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hfjarmer's Reviews (394)
Like any reasonable person, I was skeptical of giving a book I've seen on BookTok so much a chance. This definitely did not disappoint. I'm in the deep dark depths of a book hangover and I just finished this last night.
Fourth Wing had everything I love in a fantasy romance. There was romantic tension, and underestimated FMC, a love triangle, and just enough world building where I knew what was going on without feeling bogged down by it. Yarros allowed her characters to do much of the heavy lifting as far as world building goes. By giving us information about the world through Violet, who had trained as a scribe her whole life was genius and brought us closer to her. I loved the structure of the novel and never felt that it was going to quickly or too slowly, the pacing was perfect. I also enjoyed reading about a fantasy world that is not consumed by a complex magic system, and felt the dragon trope to be a refreshing change, personally.
My only pick point was at the end of the day this book shares a lot of the same tropes we see in almost every other fantasy romance novel/series.
I'm eagerly awaiting the release of the second book!
Fourth Wing had everything I love in a fantasy romance. There was romantic tension, and underestimated FMC, a love triangle, and just enough world building where I knew what was going on without feeling bogged down by it. Yarros allowed her characters to do much of the heavy lifting as far as world building goes. By giving us information about the world through Violet, who had trained as a scribe her whole life was genius and brought us closer to her. I loved the structure of the novel and never felt that it was going to quickly or too slowly, the pacing was perfect. I also enjoyed reading about a fantasy world that is not consumed by a complex magic system, and felt the dragon trope to be a refreshing change, personally.
My only pick point was at the end of the day this book shares a lot of the same tropes we see in almost every other fantasy romance novel/series.
I'm eagerly awaiting the release of the second book!
I would like to personally apologize to my dear friend Kate for my rating of this book. Before anyone comes for me, I would like to add that I am planning on continuing the series, if only for its importance to the SJM universe and in anticipation of all her books colliding.
I am really glad I read ACOTAR and CC prior to reading TOG, as I think if this was the first series I read by SJM I would've given up altogether. I know that my feeling about this book may change as I continue reading the series, and am prepared for that, however that will not change the fact that this book on its own ... is just not good.
Celaena irks me. I love an unlikeable main character, and oftentimes think they make for the best characters, this was not the case in Assassin's Blade and it is not the case for Throne of Glass. Celaena is only 18, which means she surely has time to redeem herself, but I find myself frustrated with her for all the same reasons I was in Assassin's Blade. For someone who is supposed to be the best assassin in Erilea, she sure is unaware of her surroundings. I mean how many times was she startled when someone walked into a room? Some have argued she felt safe with Dorian and was able to let her guard down, but there was a creature murdering candidates and an active competition to weed people out ... let's use our heads here. I also get she is a pretty 18 year old, and is worried about boys and prettiness and all that, fine. But even with Feyre and Bryce we see much more strength of character early on in the series than we do here.
One of my pet peeve's about SJM's writing is her need to beat the reader over the head with the same line/information over and over and over. She really falls into the telling not showing trap here. Overall, the whole thing just felt very disjointed, and I think it is obvious that TOG was SJM's first book. I'm a big SJM fan (you're probably thinking: "Doesn't seem like it..."), but this just did not work for me. I am hoping it pays off to push through, as so many people have said.
I am really glad I read ACOTAR and CC prior to reading TOG, as I think if this was the first series I read by SJM I would've given up altogether. I know that my feeling about this book may change as I continue reading the series, and am prepared for that, however that will not change the fact that this book on its own ... is just not good.
Celaena irks me. I love an unlikeable main character, and oftentimes think they make for the best characters, this was not the case in Assassin's Blade and it is not the case for Throne of Glass. Celaena is only 18, which means she surely has time to redeem herself, but I find myself frustrated with her for all the same reasons I was in Assassin's Blade. For someone who is supposed to be the best assassin in Erilea, she sure is unaware of her surroundings. I mean how many times was she startled when someone walked into a room? Some have argued she felt safe with Dorian and was able to let her guard down, but there was a creature murdering candidates and an active competition to weed people out ... let's use our heads here. I also get she is a pretty 18 year old, and is worried about boys and prettiness and all that, fine. But even with Feyre and Bryce we see much more strength of character early on in the series than we do here.
One of my pet peeve's about SJM's writing is her need to beat the reader over the head with the same line/information over and over and over. She really falls into the telling not showing trap here. Overall, the whole thing just felt very disjointed, and I think it is obvious that TOG was SJM's first book. I'm a big SJM fan (you're probably thinking: "Doesn't seem like it..."), but this just did not work for me. I am hoping it pays off to push through, as so many people have said.
Okay. Now THIS is the SJM I've come to know and love. If I had read this book as an actual young adult, I think I would've died.
It's as if SJM listened to all my criticism about her first book and fixed it specifically for me. I'm honored.
Although this book only takes place a few months after the end of the first, we see a lot of character growth/maturity on Celaena's part in Crown of Midnight (and thank god for that). She is the cunning, beautiful, strong assassin I expected her to be in Throne of Glass, and then some. Celaena is all raw edges and bloody knuckles here, an absolute badass.
I loved that the plot was complex, yet I as the reader was still able to pick up on some of the Easter eggs SJM was leaving throughout the novel. It made me feel like a genius when I put things together and SJM allows the reader to put together just enough without spoiling the plot or making it too obvious. This is a technique I think SJM employs in her other series as well, specifically in CC, and I'm a big fan as someone who isn't always the best at picking up on the minutia of a plot like some of these other fantasy fans.
