Review ~ The Glittering Court ~ Richelle Mead

The Glittering Court by Richelle Mead
The Glittering Court #1
Release Date: April 5, 2016
Genre: YA Fantasy, Historical, Romance
Source: Purchased Hardcover
Rating: 4.5 Bookworms
Challenges: #2016NewRelease
Goodreads

Synopsis
Big and sweeping, spanning from the refined palaces of Osfrid to the gold dust and untamed forests of Adoria, The Glittering Court tells the story of Adelaide, an Osfridian countess who poses as her servant to escape an arranged marriage and start a new life in Adoria, the New World. But to do that, she must join the Glittering Court.

Both a school and a business venture, the Glittering Court is designed to transform impoverished girls into upper-class ladies who appear destined for powerful and wealthy marriages in the New World. Adelaide naturally excels in her training, and even makes a few friends: the fiery former laundress Tamsin and the beautiful Sirminican refugee Mire. She manages to keep her true identity hidden from all but one: the intriguing Cedric Thorn, son of the wealthy proprietor of the Glittering Court.

When Adelaide discovers that Cedric is hiding a dangerous secret of his own, together they hatch a scheme to make the best of Adelaide's deception. Complications soon arise--first as they cross the treacherous seas from Osfrid to Adoria, and then when Adelaide catches the attention of a powerful governor.

But no complications will prove quite as daunting as the potent attraction simmering between Adelaide and Cedric. An attraction that, if acted on, would scandalize the Glittering Court and make them both outcasts in wild, vastly uncharted lands...

I've not read anything from Mead that I didn't love. I may not have been completely won over with Bloodlines but I ended up adoring that series. *sigh*Adrian*sigh* The Glittering Court won me over in the same way Vampire Academy did. I was immediately immersed in this new world - both historical and fantastical in origin. And Mead also had me entirely invested in Adelaide's life, as well as the other characters. desperate to know what was going to happen and whether everything would work out. 

A few other things that made The Glittering Court a pleasure to read:

• The parallels between Mead's fictional world of Osfrid and historical England as well as current geographical climes.
• The parallels between the class divisions in Osfird and those of today.
• The parallels between the religious persecution being suffered in Osfrid and the persecution suffered by many today, whether religious or otherwise.

The world building was glorious. From the regency-era feel of Osfrid to the frontier feel of Adoria to the gritty, desolate feel of a mining camp, I was able to see it all, feel it all in my mind. Mead took on quite the endeavor when creating this fantasy world set in the past, and she managed with aplomb. Even the idea of training lower class girls to step into marriage in the world of the nouveau riche was clever.

At about 2/3 through, I realized there was a familiar feel where the religion was concerned but that didn't affect my enjoyment. There were also a few things that were predictable but they didn't detract from the story either.

In the end, I was simply impressed with the story and Mead's ability to weave together all these threads and elements to convey a brilliant story. I'm eager for more!

Review ~ The Ruby Circle ~ Richelle Mead

The Ruby Circle
Bloodlines #6
Release Date:
Genre: YA Paranormal Romance
Source: Purchased Hardcover
Rating: 4.5 Bookworms
Goodreads

Synopsis
THEY WILL BE TESTED

Sydney Sage is an Alchemist, one of a group of humans who dabble in magic and serve to bridge the worlds of humans and vampires. They protect vampire secrets - and human lives.

Their forbidden romance exposed, Sydney and Adrian find themselves facing the wrath of both the Alchemists and the Moroi in this electrifying conclusion to Richelle Mead's bestselling Bloodlines series.

When the life of someone they both love is put on the line, Sydney risks everything to hunt down a deadly former nemesis. Meanwhile, she and Adrian becomes enmeshed in a puzzle that could hold the key to a shocking secret about spirit magic, a secret that could shake the entire Moroi world and alter their lives forever.

Don't miss their unforgettable final chapter...

LOVE WILL CONQUER ALL

The Ruby Circle is a solid ending for the Bloodlines series. Mead incorporated all the elements she's known for - intrigue, action, mythology, and romance - and tied them all together to render an exciting and satisfying story.

As I said in my Silver Shadows review, I admire the way Mead takes details, from over the course of the series, that a reader might think inconsequential and uses them to create drama and bring everything full circle. Having the entire cast, so to speak, only enhanced my enjoyment. They all joined forces to find Jill and figure out what the Alchemists were up to. There was magic and drama and swoons. I will admit to starting into this a little dismayed with Adrian once again. But he once again proved why he's so lovable. There was on thing Mead left unanswered where Adrian is concerned but it didn't take away from the story.

