Staff Pick - Throne of Glass

I cannot say enough about Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas. I was pretty excited about a YA book being about an assassin rather than vampires, werewolves, or some other overdone creature.

"In a land without magic, where the king rules with an iron hand, an assassin is summoned to the castle. She comes not to kill the king, but to win her freedom. If she defeats twenty-three killers, thieves, and warriors in a competition, she is released from prison to serve as the king's champion. Her name is Celaena Sardothien." 

What I loved about this book, among many other things, was the action. Most teen books dull down the action and blood, but this book doesn't disappoint. It's dark, grisly and wonderful. The characters are fabulous as well.

Celaena is cocky, sarcastic, and tough. Normally you wouldn't care for a person like that but it works so well here. The Crown Prince is charming and a bit spoiled and the Captain of the Guard is swoon-worthy.

It has everything. Princes, action, magic, romance and awesome swords. What more could you want in a book? If you ever need a heroine that kicks serious butt, pick up this book. Seriously. You can find it in our online catalog by clicking here.

-Kilie

If you like Fifty Shades of Grey

As with any film adaptation, the release of E.L. Jame's self-published phenomenon Fifty Shades of Grey in theaters has increased interest in the series. If you're waiting on a copy, or just looking for something similar, here are a few titles you might also like:

Crossfire Series
by Sylvia Day
Eva Trammel, plagued by her own insecurities, is drawn into an intense, obsessive relationship with the wealthy and arrogant Gideon Cross. "Gideon Cross came into my life like lightning in the darkness. He was beautiful and brilliant, jagged and white-hot. I was drawn to him as I'd never been to anyone in my life..." The series starts with Bared to You.

Breathless Trilogy
by Maya Banks
Gabe is wealthy, powerful, and accustomed to getting anything he wants. Mia was his best friend's little sister... but she's not so little any more. Mia knows Gabe is way out of her league, but she's an adult now, and there's no reason not to act on her most secret desires. Starts with Rush.

Stark Trilogy
by Julie Kenner
An erotic, emotionally charged romance between a powerful man who's never heard "no" and a fiery woman who says "yes" on her own terms.  "He was the one man I couldn't avoid. And the one man I couldn't resist. Damien Stark could have his way with any woman. Anything he wanted, he got. And what he wanted was me..." Starts with Release Me.

Submissive Series
by Tara Sue Me
When CEO Nathaniel West, a skilled dominant, is looking for a new submissive, Abby King agrees to play the part and although Abby finds fulfillment in her new experiences, she realizes that Nathaniel can only remain cold and distant. Starts with The Submissive.

The Sleeping Beauty Trilogy
by Anne Rice
It is an ancient story, one that originally emerged from and still deeply disturbs the mind's unconscious. In the first book of the trilogy, Anne Rice, probes the unspoken implications of this lush, suggestive tale by exploring its undeniable connection to sexual desire. Starts with The Claiming of Sleeping Beauty.

All descriptions adapted from our online catalog or worldcat.org.