This book, by far, is the best in the series. Just like the Throne of Glass books, the Falling Kingdoms books get better and better as they go on. I'm not sure how Morgan Rhodes can make the next book any better than this one was, but I'm sure she can accomplish it. This was my most anticipated book release of the month and let me tell you, I most certainly was not disappointed. Frozen Tides was filled with intrigue, suspense, mystery, tension, action, betrayal, romance and so much more. If you remember my review on the first book- Falling Kingdoms, you may recall I was not especially impressed. By Rebel Spring, I was more interested. And even more invested in the series after reading Gathering Darkness. 
And then I read Frozen Tides. And now, I have fallen completely in love with the series. I would say you have to have some patience while reading these books because book one was less than impressive. A lot of first fantasy books are like that- slightly boring because of all the world building. You just have to drag your feet through the first book and try the second. The second book, Rebel Spring, was a fun read and Gathering Darkness made me really start to like the series. Frozen Tides? I am obsessed now. In fact, the next book in the series is one of my highly anticipated books of 2016 (though, it does still remain behind a few books namely books written by Cassandra Clare and Sarah J. Maas). Seriously, if you follow my tumblr- anjibooks.tumblr.com, you'd know that I've been obsessed with this series recently. Namely a certain pairing in this series. 
If you read my review of the first few books, you'd remember my opinion on the characters. From the start, I loved Cleo and Jonas. I despised Magnus and Lucia. I felt the same way after reading Rebel Spring. It was only after reading Gathering Darkness that I started to see a little redemption in Magnus Damora's character. After Frozen Tides I am completely and utterly in love with Magnus Damora. I don't know how that can change so much after only a single book, but it has. If you're wondering, I still abhor Lucia. Why? Just because she's the sorceress reborn, doesn't give her the right to be a grade A annoying brat. Seriously, I just want Lucia to die and be done with it. She was especially annoying in this book- I was tempted to skip her chapters, I didn't, of course, due to me wanting to have the full experience and maybe starting to like Lucia more? Nope. Still hate her as much as I did from book 1, if not more. 
Nevertheless I'm impressed with this series. I started out feeling a little chilly towards the series and by book four I love it. I started out absolutely hating a character and by book four I  love him. There's not a lot of books I can say I felt that way about. I'm very glad that I decided to give Rebel Spring a chance after reading Falling Kingdoms because it was very worth it. 
If you haven't read any of these books yet, I highly recommend them. Sure, even if you weren't/aren't too into Falling Kingdoms, give Rebel Spring a chance because I strongly believe you'll find yourself enjoying the series before you know it. 
Frozen Tides was a whirlwind of a book- filled with deception and intrigue from the start. It picks off immediately after Gathering Darkness ended- covering all the drama and consequences of what happened in Gathering Darkness. All of it. ;) 
I'd give Frozen Tides 8.5/10 stars. For me, that's a very high rating. Getting 7 stars could mean it's a favorite of mine so 8.5 means I really loved it. And that I did. 
Here's the synopsis: (It contains spoilers for the previous books) 

Rebels, royals, and monsters wage war over the Mytican throne in the shocking fourth book of the Falling Kingdoms series, from New York Times bestselling author Morgan Rhodes.

CLEO: Reeling after a bloody showdown in Limeros ending with Amara’s abduction of the water crystal, and a vacancy in the Mytican throne, Princess Cleo must cast aside her feelings and look toward her kingdom with the eyes of a Queen.

MAGNUS: With the kingdom in chaos, Princess Lucia still missing and quite possibly in danger, and a shocking realization about Cleo, the steely prince is once again torn between love and duty, leaving him wondering whether he’s strong enough to rule his people.

LUCIA: The young sorcercess has had her vengeance after the cruel death of her first and only love. Heartbroken and unable to trust anyone, she allies with the awoken Fire god, who also seeks revenge.

