Top 5 Wednesdays

Top 5 Wednesdays: Books I Felt Betrayed By

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Top 5 Wednesdays is a meme on Goodreads Created by Lainey from gingerreadslainey and is currently hosted by Sam from Thoughts on Tomes. This week the topic is:

Books I Felt Betrayed By: 

What books (or characters) did you feel betrayed by, for whatever reason…big or small.

It happens every so often that I start reading a book, begin to really love it and then the author decides to break my heart or piss me off properly by throwing a MAJOR plot twist my way. It usually ends up being great, but sometimes you’re left feeling betrayed. Nothing irks me more than when an author does something just for the sake of a shock factor. Here are 5 books/characters that left me feeling completely betrayed.

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern: I felt betrayed by this book for the simple reason that I just didn’t enjoy it. Everyone is always saying how good this book is, and it sounded like it would be an interesting story. But for some reason, I just couldn’t get into it, and I felt betrayed by the hype around the book and it not living up to my very high expectations.

Twilight by Stephenie Meyer: This one will sound super silly, so I’ll keep it short and sweet. Vampires aren’t supposed to sparkle! EVER.

Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas: This book… I have many things to say about this book, and it’s not good. The biggest problem (or betrayal) is the main character, Celaena. She is supposed to be this kick ass, skilled AF assassin, but you never really see her in action. This is the worst case of “All Talk, No Action”

If I was Your Girl by Meredith Russo: Biggest betrayal by a character… I’m talking about Bee of course! If you haven’t read If I was Your Girl, then you totally should. It’s so good, but be warned… The ultimate betrayal awaits.

November 9 by Colleen Hoover: This betrayal is similar to If I was your Girl. I’m not going to spoil anything because I really enjoyed this book. The events that took place was luckily “justified” in a sense, so I don’t hate the character involved. But I did feel betrayed at the time.

So that was 5 books that I felt betrayed by. Do you agree with any of my choices? And what are some of the books that you have felt betrayed by?

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Top 10 Tuesdays

Top 10 Tuesdays: Books on my Autumn TBR

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Top Ten Tuesdays is a weekly feature/meme created by Broke and Bookish.

This week’s Top Ten Topic is:

Books on My Autumn TBR:

Everyone North of the Hemisphere is packing away their winter clothes and swapping cups of steaming lattes for iced coffees. Me, like many others, over here in the Southern Hemisphere, is doing the opposite. We’re getting ready for days spent curled up on the couch with a snuggly blanket and a hot cup of coffee (or maybe a Hazelnut Cappuccino) Because as Ned Stark would say: “Winter is Coming.” Here are 10 books that I want to read in the next couple of months as winter sets in:

World After & End of Days by Susan Ee:

I just finished reading Angelfall, which is the first book in this series. I had no idea what to expect from this book and I can tell you now that my mind is completely blown away. Now I have to finish this series ASAP!

Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys:

I’ve been meaning to read Salt to the Sea for quite a while now, but I always manage to pass it over from one month’s TBR to the next. I have no idea why I do this because I really do want to read it. So now that I’ve told you that I’m going to read it soon, I have to!

Earth Girl, Earth Star & Earth Flight by Janet Edwards:

I’m trying to read more series this year and the Earth Girl series by Janet Edwards looks promising. If the first book sucks I’m obviously not going to finish the series, but I’m hopeful that it’ll be great!

Me, Earl and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews:

In August 2016, I took a day off work to go to a massive book warehouse sale. Me, Earl and the Dying Girl is one of the books I ended up buying, but haven’t read yet. I have decided that I have to read this book ASAP otherwise I’ll probably never read it. It seems to be relatively short, so it shouldn’t take me too long to read. Fingers crossed that I enjoy it!

Wires and Nerve, Vol 1 by Marissa Meyer:

I absolutely love The Lunar Chronicles and I recently finished reading Heartless too. I enjoy Meyer’s writing so much and I’m already a huge fan all the Lunar Chronicle characters, so this is just another book I have to read! And as a plus, it’s a graphic novel. So that’s awesome!

Caraval by Stephanie Garber:

Caraval was one of the most anticipated new releases of 2017. Everyone was losing their shit about this book and now I finally have the book. Time to find out if it lives up to the hype!

The Fellowship of the Ring by JRR Tolkien:

One of my reading goals for 2017 is to read the complete The Lord of the Rings series. I decided to read this series in winter so that I’d have time to read lots of other books. This series will probably take some time to read, so I’ll start reading it in the next couple of weeks probably.

What book do you have on your spring/autumn TBR? Also, I’d appreciate ANY book recommendation. 🙂 I’d love to seem what everyone is reading!

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Reviews

Review: A Thousand Boy Kisses by Tillie Cole

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My Rating: ★ ★ ★

Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform

Date of Publication: 14th March 2016

Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Pages: 352

Synopsis (Adapted from Goodreads)

One kiss lasts a moment. But a thousand kisses can last a lifetime.One boy. One girl. A bond that is forged in an instant and cherished for a decade. A bond that neither time nor distance can break. A bond that will last forever. Or so they believe.

