Talk Nerdy Book Blog

TagHigh Fantasy

The Queen of Blood (The Queens of Renthia, #1) by Sarah Beth Durst

By Sarah
In 3-stars, Book Review
September 28, 2017
T

Series: The Queens of Renthia

Release Date: September 20th, 2016

<strong>Synopsis:</strong>
An idealistic young student and a banished warrior become allies in a battle to save their realm in this first book of a mesmerizing epic fantasy series, filled with political intrigue, violent magic, malevolent spirits, and thrilling adventure

Everything has a spirit: the willow tree with leaves that kiss the pond, the stream that feeds the river, the wind that exhales fresh snow . . .

But the spirits that reside within this land want to rid it of all humans. One woman stands between these malevolent spirits and the end of humankind: the queen. She alone has the magical power to prevent the spirits from destroying every man, woman, and child. But queens are still just human, and no matter how strong or good, the threat of danger always looms.

With the position so precarious, young women are chosen to train as heirs. Daleina, a seemingly quiet academy student, is under no illusions as to her claim to the throne, but simply wants to right the wrongs that have befallen the land. Ven, a disgraced champion, has spent his exile secretly fighting against the growing number of spirit attacks.

Joining forces, these daring partners embark on a treacherous quest to find the source of the spirits’ restlessness—a journey that will test their courage and trust, and force them to stand against both enemies and friends to save their land . . . before it’s bathed in blood.

<strong>Ending</strong>

HFN
<strong>Representation</strong>
• Addresses ageism
• BIPOC side characters
• Matriarchal community
<strong>Possible Triggers</strong>
• Violence
• Murder
<strong>Mature Themes</strong>
• Allusions to sex (no descriptive sex scenes)
• See Ending for HEA status.
• See Possible Triggers for Abuse and OTT sad parts.

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

(more…)
Read onAdd comment

A Court of Wings and Ruin (A Court of Thorns and Roses, #3) by Sarah J. Maas

By Sarah
In 3-stars, Book Review
August 17, 2017
A

Series: A Court of Thorns and Roses

Release Date: May 2nd, 2017

<strong>Synopsis:</strong>
A nightmare, I’d told Tamlin. I was the nightmare.

Feyre has returned to the Spring Court, determined to gather information on Tamlin’s maneuverings and the invading king threatening to bring Prythian to its knees. But to do so she must play a deadly game of deceit—and one slip may spell doom not only for Feyre, but for her world as well.

As war bears down upon them all, Feyre must decide who to trust amongst the dazzling and lethal High Lords—and hunt for allies in unexpected places.

<strong>Ending</strong>

HFN
<strong>Representation</strong>
• BIPOC side characters characters
• Lesbian and bisexual supporting characters
<strong>Possible Triggers</strong>
• Violence (Blood and gore)
• Death
• PTSD
• Emotional abuse
• Allusions to rape (off-page, descriptions)
<strong>Safety Rating:</strong> Safe
• No cheating
• Does have OM drama
– Heroine pretends to be in love with her ex-fiancé for strategic purposes in the war.
– There is no physical intimacy between them-the Heroine is disgusted by him.
• No pushing away
• Does have a separation between the Hero and Heroine
• See Ending for HEA status.
• See Possible Triggers for Abuse and OTT sad parts.

Rating: 3.75/5 stars

Note: This is a review of the third book in the series; therefore, there will be spoilers from the first and second book below.

(more…)
Read on1 comment

A Court of Mist and Fury (A Court of Thorns and Roses, #2) by Sarah J. Maas

By Sarah
In 3-stars, Book Review
August 10, 2017
A

Series: A Court of Thorns and Roses

Release Date: May 3rd, 2016

<strong>Synopsis:</strong>
Feyre survived Amarantha’s clutches to return to the Spring Court—but at a steep cost. Though she now has the powers of the High Fae, her heart remains human, and it can’t forget the terrible deeds she performed to save Tamlin’s people.

Nor has Feyre forgotten her bargain with Rhysand, High Lord of the feared Night Court. As Feyre navigates its dark web of politics, passion, and dazzling power, a greater evil looms—and she might be key to stopping it. But only if she can harness her harrowing gifts, heal her fractured soul, and decide how she wishes to shape her future—and the future of a world cleaved in two.

With more than a million copies sold of her beloved Throne of Glass series, Sarah J. Maas’s masterful storytelling brings this second book in her seductive and action-packed series to new heights.

