Princess Sepora of Serubel and King Tarik of Theoria have formed an uneasy truce between their kingdoms since the deadly plague began to rip through Theoria. Since their feelings for each other are entangled in politics and power, they must use their own trusted resources to find common ground.

But when traitors with powerful allies arise from unexpected places, Tarik and Sepora face challenges that will change both of their kingdoms forever. Will they learn whom to trust—including each other—in time to save their kingdoms, their relationship and even their lives?

Since the recent events, Tarik and Sepora cannot rely on each other anymore. The two of them are now driven by different motivations that threaten to drift them apart. Now feelings do not have their place in this relationship. Not when politics is in the middle of it all and not when they risk wars with other countries as well as a civil war. So how will they know who to trust? Above all, can they trust each other? 

First book of 2018. I really liked seeing more of Sepora, Tarik and Sethos. I was really anxious to get the next and final book of this duology. There are quite some actions through wars and excitement through characters' betrayals. This book ends the duology of Nemesis. 

However, even though I was happy to go back in this wonderful world Anna Banks created, this book has been quite a disappointment.

Let me explain why:

really rush. I will try not to spoil you too much. For example, there is a war that begins and ends in maybe three or four pages. Sethos also changes his mind really fast without the reader knowing about that. /!\ SPOILERS AHEAD /!\ When he first refuses to marry Tulle, leading almost the kingdom to a war before finally "kidnapping" her and telling everyone how much he loves her and wants to wed her. I would've loved to know more about how they fell in love. I really didn't like that part. 

     - As mentioned before the war is an event that could've been amazing and yet, it was rushed on every aspect. We do not even have time to mourn the deaths of characters or to worry about others that we already are at several days later. 

     - The timeframe is not really clear. I think several months pass everytime but I am not sure. 

     - I am quite confused regarding the feelings of Tarik and Sepora. They supposedly love each other and yet, despite some moments when you could feel the chemistry between the two of them, I would have loved to have a bit more insights on their feelings.

     - I really hated the problem of communications between Tarik and Sepora. Lack of communication repeatedly led to some kind of mouse and cat game that became quickly boring. 

     - The Quiet Plague is not really spoken of anymore, which I found quite disappointing as it was the main problem that led Tarik and Sepora together in a way. 

     - I am also still quite confused regarding the term "Nemesis". I do not really know what it means, so if someone can enlighten me, please do so ;) 

From the throne of glass rules a king with a fist of iron and a soul as black as pitch. Assassin Celaena Sardothien won a brutal contest to become his Champion. Yet Celaena is far from loyal to the crown. She hides her secret vigilantly; she knows that the man she serves is bent on evil.

Keeping up the deadly charade becomes increasingly difficult when Celaena realizes she is not the only one seeking justice. As she tries to untangle the mysteries buried deep within the glass castle, her closest relationships suffer. It seems no one is above questioning her allegiances—not the Crown Prince Dorian; not Chaol, the Captain of the Guard; not even her best friend, Nehemia, a foreign princess with a rebel heart.

Then one terrible night, the secrets they have all been keeping lead to an unspeakable tragedy. As Celaena's world shatters, she will be forced to give up the very thing most precious to her and decide once and for all where her true loyalties lie... and whom she is ultimately willing to fight for.

Some scenes contain sexual and violent contents that may offend sensibilities of readers.

Celaena is now the King's assassin. Even though she despises him, nothing will stop her from gaining her freedom even if it means killing people and endangering her life. She agrees helping her ennemy destroying he rebels. But the more murders he asks her to commit, the more she questions who these people really are. When she is confronted with someone of her past, she has to act now before it is too late. Or maybe it already is...

OH! MY! This book... and this ending! I think I need a few minutes to collect myself and know what to write down.

Okay...I am sorry I didn't write the review before but I just needed to read the next book because I just couldn't wait. I had really enjoyed reading the first book. I found the story quite original and the characters were all very different but driven by something. Anyway... I do not really know how to review this book without saying too much and spoiling you so I will try to be extremely careful and I will probably stick to describe the characters and their evolution. Just let me tell you that this book contains many actions and twists and you cannot possibly be ready for it. It is a full rollercoaster and your head will be spinning at the end of the story. And the end... it is not really a cliffhanger but it is for sure quite some twist!

