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"The Queen's Assassin is a typical YA read. But what I couldn't get over was the fact that Cal was supposed to be the Kingdom's greatest assassin, but he wasn't very good at his job. He didn't notice a lot of things and I just laughed. If he is the best, then the assassin's guild is pretty crummy. But with that said, it was an enjoyable and easy read. It allowed day brain to just enjoy and with all the stress in my life right now, that is nice.

Been working on this since January and finally finished it. Took me awhile because the middle is so boring. Nothing feels dire for two people on a mission from the queen. We get some information needed but it just dragged. The ending was interesting and I kind of want to read the next one but also I don‘t want it to be the same as book 1.
Felt like de la Cruz was more into the romance than the action, needs more balance.
#bookspinbingo

Listening to the audiobook

#tarottakeover For the Knight of Wands, I‘ve chosen The Queen‘s Assassin! Shadow is bold and courageous as she ventures into an apprenticeship with Cal to become an assassin.

Oops! I accidentally bought a book 🤷🏻‍♀️🤭

Has anyone read this one? Is it good?
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#NationalBookLoversDay

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Did I ever tell you how much I love Melissa de la Cruz. I fell in love with her writing way back when I read the Blue Blood series. You can‘t help but fall in love with her characters and their stories. This one is no different. This left me wanting more of Shadow and Cal‘s story. Their story is one with adventure, intrigue and a little mystery with an added bit of magic. I can‘t wait for more. (Review continues in comments.)

A story filled with mystery and heart-warming romance between Princess Lilac, disguised as a merchant girl named Shadow of the Honey Glade, and Caledon Holt, the infamous assassin of Renovia, whom is bound to serve the Queen of Renovia by a magical blood oath to find the Deian Scrolls. In revealing the truth about the Tyrant King and the Dellafiore bloodline, fate forces them to sacrifice their love for each other to reunite the kingdoms.

"We might not have tomorrow, but we have tonight," I whisper.
At that, he pulls me down to the bed. We shed our clothing and slip under the covers. He kisses me all over so I can barely breathe. The world narrows to the two of us in this room, our bodies fit together as one. I pull him, closer, closer, until he's on top of me, and we move in sync as if dancing. Our bodies joined as our hearts, we soar to the skies.
We are free.

Shadow narrows her eyes at Cal, then gives the hopeless sap she's dancing with her most seductive gaze. The earl is smitten, and Shadow snaps her fan open and closed at him.
Cal flushes bright red ti the tups of her ears, his heart pounding with fury.

I hate to admit it, but the duchess is very very pretty. She's all rosy cheeks and gold hair, and so small and feminine and soft. Maybe Cal even enjoyed kissing her. I take a long draft of my wine.

Plate after plate of exquisite dishes are delivered to the table, but having recently watched Cal in a clench with the duchess, I have absolutely no desire for food. Especially as I have to sit next to him while she flirts with him and he flirts back. There he is now, raising one eyebrow at her suggestively when she wraps her lips around a piece of steak. How much of it is an act, I have no idea.

"I see you packed lightly," the woman is saying, looking up and down at Shadow's new gown.
Cal feels a flash of anger. How dare she be so rude? Shadow is beautiful, much more beautiful than the overly primed ladies of Montrice. They remind him of plucked chickens in satin and diamonds.

What an arrogant lout Caledon Hokt, Great Master Assassin of Renovia, has turned out to be. I'm almost tempted to go back to my aunts' farm and then on to the palacen where at least I can live out my days in comfort and warmth. But I can't even pretend to want that. I'm being honest, that's still less appealing than sticking out the journey ahead with my knight in shining armor, Sir Full of Himself.

"Don't," she says, and he knows she has seen him deal too much death this evening.

It is what I do, he wants to tell her. I am the Queen's Assassin. There so much blood on his hands he is surprised they are not always red abd dripping. He is the queen's will, the throne's hangman, protector of the crown of Renovia. He sends men and women to death before they even know their lives are in danger

I don't usually put my DNF on here but in this case what I want to say is this had so much potential BUT my main issue is this is supposed to be YA.... It reads like a primary school/middle grade book though and therefore very basic world building, flat characters and predictable storyline

On a roll with The Assassin's Queen, by the time Shadow leaves her home town to rescue Caledon. The narration becomes strong, and less rigid, as of Shadow is starting to gain her own voice from being exposed to the outside world beyond the kingdom she was born in. Lets see if Cal will take on Shadow as his apprentice to become an assassin for the Guild.

