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Friday, July 31, 2015

My Book Quotes (Humour/Sarcasm)

Humorous and sarcastic quotes were harder that I thought they would be to find. I have done my best from the books I have read, I have also tried to express my thoughts about the different quotes. I will link the Goodreads page for the book that the quote is taken from, if you want to check out more about that book. 

"I'm not going to wear a red dress" she said.
"It would look stunning, my lady" she called...
If there's anyone I wish to stun at dinner, I'll hit him in the face."
Graceling by Kristin Cashore  

The reason this quote stuck in my mind as I read this was that it shows Katsa's sassiness, as well as her ability to kick-butt as I could totally see her hitting someone in the face, she is fearless.

"Even though Cammie is fluent in fourteen languages
and capable of killing a man in seven different ways
with her bare hands,
she has no idea what to do when she meets a ordinary boy
who thinks she's a ordinary girl."
 
by Ally Carter
 
I like that although Cammie in this series of books has all the head knowledge she could want, this quote shows that something's in life just aren't taught. Also it also just a great quote when taken out of context.
 
"Greater love hath no man, than he will dress up
as a nerd for his lady."
 
To Mary a Prince by Sophie Page
 
Although this quote is said sarcastically I know of people who cringe at the idea of dressing as a nerd, which makes me giggle because so many nerds are just the normal people. 
 
 
"Number of empty Ben&Jerry ice cream containers:
 3 -- two mint chocolate cookie, one plain vanilla.
(Who buys plain vanilla ice cream from Ben & Jerry's, anyway?
Is there a greater waste?)”  
 
by Ally Carter
 
When I read this I was like 'that is so true' why would you buy vanilla ice cream from Ben & Jerry? It just doesn't made sense! Books by Ally Carter's; although they have a lot of action and adventure in them they, often have these kind of one liners which give parts of the books a light hearted feel.   
 
 
 


 


 
 

Wednesday, July 29, 2015

The Gift (Pellinor #1) by Alison Croggon


Summary (From Goodreads)


Maerad is a slave in a desperate and unforgiving settlement, taken there as a child when her family is destroyed in war. She is unaware that she possesses a powerful gift, a gift that marks her as a member of the School of Pellinor. It is only when she is discovered by Cadvan, one of the great Bards of Lirigon, that her true heritage and extraordinary destiny unfolds. Now she and her teacher, Cadvan, must survive a punishing and uncertain journey through a time and place where the dark forces they battle with stem from the deepest recesses of other-worldly terror. (Note: This book has also been published as 'The Naming)

5/5 Star Review

I have loved this book for many years I first read this book when I was about 9 years old. Since then I have re-read it many times resulting in it being the first series of books that I have dog-eared, so much that they have to be held together with tape.

This book is a adventure fantasy book with a well developed world. The world has a lot of history and which is revealed through the book. I would say that this series has a slight Lord of the Rings feel to it with good vs evil and the Elidhu's feel a bit like Elves. There is also talk of 'Marshlights' which made me thing of Lord of the Ring.

Maerad changes a lot though out this book and continues to grow even more in the rest of the series. Cavan is a bit of a mysterious character at the beginning of this book, and his mood can quickly change particularly at the start of the book. One of my favourite minor characters is Silvia as I love the way which Maerad interacts with her.

Such a great book and one I will no doubt be rereading for many more years to come.

Tuesday, July 28, 2015

My 5 Most Owned Authors

I saw a video by some of my favourite booktubers showing the author's which took up the most of their bookshelves. So of course I had to look at my own book shelf  and I thought this was a great way of showing you guys what authors I read (and kept the books to reread).  So these aren't my favourite author's as many of my favourite authors haven't published enough books to get on this list. Also they aren't all auto-buy author's (buy anything they would publish). To find out more about these authors you can click on there name and a link shall take you to their websites, and also the series names you shall be taken to that series Goodreads page. So here we go:


5) Jonathan Moeller (8 Kindle Books)

  • Child of the Ghosts (Ghosts, #1)
  • Ghost in the Flames (Ghosts, #2) 
  • Ghost in the Blood (Ghosts, #3) 
  • Ghost in the Storm (Ghosts, #4) 
  • Ghost in the Stone (Ghosts, #5)  
  • Ghost in the Forge (Ghosts, #6)       
  • Ghost in the Ashes (Ghosts, #7) 
  • Ghost in the Mask (Ghosts, #8)        
As you can see I have read and own the Kindle version of books 1-8 of the Ghosts series which is a fantasy series. I have to say that I wasn't awed by this series and I missed that bit of romance that I like in a book. Although there is the hint of romance in the seventh or eighth book so I might give this series another go at some point and complete it. There is a total of Nine books and then what looks like a spin off series after that. Also something I have observed is that Moeller is a really fast writer so if you hate waiting years ands years for the next book I recommend you give his books a go.