Celaena does not care that she should now be faithful to the king as she only sticks to her convictions and beliefs. She is not perfect, that is for sure but she is strongly loyal to her ideas and to the people she considers her friends. But even though she seems fierce and tough, she is also vulnerable when it is time for her to stand for something. The more she kills for the King, the more she questions herself. Does she really want to gain her freedom out of murdering innocent people? 

I have to admit that I was really not a fan of Chaol as I didn't get the chemistry between him and Celaena. I mean, I just didn't feel anything for these two characters together. However in this book, it changes. They both develop a relationship and I liked seeing Celaena so carefree and Chaol so passionate for someone else than Dorian. Chaol turns to be a perfect, sexy, sweet and protective guy. But I have to say I was disappointed that nothing more would happen between Dorian and Celaena because for me, they were just perfection together. 

In this book, the friendship between Celaena and Nehemia slowly unravels because of their own beliefs. Nehemia wants nothing more than stand for her country and for her people even if it means endangering her life but Celaena is scared. She is scared for her life but also for everything she built here.

But after a dreadful event, Celaena becomes really different from the first book. She becomes darker, blood-thirsty and terrifying...

Okay, I need to stop now or I will want to tell you everything. So you probably understood that this series is really a must-read. I found the first book nice but kind of slow sometimes and a bit too predictable. However I feel like it is only getting better and better.

Criminal prodigy Kaz Brekker has been offered wealth beyond his wildest dreams. But to claim it, he'll have to pull off a seemingly impossible heist:

Break into the notorious Ice Court

(a military stronghold that has never been breached)

Retrieve a hostage

(who could unleash magical havoc on the world)

Survive long enough to collect his reward

(and spend it)

Kaz needs a crew desperate enough to take on this suicide mission and dangerous enough to get the job done - and he knows exactly who: six of the deadliest outcasts the city has to offer. Together, they just might be unstoppable - if they don't kill each other first.

Some scenes contain sexual and violent contents that may offend sensibilities of readers.

Unfortunately I didn't really enjoy this reading. It took me over two weeks to read it when usually I could read a book in less than 3 days. Everyone kept talking about this book on Bookstagram and how awesome it was. But I didn't feel like that at all. I thought it was slow and I didn't like any of the characters maybe because I couldn't identify to any. I mean they are outlaws so it may be normal to not really like them and yet, I felt frustrated because they were all selfish and I couldn't sense their feelings. Their relationships were so neutral that it bothered me. I think the only charcaters I kind of liked or felt like I could enjoy were Matthias, Nina and Inej. 

The universe created by Leigh Bardugo is really complex. I read 95% of the books in English and yet, I really struggled with this one. There are many information that are sometimes useless, such as the names of the bars or each business in Ketterdam. It also took me a while to understand the connection between the characters and to remember their names. Some moments I was not sure I understood what happened so I had to go back, re-read the scene before I could keep on reading, which annoyed me a bit. Let's say that this is not a book that you read to relax, haha!

I also didn't really like that it ended on a cliffhanger. When it is a series that I really enjoy, I don't really mind but here I want to read the next book just to know what will happen even though I didn't enjoy much the first book. 

However, the story was really original. It is not like anything I have ever read. After the first part, there are some actions that make us want to know more, which probably explains why I didn't give up on the book at the beginning. I also liked that the more the story keeps on going, the more secrets are revealed about each character and secrets the reader absolutely does not expect. I liked to read about their hopes because - even though they are thieves and thugs - they dream a better life than the one they have. 

Anyway, you should probably give it a try but be aware that the beginning is slow and some scenes are violent. As for me, I will try to give it a try to the second and final book of this duology :)

A bad boy with something to prove. A woman with a mission. The race of their lives. The love of a lifetime.

I don’t think his parents expected him to live up to his name—Racer Tate—but once he felt the adrenaline rush behind the wheel, he was addicted.

