Teaser Tuesday #393, October 23rd

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by Ambrosia of The Purple Booker. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn't give too much away! You don't want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Today's teaser comes from Kingdom of Ash by Sarah J. Maas, page 182.

"Terrin is not a warrior-not at heart. I saw what was building in Morath, in the Ferian Gap, and required my eldest son to be here, to pick up the sword should I fall."

Yeah, you'd almost think that he was a good guy, Chaol's dad. But he's not a nice or kind one, or anyone you'd want to be around! What about you guys? Happy reading!

It's Monday! What Are You Reading #385, October 22nd

It's Monday! What Are You Reading is a weekly meme hosted by Book Date where we share what we read this past week, what we hope to read this week...and anything in between! This is a great way to plan out your reading week and see what others are currently reading as well...you never know where that next "must read" book will come from!

What happened in the past week:

Weekly Memes:
It's Monday! What Are You Reading #384
Teaser Tuesday #392
WWW Wednesday #392
WOW #388
Will the Time Come #385
Third Sentence Thursday #375
Random Reads #360
First Lines Friday #388
The Reward Challenge Update #370
Book Blogger Hop #54
How Well I Stuck to It #222
Wrote that Review Update #219

Week 42 Reviews:
Sawkill Girls
Evermore
Heretic's Anonymous
Strange the Dreamer
Muse of Nightmares
Into the Garden
Dividing Eden
Forbidden Fruit
Eden Conquered
Puddin'
The Assassin and the Pirate Lord
The Assassin and the Healer
The Assassin and the Desert
The Assassin and the Underworld
The Assassin and the Empire
Throne of Glass
Crown of Midnight
Heir of Fire

Random:
Heather Kaczynski Author Page

OK, so I got 20 posts in 7 days, read a good number of books (a lot more than I have been lately, whoo!) and yeah, excited for this coming week, Kingdom of Ash is calling my name! Just one more day! So excited! What about you guys? Happy reading!

So this week I want to read Queen of Shadows, Empire of Storms, Tower of Dawn, Kingdom of Ash, Superheroes Anonymous, Supervillains Anonymous, How to Save the World, #HeroFail, One Giant Leap, and This Is Kind of an Epic Love Story.

Years in the making, Sarah J. Maas's #1 New York Times bestselling Throne of Glass series draws to an epic, unforgettable conclusion. Aelin Galathynius's journey from slave to king's assassin to the queen of a once-great kingdom reaches its heart-rending finale as war erupts across her world. . .

Aelin has risked everything to save her people―but at a tremendous cost. Locked within an iron coffin by the Queen of the Fae, Aelin must draw upon her fiery will as she endures months of torture. Aware that yielding to Maeve will doom those she loves keeps her from breaking, though her resolve begins to unravel with each passing day…

With Aelin captured, Aedion and Lysandra remain the last line of defense to protect Terrasen from utter destruction. Yet they soon realize that the many allies they've gathered to battle Erawan's hordes might not be enough to save them. Scattered across the continent and racing against time, Chaol, Manon, and Dorian are forced to forge their own paths to meet their fates. Hanging in the balance is any hope of salvation―and a better world.

And across the sea, his companions unwavering beside him, Rowan hunts to find his captured wife and queen―before she is lost to him forever.

As the threads of fate weave together at last, all must fight, if they are to have a chance at a future. Some bonds will grow even deeper, while others will be severed forever in the explosive final chapter of the Throne of Glass series.

Gail "Hostage Girl" Godwin is back and ready to save the day—sort of—in #Herofail, the fourth book in Lexie Dunne's action-packed Superheroes Anonymous series!

She's been in trouble before, but Gail Godwin has really stepped in it now.

Once a favorite plaything of supervillains everywhere, the former Hostage Girl has settled into interning for the world's most famous superhero: the Raptor. Sure, fetching coffee comes with a side of fighting crime and night patrol hours are horrible, but that's fine. Gail likes her boss, she likes her job, and things with her boyfriend couldn't be better.

So of course disaster strikes the first time she dons the armor. One ill-timed photo later, she's trending on every platform (and not in a good way), the Raptor is out of commission, and thousands are in danger. And when two of the worst supervillains in history battle for Top Evildoer of All Time, Gail's stuck in the spotlight without a mentor or a plan. It's up to her to uncover old secrets, fight the bad guys, and save the world (again).

Provided she doesn't fall flat on her ass in the process.

