Review: Stardust In Their Veins ~ Laura Sebstian

Image from Goodreads. Click on the image to learn more about this book.


Format I Used: E-book
Running Time: 16h:20m
My Rating: 4 stars
Publication Date: February 7, 2023

 

SPOILERS AHEAD

Mostly because I've decided to be more specific so I can read my own recap of a book instead of always having to re-read a book series or hunt around the interwebs for other spoilery recaps.

Read on with caution

Now Entering The Spoiler Zone

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I'M STILL UPSET THAT THEY KILLED OFF SOPHIIIIEEEEEEEE

Ugh, ANYWAYS.

I started reading this book in early December, and just BARELY finished it. Why? I was a little nervous about how it was going to end. I did manage to read big chunks of it during two different snomageddon's, which seemed apropos, considering last year when I listened to the first one, I did it while I spent a l o o o o o o n g time shoveling my driveway from a 30 thousand (not really, but close) snow fall.

This book was full of twists and political intrigue, and just when I (and our wonderful characters) thought they were going to outsmart Mommy Dearest, it turns out that N O P E, she's still 10 steps ahead and around the corner.

So let us go about the rest of this review in a similar fashion to the one I did for the first book. 

Daphne

I'm still not Daphne's biggest fan, but I dislike her less than I did in the first book. She was a complex character, and while I wish she would have pulled her head out of her butt and believed her sisters about their mother sooner, but she wasn't ENTIRELY to blame. Her mother was IS such a toxic person and spent so many years trying to twist her daughters to fit her plans, so of course it's going to take a while for them to untangle themselves from what they've always known and been told. She spends a lot of time putting all her doubts into a box and shoving them in the way back corner of a closet, so that she can do whatever she can to please her mother. She craves her mother's approval, so the fact that she was able to pull herself out of it was impressive.

Bairre

We learn so much more about him, but at the same time, it still doesn't feel like enough. He is such a strong and sturdy character. He and Daphne spent a lot of time being suspicious of each other, which doesn't really surprise me because of who his mother is and who her mother is. I'm trying to figure out just exactly how their whirlwind marriage at the end of the book is actually going to turn out, and whether everything will be okay for them. I did appreciate the fact that Bairre didn't blow up at Daphne when she finally sat down and told him everything that had been going on with her and why she was even there in the first place. I'm very interested to see how their relationship progresses.

Beatriz

The little revelation about Beatriz and how she's some kind of special Empyrea was something that I didn't see coming. It's kind of interesting that she can wish on a star and "kill" it only to have it come back. This is slowly killing her, and she still won't stop using it. She's going to turn the stars dark or something similarly sinister sounding as foretold by some prophecy, and as such Nigellus tried to kill her. Buttttttttt that backfired and she ended up killing him instead because she has unfinished business to attend to. I'm wondering if it's possible for her to bring Sophie back, or if it would be another life for a life kind of thing (Equivalent Exchange and all that) Oh. And she wished on a star to heal Violie's mother, and by doing so gained the backing of The Crimson Petal.

Pasquale

Is still one of my favorite characters. He deserves all the happiness in the whole wide world, and I hope he's able to get his happy ending. He's such a good supporter of Beatriz and is always going to be down to help her do what's right. I still absolutely adore their friendship and if something bad happens to him I WILL RAGE AND THROW THE BOOK AGAINST THE WALL.

Violie

I guess I'll insert her here since she'd the new Sophie. L I T E R A L L Y. She gets herself caught up in some trouble (trying to kill... Leopold's mother, because she's just as whack as Marguex is (they're like, in cahoots too), and was A BIG REASON WHY SOPHIE GOT KILLED AND LEO ALMOST GOT KILLED, AND THEN THE WHOLE THING WITH LEO'S LITTLE BROTHERS!... I can't actually if that was her fault or the rebels... ehhhh.. It's really interesting to me to see her character development and how much loyalty she still feels towards Sophie. I thought it was genius to use Violie and Sophie's similar looks to their advantage to ger her out of being killed for an attempted assassination. I'm wondering how that whole plot twist will play in the next book. I'm thinking that there will be a Violie/Leopold romance unless something dramatic happens, and I honestly don't know if I like that or not.