<strong>Ending</strong>

 Cliffhanger
<strong>Representation</strong>
• BIPOC sidecharacters
• LGBTQIA+ side characters
<strong>Possible Triggers</strong>
• Severe PTSD
• Gaslighting
• Emotional and physical abuse
• Violence
• Death
• Torture (off-page, descriptions and flashbacks)
• Rape (off-page, descriptions)
• Allusions to gang rape (off-page, nothing graphic)
<strong>Safety Rating:</strong> Safe
• No cheating
• Does have OW drama
– The Heroine gets jealous when the Hero flirts with an OW. She also thinks he spent the night with her, but it gets cleared up nothing happened. The Hero and Heroine were not together at that point.
• Does have descriptive sex scene with OM
– There is only one scene: Heroine sleeps with her fiancé early on in the book before they break up.
• Does have the Hero and Heroine pushing away
• Does have a separation between the Hero and Heroine
• See Ending for HEA status.
• See Possible Triggers for Abuse and OTT sad parts.

Rating: 3.75/5 stars

Note: This is a review of the second book in the series; therefore, there will be spoilers from the first book below. Click Here to read my review of the first book in the series.

(more…)
Read on1 comment

A Court of Thorns and Roses (A Court of Thorns and Roses, #1) by Sarah J. Maas

By Sarah
In 3-stars, Book Review
August 3, 2017
A

Series: A Court of Thorns and Roses

Release Date: May 5th, 2015

<strong>Synopsis:</strong>

When nineteen-year-old huntress Feyre kills a wolf in the woods, a terrifying creature arrives to demand retribution. Dragged to a treacherous magical land she knows about only from legends, Feyre discovers that her captor is not truly a beast, but one of the lethal, immortal faeries who once ruled her world.

At least, he’s not a beast all the time.

As she adapts to her new home, her feelings for the faerie, Tamlin, transform from icy hostility into a fiery passion that burns through every lie she’s been told about the beautiful, dangerous world of the Fae. But something is not right in the faerie lands. An ancient, wicked shadow is growing, and Feyre must find a way to stop it, or doom Tamlin—and his world—forever.

From bestselling author Sarah J. Maas comes a seductive, breathtaking book that blends romance, adventure, and faerie lore into an unforgettable read.

<strong>Ending</strong>

HFN
<strong>Representation</strong>
No strong representations of the following:
• BIPOC characters
• LGBTQIA+ characters
• characters with a disability
And doesn’t address fatphobia
<strong>Possible Triggers</strong>
• Torture
• Death
• Murder
• Allusions to rape
• Severe PTSD
<strong>Safety Rating:</strong> Safe with Exceptions
• No cheating
• Does have OW/OM drama
– The Hero does sleep with an OW as part of a Spring ritual… the Hero and Heroine are not together at this point. And, the Heroine never meets the OW.
– The villainess of the story wants the Hero (which is not reciprocated by the Hero). The villainess is a sexual predator.
– The Heroine is kissed by an OM, after the Heroine and Hero are together, for her “protection.” The Hero sees the OM kiss the Heroine.
• No descriptive sex scene with OW/OM
• Does have the Hero and Heroine pushing away
• Does have a separation between the Hero and Heroine
• See Ending for HEA status.
• See Possible Triggers for Abuse and OTT sad parts.

Rating: 3.75/5 stars

(more…)
Read on2 comments

The Queen of The Tearling (The Queen of the Tearling, #1) by Erika Johansen

By Sarah
In 5-stars, Book Review
September 24, 2014
T

Series: The Queen of the Tearling

Release Date: October 31st, 2013

<strong>Synopsis:</strong>
Kelsea Gylnn is the sole heir to the throne of Tearling but has been raised in secret by foster parents after her mother – Queen Elyssa, as vain as she was stupid – was murdered for ruining her kingdom. For 18 years, the Teraling has been ruled by Kelsea’s uncle in the role of Regent however he is but the debauched puppet of the Red Queen, the sorceress-tyrant of the neighbouring realm of Mortmesme. On Kelsea’s 19th birthday, the tattered remnants of her mother’s guard – each pledged to defend the queen to the death – arrive to bring this most un-regal young woman out of hiding …

And so beings her journey back to her kingdom’s heart, to claim the throne, earn the loyalty of her people, overturn her mother’s legacy and redeem the Tearling from the forces of corruption and dark magic that are threatening to destroy it. But Kelsea’s story is not just about her learning the true nature of her inheritance – it’s about a heroine who must learn to acknowledge and live with the realities of coming of age in all its insecurities and attractions, alongside the ethical dilemmas of ruling justly and fairly while simply trying to stay alive …

The Queen of the Tearling introduces readers to a world as fully imagined and terrifying as that of The Hunger Games, with characters as vivid and intriguing as those of The Game of Thrones, and a wholly original heroine. Combining thrilling action and twisting plot turns, it is a magnificent debut from the talented Erika Johansen.