When Cassandra Gupta was chosen to be the youngest member of a top-secret mission to the far reaches of the universe she knew to expect the unexpected. But nothing could have prepared her for the catastrophic events that would occur once she left Earth.

Cassie and the rest of the crew have found themselves in the middle of a conflict between two alien civilizations hell-bent on destroying each other . . . and anyone else who gets in their way. What was supposed to be a reconnaissance mission soon becomes a fight for their lives. But Cassie knows that it isn't enough to simply survive. The war is coming to Earth, and only she has the information that can possibly stop the devastation it will bring. With humanity's fate in the balance, Cassie must decide who she can trust and who she is willing to sacrifice in order to complete her mission.

A fresh, charming rom-com perfect for fans of Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda and Boy Meets Boy about Nathan Bird, who has sworn off happy endings but is sorely tested when his former best friend, Ollie, moves back to town.

Nathan Bird doesn't believe in happy endings.

Although he's the ultimate film buff and an aspiring screenwriter, Nate's seen the demise of too many relationships to believe that happy endings exist in real life.

Playing it safe to avoid a broken heart has been his MO ever since his father died and left his mom to unravel—but this strategy is not without fault. His best-friend-turned-girlfriend-turned-best-friend-again, Florence, is set on making sure Nate finds someone else. And in a twist that is rom-com-worthy, someone does come along: Oliver James Hernández, his childhood best friend.

After a painful mix-up when they were little, Nate finally has the chance to tell Ollie the truth about his feelings. But can Nate find the courage to pursue his own happily ever after?

Heather Kaczynski Author Page

The Story: I saw Dare Mighty Things on Edelweiss, and it looked really good, so yeah, I requested and read it, and it was really great! Can't wait to read more by Heather Kaczynski!

Website

Series: Dare Mighty Things.

Dare Mighty Things: Dare Mighty Things and her site, my review, One Giant Leap and her site, my review.

Wrote that Review Update #219, October 21st

If you want to participate, set a certain amount of reviews to write, and once you make that goal, you can get a reward!

My reviews to reward is writing all of the reviews of the week, and I motivated myself to write my review for Sawkill Girls, Evermore, Heretic's Anonymous, Strange the Dreamer and Muse of Nightmares, Into the Garden, Dividing Eden, Forbidden Forest, Eden Conquered, Puddin', The Assassin and the Pirate Lord, The Assassin and the Healer, The Assassin and the Desert, The Assassin and the Underworld, The Assassin and the Empire, Throne of Glass, Crown of Midnight, Heir of Fire, so I have 7 of 7 reviews written!

And as always, I want to review this week's reviews!

What about you guys? Happy reading!

How Well I Stuck to It #222, October 21st

So I decided that I should have accountability on sticking to what should be in a week, so I'm doing How Well I Stuck to It every Sunday, because my schedule should be fixed in by now!

Week 43:

Queen of Shadows by Sarah J. Maas, Empire of Storms by Sarah J. Maas, Tower of Dawn by Sarah J. Maas, Kingdom of Ash by Sarah J. Maas, Superheroes Anonymous by Lexie Dunne, Supervillains Anonymous by Lexie Dunne, How to Save the World by Lexie Dunne, #HeroFail by Lexie Dunne, One Giant Leap by Heather Kaczynski, This Is Kind of an Epic Love Story by Kheryn Callender 

Tour Books: NA.

Review Books: NA.

NetGalley: NA.

Edelweiss: 2. Check.

Meme Books: NA.

Rereads: 6. Check.

New Books: 2. Check.

What with last week, yeah, it's a bit longer, but I'm going to read them pretty quickly! Really excited

Week 42:

The Assassin and the Pirate Lord by Sarah J. Maas, The Assassin and the Healer by Sarah J. Maas, The Assassin and the Desert by Sarah J. Maas, The Assassin and the Underworld by Sarah J. Maas, The Assassin and the Empire by Sarah J. Maas, The Assassin's Blade by Sarah J. Maas, Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas, Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas, Heir of Fire by Sarah J. Maas, Evermore by Sara Holland, Kiss Collector by Wendy Higgins

vs.

Sawkill Girls, Evermore by Sara Holland, Heretic's Anonymous by Katie Henry, Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor, Muse of Nightmares by Laini Taylor, Into the Garden by Joelle Charbonneau, Dividing Eden by Joelle Charbonneau, Forbidden Forest by Joelle Charbonneau, Eden Conquered by Joelle Charbonneau, Puddin' by Julie Murphy, The Assassin and the Pirate Lord by Sarah J. Maas, The Assassin and the Healer by Sarah J. Maas, The Assassin and the Desert by Sarah J. Maas, The Assassin and the Underworld by Sarah J. Maas, The Assassin and the Empire by Sarah J. Maas, The Assassin's Blade by Sarah J. Maas, Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas, Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas, Heir of Fire by Sarah J. Maas

I read all but 1 of what I wanted to read, and more, so yeah, this was a really fantastic week! Loved reading it! What about you guys? Happy reading!

