Saturday, 23 May 2015
ARC REVIEW: TRUTHWITCH by Susan Dennard

On a continent ruled by three empires, some are born with a “witchery”, a magical skill that sets them apart from others.
In the Witchlands, there are almost as many types of magic as there are ways to get in trouble—as two desperate young women know all too well.
Safiya is a Truthwitch, able to discern truth from lie. It’s a powerful magic that many would kill to have on their side, especially amongst the nobility to which Safi was born. So Safi must keep her gift hidden, lest she be used as a pawn in the struggle between empires.
Iseult, a Threadwitch, can see the invisible ties that bind and entangle the lives around her—but she cannot see the bonds that touch her own heart. Her unlikely friendship with Safi has taken her from life as an outcast into one of reckless adventure, where she is a cool, wary balance to Safi’s hotheaded impulsiveness.
Safi and Iseult just want to be free to live their own lives, but war is coming to the Witchlands. With the help of the cunning Prince Merik (a Windwitch and ship’s captain) and the hindrance of a Bloodwitch bent on revenge, the friends must fight emperors, princes, and mercenaries alike, who will stop at nothing to get their hands on a Truthwitch.
I’ll get straight to the point, shall I? That’s why you’re here.
I. LOVED. THIS. BOOK.
TRUTHWITCH is a thing of beauty. Easily one of the most compelling high-fantasy books I have ever read. If this book does not become a well-known addition to bookcases and blogs, it will be nothing short of a crime of the most heinous sort.
Set against a rich and vibrant backdrop of myths, legends and stunning locations, this book is a fantasy lover’s wildest dream.
The story revolves around two girls: Safiya fon Hasstrel, a Truthwitch (who has the ability to discern between truth and lie), and Iseult det Midenzi who is a Threadwitch (the ability to see other people’s Threads. Such as ties of love between people.) These girls are the kickass duo you’ve been waiting your whole life for. As different as day and night, yet essentially the same, Safi and Iz will linger in your mind long after you’ve turned the final page.
The Witchlands range from colossal mountains to (sometimes) perilous seas. There’s SO many types of Witcheries. There are six elements: Earth, Air, Water, Fire, Aether and the ever mysterious Void. If you can think of an ability relating to one of those elements, it’s probably real. How cool is that?! I’m still debating what kind of witchery I’d like to have. Also, if you’re looking for a book that contains mythical beasts, you want this one desperately. You want to meet the sea foxes. Like, ASAP.
Of course, this book has its hot guys! First up you have Merik Nihar. PRINCE MERIK NIHAR. Also known as my brand-new book-boyfriend. Or husband. That works too. He’s a (very hot) Windwitch with one stormy temper. But he’s also fiercely loyal and protective of what he cares about. It’s really quite beautiful to see how strong a character he is even when faced with all these hardships. I cannot WAIT to read more about him. (Did I mention HOT?!)
We also have Aeduan, who is a Bloodwitch. I won’t tell you TOO much about Aeduan, but this picture is needed when describing him. DESPERATELY NEEDED.