4)Patricia Briggs (8 Books)

  • Moon Called
  • Blood Bound
  • Iron Kissed
  • Bone Crossed
  • Silver Borne
  • River Marked
  • Frost Burned
  • Night Broken
These 8 books are all the published books in the Mercy Thompson series which is a adult Urban Fantasy.  

3) Jennifer Estep (9 Books) 

  • Spider’s Bite #1
  • Web of Lies #2
  • Venom #3
  • Tangled Threads #4
  • Spider’s Revenge #5
  • By a Thread #6
  • Widow’s Web #7
  • Deadly Sting #8
  • Heart of Venom #9
These 9 books are the beginning of a adult urban fantasy series Elemental Assassin. This series already has 13 books published with more on the way so I have some catching up to do here. I have also read some of Estep's Mythos Academy (Young Adult) series but didn't enjoy them as much.
 

2) Ally Carter (10 Books)

 

  1. I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You 
  2. Cross My Heart and Hope to Spy
  3. Don't Judge a Girl by Her Cover
  4. Only the Good Spy Young 
  5. Out of Sight, Out of Time
  6. United We Spy
  1. Heist Society
  2. Uncommon Criminals 
  3. Perfect Scoundrels
  1. All Fall Down
As you can see have read books all the published book in these three series by Ally Carter. I think she is close to being (if not already) an auto-buy author I have loved everything she has written although saying that I have yet to get her adult series (Cheating at Solitaire) but it's defiantly on my TBR (to-be-read) list.  
 

1) Maria V Snyder ( 2 Kindle + 10 Books )
The Chronicles of Ixia Series

  1. Poison Study (Study #1)
  2. Magic Study (Study #2)
  3. Fire Study (Study #3)
  4. Storm Glass (Glass #1)
  5. Sea Glass (Glass #2)
  6. Spy Glass (Glass #3)
  7. Shadow Study (Soulfinders #1)
  1. Inside Out
  2. Outside In  
  1. Touch of Power
  2. Scent of Magic (Kindle)
  3. Taste of Darkness  (Kindle)
 
 I own all of Snyder's book mainly because I read Storm Glass (LOVED IT!) and then I had to finish
the trilogy. Then I wanted to know the back story, I have to say that sadly I didn't enjoy the Study trilogy as much as the Glass. The Healer series is another of Snyder's trilogies which I loved and would love to read more from these characters. I mean I know that the trilogy is finished but everyone thought that the Study trilogy had finished too, so I am not ruling out the possibility of a fourth Healer book.
 

Monday, July 27, 2015

My Book Quotes (Bookish Edition)

I was looking though my favourite quotes and notices that quite a lot of them were book related. Therefore I thought I would collect them together and share them.

I would love for you to comment down below if you agree/disagree with any of these quotes. (Click of the name of the book for the Goodreads page)


"For a moment I was distracted. Books always did that to me."
Starcrossed by Elizabeth C. Bruce  

I have to admit that this is sometime all to true for me. If I am at a friend house and they have popped out the room for a minute, they will often come back to find me sat on the floor looking at their bookcases.

"It was amazing how many books one could fit into a room
assuming one didn't want to move around to much.
 
The Well of Ascension (Mistborn #2) by Brandon Sanderson
 
I think this applies to all major book lovers who want to try and contain their books to one room.  
 
 
"Books are my friends, my companions.
They make me laugh, and cry and
find the meaning of life."
 
Eragon by Christopher Paolini.
 
Ever read a book? Well you know what this quote is talking about then, although I have to say that a book has to be really good to make me physically laugh or cry.
 
 
"The relationship of a girl and her favourite novel can be complex."
 
Nightshade by Andrea Cremer  
 
I have to agree with this quote as, I think someone's favourite book can tell you a lot about that person. Maybe even something for their character, belief and dreams?
 
"I spent my life folded between the pages of books.
In the absence of human relationships I formed bonds with paper characters.
I lived love and loss through stories threaded in history."
 
Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi
 
This quote I think applies to anyone who has ever tried to hide from the world in a book, to escape to a place far from whatever you are going through in the real world.
 
 
 
 
This quote is from one of my favourite books Throne of Glass -which is reason enough to love this quote but it also - expresses one of my beliefs that knowledge is power. 

