A Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin Book Review

Title: A Game of Thrones
Author: George R. R. Martin
Published: August 6, 1996
Publisher: Bantam
Series: A Song of Ice and Fire #1
Genre: Adult Fantasy
Pages: 837
Source: Gift
Rating: 5 stars
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“When you play a game of thrones you win or you die.”
―George R.R. Martin, A Game of Thrones

Synopsis
In a land where summers can last decades and winters a lifetime, trouble is brewing. The cold is returning, and in the frozen wastes of the north of Winterfell, sinister and supernatural forces are massing beyond the kingdom's protective Wall.

At the center of the conflict lie the Starks of Winterfell, a family as harsh and unyielding as the land they were born to. Sweeping from a land of brutal cold to a distant summertime kingdom of epicurean plenty, here is a tale of lords and ladies, soldiers and sorcerers, assassins and bastards, who come together in a time of grim omens. Amid plots and counterplots, tragedy and betrayal, victory and terror, the fate of the Starks, their allies, and their enemies hangs perilously in the balance, as each endeavors to win that deadliest of conflicts: the game of thrones. (Goodreads)

My Thoughts
Some time ago, there was girl named Courtney who decided to take a chance and buy the first season of Game of Thrones without having watched a single episode. From that day on, her life would never be the same. But seriously, it wasn't the same and it has changed for the better. After discovering this extraordinary tv series, I knew I had to read the books. Finally, I have started this popular series, and, so far, I have no regrets.

Review: Lady Knight by Tamora Pierce

Title: Lady Knight
Author: Tamora Pierce
Published: August 27, 2002
Publisher: Laurel Leaf
Series: Protector of the Small #4
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy
Pages: 411
Source: Gift
Rating: 5 stars
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*Warning: This book review contains spoilers for First Test, Page and Squire*

“You are the Protector of the Small. You see real people in the humans and animals overlooked by your peers. There will always be work for you.”
― Tamora Pierce, Lady Knight

Synopsis
Keladry of Mindelan has finally achieved her life-long dream of being a knight. But it’s not turning out as she imagined at all. With the land of Tortall at war with the Scanrans, she has been assigned to oversee a refugee camp. But Kel has had a vision in the Chamber—a vision of the man behind the horrific battle machines that her fellow knights and friends are now fighting without her. She is torn between a duty she has sworn and a quest that she feels could turn the tide of the war. . .(Goodreads)

My Thoughts
Wow! What a finale for such an amazing series! Lady Knight had to be my favorite book in the Protector of the Small series (although Squire was right up there too). The rest of the series interlaced the positive with the negative, offering the ups and downs of a kingdom on the brink of, and eventually in the midst of, war with the Scanrans (Tortall's barbaric neighbors in the north). Yet Lady Knight was the darkest read of the entire series, offering an eye-opening view of the war and its casualties. I was not surprised in the slightest when my friend Amanda informed me that Pierce's writing was influenced by the 9/11 tragedy (which occurred during the creation of Lady Knight). The darker scenes made more sense to me after realizing the influence.

Review: Squire by Tamora Pierce

Title: Squire 
Author: Tamora Pierce
Published: May 22, 2001
Publisher: Bluefire
Series: Protector of the Small #3
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy
Pages: 399
Source: Gift
Rating: 5 stars
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*Warning: This book review contains spoilers for First Test and Page*

“I'm sick of this. Call me what you like, say I'm without honor, I don't care. I'm not getting on any more horses to whack you people with a stick.”
― Tamora Pierce, Squire

Synopsis
Fourteen-year-old Keladry of Mindelan is not your average squire. For one thing, she's a girl. For another, she's almost six feet tall. And most important of all, her ability to pass the Ordeal that soon confronts her may determine her kingdom's future.

When Kel is chosen by the legendary Lord Raoul to be his squire, the conservatives of the realm hardly think she’s up to the job. Kel earns respect and admiration among the men, as well as the affection of a fellow squire. (Goodreads)

My Thoughts
I have to say that Squire, the third book of the Protector of the Small series, was my favorite so far of the series. Finally, Kel has left behind her training as a page, meaning she can also leave behind the palace, the page wing, and the training grounds. Don't get me wrong. As I said in my earlier reviews, I loved First Test and Page, but I was ready for a change of scenery and Squire brought just what I needed.

