Prince of Thorns by Mark Lawrence - non-spoiler review

Hi booklovers

Today, I'll be reviewing Prince of Thorns by Mark Lawrence.

This book and I had a very bumpy start. The first time I picked it up, I had never read any grimdark fantasy, hardly any adult fantasy and I hadn't discovered audiobooks yet. These three things made me put down the book after only a couple of chapters.

Last year I decided to give it another try and I'm so glad I did. I gave it 3 or 3.5 stars but somehow I never got around to picking up the second book. Because I wanted to read King of Thorns during the MedievalAThon I decided to reread this one beforehand.

I'm happy to say I enjoyed it even more the second time around. I think the audiobook played a big part in that too. I also knew what to expect when it came to the writing style.

The first thing I want to say is: holy crap, I never thought a 14-year old boy (main character) could be so gritty and morally grey.

Prince of Thorns tells the story of Jorg - a 14-year old boy who leads a band of brothers in his quest for revenge SPOILERS on the count who had his mother and little brother killed. He almost died as well and he has the emotional and physical scars to show for it.

It was fascinating to read how all the men he leads look up to him even though he is a lot younger than they are. He leads his group with a great deal of discipline. On the other hand, though, they do some extremely gruesome things most of the time as well.

Jorg is a very funny, but oh so dark character who only thinks about himself, his pleasures (not only of the flesh, also the killing). We get to know him trough two different timelines: one is the present day timeline and the other takes place four years earlier. In those flashbacks we get to see the events that made Jorg become the person he is today. Even though he has a very twisted sense of right or wrong I couldn't help but like him.

Another character I really like is Makin. He used to be captain of the King's Guard before he decided to follow Jorg. He is one of the few people Jorg really trusts.

There is only one character Jorg himself looks up to and that is the Nuban. Jorg considers him to be like a father since his own father doesn't much care for him (and that's putting it mildly!).

This story is fast-paced and action-packed, but it's definitely not for the faint of heart.

Have you read this book or the trilogy? What did you think of it? Let me know in the comments.

Bye for now

Annelies

Quick Fire Fantasy Tag

Hi booklovers

It's been ages since I've done a book tag, so today I'm going to do the 'Quick Fire Fantasy Tag'.

I found this tag on ThriceReads blog. I wasn't officially tagged but I wanted to do this anyway.

Rules:

*Thank the person who tagged you and link back to their post.

*Link to the creator's blog (thebookwormdreamer) in your post.

*Answer the prompts below - all fantasy books!

* Tag 5 others to take part.

*Enjoy!

A 5 star book

I've only read two trilogies by Robin Hobb but all three books in the Liveship Traders trilogy were 5 star reads. 

Always going to recommend

The friendship in this book is so good, the heist is so well developped, it's action-packed, it's got lots of humour.

Own it but haven't read it

Ever since I've heard Holly from HollyHeartsbooks rave about Joe Abercrombie, I've been intrigued by this book. I'm going to read it soon :-)

Would read again

I'm actually going to read it again in preparation of the release of Darkdawn in September.

In another world

Even though this book is huge I still enjoyed it a lot. It has a complex but fascinating magic system.

Back on earth

This was the first urban fantasy series I read and I really enjoyed it. Highly recommend :-)

I tag:

* Nadine (nadsbooknook)

* Holly (Hollyheartsbooks)

* Cat (brewsandreviews)

* Kat (Kattalks)

* Jade (bedtimebookworm)

* Everyone else who wants to do this :-)

What's a fantasy book you always recommend? Which fantasy book would you like to reread or have you reread (multiple times)? Let me know in the comments!

Bye for now

Annelies

WWW Wednesday July 24th - Readathon Updates

Hi booklovers

"Welcome to WWW Wednesday! This meme was formerly hosted by MizB at A Daily Rhythm and revived on Taking on a World of Words. Just answer the three questions below and leave a link to your post in the comments for others to look at. No blog? No problem! Just leave a comment with your responses. Please, take some time to visit the other participants and see what others are reading. So, let’s get to it!"

I found this on Nadine's blog.

The Three Ws are: 

What are you currently reading?

What did you recently finish reading?

What do you think you’ll read next?

Currently reading

This is the fourth week of both the MedievalAThon and the IronTomeAThon.

I finally started Malice by John Gwynne.

I tried to read this a couple of years ago, but I found it too confusing and I couldn't invest enough time in it to fully immerse myself into the story, so I put it down. But I definitely wanted to give it another try. So, this week I decided to pick it up again. 

I'm only 90 pages in and it's going very slow because my copy has very small print and I don't have the audiobook for this one (I can't find it anywhere :-s ). It's also a story that has a lot of characters. I'm writing down all the character names, just so I can keep track of them. Hopefully I'll be able to finish it before the end of the month/readathons *crosses fingers*.

This one would award me the rank of Queen for the MedievalAThon and get me some leggings. For the IronTomeAThon I would count it towards King's Landing (and then I would use King of Thorns for Asshai). This would also grant me 628 points.