What I enjoyed most about The Ruby Circle, and Bloodlines overall, has been watching Sydney and Adrian grow as individuals. Sydney was so set in her strict and conservative Alchemist ways that it was heartening to see her open her mind, to use her gifts, and love openly. Adrian was this pompous Moroi royal and, okay, so he didn't lose all his pompousness...this is Adrian we're talking about...but he also opened up, displayed his vulnerabilities and grew into a much more responsible and mature young man.

So, obviously I liked how things ended even if I didn't want things to end. However, I was thrilled to see in the acknowledgements that Mead said we haven't see the last of these characters. And she reiterated this at RT when I spoke with her about it. She said there's nothing definite but that these characters refuse to leave her head. I said "Woohoo!"

That's What HE Said #28 ~ Thirsty Thursday & Hungry Hearts #7

That's What He Said is a weekly meme hosted by the lovely ladies @Chapter Break. Here's the deal: every Thursday, post a line from your book boyfriend to his heroine. Keep in mind, these are direct quotes from dialog in the books. The quote doesn't have to be romantic - just something our hunky hero said to his lucky lady. Be sure to link up over at Chapter Break as well.

My pick this week for That's What He Said is from:

The Ruby Circle by Richelle Mead

***

"Sydney," Adrian interrupted, cupping my face in his hands. "Never, ever think like that. I don't regret anything we've faced. Being with you is the best tings that's ever happened to me, the one perfect decision I've made in a lifetime of fumbling and poor judgment. I'd go through it all again to be by your side. Never doubt that. Never doubt how I feel about you."

*sigh*....Adrian....

*~*~*~*~*~*

"Is that them?" my mother called. "I thought I heard the door."
"It had better be," I said, taking a pan out of the oven and carefully setting it on the counter. "This roast is at peak deliciousness. I'm not waiting for them to dive in. It would be a crime. A declaration of war against fine cuisine everywhere."

No one does melodramatic quite like Adrian. But I'd deal with it to see him in an apron in my kitchen. ;)

Travel by the Book ~ Seattle

Welcome to Travel by the Book. I know for most of us, reading is an escape. One of the things I love about reading it getting to travel. And I'm sure I'm not the only reader who has wished to take a trip inspired by a place I read about in a book. I've been fortunate in that my Hubs is kind enough to indulge me and take me to said places. This is where I share those vacations that were inspired by a book.

***The Book***

Y'all know Twilight was a game changer for me. It lead me to Richelle Mead's Vampire Academy...which, in turn, lead me to Mead's Georgina Kincaid series. What? I had to read something while I waited for Rose & Dimitri's next adventure! ;) And honestly, Georgina's story kept me more than entertained. I met one of my all-time favorite book boyfriends in this series...Seth Mortenson. There's an outstanding cast of characters, both angelic and devilish. ;) And who could resist reading about a succubus who hates her "job" but actually enjoys her job at the Emerald City Bookstore. Reading about Georgina's antics in and around Seattle made me dream of this humid, lush city that has quite a bit of history and entertainment to offer.

***The Travel***

Before I share photos from our trip, I wanted to say a few other things about Seattle. One, I went to TWO different bookstores hoping to find the one that inspired Mead's Emerald City Bookstore. I went to one in the Queen Anne district of the city. It was a small, quaint bookshop but not the one Emerald City was modeled after, even if Emerald City is supposedly in Queen Anne. We also went to Elliott Bay Bookstore. It was incredible! Three stories set of books looking out on Elliott Bay...I loved it! Sadly, I didn't take photos of either of these bookstores while I was there. :( TWO, I've been back to Seattle twice more since our first visit because I love the city. But when we went with our kids, and walked over to where Elliott Bay Bookstore had been, we were told it had moved. *sigh*

Here's Pike Place Fish Market...where they really do throw fish!

Puget Sound is behind me here...there are so many great places to walk to and by. And many, many fish places. Too bad I can't eat seafood!

Of course, we can't visit a city famous for it's brew pubs without visiting one!

We couldn't believe the hills...I read about them, but seeing is believing! Everything slopes down to the ocean.

Here I am in front of the original Starbucks Coffeehouse. It was founded in a good year...1971. We're the same age! ;) Oh, and the entertainment being offered out front was fantastic!