Review: Page by Tamora Pierce

Title: Page
Author: Tamora Pierce
Published: May 23, 2000
Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers
Series: Protector of the Small #2
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy
Pages: 288
Source: Gift
Rating: 5 stars
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*Warning: This book review contains spoilers for First Test*

“Neal had a gift for making someone want to punch him just for saying hello”
― Tamora Pierce, Page

Synopsis
Kel fights to maintain the rigorous regimen of a page while confronting the prejudices that come with being a female in a man’s world and coping with a crush on her closest friend, Neal. (Goodreads)

My Thoughts
Let me begin by saying the synopses for this series are not the best. The longest one I found on Goodreads was ridden with spoilers (at least what I consider spoilers), so I decided to avoid that one.

In Page, Book 2 of the Protector of the Small series, Kel is no longer under probation. She has returned for her second year of training as a page, and has taken many of the people in court by surprise, including her training master and fellow pages. They had expected her to give up the previous year under the pressure of bullying and rigorous training, but Kel finished with flying colors. Now, she finds herself feeling differently about her friend and fellow page Neal, noticing his good looks while she wishes he could feel the same way. She also finds her gender brings some unwelcome changes. While new challenges present themselves, Kel discovers that Joren and his crew are not finished with their bullying, and Kel feels honor bound to defend first year pages from their unfair hazing. She makes new friends, but she still has to prove that a female can hold her own as a page. An opportunity to show her leadership skills presents itself when a group of bandits attacks some of the pages during a summer trip. Kel must take charge in order to save their lives.

Review: First Test by Tamora Pierce

Title: First Test 
Author: Tamora Pierce
Published: June 7, 1999
Publisher: Laurel Leaf
Series: Protector of the Small #1
Genre: Children's Fantasy
Pages: 256
Source: Gift
Rating: 5 stars
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“You know, ogres only sound stupid. Most are pretty smart."
"And it's a shallow person who judges anyone by the way they sound. I'm so shallow I'm surprised I don't reflect myself.”
― Tamora Pierce, First Test

Synopsis
When Alanna became the King's Champion, it was decided that girls would henceforth be allowed to train for the knighthood. But ten years have passed, and no girls have come forward. Now, however, someone is about to change all that. Her name is Kel. In this first book in a new series from popular children's fantasy writer Tamora Pierce, we are introduced to a strong, adventurous new heroine who will win the hearts and minds of fantasy fans. (Goodreads)

My Thoughts
Tamora Pierce has to be one of my favorite fantasy authors. Time and again, she has transported me to the magical realm of Tortall and it's always difficult to return to reality after finishing one of her books. I'm ashamed to admit that I've had the Protector of the Small series sitting on my bookshelf for years, and I'm just reading it now. I loved Pierce's Song of the Lioness and Daughter of the Lioness series, and so far, I'm loving the Protector of the Small series.

The Crown of Embers by Rae Carson Book Review

Title: The Crown of Embers
Author: Rae Carson
Published: September 18, 2012
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Series: Fire and Thorns #2
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy
Pages: 416
Source: Purchased
Rating: 5 stars
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“I love you the way a drowning man loves air. And it would destroy me to have you just a little.” 
― Rae Carson, The Crown of Embers

*Warning: This book review contains spoilers for The Girl of Fire and Thorns*

Synopsis
Elisa is the hero of her country. She led her people to victory against a terrifying enemy, and now she is their queen. But she is only seventeen years old. Her rivals may have simply retreated, choosing stealth over battle. And no one within her court trusts her - except Hector, the commander of the royal guard, and her companions. 

