I forget who read these books first. Me, or the girl who sat nearby in my geometry class freshman year of high school. Sadie was a senior, and both of us sucked at math, but none of that matter as we both raved about this new fantastic book, Throne of Glass. We talked about how badass our favorite new YA heroine, Celena Sardothian was. We gave recommendations and set up goodreads accounts so that we could continue to give recommendations to one another long after she graduated. Everyday though one thing we always managed to sneak into conversation? We couldn't wait for the next book to come out.

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. 

I read and reread and each time after I got over the perpetual fear that I would never write a book of my own as grand, SJ Maas, little did she know, through the years of her Live Journal blog (that has since been edited to only show blogposts since 2012-ish) encouraged me forward into my writing. Encouraged me to write a world I could escape into much as she did when she first started writing herself. It is amazing what a single book can do, and Crown of Midnight was the first book I ever pre-ordered.

Now it has been about seven or so years and in my hands I now hold the final book in the Throne of Glass series. I have read everything that SJ Maas has written and published, perhaps even loved her other series of A Court of Thorns and Roses just as much as Throne of Glass, if not more. Yet holding Kingdom of Ash feels different. It feel like a grand journey that I started was finally coming to an end. And I was ready when I opened up to the first page.

And I also wasn't.

“Once upon a time, in a land long since burned to ash, there lived a young princess who loved her kingdom …” 

But once I picked up Kingdom of Ash there was no way to stop it or set the book down. Scene by scene with some of my favorite characters I knew so well, I had to know what happened next.

The characters per usual were wonderful. I may even have a new favorite character within these books, Fenrys, which I honestly did not see coming. We all apparently need a good hearted person to stand by us Fenrys I feel like. In the moments of darkness and sorrow, somehow he managed to bring me back to whatever book reality in the same way he connects Aelin to being true to herself in all ways past, present, and hopeful future.



Each character and story line played out toyed with my emotions until my stomach was weighed down by dread, frustration, happiness, sadness, and of course, simple amazement. They are flawed in all the confusing sorts of ways, yet even in the darkest moments that they face in this final book I still found myself rooting for them whether it be in their battles of war, love, or believing in a better world.

A better world which I couldn't help but think by the end we all need a little piece of these days, even if it is only captured between the covers of hardback.

“To whatever end,” he whispered.Silver lined her eyes. “To whatever end.”A reminder—and a vow, more sacred than the wedding oaths they’d sworn on that ship.To walk this path together, back from the darkness of the iron coffin. To face what waited in Terrasen, ancient promises to the gods be damned.”

We see it all in this book and all the questions I may have ever had were finally answered in Kingdom of Ash in a delightfully terrifying and magical way (along with a bit of sass as anyone could imagine would happen with Aelin around).

There simply is so much to say and so much not to say as I take it how far this story has come and how far I have come with them.

Oh, I love these books. My heart aches in a strange way to say the end. These books have been a journey I will not forget and will be sure to reread throughout the rest of my reading years to come to remind me where I have been and what inspired me to keep moving forward.

The Author

“Let’s make this a fight worthy of a song.” 

These characters are very few which feel like coming home to when I open the pages. The characters of the Night Court are a few of them.

"Feyre, Rhys, and their close-knit circle of friends are still busy rebuilding the Night Court and the vastly-changed world beyond. But Winter Solstice is finally near, and with it, a hard-earned reprieve.   

Yet even the festive atmosphere can't keep the shadows of the past from looming. As Feyre navigates her first Winter Solstice as High Lady, she finds that those dearest to her have more wounds than she anticipated--scars that will have far-reaching impact on the future of their Court."

The entire novella is bound and covered just like the others within the series, which I loved. Plus, it made it extra easy to find on the Target shelf when me and two others took a last minute trip to there and Dunkin' Donuts. Something different about this book however I realized right away was that it is told from multiple POVs.

Going in, I did expect this. Of course, I really thought that from the announcement of ACOFAS that it was going to be dual POVs between Feyre and Ryhsand. It would be our one last send off to how cute the couple has become now that all the drama has left them in the plot. A plot that with not only Rhysand and Feyre telling the story, but many more third point of views, we didn't really get to even though somehow a whole lot happens.

I understand that the plot was the emotional journey moving forward and Feyre being able to find herself as high lady in a sense, but this novella did read like I could have read it as a holiday blog post a la SJ Maas. I would have enjoyed it just as much if not more. Less pressure is put on a reader's shoulders after all when they are reading free pleasure stories.

"But it had been a long, brutal winter that had brought me so deep into the woods that day nearly two years ago. A long, brutal winter that had made me desperate enough to kill a wolf, that had eventually led me here—to this life, this … happiness."