My hubs took this photo of me without my knowledge. He'd gone to get us lunch. I, of course, was taking advantage of the opportunity to read in the park. It'd be something if I could remember what I was reading...but I can't. *ha* This is in and around Pioneer Square...a location where Georgina meets Jerome (her demon boss who looks exactly like John Cusack) and Carter, Jerome's wayward angel friend, at a bar quite often. :)

It was a fabulous trip! (even if our luggage took a detour) We didn't even get rained on. And like I said, I fell in love with Seattle and we've been back! There are other books I've since read that are set in Seattle, so it's been so much fun traveling there and seeing the city from the page come to life in person!

Review ~ Silver Shadows ~ Richelle Mead

Silver Shadows
Bloodlines #5
Release Date: July 29, 2014
Genre: YA Paranormal Romance
Source: Purchased Hardcover
Rating: 4.5 Bookworms
Goodreads

Synopsis
Sydney Sage is an Alchemist, one of a group of humans who dabble in magic and serve to bridge the worlds of humans and vampires. They protect vampire secrets--and human lives.

In The Fiery Heart, Sydney risked everything to follow her gut, walking a dangerous line to keep her feelings hidden from the Alchemists.

Now in the aftermath of an event that ripped their world apart, Sydney and Adrian struggle to pick up the pieces and find their way back to each other. But first, they have to survive.

For Sydney, trapped and surrounded by adversaries, life becomes a daily struggle to hold on to her identity and the memories of those she loves. Meanwhile, Adrian clings to hope in the face of those who tell him Sydney is a lost cause, but the battle proves daunting as old demons and new temptations begin to seize hold of him...

Their worst fears now a chilling reality, Sydney and Adrian face their darkest hour in this heart-pounding fifth installment in the New York Times bestselling Bloodlines series, where all bets are off.

Silver Shadows was an intense read. With Sydney suffering at the hands of the Alchemists and Adrian suffering at the hands of Spirit, I spent much of the book on edge. There is so much going on and so many unanswered questions. Why do the Alchemists have to be so bigoted in their beliefs? What's going going on in Adrian's head? Is there a conspiracy between certain factions?

I spent the first half of Silver Shadows on pins and needles wondering how Sydney was going to survive her situation. The Alchemists are rather ruthless in their methods and Sydney broke a cardinal rule. But she is nothing if not resourceful. I shouldn't have been surprised by her logic and cunning. I also spent half the book wanting to punch Adrian in the throat. I've been enchanted by him from the beginning but his behavior was over-the-top selfish and made me steaming mad.

Then, naturally, Adrian redeems himself in a grand way. *sigh* Oh, there's still much intrigue afoot and he and Sydney are far from being out of danger, but at least I was back to wanting to hug him rather than throttle him.

It was exciting to have Marcus back in the mix and I also enjoyed seeing Lissa, Rose, and Dimitri - although it was far too short a time. I have a feeling they'll play a greater role in the final installment as things come to a head and everything is illuminated.

One thing I really enjoyed was how Mead pulled in elements from previous installments - things that seemed innocuous or that made me wonder why they'd been included. These elements were made relevant and useful.

I'm anxious to see how it's all going to play out - to have all my questions answered and to see the final image as the last brush strokes are laid. Mead certainly knows how to create excitement and suspense. It's a good thing I have The Ruby Circle lined up. ;)

Teaser Tuesdays ~ #67

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

***

The Ruby Circle
Bloodlines #6

THEY WILL BE TESTED

Sydney Sage is an Alchemist, one of a group of humans who dabble in magic and serve to bridge the worlds of humans and vampires. They protect vampire secrets - and human lives.

Their forbidden romance exposed, Sydney and Adrian find themselves facing the wrath of both the Alchemists and the Moroi in this electrifying conclusion to Richelle Mead's bestselling Bloodlines series.

When the life of someone they both love is put on the line, Sydney risks everything to hunt down a deadly former nemesis. Meanwhile, she and Adrian becomes enmeshed in a puzzle that could hold the key to a shocking secret about spirit magic, a secret that could shake the entire Moroi world and alter their lives forever.

Don't miss their unforgettable final chapter...

LOVE WILL CONQUER ALL

***Teaser***

"The two of them made a striking combo, one dark and one golden, both utterly fearless in the face of danger. They were beautiful in the deadliness."

