Semi possible spoilers below
It might be the virus climate but I'm feeling negative about this one
What was this book like ? All yee all yee welcome to the church of Alina.
It was a good ride. I'm glad Alina and Mel seem to be out of the story for the spin off. I loved them in the beginning but grew to dislike them both as a couple and grew really tired of little miss all powerful. I know, what is wrong with me ? I got tired of Alina being the snowflake that would save them all, of everyone circling around her, worshiping her, Alina, Alina, Alina. Meh.
The ending ? Really you pulled that card ? Why not the crash and burn stay crashed and burnt ? it would have made a more impactful ending. I was left eye rolling and sighing the easy path taken. I don't want a happy ending after what went down. Omg did you see the sex scene ? No you didn't it was a blink and it was over. Shouldn't there have been tingles ? After giggles ? Something ?
I am moving on the The King of Scars which I'm told is wonderful. Fingers crossed

The female MC is acting stupid, lowering down in her role for a man ? Seriously is this the 50's?  Honey if he can't stand your glory and feels inferior dump him. I really hate this it's old crap that should not be brought into these times

She’s a straight-arrow, by-the-rules Alaskan State trooper so Kate Holiday’s objective when it comes to investigating a local band of secretive commandos in remote Grizzly Harbor is clear – disband Alaska Force and arrest them, but she didn’t count on the diabolical temptation of Templeton Cross. He’s always been good at keeping his game face on and his emotions hidden, but working with Kate brings memories of losses, Templeton prefers to keep locked up tight. With pressure mounting and Christmas drawing closer, it’s a given that someone is going to get hurt.

This ‘Alaska Force’ romance is a slow burn romance that requires a lot of hard work as both parties are determined not to give in to their emotions, the electrical chemistry or the heat building up between them, but it seems the more they fight it, the harder they will fall. These strong, vibrant characters captures hearts and provides a delightfully entertaining courtship that makes readers chuckle. Lots of emotions – not matter how much the hero and heroine try to keep them locked down – flow the pages as Templeton and Kate try to uncover who is behind some mysterious incidents that surround the Alaska Force.

The plot is fast paced and full exciting events and snaky commentary that builds thrilling suspense and adrenaline pumping excitement through the story which keeps readers on the edge of their seat from beginning to end. Some ‘What the… twists and turns keeps readers guessing and a hero that spends his time trying to convince his careful, wary trooper that there is more to the holidays makes readers hold on tight to this intense, satisfying and entertaining holiday read.

Siege of Shadows by J.A. Andrews is the final installment of The Keeper Chronicles. Sini came from the streets and is now with the Keepers, but she feels she doesn't fit in. Will she be able to find a place to call home?

J.A. Andrews' storytelling is delightful, her characters alive, and her world vivid. Andrews has a unique way of bringing her characters forth and bringing them to life, and making you care for these people as if they are your family and friends. I don't usually get so emotionally attached, but Andrews' characters had my emotions running all over the place. I laughed, cried, got angry, and hopeful. This story has everything a great fantasy novel should have.

I love this trilogy so much that it has a place right next to my Tolkien books on my shelves, and there is no higher honor that I could give Andrews' story than that. This is a clean fantasy and a must read. I highly recommend Andrews' works. You will not be disappointed.

For some reason, Booklikes has JA Andrews' books under VC Andrews. I have contacted Booklikes numerous times about this issue, yet they refuse to resolve this situation. If anyone here knows how to resolve this issue, please let me know. Thanks.

Darkness never dies.

Hunted across the True Sea, haunted by the lives she took on the Fold, Alina must try to make a life with Mal in an unfamiliar land, all while keeping her identity as the Sun Summoner a secret. But she can't outrun her past or her destiny for long.

The Darkling has emerged from the Shadow Fold with a terrifying new power and a dangerous plan that will test the very boundaries of the natural world. With the help of a notorious privateer, Alina returns to the country she abandoned, determined to fight the forces gathering against Ravka. But as her power grows, Alina slips deeper into the Darkling's game of forbidden magic, and farther away from Mal. Somehow, she will have to choose between her country, her power, and the love she always thought would guide her--or risk losing everything to the oncoming storm.

Siege and Storm is the second book in The Grisha Trilogy by Leigh Bardugo. Book one, Shadow and Bone, is a New York Times bestseller, and book 3, Ruin and Rising, is an Amazon Best Book of the Year and a USA Today bestseller. This title has Common Core connections, and this deluxe paperback edition features bonus materials like an interview with Leigh Bardugo, a bonus short story, "The Tailor," and more.

Now that I sit back and write the review and must decide on a rating and what to say I realize how much of a love- hate relationship I had with this book.

I really, really love the Grishaverse that Bardugo created in this and Six of Crows. 

This book while so good and a lot of happened also seemed not much happened, or not much new,. But yet there was a lot of things, new things that happened and yet it gave me a bit of déjà vu from book one.

 A lot of time we spend in court, learning new things and getting ready for the big war with the Darkling. At court we see some familiar faces and find out their fate from the veers in last book.

Now to the characters.

I really enjoyed the Darkling for the most part last book and some in this but I come to the point where I’m just” …mmm ugh, yeah no” I don’t totally dislike him but defiantly don’t love him.

Mal. I really wanted to like him , I really did, I tried so hard and after all he gave up and lost for Alina I just wanted to like him, but I can’t ….. I really, really can’t.  I’m not even sure why I dislike him. I just do him and his whiny behavior.

Alina is another one that I can’t stand, she is selfish (she says she isn’t but she totally is),  she is power-hungry and can’t even be honest with herself it seems. The only thing for me, that she had going for her was her humor and snark.

Now the two people I care about the most in this entire series so far.

Genya, we don’t see too much of her but that didn’t matter I still lover her and hope we get more of her next book.

And someone new, Nikolai.  I really enjoyed Nikolai from the very first time we meet him, and hopefully we learn a lot more about him in next book. I love that he has so many layers to him but also felt bad for him at times.

Tolya and Tamar are also high up on my favorite list and hope to see more. While I would love to say the the end was surprising and shocking it really wasn’t. I saw it coming from the half way mark of the book .

Overall, love the magic and world and can’t get enough of the Grisha world.  Love Nikolai and Genya and a few others but really could care less what happens to Mal, Alina and maybe even the Darkling, but I still like him better than Alina.

I have a hard time rating this, but I think I go with 4 . I had some dislikes, yes but overall I still really enjoyed it.

4 ★

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