Author: Chelsea (Page 22 of 111)

BOOK REVIEW – An Ex for Christmas by Lauren Layne

March 9, 2018 / Chelsea / 2 Comments

An Ex for Christmas by Lauren Layne
Purchase on: Amazon, iBooks
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:
She’s making a list—and checking it twice. But is there a nice guy among all her naughty exes? The New York Times bestselling author of Blurred Lines returns with a charming friends-to-lovers rom-com.

When a psychic tells spunky, superstitious Kelly Byrne that she’s already met her true love, she becomes obsessed with the idea of tracking him down before Christmas. Kelly immediately writes up an “Ex List” and starts contacting old boyfriends to figure out which one is the one. When her college sweetheart rolls into town, Kelly convinces herself that they’re meant to be. The trouble is, sparks are flying with someone she’s never given a chance: her best friend, Mark.

Mark Blakely has watched the guys on Kelly’s list break her heart, and he’s not looking forward to watching them do it all over again. Mark’s always been there for her, but the timing’s never worked out for their relationship to be something more. Now, just as Mark is ready to move on, the sexual tension between them is suddenly off the charts. With Christmas morning around the corner, he just hopes Kelly will wake up and realize that everything she wants has been right in front of her all along.

“I meant that I’m not usually. Not before.”

“Not before…?”
I feel him smile against my neck, stubbornly refusing to answer. I smile, too, because I know what he’s not saying.
Not before me.

Anyone who has been around long enough knows that LL used to be my absolute favorite author. Without any doubts, when asked, it was LL. Fast-forward a couple years annddddd…that answer isn’t the same. It’s not that I don’t like her-I do. But, after a while, it all became a bit contrived, to me.

“Mark hates Christmas,” I inject, tired of being ignored.
Both men look at me. Mark frowns. “I do not.”
I look up at him. “Okay, you don’t hate it, but you don’t really get into it. You never get a tree, you won’t hang lights, you wouldn’t even let me put a wreath on your door last year.”
“Because it was white and had a pink bow.”
“It was flocked, and pink and white were very in that year.”

Somewhere along the way, and I’m not sure when, I lost that connection I had held steadfast to. I stopped picking up every book because I wasn’t laughing and swooning as much…and it broke my heart. But, here we are, and LL wrote a Christmas book and…well…it was Christmas. So why not?

“Where’s his snowman costume?” I call to Mark.
“Burned it.”
“I hope you didn’t put it in the washing machine—it’s hand wash only,” I say, picking up my peppermint martini and heading back into the kitchen.
“Yeah, Kelly. I hand washed a dog sweater. Sounds just like me.”

Well. I don’t know. There was just way too much that bothered me:

-Clueless heroine
-Single POV (CANNOT believe I’m saying that, but I needed to hear what Mark was thinking, frankly. She was just too much)
-Boring

I don’t know! I can’t even remember all the reasons! It just did not work for me. I eventually fell hard for Mark, but it took forever. I like gruff men, but without being in his head he just seemed flat…until when I fell for him, obviously lol. At that point, he became the thing I held onto, the guy I couldn’t stop reading about…and hating Kelly for hurting. He was just…so so loyal. Ugh. Amazing.

Mark stamps out my babbling with a searing kiss. “I’ve wanted,” he says against my mouth, a little gruffly. “God, how I’ve wanted.”

And, frankly, I found the blurb a bit misleading, like…why tell us that Mark wants her to wake up and smell the roses, but then not let us be in his head to hear that? Just…odd. Odd odd odd.

“Ask me,” he orders, pinning my wrists over my head with one hand.
“Ask you what?” I say, a little breathless.
“Ask me what you asked the damn ball.”
I swallow. “Should I sleep with Mark again?”
His smile is slow and confident as he slowly lowers his body to mine. “It is certain.”

Like I said, somewhere along the way LL stopped being my ‘go-to’ contemp gal. And for real, it kills me to say that. But it is what it is and I can’t fake loving something. I loved their friendship. I loved the shared dog, backyard, etc. But when your heroine is as dumb as Kelly was-well. It’s just too much.

