The One with Top Ten Tuesday #2

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme brought to you by The Broke and the Bookish.  Each week a new Top Ten list topic is posted and book bloggers fill in their own choices. 

This week's topic is:

TOP 10 BOOKS ON MY SUMMER TBR

So, as y'all know from my post last week, I've dedicated this summer to series. So, instead of posting about each individual book, if it's part of a series I'm reading, I'm just going to group them together. 

The Grisha Trilogy
by Leigh Bardugo 

This is one of my series re-reads for the summer. Why? In preparation for this last book, of course! Gah! This series! The beautiful world-building, the amazing characters, the Grisha! So complex and just all-around phenomenal. I've read the first one and part of the second book, and let me tell you, it's just as good the second time around! Maybe it's because I don't remember all the details (part of the reason for re-reading) but I was never bored. All the emotions I felt the first time I read them are still there. Proof of a good series. 

The Divergent Trilogy
by Veronica Roth

Okay, confession: I've only read Divergent. *hangs head in shame* With the movies coming out, I feel the need to finish this series. That includes rereading the first one because I literally don't remember a thing.....

The Legend Trilogy

by Marie Lu

Okay....so here's another one of the "hang head in shame" series on my list. I loved the first book. Unfortunately, I wasn't feeling the second. I think it may have just been because I was in a bit of a hiccup with reading, buttttttttt I'll admit I may be a bit nervous. That's actually the reason I've been putting it off. But I vow to finish it this summer. I must!

Throne of Glass series

by Sarah J. Maas

GUYSSSSSS!!!! THIS SERIES!!!!!! PHENOMENAL! BREATHTAKING! FULL OF BUTT-WHOOPING AWESOMENESS!!! I'm just re-reading this series because of it's absolute amazingnesss. Seriously, beyond amazing. So, SO good. 

Midnight Theif (Midnight Thief #1)
by Livia Blackburne
Release Date: July 8, 2014

THIEVES AND ASSASSINS!!!!
WHAT MORE COULD YOU POSSIBLY WANT?!?!?! This book is basically written for me!
Okay, so I've actually heard that this one may not be quite as good as I expect. However, I'm definitely giving this one a chance, just maybe knocking down my expectations a bit. 

The Children of the Red King
by Jenny Nimmo

So this is an oldie, but a goodie. The last books came out when I was older and I just never got around to them. They are pretty easy reads and entertaining at that so I've decided to re-read and finish the series. 

The Crimson Crown (Seven Realms #4)
by Cinda Williams Chima

So I actually hate finishing series. It's one reason why I'm dedicating this summer to them hoping that'll make me read them. You see, I have when a good series ends because that means it's over. It's done for. This is one of those series. I've had this book FOREVER and I've never read it because I don't want this series to end. But I want to. This series is so good, it's worth finishing. 

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

This is a new book coming out this summer that's been on my radar for a while now. I'm always game for a medieval like fantasy! It promises political intrigue and lots of action. Add in brave knights (I'm always game for a man in uniform) and magic and this is just calling my name. I've heard mostly good reviews so it's definitely high on my TBR. 


Okay, so I know that's not quite 10, but since half of this list consists of series, I'm going to be reading a lot more than that! So what books are y'all planning on reading this summer? 

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The Gray Wolf Throne (Seven Realms #3) by Cinda Williams Chima

The Gray Wolf Throne (Seven Realms #3)
by Cinda Williams Chima
Available Now
Pages: 528
Format: Hardcover
Source: Gift



★ ★ ★ ★ ★
4.5


*THIS BOOK IS PART OF A SERIES. IT WILL CONTAIN SPOILERS! YOU'VE BEEN WARNED!*


Goodreads Synopsis: 
Han Alister thought he had already lost everyone he loved. But when he finds his friend Rebecca Morley near death in the Spirit Mountains, Han knows that nothing matters more than saving her. The costs of his efforts are steep, but nothing can prepare him for what he soon discovers: the beautiful, mysterious girl he knew as Rebecca is none other than Raisaana’Marianna, heir to the Queendom of the Fells. Han is hurt and betrayed. He knows he has no future with a blueblood. And, as far as he’s concerned, the princess’s family killed his own mother and sister. But if Han is to fulfill his end of an old bargain, he must do everything in his power to see Raisa crowned queen.

Meanwhile, some people will stop at nothing to prevent Raisa from ascending. With each attempt on her life, she wonders how long it will be before her enemies succeed. Her heart tells her that the thief-turned-wizard Han Alister can be trusted. She wants to believe it—he’s saved her life more than once. But with danger coming at her from every direction, Raisa can only rely on her wits and her iron-hard will to survive—and even that might not be enough. 


My Review: 

It’s finally time for Raisa to return home.

Now, add in a few assassination attempts, hot guys trying to keep her safe, one crazy guy with family problems trying to marry/kill her, a bunch of other good looking suitors, and magic with a few deaths added in there, and you’ve got The Exiled Queen.

Sounds good, huh? Well that would be because it was! Oh, how I absolutely love this series!

  This series is never straightforward. There are always twists and turns and new mysteries popping up everywhere! You think you figured something out then BAM! Something new happens that totally twists your mind! It’s great! Kudos to Mrs. Chima! Not only is she amazing at making all this twists, she is great at creating a new and imaginative world. Between the map and the authors great descriptions, I feel as if the Seven Realms is real! It’s called talent, something which Chima has quite a bit of!

    All of the characters grow so much in this series! Raisa is strong, both physically and mentally. She has to learn to navigate her way through politics while still sticking to her beliefs. Something easier said than done. While her feelings for Han grow, so does her heartache, for she knows that they can never be together (or can they? ;) )

  Amon is as incredibly sweet and loyal as ever. While he still loves Raisa, the love has turned more into a loving friendship rather than true love. He is just incredibly honorable and amazing and I really hope that he gets a happy ending. He definitely deserves it.

   However, move over Amon because here comes Han! In the first book, I was really rooting for Amon but that was before we really got to know Han. *swoon. I can’t even exactly pinpoint why I like him so much. His swagger? His loyalty? His bad boy but actually a good guy attitude? Simply the fact that he’s described as incredibly good lookin? Whatever it is, I absolutely love him! There’s just so much love and emotion in him! I absolutely love him!

  So, between the intricate plot, the beautiful world building, and the amazing characters, why did I give it 4.5 instead of 5 stars? There was just a bit of the plot that bugged me although I’m not quite sure why. The first two books focused a lot on the Bayar’s takeover of the Queendom and I kind of expected to learn at least a bit more about it (I forgot there was another book so this may be the reason. I was expecting it to end). However, within this plot, a new plot was added. But it wasn’t a small one like the different stories of Han and Raisa coming together. This is a completely new turn that focuses on a war coming. So, now in this last book, we’ll have two major plots going on, the war and the Bayar’s. While this will be amazing and I really look forward to it, for some odd reason it bugged me. As I wrote down earlier, I forgot that there was another book so I was expecting to have some closure, but instead I got more questions. While I enjoyed that, I at least wanted one answer. But instead of getting any answers, I just got more questions. And for some reason, in the back of my mind, that bugged me. However, please please please don’t let it turn you off. This series is amazing! I will beg you to read it. That’s how great it is!

   Mrs. Chima does not disappoint. This series is absolutely terrific. I’m constantly looking forward to diving into this world over and over again. Between the constant twists and turns,  action, political intrigue, and love between these characters, this series is a must read.

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