Leopold

Was the character in the last book who had the most character development, in my opinion. And he still is continuing to grow. He spent so long living with a blindfold on so to speak, and he's relearning a lot of things.

Nico

Does not actually get a lot of page time in this book, and I'm wondering how things are going to play out with him in the next book. I still don't have a real solid opinion of him to be honest, so we'll see. *shrugs*

Margaraux

Still a crazy beech, and I don't really know what her next move is going to be. When someone told her that "Sophie" is still alive, she "threw her head back and laughed" so I'm not sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing? Did she see this coming and that's why she chose Violie to do her bidding in the first place? She's using that similarity to her advantage somehow?

Overall, I enjoyed this book, even though it is a very slow paced read. I didn't enjoy it QUITE as much as book one, but that happens sometimes. So many twists and turns that I didn't quite see coming (not that I was trying to predict anything.) And I can't wait to see what happens in the next book which is forever away I'm sure.

Did It Make Me Cry? No.

*I read an early copy of this book via Netgalley*

Review: Castles In Their Bones ~ Laura Sebastian

  

 Image from Goodreads. Click on cover to read more about the book.

 

Format I Used: Audiobook
Pages: 528
Running Time: 14h:11m
My Rating: 5 stars worth of stardust
Publication Date: February 1, 2022

 

*Deeeeeep breath in*

It's okay. I'm fine. It's fine. EVERYTHING IS F I N E.

Ahem. With that being said. 

!!SPOILERS AHEAD READ ON WITH CAUTION!!

The Short And Sweet Of It:
It was a little slow going at first, but definitely picks up speed. I loved so many of the characters, but I also hated a bunch too. 10 out of 10 give this a read if you're looking for something with lots of betrayal, twists, and turns. A little bit of romance, friendship, and plenty of magical stardust makes for a book that is sure to keep you on the edge of your seat the whole way through. 

The Long Ranting One:
I was unsure of this book for a long while. I started listening to it when the Snowpocaplyse 2022 was under way and I was shoveling my driveway for what would be the first of many times... I don't do too well with multiple POVs especially if they're not from people with drastically different "voices" (yes, each sister has a different personality, but to me, it took a minute to differentiate.) I would have liked it better if there had been a narrator for each sister. So I did struggle with that.

And I struggled with thinking that it was just going to be deception deception deception, even though the kingdoms and princes that they were set to deceive didn't deserve any of what was going to happen. But there was actually a LOT of character growth in this story, and it delighted me. And once things started progressing at a slightly faster pace, it managed to suck me in and keep my attention.

There was SO many twists and turns and surprises that made me gasp for air. I'm trying to think of another book to compare it to, but the title has decided to make itself scarce.

The other thing I loved about this book was that there was no big blow up/misunderstanding between the girls and their princes (note how I didn't say love interest, because welllllllllllll) Daphne never actually TOLD Bairre who she was and what her real objective was, but maybe she didn't need to, because, you know, his mom and everything.

Daphne
I didn't much care for Daphne (maybe because as a middle child myself I expected her to fall into that same middle child category and care for her sisters and not just brush them off and scold them the way that she did... I didn't imagine her saying she was the middle did I? She seems more the oldest to me,) she had her change of heart far too late to be of any help (or maybe not? I don't know. Mommy Dearest seemed to be several steps ahead and around the corner at any given moment. Even when the girls thought they did something unexpected)

Bairre
I wanted to know more about Bairre. There wasn't too much time spent getting to know much about him, and then in the last little bit you find out he's been working with The Resistance? Please tell me more.

Beatriz
I liked getting to know more about Beatriz and watch her story arc progress. For some reason to me, she felt like the middle child to me. She listened to her sister when she was asked for help, and pretty much went on to help her without thinking too hard on it.