Recently finished

Last week I finished King of Thorns by Mark Lawrence. At first I didn't really know how I felt about it. I didn't feel as connected to Jorg as I did in Prince of Thorns. But I let it sink in a bit and I wrote a review about it. While writing that review I realised I did really enjoy it.

I became a knight with a crown *LOL* in the MedievalAThon. This goes towards the prompt of Asshai for the IronTomeAThon and I earned 597 points.

Because I felt like my reading was going so slow, I decided to pick up a graphic novel. I have read Alax + Ada and Girls by the Luna Brothers. Last week I went to Brugge and I visited a comicbook store and they recommended The Sword, so I bought the first two volumes.

I picked up The Sword Volume 1 to help me get a cloak and the rank of countess for the MedievalAThon.

I really enjoyed this. I really like the artwork, it's very 'calm'. It's also very similar to the artwork of their other graphic novels.

This awards me 100 points for the IronTomeAthon. (Graphic Novels only count for 100 points with a maximum of 5 graphic novels.)

I immediately picked up Volume 2 and this got me a sword and the rank of princess for the MedievalAThon and it again awarded me 100 points for the IronTomeAThon.

I'm definitely going to pick up the next two volumes very soon.

What's next?

Malice will probably keep me occupied until the end of the readathons so I'm not 100% sure yet what I'll pick up afterwards.

I'm going to take my N.E.W.T.s in August (you can find my tentative TBR here) and I think I'm going to start with my reread of Godsgrave by Jay Kristoff.

How's your reading going? Let me know in the comments.

Bye for now

Annelies

N.E.W.T.s readathon TBR

Hi booklovers

Even though I'm still participating in both the MedievalAThon and the IronTomeAThon I want to talk about the N.E.W.T. readathon that will be taking place in August. This will take place during the entire month of August and is hosted by Book Roast. You can find the announcement video here.

After completing 9 exams for my O.W.L.s I am allowed to sit the exams for the following subjects:

*Ancient Runes

*Arithmancy

*Charms

*Defence Against the Dark Arts

*Herbology

*History of Magic

*Muggle Studies

*Potions

*Transfiguration

I was able to sit all the exams needed for my career as a librarian. To succeed in becoming a librarian, I have to get the following grades in these subjects:

O in Ancient Runes: 

A: Ehwaz (partnership) read a book recommended by a friend. 

E: A book written in the past tense. 

O: A book that has been on your TBR for ages. 

E in Defence Against the Dark Arts:

A: A book that's black under the dust jacket.

E: Gilderoy's memory charm. (Take a pen) A book that you just remember from your TBR.

E in history of Magic:

A: Read a fantasy. 

E: Read a book that includes a map. 

Since I'm already doing two readathons, I'm just going to focus on the subjects and grades I need for my exams. I already require 7 books for that :-s

I'm not really going to do a TBR except for some books I was already going to read.

Ancient Runes:

A: The Blinding Knife by Brent Weeks. The whole Lightbringer series has been highly recommended by Nadine.

E: Quite a lot of books on my TBR are written in the past tense.

O: Most of my books have been on my TBR for ages.

DADA:

A: I'll have to check which of my books are black under the dust jacket. Maybe I'll pick one of my unread Fairyloot books for this.

E: Aurora Rising by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff. This is one of the most recent additions to my TBR and I really want to read it.

History of Magic:

A: Godsgrave by Jay Kristoff (this will be a reread in preparation for the release of Darkdawn.)

E: Emperor of Thorns by Mark Lawrence. The advantage of reading mostly fantasy books is that most of them have a map :-)

Are you taking part in the N.E.W.T.s readathon? Are you aiming for a career? Let me know in the comments.

Bye for now

Annelies

Mid Year Book Freak Out Tag | 2019 edition

Hi booklovers

Since we've passed the midway point of the year, I thought it'd be fun to do this tag. 

This tag was originally created by Chami (ReadLikeWildfire) and Earl Grey Books. I read about it on Nadine's blog.

Best book you've read so far in 2019.

I'm going to cheat a bit for this one, because there are already a couple of books that will make it to my best books of 2019 list at the end of the year.

Days of Blood and Starlight

Dreams of Gods and Monsters

The Mad Ship

Ship of Destiny

Nevernight

(Even though this is a reread, I'm still including it.)

Best sequel you've read so far in 2019.

Besides Days of Blood and Starlight and The Mad Ship, this one:

The Risk

New release you haven't read, but want to.

Even though I've been a bit disappointed with my rereads of Caraval and Legendary, I still want to read Finale. I'm just not sure when yet.

Most anticipated releases for the second half of the year.

Darkdawn

The Toll

Starsight

Biggest disappointment.

The Dream Thieves

I originally started this back in October 2018, but I couldn't get into it, so I put it down. I gave it another try in March, but after a couple of chapters I decided to DNF it because it just wasn't the story for me.

I've also been disappointed in my rereads of Caraval and Legendary, I enjoyed them more the first time around.