“You’ll never guess what happened to me at the train station,” I say, leaning forward excitedly.
“Hmm?” he asks, less excitedly.
“Okay, if I tell you, you have to not roll your eyes and tell me I’m a crackpot. Promise?”
“No.”
That’s about what I was expecting.

PS-OH! And it really sucks, it does, because I loved Kelly’s humor. She had the funniest dialogue…I just couldn’t get past the stupidity, unfortunately.

BOOK REVIEW: The Studying Hours (How to Date a Douchebag #1) by Sara Ney

March 6, 2018 / Chelsea / 2 Comments

The Studying Hours (How to Date a Douchebag #1)
by Sara Ney
Purchase on: Amazon
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:
CRUDE. ARROGANT. A**HOLE.
No doubt about it, Sebastian ‘Oz’ Osborne is the university’s most celebrated student athlete—and possibly the biggest douchebag. A walking, talking cliché, he has a filthy mouth, a fantastic body, and doesn’t give a sh*t about what you or anyone else thinks.

SMART. CLASSY. CONSERVATIVE.
Make no mistake, Jameson Clarke may be the university’s most diligent student—but she is no prude. Spending most of her time in the hallowed halls of the library, James is wary of pervs, jocks, and douchebags—and Oz Osborne is all three.

She’s smart, sarcastic—and not what he expected.

…EVERY DOUCHBAG HAS HIS WEAKNESS.

He wants to be friends.
He wants to spend time with her.
He wants to drive her crazy.

He wants…

Her.

What can I say about this book? My friend compared it to #Nerd, and I just wholly have to disagree. Yes, there are similarities:

-Meet in Library due to tutor session type deal
-Guy tries to win girl most of book
-Guy is panty-dropper jock who can get any girl he wants
-Little quotes at the beginning of each chapter
-Good*ish type girl
…

And that’s where the similarities end for me. Yeah there are cute jealousies for both guys and yeah guy wants girl for real…but seriously-the amount of times the guy talks about sex in this book is staggering. No WONDER the girl won’t commit to you, bro-Every time you say anything it’s about trying to get in her damn pants. And, I’m sorry, Romeo was about WAY more than THAT. And I guess that’s why I’m comparing. I’m not being a bitch and dissing my great friend…I just couldn’t help but to compare after she mentioned they were similar. And, frankly, the biggest difference between the two??

This book didn’t have an ounce of all the cute heart and passion #Nerd had.

And it’s as simple as that. I’m sorry, H, this one just was extremely underwhelming…and not just because we only got a little time with the two together-it was just too much and not enough. I liked the guy’s jealousies and I liked how much he liked her…but it wasn’t enough to make up for all the sex talk and repetitiveness I had to go through for 60% of the book.

And I’ll leave it there, lest I keep bashing a very popular book. I think I made my pearl clutching point. 😉

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BOOK REVIEW: Getting Lucky Number Seven (Taking Shots #1) by Cindi Madsen

March 2, 2018 / Chelsea / 4 Comments

Getting Lucky Number Seven (Taking Shots #1)
by Cindi Madsen
Purchase on: Amazon, iBooks
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:
What's your lucky number?

Lyla Wilder is done being the shy, chemistry nerd extraordinaire. While every other college student is out having fun, Lyla is studying. With her cat. Well, she's played it "safe" quite enough, thank you. So she creates a "College Bucket List"?with item #7 being a night of uninhibited, mind-blowing sex...

But she needs some help from her man-whore best friend.

Hockey player Beck Davenport thought Lyla's transformation would be subtle. Man, was he wrong. With every item she ticks off, Beck finds himself growing seriously hot for his sweet, brainiac best friend. And if he's not careful, he'll end up risking their friendship in order to convince Lyla that he might just be her lucky #7...

I couldn’t even talk to my best friend about the guy I was having sex with. Because, silly me, I’d gone and made them the same person.

