the reference to La Sainte Sophie. I didn’t think twice about the reference, until I made the connection with Stamboul and Constantinople. It occurred to me then that perhaps the Lieutenant was referencing Hagia Sofia. I was telling some friends about these revelations and how it was coincidental that we’d just finished a show about the rise of the Ottoman Empire (which was basically the transition from Constantinople to Instabul) and my friend, Rachel, said “This makes the book that much more real to you, doesn’t it?” Which I thought was a very insightful statement. And she’s right. It all comes together and it sparks my imagination.

One of the things that really stood out to me, and perhaps it’s because I’m reading it with the filter of today, is that there are a ton of assumptions and prejudices the characters have. They believe Americans are a certain way, they believe that if someone is killed with a knife it is most likely by the Italian because they prefer knives and are also aggressive, that the English are cold and unfeeling, etc. Only Poirot, perhaps, sees past these assumptions (at least it appears so). But, it definitely gave me a lot of food for thought about the assumptions we make about people, which in some cases are also biases or prejudices.

I read Orient Express in about a week, which was pretty slow based on the rate I’d been reading at. But, I enjoyed the book and I think Death on the Nile will be my next Agatha Christie to read.