Biggest surprise.

One Word Kill

I'd only read one book by Mark Lawrence, Prince of Thorns (I'just the second book in the trilogy, King of Thorns). So I was unsure of what to expect with this one, since it is a YA sci-fi story. I listened to it on audio and I was pleasantly surprised. Being an 80s kid myself, I found the atmosphere and the setting to be really cool.

Favourite new author (debut or new to you).

Brent Weeks. I'm very curious to continue with his Lightbringer series and to start his Night Angel trilogy.

Newest fictional crush.

Bancroft Mills from Shacking Up by Helena Hunting.

Newest favourite character.

Malta Vestrit from The Mad Ship and Ship of Destiny (I didn't like her in Ship of Magic) by Robin Hobb.

Waxillian and Wayne from The Alloy of Law by Brandon Sanderson.

Book that made you cry.

Charade

Book that made you happy.

Shacking Up by Helena Hunting.

Most beautiful book you've bought (or received) this year.

Fool's Errand

What books do you need to read before the end of the year?

 The Handmaid's Tale

 Emperor of Thorns

 The Blinding Knife

 Red Rising

 Leviathan Wakes

 Senlin Ascends

Kings of the Wyld

Malice

These are a few of the books I would like to read before the end of the year.

I also have a couple of rereads I need to do before the next one comes out.

 Godsgrave

Scythe

Thunderhead

This is what my reading year so far looks like. Here's to a second half of the reading year that's just as good as the first half.

Bye for now

Annelies

WWW Wednesday July 17th - Readathon updates

Hi booklovers

"Welcome to WWW Wednesday! This meme was formerly hosted by MizB at A Daily Rhythm and revived on Taking on a World of Words. Just answer the three questions below and leave a link to your post in the comments for others to look at. No blog? No problem! Just leave a comment with your responses. Please, take some time to visit the other participants and see what others are reading. So, let’s get to it!"

I found this on Nadine's blog.

The Three Ws are: 

What are you currently reading?

What did you recently finish reading?

What do you think you’ll read next?

Currently reading

This is the third week of both the MedievalAThon and the IronTomeAThon.

On Monday I started King of Thorns by Mark Lawrence and I'm currently on page 306 out of 597. 

I feel so slow because it took me nearly 20 chapters before I realised that when it says 'Four years earlier' the entire chapter is a flashback and when it says 'Wedding Day' it is the present day *insert face palm emoji here*.

Now that I've figured it out, I'm actually enjoying the book a lot more!

I'm alternating between listening to the audiobook and reading the physical copy.

This goes towards the prompt of King's Landing for the IronTomeAThon and the prompt that will earn me a crown in the MedievalAThon and grant me the rank of knight (meaning I've read three books).

This is only the second book I'm reading for the IronTomeAThon.

Recently finished

The first book I read for both readathons was Nevernight by Jay Kristoff. 

This is the second time I've read this and it is still a very solid 5 star read. I'm rereading NN and Godsgrave in preparation for the release of Darkdawn in September. I'm going to want to read that one as soon as it comes out, even though I know my heart is will be ripped to pieces and I'll probably suffer from a major bookhangover.

I love this book, it's dark, it's gritty, it's graphic and it has tons of humour. And even though I knew what would happen towards the end it still got to me big time!

MedievalAThon: I earned the rank of peasant and my daggers with this book.

IronTomeAThon: Oldtown + 428 points.

Because I knew nothing fantasy related would live up to NN immediately after finishing it, I decided to pick up a contemporary NA story: Masquerade by Nyrae Dawn. 

I enjoyed it and it was just what I needed to not go into into a reading slump. This is the final book in the Games trilogy and we follow Maddox, Layne's (the MC from the second book) brother. All three books are companion novels with appearances of the characters from the previous books. Since this is the third one, I can't say much more about the plot. What I can say is that both MC's have their pasts haunting them and they need to find ways to deal with it. This one leans heavily on the one-night-stand turning into something more trope. It was the right balance between angst, drama and sexy times (without the sexual content being too graphic).

Then I read my second book for the Medievalathon, Legendary by Stephanie Garber. 

Even though this is also a reread it took me much longer to finish than I'd anticipated :-s I also didn't enjoy it as much as the first time around. I think my reading tastes have changed a lot over the last two years. This makes me fear for Finale, the last book in the trilogy. I've chosen that one for the prompt to earn me a cape, but I'm not sure if I'll be picking it up this month.

MedievalAThon: I earned the rank of squire and a breastplate with this one.

IronTomeAThon: nothing because this is YA.

What's next?

I still have a few books I want to read for both readathons, but I'm not sure which one I'll be picking up. Here are some of the most likely ones:

The Blinding Knife by Brent Weeks.

Malice by John Gwynne.

Kings of the Wyld by Nicholas Eames.

Traitor's Blade by Sebastien de Castell.

Any suggestions on what I should pick up first? Let me know in the comments.

Bye for now

Annelies