JONAS: After escaping death by the skin of his teeth, the defeated rebel—along with a mysterious stranger–leader reunites with Princess Cleo, only to find himself a mere pawn in a dangerous hunt for the elusive Kindred.

KING GAIUS: Abandoned by Melenia and betrayed by his own children, Gaius flees Mytica and sails to Kraeshia, where he attempts to ally with the famously brutal emperor across the Silver Sea

I seriously cannot wait for the next book. How am I supposed to be able to wait a year for it to be released?! 

Cleo is still my all time favorite character. Usually I don't like the characters who can't physically fend for themselves, but even though Cleo isn't a fighter, she's quite the strong character. I love the way she is able to 'play' people with her deception and I really enjoy the arc of her story. 

Okay, that was random. Now, go read the book so you can read my oh so intriguing thoughts in the spoiler section. 


SPOILERS BELOW FOR FROZEN TIDES

I think we all know what I really want to talk about in the spoilers section. Magneo. Yeah. I started out hating Magnus and hoping he dies and now I love him and hope he and Cleo are able to survive this on coming war. It's funny, because in the beginning, I totally shipped Cleonas. (Cleo and Jonas)  but now I'm all for Magnus and Cleo, though, I wouldn't mind a few more Cleonas moments. Haha. I do love the drama. 
I put this on my tumblr and it is totally true. "My reread of Frozen Tides is going to consist only of Magnus and Cleo Chapters." And that it did. So did the rereread and the rerereread. I love the palpable tension between the two in this book. It was magnificently written. And then when Cleo had her speech on the balcony, I just couldn't even. Magnus propping himself against the column and noticing Cleo wearing red was one of my favorite scenes in the book. 
But I'm sure we all know what my actual favorite scene was. Chapter 37 was amazing. Let's just remember the height difference between Cleo and Magnus now. So Magnus sees a short little hooded figure running at him with a war cry and an ax. I'm sorry, I just find the imagery hilarious. And then this happened: 
""Shh." She pressed her fingertips to his lips. "Don't ruin this by talking. We might start arguing again." 
When she smiled then, he knew he was already ruined. 
Her lips met his again, and Magnus surrendered any small grasp of control he had left.
He didn't deserve her; he knew he didn't. He was the Prince of Blood, the son of a monster, who said and did cruel things. Who preemptively leapt to hurt anyone before they could hurt him first. 
But he would show her that he could change. 
Magnus could change for her. 
She was his princess. No. She was his goddess. With her golden skin and golden hair. She was his light. His life. His everything. 
He loved her more than anything else in the world.
Magnus worshipped his beautiful goddess that night, both her body and her soul, before the heat of the blazing hearth, upon the rug bearing the symbol of the kingdom his father had stolen from her." 
AAHHH. Just typing that made me smile. When I read it for the first time? I legit died. Best part in the whole book. Like the tension between the two of them the entire book- neither fully trusting the other but finally giving in to their feelings? Prime. Loved it. That might be one of my favorite relationship get togethers ever. It was so perfectly written out. 
A lot of people are saying they're getting seriously annoyed with Nic, especially with the stunt he pulled at the end. But me, being a loyal Nic lover from the beginning can't bring myself to hate him. After all, he's only doing what he sees best for Cleo. Even if it really isn't his choice, he's only trying to help her. And I love that about him. His loyalty and love for Cleo is something I really appreciate. He's not trying to betray her or anything- as much as I love the betrayals and deception, I also appreciate having someone to trust. And that someone is Nicolo. 
What did y'all think about the end? Do you really think Ashur is alive? I mean they never did see the body and you know what they say (I don't know if anyone has ever said this but) IF YOU DON'T SEE THE BODY AND DEMOLISH THE BODY THEN THEY ARE POSSIBLY ALIVE. Besides, in some things the body can be demolished and the person or thing can still come back to life. I'm looking at you, Vampire Diaries and Originals. And if he's not alive is he stuck in some in-between or something? 
What do we think of Amara? I still dislike her and think she should go die in some painful way but after seeing her back story I have a twid bit of sympathy for her. Only a twid. And Neesta or whatever her grandmother's name is? She definitely has some ulterior motive. I'm interested to see how she's going to use Amara. Actually, I really still don't like Amara, especially after what she did to Felix. Oh, yeah, Felix, do you all think he was redeemed in this book? I feel like he was. I really like his character still. 
And then there's the whole Lucia thing. Honestly I couldn't care less about her. I might've laughed a little when she realized she was pregnant and her powers were fading. Like, ha, that's what you get for being such an insufferable, annoying, bitch. Sorry for all you Lucia fans out there, I just don't like her. Who knows? Maybe I will come to like her just as I did Magnus. Maybe. Probably not. 

