Review: Five Broken Blades (The Broken Blades #1) by Mai Corland

Title: Five Broken Blades

Series: The Broken Blades #1

Author: Mai Corland

Genre: Adult, high fantasy

Publication date: May 2024

Published by: Entangled: Red Tower Books

Source: Borrowed from library

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Synopsis: It’s the season
for treason…

The king of Yusan must die.

The five most dangerous liars in the land have been mysteriously summoned to work together for a single objective: to kill the God King Joon.

He has it coming. Under his merciless immortal hand, the nobles flourish, while the poor and innocent are imprisoned, ruined…or sold.

And now each of the five blades will come for him. Each has tasted bitterness―from the hired hitman seeking atonement, a lovely assassin who seeks freedom, or even the prince banished for his cruel crimes. None can resist the sweet, icy lure of vengeance.

They can agree on murder.

They can agree on treachery.

But for these five killers―each versed in deception, lies, and betrayal―it’s not enough to forge an alliance. To survive, they’ll have to find a way to trust each other…but only one can take the crown.

Let the best liar win.

My rating: ★★★★☆

I really loved the concept of this book! Just a group of characters with different characters coming together to achieve a mutual goal: kill the king. I’m such a sucker for that sort of stuff!

Review: Warbreaker by Brandon Sanderson

Title: Warbreaker

Series: Cosmere #5 (can be read as a standalone)

Author: Brandon Sanderson

Genre: Adult, high fantasy

Publication date: June 2009

Published by: Tor

Source: Freebie from author's website

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Synopsis: From #1 New York Times bestselling author Brandon Sanderson, Warbreaker is the story of two sisters, who happen to be princesses, the God King one of them has to marry, the lesser god who doesn't like his job, and the immortal who's still trying to undo the mistakes he made hundreds of years ago.

Their world is one in which those who die in glory return as gods to live confined to a pantheon in Hallandren's capital city and where a power known as BioChromatic magic is based on an essence known as breath that can only be collected one unit at a time from individual people.

By using breath and drawing upon the color in everyday objects, all manner of miracles and mischief can be accomplished. It will take considerable quantities of each to resolve all the challenges facing Vivenna and Siri, princesses of Idris; Susebron the God King; Lightsong, reluctant god of bravery, and mysterious Vasher, the Warbreaker.

My rating: ★★★★⯪

Brandon Sanderson has done it again with the amazing world-building and cool magic system.

Review: The Hero of Ages (Mistborn #3) by Brandon Sanderson

Title: The Hero of Ages

Series: Mistborn Era 1 #3 | The Mistborn Saga #3 | Cosmere #4

Previous books in this series: Mistborn: The Final Empire (#1) | The Well of Ascension (#2)

Author: Brandon Sanderson

Genre: Adult, epic/high fantasy

Publication date: October 2008

Published by: Tor Books

Source: Borrwed from library

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Synopsis: Vin fulfilled the prophecy and released the power gathered in the Well of Ascension. But it was all a trick, and now the godlike being Ruin has been unleashed on the world, bent on its destruction by earthquake and Fire.

Having escaped death only through becoming a Mistborn himself, Emperor Elend Venture now hopes to find clues left behind by the Lord Ruler that will help them fight back. Legends speak of a hero, but were any prophecies not corrupted? To make up for being duped, Vin must unravel the truth so she can become the Hero of Ages before Ruin can wipe out all life on the planet.

My rating: ★★★★★

She'd called herself hero, and had released the enemy all the while thinking that she was sacrificing her own needs for the good of the world.

When I finished reading the last book, I said that I was not okay. Well, I'm doubly not okay after finishing this one.

Review: Accomplice to the Villain (Assistant to the Villain #3) by Hannah Nicole Maehrer

Title: Accomplice to the Villain

Series: Assistant to the Villain #3

Previous book in this series: Assistant to the Villain (#1) | Apprentice to the Villain (#2)

Author: Hannah Nicole Maehrer

Genre: Adult, high fantasy, romance

Publication date: August 2025

Published by: Entangled: Red Tower Books

Source: Purchased paperback

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Synopsis: REWARD OFFERED: Apprentice to The Villain wanted for treason (light), magical property damage (alleged), and one incident involving a weaponized scone (accurate). Frequently seen with a grumpy frog (crowned, judgmental). Answers to “Evie” or “Stop that.”

Evie Sage didn’t mean to become the right-hand woman to the kingdom’s most terrifying villain. One minute, she was applying for an entry-level position that promised “light paperwork and occasional beheadings,” and the next, she was knee-deep in magical mayhem, murder plots, and an entirely inappropriate crush on her brooding, sharp-jawed, walking disaster of a boss.

Now, with a magical prophecy unraveling, assassins showing up in the break room, and a suspicious amount of frogs wearing crowns, Evie has to figure out how to survive her job without setting the kingdom on fire—or her dignity, which is hanging by a very sarcastic thread.

Being evil-adjacent was never part of the five-year plan. But then again... neither was falling for The Villain.

A magical office comedy with grumpy bosses, snarky frogs, and definitely-not-feelings.