Ya know, once again I’m plagued by the reviews stating this is the same old same old, there’s nothing new, it’s cliché, etc…and yet again I find this to be wrong. Why do I find this to be wrong? Well, there are so many reasons I can’t even begin to explain them.

“I’m sure you were a little disappointed when you found out I was your assigned chem partner.”
“Well, yeah,” I said, “but that was because with how damn cute you were, I was sure you’d be stupid, and that meant I was going to end up doing all the work.”
She rolled her eyes, and I smiled, unable to keep from adding, “Then I caught your scent, and your blood smelled so good, I was afraid I’d kill you and eat you. That’s why I was all broody and denting the table the first day.”
Lyla laughed and shoved my arm. “You’re stupid.”
“I am. I let you talk me into that Twilight marathon last Sunday. Clearly a mistake.”

MY ABSOLUTE FAVORITE QUOTE lmao. Killed me when I read it.^^^ Also, I had way too much fun looking through twilight GIFs lol

I was having a bad month. I was borderline depressed. I wasn’t sleeping well and had barely any sleep. I wanted to escape reality. It. Made. Me. SMILE. And it was my rainbow on a cloudy, rainy day. I don’t care about clichés, so long as they’re done RIGHT-and these totally were. And, frankly, done better than any of the other books before it that made it ‘cliché’ to impersonate.

Beck was standing off to the side, two red plastic cups in hand. “Dead cats? You said you had a hard time talking to guys, but shit, Debbie Downer, I had no idea.”

One of my recurring thoughts throughout this book was ‘I want this relationship’. It was just too cute and there was no screwing around with other girls/guys like in other books I won’t mention *Cough* How to Date a Douchebag *Cough*. Yeah. Whoops. This was a sexy read without the smut and it never became all about sex-they were best friends first and built a solid relationship before any commitment and I really think the characters had the cutest connection because of it.

She clamped her lips as she took me in, and then she laughed. She quickly covered her mouth with her hands. “I’m sorry, now that I know you’re okay, it’s…” She laughed again, her shoulders shaking. “I’m just glad I’m not the only one to make a fool of myself when I’m drunk.”
“Fool of myself?” I pushed up to my knees and wiped gravel from my torn up palms. “What are you talking about? I’m suave as shit.”
This got another round of giggles, and she laughed so hard that she braced herself against me to keep from tipping over. That made me laugh, and then we were two idiots laughing in the middle of a parking lot, our clouded breaths filling the air around us.

Was it cheesy? Yes. But it was so cute without crossing the overly cheesy line-I hate this CHEESY line. I don’t cross it for much and this book didn’t make me. It was JUST enough-not OTT. And, more than anything, this book felt relevant unlike when a lot of authors try to recreate their youth or pretend like they know what every college student is like these days. Maybe I’m the one that’s out of touch but I felt like this book hit its mark. There were no repetitive phrases (LOATHEEEEE) like these type of stories tend to have and the dialogue melted me to my core. These two characters were beyond adorable and I couldn’t get enough of them.

I wanted to let everything spill out—how much I missed her. How I should’ve told her she was perfect and sexy and the smartest person I knew. That I was drowning without her, and for the first time in my life, I got why they called it a broken heart, because all mine did was sit in my chest and ache with each beat.

And Beck…oh man I just loved him. Yeah yeah he fell for her because of a certain something on her list (teehee) and yes they obviously had feelings for each other waaaay before they actually did anything about it, but, for whatever reason, I dug it. It just had the perfect amount of peanut butter and JELLY-ness and a touch of angst (and again, not TOO much) that really was just the cherry on top of a fun little book.

“When I look at you, you know what I see?”
I met her gaze, finding it suddenly hard to breathe.
“I see the guy who saw me when no one else did,” she said. “That’s what matters to me. That’s who you are.”

