Reviews: Mistborn 2, 3 - Brandon Sanderson

Mistborn 2

Genre: Fantasy
Pages: 796
Published: 2008

The impossible has been accomplished. The Lord Ruler – the man who claimed to be god incarnate and brutally ruled the world for a thousand years – has been vanquished. But Kelsier, the hero who masterminded that triumph, is dead too, and now the awesome task of building a new world has been left to his young protégé, Vin, the former street urchin who is now the most powerful Mistborn in the land, and to the idealistic young nobleman she loves.

As Kelsier’s protégé and slayer of the Lord Ruler she is now venerated by a budding new religion, a distinction that makes her intensely uncomfortable. Even more worrying, the mists have begun behaving strangely since the Lord Ruler died, and seem to harbor a strange vaporous entity that haunts her.

 Stopping assassins may keep Vin’s Mistborn skills sharp, but it’s the least of her problems. Luthadel, the largest city of the former empire, doesn’t run itself, and Vin and the other members of Kelsier’s crew, who lead the revolution, must learn a whole new set of practical and political skills to help. It certainly won’t get easier with three armies – one of them composed of ferocious giants – now vying to conquer the city, and no sign of the Lord Ruler’s hidden cache of atium, the rarest and most powerful allomantic metal.

As the siege of Luthadel tightens, an ancient legend seems to offer a glimmer of hope. But even if it really exists, no one knows where to find the Well of Ascension or what manner of power it bestows.

My thoughts:

After a blurb like that, I am so not gonna write a plot summary. First, I finished book 1 many many months ago so it took some time to get into this book, even with the summary. And I really should have finished the review when I read this one.

Book 1 ended with, well an ending, and this book picks 1 or 2 years later. Elend is trying to build a government, Vin keeps saying no to his proposals, and armies are coming to destroy them.

I like Elend, he will rather sit and read a book than do anything else, my kind of guy. Vin, she is harder to get and I am not sure that I even like her, or see the passion between these two.

Still the world is very cool, ash falling, mists killing, and strange powers that you get from swallowing and burning metals. He did really well there with his creation.

Since I can't remember how I exactly felt about book 1, then I can't say if I liked this one better or not, but I think I did not, because not much happen here. They mostly think about things and tries to make the world better.

Mistborn 3

Pages: 748

Published: 2009

Who is the Hero of Ages?
To end the Final Empire & restore freedom, Vin killed the Lord Ruler. As a result, the Deepness--the lethal form of the ubiquitous mists--is back, along with increasingly heavy ashfalls & more powerful earthquakes. Humanity appears doomed. Having escaped death at the climax of The Well of Ascension only by becoming a Mistborn himself, Emperor Elend Venture hopes to find clues left behind by the Lord Ruler that will allow him to save the world. Vin is consumed with guilt at having been tricked into releasing the mystic force known as Ruin from the Well. Ruin wants to end the world. Its near omniscience & ability to warp reality make stopping it seem impossible. She can’t even discuss it with Elend lest Ruin learn their plans!

Mistborn trilogy's conclusion fulfills the 1st two books' promise. Revelations abound, connections rooted in early chapters click into place, & surprises, as satisfying as they are stunning, blossom like fireworks to dazzle & delight. All leads to a finale unmatched for audacious originality that will leave readers rubbing their eyes in wonder, as if awaking from a dream.

My thoughts:

I actually liked this one best of all the three books (I think), but I still gave it the worst grade since I hated the end. I closed the book, thoughts wtf!? and regretted having read the series at all. It really clouded my thoughts and I can only think about how I wish I had not read the books.

Anyway, they (that is Vin) fucked up and released a God that wants to destroy a world. The ash is falling faster, the Kolloss wants to kill everyone, Mists are killing and everything is coming to an end.

Vin is doing what she always do, working her magic and jumping around (still not like her), Elend who is a Mistborn now too is trying to save the few he can (him I like even more).