As the country begins to crumble beneath her and her enemies emerge from the shadows, Elisa will take another journey. With a one-eyed warrior, a loyal friend, an enemy defector, and the man she is falling in love with, Elisa crosses the ocean in search of the perilous, uncharted, and mythical source of the Godstone's power. That is not all she finds. (Goodreads)

My Thoughts
I decided to do away with star ratings. It was too limiting and I was becoming more and more indecisive. I don't want to pick from a scale of 1-5 or 1-10, and I hope my reviews will speak for themselves. 

The Crown of Embers just blew me away. Usually, I'm disappointed in a sequel, but this was far from the case with this series. The Crown of Embers was even better than The Girl of Fire and Thorns. I never lost interest for a second, even if there wasn't necessarily action. The political intrigue, character development, and enthralling storyline had me from the beginning. I really felt that Joya d'Arena came alive for me with Carson's words. Her vivid description of this fantasy world, a hybrid of Spanish and Italian inspiration, left nothing to be desired. Her writing style flows beautifully, and my eyes were aching to see this world for real. 

Elisa and her country are still recovering from a battle with the Inviernos, and Carson manages to show us how Joya D'Arena is faring in every part of the country without even traveling there. We capture bits and pieces of the country's suffering from Elisa's travels, but we mainly witness its troubles from her discussions with advisers and other political figures. Elisa is also having difficulty ruling as a foreign queen, and Carson does not disappoint in showing scenes where Elisa's queenship is challenged or the queen herself is threatened. As always, Elisa is unfailingly clever in all of her decisions, but she also struggles with her insecurity as a capable queen, causing her to make mistakes along the way. She is a very believable character, and truly awe-inspiring. I liked how there was less focus on her eating habits and her weight than in the first book. There are scenes where she still deals with her low self-esteem, but these were done really well and seemed to flow naturally. I still wish we had a little more background about why she was compulsively eating in the first place and why she gained weight. But overall, her appearance is not a major concern in this book, and we learn so much more about her character and her loyalty to her loved ones. I just love Elisa, and I admire her greatly. 

Hector. I never thought I'd wax poetic about a guy named Hector, but this romance was all I could have dreamed for and so much more. When Humberto died in the last book, I pretty much figured Elisa and him were over. Death is kind of a deal breaker in a relationship. Well, desert boy and the queen weren't really going anywhere with her being married and all. Oh wait, buh bye Alejandro. After Humberto kicked the bucket, I was rooting for Hector to be her next beau. So I freaked out when I heard he was, in fact, the romantic interest. I loved him just as much as I did in the first book. Their romance is so much more than lust or simple romantic love because Hector is also Elisa's friend and protector, adding so many intricate layers to their relationship. There is no easy route for the romance between a queen and the commander of her guard, and I respect Carson for not choosing the easy way out as their struggle to be together is evident. I love these two together. Hector is too sweet. And while the romance is not the main focus of the book, it is certainly an important addition. 

In The Crown of Embers, Elisa comes even closer to her destiny as the Godstone bearer. She also has some close brushes with death as an assassin emerges. It was such a fantastic, adventurous story. Crown of Embers is not all happy go lucky, but the dark parts just make it all the more richer and complete. I loved when Elisa put her smart hat on and devised a plan. She is something fierce. And the characters on the sidelines, from devoted friends to vicious backstabbers, are all wonderfully developed.

All I have to say is read this book now. There's no reason to wait. It's that awesome, and I finished it in record timing. I could not put it down. The Bitter Kingdom isn't expected until fall of 2013. This is going to be a long and brutal wait. 

Happy reading,

Courtney

Defiance by C.J. Redwine Book Review

Title: Defiance 
Author: C.J. Redwine
Published: August 28, 2012
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Series: Courier's Daughter #1
Genre: Young Adult Dystopian
Pages: 403
Source: Purchased
Rating: 5 stars
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“It’s probably my job to tell you life isn’t fair, but I figure you already know that. So instead, I’ll tell you that hope is precious, and you’re right not to give up.” 
― C.J. Redwine, Defiance

Synopsis
Within the walls of Baalboden, beneath the shadow of the city’s brutal leader, Rachel Adams has a secret. While other girls sew dresses, host dinner parties, and obey their male Protectors, Rachel knows how to survive in the wilderness and deftly wield a sword. When her father, Jared, fails to return from a courier mission and is declared dead, the Commander assigns Rachel a new Protector, her father’s apprentice, Logan—the same boy Rachel declared her love for two years ago, and the same boy who handed her heart right back to her. Left with nothing but fierce belief in her father’s survival, Rachel decides to escape and find him herself. But treason against the Commander carries a heavy price, and what awaits her in the Wasteland could destroy her.

