Review: Broken Stone by Kelly Walker

UNABLE TO AVOID HER DESTINY ANY LONGER, Emariya has become the leader her mother always envisioned. Before she can focus on embracing her gifts to unify her three lands, she must first stop her own land from dissolving into civil war. Spurred by her brother’s devious policies and thirst for power, the people of the Uplands have surged into revolt. If Emariya cannot convince her own people to stand down and follow her, she will never convince her uncle she can lead all three lands. And he’s only given her half a year to do it.

AS SHE TRIES TO WIN HER OWN PEOPLE'S HEARTS, the love of her life, Torian Ahlen begins to lose his mind. While Torian is driven into a dark depression by his visions of Terin, Emariya realizes the only way to bring him back from the brink is to confront her brother once and for all and rescue Torian's sister. Unfortunately, because of the pull of the stones, his sister isn’t sure she wants to be rescued.

IF EMARIYA IS TO HAVE ANY CHANCE AT SAVING TORIAN'S MIND and his sister’s virtue, she will have to go directly to the source, those that bestowed the gifts (or curse) in the first place. But will whoever is waiting at The Cradle Of The Three be willing to help her? Her only chance to get Terin away from Reeve will be to nullify the pull of the Stones, accepting whatever changes that may mean for her and Torian.

Title: Broke Stone
Series: Souls of the Stones #3
Publisher: Kelly Walker (May 22, 2013)
ASIN: B00CYHVE16

Barnes & Noble|Amazon

Warning: Again. If you haven't read the previous two books, which I will link, and you willingly read this review, don't be surprised when you run into spoilers. I feel like I can't write this review without them, and now you can't complain, because you've been forewarned. No worries, there aren't any spoilers from this book though. 

This book--wait, this entire series has been so completely amazing (and is now one of my favorites, I am dying to buy the books and just cast them loving looks every time I pass by, is that weird?) and has made me excited to read. It's these kind of books that make me love reading, and are totally the reason that I plan on having a library for myself (and my books), with the perfect comfy chair. Ah...even this cover is pretty, I love it.

Riya hasn't had it easy, yet I feel that overall she has been pretty graceful at dealing with all of the problems that come her way, from having the person she trusts the most, her brother, betray her so severely, or her father, who was kidnapped for years, die by her side soon after she gets him back. She may be slowed down by difficulties of this sort, but it never completely stops her, and she'll take any risk, go to every length, if she can save her people, and her prince, who she is stronger with, but not hopeless without. 

With that being said, her people do desperately need her, more than they may even know. Her father left her the high seat of a corrupt council, although having them believe that may be a challenge within itself, and her uncle has only given her six months to bring peace to her lands if they are to sign a treaty to bring together the Three Corners, each of which has something the other needs. While trying to bring together the three lands she has to find a way to help Terin, who stays with Reeve by choice because of the pull of the stones, but if the pull is nullifiied, will Torian still love her? Somehow, throughout all of this, she continuously shows herself as a leader, not someone to be feared, but admired. This is why she is one of my favorite female heroines, because of her growth throughout these books, her strength and her independence.

Riya may have all of this on her shoulders, but she certainly won't face it alone. Garith and Jessa, her best friends from the start, will be there for her no matter what happens. Garith has certainly shown that he can be a leader, and in this book I think Jessa shows just how strong she can be, deciding to go with Blaine during one of the most dangerous points in the book. Blaine and Jessa may also spend a little more time together in this book, and by the end Garith finds someone too, who I didn't find too surprising, though the circumstances weren't necessarily ideal. Torian, who I love lots (and totally didn't expect to when I first started the books), did have the fate of his sister to think about. If she were to have a child, it may turn out evil and become dictator of the three corners, yet, he loves her, the last thing he wants to do is kill her, that's enough to drive anyone insane. Although he has his problems, along with Jessa and Garith, he's there for Riya, supporting and protecting her. 