This book has more action and a lots of no way! moments. Pieces are falling together and a lot of secrets are being told. About the world Lord Ruler created 1000 years ago, and the two Gods that created it all. Those aspects I really enjoyed, so well done.

Then came the end, first wtf!? and then, way too sweet how everything falls into place (which was not what bothered me, but hey still very sweet). Can't tell you the WTF, will spoil things.

So should you read the books....perhaps, but I do warn you, you might get the same wtf! moment I did and regret having read them at all. Arghhhh I hate endings like that!!!

I am just hoping I will not feel this miserable after finishing WOT, I am so scared now, and will blame Sanderson, even if it was Jordan that said it should be so.

Flash Fiction 21

I usually post these over at my other blog (http://blodeuedd83.livejournal.com) But today I will post it here, so perhaps if there is someone who still have not heard about this then you want to join. It's really fun!

Amy C over at Romance Book Wyrm and Dottie over at Tink's Place have come up with the idea for a Monday Morning Flash Fiction challenge. Each Monday a new picture prompt will be posted and if you choose to participate - you post your story on Friday - 350 words, give or take. 

(pic removed)

The Assassin

by Blodeuedd

He was the one that belonged to the night. He was the one that came into your house when you were sleeping. He was the one that cut your throat.

It was an art really. You did not just kill a man. Now first you had to know things about the person you were meant to kill, you had to study him, his friends and where he went. Did he sleep alone? Did he have servants near? Some did not care and killed them all, but those were the sloppy ones, the ones that eventually got caught. And Christijian was not sloppy. He had been trained since he was a young boy found in the streets. He had learnt about poisons, weapons, and he has been trained to fool the best. He could impersonate the rich and the brightest. He was everything a man in his job should be. He also knew how to protect his back from fellow artists that wanted a piece of the cake. He killed without remorse, but he still took care. If he had a job to do, he did the job, and he was not paid to kill anyone else so why even do it. Or perhaps he did have a conscience after all that said it was wrong.

He had spied on her for weeks, Lady Alena. She was beautiful, and rich, and she had the king’s eye. Therefore the queen wanted her dead and had hired the best to do it. He knew what she slept in, he knew that she liked to read before going to sleep. He knew what she liked for breakfast, and he knew which time would be the best to take her life. During those weeks he did have doubts. She was so young, so full of life, and she deserved more. But he knew that if he did not do it someone else would, and that someone would not be as nice as he. He did not want her to suffer, or worse.

He opened the window and crawled in without making a noise. He watched her for a moment while she sleep peacefully, and then he took out his bag. He blew some powder into her nose and watched her breathe slower and slower. She faded away without realizing it. Her mind already in a coma. She never felt a thing. That was not what the queen had wanted but screw the queen. She would get hers. He smiled where he stood and touched her cold chin. Then he sighed and went out the way he came. He had a new mark, this very night a messenger had come to him. The queen would be dead within a month. Lady Alena would not die for nothing.

It never did hit him that he could have saved her.

Review: No Place to Run - Maya Banks

KGI, book 2

Genre: Romantic Suspense
Pages: 352
Published: 2010 Berkley

The last person Sam Kelly expected to save was Sophie Lundgren. Once they shared a brief, intense affair while Sam was undercover and then she vanished. She's spent the last few months on the run, knowing that any mistake would cost her both her life and that of their unborn child. Now she's resurfaced with a warning for Sam: this time, he's the one in danger.

Plot:

Sam was in town to spy on an arms dealer and while there he had a passionate fling with a woman. A woman he 5 months later helps out of a lake, half-drowned and pregnant with his child. And he tells him that they both are in danger.

My thoughts:

I have not read much from this genre, make that only 2 books before that fits the category. But I like this romance sub-genre, because action is always good.

This is book 2, but I could jump right in and did not feel like I had missed anything. It's about the Kelly Group that takes on government jobs, and private jobs, things that no one else can manage. The 6 brothers are all big, military trained and ready to kick some serious ass. Nothing was mentioned about book 1, except for the couple, so no spoilers either.

