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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Shadow and Bone (The Grisha Trilogy #1) by Leigh Bardugo

Shadow and Bone (The Grisha Trilogy #1)
by Leigh Bardugo
Pages: 358
Source: Bought from B&N
Format: Hardback


Rating: Absolutely Amazing! (just look at all the gifs!)


Goodreads Synopsis:


Surrounded by enemies, the once-great nation of Ravka has been torn in two by the Shadow Fold, a swath of near impenetrable darkness crawling with monsters who feast on human flesh. Now its fate may rest on the shoulders of one lonely refugee.

Alina Starkov has never been good at anything. But when her regiment is attacked on the Fold and her best friend is brutally injured, Alina reveals a dormant power that saves his life—a power that could be the key to setting her war-ravaged country free. Wrenched from everything she knows, Alina is whisked away to the royal court to be trained as a member of the Grisha, the magical elite led by the mysterious Darkling.

Yet nothing in this lavish world is what it seems. With darkness looming and an entire kingdom depending on her untamed power, Alina will have to confront the secrets of the Grisha…and the secrets of her heart


My review:


This, this, is high fantasy. Words cannot describe my love for this book!! I feel like how the cookie monster would if he just found out he won a GIGANTIC COOKIE!

Yes, my eyes were probably cross-eyed with giddiness after finishing this book XD

  Shadow and Bone is high fantasy at its best. The world is beautiful and breathtaking. The characters are fantastically written and engaging and you can't help but love them. The plot is unique and intriguing and simply fantastic. 

Alina: 


 *hug* You, are a what strong character should be. Alina's growth throughout this book is just phenomenal! She's not a strong character instantly. In fact, she's very lonely and quiet and an outcast. She's very reserved, but attentive. She's never been the prettiest girl or the toughest girl or the funniest girl. She was an orphan and never really felt loved. The only friend she had was Mal *refrains from fainting*. But you know what? She's brave and selfless and I couldn't help but respect her for that. In order to save the life of a friend, she is willing to risk her own, in the process learning about a dormant power. And here's where I really come to love her. She's not like other YA heroines who start to think they are "all that" because they have special powers, nor does she deny them vehemently from start to finish. Nope. She accepts it and wants to be the best she can be. 

Yes, I wanted to give her lots of hugs throughout the book. Don't judge. She knew she wasn't going to be perfect the first try and she knew she had to work hard at it, but at least she did. Did she sometimes get frustrated? Sure did. Who wouldn't? But even then she kept trying and working hard. Throughout this book she has to learn to accept who she is. She has to overcome some barriers in her past to do it but she does and I rooted for her because of it.

Darkling:

   Yes, there is a love triangle. Sort of. Alina knows which one she wants but OMG! I couldn't not talk about the Darkling. Okay, he's not really the guy you want to end up with, but more along the bad boy you know you shouldn't want but goodness is he delicious ; )

 He's mister tall, dark and handsome. Mysterious, powerful, dark, secretive, dangerous, enigmatic and most of all alluring. Oh, he makes me feel special *faints* 

You thinks I'm special *giggles* XD

You just can't help but be drawn to him. Sure he's kind of psycho and most definitely evil, but goodness, you can't help but be addicted to his mysterious and dangerous personality. And the scene with him and Alina?! *faints*

But I'm most intrigued with his backstory (and I sure as heck didn't see that coming). Yes, I know he probably is most likely evil in every sense of the word, but I can't wait to see what made him like that. It's part of his allure. What can I say, I like swooning over the bad boy. Sue me. 

Mal:

  So Mal isn't in this book very much, but the parts that he is in (especially in the end) are just swoonworthy. There is this one quote that I know has been used in other reviews but it is just so swoonworthy I have to include it! It ecompasses the awesomeness that is Mal:


"I missed you every hour. And you know what the worst part was? It caught me completely by surprise. I'd catch myself just walking around to find you, not for any reason , just out of habit, because I'd seen something that I wanted to tell you about or because I wanted to hear your voice. And then I'd realize that you weren't there anymore, and every time, every single time, it was like having the wind knocked out of me. I've risked my life for you. I've walked half the length of Ravka for you, and I'd do it again and again and again just to be with you, just to starve with you and freeze with you and hear you complain about hard cheese every day. So don't tell me why we don't belong together," he said fiercely.

                                

Really, need I say more? Okay, I will because I can't stop gushing XD He's so incredibly sweet with the perfect amount of protectiveness thrown in. He knows Alina can be the best she can be and he wants to help her become that. He's always believed in her and would literally walk to the ends of the earth for her!! Just....GAH! He's fantastic. That's all there is to it!


The World:


  I was instantly drawn into this complex and beautifully breathtaking world. She did a fantastic job of creating the Fold and giving it the creepy and scary atmosphere it deserved. Seriously. The Fold is freaking terrifying. Sure, I'd put on the facade of being all tough and whatnot, while on the inside I'd be screaming like a little girl. Scratch that, I'd probably actually be screaming like a little girl. But its fantastic! She doesn't just tell you it's scary, she shows it and makes you feel it. Kudos! 


Plot:


   Yes, the plot is as equally amazing as the characters and world! She just got the whole package right!!! Its incredibly unique and intriguing. Monsters? Grisha? Powers? The freaking FOLD?! Holy, moly. It's some intense stuff. The action starts off from the very beginning. You get to see monsters and the Fold and fighting. Then you get your court setting and court intrigue and never knowing who to trust and whats going on and its AMAZING! I could go on and on but you must read this book to find out all the awesomeness that is the plot for yourself. 


Overall:

My review does not do this book justice in the slightest. This is high fantasy at its best. I adored all the characters. I loved Alina's imperfections and the fact that she grows so much throughout the book. While I may be coveting after the alluring Darkling, I'm simply swooning over the perfection that is Mal. The world is incredibly unique and beautiful in its own terrifying way and the plot is simply addicting. If this review doesn't get to you buy this book, I honestly have no idea what will. 

All the best ♥

Mackenzie

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