50/50 Friday is a meme hosted by Carrie @The Butterfly Reads and I and focuses on the opposite sides of books (best/worst, differing opinions, etc). Every week will have a new topic and several advance topics will be listed in the tab labeled 50/50 Friday!
Today's Topic: Favorite/Least Favorite Ships
This was so hard to choose! I'm going to do two ships for each category, though. Be aware that spoilers are ahead for ACOMAF and Crown of Midnight (both by Sarah J. Maas)!
Favorite:
Katsa and Po in Graceling by Kristin Cashore
Graceling Realm #1
Blurb:
"Katsa has been able to kill a man with her bare hands since she was eight—she’s a Graceling, one of the rare people in her land born with an extreme skill. As niece of the king, she should be able to live a life of privilege, but Graced as she is with killing, she is forced to work as the king’s thug.
She never expects to fall in love with beautiful Prince Po.
She never expects to learn the truth behind her Grace—or the terrible secret that lies hidden far away . . . a secret that could destroy all seven kingdoms with words alone.
With elegant, evocative prose and a cast of unforgettable characters, debut author Kristin Cashore creates a mesmerizing world, a death-defying adventure, and a heart-racing romance that will consume you, hold you captive, and leave you wanting more."
She never expects to fall in love with beautiful Prince Po.
She never expects to learn the truth behind her Grace—or the terrible secret that lies hidden far away . . . a secret that could destroy all seven kingdoms with words alone.
With elegant, evocative prose and a cast of unforgettable characters, debut author Kristin Cashore creates a mesmerizing world, a death-defying adventure, and a heart-racing romance that will consume you, hold you captive, and leave you wanting more."
I have nothing against 'regular' (I suppose 'traditional' also works) relationships but I think it's also important to represent people who do want to be romantically involved with someone but don't want to ever feel like they are owned by another. Katsa and Po's relationship is just perfect in this sense. They work out this understanding that they'll stay lovers and always be committed to each other but sometimes, they'll be apart for long stretches of time and that's what they both want. I just love how the author brings in the conversation of commitment that shows you can be committed to someone and not married and sometimes, that suits both of your interests.
Feyre and Rhysand in A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas
A Court of Thorns and Roses #2
Blurb:
"Feyre survived Amarantha's clutches to return to the Spring Court—but at a steep cost. Though she now has the powers of the High Fae, her heart remains human, and it can't forget the terrible deeds she performed to save Tamlin's people.
Nor has Feyre forgotten her bargain with Rhysand, High Lord of the feared Night Court. As Feyre navigates its dark web of politics, passion, and dazzling power, a greater evil looms—and she might be key to stopping it. But only if she can harness her harrowing gifts, heal her fractured soul, and decide how she wishes to shape her future—and the future of a world cleaved in two.
With more than a million copies sold of her beloved Throne of Glass series, Sarah J. Maas's masterful storytelling brings this second book in her seductive and action-packed series to new heights."
Nor has Feyre forgotten her bargain with Rhysand, High Lord of the feared Night Court. As Feyre navigates its dark web of politics, passion, and dazzling power, a greater evil looms—and she might be key to stopping it. But only if she can harness her harrowing gifts, heal her fractured soul, and decide how she wishes to shape her future—and the future of a world cleaved in two.
With more than a million copies sold of her beloved Throne of Glass series, Sarah J. Maas's masterful storytelling brings this second book in her seductive and action-packed series to new heights."
Now, I'm not going to lie and say I hated Feyre and Tamlin's relationship from the start in ACOTAR but I did start disliking it when it was explored further in ACOMAF and when Feyre and Rhysand's relationship started to bloom, it was so perfect! You know how sometimes you don't realize how wrong something is until the right thing comes along? Rhysand is exactly the right person for Feyre and they're relationship is the perfect give and take between equal partners.
Least Favorite:
Celaena and Chaol in Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas
Throne of Glass #2
Blurb:
""A line that should never be crossed is about to be breached.
It puts this entire castle in jeopardy—and the life of your friend."
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."
It puts this entire castle in jeopardy—and the life of your friend."
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."
Personally, I was just not a fan of Celaena and Chaol's relationship. To be totally honest, I wasn't a huge fan of Aelin and Rowan's relationship to begin with either but I just couldn't get into the former. I don't know if it was just Chaol's character that really irked me and spoiled their relationship or what but it never really sat right with me. I thin Chaol was just too rigid for Celaena's ways of thinking and their ideologies clashed constantly. Chaol was necessary for Celaena to finally begin her transition back into Aelin by giving her the courage but ultimately, I was glad the ship sank.
Eadlyn and whoever she even ends up with (honestly I can't even remember...) in The Crown by Kiera Cass
The Selection #5
Blurb:
"When Eadlyn became the first princess of Illéa to hold her own Selection, she didn’t think she would fall in love with any of her thirty-five suitors. She spent the first few weeks of the competition counting down the days until she could send them all home. But as events at the palace force Eadlyn even further into the spotlight, she realizes that she might not be content remaining alone.
Eadlyn still isn’t sure she’ll find the fairytale ending her parents did twenty years ago. But sometimes the heart has a way of surprising you…and soon Eadlyn must make a choice that feels more impossible—and more important—than she ever imagined."
Eadlyn still isn’t sure she’ll find the fairytale ending her parents did twenty years ago. But sometimes the heart has a way of surprising you…and soon Eadlyn must make a choice that feels more impossible—and more important—than she ever imagined."
Just as a side note, this is still not on my 'read' shelf on Goodreads even though I'm positive I read it back in the day when it first came out. I suppose it's kind of pointless to put it on my 'read' shelf now because I still haven't written a review so maybe possibly a reread will come. Anyway, I just didn't really enjoy any of the relationships happening in the second part of this series (consisting of The Heir and The Crown). Honestly, I just read the book to find out how America and Maxon were faring. Eadlyn has a lot of growing up to do and while she does a little (especially in this book), I just didn't really feel invested in any of the relationships. I mean, there were cute moments but that was it.
And there you have it! Have you read any of these series'? What did you think of the ships? What are your favorite and least favorite ships? Make a post and link up down below!
Next Week's Topic: Favorite/Least Favorite Family in a Book
I had to skip your thoughts because I haven’t finished some of these series. Sigh!
ReplyDeleteI know the feeling! There are so many reviews going up for sequels of books that were released last year or the year before and I STILL haven't read them yet so I can't read any of the reviews! Thanks for stopping by anyway, Jenny :)
DeleteI still haven't read Crown of Midnight, but I did really like Chaol in book one - we'll see what I think of him as I continue on with it.
ReplyDeleteI hope you like CoM! I like Chaol as a character, but I don't think he and Celaena are suited for each other personality-wise. Thanks for linking up, Lauren!
DeleteLol, I did not enjoy The Crown! I didn't think Eadlyn had any chemistry with any of the guys and I really just cared about America and Maxon like you. Such a shame because the first three books are so amazing.
ReplyDeleteRight?? I mean, it's a nice story but really, I can't imagine how America and Maxon even raised Eadlyn! She's just so pretentious and terrible and all the guys are meh. I understand that Kiera Cass didn't want to make who she would end up with too obvious but it kind of is. Meh, anyway, maybe I'll reread the first three but not the last two! Thanks for stopping by, Emily!
Delete