 

Sunday, July 26, 2015

Flicker & Burn (Cold Fury #2) By T.M. Goeglein


Spoilers In Summery If You Haven't Read Cold Fury  

 

Summary From Goodreads


Sara Jane Rispoli is still searching for her missing family, but instead of fighting off a turncoat uncle and crooked cops, this time she finds herself on the run from creepy beings with red, pulsing eyes and pale white skin chasing her through the streets in ice cream trucks; they can only be described as Ice Cream Creatures. They're terrifying and hell bent on killing her, but they're also a link to her family, a clue to where they might be and who has them. While she battles these new pursuers, she's also discovering more about her own cold fury and more about the Chicago Outfit, how the past misdeeds--old murders and vendettas--might just be connected to her present and the disappearance of her family. But connecting the dots is tough and time-consuming and may finally be the undoing of her relationship with the handsome Max--who's now her boyfriend. But for his own safety, Sara Jane may have to end this relationship before it even really starts. Her pursuers who've shown her her mother's amputated finger and the head of the Chicago Outfit who's just whistled her in for a sit-down make a romance unthinkable. The only thing that matters is finding her family and keeping everyone she loves alive.
 
 

4/5 Stars Review

 
This book was much better than the first book (Cold Fury). This book picks up just after the first book finished although there has been the arrival of some new 'villains' if the gap between the two books. These new 'villains' are link to ice cream truck and are just a bit creepy although they do see a bit monstrous and fantasy at the start I can assure you there is a logical reason for their appearance. Another thing that seems a bit unrealistic to me was the new development with ghiaccio furioso( I won't say any more but if you thought it was odd in the first book well...)

The style of writing in this book fitted the plot as thing seemed to happen unexpectedly and without any warning. The author also didn't give us a long back story at the beginning of the book like he did with the first book, so that helped my enjoyment as we could just get straight in to the action. There are also points when the author tries to trick you (page 118) which I appreciated.

I liked that we got slightly more romance in this book it defiantly still a side theme but I love that it was in included in the book. I am glad we got to know more about Outfit and also about Sara Jane's family history. I also enjoyed that Sara Jane's relationships with the people around her become strained adding more pressure for her to deal with.

I can't wait for the next book to see the consequences of thing that happen in this book and also to see how this trilogy is going to finish.

Saturday, July 25, 2015

Night School Series by C.J. Daugherty

 

4/5 Stars Review

I recently marathon read these books (read them one after the other). Although I have written individual reviews for most of this series, I thought I would try to sum up my over all thoughts and feelings about the Night School world, it's charters and plot.

 
This series consists of five books:

1)Night School
2)Legacy (My Goodreads Review)
3)Fracture (My Goodreads Review)
4)Resistance (My Goodreads Review)
5)Endgame (My Goodreads Review

My Summery for the plot:

This book starts off in a way which reminds me of the beginning of the film 'Wild Child', where a teenager is going through a rebellion and their parents send them away to boarding school (Cimmeria Academy). The rebellious teenager in this series is called Allie who is dealing with the disappearance of her older brother.

Once she arrives at this school she is given a pile of papers full of rules which must be kept, many of them surround the Night School which is for selected pupils and is very secret and mysterious. After Allie is attacked one night she becomes desperate for answers but answers can sometimes be dangerous. As Allie learns more about Night School she also finds out more about herself and her family.


Themes
 
There is a mix of different themes in this series I would say that they change slightly as the series progresses. I would say that the main theme's in this series are Mystery, Romance, friendship and conflict/action.
 
In the first book there is a focus on secrets and mystery surrounding what is happening at Cimmeria Academy.There is secrets though out this series and even in the last book there are revelations but the number of secrets do decrease as Allie works out what is happening around her. By the third/fourth book the main theme I would say is the conflict (something I can't really tell you about without spoilers). The romance and friendships continue through out this series, yes there is love triangle which was created by indecision but it wasn't the worst love triangle I have read. There are lots of friends in this book who all have there own problems  and secrets which effects there friendship with Allie.        
 
Characters
 
It took me a while to 'get to know' all the different characters in this series I think this might have been due to the fact most of them had so many secrets that they kept from Allie. Character's also changed in the course of these books, the most obvious change was in Allie herself. She describes this change in 'Endgame':
 
 
"She'd been Allie Sheridan, trouble maker, angry girl. And now she was Allie Sheridan, ... fighter, rebel."
 

Although she does become kickass she manages to keep a  hidden vulnerability and gentleness. Sylvain also changes quite early on in the series and Carter... well his personality is up and down all over the place.
 
 
 Plot
 
I loved the idea of what Night School and the mystery of the first book was well written as we only ever knew as much as Allie did, which was often not much (especially in the first book). I spent most of the series wondering if there was going to be a 'peaceful' solution to the conflict or if everyone was just going to end up killing each other. I did enjoy the ending although I would love to have read slightly more maybe a 6 month later chapter (or another book!).

