Friday 56 and Book Beginnings: Empire of Storms (Throne of Glass #5) by Sarah J. Maas || Friday 50/50: Favorite/Least Favorite Character Arc

Please join us over at RoseCityReader every Friday to share the first sentence (or so) of the book you are reading, along with your initial thoughts about the sentence, impressions of the book, or anything else the opener inspires. Please remember to include the title of the book and the author’s name.

This is a weekly meme hosted by Freda's Voice
These are the rules:

1. Grab a book, any book.

2. Turn to page 56, or 56% on your eReader.

3. Find any sentence (or a few, just don't spoil it) that grabs you.

4. Post it.

5. Add the URL to your post in the link on Freda's most recent Friday 56 post.

The book I am currently reading, The Wicked Deep, I'm almost finished with. I felt it would be kind of pointless sharing it. Honestly, I'm less excited about this series than I used to be. But, I have all the books, I've already made it this far might as well see it through to the end. 

Kind of the same reasoning of why I finished watching both Lost and Bones.
This book came in second place to Wicked Deep for which book I should read next on my last Goodreads poll.

Synopsis:
Kingdoms will collide.
  The long path to the throne has only just begun for Aelin Galathynius as war looms on the horizon. Loyalties have been broken and bought, friends have been lost and gained, and those who possess magic find themselves at odds with those who don't.
  With her heart sworn to the warrior-prince by her side, and her fealty pledged to the people she is determined to save, Aelin will delve into the depths of her power to protect those she loves. But as monsters emerge from the horrors of the past, and dark forces become poised to claim her world, the only chance for salvation will lie in a desperate quest that may mark the end of everything Aelin holds dear.

Book Beginning:
The bone drums had been pounding across the jagged slopes of the Black Mountains since sundown.

Friday 56:
"Your blood oath is stolen by a foreign prince, your queen is an assassin who appoints common whores to serve her, and yet you have nothing to say?"

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50/50 Friday is a new weekly link-up hosted by Carrie @ The Butterfly Reader and Laura @ Blue Eye Books.  Every week they have a new topic featuring two sides of the same coin - you share a book that suits each category and link up on the hosts' blogs.

This week's topic is Character Arcs, (changing wording slightly) Best and Worst.

Best
Magnus Damora, Falling Kingdoms series by Morgan Rhodes
I haven't finished the series yet. Only up to book four, but the development he's had in those four books is just fantastic.


Worst
Juliette Ella, Shatter Me series by Tahereh Mafi
I really liked the books as a trilogy. Things might have had an ambiguous non-ending, ending. But these recent books feel close to beating a dead horse. And the MC's recent character arc has been... strange.
I am reading this series for Kenji, and he better have a happily ever after.