Week 42 Reviews: The Assassin and the Pirate Lord, The Assassin and the Healer, The Assassin and the Desert, The Assassin and the Underworld, The Assassin and the Empire, The Assassin's Blade, Throne of Glass, Crown of Midnight, Heir of Fire

From Goodreads:
On a remote island in a tropical sea, Celaena Sardothien, feared assassin, has come for retribution. She's been sent by the Assassin's Guild to collect on a debt they are owed by the Lord of the Pirates. But when Celaena learns that the agreed payment is not in money, but in slaves, her mission suddenly changes—and she will risk everything to right the wrong she's been sent to bring about.

From Goodreads:
Meet the Assassin: beautiful, defiant, destined for greatness. Celaena Sardothien has challenged her master. Now she must pay the price. Her journey to the Red Desert will be an arduous one, but it may change the fate of her cursed world forever...

From Goodreads:
The Silent Assassins of the Red Desert aren't much for conversation, and Celaena Sardothien wouldn't have it any other way. She's not there to chatter, she’s there to hone her craft as the world's most feared killer for hire. When the quiet is shattered by forces who want to destroy the Silent Assassins, Celaena must find a way to stop them, or she'll be lucky to leave the desert alive.

From Goodreads:
When the King of the Assassins gives Celaena Sardothien a special assignment that will help fight slavery in the kingdom, she jumps at the chance to strike a blow against an evil practice. The misson is a dark and deadly affair which takes Celaena from the rooftops of the city to the bottom of the sewer--and she doesn't like what she finds there.

From Goodreads:
Celaena Sardothien is the assassin with everything: a place to call her own, the love of handsome Sam, and, best of all, freedom. Yet, she won't be truly free until she is far away from her old master, Arobynn Hamel; Celaena must take one last daring assignment that will liberate her forever. But having it all, means you have a lot to lose . . .

From Goodreads:
Discover where Celaena Sardothien's thrilling saga began

Celaena Sardothien is her kingdom's most feared assassin. Though she works for the powerful and ruthless Assassin's Guild, Celaena yields to no one and trusts only her fellow killer-for-hire, Sam.

When Celaena's scheming master, Arobynn Hamel, dispatches her on missions that take her from remote islands to hostile deserts, she finds herself acting independently of his wishes—and questioning her own allegiance. Along the way, she makes friends and enemies alike, and discovers that she feels far more for Sam than just friendship. But by defying Arobynn's orders, Celaena risks unimaginable punishment, and with Sam by her side, he is in danger, too. They will have to risk it all if they hope to escape Arobynn's clutches—and if they fail, they'll lose not just a chance at freedom, but their lives...

A prequel to Throne of Glass, this collection of five novellas offers listeners a deeper look into the history of this cunning assassin and her enthralling—and deadly—world.

From Goodreads:
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.

From Goodreads: 
An assassin's loyalties are always in doubt.
But her heart never wavers.

After a year of hard labor in the Salt Mines of Endovier, eighteen-year-old assassin Celaena Sardothien has won the king's contest to become the new royal assassin. Yet Celaena is far from loyal to the crown – a secret she hides from even her most intimate confidantes.

Keeping up the deadly charade—while pretending to do the king's bidding—will test her in frightening new ways, especially when she's given a task that could jeopardize everything she's come to care for. And there are far more dangerous forces gathering on the horizon -- forces that threaten to destroy her entire world, and will surely force Celaena to make a choice. 

Where do the assassin's loyalties lie, and who is she most willing to fight for?

From Goodreads:
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?

My first review of The Assassin and the Pirate Lord, The Assassin and the Healer, The Assassin and the Desert, The Assassin and the Underworld, The Assassin and the Empire, Throne of Glass, Crown of Midnight, Heir of Fire
My second review of Throne of Glass

My Review:
Yeah, I loved reading this series again! It's been just such a great read, so I had to go right back to the beginning and read it all over before the ending! And I'm really glad I did, because all the characters came together in Empire of Storms, so seeing where we met them for the first time again was so great!