He's the fastest, fiercest driver around.

Scouting new talent brings me to his doorstep...

but his smile sends me to my knees.

The sexy, mysterious Racer Tate is not the kind of man a girl like me falls for. He's secretive, reckless, elusive. But his proximity pushes me beyond reason, and his kiss....

This is our last chance to win, and he is our only hope. I'm supposed to watch him—make sure he doesn't get into trouble. But it's an impossible task. And now the one in heart wrenching, toe-curling, soul-crushing trouble is me. Because when your heart belongs to someone, their truths become your own, and their secrets become your salvation...or your curse.

He says he wants me. He says I'm the One. But he also thinks he'll break my heart, one piece at a time until it's gone.

Some scenes contain sexual contents that may offend sensibilities of readers.

This book can be read as a standalone novel

Meet Racer Tate, a very well-known illegal car racer (I know, his name just fits perfectly). He is an adrenaline-junkie. Racing is his passion. He is the best. He knows it and everyone knows it. He expects to live his life fast and hard and alone. But it is not what Life itself planned for him. Not when a woman just scratched her car into his. When Racer sees his little "crasher" for the first time. He is hooked..

Lana is desperate. She needs a new F1 driver NOW. Their last driver just gave up in their race in Australia and their race team is just falling under. She needs a good driver but above all, she needs hope. Her father is sick and his last wish is to win F1 championship but his dream is going further and further. Lana has one mission: traveling wherever she has to in order to find the best driver. What she didn't expect was to crash her car (maybe more bump into) in a Cherry Mustang. As if she didn't already have enough. But when she sees the guy behind the wheel, she cannot help but feeling something. Something that she denied herself a long time ago. And she has no idea how bumpy her journey will get...

OH! MY! GOD! Oh my God, Oh my God! I was so impatient to get my hands on this book and now that I am done with it, I already want to re-read it just to enjoy the ride even more.

For those who know the Real series, you know that Racer Tate is Remington and Brooke's son. And I would like to say "like father, like son". Racer is intense, protective, possessive, cocky, arrogant, caring, charming, loyal... It could go on and on. I just fell in love with him. He barely catches glimpse of Lana and he is like "She is the woman I am going to marry". I mean, who couldn't possibly fall for that, right? But even behind all his cocky attitude, there is an ugly truth. A truth that may scare Lana away, a truth that may make him want to keep her away.

Lana Heyworth is a woman who had quite a tough start in life: her boyfriend died, her mother left them, his dad is sick and doesn't want any treatment, their race team and dream are falling apart and she is the baby girl of the family with three older brothers. I loved how loyal and fierce she is. She will stick to her family, no matter what. She will make her dad's dream her own to help him in his last days.

I loved their love story. It was steamy hot. You will probably need a cold shower after that. 

But even though I really liked this book, I felt like there was something missing. The story seemed rushed all the time. Lana didn't want to date Racer as long as he was their driver and I would've loved to see a bit more of chasing. I also would've liked to see their love grow and feel every bit of it. Their feelings were not enough developed, especially towards the end. Anyway, I think you got the point: the story could've gone more in-depth in the characters' past and feelings.

My favorite book in this series will definitely be Legend.

After serving out a year of hard labor in the salt mines of Endovier for her crimes, 18-year-old assassin Celaena Sardothien is dragged before the Crown Prince. Prince Dorian offers her her freedom on one condition: she must act as his champion in a competition to find a new royal assassin.

Her opponents are men-thieves and assassins and warriors from across the empire, each sponsored by a member of the king's council. If she beats her opponents in a series of eliminations, she'll serve the kingdom for four years and then be granted her freedom. Celaena finds her training sessions with the captain of the guard, Westfall, challenging and exhilarating. But she's bored stiff by court life. Things get a little more interesting when the prince starts to show interest in her ... but it's the gruff Captain Westfall who seems to understand her best.

Then one of the other contestants turns up dead ... quickly followed by another. Can Celaena figure out who the killer is before she becomes a victim? As the young assassin investigates, her search leads her to discover a greater destiny than she could possibly have imagined.