Can you believe 2015 is almost over? Wow, it's been quite the short year filled with many unexpected events. Anyway, I kinda of forgot to count slash keep track of every single book I read this year (That would be a difficult job) but I did manage to keep track of most of them on my Goodreads Reading Challenge, so I've compiled a list of my favorite {new} books I've read this year. I highly recommend each and every one of these books because they're great novels. Some of them aren't exactly in any order because I couldn't pick which one I liked best!

By far, though, my favorite book I read this year would have to have been Queen of Shadows by Sarah J. Maas {Review Here}. The review in a nutshell, I freaking loved this book. The Throne of Glass Series (Queen of Shadows is book four) just keeps getting better and better. I don't see how the next book could possibly get an more fantastical than this, but I'm sure Sarah will be able to pull it off. I gave Queen of Shadows 10/10 stars, a rare rating from me, but THIS BOOK DESERVED IT. Full of nonstop action, mystery, suspense and a little bit of romance, this is the perfect book for me. I seriously cannot wait to see what Sarah has in store for the next (and last) two books of this series. (Which, by the way, is one of my all time favorite books and I highly recommend that you read it because it's sooooo amazing.) 
The first book is not that good, I'll admit, but it just keeps getting better and better so even if you didn't really enjoy book 1, push on to book two, because it only gets more intriguing from there on out. Here's the synopsis for book one: 
After serving out a year of hard labor in the salt mines of Endovier for her crimes, 18-year-old assassin Celaena Sardothien is dragged before the Crown Prince. Prince Dorian offers her her freedom on one condition: she must act as his champion in a competition to find a new royal assassin.

Her opponents are men-thieves and assassins and warriors from across the empire, each sponsored by a member of the king's council. If she beats her opponents in a series of eliminations, she'll serve the kingdom for four years and then be granted her freedom. Celaena finds her training sessions with the captain of the guard, Westfall, challenging and exhilirating. But she's bored stiff by court life. Things get a little more interesting when the prince starts to show interest in her... but it's the gruff Captain Westfall who seems to understand her best.

Then one of the other contestants turns up dead... quickly followed by another. Can Celaena figure out who the killer is before she becomes a victim? As the young assassin investigates, her search leads her to discover a greater destiny than she could possibly have imagined.

Haha, back when the protagonist's biggest problem was a competition... Let me tell you, it definitely gets more intense and you never know what to expect with Sarah's books. 

Alright, all the books after this aren't in any order because I couldn't decide what I liked better. 

This next book I obtained and finished yesterday. And it met and exceeded my expectations which were pretty darn high. {Review should be up soon} I actually just started reading the Falling Kingdoms series this year. After reading the first book {Review here} I was not totally impressed- rating it 6.5/10 stars. It was okay, but I felt as though i was dragging my feet through most of the book. I only liked two of the main characters and really, I just didn't enjoy that book too much. Luckily, I decided I'd give the series another chance and order the second and third books. The second book I found much more interesting and started to feel a lot more invested in this spectacular series- rating it 7/10 stars but I still only liked two of the main characters. And then I read the third book- Gathering Darkness and it sucked me right into the world. (8/10 stars). While reading Gathering Darkness, I was surprised to find myself beginning to like one of the characters I'd previously despised. Hey, you know it's a well written story if you go from hating to tentatively starting to like a character. And then I read Frozen Tides yesterday. It was amazing. This series is full of action, betrayal, deceit, suspense and romance and this last book really brought out the most interesting sides of all the characters. And that one character I was tentatively starting to like?  I love his character now. This series is amazing and quickly working its way up to one of my favorites. The characters (well, most of them) are ones you'll grow quickly attached to and the plot is intriguing- you won't be able to tear your eyes away from the book. I highly recommend reading this series. Yeah, sure, the first book isn't so good, but it only goes up from there. 

Synopsis for Book 1: 
In the three kingdoms of Mytica, magic has long been forgotten. And while hard-won peace has reigned for centuries, a deadly unrest now simmers below the surface.

As the rulers of each kingdom grapple for power, the lives of their subjects are brutally transformed... and four key players, royals and rebels alike, find their fates forever intertwined. Cleo, Jonas, Lucia, and Magnus are caught in a dizzying world of treacherous betrayals, shocking murders, secret alliances, and even unforeseen love.

The only outcome that's certain is that kingdoms will fall. Who will emerge triumphant when all they know has collapsed?

It's the eve of war.... Choose your side.

Princess: Raised in pampered luxury, Cleo must now embark on a rough and treacherous journey into enemy territory in search of magic long thought extinct.

Rebel: Jonas, enraged at injustice, lashes out against the forces of oppression that have kept his country cruelly impoverished. To his shock, he finds himself the leader of a people's revolution centuries in the making.

Sorceress: Lucia, adopted at birth into the royal family, discovers the truth about her past—and the supernatural legacy she is destined to wield.

Heir: Bred for aggression and trained to conquer, firstborn son Magnus begins to realise that the heart can be more lethal than the sword....

I'm giving Frozen Tides 8/10 stars. I absolutely loved it and hope y'all try this series out because it is fantastic. 

Here's a romance for all y'all romance lovers out there. It's one of those cliches that I seriously love. The tom boy girl falling in love and not being quite sure how to handle her feelings. My absolute favorite thing about this book is that there's a very unexpected plot twist that happens in the story. The thing with romance books is you think you know who the protagonist is going to end up with (which I love but-) this book makes a complete 360 spin about halfway through. I loved that about it. I rated it 8.8/10 stars. {Review Here} 
Here's the synopsis: 
ONE OF THE BOYS

What girl doesn't want to be surrounded by gorgeous jocks day in and day out? Jordan Woods isn't just surrounded by hot guys, though-she leads them as the captain and quarterback of her high school football team. They all see her as one of the guys and that's just fine. As long as she gets her athletic scholarship to a powerhouse university.

But everything she's ever worked for is threatened when Ty Green moves to her school. Not only is he an amazing QB, but he's also amazingly hot. And for the first time, Jordan's feeling vulnerable. Can she keep her head in the game while her heart's on the line?

Here, I can tell you this. This series is one of my favorite romance book series ever. Seriously, each book in this series has a heart warming romance. I really think you all should read this excellent book. 

Here's another one of Sarah J. Maas's books that were released this year. This is the start of a new book series she's writing, all of the books in it are going to be loosely based on a fairytale. A Court of Thorns and Roses is loosely based off of Beauty and the Beast. Key word loosely. The idea for 2/3 sounds slightly like Beauty and the Beast but the last bit of this book is very very very different. And also Sarah twists the story so much that it turns a lot darker than you would ever expect. I really loved this book. Sure, the beginning was a little slow, but I got really invested quite quickly. I gave this book 8/10 stars {Review Here} because it was suspenseful, witty, entertaining, full of action and there were quite a few plot twists. Sarah has an excellent style of writing and I fully plan to read the rest of this series as well as the Throne of Glass books. 
Synopsis: 
A thrilling, seductive new series from New York Timesbestselling author Sarah J. Maas, blending Beauty and the Beast with faerie lore.

When nineteen-year-old huntress Feyre kills a wolf in the woods, a beast-like creature arrives to demand retribution for it. Dragged to a treacherous magical land she only knows about from legends, Feyre discovers that her captor is not an animal, but Tamlin—one of the lethal, immortal faeries who once ruled their world.

As she dwells on his estate, her feelings for Tamlin transform from icy hostility into a fiery passion that burns through every lie and warning she's been told about the beautiful, dangerous world of the Fae. But an ancient, wicked shadow grows over the faerie lands, and Feyre must find a way to stop it... or doom Tamlin—and his world—forever.

Perfect for fans of Kristin Cashore and George R. R. Martin, this first book in a sexy and action-packed new series is impossible to put down!

Better Off Friends was a book I put off reading for so long. But when I read it, I seriously regretted that. This book is seriously good. It follows a pair of friends, Macallan and Levi, through their lives as seventh graders and ends when they're seniors in high school. It's witty and adorable, answering the question Can girls and boys be just friends? This whole novel was so quirky and very lovable. I've reread it several times since the first time and I still haven't lost any of my adoration for this excellent story. In fact, I think my adulation has grown even more. This is such a cute story, please, please, read it. I guarantee you won't regret it. 
I gave this novel... I'm realizing now that I was enjoying this story so much that when I reviewed it, I forgot to rate it, ahah. Well, here's my review. 
Synopsis: 
For Macallan and Levi, it was friends at first sight. Everyone says guys and girls can’t be just friends, but these two are. They hang out after school, share tons of inside jokes, their families are super close, and Levi even starts dating one of Macallan’s friends. They are platonic and happy that way.

Eventually they realize they’re best friends — which wouldn’t be so bad if they didn’t keep getting in each other’s way. Guys won’t ask Macallan out because they think she’s with Levi, and Levi spends too much time joking around with Macallan, and maybe not enough time with his date. They can’t help but wonder . . . are they more than friends or are they better off without making it even more complicated?

From romantic comedy superstar Elizabeth Eulberg comes a fresh, fun examination of a question for the ages: Can guys and girls ever really be just friends? Or are they always one fight away from not speaking again — and one kiss away from true love?

P.S. I Still Love You by Jenny Han. I absolutely loved this book just as much as I loved the first- To All The Boys I've Loved Before. Filled with realistic cute and quirky scenes, there's nothing not to love about this adorable duology. {Reviews for both} This is really one of my favorite romance book series (along with Catching Jordan books and Anna and the French Kiss) and I just strongly reccomend this book to anyone who wants an adorable love story, of course, you gotta start out with book one first, but believe me when I say, book two is no disappointment. 

Synopsis for To All the Boys I've Loved Before 

What if all the crushes you ever had found out how you felt about them…all at once?

Lara Jean Song keeps her love letters in a hatbox her mother gave her. They aren’t love letters that anyone else wrote for her; these are ones she’s written. One for every boy she’s ever loved—five in all. When she writes, she pours out her heart and soul and says all the things she would never say in real life, because her letters are for her eyes only. Until the day her secret letters are mailed, and suddenly, Lara Jean’s love life goes from imaginary to out of control.

And there you go, these books were my favorites among all of the fantastic stories I've read this year. I hope y'all had as good a year of reading as I did, and if you didn't, well in 2016 why not try some of these excellent books? *wink* *wink* 
Here's the links to buy them if you're interested. 
Queen of Shadows by Sarah J. Maas
Frozen Tides by Morgan Rhodes
Catching Jordan by Miranda Kenneally 
A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas
Better off Friends by Elizabeth Eulberg 
P.S. I Still Love You by Jenny Han

Thanks for reading and I hope you take some of these recommendations to heart. 
-Anj

Fantasitcal book. I really enjoyed this. It was filled to the brim with plot twists, drama, action and, of course, a romance to fall in love with. This is the third book in the Starbound Trilogy and all three books are great. I highly recommend this series. It starts out with These Broken Stars, then goes to This Shattered World and is closed off with Their Fractured Light. Let me tell you, this trilogy ended with a bang. A lot of trilogy endings are disappointing- never able to live up to the other books i.e. Mockingjay, Allegiant, Iron Queen, Boundless, etc. Nope. This book was just as good as the previous two. 
8/10 stars. I loved it. 
Summery: 
A year ago, Flynn Cormac and Jubilee Chase made the now infamous Avon Broadcast, calling on the galaxy to witness for their planet, and protect them from destruction. Some say Flynn’s a madman, others whisper about conspiracies. Nobody knows the truth. A year before that, Tarver Merendsen and Lilac LaRoux were rescued from a terrible shipwreck—now, they live a public life in front of the cameras, and a secret life away from the world’s gaze.

Now, in the center of the universe on the planet of Corinth, all four are about to collide with two new players, who will bring the fight against LaRoux Industries to a head. Gideon Marchant is an eighteen-year-old computer hacker—a whiz kid and an urban warrior. He’ll climb, abseil and worm his way past the best security measures to pull off onsite hacks that others don’t dare touch.

Sofia Quinn has a killer smile, and by the time you’re done noticing it, she’s got you offering up your wallet, your car, and anything else she desires. She holds LaRoux Industries responsible for the mysterious death of her father and is out for revenge at any cost.

When a LaRoux Industries security breach interrupts Gideon and Sofia’s separate attempts to infiltrate their headquarters, they’re forced to work together to escape. Each of them has their own reason for wanting to take down LaRoux Industries, and neither trusts the other. But working together might be the best chance they have to expose the secrets LRI is so desperate to hide.

Maybe if you read the other two books very recently, you might recognize some of the names in it. If not, (like me), you'll just have to remember as you read. 
I fell in love with both main characters. 
Gideon is brilliant as well as strong and rather witty. It was a lot of fun reading about him, his mission, and finding out more about his past. He is quite the complex character. Not the stereotypical 'hacker,' which I appreciated. 
Sofia was also very interesting to read about. She's not as much of a physical fighter as she is a mental one. I loved how easily she could slip in and out of a lie. Just like Gideon, she's very complex and as you read on, you find out more and more about her. Peeling back the layers until you find out what she's truly like, under the facade. She may not be a fighter, but she's surprisingly strong. Able to hold herself together when she's falling apart inside. I appreciated that about her. 
Another thing I really enjoyed in the book was reading about when they all came together- Tarver, Lilac, Jubilee, Flynn, Sofia and Gideon. It was interesting to see the ties all of them had with each other. 
I highly recommend this book to anyone who's read the first two books in the series- and if you haven't read this series at all, I highly recommend the whole series, it's a very fun read.

Stupid book name. Great Series.
As much as I enjoyed reading this book... I felt a little conflicted reading it. A Mad Zombie Party is told from the perspective of Frosty (Weird name, I know) and Camilla. If you don't remember Camilla, she's River's sister from the third Alice in Zombieland book who got her memory wiped after she betrayed the slayers and accidentally got a few people killed- including Kat, Frosty's girlfriend. Talk about awkward situations. 
So anyway, the idea is basically Frosty is still mourning for Kat and Camilla's on her own. The two have to pair up- you know what? Why don't I just give the summery?
Summery: 
The enemy has risen from the grave. Together we slayers must stand, or one by one we will fall.

Ali Bell's crew of zombie slayers thought they'd won the war against Anima Industries, the evil company responsible for capturing and experimenting on zombies in an effort to discover the secret to immortality. In the last epic clash, the slayers lost many of their crew and closest friends. But Frosty, the ice man himself, has not recovered from one casualty in particular — the love of his life, Kat Parker. 

On the path to self-annihilation, Frosty receives a message from beyond — Kat's spirit returns, insisting he partner with rogue slayer Camilla Marks. Frosty will do anything for Kat. Except that. Camilla's betrayal caused Kat's death.

But when Anima rises from the grave stronger than ever, Frosty, Camilla and all the slayers will have to work together to survive. And one broken slayer will learn that sometimes the line between hate and attraction is blurred... and the road to redemption may mean letting go of the past and grabbing hold of the future.

It'd been a while since I'd read that series and I forgot how fantastically awesome Ali is. Like seriously, she is an excellent protagonist. Strong. Witty. And incredibly sarcastic. I love her and I wish we got to see more of her in this book.  Here's a quote from Ali to Frosty.
"If Chuck Noris gets bitten by a zombie, would he turn into a zombie or would the zombie turn into Chuck Norris?"
"She pretends to unwrap her fist and extends her middle finger." Like I said, I love Ali. 
The main of the book is focused on Frosty and Camilla's relationship. How it changed from one of hate to one of friendship and caring for each other. You don't actually get to see a lot of the group of slayers until about half way through or so. But when you see them, it's amazing. You get to see Ali with Cole as well as Gavin and Jocelyn's relationship, which, may I add, is amazing and I loved to read about. 
Kat shows up in the story, she was one of my favorite characters, so I really enjoyed reading about her. 
"We're the only smart- I mean single guys left." This book cracked me up. 
Anyway, since I read this book a while ago, I don't have much left to say. I'd give this story an 8/10 stars. I really enjoyed it, even if some relationships in it made me feel rather conflicted inside. I highly recommend it to those who have already finished the White Rabbit Trilogy. 
SPOILERS BELOW 


!!!! I think we all know what I was feeling conflicted about. HOW COULD FROSTY NOT BELONG WITH KAT. I LOVED THIER RELATIONSHIP. But then again, I did enjoy Camilla and Frosty's relationship.. just not as much as Kat and Frosty's relationship... But I knew Kat had her eyes on River before she even mentioned it. And I kinda ship that. Could we get a novella about the two of them? Please? 
The end go this book totally felt like a fluffy fan fiction. And I loved every second of it. 

Ah yes. There's a reason why I review books as soon as possible after I read them, and that reason would be... I forget what I really wanted to say and the notes I take while reading are slightly less meaningful. Magnus Chase and the Guards of Asgard: The Sword of Summer came out on... October first I think. And here I am. Reviewing it in December. Why would that be? Because I was lazy in October and was wayyy to caught up in a number of different things in November. 
As expected from any of Rick Riordan's writing, Magnus Chase is a great book filled with witty humor, fascinating action scenes, and a twist of mystery. On top of that, while reading you're learning a bit more about mythology and not the boring kind of learning, like the learning where you don't even realize you're learning 'cause it's just that interesting. 
Even though it's filled with what you'd expect, I found myself not enjoying this book quite as much as I did any of Rick's other books. Maybe it's because I'm getting older (doubtful, Rick's books are great for all ages), maybe it's because I enjoy a clear cut romance in my books. Rick Riordan's books are middle school books so they kind of slowly introduce the romance over the course of the series (Kind of like Harry Potter), maybe it's because I wanted and expected to see a lot more of Annabeth (and maybe even Percy) in this book or maybe it's because I just didn't have the time to really sit down and enjoy the book. It could've been any of those or it could just be that this book just isn't as good for me as Rick's other books have been. I know me expecting to see a lot of Annabeth in the book was rather foolish now that I come to think of it because if Annabeth was in the story, she'd steal the whole show. Especially since where Annabeth goes, Percy follows. And Percy can show anybody up. 
"He still holds a grudge that Jesus never showed up for the duel he challenged him to." 
Even though I didn't enjoy this book quite as much as I did The Kane Chronicles, Percy Jackson and the Olympians or The Heroes of Olympus, I still had a lot of fun reading the story. I found myself laughing quite a bit. My friends probably would've thought I was a little insane if they weren't used to this behavior. 
I wasn't sure what I was expecting from Magnus, but I certainly wasn't expecting him to be homeless. And that's what he was at the beginning of the book. A homeless sixteen year old. Magnus is an interesting character, unlike Percy, he isn't exactly a good physical fighter, others kind of have to do the physical fighting for him (if you've read the book, you know what I mean.) I didn't get quite as attached to Magnus as I usually do to Rick's characters, but I still liked his character a lot. 
Sam is Magnus's friend as well as a daughter or Loki. She's an interesting character, not wanting to use her powers because it makes her more like her father an all that. Sam's definitely not my favorite female protagonist that Rick has created, in fact, she might be near the bottom. I wasn't particularly interesting in her. Sure, I felt a little bad for her background, but I couldn't bring myself to care too much. 
Blitz and Hearthstone are two hilarious characters that I really enjoyed reading about. They're courageous and rather funny. I can't say too much about them otherwise I'll spoil the story! 
"Blades before Babes." 
Jack might've been my favorite character in this story. You don't talk to Jack until about halfway through the book or so but he's quite the funny character. 
"Stupid magical hotel won't even allow me to properly vandalize things."
Overall, I'd give Magnus Chase a solid 7/10 stars. It was good, but I was a little disappointed. Though, I do fully intend to continue reading the series. 

Summery: 
Magnus Chase has always been a troubled kid. Since his mother’s mysterious death, he’s lived alone on the streets of Boston, surviving by his wits, keeping one step ahead of the police and the truant officers.

One day, he’s tracked down by a man he’s never met—a man his mother claimed was dangerous. The man tells him an impossible secret: Magnus is the son of a Norse god.

The Viking myths are true. The gods of Asgard are preparing for war. Trolls, giants and worse monsters are stirring for doomsday. To prevent Ragnarok, Magnus must search the Nine Worlds for a weapon that has been lost for thousands of years.

When an attack by fire giants forces him to choose between his own safety and the lives of hundreds of innocents, Magnus makes a fatal decision.

Sometimes, the only way to start a new life is to die . .

It's been a while since I've posted one of these, eh? Well, since Their Fractured Light is already out, I only have one more December book that I'm excitedly waiting for and that would be *Drum Roll* Frozen Tides by Morgan Rhodes, the fourth book in the Falling Kingdoms series. 

Even though I hate Lucia, the girl on the cover, I really love a lot of the other characters and am intrigued about the direction the plot is going. Here's the synopsis for the first book, Falling Kingdoms: 
In the three kingdoms of Mytica, magic has long been forgotten. And while hard-won peace has reigned for centuries, a deadly unrest now simmers below the surface.

As the rulers of each kingdom grapple for power, the lives of their subjects are brutally transformed... and four key players, royals and rebels alike, find their fates forever intertwined. Cleo, Jonas, Lucia, and Magnus are caught in a dizzying world of treacherous betrayals, shocking murders, secret alliances, and even unforeseen love.

The only outcome that's certain is that kingdoms will fall. Who will emerge triumphant when all they know has collapsed?

It's the eve of war.... Choose your side.

Princess: Raised in pampered luxury, Cleo must now embark on a rough and treacherous journey into enemy territory in search of magic long thought extinct.

Rebel: Jonas, enraged at injustice, lashes out against the forces of oppression that have kept his country cruelly impoverished. To his shock, he finds himself the leader of a people's revolution centuries in the making.

Sorceress: Lucia, adopted at birth into the royal family, discovers the truth about her past—and the supernatural legacy she is destined to wield.

Heir: Bred for aggression and trained to conquer, firstborn son Magnus begins to realise that the heart can be more lethal than the sword....

​Sound interesting? You should pick it up. I wasn't overly fond of the first book, but as I read more, I got more and more sucked into the world and characters. Here's my review of the first three books: 
​(Click the link here) 
I'm ecstatic to read this book. I believe it's going to be a lot of fun and it comes out right before my Christmas Break so I'll have plenty of time to enjoy it :). I'm sure I'll be writing a glowing review about this book soon enough.