<strong>Ending</strong>

 Cliffhanger
<strong>Representation</strong>
No strong representations of the following:
• BIPOC characters
• LGBTQIA+ characters
• characters with a disability
And doesn’t address fatphobia
<strong>Possible Triggers</strong>
• Slavery
• Torture (including that of a child)
• Murder
• Assassination
• Death
• Rape
<strong>Mature Themes</strong>
• Allusions to sex
• Discussion of drugs
• Allusion to abortion
• See Ending for HEA status.
• See Possible Triggers for Abuse and OTT sad parts.

Rating: 5/5 stars

(more…)
Read on1 comment

Defy (Defy, #1) by Sara B. Larson

By Sarah
In 4-stars, Book Review
June 23, 2014
D

Series: Defy

Release Date: January 7th, 2014

<strong>Synopsis:</strong>
A lush and gorgeously written debut, packed with action, intrigue and a thrilling love triangle.

Alexa Hollen is a fighter. Forced to disguise herself as a boy and serve in the king’s army, Alex uses her quick wit and fierce sword-fighting skills to earn a spot on the elite prince’s guard. But when a powerful sorcerer sneaks into the palace in the dead of night, even Alex, who is virtually unbeatable, can’t prevent him from abducting her, her fellow guard and friend Rylan, and Prince Damian, taking them through the treacherous wilds of the jungle and deep into enemy territory.

The longer Alex is held captive with both Rylan and the prince, the more she realizes that she is not the only one who has been keeping dangerous secrets. And suddenly, after her own secret is revealed, Alex finds herself confronted with two men vying for her heart: the safe and steady Rylan, who has always cared for her, and the dark, intriguing Damian. With hidden foes lurking around every corner, is Alex strong enough to save herself and the kingdom she’s sworn to protect?

<strong>Ending</strong>

 Cliffhanger
<strong>Representation</strong>
• POC main and side characters
<strong>Possible Triggers</strong>
• Allusion to rape
• Death of family
• Grief
• PTSD
• Violence (Blood, gore and use of fire)
<strong>Safety Rating:</strong> Safe
• No cheating
• No OW
• Does have OM
– The Heroine’s best friend is in love with her
• Does have the Hero and Heroine pushing away
• Does not have a separation between the Hero and Heroine
• See Ending for HEA status.
• See Possible Triggers for Abuse and OTT sad parts.

Rating: 4.75/5 stars

(more…)
Read on1 comment

Dorothy Must Die (Dorothy Must Die, #1) by Danielle Paige

By Sarah
In 4-stars, Book Review
May 5, 2014
D

Series: Dorothy Must Die

Release Date: April 1st, 2014 

<strong>Synopsis:</strong>
I didn’t ask for any of this. I didn’t ask to be some kind of hero.

But when your whole life gets swept up by a tornado – taking you with it – you have no choice but to go along, you know?

Sure, I’ve read the books. I’ve seen the movies. I know the song about the rainbow and the happy little blue birds. But I never expected Oz to look like this. To be a place where Good Witches can’t be trusted, Wicked Witches may just be the good guys, and winged monkeys can be executed for acts of rebellion. There’s still the yellow brick road, though – but even that’s crumbling.

What happened? Dorothy.

They said she found a way to come back to Oz. They say she seized power and the power went to her head. And now no one is safe.

My name is Amy Gumm – and I’m the other girl from Kansas. 

I’ve been recruited by the Revolutionary Order of the Wicked. 

I’ve been trained to fight. 

And I have a mission:
Remove the Tin Woodman’s heart.
Steal the Scarecrow’s brain.
Take the Lion’s courage.

Then and only then – Dorothy must die!

<strong>Ending</strong>

 Cliffhanger
<strong>Representation</strong>
No strong representations of the following:
• BIPOC characters
• LGBTQIA+ characters
• characters with a disability
And doesn’t address fatphobia
<strong>Possible Triggers</strong>
• Drug addiction
• Violence (Blood and gore)
• Murder
• Slavery
<strong>Mature Themes</strong>
• Some kissing
• Mild language
• Underage drinking
• See Ending for HEA status.
• See Possible Triggers for Abuse and OTT sad parts.

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

(more…)
Read onAdd comment
Talk Nerdy Book Blog

Follow Me on Wordpress

Follow Talk Nerdy To Me on WordPress.com

Currently Reading

You Should See Me in a Crown
The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing
I Hope I Join the Band: Narrative, Affiliation, and Antiraciset Rhetoric


Sarah Anne's favorite books »

Archives

Upcoming Releases

Parade
The Art of Catching Feelings
A Novel Love Story


Sarah Anne's favorite books »