Cinda Williams Chima – Page 3

June Wrap Up

July 1, 2021July 1, 2021by amyleighreadsLeave a Comment

I’m definitely proud of what I was able to finish this month and happy with all the books I chose! Some that have been on my TBR for quite a while now and a couple of newer releases so a pretty well rounded bunch. They were all really great books and I am excited to finally be getting out of my reading slump!

The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones – ⭐️3/5 stars

House of Hollow by Krystal Sutherland – ⭐️4/5 stars

The Ones We’re Meant to Find by Joan He – ⭐️3/5 stars

Stormcaster by Cinda Williams Chima – ⭐️5/5 stars

Truthwitch by Susan Dennard – ⭐️4/5 stars

Legendborn by Tracy Deonn – ⭐️3/5 stars

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Book Lists

Kindle Unlimited Fantasy Recommendations

June 23, 2021July 2, 2021by amyleighreads3 Comments

These are 8 books that I read using my Kindle Unlimited subscription that I would highly recommend and two books that I haven’t read yet but have really great ratings if you just subscribed and are looking for a good fantasy read!

A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab

To Kill a Kingdom by Alexandra Christo

An Enchantment of Ravens by Margaret Rogerson

Flamecaster by Cinda Williams Chima

City of Brass & The Kingdom of Copper by S.A. Chakraborty

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The Crown’s Game by Evelyn Skye

The Cruel Prince by Holly Black

One Word Kill by Mark Lawrence

The Sword of Kaigen by M.L. Wang

Sufficiently Advanced Magic by Andrew Rowe

Reviews

Stormcaster Review

June 21, 2021June 21, 2021by amyleighreadsLeave a Comment

*Some Spoilers Below!*

Vagabond seafarer Evan Strangward can move the ocean and the wind, but his magical abilities seem paltry in comparison to Empress Celestine’s. As Celestine’s bloodsworn armies grow, Evan travels to the Fells to warn the queendom of her imminent invasion. If he can’t convince the Gray Wolf queen to take a stand, he knows that the Seven Realms will fall. Among the dead will be the one person Evan can’t stand to lose.

I loved the inclusion of Evan’s storyline in this instalment in the series. It was nice to get some background about his character and see what brought him to Arden. He was only in the first book for such a short amount of time that I almost forgot who he was and didn’t think he would be as integral to the series as he was which was a nice surprise. To see him have such a similar upbringing as the other magemarked and how his story differed from the others was very interesting and highly engaging. It was also so nice to get more of an insight into Destin before he became the Assassin of Arden and the relationship he built with Evan and how it was snatched away.

Lila is again a bit of a mystery. She pops up just about everywhere in the plot and is one of the only characters to have interactions with all of the other main characters. She seems to be deep into her spy persona and even though I think her main loyalties lie with the Gray Wolf Throne I can’t help but think the Southern Islands are going to come into play and we are going to find out more about her other family.

The world is once again expanding and we are seeing some of the other continents in this world. I liked seeing how different Carthis is to the Seven Realms and how they refer to them as wetlanders and how they connected them through the pirates. Again I am loving this side plot with the Empress and her city on the Northern Islands. We are definitely given more answers as to why she is chasing the magemarked but I am not 100% sold on what she told Lyss. I have a feeling there is still more to the story and we are going to have a massive twist in the next book.

I am loving that we are finally getting some interaction between all the characters. Having Ash back in the mix campaigning to find his sister at Fellsmarch, Lyss and Jenna on Celestegarde figuring out the Empress’s plans and then Destin and Hal back in Arden. Everyone is starting to interconnect and the action is starting to heat up. Plans are in motion and I have a feeling like this last book is going to be explosive!

⭐️5/5 stars I’m loving everything about this series so far!

Reviews

Shadowcaster Review

June 4, 2021June 4, 2021by amyleighreadsLeave a Comment

Alyssa ana’Raisa is the reluctant princess heir to the Gray Wolf throne of Fells, a queendom embroiled in a seemingly endless war. Hardened by too many losses, Lyss is more comfortable striking with a sword than maneuvering at court. After a brush with death, she goes on the offensive, meaning to end the war that has raged her whole life. If her gamble doesn’t pay off, she could lose her queendom before she even ascends to the throne.

One thing I love about Cinda Williams Chima’s books is that there isn’t one main focus or character. We are introduced to a plethora of new characters in this instalment of the series and we get to see what is happening in the Fells while Adrian is worming his way into the Arden court. I love that we see repercussions of what’s happening in Arden in real time and how Lyss is dealing with everything.

I can sympathise with Lyss and the position she finds herself in having to step up and be the reluctant heir to the Gray Wolf Throne. Even though she is secure and confident on the battlefield and giving orders she is still insecure about the role of being a princess and dealing with the political side. We see her go through a lot of emotional turmoil throughout the course of the plot and we really get a good sense of what kind of character she is. I am highly engaged and invested with her, almost more so than Ash and I am excited to see where how everything is going to come together.

Hal I could tell straight away when he is introduced that he is going to fall for Lyss, especially after she saves him from the mages. I can see how he is useful to the plot and his connection to the King through his father, but I can’t help but think he is only in the story as a love interest. He doesn’t really add anything else in particular to the storyline. I am hoping that we more of a sense of who he is in the coming books and he makes more of an impact, because right now he isn’t really doing anything for me.

I am loving this side plot with the Empress and the mage marks. The introduction of Breon and his Shadowcasting abilities was very intriguing and I was also very much invested in his character as well. Who is he really, what does his mage mark mean and what is the connection back to the Empress? Why is she chasing them and how is she able to locate them so quickly. I am left wanting to know more and this makes me want to pick up the next book in the series immediately!

⭐️ 4/5 star The plot is expanding and I have so many questions that need answering!!

Top Ten Tuesdays

Opening Lines

June 1, 2021May 30, 2021by amyleighreads8 Comments

This week’s Top Ten Tuesday prompt is a freebie so I decided to go with a prompt from around this time last year which was opening lines. Just like last year I decided to go with the first line from 10 books on my physical TBR! These are all very high on my reading list and seeing some of these opening lines definitely makes me excited to get into a few of them!!

A Song Below Water by Bethany C. Morrow

“It feels redundant to be at the pool on a rainy Saturday, even though it’s spring, and even though it’s Portland, but maybe I’m just more of a California snob than I want to be.”

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