So…I’m sure many of you will dismiss this book without a second thought-but, just think, if you’re having a rough day, a dark day, a sad day…maybe a smile on your face is all you need. And if you want a smile…you want Beck. Very cute. Very sweet. Very adorable. I hope some of you will try it-I know I can’t wait to get my signed copy from Apollycon from my lovely Jen Jen!!! Eeps 😊

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BOOK REVIEW: Love, Life, and the List by Kasie West

February 26, 2018 / Chelsea / 0 Comments

Love, Life, and the List by Kasie West
Purchase on: Amazon, iBooks
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:
Everyone knows Abby Turner is in love with her best friend, Cooper Wells. Including Cooper Wells. But despite what people tell her, it doesn’t affect their friendship. And she’s practically over it, anyway. What she really can’t get over is when her boss at the local museum tells her that her paintings lack heart.

Art is Abby’s passion and she hopes her future as well. She is determined to change his mind and earn her way into the upcoming exhibit at the gallery. So along with her family’s help, she compiles “The Heart List,” a series of soulstretching experiences that are sure to make her a deeper person and better artist in six weeks or less. When Cooper decides to complete the list along with her, she realizes this list is expanding her heart in more ways than one. Maybe she needs to start another project.

I really don’t know that I counted this as a romance…and if you go into it expecting a grand one, it will be painful. Like it was for me. Oh yes, you heard me correctly. Yeah, this is labeled a contemporary romance, but it really was, I don’t know, more about finding out who you are as a person and learning to love yourself enough to do what’s best for YOU. Learning that life isn’t always perfect. That there’s so much more to learn than what you realize. It’s a story of personal growth…even when its painful to do so.

Grandpa went straight to the kitchen sink when he walked in the door and began scrubbing his hands with soap and water. “Is everything all right?”
Okay, maybe I needed to work on my tone when making announcements. “Well, there wasn’t an earthquake,” I said.
“Am I supposed to get that reference? Is that a young-person phrase for something earthmoving? Has your earth moved, Abby?” He turned off the water and dried his hands on the towel hanging on the oven.

This story bothered me if only because I felt like it was too breezy. Too easygoing. Our MC was essentially a doormat and it bothered me on a personal level. But, really, I’m lying. She wasn’t even a doormat. She was a young girl who thought she loved her best friend and maybe-hopefully-one day he’d return her feelings.

On the bright side, this wasn’t a feeling I purposefully had very often. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d felt this amount of sheer panic. Or this amount of hatred toward Cooper. So maybe this would help me paint emotion.

It was painful to read-PAINFUL. And not the good kind of pain, the kind that makes you cringe. Everything felt short, the list too contrived, the list moments almost a backdrop…

But to get through these painfully awkward moments, there was sarcasm. I always LOVED the sarcasm. It was cute, it was witty, and it was right up my alley. I actually even laughed through the whole book, to be honest. I love when I can identify with the main character in this way. But, sadly, it wasn’t enough. I’d close the book and I’d be happy at that moment, but then I’d realize I was bored. I wanted to be done. I wanted my new release (Come ooonnnnn, Cruel Prince) to come out (it just popped on my iPad (when I was reading this FOREVER AGO) EEK!). And I wanted more. But then, out of nowhere, our spineless heroine grew a pair and became my own personal version of a female YA contemporary hero.

“Come in.”
The door opened wider with a squeak. “Hey, you feeling better?”
“Physically? Yes.” I could tell my fever was gone and the headache I’d had for the last couple of days was gone with it. But anger still glowed in my chest like an evil that needed to be exorcised.

I choose to believe this isn’t hot. Lol.

And this is when it crashed and burned-And it wasn’t just because of some plot device or only to further the ‘romance’ (even though the week leading up to said crashing and burning was painfully obvious it would not go according to plan), it was because everything built up to this moment in a huge tidal wave and we got hurled in the side of the head with a crushing crescendo of feels that all crashed down at once….we were in the middle of a hurricane (sorry for all the water analogies????).