Not a single one of these characters can be trusted, they are all hiding so many things!!
And Chaol and Dorian.... I am so intrigued by Dorian's character, and can't wait to keep reading.
It's as if SJM listened to all my criticism about her first book and fixed it specifically for me. I'm honored.
Although this book only takes place a few months after the end of the first, we see a lot of character growth/maturity on Celaena's part in Crown of Midnight (and thank god for that). She is the cunning, beautiful, strong assassin I expected her to be in Throne of Glass, and then some. Celaena is all raw edges and bloody knuckles here, an absolute badass.
I loved that the plot was complex, yet I as the reader was still able to pick up on some of the Easter eggs SJM was leaving throughout the novel. It made me feel like a genius when I put things together and SJM allows the reader to put together just enough without spoiling the plot or making it too obvious. This is a technique I think SJM employs in her other series as well, specifically in CC, and I'm a big fan as someone who isn't always the best at picking up on the minutia of a plot like some of these other fantasy fans.
Not a single one of these characters can be trusted, they are all hiding so many things!!
And Chaol and Dorian....
Spoiler
I desperately want things to work out with Chaol, and am wondering what Celaena meant by it will always be him, but I have a gut feeling this is not going to work out the way I want it to.
This series is an emotional rollercoaster for me, ratings are down up down, all over the place.
Heir of Fire is certainly a book with the primary intention of setting up future books and I think it completely accomplished that goal. We get just enough closure and just enough information to keep us guessing and wanting to read the next book, but (imo) not enough action to necessarily warrant anything more than 3 stars.
I grow to love Celaena/Aelin more with each book. Watching her evolution from scared assassin running from her past and family responsibilities to has been so exciting. You can just feel the self confidence build more and more with each page. She has always been a warrior, but now she is a true .
SJM introduces many new characters in this book. I really loved the concept of moving from one character's POV to the next, but in some ways I think her attempt to create a more complicated story line just led to a loss in momentum. There were quite a few moments where things were building up, and then suddenly we jump cut to a different story line, which mucked up the pacing, for me. Additionally, because she introduced so many new characters, I was a bit less emotionally connected to the story, since I was only getting my Celaena/Dorian/Chaol interaction every so often. I love love love Rowan (who doesn't?) and I am intrigued by Manon's story line, though I wish we got more information about them in this book. It was a parallel story line that will clearly lead into something for Queen of Shadows, but it wasn't necessarily interesting to me in and of itself. I'm excited to see more of the witches.
A lot of people say this is their favorite of the series, but I am personally not convinced this is the best it is going to get and am eager to keep reading.
Heir of Fire is certainly a book with the primary intention of setting up future books and I think it completely accomplished that goal. We get just enough closure and just enough information to keep us guessing and wanting to read the next book, but (imo) not enough action to necessarily warrant anything more than 3 stars.
I grow to love Celaena/Aelin more with each book. Watching her evolution from scared assassin running from her past and family responsibilities to
Spoiler
Queen Aelin, threatening Maeve and ready to reclaim her kingdomSpoiler
warrior QueenSJM introduces many new characters in this book. I really loved the concept of moving from one character's POV to the next, but in some ways I think her attempt to create a more complicated story line just led to a loss in momentum. There were quite a few moments where things were building up, and then suddenly we jump cut to a different story line, which mucked up the pacing, for me. Additionally, because she introduced so many new characters, I was a bit less emotionally connected to the story, since I was only getting my Celaena/Dorian/Chaol interaction every so often. I love love love Rowan (who doesn't?) and I am intrigued by Manon's story line, though I wish we got more information about them in this book. It was a parallel story line that will clearly lead into something for Queen of Shadows, but it wasn't necessarily interesting to me in and of itself. I'm excited to see more of the witches.
A lot of people say this is their favorite of the series, but I am personally not convinced this is the best it is going to get and am eager to keep reading.
Wow. This is definitely the best book in the series so far. This is not a review, but rather rambles about what I liked and what I want to see happen, because I do not have an analytical enough mind when it comes to fantasy series to write anything else.
THIS is the Aelin I've been waiting for. The cunning, deception, and absolute willpower of Aelin really comes to a head in this book. I loved watching her planning unfold throughout the book (and making Rowan and Aedion mad in the process). She is the epitome of the strong and clever FMC, the Queen of Terrasen is truly born in this book.
I cannot wait to see.
Anyways, I'm glad to see this series is getting better and better with each book. Queen of Shadows definitely seems to be one of the earliest examples of the SJM writing I've come to know and love.
THIS is the Aelin I've been waiting for. The cunning, deception, and absolute willpower of Aelin really comes to a head in this book. I loved watching her planning unfold throughout the book (and making Rowan and Aedion mad in the process). She is the epitome of the strong and clever FMC, the Queen of Terrasen is truly born in this book.
I cannot wait to see
Spoiler
Dorian as king. I love that he remembers Manon and I know something happens with them just based on minor spoilers I've seen, I know that is going to be SO good. I continue to be skeptical of Chaol. I know he has done a lot to prove his loyalty to Dorian and save the people of Rifthold, but I still do not trust him 100% and am worried he is going to try and align Dorian against Aelin somehow. I really hope that is not the case. I am rooting for Lysandra and Aedion to get together in some capacity and the Rowan/Aelin tension HAS to break at some point, talk about a slow burnAnyways, I'm glad to see this series is getting better and better with each book. Queen of Shadows definitely seems to be one of the earliest examples of the SJM writing I've come to know and love.