These were the books were she was Celaena. She goes though a lot though these books, but they all make her stronger and smarter, which she's going to need. But it also becomes something from which she needs to heal, which Rowan helps with in Heir of Fire. Really enjoyed that!

Having read all the books set after this except the final one which comes out shortly, I was able to see how threads in those books were laced into the stories in these books. And then I could watch them weave together as I kept reading! (Had to keep from mixing metaphors, there!)

These are the books were things aren't really serious. Sure, we learned in Crown of Midnight that Celaena was the heir to the Terrasen throne, but the characters were basically trying to survive, not trying to take down an empire. Yet. Heir of Fire ends with that goal in mind! Yeah!

Loved reading these books so much, they were so great, and I can't wait to read more!

Author: Sarah J. Maas
Series: Throne of Glass #0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 1, 2, 3
First Read: September 3rd, 3rd, 3rd, 3rd, 3rd, 2013, October 4th, 2012, September 4th, 2013, September 11th, 2014
Second Read: September 3rd, 2013
Read: October 17th, 17th, 17th, 18th, 18th, 18th, 18th, 19th, 19th, 2018
Source: Own
Reason Why: Rereading because the final book is coming out, and they're Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2018 Books!
Publisher: Bloomsbury Children's, Bloomsbury USA Children's
Published: January 13th 2012, March 22nd 2013, March 30th 2012, May 1st 2012, July 20th 2012, March 4th 2014, August 7th 2012, August 27th 2013, September 2nd 2014

The Assassin and the Pirate Lord:

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

The Assassin and the Healer:

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

The Assassin and the Desert:

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

The Assassin and the Underworld:

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

The Assassin and the Empire:

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

The Assassin's Blade:

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

Throne of Glass:

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

Crown of Midnight:

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

Heir of Fire:

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

Week 42 Review: Puddin'

From Goodreads:
It is a companion novel to Dumplin', which follows supporting characters from the first book in the months after Willowdean's star turn in the Clover City pageant. 

Millie Michalchuk has gone to fat camp every year since she was a girl. Not this year. This year she has new plans to chase her secret dream—and to kiss her crush. Callie Reyes is the pretty girl who is next in line for dance team captain and has the popular boyfriend. But when it comes to other girls, she's more frenemy than friend. When circumstances bring the girls together over the course of a semester, they will surprise everyone (especially themselves) by realizing they might have more in common than they ever imagined. 

My Review:
I really enjoyed this book. It's been so long since I read Dumplin' so I don't really remember these characters because they weren't the focus then, but it was really great getting to know them in this book! And we got to see old favorites again in this book, as well!

So this book is a bit different in that we get the POV of both Millie and Callie. So that was really fantastic, because of how their stories intertwine. I really enjoyed watching these two form a friendship because life through them together!

Millie wants to be an on screen reporter. But being overweight, she doesn't fit the mold. Part of her relationship with her mom is about their weights, and her mom wants her to go to fat camp again-but there's a journalism opportunity that Millie wants instead. Loved watching that play out!

Callie made a very rash decision, and then kept making some low to middle level bad decisions after that. She has to give back to her community, and work for Millie's aunt and uncle. I really enjoyed her journey, figuring out who she is now that she's not on the dance team anymore.

Loved this book, I enjoyed it so much, and I wouldn't mind having more in this series!

Author: Julie Murphy
Series: Dumplin' #2
Read: October 16th, 2018
Source: Edelweiss
Reason Why: Really enjoyed the first book, and it's a Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2018 Book!
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Published: May 8th 2018

5/5 Hearts

4.5/5 Books

4.5/5 Stars

Week 42 Review: Into the Garden, Dividing Eden, Forbidden Fruit, Eden Conquered

From Goodreads:
Step back into the world of Dividing Eden with a short story set decades before Carys and Andreus are destined to fight for Eden’s throne.

Lady Betrice has been cloistered for two years, desperate to learn the art of Seeing and be allowed to remain with the seers of the Village of Night forever. Now that her parents have passed, there is nothing waiting for her at home but her lecherous uncle and his sinister plans. So when a stoic young guard, assigned by her uncle to deliver her back home without incident, reveals a secret about his own dark past, Betrice seizes the opportunity to harness their combined power into a plan to leave Eden forever.


But for once, Betrice's uncle is not the only man lying in wait on the road home—King Adham and his son Prince Ulron are her uncle’s guests, and when Betrice's escape plot backfires, she may just find herself in a position she never could have foreseen.