When seventeen-year-old Rune Kristiansen returns from his native Norway to the sleepy town of Blossom Grove, Georgia, where he befriended Poppy Litchfield as a child, he has just one thing on his mind. Why did the girl who was one-half of his soul, who promised to wait faithfully for his return, cut him off without a word of explanation?

Rune’s heart was broken two years ago when Poppy fell silent. When he discovers the truth, he finds that the greatest heartache is yet to come.A stand-alone young adult tearjerker romance, recommended for ages fourteen and up.

REVIEW

“I’m Poppy Litchfield and you’re Rune Kristiansen. This is a handshake. My mamaw told me it’s what you do when you don’t know somebody. Now we’re friends. Best friends.”

Cheesy Crust! You guys… This book! I’m going to sound like the most basic of bitches when I say I literally cannot even with this book! There are 316 pages that make up A Thousand Boy Kisses, and I cried reading about 266 of those pages. Like ugly, uncontrollable Sobbing. To say this book was an emotional rollercoaster would be completely inaccurate. This book was an emotional flatline. Just sad from the beginning until the end.

I realize that I’m being a smidge overly dramatic, but it really is a very emotional book. Like the Fault in Our Stars emotional. I’m warning you now… You might not even like this book. But you’ll cry. Oh! And just a tip: DON’T read the Epilogue. It’s not sad or important to the book. It’s shitty and made me give the book an overall lower star rating.

A Thousand Boy Kisses follows the lives of the two main characters, Poppy and Rune, from the day that they become neighbors and best friends at the age of 5. When Poppy and Rune are 8 years old, Poppy’s grandmother gets sick, and before she passes away she gives Poppy a mason jar with a thousand blank pink paper hearts. With it, she gives Poppy the instruction to write down every kiss she receives that has an impact on her (AKA “Boy Kisses”)

It’s not that hard to guess that Poppy and Rune fall in love, and Poppy starts filling her mason jar with boy kisses. Unfortunately, at the age of 15 Rune moves back to Norway with his family and leaves Poppy behind. After only months apart, Poppy does the unthinkable and breaks Rune’s (and everyone reading) heart. She breaks all contact and Rune is left wondering why. Two years later Rune and his family move back to Georgia, and Rune is on a mission to know why Poppy abandoned him. And the reason is just heart-breaking.

I initially thought that a Thousand Boy Kisses was going to be a book about the risk of having sex too young, and teen pregnancy. It isn’t, thank God!

Poppy and Rune is your average YA, contemporary teenage couple. Poppy is quirky, artsy and an outsider.

Rune is the bad boy with a soft heart you can’t help but love. Together Poppy and Rune are teenage couple goals. Add in great friends and family members, and this makes for great reading. Although A Thousand Boy Kisses revolves mostly around Poppy and Rune, you get a glimpse of some side character too, like Poppy’s parents and her mamaw, Rune’s little brother and his father. I mention them specifically because I feel that although they didn’t have a huge part in the book, they did play a significant role in the lives of Poppy and Rune, and in this book.

I could’ve easily read this book in one day if I was brave enough. The way this book is written makes it a quick and easy read (if you discount the amount of time it takes you to cry your eyes out) I also really enjoyed that the book has the POV of both Poppy and Rune.

A Thousand Boy Kisses is a proper tear-jerker, or maybe I’m just very emotional. Whatever the case, I’d recommend this book to anyone who enjoyed The Fault in Our Stars or If I Stay.

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Reviews

Review: Heartless by Marissa Meyer

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My Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★

Publisher: Feiwel & Friends

Date of Publication: 8th November 2016

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Retelling, Romance

Pages: 453

Synopsis (Adapted from Goodreads)

Catherine may be one of the most desired girls in Wonderland and a favorite of the unmarried King, but her interests lie elsewhere. A talented baker, she wants to open a shop and create delectable pastries. But for her mother, such a goal is unthinkable for a woman who could be a queen.

At a royal ball where Cath is expected to receive the King’s marriage proposal, she meets handsome and mysterious Jest. For the first time, she feels the pull of true attraction. At the risk of offending the King and infuriating her parents, she and Jest enter into a secret courtship.

Cath is determined to choose her own destiny. But in a land thriving with magic, madness, and monsters, fate has other plans.

REVIEW

After I read The Lunar Chronicles I was so excited for Marissa Meyer to release more books, retellings or not. I thoroughly enjoyed The Lunar Chronicles. When it was finally announced that Meyer would be releasing another retelling I was so excited. My excitement grew even more when I read that the book, Heartless, would be about the infamous Queen of Hearts.

I’m not a big fan of novellas, and Heartless is basically a 453 page novella, that tells us more about who the Queen of Hearts was BEFORE she became the meany Queen of Hearts. And it was absolute perfection. The plot sounded so interesting and it’s such a different perspective.

When I think about the Queen of Hearts, sympathy and understanding isn’t emotions that I would usually associate with her. After reading Heartless, I’ll never be able to hate her again. I can sympathize with her now.

The characters are fun and colourful and crazy like you’d expect to find in Alice in Wonderland. A lot of the characters from Alice in wonderland make and appearance in Heartless. From the Hatter to Mr. Caterpillar even the Cheshire Cat. It’s so great to see how all these iconic characters played a part in Cath’s life before she became the Queen of Hearts. Cath now holds a very special place in my heart. I felt her heartbreak and I just want to comfort her!

Marissa Meyer definitely hit it out of the park with Heartless. The book is funny, heartbreaking and has just the right amount of impossible silliness in it. Meyer cleverly worked in some other literary works like Edgar Allan Poe’s The Raven and even the nursery rhyme; Peter, Peter, Pumpkin Eater. Heartless is easy to read and get lost in for hours at a time. I’ll be re-reading that book many more times in the future.

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Tags

You’re Not Good Enough Book Tag

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So, I’ve been wanting to do a book tag for a while now. I decided on this one because it seems super fun, and I’m sure there are some very weird decisions to be made here!

This book tag was created by ReadLikeWildfire & Beccathebookreviewer.

What you have to do is write down 30 character names on little pieces of paper. Then you take those pieces of paper and put them all together in a hat/cup/bowl or whatever! And then for every question you must randomly take out two pieces of paper, and choose which one of the characters aren’t good enough for the task. 🙂 Easy Peasy Right? So let’s check it out!

You only have one more spot on your Spelling B team, who would you pick to complete your team?

OPTIONS:
Louisa Clark {Me Before You}  VS. Levana Blackburn {The Lunar Chronicles}

What a way to start this tag. This is so difficult. I feel like both characters would probably be on the same level spelling wise. But I’m pretty sure that Levana would have NO interest in competing in a Spelling B. It’s not really something I see an evil queen doing. So I’m going to have to choose Lou! She’d definitely bring tons of quirk and cuteness to the Spelling B.

 

Both Characters want to kill you, which one would you kill first so you have a better chance of surviving?

OPTIONS:
Brienne of Tarth {Game of Thrones} VS. George Weasley {Harry Potter Series}

I really don’t have to think too much about this one. Although I’m sure that Fred would be able to kill me using cool spells, I’d rather not take my chances against Brienne of Tarth. All you Game of Thrones fans out there will probably agree with me. Brienne is fierce and vicious! (Brienne is also one of my Game of Thrones characters)

 

You’re on the Bachelorette and you’re down to these two characters, which one are you going to give your rose to?

OPTIONS:
Magnus Bane {The Mortal Instruments} VS. Harry Potter {Harry Potter Series}

This one is pretty easy. I know that I stand no chance with Magnus, so I’ll pick the other magical dude. Harry isn’t one of my favorite characters, but he has a good heart and is a good friend. Anyone would be lucky to have him. So I’ll choose Harry Potter.

 

You’ve been chosen for the Huger Games, who would most likely volunteer in your place?

OPTIONS:
Neville Longbottom {Harry Potter Series} VS. Sebastian Verlac {The Mortal Instruments}

I feel like so far, all these options have been pretty easy. This one is no exception. There is no chance that Sebastian, the evillest dude in the Shadowhunter world, would ever take my place in the Huger Games. He’s probably the one organizing it! Neville is very brave and sweet. He’d volunteer for me, no doubt. 🙂

 

You’re stranded on an island. Which character would you sacrifice to engage in cannibalism?

OPTIONS:
Minerva McGonagall {Harry Potter Series} VS. Klaus Baudelaire {A Series of Unfortunate Events}

Hmmm… This really is a tricky one. I feel like McGonagall could just transfigure literally anything into food. And Klaus probably once read in a book somewhere that if you do it right, sand and salt water can be very nourishing. Both are very smart, and very useful on a stranded island. I wouldn’t be surprised if they decided to eat me. I’m clearly the weak link here.

You’re the next DC/Marvel superhero, who is your sidekick?

OPTIONS:
Katniss Everdeen {The Hunger Games} VS. Tobias Eaton (AKA “Four”) {Divergent}

Four is a total bad-ass and a great fighter. He’s strong and smart and handsome too! But let’s face it… Katniss is the girl on fire. She started a revolution! I’m not saying she’ll be a great side-kick, she’s probably upstage me, like all the time. But I still choose Katniss. Girl Power!

 

You’re the manager of an Avocado admiring company, who would you fire for lack of communication?

OPTIONS:
Arya Stark  {Game of Thrones} VS. Princess Jezelia {The Remnant Chronicles}

This one is a bit more difficult. I feel Arya is fine with communicating when she needs to. Jezelia on the other hand is very stubborn and keeps to herself more, I think… I really don’t have a good reason for this, but I’d probably fire Jezelia, because I’m scared Arya might kill me…

 

You’ve just finished a book in which your favourite character dies, which character is most likely to comfort you?

OPTIONS:
Peeta Mellark {The Huger Games}  VS. Blair Waldorf {Gossip Girl}

Is there really even a choice? Unless my name is Chuck Bass I’m sure that Blair would just look at me funny and insult me for crying on her Louis Vuitton Booties. Peeta on the other hand is the sweet and sensitive guy that everyone seems to love. He’s probably crying with me at the loss of my favorite character. So I pick Peeta.

 

Ugh, it’s high school. Who would most likely be part of the popular clique?

OPTIONS:
Aiko {The Lunar Chronicles} VS. Bella Swan {Twilight Saga}

Another super easy choice. We all know that Bella is the awkward new girl that tries to make new friends, but secretly just wants to be left alone. There is no chance in hell that she’d be in the popular clique. Aiko on the other hand, is obsessed with all things hip and happening. She follows the latest fashion trends, she’s always up to date on Celebs, and she’s cute and friendly. Aiko would definitely be part of the popular clique.

 

The day has arrived; you’re finally a year older! Who would have the nerve to forget your birthday?

OPTIONS:
Valentine Morgenstern {The Mortal Instruments} VS. Kadin {The Remnant Chronicles}

Valentine hands down. HANDS DOWN! Again, I’m not so sure that evil people care much about other people. I’m about 100% sure that Valentine would forget my birthday.

 

You’ve just found an upcoming BookTube star. Who would it most likely be?

OPTIONS:
Lord Voldemort {Harry Potter Series} VS. Ned Stark {Game of Thrones}

Can we just we just take a moment to image Lord Voldemort in front of a packed book shelf filled Funko Pops and cutesy bookmarks. Him being all happy and bubbly telling us about his 10 favorite YA summer reads. Can’t imagine it? Me neither. For that reason alone, Ned Stark will most likely be the BookTube star.

 

Sleepover time! Unfortunately, you can only invite one person, who would you invite?

OPTIONS:
Phillip Gallagher {Shameless – TV} VS. Alec Lightwood {The Mortal Instruments}

If you’ve ever seen the TV show Shameless (US) you’d know that having Lip Gallagher alone in your room, would not make for an innocent sleepover. You’d have a serious PG Rated sleepover right there. If you know what I mean… Alec on the other hand doesn’t really come across as a sleepover kind of guy. I can’t imagine us in ugly/comfy PJ’s swapping boy-gossip. This one is hard (That’s what she said) I really cannot choose!!

 

Bam! You’re pregnant. Who’s most likely the mother/father?

OPTIONS:
Jaime Lannister {Game of Thrones} VS. Ian Gallagher {Shameless – TV}

Is my name Cersei Lannister? No, it is not. Well, then I can’t really see me and Jaime “getting it on” I’m not really his type. Ian on the other hand, is definitely, 100% gay. So, the only way I’d be pregnant with his baby is if he were kind enough to be a sperm donor. Which he totally would do.  He has a good heart.

 

You’ve just written a super important text. Who would “see” it, but not reply?

OPTIONS:
Effie Trinket {The Hunger Games} VS. Moaning Myrtle {Harry Potter Series}

Easy-Peasy! Moaning Myrtle would see the text and not reply, because she’d have to physically hold the phone and press buttons. And seeing as though she’s a ghost, that might be problematic.

 

You’ve just woken up and it’s time for breakfast. Your mum’s been replaced by…?

OPTIONS:
Remus Lupin {Harry Potter Series} VS. Celaena Sardothien {Throne of Glass}

Remus Lupin!! Obviously, it will be Lupin. He is one of my very favorite H.P characters! Whereas Calaena is one of my very least favorite book characters ever. I’d be pretty distraught if my mom was replaced by Calaena. Lupin is also such a great guy and great mentor to Harry.

 

I had so much fun doing this book tag! There were some super easy choices and then some that were a bit harder to choose. I hope you enjoyed this as much as I did. 🙂

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Top 5 Wednesdays

Top 5 Wednesdays: Fictional Jobs I’d like to Have

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Top 5 Wednesdays is a meme on Goodreads started by Lainey. This week the topic is:

Fictional Jobs I’d Like to Have: Any fictional career you’d want to have? Remember, T5W is always open to movies, tv, and video games as well.

I’d like to start of this post by quickly just saying CONGRATULATIONS to my boyfriend on staring a new job today. I’m so happy that he gets to do the work that he really wants to do.

With that said today’s topic is quite fitting as I have been thinking a lot about making a career change myself. I’m stuck between becoming a Muggles Studies teacher at Hogwarts or a shadow hunter in NYC. I am of course only joking, but how great would any one of those be? Let’s have a look see at some fictional jobs I’d like to have:

Muggles Studies Teachers at Hogwarts:

I really wasn’t kidding when I said I wanted to work at Hogwarts. And Muggle Studies would be the class that I’d be great at teaching. Who better to teach young witches and wizards about crazy muggle objects like telephones and rubber duckies, then a Pure-Blood Muggle? I’d say that in my 24 years living in the muggle world, that I’m more than qualified for the position.

Amity Faction “Representative”:

Since the first time that I read Divergent I knew that I’d either be in Amity or that when I became of-age that I’d transfer there. Amity is known for being peaceful and will try to find solutions to problems in non-aggressive ways. That’s me! I don’t like aggression or conflict either. They are also the farmers of the land and just down right chilled out. At first I thought that they were hippy-dippy losers, but I agree with a lot of their ways. They are VERY diplomatic and do not recognize a leader. They have Faction representatives instead. I’d like to do that! I’d like to put new faction members through initiation* and just be part of a very chilled out community.

*Not much is known about the Amity initiation, other than that it involves fruit picking and sing-a longs.

Owner of Taki’s Diner:

I really wasn’t a huge fan of The Mortal Instruments Series and I really have no desire to become a shadow hunter. A job that would be pretty flipping awesome to have, would be to own the downworld diner where Shadowhunters, downworlders and even mundanes come together for a nice bite to eat. Wouldn’t it be awesome to see all the different types of creatures that come to visit Taki’s? From vampires to shadowhunters to werewolves. I’d be one of those nosy owners who’d want to hear everyone’s stories, and what brought them to my diner. That’d be pretty cool!

Grand Minister of Luna/Artemisia:

This one is going to be a huge spoiler to those of you who have not finished ready The Lunar Chronicles. I’d recommend that you NOT read this one.

Okay… so those of us who have read The Lunar Chronicles knows that Cinder turns out to be the missing princess Selene Blackburn. Things happen and Cinder becomes queen of Luna. More things happen and Cinder decides to stop the monarchy on Luna and turn it into a democratic country. Such a great ending by the way. Obviously, it would take some time and patience to turn a country around. I’d love to be the Grand Minister that can make decisions that would make Luna a great country.

Ilona, of the House Targaryen, First of Her Name, the Unburnt, Queen of the Andals, the Rhoynar and the First Men, Khaleesi of the Great Grass Sea, Breaker of Chains, and Mother of Dragons.

Okay I know this isn’t a job, it’s a title. But the holder of those titles has a very important job of like freeing slaves, flying around on dragons, marrying Khal Drogo and just being the most kick ass female ever. I’d be a great Khaleesi! I’d fly Drogon around town, yelling at evil people in Dothraki or Valerian. Then I’d also meet up with Jon Snow and be like “Hey Bro! Let’s rule the Seven Kingdoms together!” 🙂

What are some other cool fictional jobs that you’d like to have? Maybe you want to be gamemaker in The Hunger Games or an Assassin. 🙂 Let me know in the comments down below!

 

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Top 10 Tuesdays

Top 10 Tuesdays: Books I Loved More/Less Than I Thought I Would

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Top Ten Tuesdays is a weekly feature/meme created over at Broke and Bookish.

This week’s Top Ten is:

Top 10 Books I Loved More/Less Than I Thought I Would.

I know I’m almost two days late… But rather late than never, right? 😛

Loved More:

After the End {Amy Plum}

After the End is really one of those “Hidden Gem” books. You know, a book that’s actually really good but very few people know about it. I honestly did not expect to like this book. I thought that After the End would be just another generic YA dystopian novel, with a “relatable” heroine driven strongly by a romance with some generic stud. In all honesty, it was YA dystopian but it was so much more than that! The story was interesting, the romance level was fairly low compared to most YA novels and the story didn’t drag on unnecessarily. This was a quick read and I ended up loving the Duo-logy.

 

 

If I was Your Girl {Meredith Russo}

I just want to start off by saying that I didn’t think I wouldn’t like If I Was Your Girl. I was a little bit apprehensive about reading this novel by Meredith Russo because I have never read anything written by or about trans-gendered people. So, not only was this a genre I’ve never read before, but it was also a topic I have a very limited understanding of. The root of my apprehension comes from the fact that I had no idea what to expect. And I am pleased to say that I really enjoyed If I was your Girl.

 

 


The Remnant Chronicles {Mary E. Pearson}

I really had my doubts about reading this series. This story is basically about a princess running away from her responsibilities only to fall into a love triangle with the prince she was supposed to marry and an assassin paid to kill her. It sounds like it should be really sucky, but DAMN! It was actually, surprisingly VERY good. Mary E. Pearson has the ability to turn a story that sounds cheesy AF into a really great adventure story. The Remnant Chronicles is definitely one of my favorite YA series I’ve ever read. It well written and exciting and I honestly didn’t think that I’d love it as much as I do!

 

 

Vicious {V.E. Schwab}

Unlike After the End, Vicious is one of those books that everyone and their grandmother is constantly talking about. A lot of well-known BookTubers say that Vicious is one of their favourite books ever. In my short time of being a reader and book blogger I’ve come to realise that when people make a huge fuss about a book, I usually end up not enjoying that book as much. Case and point, the Throne of Glass series. Or any John Green Book (excluding TFIOS) or even anything by Rainbow Rowell. So, when I finally decided to see what the hype was about, I honestly thought that I’d just end up disappointed. But I’m happy to say that I enjoyed Vicious so much! It really was such a great read. I think I ended up naming it one of my favourite books of 2016.

 

My Lady Jane {Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, Jodi Meadows}

Please do not stone me to death when I say that I’m not into period dramas. I’m not interested in books about Victorian times and romances set in the 1800’s. However, after reading the summary for My Lady Jane I thought I’d give it a go and see where history takes me. Even though the summary says that MLJ is loosely a retelling of actual events I was still worried that I’d be having some intense history lesson. That was not the case at all. I don’t think I’ve ever read a book that has made me laugh out loud as many time as I did reading My Lady Jane. It was funny and cute and so different from what I expected.

 

Loved Less:

The Perks of Being a Wallflower {Stephen Chbosky}

I’ve watched (fragments of) the movie. I’ve heard/read/seen that quotes. “And in that moment, we were infinite” So, when I decided to finally read the novel, I was expecting something great! This novel means so much to so many people, that I’m surprised to find myself thinking that this is probably one of the most disappointing books I’ve ever read. Okay, to be fair it might be because of the massive hype around the book that it didn’t live up to my expectation. Whatever the reason though, I just really thought I’d like Perks more than I did.

 

 

The Mortal Instruments {Cassandra Clare}

Here we have another hyped-up Series. One that ended up getting its own TV series. The Mortal Instruments actually falls into a very strange grey area between love or hate. At first, I didn’t like the series. I had trouble liking character that everyone seems to loves, like Simon and Jace. The story was good but could be better. Then there was the story line about incest which was just… no. However, later on in the series when the focus shifted slightly away from Clary and her Brother/Lover I did start enjoying it more. I have so many mixed feelings about this book, but one thing I know for certain is that I really thought I’d like it more.

 

 

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child {J.K Rowling}

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child

I feel like this’ll be a very popular book for this topic. I am definitely more than a little obsessed with Harry Potter and the whole franchise. So, I was naturally very excited to hear that the story continues on Broadway and that the Broadway show is altered into a neat book. Yay! New Harry Potter Book! I think the problem is that people are so obsessed with the original story that any new material will have a very difficult time living up to everyone’s expectations. So, although this was a good book and I enjoyed reading about beloved characters, the story just didn’t manage to leave a big impression on me. And apparently, a lot of people felt just as underwhelmed as me.

 

 

The Knife of Never Letting Go {Patrick Ness}

This is probably the book that I’m most surprised that I didn’t love it as much as I thought I would. The story seemed so cool and the writing was unique, but I just could not get into the book. I often felt annoyed at the repetitive nature of the book (Run away > Find “safety” > Danger > Death > Repeat) There are so many good things about this book, and I really wanted to love it. But it just turns out that The Knife of Never Letting Go is just not my cup of tea.

 

 

 

This Shattered World {Amie Kaufman}

I absolutely loved These Broken Stars! Like 4/5 Stars! So naturally I assumed that the next book in the series, This Shattered World, would be a hit too. It wasn’t. This Shattered World was such a huge disappointment to me. The story was boring bordering on annoying. The characters were annoying and I felt like everyone was just running around like crazy people, but never getting anywhere. After reading This Shattered World, I actually gave up the series. I don’t think I’ll ever finish the series because I’m so scared that it only gets worse. I really wanted to love this book, but I cannot. #sorrynotsorry

 

 

 

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Top 5 Wednesdays

Top 5 Wednesdays: Book Trends I am Tired of

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Top 5 Wednesdays is a meme on Goodreads started by Lainey. This week the topic is:

Book Trends You’re Tired of: What are some things you are tired of seeing that are trends in publishing? Maybe something that pops up on a lot of covers these days, or the popularity of certain tropes in a particular genre? Let it out!

There are many reasons that we love certain books the way we do. Some books keep our interest by introducing us to new new topics that challenge our way of thinking. Other books keep us entertained through humour or great plots. Unfortunately, with the good there is always bad close by.

This week we’re having a look at some trends that have been so over used that we are just tired of seeing it. Here are my Top 5 Book Trends I’m Tired of Seeing:

1.The “Chosen” One:

This seems to be the plot for every YA fantasy book being released today. There is always one character who is destined to save the world/stop the villain/change the world. These character also happen to mostly be women (Yay for the ladies!) What I’ve come to notice, and what annoys me endlessly, is how these characters just effortlessly slide into the role of Chosen One. Oh! You used to be a teenage girl hanging out with your befriend, and now, three weeks later you’re a kickass assassin? I don’t buy it! Another thing regarding the Chosen One topic that I absolutely hate, is the fact that the day is hardly ever saved by ONLY the chosen one. There are always a whole much of people involved, but Hoorah! the Chosen One has done it!!

2. Character Deaths to Force Emotion:

I cannot describe to you how I hate it when a character is killed just for the sake of evoking some emotions, either in the protagonist or the reader. It’s usually the likable best friend, or perhaps the mentor/parental figure. Why do you do this authors? It doesn’t make me sad, it makes me angry and annoyed. Stop with the unnecessary deaths! *cough* Manchee *cough*

3. Novellas:

Have you ever started reading a series that you though had a total of three, maybe four books in? And then shortly after getting invested in the series you see that before EVERY book there is a novella. Instead of releasing 6 novellas in between 3 Main books, just work it into the actual books. The 63 pages of a novella can certainly be worked into the main novels easily. The only novellas I didn’t mind reading was the novellas for The Lunar Chronicles.

4. Romance Everywhere!

Why, oh why must every adventure lead to romance? It seems that it is impossible for two characters to be together for a period of time without falling in love. I hardly even see adventures ending in friendship. No matter the plot, it seems that love will either be the main focus or a very important side plot. But I am now getting really tired of it! 🙂

5. Underwhelming Battles:

The final battle is usually something that I get very excited about. It’s usually the climax of a trilogy, or the deciding factor of what happens to our protagonist. But imagine reading a trilogy that builds up to the final battle over the course of all three books, and then the battle lasts about 2 measly pages. Or there is a huge build up, and then there isn’t even a battle at all (I’m looking at you Twilight Saga) I want action and drama and fighting!

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Top 10 Tuesdays

Top 10 Tuesdays: Books I Wish Had More Healthy Relationships in Them

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Top Ten Tuesdays is a weekly feature/meme created over at Broke and Bookish.

This weeks Top Ten is:

Top 10 Books I Wish Had More Healthy Relationships in Them.

It’s February again, which means love is in the air! I’ll admit that I’m a sucker for romance books of any kind. Give me cheesy romances. Give me light and fluffy YA romances. You can even give me sexy erotic romances. I don’t care! I’ll read them all, and love it all! But I must admit that recently I’ve had a problem with the (sometimes insanely) unhealthy relationships out there in Book Word. I understand that books are supposed to be entertaining and that it’s just a story. But I honestly worry that there are ladies out there looking for their own Christian Grey.

Like I just said, I really do love romance novels of all kinds. And I honestly don’t mind a completely crazy romance now and then, but this topic isn’t about my favourite Crazy Couples ever. No! It’s about books I wish had more healthy relationships in them.

1 Fifty Shades of Grey – E.L James

Fifty Shades of Grey immediately comes to mind when I think about novels with unhealthy and crazy relationships. This is the story about two people who from the very start want to change the other person in the relationship. Christian wants shy, good-girl Ana to become his submissive, even after she tells him how uncomfortable she feels about a Dom-Sub relationship.

On the other hand, Ana is sure that she can get controlling, dominant Christian to settle down and have a sweet “vanilla” happily ever after. This relationship is poisonous, unhealthy and just wrong. (I say that after having read the series twice 🙂 Whoops!) There are so many things that could’ve been done to make this not-a-sucky romance!

 

 

2 Twilight – Stephanie Meyer

Moving on swiftly to the Book that inspired the above-mentioned disaster of a romance: Twilight. Many readers will agree with me when I say that Bella Swan is truly one of the most disliked female characters out there. Her personality and actions revolves completely around Edward Cullen. Her love for him drives her to make rash and down right stupid decisions. This often leads to putting everyone in dangerous positions that could’ve easily been avoided.

Edward on the other hand is so damned creepy. He wants to kill Bella but also enjoys creeping into her room to watch her sleep. He’s very over-protective and just a little bit on the jealous side.

And just to add… as a bonus… Jacob has experienced the worse case of “friend-zoned” ever documented in a book. 🙂

 

3 The Bride Quartet – Nora Roberts

Okay! Hold up! Before I say anything about this series, I just have to say that I enjoyed all four of the books very much. It was romantic and sexy and all the good things you want from a proper romance novel. However, I personally don’t see how getting engaged in a matter of weeks (Like 6-10 weeks) is healthy for a relationship. I have been with my partner for seven years now, and I cannot imagine where we would’ve been if we got engaged within the first month of our relationship. I mean, seriously! The first year of a relationship is basically a honeymoon phase, where everything is moonshine and roses. After that, the real shit comes out, and you really get to know each other. Right? Again, I’ll just say that I KNOW this is fiction, but it still sets a very unrealistic standard.

4 The Selection – Kiera Cass

Where do I even start with this one?

Here we have a prince who has to choose a wife out of a pool of 30 women, the Bachelor style. He immediately makes a connection with a girl, who clearly doesn’t seem interested in him. But he tries to win her affection, while still being conflicted about his feelings for all the other girls. Because who can choose only one young, beautiful, eligible lady as a wife?

Then there is America Singer, the underdog. The lowest class of all the ladies in the selection. And surprise surprise, she’s not interested in the prince. No! she loves the cute boy back home who cannot offer her anything. Until the life of luxury grows on her and she decides that maybe falling for a prince is not such a bad idea after all.

This relationship begins in such a bad way that I cannot see how a happily ever after could be possible… But that’s just me.

 

5 Just One Day

Just One Day was one of my least favourite books of 2016 for the simple reason that the story was just really bad. I had really high hopes for this book as it’s written by Gayle Forman, but I was so disappointed. Just One Day is literally about Allyson and Willem who meet each somewhere in Europe, and agree to spend one day together in Paris. They fall madly in love (in just one day) and then Poof! Willem disappears after having his wicked way with Allyson! Instead of accepting that it was probably a one night stand, Allyson goes back to America and obsesses about this boy. This boy who ditched her. Allyson is determined to figure out what happened to Willem.

Just One Day shows just how crazy girls get when boys play with their hearts. It’s so bad that Allyson doesn’t make new friends in college, because of her broken heart. She travels all across Europe hoping to find Willem, to find answers. I just cannot like this book or the characters in it. Allyson is obsessive to the point of insanity!

 

6 The Mortal Instruments

There were many great relationships in The Mortal Instruments series. Magnus and Alec being one of my favourites. But then there was the relationship what made me go “Uhm… What?!”

Do you know who I’m talking about? Clary and Jace of course! I’m referring to the relationship between them in the first couple of books. The books where they kind of fall in love, and then find out that they are kind of brother and sister. If all romantic feelings went out the door at that moment I would not have minded. But the fact that Jace and Clary were honestly considering being together, romantically, even though they are related, was just not okay with me. Excuse me for not thinking that incest is hella romantic!

Luckily later on *spoiler alert* they do find out that they are not related, and continue their relationship without incest bringing them down! Yay! *Spoiler End*

 

I know that’s only 6, but they are six really good ones! So yeah! 🙂 Do you agree that these are some really unhealthy relationships, that could’ve been much better?

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Reviews

Review: After the End by Amy Plum

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My Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★

Publisher: HarperCollins

Date of Publication: 6th May 2014

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Science Fiction > Dystopia

Pages: 352

Synopsis (Adapted from Goodreads)

She’s searching for answers to her past. They’re hunting her to save their future.

World War III has left the world ravaged by nuclear radiation. A lucky few escaped to the Alaskan wilderness. They’ve survived for the last thirty years by living off the land, being one with nature, and hiding from whoever else might still be out there.

At least, this is what Juneau has been told her entire life.

When Juneau returns from a hunting trip to discover that everyone in her clan has vanished, she sets off to find them. Leaving the boundaries of their land for the very first time, she learns something horrifying: There never was a war. Cities were never destroyed. The world is intact. Everything was a lie.

Now Juneau is adrift in a modern-day world she never knew existed. But while she’s trying to find a way to rescue her friends and family, someone else is looking for her. Someone who knows the extraordinary truth about the secrets of her past.

REVIEW

 

“Life is easier in black and white. It’s the ambiguity of a world defined in grays that has stripped me of my confidence and left me powerless.”

I love it when I am completely surprised by a book. After the End is one of those books that you THINK you’ll like, but probably forget about it soon after reading it. At least, that’s what I thought. That is absolutely not the case here. I was completely unprepared for the awesomeness that is After the End.

In After the End, we follow Juneau from Alaska on a sort of road-trip across America to find her clan that has been kidnapped. I won’t reveal too much of the plot, but with the help of Miles and the Yara Juneau gets closer to finding her clan and discovering some secrets that the clan elders have been hiding from her.

This book is full of adventure, action and all the good things you’d want in a YA novel. But it also makes you think about religion and how everyone practices and experiences religion differently. I myself and not religious and I still found it so damn interesting!

After the End ends on such a cliffhanger!! I hate cliffhangers! Because now I have to get Until the Beginning ASAP to see what’s happening! 🙂 Just kidding. I’m already busy reading Until the Beginning.

I feel like After the End isn’t getting all the recognition it deserves on the BookTube and basically all over the internet. I see so many people gush about a handful of books all the time. The Mortal Instruments, Throne of Glass, Miss Peregrine’s, just to name a few. After the End should join those books! It was a quick read and it was just so enjoyable! It’s definitely on my list for best Duologies ever! 🙂

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