Teaser Tuesdays ~ #66

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

***

Silver Shadows
Bloodlines #5

Sydney Sage is an Alchemist, one of a group of humans who dabble in magic and serve to bridge the worlds of humans and vampires. They protect vampire secrets--and human lives.

In The Fiery Heart, Sydney risked everything to follow her gut, walking a dangerous line to keep her feelings hidden from the Alchemists.

Now in the aftermath of an event that ripped their world apart, Sydney and Adrian struggle to pick up the pieces and find their way back to each other. But first, they have to survive.

For Sydney, trapped and surrounded by adversaries, life becomes a daily struggle to hold on to her identity and the memories of those she loves. Meanwhile, Adrian clings to hope in the face of those who tell him Sydney is a lost cause, but the battle proves daunting as old demons and new temptations begin to seize hold of him...

Their worst fears now a chilling reality, Sydney and Adrian face their darkest hour in this heart-pounding fifth installment in the New York Times bestselling Bloodlines series, where all bets are off.

***Teaser***

"First of all, put both hands back on the wheel. Second, I'll give you credit for being a brooding vampire with phenomenal magical powers, but even you don't have that kind of sixth sense."

**Georgina Read-a-Thon ~ Books 2-4**

In each book of the Georgina series, you get mystery, action, sex, snark, with everything moving toward Georgie getting what her heart most desires. Once again, I'm going to share some of my favorite quotes from the next books in Georgie's series, Succubus on Top, Succubus Dreams and Succubus Heat. I hope it will entice you into reading this fabulous series!

***

Succubus on Top
“Dad told Uncle Seth not to screw things up,” she informed me as we washed our hands. “He said even if Uncle Seth is famous, him getting a woman like you defies belief.”

I laughed and smoothed down the skirt of my dress. “I don’t know about that. I don’t think your dad gives your uncle enough credit."

Brandy gave me a sage look, worthy of someone much older. “Uncle Seth spent last Valentine’s Day at a library.” 

***

“You'd think an angel who hung around with employees of evil would be a good influence, but at times, he seemed worse than we were.” 

***

Wait,” he said. “That’s not a word.”

I looked down to where, in a moment of desperation, I’d played zixic on a triple-word-score space.

“Uh, sure it is.”

“What’s it mean?”

“It’s sort of like…quixotic, but with more…”

“Bullshit?”

I laughed out loud. I’d never heard him swear before.

“More zeal. Hence the z.”

“Uh-huh. Use it in a sentence.”

“Um…’You are a zixic writer.’“

“I don’t believe this.”

“That you’re zixic?”

“That you’re trying to cheat at Scrabble.” He leaned back against my couch, shaking his head. “I mean, I was ready to accept the whole evil thing, but this is kind of extreme.” 

***

Succubus Dreams
“What kind of sick bastard burns down a Christmas tree?”

Hugh and I exchanged glances. “That’s an excellent question,” I said dryly.

Peter looked startled. “Was it you?” he asked Hugh.

“No,” said the imp. “It was Carter.”

“Your Christmas tree was burned down by an angel?” asked Cody.

“Yup. The irony isn’t lost on me” 

***

“This is a, uh, friendship ring right?”

“Yeah, don’t worry. If I propose, you’ll know it. For one thing, I’ll be hyperventilating.” A sly smile—surprisingly sexy—turned up his lips. “And it’ll be a ruby.”

“Rubies? No diamonds? Too expensive for the old writer’s salary, huh?”

He made a disparaging grunt at that. “No, I just think diamonds are common, that’s all. If I get married, it’ll be because something uncommon is occurring. Besides, you wear a lot of red, right? I know how important it is for your accessories to match.” 

***

“This is insane," I said blankly. "I'm the instrument of an all-powerful primordial deity's wave of chaos and destruction."

"That's kind of extreme" said Dante jovially. "It's not like you work for Google or anything.” 

***

Succubus Heat
“How come when mortals want things, their only option is to make a deal with Hell and sell their soul? Why can’t they make deals with God in exchange for good behavior?"

It was another of those rare moments when I’d surprised Carter. I waited for the glib answer I’d mentioned to Seth, something along the lines of goodness being its own reward. The angel considered for several seconds. "Humans make those deals all the time," he said finally. "They just don’t make them with God."

"Then who are they making them with?" I exclaimed.

"Themselves.” 

***

The best jury of your peers that you’ll ever find is…well, you. Only you know what you’re capable of and what you want to be.” 

***

“I stared. "Canadian Satanists? You're sending me to a group of Canadian Satanists?”