Every moment of this book, and it's wonderful plot, had me entranced the entire time. I certainly had a hard time putting his book down because of the romance, action, surprises and overall awesome plot. Not only that, but I never got bored, I thought this was a well paced book. Be warned, it certainly has some scenes that made me tear up, yet others that made me laugh or brought a smile to my face. 

The ending was amazing, better than I expected, and I appreciated the epilogue, telling us what happens 15 years later. It ended the series on a great note and tied everything together perfectly, I am sad this series is over yet I'm so happy with the ending, having no questions left to be answered. 

Book Nerd and Proud, 

K.G.

Memorable Quotes Monday: Divergent by Veronica Roth

"Moths," repeats Will. "You're afraid of moths?"
"Terrifying," Will says with mock seriousness. "That's my girl. Tough as cotton balls."
"Oh, Shut up."
"Not just a cloud of moths," she says, "like...a swarm of them. Everywhere. All those wings and legs and..." She shudders and shakes her head.

*

"Statistically speaking...you should have hit the target at least once by now, even by accident... I think you’re actually defying nature."

*

“Sorry, am I being rude?" she asks."I'm used to saying whatever is on my mind. Mom used to say that politeness is deception in pretty packaging”

*

“Can you be a girl for a few seconds?"
"I'm always a girl" I frown.
"You know what I mean. Like a silly, annoying girl."
I twirl my hair around my finger. "Kay.”

*

"Got that gun?” Peter says to Tobias.
“No,” says Tobias, “I figured I would shoot the bullets out of my nostrils, so I left it upstairs."

*

"You know, most boys would enjoy being trapped in close quarters with a girl." I roll my eyes."Not claustrophobic people, Tris."

*

"What did you do, memorize a map of the city for fun?” says Christina.
“Yes,” says Will, looking puzzled. “Didn’t you?"

*

"We could visit him," suggests Will. "But what would we say? 'I didn't know you that well, but I'm sorry you got stabbed in the eye'?"

*

"Looks like someone had a mood swing.” She rolls her eyes. “Like you don’t want to know what his fears are. He acts so tough that he’s probably afraid of marshmallows and really bright sunrises or something."

*

"Okay. Then...I can talk. Ask me something."
"Okay." He laughs shakily in my ear. "Why is your heart racing Tris?"
I cringe and say, "Well, I...I barely know you. I barely know you and I'm crammed up against you in a box, Four, what do you think?"
"Maybe you were cut out for Candor," he says, "because you're a terrible liar."

*

“Yeah, well," I say, "I left Abnegation because I wasn't selfless enough, no matter how hard I tried to be."
"That's not entirely true." He smiles at me. "That girl who let someone throw knives at her to spare a friend, who hit my dad with a belt to protect me-that selfless girl, that's not you?"...
"You've been paying close attention, haven't you?"
"I like to observe people."
"Maybe you were cut out for Candor, Four, because you're a terrible liar.”

*

"I think it would be easier to fight in a dress,” says Marlene, tapping her chin. “It would give your legs freer movement. And who really cares if you flash people your underwear, as long as you’re kicking the crap out of them?”
Lynn goes silent, like she recognizes that as a spark of brilliance but can’t bring herself to admit it.“What’s this about flashing underwear?” says Uriah, sidestepping a bunk. “Whatever it is, I’m in."

*

"So, the thing we’re all not talking about,” he says. He gestures to me. “You almost died, a sadistic pansycake saved you, and now we’re all waging some serious war with the factionless as allies.”
“Pansycake?” says Christina.
“Dauntless slang.” Lynn smirks. “Supposed to be a huge insult, only no one uses it anymore.”
“Because it’s so offensive,” says Uriah, nodding.
“No. Because it’s so stupid no Dauntless with any sense would speak it, let alone think it. Pansycake. What are you, twelve?”
“And a half,” he says.

We really hope to get on a more regular posting schedule soon.
Book Nerd and Proud,
K.G. & C.J.