Love Aeduan or hate him, either way you’re not gonna forget about him any time soon.
There is also ANOTHER hot guy that I love and adore, but I won’t give you any details about him. I’ll just call him K for now. Precious baby K.
I wish I could tell you all about the other characters that inhabit this book. Every single one of them has a purpose and different agendas. There’s ones that you will love at first, then go ‘OH HELL NO,’ and ones that you hate, then grow to love and cherish. Oh, and there are so many shipping options. Ship it all, people. SHIP. IT. ALL. Book two is going to blow everyone’s socks off (including my own) on the romance front for sure.
A compelling and well-written storyline, twists and turns at every turn, I devoured this book. I finished the book and promptly began to writhe around on the floor of my living room while cursing Susan for the pain she’d inflicted on me. May those thrice-damned seagulls crap on you for that ending! <3
Sizzling romance, killer heroines and heart-in-your-mouth moments, this book is set to become a big hit.
5 FAT AND SHINING HEARTS.
January 5th 2016. Mark this date and tell others. Tattoo it on your forehead and shout it from your windows. Heck, send carrier pigeons to all your friends to spread the news. Either way, do not forget this date, for sheer brilliance hits your shelves on that day.
Friday, 10 April 2015
REVIEW: Heir of Fire by Sarah J Maas
Title: Heir of Fire (Throne of Glass #3)
Author: Sarah J. Maas
Genre (s): Fantasy and romance
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Published: September 2nd 2014
Stars: Five MASSIVE ones
Lost and broken, Celaena Sardothien’s only thought is to avenge the savage death of her dearest friend: as the King of Adarlan’s Assassin, she is bound to serve this tyrant, but he will pay for what he did. Any hope Celaena has of destroying the king lies in answers to be found in Wendlyn. Sacrificing his future, Chaol, the Captain of the King’s Guard, has sent Celaena there to protect her, but her darkest demons lay in that same place. If she can overcome them, she will be Adarlan’s biggest threat – and his own toughest enemy.
While Celaena learns of her true destiny, and the eyes of Erilea are on Wendlyn, a brutal and beastly force is preparing to take to the skies. Will Celaena find the strength not only to win her own battles, but to fight a war that could pit her loyalties to her own people against those she has grown to love?
”She was the heir of ash and fire-”
This book was totally and utterly completely different to its predecessors. HEIR OF FIRE was a non-stop thrill ride, but in other ways than THRONE OF GLASS and CROWN OF MIDNIGHT.
HEIR OF FIRE focuses on the lives of four characters – Celaena, Chaol, Dorian and a brand new character, the witch Manon.
Celaena faces very different issues this book. Where the last two books are world builders, in a sense, this one is all about character development. And boy does Celaena do some developing! At the end of CROWN OF MIDNIGHT, we see Celaena on her way to Wendlyn, her home kingdom. The kingdom of the fae and her surviving family.
In Wendlyn, we meet a whole new bunch of new characters. Celaena gets herself into more deep, dark trouble and subsequently kicks ass. Of course. Our heroine grows a LOT. Both mentally and physically. By the end of HEIR OF FIRE, your heart is pounding as if you’re in the book itself. It draws you in and sinks its claws deep into you.
The most notable new characters are Manon Blackbeak and Rowan Whitethorn.
If you attended Celaena’s special birthday livestream, you’ll already be familiar with Manon’s nature. Violent nature, I should add. She is amazing. There is a fine line between sadistic and bloodthirsty, and I’m still not sure which category she falls into. She’s just so intricate, bloody and downright amazing. Also, because of her, I’d very much like to open a wyvern sanctuary. SAVE THE WYVERNS! And give one to me. Please.
Anyway, back to Manon. She’s amazing and seriously, she’s going to grow on you to the point you flick back through the book just to reread her parts. She and Abraxos are the most adorable (?) thing ever. It feels weird calling them cute, but they actually are. Get ready for Manon! She’s going to blow you away and gouge your eyes out with iron nails.
Next up… Rowan Whitethorn.
I could talk about him all day long and not get bored once. Intricate and perfectly lickable, Rowan will blow your underwear off, and that’s not an exaggeration.
Without going into detail, Rowan is the fae warrior you want to see working out while he’s half naked. HEIR OF FIRE would not have been so amazing without him (and Manon) at all. He adds so many elements to the book that haven’t been in the previous ones. If anything, he and Celaena remind me of Romitri (Rose and Dimitri from the Vampire Academy books) with how they interact and their whole relationship. It’s totally unique to the two characters and quite frankly, their scenes together are the best parts of the book. A pupil and her (sexy) mentor.
Chaol and Dorian are both in the HEIR OF FIRE as well, but not as much as Celaena. They both have their own story lines, issues and inner demons. Romance is featured in the book, but certainly not as prominent as the last two books. This book is all about character development, and it is beautiful.
This book gets all my love and hugs and kisses and squishes. I love it so much. Even if it is so very different to the last two books. There is so much more to say, but details/SPOILERS. You wait guys, you wait. It’s fiery and explosive, and I mean that literally.
Massive 5 stars and I’m anxiously awaiting book 4 after such a climatic ending!!
TRUTHWITCH cover reveal


Wednesday, 8 April 2015
REVIEW: The 100 by Kass Morgan

| I simply cannot believe how much I disliked this book when I am in love with the TV show. Too many POVs, seriously. I bought the book in January after watching season one and was positively hungering for more... and it's taken three months for me to read the entire thing. Won't say anymore in this review because it will turn into a rant. Two stars, not one. Because Bellamy Blake is epic in both show and book. It was very interesting to see the differences in the characters from the show and book. I do actually own the second book in the series (regretting the waste of money now...) so maybe one day when I'm beyond bored, I'll force myself to read it. For now though, it will sit on my shelf collecting dust. Never said this before but... watch the show instead! The story line is MUCH more compelling and the characters much more three-dimensional and real. |
We are BACK!
And then by chance earlier... I remembered! So Pandemonium Books are back with a VENGEANCE! Stay tuned you brilliant people!