Final Thoughts

I couldn't write about these books and not mention the covers I mean books 2-5 are just so dramatic, the spines also look great on my shelf (always a bonus!).  So over all these were full of action with that splash of romance that I enjoy. The third and fourth books were my favourite books as Allie has begun to understand everything and begins to fight back.


 

Thursday, July 23, 2015

Ignite (Defy #2) by Sara B. Larson

Spoilers If You Haven't Read Defy


Summery From Goodreads

Alexa remains by the newly crowned King Damian’s side as his guard, ever committed to helping him rebuild Antion and reclaim the hope of Antion's people, despite continuing to harbor a secret love for him. However, when another threat to Damian and his kingdom emerges, and blame is cast on their newly forged allies from Blevon, Alexa knows things are not what they seem. With the fate of her nation hanging in the balance once again, will Alexa be able to protect her king and uncover the true enemy -- before it's too late?

4/5 Stars Review


As soon as I had finished the first book I couldn't wait for the second one to arrive, once it had I read it in one day. I felt as though it deserved 4 stars for the following reasons;

1) Romance - I like the way that it wasn't focused on the love triangle but more on Alexa's own reasoning for not being with the one she loves. Also the jealousy added to this romance theme in the book. (one negative thing about the romance was that one chapter where love was the main theme that was a bit ... cheesey.)

2) Secrets and betrayal- this book has less secrets than the last book but way more friends turning on friends.

3) Action - as expected lots of fighting.

4) Mystery - lots of unanswered questions. Things are mentioned in this book that I think will be relevant in the third book or will be at least explained more.

5)A ending that leaves you wanting more.

Cold Fury (Cold Fury #1) by T.M. Goeglein

Summery (From Goodreads)


Sara Jane Rispoli is a normal sixteen-year-old coping with school and a budding romance--until her parents and brother are kidnapped and she discovers her family is deeply embedded in the Chicago Outfit (aka the mob).

Now on the run from a masked assassin, rogue cops and her turncoat uncle, Sara Jane is chased and attacked at every turn, fighting back with cold fury as she searches for her family. It's a quest that takes her through concealed doors and forgotten speakeasies--a city hiding in plain sight. Though armed with a .45 and 96K in cash, an old tattered notebook might be her best defence--hidden in its pages the secret to "ultimate power." It's why she's being pursued, why her family was taken, and could be the key to saving all of their lives.

3/5 Stars Review



I have to say that this book didn't start in a way I enjoyed. The first 100 pages were just a back story for the main character Sara Jane's entire life, which in my option -the important things- could have summed up in about a page. These first 100 page meant I had to give this book a lower rating which is sad because I really enjoyed the rest of the book. I took me ages to get into the book and I got a bit board in the first 100 page but after that it got so much better.

Once the action started it was full on, though Sara does -in my mind- seem a bit calm with the fact her family has been kidnaped. I love the way in which she has managed to work out her families place in Outfit, and in turn her place in it as well. I also like the range of different charter's that Sara meets that are part of the organisation. I thought we might get some kind of solutions at the end of this book but there are very few things that get resolved. In fact we just get snippets of information which I think open up more questions than answers. It does also look like there might be slightly more romance in the next book which defiantly add to this story for me. 


Please let me know in the comments if you have read this book, as I have yet to hear anyone talk about!

Defy (Defy #1) by by Sara B. Larson

Summery (from Goodreads)


Alexa Hollen is a fighter. Forced to disguise herself as a boy and serve in the king's army, Alex uses her quick wit and fierce sword-fighting skills to earn a spot on the elite prince's guard. But when a powerful sorcerer sneaks into the palace in the dead of night, even Alex, who is virtually unbeatable, can't prevent him from abducting her, her fellow guard and friend Rylan, and Prince Damian, taking them through the treacherous wilds of the jungle and deep into enemy territory.

The longer Alex is held captive with both Rylan and the prince, the more she realizes that she is not the only one who has been keeping dangerous secrets. And suddenly, after her own secret is revealed, Alex finds herself confronted with two men vying for her heart: the safe and steady Rylan, who has always cared for her, and the dark, intriguing Damian. With hidden foes lurking around every corner, is Alex strong enough to save herself and the kingdom she's sworn to protect?

 

4.5 out of 5 Stars Review


I really enjoyed this book, firstly because of the characters mainly Marcel, Damian, Rylan and Alexa. Especially Alexa she is so kick-but she also has some insecurities and things she isn't comfortable with, which was nice to see. There is a lot of mystery in this book mainly surrounding Prince Damian, I enjoyed this element as it meant I couldn't predict what he was going to do next.