Then there was true pain-out of nowhere. It was real. It was raw. It broke my fucking heart-because I felt it. I felt every emotion she felt. And frankly? I didn’t know what I wanted to happen. Did I want a HEA? Did I really??? I have never felt this emotion. Ever. My stomach was in knots-HUGE knots. My heart twisted beyond comprehension and I couldn’t get the bitter bus to go away. I just…I felt like this book, out of nowhere, grew its spine, right alongside our sappy, lovesick, clueless MC.

This book may have been about a list of firsts…but I think it accomplished more firsts with me:
-The Cooper/Ris deal (I can’t explain what I mean until you read it)
-Abby/Elliot’s relationship-adorable. Come on, now.
-CRYING DURING A KASIE WEST NOVEL (THREE TIMES!)
-Hurt in my heart in a way I didn’t think possible for Kasie West
-True, raw pain from Kasie West
-Definitive no nonsense ending (for a KW)

And for once, and I won’t say how, this wasn’t a HFN. It was a real deal definitive end. And I loved it. But, hey. Still a short end…but I kinda tend to like those rather than long drawn out endings that prolong what’s supposed to be a short story…much like my long-winded reviews. 😉

He sat down on the yellow-and-white-striped towel on my right side and handed me the bottle of water.
“What’s this garbage? I want caffeine.”
“Just yesterday you told me you were giving up soda. You said it quite dramatically, in fact. And then you said, keep me honest, Cooper.”
“What?” Rachel asked from my left side.
“You had forty-four ounces of Mountain Dew at my house last night.”
“Shhhhh.” I pressed my finger against her lips. “We’re not talking about that.”
Cooper scoffed and Rachel pushed my hand away.

I read somewhere in one of my friend’s reviews before starting this that the person was kind of like me, over Kasie West, only because it’s been hard to relate lately when her first books were so lovable and the last few have been so underwhelming-I kept thinking l know…why even bother? And I regretted starting this book…But then THISSSSS.

“And it’s not even the Fourth of July,” I said, quieter this time.
“Barely two weeks. Imagine how booked they are for that day.”
“Would you rather have to listen to only quartets for the rest of your life or screeching cats?”
“That’s a hard one. But quartets, I think. Unless they can only sing patriotic songs. Then the cats.”

I’m happy to say this one is my personal favorite by her, and I don’t know why, because I felt it was so weak the whole time-but my heart is a fickle fellow. And I never ignore what my heart’s praises sing. I made myself swear (I did, I kept repeating to myself in a mantra, ‘no matter how cute this ending is, do NOT pull a Chelsea and give it a quick, hot, and dirty 5 star’)

Four thirty in the morning. You owe me.
That’s why I brought you doughnuts. I owe you nothing.
He sent me back the pile of poop emoji and I laughed.

Eh…I folded. I folded like a cheap hooker the minute my heart melted-and that’s all there is to it. Everything came together all of a sudden in a harmonious melody and it was kind of like Kasie West actually intended for us to feel this way…Like she wanted us to be pissed so she could say, ‘ha, you doubted me, you buttholes (I have since edited this part (and it wasn’t a-holes either…) now that a month has almost passed and I can calm my tits lol), well here you go-take THAT. RIGHT IN THE FEELS. BOOM.

I smiled and stole one of his fries.
His face went serious. “Don’t eat my fries, Abby. You said you didn’t want any fries, and I said, you’re going to steal mine if you don’t get your own, and you said, no I won’t.”
“Are you reenacting a conversation that happened five minutes ago?”
“Yes, because you seem to have forgotten it.”

I feel played. I feel very played…but, I don’t care. I lost. My heart won and Kasie West stole my heart [again] after a couple years of waiting for her to reappear like her old self. I thought she and I were parting ways, but alas-She is here to stay.

And I don’t mind that one bit.

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BOOK REVIEW: Immortal Reign (Falling Kingdoms #6) by Morgan Rhodes

February 23, 2018 / Chelsea / 10 Comments

Immortal Reign (Falling Kingdoms #6)
by Morgan Rhodes
Purchase on: Amazon, iBooks
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:
As two lethal elemental gods set out to destroy Mytica, sworn enemies must become allies in the final fight to save the kingdoms.