At nineteen, Logan McEntire is many things. Orphan. Outcast. Inventor. As apprentice to the city’s top courier, Logan is focused on learning his trade so he can escape the tyranny of Baalboden. But his plan never included being responsible for his mentor’s impulsive daughter. Logan is determined to protect her, but when his escape plan goes wrong and Rachel pays the price, he realizes he has more at stake than disappointing Jared.

As Rachel and Logan battle their way through the Wasteland, stalked by a monster that can’t be killed and an army of assassins out for blood, they discover romance, heartbreak, and a truth that will incite a war decades in the making. (Goodreads) 

My Thought
I've been eagerly awaiting Defiance for months. From the first time I saw it, I have been counting down the days till it hit bookstores. I can't seem to articulate why I was so excited for this book. I just knew I'd love it, and it was worth the wait! 

I loved every single page of Defiance! I devoured this book as I would any other wonderful read. The world-building leaves nothing to be desired. We're given detailed descriptions of Baalboden and the Wasteland, and I could almost picture North Hub and South Edge and Logan's little cottage in my head. I loved the names of the different parts of the citystate, and while there was a lot of suffering within Baalboden's walls, it possessed a dark beauty that appealed to me. 

The premise was fascinating. Decades ago, businessmen had teams dig into the earth for oil, and they awakened a terrifying race of beasts that lived deep beneath the surface. These beasts resemble wingless dragons, and they destroyed every densely populated area with their massive size and ability to breathe flame. Kind of reminded me of the Balrog the dwarves awakened while mining in The Lord of the Rings. Baalboden is terrorized by one of these beasts, The Cursed One, and the citizens must remain within the protection of Baalboden's walls. This premise really applies to the present day, where we're drilling for oil all over the place. Except, I hope there are no beasts living deep underground in our world. That would suck (understatement). 

The Cursed One was terrifying, but the true villain is the Commander. Even though the citizens are safe from the Cursed One inside their citystate, they are victims to the Commander's brutal authority. The Commander was a convincing villain. He was merciless, and I couldn't help hating his abuse of women. This dystopia was a legit dystopia. There was the constant threat of the Cursed One and the Commander's heavy punishment if the law was broken, but there were also bands of highwaymen and other citystates' battalions wandering the Wasteland. I was bothered by the treatment of women, as they were raised to be submissive and they couldn't go anywhere without their Protector, but my anger at their laws did not decrease my enjoyment at all. In fact, the darker elements only strengthened the world building. 

Rachel is one of my favorite heroines of all time. She was feisty, strong, and devoted to her loved ones. She was the opposite of every other woman in Baalboden. She was raised by her father to be independent, and I couldn't help admiring her courage and the fire inside of her. Even when she was scared or grief-stricken, she still fought and wouldn't allow her feelings to consume her. Logan. I loved Logan so much. He was a bit of nerd, and I couldn't help finding his awkwardness and his love for his inventions adorable. But when it came to Rachel, he would suddenly fight like a mad animal, revealing how he had stayed alive as an orphan on the streets during his childhood. Their romance was so sweet, and it was developed wonderfully. No instalove. Redwine shifted between their POVs smoothly, and I enjoyed hearing from both of them. I just loved Rachel and Logan. And also Willow and Quinn and Sylph and Oliver. They were all amazing characters and they were developed so well! 

I can't wait for the sequel! I hope we learn more about some characters and I'd like to know why women needed Protectors to begin with. Plus, there are some questions I can't wait to have answered! The suspense is killing me. Defiance is definitely a new favorite, as shown by this long review of gushing. 

Happy reading, 

Courtney