My rating: ★★★☆☆

I don't know what's going on with this series, but it is progressively getting worse and it's making me so sad! I literally gave the first book 5 stars! 😭

Review: Apprentice to the Villain (Assistant to the Villain #2) by Hannah Nicole Maehrer

Title: Apprentice to the Villain

Series: Assistant to the Villain #2

Previous book in this series: Assistant to the Villain

Author: Hannah Nicole Maehrer

Genre: Adult, high fantasy, romance

Publication date: August 2024

Published by: Entangled: Red Tower Books

Source: Purchased paperback

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Synopsis: NOTICE TO STAFF: There has been a disturbing increase in cheeriness, sprightly behavior, and overall optimism of late. Please resume your former dark, ominous terrors at your earliest convenience. —Mgmt

Evie Sage has never been happier to be the assistant to The Villain. Who would have thought that working for an outrageously handsome (shhh, bad for his brand) evil overlord would be so rewarding? Still, the business of being bad is demanding, the forces of good are annoyingly persistent, and said forbidding boss is somewhat... er, out-of-evil-office.

But Rennedawn is in grave trouble, and all signs—Kingsley’s included—point to catastrophe. Something peculiar is happening with the kingdom’s magic, and it’s made The Villain’s manor vulnerable to their enemies... including their nemesis, the king.

Now it’s time for Evie to face her greatest challenge: protecting The Villain’s lair, all of his nefarious works, and maybe (provided no one finds out) the entire kingdom. No pressure, Evie.

It’s time to step out of her comfort zone and learn new skills. Like treason. Dagger work. Conspiring with the enemy. It’s all so... so... delightfully fun.

But what happens when the assistant to The Villain is ready to become his apprentice?

My rating: ★★★★☆

I'm not gonna lie, I didn't love this book as much as the last one. I mean, I still liked it, but Assistant to the Villain was an easy 5 stars, sooo...

Review: Assistant to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer

Title: Assistant to the Villain

Series: Assistant to the Villain #1

Author: Hannah Nicole Maehrer

Genre: Adult, high fantasy, romance

Publication date: August 2023

Published by: Entangled Publishing: Red Tower Books

Source: Purchased paperback

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Synopsis: ASSISTANT WANTED: Notorious, high-ranking villain seeks loyal, levelheaded assistant for unspecified office duties, supporting staff for random mayhem and terror, and other Dark Things In General. Discretion a must. Excellent benefits.

With ailing family to support, Evie Sage's employment status isn't just important, it's vital. So when a mishap with Rennedawn’s most infamous Villain results in a job offer―naturally, she says yes. No job is perfect, of course, but even less so when you develop a teeny crush on your terrifying, temperamental, and undeniably hot boss. Don’t find evil so attractive, Evie.

But just when she’s getting used to severed heads suspended from the ceiling and the odd squish of an errant eyeball beneath her heel, Evie suspects this dungeon has a huge rat…and not just the literal kind. Because something rotten is growing in the kingdom of Rennedawn, and someone wants to take the Villain―and his entire nefarious empire―out.

Now Evie must not only resist drooling over her boss but also figure out exactly who is sabotaging his work…and ensure he makes them pay.

After all, a good job is hard to find.

My rating: ★★★★★

This book was so fun! I loved it a whole lot more than I was expecting!

Review: The Well of Ascension (Mistborn #2) by Brandon Sanderson

Title: The Well of Ascension

Series: Mistborn Era 1 #2 | The Mistborn Saga #2 | Cosmere #3

Previous book in this series: Mistborn: The Final Empire

Author: Brandon Sanderson

Genre: Adult, epic/high fantasy

Publication date: August 2007

Published by: Tor Books

Source: Borrowed from library

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Synopsis: They did the impossible, ending the thousand-year reign of the godlike Lord Ruler. Now Vin, the former street urchin turned powerful Mistborn, and Elend Venture, the idealistic young nobleman who loves her, must build a healthy new society in the ashes of an empire.

As tensions grow in the wake of the uprising, 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.

It may just be that killing the Lord Ruler was the easy part. Surviving the aftermath of his fall is going to be the real challenge.

My rating: ★★★★★

The Lord Ruler was dead, but the story did not seem finished.

This book was insane in the best way possible!

Review- Mistborn: The Final Empire (Mistborn #1) by Brandon Sanderson

Title: Mistborn: The Final Empire

Series: Mistborn Era 1 #1 | The Mistborn Saga #1 | Cosmere #2

Author: Brandon Sanderson

Genre: Adult, epic/high fantasy

Publication date: July 2006

Published by: Tor Books

Source: Borrowed from library

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Synopsis: For a thousand years, ash fell and no flowers bloomed. For a thousand years, the Skaa slaved in misery and lived in fear. For a thousand years, the Lord Ruler reigned with absolute power and ultimate terror, divinely invincible. Then, when all hope was lost, the scarred, heartbroken half-Skaa Kelsier found in himself the powers of a Mistborn.

A brilliant thief and natural leader, Kelsier recruits the underworld's smartest and most trustworthy allomancers, who each share one of his many powers and relish a high-stakes challenge. Only then does he reveal his ultimate dream: not just the greatest heist in history, but the downfall of the divine despot.

But even with the best criminal crew ever assembled, Kel's plan looks like the ultimate long shot, until luck brings a ragged girl named Vin into his life. Like him, she's a half-Skaa orphan, but she's lived a much harsher life. Vin has learned to expect betrayal from everyone she meets. She will have to learn to trust, if Kel is to help her master powers that she’s never dreamed of.

My rating: ★★★★★

I loved this book so much! I finally understand the hype surrounding this author!