Jonas continues to willfully defy his destiny, but the consequences of plotting his own course are drastic. As the fight for Mytica rages on, he must decide just how much more he's willing to sacrifice.

Lucia knows there's something special about her daughter and she'll do anything to protect her, even if that means facing Kyan alone.

Amara is called back home to Kraeshia. Grandma Cortas has her own plans for Mytica's future. She promises Amara power, revenge, and dominance if she agrees to be part of her scheme.

Magnus and Cleo's love will be put to the ultimate test. Dark magic is causing widespread destruction throughout the kingdom. Enemies across the sea are advancing. And unrest is stirring throughout the land. Is their love strong enough to withstand the outside forces tearing them apart?

ARC provided by Penguin Teen (Yes, I read this forever ago….it took me forever to get my review on here, SORRY!)

“So the rumors about you are true,” he said solemnly.
She swallowed past the lump that had suddenly formed in her throat. “Most of them, I’m afraid.”
“Good.” He continued to hold her gaze when she wished she could look away. “Then be a demon, my beautiful daughter. Be whatever you need to be to put an end to the Kindred once and for all.”

It goes without saying that I’m a rabid fangirl when it comes to the Falling Kingdoms series. It started out with a ‘meh, I don’t know if I should continue after this first book’, and now it has [not so] slowly eased its way onto my favorite series of all time list. I’m not kidding when I say that I haven’t added a book to that sucker since 2014 or so. Maybe longer! So, you KNOW it’s a big deal when I choose to add onto it.

“Why did you choose Nic?” Magnus asked, hoping to distract Kyan somehow. “Wasn’t there anyone better?”
Kyan laughed. “Nicolo has a soul of fire.”
“Because of his hair? More the color of carrots thrown into a horse’s trough than fire, if you ask me.”

I’ll admit that it wasn’t a love at first sight type deal, either-besides Magnus (Yeah. More on that morsel later), I just didn’t wholly identify with anyone and not enough happened to satiate my thirst for peril and all things action and violence. If you didn’t know, I can be quite the violent sort when it comes to my books. Ahem…moving on. But, that’s all beside the point, because what have I continually said since I started heavily reviewing on GR?

Gaius’s eyebrows drew together. He looked pained. “Magnus loved you. He fought for you. He defied me again and again in order to save you, even if it meant his own destruction. He was worthy of you in a way that I was never worthy of Elena. I see that now. And for that alone, you must survive this, Cleiona Bellos.” Then he scowled at her. “But know this. I would personally kill you in an instant if it meant that my son could live again.”

All. I. Need. Is. SOMETHING. To keep me hooked in a book or series. Whether it be something as simple as a tortured look from the male lead, a beautifully written story that keeps my interest if only because it has descriptions that continually draw me in, or so much heart-breaking action that I couldn’t dare to put it down for a moment. It needn’t be huge, but it must be something. In this case? It was all about that dark, hate-to-love, practically forbidden, enemies to lovers romance, baby.

…
Of a beautiful golden princess who rightfully despised him. Whose blue-green eyes held only hate for so long that he didn’t remember precisely when her gaze had softened.
This princess who didn’t push him away when he kissed her. Instead, she kissed him back with a passion that very nearly matched his own.
Perhaps I’m only fantasizing all of it, he thought.

Sign. Me. UP. I loved my darling Magnus from page one of book one, mmkayyyy? But, unfortunately, there were dual POVs (not a huge fan of this) and I can’t commit to a story that is dull without something to give me hope. And, also unfortunately, it didn’t look like there was going to be any HOPE for my boy…There was just a wee lil smidge of incestual thoughts goin’ on there-and I didn’t see how this was something I could endorse, no matter how much I adored my main man.