I like the ending, it was rounded in a way that if you didn't enjoy this book you could just read it as a stand alone without too big a cliff hanger. I also have to say that I liked the way in which that the romance in this book was left (I will stop it there other wise I may give too much away!).

A really enjoyable fantasy romance and well worth the read, can't wait to start the next one.

Red Queen (Red Queen #1) by Victoria Aveyard

Synopsis (From Goodreads)

 The poverty stricken Reds are commoners, living under the rule of the Silvers, elite warriors with god-like powers.

To Mare Barrow, a 17-year-old Red girl from The Stilts, it looks like nothing will ever change.

Mare finds herself working in the Silver Palace, at the centre of
those she hates the most. She quickly discovers that, despite her red blood, she possesses a deadly power of her own. One that threatens to destroy Silver control.

But power is a dangerous game. And in this world divided by blood, who will win?



5/5 Stars Review

 

Wow... I have to say was both excited and a bit sceptical when I picked this book up, as I had heard so many amazing things about it but the last hyped book I read I didn't enjoy it as much as I was expecting. However with this book it was not hyped enough it was A.M.A.Z.I.N.G.

Let start with the world which has been created. I have heard it been liked to the 'Hunger Games' world and I can see the similarities such as the ruling class and the run down villages, but I think I like this world better and there are so many differences I couldn't list them all, so don't let that put you off. We get to see lots of the court intrigue on the ruling class in this book and I have to say that I really enjoyed to see the divisions not only between the red bloods and the silver bloods but also within these two groups.

The character's in this book are well developed and realistic I loved them! Mare is such a great main character and the royal family are so complex. The magical element to this book was also great and I loved the different kinds of powers which are revealed as the plot unfolds.

This book was really good and then I hit the last 50 pages and I couldn't stop reading it had me on the edge of my seat with my brain hardly managing to processing what I was reading. It was such a good book and I highly recommend it.



Partials (The Partials Sequence, #1) By Dan Wells

Blurb (From Goodreads)


Humanity is all but extinguished after a war with Partials—engineered organic beings identical to humans—has decimated the population. Reduced to only tens of thousands by a weaponized virus to which only a fraction of humanity is immune, the survivors in North America have huddled together on Long Island. But sixteen-year-old Kira is determined to find a solution. As she tries desperately to save what is left of her race, she discovers that that the survival of both humans and Partials rests in her attempts to answer questions about the war's origin that she never knew to ask.
 

4/4 Stars

 
An amazing read. I left this book on the shelf for far too long. I started this book because I need a change from what I have been reading recently and I have not regretted it.

The main character in this book is such  a natural leader and she is so strong willed, love it! I have to say that there is an amazing world created in this book and loved the character building. I also loved that so much happened in this book it and moved quickly.

The twist happened so late in the book I had dismissed that possibility earlier in the book, thinking that the author would have put more hints in if that was the case (OH how hard it is to talk of without a spoiler!!) but I have to say the reveal of the twist was written so well.

Great book, so action packed, well worth the read.

Wednesday, July 22, 2015

The Kiss of Deception (The Remnant Chronicles #1) by Mary E. Pearson


Blurb (From Goodreads)

A princess must find her place in a reborn world.
 
She flees on her wedding day.
 
She steals ancient documents from the Chancellor's secret collection.
 
She is pursued by bounty hunters sent by her own father.
 
She is Princess Lia, seventeen, First Daughter of the House of Morrighan.
 
The Kingdom of Morrighan is steeped in tradition and the stories of a bygone world, but some traditions Lia can't abide. Like having to marry someone she's never met to secure a political alliance.
 
Fed up and ready for a new life, Lia flees to a distant village on the morning of her wedding. She settles in among the common folk, intrigued when two mysterious and handsome strangers arrive—and unaware that one is the jilted prince and the other an assassin sent to kill her. Deceptions swirl and Lia finds herself on the brink of unlocking perilous secrets—secrets that may unravel her world—even as she feels herself falling in love.

5/5 stars

A great fantasy romance novel.
The first thing that I have to mention is Pearson's writing style is so amazing and the way that this book is written was clever and something that I have never seen before.

Basically the book is mainly taken from Lia's point of view but there is a few chapters where we can see that one of the boys she meets is an assassin and the other a Prince but we are unaware which is which. This makes the book feel a bit mysterious as I found myself judging the boys every move to work out who was who.

Such a great read with a lot of world and character building taking place. Looks like this could turn out to be an amazing series.