Review | Glass Sword #2 by Victoria Aveyard

Summary

Mare's blood is red - the color of common folk - but her Silver ability, the power to control lightning, has turned her into a weapon that the royal court tries to control.

The crown calls her an impossibility, a fake, but as she makes her escape from the Prince and friends who betrayed her, Mare uncovers something startling; she is not the only one of her kind.

Pursued by the Silver King, Mare sets out to find and recruit other Red and Silver fighters to join in the struggle against her oppressors.

But Mare finds herself on a deadly path, at risk of becoming exactly the kind of monster she is trying to defeat. Will she shatter under the weight of the lives that are the cost of rebellion? Or have treachery and betrayal harden her forever? 

(Summary from Goodreads)

Review

*Deep Breath* Where on Earth do I start with this book? I honestly thought leaving the review for a couple of days (*cough* weeks) will help me gather all my thoughts. Did that work? HELL NO! It still feels like I just finished reading it and that last line, that last brutal line. Though it was only 2 words, it broke me so badly that I ended up throwing the book to the other end of my bed. Readers reflexes are indeed a thing, they protect you from pain - mine just happened to work 2 seconds late. 

Glass Sword starts off from the very second Red Queen ended. Which surprised me a bit but quickly recovered because it jumped straight into action, running and more running. What I like about Victoria Aveyard's writing is the intense need to read word for word because anything could happen and I mean ANYTHING quite literally.

We meet new and old characters, some intense and others a sight for sore eyes. Farley was amazing, from how she was in Red Queen to now, her character development is worth singling out. I LOVE SHADE! He was so incredible and nice and ASFGHJKL - no comment. Cal was hot as ever - his powers, guys come on... Okay, in that sense too. The struggles he faces are well bottled up, and it physically pained me to read. Mare was bad-ass as ever, but more impulsive, more in need to beat Maven, which is totally understandable. I mean, I want to beat him senseless! Also TEAM CAL AND MARE. ALL THE FEELS. 

There are so many new characters that are equally as bad-ass and some quite annoying but bearable - slightly. I personally feel that 2/3 of the novel was much needed to be as it was, to be set a few paces back for readers to soak in all the information and remember each face, each EPIC new powers. (Victoria, you are the Queen of creating amazing powers. I mean, I want those powers) But when the action happened I was left teetering on the edge of my seat, all snacks forgotten. It was full on jaw dropping and OH MY GOD. I'm still in awe of everything and just typing up this review is bringing it all back. Though it irked me slightly how we didn't get much on Maven and his evil, manipulative mother - understandable considering it is a 1st person novel - I still wanted to know what they were up too, but the element of surprise was not lost on me. NOT ONE BIT. Though a little something does happen that took me completely by surprise. I mean no buildup, no nothing just BAM it happened. And I'm not sure how I feel about it just yet. 

Victoria Aveyard, where do I begin to say thank-you for this amazing, heart-breaking, gut wrenching squeal? All I can say is this book will grip you tight until that last sentence is read and etched into your brain. You will most definitely need tissues, a lot of ice-cream when finished and a few days ready to tweet in caps lock to vent out all your feels. I need book 3 so badly, the need is intense but I also cannot wait for Cruel Crown, the two novellas. Which is already published in the US *sad face* Nevertheless I have never pre-ordered something so fast in my life. It is releasing in April in the UK, my birthday month. Coincidence? I think not. 

Glass Sword - Victoria Aveyard ★★★★★

Review | Morning Star #3 by Pierce Brown

Summary

Darrow would have lived in peace, but his enemies brought him war. The Gold overlords demanded his obedience, hanged his wife, and enslaved his people. But Darrow is determined to fight back. Risking everything to transform himself and breach Gold society, Darrow has battled to survive the cutthroat rivalries that breed Society's mightiest warriors, climbed the ranks, and waited patiently to unleash the revolution that will tear the hierarchy apart from within. 

Finally, the time has come. 

But devotion to honor and hunger for vengeance run deep on both sides. Darrow and his comrades-in-arms face powerful enemies without scruple or mercy. Among them are some Darrow once considered friends. To win, Darrow will need to inspire those shackled in darkness to break their chains, unmake the world their cruel masters have built, and claim a destiny too long denied - and too glorious to surrender. 

(Summary from Goodreads)

Review

I've waited over a year for this book. Over 365 days, I've anxiously waited for the final installment in the Red Rising trilogy. That, my friends is a lot of bloodydamn days. I remember receiving the ARC copy of Red Rising, I felt so much excitement it was unbelievable. Then Golden Son happened and that cliffhanger literally killed me. This has been one helluva ride from the very start and now the end is nigh. I'm sad to say goodbye to this trilogy but I also cannot wait for what Pierce Brown has next in store for us Howlers. 

Morning Star has literally blown me away, I finished this book late last night and when that last page was read, I was in shock and awe of such an immensely satisfying conclusion. I shall try to keep this fangirly review as spoiler free as I can. TRY being the key word. 

Pierce Brown took all the characters and evolved them into something amazing. Seeing each of their development from day one was just phenomenal. Darrow, where to start, he changed so much and grew into a man who has learnt so much from his mistakes. I absolutely loved him and his relationship with Sevro, and it shall forever have a special place in my heart. I LOVED Sevro in this book, unbelievable and just as utterly repulsive as ever and I just loved him. I swear, Pierce wrote some of the scenes in this book with the intention to make me cry, scream and shout 'NO NO NO' from the top of my lungs. Well done Pierce, you succeeded. 

Cassius, Roque, The Jackal, Mustang, Victra, Aja, RAGNAR and so many others played huge roles in this book. I either wanted to kill or hug them, most of them I just wanted to hug, LET ME HUG YOU! But the other, well, not so much. On another note, nothing is what it seems in this book. It wasn't predictable AT ALL! Always one step ahead of us all, and I loved that in a book; keeping me gripped to the book till the wee hours of the morning. 

The plot! That mind-blowing, gut-wrenching, action packed and astonishing plot. OMG, that plot killed me in more than one way possible. I have never read something so fast, just to know what would happen to my favourite characters fueled me to read faster, quicker! I can't even describe the intense power this book had over me. The writing was amazing, I can still picture Mars, Luna, the battles, the technology. I can still feel all the emotions that poured out of each sentence, each speech that just took a piece of my heart, every time. 

I still cannot fathom the simple fact that it's over. That this amazing, gripping, whirl-winding trilogy is complete. Such a satisfying ending that both shocked me and made me cry happy tears. Pierce takes us all on one final journey that all started with a boy, only the age of 16 years fueled with vengeance against the ones above; the Golds. One final adventure with Darrow, Sevro and all the Howlers that will make you weep and howl alongside your brothers and sisters; Reds, Pinks, Blues, Greys, Obsidians; all equal. Thank-you Pierce for a trilogy that I will hold dear and close to my heart. Now, will you be joining the Rising? 

BREAK THE CHAINS.

Morning Star - Pierce Brown 5 BLOODYDAMN Stars