He’d also heard of burying a victim in the ground up to their neck, then covering them with tree syrup and allowing a nest of hungry beetles to consume them slowly.
That would be nice.
Or perhaps Magnus would remove Kurtis’s remaining hand. Saw it off slowly with a dull knife. Or a spoon.
Yes, a spoon.

But then…THEN. This beautiful unicorn of a girl (You know who you are, Bones (LOLZ)) said-’Oh no. No no no. You mustn’t give up. There is a glorious ship. And BOY does it sail. And its not at all like it is now.’ So, I persevered-I picked up book two. And, while it certainly wasn’t perfect…far from it…my eyes lit up and my grin went from ear to ear-because there shone a glimmer of hope, right before my moonstruck, rabid fangirly eyes. It wasn’t going to be half bad if this ship sailed.

He needed food. Drink.
Vengeance.
But first and most importantly, he needed to know that Cleo was safe.

Then something else happened…and another…then another! The action became breathtaking because I actually cared for more than just one person. The romances began to fly (and die. Then fly again….rinse and repeat). The stories became very interesting. Everything began weaving together so intricately on each page that I couldn’t stop to take a breath. I had a whole new series to devour with endless possibilities…and I had almost put it down forever. Thank God for the power of friendship (and trust bones from Brittney).

And now, here I am, receiving (and having received) the last two books (FINISHED HARDBACKS!) from the lovely publishers for reviewing, and each time it has made my year. This was just the most wonderful start to 2018 (along with my other favorites so far: Everless, The Cruel Prince, Love, Life and the List…). When I received this book I jumped around, I screamed, I cried…I [attempted] to devour it immediately. I literally bought a book light, people. A BOOK LIGHT-so I could get this sucker done. And I truly wasn’t disappointed. Not by a long shot.

Paelsians burned their dead.
Auranians worshipped the goddess of fire and air, so one would think they would fsuavor the Paelsian burial ritual. But rich Auranians favored coffins chiseled from marble, while those of lower status chose wooden boxes.
“Kurtis had me buried like an Auranian peasant,” Magnus muttered.
Surely, this had to be the former kingsliege’s final insult.

More than once I couldn’t breathe. More than once I had to put the book down, take a breath, release it, and just try to breathe because my heart was furiously pounding out of my chest, my stomach was in knots…and I just couldn’t even stand it. I might be a bit of a loser when it comes to this series, but I have no regrets-NONE. Frankly, it’s all because of one couple. Let’s be real. And let’s just get down to it:

“I think I scared him.”
She nodded. “You can be very scary.”
“Yes. And I can also be scared. And I am, right now.” Magnus took her hands in his, his gaze locking with hers. “I want to help you.”
Tears welled in her eyes. “I know.”
“What do we do, Cleo?” He hated the weakness that had crept into his voice. “How am I supposed to save you from this?”

Magnus. Magnus and Cleo. I can’t. I truly can’t even. And I suppose I shouldn’t be able to say anything after that ambiguous end to the previous book (OMG I LOVED IT OMG SO EPIC-but perhaps I’m alone in this because, as I’ve stated many a time, I am a masochistic book nerd), but….Morgan Rhodes has released quotes about what we know can’t be the end….so I guess I’m clear??

“Ashur,” Magnus said with an impatient sigh. I’m going to the palace now. Are you going to join me, or do you wish to call out names while sacrificing random forest creatures?”
“You don’t believe,” Ashur said.
“What I believe is irrelevant. What I need is to get to Cleo.”

But I’ll be good. So…yeah…ummm….THE REUNION. IS. EVERYTHING. HA! I LIED. Hypothetically, it might have been in a certain jelly situation. Hypothetically it may have taken FOREVER for the two to be in the same damn space and connect and….hypothetically…it might have made my heart stop for a moment (No. For real. Ask my friend, Jen-I literally text her and was like yeah…I need to put this down because the feels have taken over my ability to BREATHE). Ha. But I may be alone here-I think that’s just the possessed fangirl talking again. WHAT. It’s been a YEAR. I’ve waited a YEAR. I can be as happy as I please, thank you very much.