From Goodreads:
From the author of the New York Times bestselling Testing trilogy comes a sweeping new fantasy series, perfect for fans of Victoria Aveyard and Sarah J. Maas.

Twins Carys and Andreus were never destined to rule Eden. With their older brother next in line to inherit the throne, the future of the kingdom was secure.

But appearances—and rivals—can be deceiving. When Eden's king and crown prince are killed by assassins, Eden desperately needs a monarch, but the line of succession is no longer clear. With a ruling council scheming to gain power, Carys and Andreus are faced with only one option—to take part in a Trial of Succession that will determine which one of them is worthy of ruling the kingdom.

As sister and brother, Carys and Andreus have always kept each other safe—from their secrets, from the court, and from the monsters lurking in the mountains beyond the kingdom’s wall. But the Trial of Succession will test the bonds of trust and family.

With their country and their hearts divided, Carys and Andreus will discover exactly what each will do to win the crown. How long before suspicion takes hold and the thirst for power leads to the ultimate betrayal?

From Goodreads:
See the secrets of Eden's twisted legacy from a new perspective with this short story set in the world of bestselling author Joelle Charbonneau's Dividing Eden.

Graylem was born to expect a life of thievery, but superior swordsmanship and a desire for something better had long fueled his dreams to become a member of a noble family's guard.

But when his sister Deevana's latest scheme forces them to leave their home—and all memories of their life in Blackthorn Keep—behind, they chart a southern course towards a new life in Irae, by way of the magnificent Garden City. Disguised as northern nobles, they quickly find themselves caught up in the mysterious politics of Eden's royal family—and infatuated by its newest member, the beautiful seeress Imogen.

A member of Eden's guard offers Graylem the chance to prove his worth, but his brutal trial for entry into the guard is waylaid by the appearance of Prince Andreus and Princess Carys. Graylem may be a simple man, but when he sees the royal siblings conferring in secret, he knows that all is not well in the Palace of the Winds—and before long, he learns that whatever darkness is lurking in the city's walls could mean devastation for his family… and for Eden. 

From Goodreads:
The electrifying conclusion to the Dividing Eden series by the New York Times bestselling author of the Testing trilogy, Joelle Charbonneau..

The Trials of Virtuous Succession have ended. Prince Andreus is king—and Princess Carys is dead.

But even as he's haunted by what he did to win the throne, Andreus discovers that his dream of ruling only brings new problems. The people love his twin even more in death than they did when she was alive. The Elders treat him as a figurehead. And worst of all, the winds of Eden are faltering. 

But despite what everyone believes, Carys is alive. Exiled to the wilderness, Carys struggles to control the powers that have broken free inside her. And as she grows stronger, so does her conviction that she must return to the Palace of Winds, face her twin and root out the treachery that began long before the first Trials started. 

The Kingdom of Eden is growing darker with each passing day. Brother and sister, former foes, must decide whether some betrayals cut too deep to be forgiven—and whether one will wear the crown or both will lose everything. 

My Review:
I enjoyed reading these books so much! I really enjoyed reading about this world, about these characters. While the idea of having to face off against your twin, that sounds horrible, but it was enjoyable to read because I'm twisted like that!

Honestly, Andreus got on my nerves. I mean, after all that his sister did for him, that he would just betray her like that, that was just awful! He'd been sheltered from the world by his mom and sister, and when he got a taste of real life...yeah, his true self peeked out, and he wasn't all good!

Sometimes it was hard to know who to trust. In both books, there were people maneuvering for power, and Carys and Andreus had different responses. And there were a few betrayals along the way. One in particular wasn't meant to be a betrayal, but it was. Boo hiss, that guy!

That ending of Conquered, oh, man! That just was hit after hit! They had a very good plan-and it worked. They just didn't count on their mom throwing a wrench in things. What she did, what she revealed, yeah, those were big. And then Carys sacrifice? Yeah, such a great ending!

These books were so great, and I enjoyed reading them so much!

Author: Joelle Charbonneau
Series: Dividing Eden #0.5, 1, 1.5, 2
Read: October 16th, 16th, 16th, 16th, 2018
Source: Ebook.bike, Edelweiss
Reason Why: Love her writing, and they're Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2018 Books and Dividing Eden and Eden Conquered are WoW Books! And Eden Conquered is a End of Series 2018 Book!
Publisher: Harper Teen
Published: October 10th 2017, June 6th 2017, March 13th 2018, June 5th 2018

Into the Garden:

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

Dividing Eden:

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

Forbidden Fruit:

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

Eden Conquered:

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars