#booktag Book Sacrifice

The Sacrifice Book Tag
(thanks to Ariel: http://bit.ly/2gSUKPG) 

This one seems fun! End of the world type scenarios, let's see what kind of damage I can do to the precious!  (I'm a writer, not a video-er so here I go!)



Situation #1-  Zombie Apocalypse. The Military has found that Zombies hate overhyped books. So you run and grab...

The Hunger Games.
I know, I know but honestly, they weren't as fantastic as everyone says.
(and don't get me started on the movies)
Well, the first one was amazing, but they got worst as you went along. Bye bye. 

Situation #2- Torrential Downpour; Before your hair gets ruined, you grab a sequel to use as an umbrella:

Glass Sword.
I could not get into this book! Red Queen was good (albeit not a new concept)
and then Glass Sword started off sooooo sllloowwww. So I stopped.
Haven't gone back... but it's been following me around the room
like the Mona Lisa lately, so it'll be on the 2017 list with King's whatever it is. 

Situation #3- Sitting in an English Lecture, where the prof won't stop rambling about this Classic that is amazing but you disagree so you throw this book at him:

PRIDE AND PREJUDICE
I hate Jane Austen.
Carry on :) 

Situation #4- Global Warming! Oh no. The world is now a wasteland. How to survive? Stay in the library (where you're hanging out) and burn whatever you can find, so have no guilt about burning....

There are so many I don't care for:
-Most of John Green's stuff (I liked TFIOS)
- Anything by Jane Austen
- To Kill a Mockingbird
- OH OH Secret Brother by VC Andrews - HE DIED MR NEIDERMAN! Leave him DEAD!
- The Giver
- A great and terrible beauty trilogy

I'd have myself a toasty lil fire *adjusts halo*

That was fun.
Poor books.

Not.

Let me know what you think! 

#booktag Gilmore Girls!

So, I've been seeing these #booktags around the community, and I am very intrigued!
After watching the Gilmore Girls revival this weekend, I figured I'd start with this one and see what happens. (Thanks to ReadbyJess for the tags) 

1. "I just got hit by a deer" - character having the worst day ever.

This one is really difficult! I read mostly YA dystopian stuff where all our young maiden's are having crappy lives until they realize they are the key to saving the planet. 

jacob black had some rough days...

Bilbo Baggins had a birthday he'd rather soon not remember (Even though he had an awesome adventure)

*Spoiler Alert for Assassin's Blade* but the day she loses Sam was a horrible one!

Bryce Loski in Flipped made some terrible choices one day and ended up almost ruining the best thing that ever happened to him.

so, days suck, but their lives turned out pretty good. 

2. Stars Hollow - wildly eccentric cast.

Hands down, The Lunar Chronicles. Take your everyday fairy tales (as we know them), and make them all kinds of crazy. and cyborgs. and in love with each other, naturally but in the middle of a war between Earth and the Moon. Just Fantastic.

*i dont own the pic. the artist signed it in the corner ... found on pinterest

3. COFFEE - a book/character you're addicted to.

The Maddox boys, because no one can really just pick one. Jamie McGuire's series about these brothers and the women they are in love with is just too perfect for words. You never want the story to end. 

4. Kim's Antiques - a world you'd be afraid to enter.

Literally? Sheesh, where to start? Hunger Games, Divergent, Game of Thrones, the Maze Runner. I'll pass on those invites.

If you mean a book I'm afraid to read? Well, none that I've come across. 

5. Luke's Diner - A comfort read.

Harry Potter, wands down.

6. Emily - the HBIC (Head Bitch In Charge)

Dorothy from "Dorothy Must die".
Man, she is a lot different than Judy Garland 

7. Lorelai and Rory - best character dynamic.

Honestly, this goes back to the Lunar Chronicles.
Thorne and Cinder, or Iko and Cinder, or Thorne and himself...

Or Jas and Georgia from Confessions of Georgia Nicolson. Friendship goals right there; Trust me, you won't be disappointed. 

8. "I pushed him in a lake" - book you'd chuck in a lake.

I read *A LOT* of bad things for my sister site review blog.

From my personal choices, I'd have to go with
"me before you" or "
ensnared" by a.g howard
because I was drowning in my tears from both. 

9. Kirk - the weirdest book you've ever read.

I also read *A LOT* of weird things for my sister site review blog.

From my personal collection, I'd have to go with
The Neverending Story

or
Magic Kingdom for sale - Sold by Terry Brooks.
. 

I love them both but strange, strange, strange. 

10. "It's a lifestyle, it's a religion" - a book that means more to you than any other.

Again, I'm going to have to go with Harry Potter. It's a potterhead thing, we can't help it. 

But Georgia Nicolson's books are just as lifestyle basing as they can be. If you haven't read them, I don't care how old you are, go do it. She is just amazing. Louise Rennison (bless her cotton socks, may she rest peacefully) had the most amazing story come to life in my head. and my friends who also read it just absorbed the personality coming off the pages. We learned french from her (even though french was in our school because, eh canada) but Georgia did it better. It's truly a lifestyle. and a religion. and praise Buddha and baby Jesus for her. 

Alrighty that's it for now! If you agree (or disagree) let me know in the comments

(mmmmmmmmmmmmm, books <3)

Review: Winter (Lunar Chronicles 5)

 Marissa Meyer
Winter
Lunar Chronicles- Book 5


I put off buying this book for the simple fact that I like when all my books in a series are the same... but I couldn't wait any longer so I caved and bought this in hardcover. I don't even care - It was totally worth it!

This particular book is fairy tales meets cyborgs meets Les Mis. I had the songs playing in my head at different parts of the story, but I was too captivated to actually put them on.

We pick up from Cress, where the gang is about to lead in a Revolution against "Queen" Levana and Lunar.  The plan is simple really, convince an entire planet of Cinder's real identity and to revolt against their current queen to follow her.
Oh, and that the current Princess Winter is not as crazy as everyone thinks. (even though she is but I promise you she is just as amazing as the rest of this group that you will fall in love with every chapter again and again. I still cannot figure out who my favourite couple is - i love them all!)

Anyways, back to the story.  So, Scarlett has been captured, the rest are stuck on the Rampion (at least for now) and Kai is set to marry Levana or else Earth cannot have the cure to letumosis.  Easy enough to fix in a matter of days, no?

This books takes place on Lunar, which is a fun little twist. Basically, it's like the Hunger Games where the main "royalty" is all well and good and the further out you get from them, the worse off the people and land are. and they all have a purpose: wood, metal, etc etc.

What I loved most about this one is that every few chapters we got the perspective of a different character. It wasn't only one or two, it was all of them. Really helped us in getting a full picture of what was happening at any given time.  Meyer's writing is still just as captivating as ever. This is the longest book and I strongly suggest clearing your schedule before you start it; you will not want to put it down!

This is a world you will not want to leave. Forget the "TRB List", it will be added to the Reread list (and "must get everyone I know to read too!" list) forever.  It was pure magic.

Review: Throne of Glass (Throne of Glass 1)

 Sarah Maas
Throne of Glass
Throne of Glass Book 1

I picked up Throne of Glass once I stopped crying from reading Assassin's Blade, so I do suggest reading that one first. It is a prequel of stories so it technically could be read afterwards, but really, where is the fun in that?

One year after Assassin's Blades ends, we are back with Celaena. She has been in the mines for one year.

and what a year it has been.

Now, she is being led away by some mysterious stranger through the tunnels... only to come face to face with the Crown Prince.  He would like Celaena to fight on his behalf in a battle of the champions that his father, the King, is hosting. No one will know her real identity.  If she wins - by beating 23 other trained dangerous men - then she will have her freedom in as little as 4 years.

As much as she hates the King, she accepts. How could she not?

Celaena is brought to the castle. She is given her own room, and is basically thrown right into hardcore training. Her main Guard, and the Prince's best friend, Chaol (Pronounced Kay-all) is by her side when he can be; they run together, they talk, they train. They become friends... and of course, who could be around Celaena and not fall in love with her.

She, on the other hand, is slightly distracted by two things.
1) The other champions fighting for their freedom are mysteriously being murdered. Viciously.
and
2) the Crown Prince, Dorian. Hello, Handsome. Not to mention sweet, and funny. and he gives her books (Honestly men of the real world - take note! give a girl a library and she'll be putty in your hands!)

There is something going on beyond anyone's guesses and Celaena is the key. Of course, it's not as easy as it sounds. There are always people lurking in the background ready to strike; Jealously is really the root of all evil in this one.

Fast paced, shocking twists, battles, deaths, romance triangle and secrets from the beyond make for a story you will be unable to put down.  You will be falling in love with this story before you know it; the characters, the history, the beauty of the world. Maas does an amazing job at bringing such a magical kingdom to life in just a short time.  You're in for a wild ride.

Do not be afraid.