He knew she was angry with him for scaring Bruno, for acting disrespectful and ungrateful toward Ashur. For wanting to crush anything that stood in the way of finding the answers he needed to save the girl standing before him.
To hell with the rest of the world; Cleo was all he cared about.

HE didn’t let me down. HE was a perfect husband. HE would do anything for the girl he loves. HE….he would come back from the grave for her-and he shows it tirelessly here. His love is endless and boundless and I adore him. Their love is insurmountable and they’d burn the world down for each other-I truly love this couple and I am going to miss them so so dearly. But isn’t that the best? When a series is large and you STILL didn’t want it to end? That’s only happened here, for me. So, for that, Morgan Rhodes will always be a Rockstar in my eyes. AND-honorable mention: I didn’t care about any of the other POVs before book 5, but in book 5 and this one, they all won me over and I didn’t feel the need for that incessant skimming I did throughout the others-that’s just…it’s amazing.

Now-even though this book is absolute perfection to me, I must mention some things that I [I guesss] weren’t perfect. Okay. I guess there were some things that happened that came off as repetitive. IE they happened a couple too many times? And, even though I loved said thing happening a few times, others might roll their eyes. And I DO think the, ahem, ‘escaping?’View Spoiler ». That’s not really a spoiler, but I don’t want to hinder anyone’s thoughts on the matter before they go in (I HATE WHEN THAT HAPPENS TO ME AND I ALWAYS COMPLAIN AFTER). I loved that it happened, and I know it couldn’t have happened any other way, but I do wish it would have View Spoiler »been more dramatic « Hide Spoiler. Though…I suppose if I read them back to back, it wouldn’t have mattered because hey, boy went through some Hell, am I right? Perhaps here I was too harsh. And finally, I think I wanted an even BIGGER bang of an end-but, honestly, I still adored it.

I think I’m still being a pissy pink elephant, though, because I wanted one tiny (it wasn’t tiny) thing to happen that didn’t. BUT it would have ruined the possible HEA so I need to shh.

OKAY. Now I’m just rambling. So I’ll end it here. Mags, Cleo, Jonas (my favs the whole time)…Amara, Lucia, Felix, etc. I really did like the end of it all. I really hate long series because, as they progress, they truly do lose something-But that never happened here. In fact, I only loved each installment more and more-so that is something truly special in my eyes. And yes, this is more of a fangirl review and not all poetic and pretty with the words like I know I can do…but sometimes you gotta let that freak flag fly-and if you can’t do it for one of your favorite characters and favorite series of all time…when CAN you do it? If you have read every book and are just waiting on this installment….have fun. I know you will love it, or at least really like it. Not everyone can love all the POVs. If you haven’t read this series? Shame on you. Shame shame shame. If you are considering it? I’ll forgive you. Just this once….but you MUST read it-or I’ll rescind my forgiveness and take all my kindness away lol. Go forth…and enjoy. <3

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Oh guys. This book. You know when it’s the final book and nothing can compare to your wild expectations? Well…this is me at work:

But inside….Inside THIS is me and WAS me the whole entirety of this beautiful novel:

Because frankly, Magnus has become close to a number one bbf in the span of less than a year. Because this book made it so I literally felt like I couldn’t breathe, like the butterflies MIGHT just take over my stomach and come out through my mouth. Because this book, aside from maybe ONE teensy thing I wanted to happen (because, again, I am a masochistic butthole), was everything I could possibly have hoped for. Because this book…it was perfection.

But like with all wonderful series…I’m sad to see it end. But I couldn’t be prouder of this author and how she managed to end with integrity and with a series that never lost steam, but actually GAINED more fans as it progressed. That is SO rare and I am OBSESSED with it. In fact, this might be a top 3 or 4 on my list-and nothing has broken onto that list since, like 2013. So. Yeah.

RTC.

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Whooooo loves Penguin Teen? Chellllseeaaaa loves Penguin Teen. Is it truuuuuuue??? MMHHMMMMMMM.