Pasquale
I loved his character, and how sweet and understanding he was. But also how resolved he was to do the right thing, even if that landed him in a lot of hot water. He listened to Beatriz when she told him about her sister and what they needed to do to try and stop the impending war. He listened to Beatriz reveal her truth and then DIDN'T blow up in her face about it. I think that Pasquale and Beatriz are honestly true soulmates in the most platonic way ever, and I adore their friendship.

“No matter what happens, Triz, I’ll do whatever I can to protect you.” Beatriz holds his gaze and smiles, a small, tight-lipped smile. “And I’ll protect you,” she tells him. “No matter what.”

She expects him to be angry, to feel betrayed, to hate her for it, but instead he looks at her with tired eyes. “We’re all our parents’ puppets, Beatriz,” he says. “You aren’t angry?” she asks him, blinking. He’s quiet for a moment. “Not at you,” he says finally. “I’d be a hypocrite, wouldn’t I? To berate you for not going against your mother, when I’ve never once gone against my father.”

Sophie
Oh my gosh. SOPHIE. She was my favorite. She was the most softhearted of the three and that was a good thing and a bad thing. I liked seeing her learn more about her strengths and how to trust her gut and learn that maybe Mommy Dearest doesn't have the best intentions.

Leopold
I was completely unsure of him for a long time. I felt rather MEH about him in general. But the more I learned about him. But the more I got to see that he wasn't a cold hearted person--just a very naive and clueless one--and that he actually cared and tried his hardest once he saw the error of his ways.

“I tried so hard to keep my heart closed to you. In the beginning, you even made it easy,” she says. “There were so many lies, Leo. I know that, and I am so sorry for them. But when it came down to it, I chose Temarin. I chose you. I love you. That’s the truth.”

Nico 

Hmmmm, this boy... I am going to withhold my opinion of him at least until the second book comes out.

 

Margeaux

While I appreciate a Girl Boss, I cannot stand how she uses her daughters like they are nothing but disposable tools...And who are not really hers? but wishes come to life? and the revelation that we're given at the very end. Woooo Boy. 

Okay, now that we're at the end, I can scream again, because HOW DARE I BE CAUSED SO MUCH EMOTIONAL DAMAGE BY THE ENDING OF THE BOOK...  But also, I've watched too much Supernatural to believe that a character is actually going to stay dead.

LALALALA I CAN'T HEAR YOU, I'M TOO BUSY MANIFESTING THIS CHARACTER BACK TO LIFE.

 

Did It Make Me Cry?  Surprisingly, no.

Review: Ash Princess by Laura Sebastian

Ash Princess
Laura Sebastian
My Rating: 3 Stars

Hardcover, 432 pages

Published April 24th 2018

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Summary From Goodreads:

 

Theodosia was six when her country was invaded and her mother, the Fire Queen, was murdered before her eyes. On that day, the Kaiser took Theodosia's family, her land, and her name. Theo was crowned Ash Princess--a title of shame to bear in her new life as a prisoner.

For ten years Theo has been a captive in her own palace. She's endured the relentless abuse and ridicule of the Kaiser and his court. She is powerless, surviving in her new world only by burying the girl she was deep inside.

Then, one night, the Kaiser forces her to do the unthinkable. With blood on her hands and all hope of reclaiming her throne lost, she realizes that surviving is no longer enough. But she does have a weapon: her mind is sharper than any sword. And power isn't always won on the battlefield.

For ten years, the Ash Princess has seen her land pillaged and her people enslaved. That all ends here.

 

 

My Review:

Woo buddy, what a way to kick off the new year. I have had this book in my shelf for a long time and finally got around to reading it.

It took me a little bit to get into it, but once I did, I could not put it down. I've been on a fantasy book kick, and this was everything I needed to read. The backstabbing. The secret rebellion. It was great, not without some plot holes, but I loved it nonetheless

I'm curious to see what is going to happen with Theo, and how she's going to handle the things that have been thrown at her. 

It had a few plot holes, but it obviously didn't deter me from finishing/enjoying it.