Cannonball Read 18

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time

About ElCicco

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Married, mom of two, history PhD, feminist. I've been participating in Cannonball Read since CBR4. I love to read, and writing reviews keeps me from reading without thinking. I feel like I owe it to the authors who entertain me to savor their creations. It's like slowing down and enjoying a delicious meal instead of bolting your food. (Learn more about this Cannonballer: ElCicco's Quick Questions interview.)

ElCicco's Reviews:

Gutted. Wrecked. Ruined. And that was just after the first 3 chapters

Assassin’s Quest: Book Three of the Farseer Trilogy by Robin Hobb

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I love this series. I want to put that up front. It is outstanding, all three books. It is also heart wrenching. In this final installment of The Farseer Trilogy, the question is whether prophecies and destiny will be fulfilled, and if so, at what cost? FitzChivalry Farseer, bastard son of the man who was meant to be king but never would be, has been through horrifying, brutal, traumatic experiences. His maternal grandfather forced him from his mother and dumped him with his uncle at […]

It’s not over until we win

Royal Assassin: Book 2 of The Farseer Trilogy by Robin Hobb

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The thing about second books in trilogies is that they have to do a lot of work developing conflicts and characters. Second books tend to be where the bad guys are ascendent and our heroes seem to be losing. They provide critical information and often are kind of depressing. Royal Assassin, the second volume in The Farseer Trilogy, is such a book but I am completely invested, as well as devastated, by what is happening to our main characters and the kingdom where they live. […]

Fantasy with less romance but more dogs

Assassin’s Apprentice: Book One of the Farseer Trilogy by Robin Hobb

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I’m on a fantasy kick recently, this time without the romance but with plenty of court intrigue, magical powers and violence. Trigger warning for abuse and death (including animals). Assassin’s Apprentice is the first book in Robin Hobb’s Farseer Trilogy, which has been reviewed favorably several times on CBR. Add this one to the favorable reviews. Hobbs includes two very compelling storylines and a cast of interesting characters whose personal motivations and abilities create some thrilling and suspenseful scenes. I tore through this 400+ page […]

And now we wait

Accomplice to the Villain: A Novel by Hannah Nicole Maehrer

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Accomplice to the Villain is the third installment in Hannah Nicole Maehrer’s Villain Romance/Fantasy series. Since Accomplice just came out in August, I’m probably going to have to wait a while for Adversary to the Villain, which is the projected title for the fourth and final book in the series. Part of me is annoyed at having to wait and part of me looks forward to re-reading everything when the final novel is released. As with the previous books, Maehrer delivers thrilling adventure, bloody action, […]

The Good, the Bad and the Horny

Apprentice to the Villain: A Novel by Hannah Nicole Maehrer

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Apprentice to the Villain is the second of four projected Villain novels (#3 is out now) and continues the romance/fantasy of Evie Sage and Trystan Maverine, aka the Villain. At the end of book one, Evie’s world has been turned on its head. Her boss Trystan has been captured by the evil King Benedict and he thinks Evie is dead. Evie and the rest of the crew at Massacre Manor  have to come up with a plan to get the boss back and save the […]

A slow burn with fire breathing dragons

Assistant to the Villain: A Novel by Hannah Nicole Maehrer

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Like This Will Be Fun, Assistant to the Villain is a romance/fantasy with a good amount of humor  and thrilling adventure thrown in. Assistant is the first book in a series, and I found this one entertaining enough that I will definitely be reading the next installment Apprentice to the Villain (the third book, Accomplice to the Villain, just came out this year). I’ve sort of accidentally found myself reading romantasy lately, and frankly, it’s kind of a nice break from reality. I liked Assistant […]



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