Review: Assassin's Blade (Throne of Glass prequel)

 Sarah Maas
Assassin's Blade
Throne of Glass Prequel


It took me forever to find the time to just sit and read this, but man, was I not disappointed.  The prequel to the Throne of Glass series tells us of 5 stories which follow Celaena Sardothien on her journey.

The stories are:

-The Assassin and the Pirate Lord
-The Assassin and the Healer
-The Assassin and the Desert
-The Assassin and the Underworld
-The Assassin and the Empire

Each different lengths, some with new characters (for those who have yet to read any of the books in this series).   Each story leaves the reader with questions and more interest to dive deeper into this mysterious world.

Each story connects, in a way, to bring Celaena to her ultimate fate. (That sounds more ominous than it should - she clearly does not die or there would be no more books...not that authors these days care about killing off our main characters. *big sigh*)

In each story we see her fight for what she believes in, fight for her freedom, fight for her heart, fight for others, fight for ... well, fight for the sake of fighting sometimes.

Maas' writing is absolutely beautiful. She writes with such passion and gives us reader such detail that we can feel like we are immersed in the story. You can feel Celaena's cape, you can hear her blade through the air, you can smell the lavender soap in the apartment, you get thirsty with her through the Desert and you may even feel like you want a shower after that sewer scene.

A word of warning, you will want tissues for this one. I am not a predictor when I read, and the cruelty and betrayal that happens throughout will have you curled up in a ball (hopefully with a blanket, pillow and something warm to drink nearby as comfort) as you travel the worlds with Celaena and come to face all her challenges with her.

Make sure to have the next book(s) in the series ready - you'll want it after you stop the tears.
5 stars all around, and this is only the beginning.

Meet my bookshelves!

So after moving into our own place (finally!) I got around to putting up my bookshelves. Hubby wanted double-deep for his office stuff and he likes symmetry so I got stuck with half my book being hidden.
It worked out - ended up with a smaller office than I wanted.

~


Bookshelf 1: Series

There are so many on here, it's a bit ridiculous.  Some have to be on the top shelf (I know, it's weird!) Like Harry Potter and Pendragon. Lately, I have been putting the Mortal Instrument series there too - but Ron is blocking it right now. The rest kinda just go where they fit. There is clearly room for so much more. Not sure if you can tell but behind the Jamie Mcguire books (second from top - far right), there is the begining of like 6 or 7 series. As that grows, I'll have to reorganize.
Other series that are hidden: artemis fowl, game of thrones, Georgia Nicolson, and LJ Smith's "Nightworld".
Beside the Eragon books, is another favourite author - Norma Klein. I emptied a second hand store once when I found all those. She writes a lot of coming of age type stuff that spoke to me when I was 12/13, go figure.

I have a lot more HP related items that go on here, but they cover up most of the top shelf.
The picture that has massive glare is my German Shepherd puppy from childhood. The 2 mugs on the last shelf have an "A" and a "J" - I'm A, hubby is J.  The snowman elephant is just something that needs to go in the xmas boxes.


Bookshelf 2: Author specific/ non-series

This starts with all my VC Andrews books at the very top - some are missing from this as my mother is reading a bunch.  She is my favourite author, and a lot of her books are reviewed on here. I also co-run a fan group on facebook called "VC Andrews' Dolls" if anyone is interested :)

Going down the shelves, we have RL Stein - he gets a full shelf -, then random hardcover/fancy books - far right are all Harry Potter related. The last self is everything else. I tried to keep all the bio-ish stuff on the right hand side, and everything else is all just done by size of the book.  My Series of Unfortunate events box set is still packed away. Not all have been read but I'd say at least 60%  have.
Some of these were read as a kid, and I bought because I love them. Some I cannot bring myself to read (such as the fault in our stars) after watching the movie (I KNOW I KNOW!!)   I am missing a bunch from here too because they are on my mom's TBR pile.

There's usually decor stuff in front of these too, like a pic of my grandparents-in-laws, a HP figurine in package, and a "licence plate" blank with a orca whale on it. Nothing fancy. \


~

 That's me in a nutshell. I read pretty much everything except horror/thriller/mystery stuff. I used to read Dean Koontz in high school, but I had to downsize books at one point and he had to go. You can kind of see the 1 john grisham book and there's a brad meltzer book that I loved so I kept that. Otherwise, it's YA all the way.

Review: Iron Fey part 2

- The Iron Fey: Call of the Forgotten
Julie Kagawa

*Beware of spoilers as you get further into the series

The Lost Prince 

Ethan Chase has been able to see Them since he was kidnapped at the age of 4. All his life he has battled against them, trying to keep them at bay - but for the life of him, no pun intended, they will not leave him alone.

Acting out because of it, he has gotten himself a bit of a reputation of a badass. Which made him a loner. He's not complaining (too much) because it's less people to worry about saving about from Them.

Then he gets transferred to a new school. It's his last shot at a a "fresh shot".  In walks Mackenzie. The nonstop little blonde bundle of girl who won't leave Ethan alone for an interview for the school paper.

Ethan also makes a friend of sorts, Todd, who all of the sudden goes missing. Todd can also see Them so when Todd goes missing Ethan has to do the one thing he swore he'd never do: he has to contact the Fey.

On his hunt for Todd into the Nevernever, adventure meets him and tries to suffocate him. With Kenzie by his side, and the unlikely of help from some familiar characters, the group is off.

With new friends, new enemies and new threats to the Nevernever, Ethan and the gang must figure out what has been forgotten.

An intriguing take on what has been an amazing series so far. I like that we get more of "the next generation" if you will, but I do wish we got to see Meghan as Queen. Kenzie and Ethan's story pulls you in though and has it's own twists and turns to keep you deep in the jungles of the Courts. 

The Iron Traitor 

I had a 3 hour break between work appointments and read this in one sitting. in a college cafe.
and threw it down (pretty hard) once I read that last page only to have everyone look over at me.
and let me tell you, totally worth it!
This series just gets better and better.

Okay so, after the mess at New York, Ethan is back at home trying to be as normal as possible (I said trying) but then he finds out Kenzie is in the hospital - just weak from their adventure - but her father blames him and demands these two stay away from each other.

Oh, and then Megan shows up at his house.
Keirran is missing.
Ethan hasn't seen him but might have an idea where he is. He wants no part of it though.

On their first official date, Ethan brings Kenzie over... only to find Annwyl in his room. Keirran is in trouble and it's because of her. She is fading and he has gone to find an impossible cure.

Nonstop and full of wit and love and battles; absolutely perfect! Not enough Puck in it for me, but what can you do? Impossible to put down but the title of "traitor" is well placed. My goodness Kagawa knows how to keep you coming back for more. 

Iron Warrior 

Continuing right from where we leave Ethan in Iron Traitor, we are thrown right into the middle of absolute hysteria. Keirran has betrayed everyone he knows and loves for the sake of love. Oh, and a Prophecy that needs fulfilling.
Only problem is that there is a point of no return and it's up to Ethan, Kenzie, Razor and some unlikely characters to see if they can stop him from reaching that point.

Ethan and Kenzie are one of my favourite ships! Their relationship is similar to that of Ash and Meghan; intensity and true love.  The overall writing in the story (and series overall) never falters or falls below wonderful at any point. Kagawa has you gripping the pages from start to finish as you race through Faery with the gang to see what happens next. Twists and turns left, right and center continue right to the end where they are wrapped up beautifully. You will wish the stories never end.

This is one series that won't be Forgotten.

Review: The Death Cure (Maze Runner 3)

 James Dashner
 The Death Cure
 Maze Runner - Book 3

*Spoilers if you haven't read the first two!

You know those books or TV shows where everyone dies? This is pretty much one of those.

and it's amazing!

Just like The Scorch Trials, this one picks up right where we left our boys and the gang. While they made it to the "safe haven" like they were told to do for a cure, WICKED didn't exactly tell the full truth.  No surprise there.  WICKED hasn't found a cure yet, but they are still in the process. Tracking every move and decision these kids make will help WICKED eventually find a cure.  Isn't that nice of them.

So Thomas and his friends have decided they have had enough. No more will they be pawns in a never ending game of "when am I going to die?". They are going to escape from WICKED and try to find somewhere safe to live out their days.

If only it was that easy.

With some returning characters, some missing characters, remembered memories and the one page us in the fandom do not speak of ... prepare yourself for a whirlwind of lies, running, tears and heartbreak as Thomas finally realizes what he comes to love above anything else: his friends.

I think this one is my favourite of the series so far. We get a lot of the puzzle pieces from WICKED, we see a lot more of the kids interacting with each other as oppose to just running for their lives (even though they do a lot of that too), and who doesn't love twists and turns all over the place? Dashner has this way of writing that you cannot help but fall in love with. It's short and snappy, yet the plot twits and dramatic flare of his characters is so on point and delivered right on time.

 I am sure this is not the end because I still cannot decide if I agree that WICKED is good.  

P.S If a friend hands you a note, read it once they've left the room.