So yes, I had issues with the novella, but also loved it the way I feel I will always love Sarah's novels. These books are full of heart and strength that I feel bleed into me when I read them.

The light hearted moments really make this book though and made it go by quickly. The message I also love is the necessity of art and love to heal. I need some of that artistic muse that Feyre begins to be re-inspired by as the Winter Solstice approached.

Though this book may not have been action packed and "necessary," it was definitely a welcomed continuation of stories I have held dear to my heart ever since I first heard the name Rhysand. My heart with him always manages to give a flutter!

”To the stars who listen, Feyre. To the dreams that are answered, Rhys."

There simply will never be enough of the Night Court to read. I am excited to see what the rest of the continuations of the ACOTAR stories will have in store.

This year, reading and I were like distant cousins at a family reunion. We said hi, had a few good things to say to each other and then sort of left it at that. I don't know why, but for me this reading year has been strange.

According to Goodreads I have only read approximately a little under 50 books not counting my many rereads this past year, visiting old favorites. Still, it is a low number for someone who took three books out at a time to return them within a day or two to the library in high school. It is jarring.

It does not mean that I do not have a few favorites of the year to share with you all however...

New to 2017

Looking back over my reads for the year, I knew this one was going to be on the list since the moment I finished reading it, and here it is. The Red by Tiffany Reisz was beautiful gorgeous artsy porn and I loved every minute of it. I have a review up as well if you need more convincing.

The Upside of Unrequited

I was not expecting this book in the least. While in a reading rut this past summer, I picked up this book that I got from the OwlCrate stand at Book Expo. Going in, I knew pretty much nothing only to be laughing alongside quirky and interesting characters finding first love. And you know what? I loved it. It was just the happy making sort of book I needed and I definitely think that a reread may be in order for this contemporary YA soon.

A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J. Maas

If you have not read A Court of Thorns and Roses, you definitely need to get on that. The third book in this trilogy? series? was amazing and I love all the characters so much that they are practically my much cooler fae family. Though this book was great, the second, A Court of Wings and Fury still holds my heart the most.

Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor

After reading Laini Taylor and her strange musings in Daughter of Smoke and Bone I knew that I was going to have to pick up this pretty thing of a series starter and go in to reading it just as confused as her other novels. I was not dissapointed by the Strange in the title. It was strange and a magical fantasy I didn't realize I needed in my life to take a break from reality. Laini, I am not sure how you do it, seriously I don't, but don't stop.

The Night Mark by Tiffany Resiz

Another Tiffany Reisz novel, you ask? Why of course! It deserves it. Time travel romance with great banter, historical lighthouse content, some sauciness thrown in, it the least erotica of all Tiffany's books, but still absolutely fantastic. Tiffany can do it all, folks!

New to Me 2017

My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante

I have been wanting to read this book for some time. Whenever I went to get it at the bookstore however, I was with someone who reminded me how ugly the cover was and did I really need that ugly covered book? I can answer the question now. Yes, yes I did. This is a coming of age epic about two friends in Neapolitan Italy who take very different paths in their lives. This is the first book of the four book series that spans through child, young adulthood, through when our main characters have children themselves. This book is simply life and hardship and I loved the so much and now plan to devour all of Elena Ferrante's work.

All The Ugly and Wonderful Things by Bryn Greenwood

This was my first book of the year! It always seems to happen that my first book of the year manages to make its way onto my favorites list. This year was no different. All the Ugly and Wonderful Things is what this story captures through a morally compelling and beautifully told story. I loved this one so much I even have a review to go along with it.


The Wrath and the Dawn by Renee Ahdieh

When I forget my love of reading, a need a really good, fun, and fast pace read to help me through. This was the book that did that for me in the spring this past year as I was finishing up my first year at college while undergoing the process of transfer papers. This was a magical young adult fantasy-esque novel loosely based on 1001 nights. Our main character is snarky and strong and I immediately needed the second book in this duology right after.

The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss

I bought this one a think a year prior and finally got to this massive fantasy. I will tell you what I was told about it. It is great. One of the best true fantasy novels I have read. If you like fantasy, read it.


A recent read and add in, The Secret History beguiled me much like everyone else who read it- and not just because the fictional school sounded strangely like the one I was hoping to apply to when I was searching for colleges two years ago. There was a mystery surrounding the words and characters that made you want to join into the story with Richard Pen who believes that his fatal flaw is longing for the picturesque at all costs.

Honorable Last Minute Mentions...

A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas

A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness

The Tea Rose by Jennifer Donnelly

The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath

Men at Work Series by Tiffany Reisz

Colleen Hoover

milk and honey by Rupi Kaur

The Hating Game by Sally Thorne