1) My bookish plans are to continue reading The Queen's Assassin and Incendiary
2) Any beverage with a book is fine by me (BUT I tend to forget about my drink when I'm reading)
#Two4Tuesday @TheSpineView

Read about 60 pages of this book so far, and I'm liking it (not quite as fast paced as Throne of Glass) so far. My thoughts are that this story uses court politics and mixes it with high fantasy. These are elements I admire (maybe this book will reveal to myself that I'm a sucker for court politics---hence my love for Shakespeare and drama), and I'm wondering how Caldon and Shadow will change within the plot.

An assassin and magic and mystery scrolls.

Long ago, when all the kingdom of Avantine were united as one under the great goddess Deia...
#FirstLineFridays @ShyBookOwl

Disappointing. The characters were one dimensional and the story was boring. Interesting premise that then went nowhere.

Bailed at page 305 and rating: ⭐️
Found the characters and plot to be boring with no connections. I wanted to like this, but couldn‘t and cannot push myself anymore. I find myself putting this down way more than I should be for how short it is.

I was extremely underwhelmed with this book. I wanted more magic, more action, more something! This was just a love story, a weird and didn't make sense love story but still one. Which is fine, I enjoy romance books but that's not what I was expecting for this book. Real disappointed 🙁

Had this not been an arc/early reviewer relationship I would‘ve bailed. Romance arc had zero chemistry and somehow became the focus of the plot. Main climatic twist at end of the book was obvious within the first 50 pages. Such potential with the political world building and historical scrolls...but overall a let down.

It might be time to adjust my goal. On February 1st, I was 7 books ahead and today I am 15 books ahead. At this rate, I am on track to finish 186 books this year (although I am doubtful I can maintain this pace.)

#queensassasinyousay
#morelikereadingchallengeassasin

To sum this up, when the narrator said “We hope you have enjoyed this unabridged production of The Queen‘s Assasin” I loudly yelled NO!

-Bad narration (see previous post)
-The romance between Cal&Shadow didn‘t build but rather went from slight interest to “you are my everything” unconvincingly overnight with no romantic tension
-The “twists” were clear from day 1 and plot anchors were vague, coming out of nowhere

Book 31/100
#finisheoutofspite

Anyone else use their kitty to prop up their book?! 😁🤣🖤

1) I do tend to get pulled in by a good looking cover. But even then I still read the premise to decide whether it will interest me.
2) Tagged! Along with about 4 others. I tend not to walk out of a bookstore with less than 3 minimum.
3) As I tend to avoid it, usually word of mouth.
4) Snooze! For about an hour. But on the weekend I tend to wake before I usually would.
5) @Alora @Brittybuhh

#friYAYintro @4thhouseontheleft @howjessreads

Ugh! I can‘t tell if it‘s the narrators or the story that annoys me. I am leaning towards narration for 2 reasons.

First, I hate whispery narrators. It‘s like fingernails on a chalkboard. And the female narrator uses a whispery drama laden tone.

Second, the story is told in 1st person from two points of view. Both narrate without an accent but read the spoken parts in a Russianesque accent. It‘s so weird!

I will soldier on though...

Love this box #beaconbookbox with all the little cute book items 🥰😍😍📚📖

Ugh...I hate giving bad reviews, but this one is probably closer to a Pan for me. I almost bailed but felt I should continue as it was a #BookishFirst win and felt I owed a review. Too long, hardly any action, choppy chapters told in alternating voices from the two mains. TBH, the writing seemed too juvenile for teens/YA (more middle school level except for one brief intimate scene). A twist at the end felt a bit bizarre, and there‘s a bit of a ⬇️

So I‘ll be real and say that the beginning threw me off, the alternating first person and third person chapters also threw me off , and I just wasn‘t feeling it the first 45%. NOW HOWEVER???? Wow wow wow. I giggle a lot when novels get good and it‘s been a giggle fest from 45%-70% right now I can‘t even imagine what the last bit is gonna make me do !!!

Switching to some up-coming (out 2/4) teen/YA fantasy/romance. Thanks to #BookishFirst for the win! 👍😊

Book mail! Yay!! Merry Christmas to me 🎄!
What 2020 releases are on all your TBR lists? Almost all YA fantasy catches my eye! Ha!!

Received this YA fantasy romance #bookmail today from #BookishFirst! 🎉📚⚔️ Out 2/4.

#GPPutnamsSons

Late October and it finally feels like fall outside! 🍁🍂