Sam Kelly was a great hero, protective, and strong. But Sophie was no weakling either, no she had been on the run for 5 months hiding, and all this while pregnant. I really liked her, she was so very protective and only wanted to save her child. Together they were one strong couple. Still it was not easy, he was unsure if she was lying or not, and she was unsure that he wanted to protect her. The passion was there in the beginning, 5 months later, then it is more tricky, they will have a lot to go through, and to really get to know each other.

The action was always there. Hiding from whoever was after her, taking them on, and then, ok I will not say anything more, but lots of action going on at the end. I like it intense.

My thoughts and recommendation:

I am feeling sweet and giving this one a 4 because at one time I did have a hard time putting it down, it got intense. There is action, some hot passion, because these two do want each other, doubts, and some good old family time. I warmed up to the Kelly family at once, and I did want more when I was finished. A great mix of romance and suspense, with a good plot too.

Reason for reading: 

Advice from a buddy about the KGI

Cover:

Ok, so not my kind but still, hot ;)

Edit!

TRADITION POST; JAN 6th

or as I call it "why this is a holiday, I do not know day"
'
Ok so tiny tiny Tradition post since this is a holiday, Jan 6th, 13 days after Xmas, why is it celebrated..ahem, who knows ;) But it's the day we take down Christmas decoration and who does not love a day when you do not have to work.

Edit again:
My bad! It's on the 20th day after xmas Christmas dances out...*google check* Oh this is the day the 3 wise men came, ok so that is the celebration. Or as we say, day to do nothing for no reason

Review: Then He Kissed Me - Christie Ridgway

Three Kisses, book 2

Genre: Contemporary romance
Pages: 304
Published: January 4th 2011 Berkley

The three Baci sisters are on a mission to save the family winery by transforming it into a wedding destination. When Stevie Baci playfully names her own side business Napa Princess Limousine, she never dreams she'll be driving a real prince around Napa Valley.

Jacques Parini, aka "Jack", is looking to expand his family's wine interests. But after kissing Stevie, he finds this California girl in a black chauffeur's hat does more than drive him crazy.

Plot:

Stevie gets roped into arranging her ex fiancé's wedding to his princess bride. She is not too happy about that, and less happy is she about Prince Jack who seems to be everywhere she is.

My thoughts:

I truly must read more contemporary romance, it is so refreshing, and real, and still fairytale love, awww.

This is the second book, but I jumped right in and missed nothing. In the last book the first Baci sister found true love, and in this one it is time for Stevie, the tomboy to find her love. She always played with boys, and she is not seen as the most feminine person around, she also hides her feeling. But I liked her, she was perfect as she was, and behind that mask she hid a lot. Then there is the playboy prince from Europe, oh every woman should get to kiss a prince, so of course I liked him. Especially when they both start to realise how strong the attraction truly is between them.

There is also the sidestory with princess Roxanne and her groom, Emmerson, or shall we say Stevie's ex. What I did not like is how fast that happened, and truth be told, I never did see the attraction there between them. On the other hand I did not care, if it is there it is, if not then it is not.  Dunno of I liked her either. Anyway I was more focused on the main couple and not these two getting ready for their wedding. There was also some drama with Stevie's older sister, and that looks to be a good third book.

They are hiding a lot of feelings in this book. Stevie from way back, and Jack is still dealing with a kidnapping that happened when he was younger. It is not a whirlwind romance, there is lust, doubt about the lust, and exploring the lust.

Final thoughts and recommendation.

Oh, yes I wanna give this one a 4, I am so contemporary romance starved. It was so wonderful to read about real people in my own era. And I am such a sucker for a woman who falls for a prince, I always loved that scenario. The book was fun, romantic, and with a nice feeling all the way through. It also made me wonder about the next book, and made me wanting to read it. Because I liked her style.

Reason for reading:

He is a prince ;)

Cover:

Not perfect, but still lovely, and he is making a heart with his hands, awwww.