The Assassin's Blade by Sarah J. Maas

The Assassin's Blade by Sarah J. Maas
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

#BecRereads2018

These are well-written, captivating novellas, and I'm a big fan of reading them prior to starting THRONE OF GLASS, though I know I'm in the minority here. The majority of readers recommend you read book one and/or two before you visit these novellas, but I like reading this series best in chronological order, which starts with 0.1.

Now, that being said, if you are wanting to try out this series and aren't quite sure, or aren't a huge fantasy reader, please follow everyone else's suggestion and start with book one (THRONE OF GLASS), as I don't want to turn you off to the world before you even get to the first full book. I don't think that will happen, but since some people prefer full length novels, this is definitely a non-traditional approach to entering the world.

These 5 novellas are all captivating in their own ways. They introduce characters and locations that you don't have the opportunity to see right away if you start with book one. Also, each novella has a purpose, with a clear beginning, middle, and end, so it's not like some novellas you read where nothing really happens other than following around a favorite character. Each has its own purpose and story, but they combine nicely into one novel, which sets you up for what you're going to read when you crack open THRONE OF GLASS. In fact, some of Celaena's backstory is so key to who she is at the start of book one, that it really helps me to understand her and her choices. She's all wrath and hard edges, and while I enjoy that, I especially appreciate understanding why.

If you are a fan of this series and haven't yet tried the novellas (gasp!), then you are really missing out.

Book 364 read in 2018

Pages: 448

Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder

Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This was a solid, interesting YA fantasy novel about a murderer who is given a second chance at life as the commissioner's taster, ensuring the man doesn't get poisoned. Yelena has to consume poisons, initially, to learn how they taste, smell, and react, which is not even remotely fun (for her).

Beneath that part of the storyline flows a small thread of magic, which is attention-getting, though I think that's why I can't give this book 5 stars. The normal world building is decent, but the magical world building definitely leaves a lot to be desired. Also, I wish, for the length of the book, that just a bit more had actually happened in it.

I believe I'll give book 2 a try, but I considered not continuing on, as I still feel disconnected from this story and world. It's like I either can't or just don't want to emotionally invest in it, which is why I didn't give it 4 stars. I followed along, but this book never really grabbed me by the throat and squeezed. As a result, I took a bit of interest in it but was never fully engaged. So after considering that last statement, I actually don't think I'll move on to book 2 after all.

Book 260 read in 2018

Pages: 409

Hellhound on His Trail

Author: Hampton Sides
Audio Hours: 15.2 hours
Pages: 480


Cover blurb:
On April 4, 1968, James Earl Ray shot Martin Luther King at the Lorraine Motel. The nation was shocked, enraged, and saddened. As chaos erupted across the country and mourners gathered at King's funeral, investigators launched a sixty-five day search for King’s assassin that would lead them across two continents. With a blistering, cross-cutting narrative that draws on a wealth of dramatic unpublished documents, Hampton Sides, bestselling author of Ghost Soldiers, delivers a non-fiction thriller in the tradition of William Manchester's The Death of a President and Truman Capote's In Cold Blood. With Hellhound On His Trail, Sides shines a light on the largest manhunt in American history and brings it to life for all to see.


My take:
This is a great book. Vibrant and detailed without being too boring. I listened to the book and wasn't bored at any point. The author is thorough, he does a great job intertwining all the accounts and information without it being too cumbersome for the reader. Anyone will like this book, especially those with an affinity for history.