July book review by Bhavana Reddy

July Book Reviews by Bhavna Reddy The Folk of Air (trilogy) by Holly Black 9/10 I liked this book series. **SPOILERS** The protagonist, Jude and her older sister, Vivienne easily became my favorites. Jude, her twin sister, Taryn were humans who came to live in Elfhame, a home for faeries like their half sister Vivienne after their adoptive father, Madoc killed their mother and father. They lived with Madoc, his wife, Oriana, and their son Oak. Humans were vulernable sinced they could be glamoured by faeries and were seen as weak. Jude was often picked on by faeries Velarian, Nicasia (daughter of Orlaugh, queen of the Undersea) and Cardan, youngest son of the High King of Elfhame. Her boyfriend was a faerie named Locke. Jude asked Prince Dain , soon to be king and Cardan’s brother, to be his spy and requested she cant be glamoured. She joined the Court of Shadows, consisting of his other spies, Roach, Ghost, and Bomb. They were to spy on Balekin, one of Dain’s brothers to make sure his coronation goes smoothly. Jude found out that Oak, her brother, was actually a son of the High King and realized her father wanted to put Oak on the throne. The coronation became a massacre, thanks to Balekin, killing The High King and Queen, Prince Dain, his sisters, while Jude kidnapped Cardan and named him king regent until Oak came of age. In exchange, Cardan was under Jude’s command for a year and a half. Jude found out that Locke was cheating on her with Taryn and weren’t on speaking terms. She sends Oak to live in the mortal world with Vivienne and her girlfriend, Heather. (Book 2) A couple months into Cardans rule, Taryn was being wed to Locke. Jude finds out that Balekin (whos in prison) was exchanging notes with Orlagh, queen of the Undersea. Queen Orlagh wants her daughter, Nicasia, to marry Carden so the Undersea rules the world. Cardan says the next time the queen threatens him, her daughter is his prisoner. Jude is going to her sisters the night before the wedding and confronts masked men and she escapes. She found out that it was Locke who had jumped her. Ghost told her that Orlagh has made her move at the prison, but it was a trap. Jude was taken to the Undersea for months. No one except her sisters, the court, and Cardan, know she has protection against charms so she acted like she was under their spell. Balekin told her to be his spy and Jude agrees so she doesn't seem suspicious. At Cardan’s masquerade ball, Jude realizes he’s been poisoned. Balekin says he’ll give the antidote for the crown. Jude and Balekin have a sword fight and Jude kills Balekin. Jude doesn’t tell Cardan. Cardan asks for his free will and in exchange, she will be queen and issue her own royal orders. They get married. He finds out that Balekin was dead and knew Jude killed him. To remain diplomatic with the Undersea, she banishses Jude to the mortal world until The Crown lets her come back and made Nicasia an ambassador. Vivianne tells her to try to find a way back to Cardan. (Book 3) When Cardan was born, an astrologer said he would destroy the crown and throne. Jude has been making money in the mortal world from many faeries. She meets a faerie named Grima Morg. When she comes back to Vivi’s house, her sister Taryn was there and told her she killed her husband Locke and they were about to question her. She asked Jude to go in her place since Jude has protection that Taryn doesn’t. She agrees and when questioned, Cardan knew instantly it was Jude, but didn’t call her out. Her adopted father, Madoc, wanted to become High King and took her, thinking she was Taryn, and his followers to a camp site. She gets rescued by the Court of Shadows, her sisters Grima Mog, and Cardan. She takes her place by Cardans side. He tells her she could’ve come back since she was the Crown and he tried to write to her. Cardan and Madoc face off for the Crown. Madoc slice the throne and Cardan breaks the crown, causing him to turn into a serpent. Jude realizes the only way to bring peace back is to kill the serpent. However, when she killed the serpent, she was surprised to see Cardan rise from the serpents body. They take their place on the throne and Madoc is exiled to the mortal world. . Favorite enemies-to-lovers book . One of the best female leads Heartless by Marissa Meyers 1000/10 This book was about the backstory of the Queen of Hearts. **SPOILERS** Lady Catherine Pinkterton of Rock Turtle Cove wanted to own a bakery with her friend and maid Mary Anne. Her parents, however, would disapprove. Every night, she would have dreams of a boy with yellow eyes. At the ball, the King of Hearts hired a new Joker and he had really good tricks. She met Sir Peter Peter (whom she didnt like) and his wife, Lady Peter, who had an obsession with pumpkins. Catherine heard from her friend, Cheshire, that the king wanted to marry her. However, she didnt want to marry him, so she ran away from the ball. She fainted, but the court joker and his raven took her to his house and she regained her consciousness. He told her his name was Jest and she was shocked to see that his eyes were yellow like her dreams. He got a carriage to take her home and when she woke up, her parents told her, that the Jabberwock, and creature of myth and legend, attacked the ball. The king invited her and a couple of others, including Jest, to play croquet. Later, Jest came up to her window and took her to a restaurant and they met Hatta and Haiga (prouounced Hare-uh). They Jabberwock attacked and killed The Lion. Jest told Catherine that he, Raven, Hatta, and Haiga were from a place called Chess and he was a Rook. They planned to run away and own a bakery and fullfil their dreams in Chess. They met 3 sisters who had ominous prophecy stating they will become a “murderer, martyr monarch, or mad”. Catherine was determined to make sure nothing happens to them, but than found out that her friend, Mary Anne, was taken hostage by the Jabberwock. They went to help her and found out that Sir Peter’s wife was the Jabberowock and that pumpkins from Chess turned her into one. Raven killed the Jabberwock and Sir Peter killed Jest. Catherine flew into a rage and thought of nothing other than revenge on Sir Peter. At her window, the 3 sisters said that they will bring Peter to her, but for a price; her heart. Catherine gladly agreed. She asked the king to marry her and they got married. She visited Hatta, but he became mad. The sisters brought Peter to the Court and she ordered Raven to cut off Sir Peter’s head. Murderer (Raven), Martyr (Jest), Monarch (Catherine), Mad (Hatta). This was my FAVORITE standalone. Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas 9.5/10 Celaena Sardothien was an assassin who was imprisoned in Endovier for crimes against a corrupt king. **SPOILERS** Prince Dorian Havilliard, son of the king, to take part in a competition to be the royal assassin. She agrees so she could get her freedom. Her trainer was Captain Chaol Westfall, who doesn’t like Celaena because shes dangerous. She has to change her name so shes underestimated so she isnt targeted. She meets the contestants and her biggest opponent was a man named Cain. Later, a competitor was savagely murdered and she vows to find out what happened. She befriends Nehemia, a princess in the neighboring kingdom who hopes to help her people. Celaena finds a crypt and the ghost of Queen Elana appears. She senses an evil spirit and tells Celaena to uncover the evil. She dismissed the queen until more competitors are savagely killed. In the meanwhile, Dorian and Chaol try to protect Celeana from the unknown threat. The final test arrives and Celaena has to spar Cain. Cain was possessed by the spirit who was killing the competitors. Celeana was no match until Queen Elana saved her. Nehemia was the only person who could see her other that Celeana. Celeana becomes the Kings’ Champion. FAVORITE female lead