Some scenes contain violent contents that may offend sensibilities of readers.

Celaena Sardothien is barely seventeen and yet, she is the best assassin. Everyone has one day heard of her. Yet, after one betrayal she ends up in Endovier salt mines where no one lasts more than a year. Everyday she survives. She keeps her head up no matter how many times she gets whipped. But she knows she will never make it out alive. That was until a surprised bargain may save her life.

This year, the infamous king has decided to organize a competition where the best fighters in the world - may they be prisoners, ex-soldiers or guards - will fight. At the end of this competition, the winner will be the king's assassin for four years before being granted freedom. 

When the Captain Chaol Westfall offers Celaena the possibility to fight in a competition where she could gain freedom after a few years, she accepts even if it means being the king's assassin. She will fight as the Crown Prince's champion, Dorian.

But when she gets in the castle, she will soon realize that the competitors are not her biggest threat. There is something lurking in the shadows, something that slowly slaughters each fighter and she will have to find out what it is before she is the next one...

This review may contain some spoilers if you haven't read this book

I heard so much of this series and I finally started it. Yay me! 

Let's talk first about this new world that Sarah J. Maas created. As always, Sarah J. Maas has a nice writing and I absolutely liked the storyline revolving around a world that is slowly dying because a king, so greedy with power, destroys everything that may be a threat to his throne. No one talks about magic to the point everyone forgot it ever existed. This world is violent and depressing. No one good lasts very long. Celaena knows about magic. She has already seen it. 

I really enjoyed the storyline because it was original. At least for me. I had never read a story where a young girl is a famous assassin and her only way out of the mines is to serve a king she hates. 

I just regretted that the story around the "demons" haunting the castle was not better explored. I felt slightly frustrated because it could've been better. Celaena took way too long to realize who was beyond the attacks even though it was obvious. However I was really surprised (in a good way) by the outcome between the Duke and Kaitlin. I was not expecting it at all. I cannot wait to read more about that in the next books. 

Personally, I didn't see the use of the love triangle between Dorian-Celaena-Chaol. Maybe I am a bit too old for that (oh nooo!). I mean there was obviously a hot chemistry between Dorian and Celaena but I didn't see anything between Chaol and Celaena. It also doesn't bring anything to the story. 

When she refused to be with Dorian at the end though, I really wanted to struggle her. He loves her, she likes him and nup, she doesn't want to go there. I mean, if you see something you want and this something is the prince who could possibly change everything, you go for it. You don't say "Nah, I want freedom more". You could still be free and in love with a prince. Okay, maybe it's my extremely sappy, cheesy, romantic side speaking but still...

Now about the characters:

I liked Celaena.  She is strong, fierce, proud, smart, loyal, brave... Everything you cannot possibly be in real life (haha!). Despite trying to prove the world she is a fearless assassin, we see glimpses of a past that still haunts her. She has flaws and vulnerability but she is afraid to show them. Even after working in the mines, she remains true to herself and she doesn't hesitate to help other people. 

Chaol... Now I'm a bit confused about this character. I don't know if I like him or not. I know he is supposed to be a withdrawn character, which explains why we probably didn't feel his chemistry with Celaena, and yet I couldn't really bring myself to like him. He plays hot and cold the whole time. He supposedly likes her but he is constantly waiting for her to try to murder them all. But maybe this opinion will change along the books of this series. 

I hated Dorian at first but as I reached the end of the book, I couldn't believe the Dorian from the beginning was the same Doriam from the end. It felt like they were two complete different characters. The first time we read about him, he is cold, spoiled, selfish and a real womanizer. In the middle, there is already a shift as we see he is truly trapped between what his heart wants and what his father wants him to be. He tries to protect Celaena the best he can. I felt sorry for him because his situation clearly is uneasy. Witnessing his growing love for Celaena, I just felt more in love with him. He is ready to do anything that is possible for Celaena. 

Having different POV at some point in this book offers the reader a glimpse of each character's feelings in some situation.

Anyway, if you like a bit of fantasy and a lot of adventures and actions, this book is for you! :)