Long Time No See (As Usual)

It seems like I get into the swing of things and then I fall out just like that *snaps fingers*. Right around the time of my last post here, I entered the world's biggest reading slump of all time, thus ensuring a lot of Netflix watching, Animal Crossing: New Leaf, and scouring Pinterest for recipes to try.

I go through bouts of inactive reading-ness, but it's rarely as bad as it was around the end of summer. Luckily I'm no longer suffering from such inaptitude, and I'm back with the semi-scheduled programing known as my obsessive book disorder. I'm pretty sure that's a real thing. Right? Maybe?

So here we are. It's the start of November and I'm feeling good about the books I've read in October, plus, I'm feeling quite motivated to keep up with making videos and the book clubs/groups I'm taking part in.  I will say, quite unashamedly I might add, that I did kind of buy up half of Barnes and Noble when I came out of book slump retirement, so that has definitely helped fuel my motivation to read all the things.

So if anyone is left out there in the blogosphere that follows my ramblings here, hopefully you'll see more shortly.

Don't I always say that?

No matter. The point is... we're back!

Bout of Books 10 TBR!

Twas the night before Bout of Books 10, and all through the house / We're getting excited for reading, claiming a comfy spot on the couch...

I am so pumped for Bout of Books to start! May is just the month for read-a-thons and I am so pumped to be participating in them ALL!

I have a fairly hefty TBR for this week, so I'm not sure how much will actually get read, but I'm thinking a realistic goal will be 3-4 books, considering most of them are pretty short. They are:

If I somehow miraculously finish all of those, I might try picking up a Brandon Sanderson book to get my fill. I think the four books will be challenge enough though, so I'm probably just going to stick with those. We'll see though. 

All together those four books make up 1,281 pages, which means I'll be reading an average pace of 183 pages a day if I want to complete my goal. 

Also, I want to try and participate in a twitter chat at least once and maybe even some of the challenges that can be found HERE.  

It should definitely be a fun week and like last week, I shall try to do an update at least every other day, just to share my progress and all that jazz. 

As for now, I think a nice cup of tea is in order as I get ready to start with Vicious by: V.E. Schwab!

Happy reading everyone!

 

#AYEARATHON Update #1

My #AYEARATHON got off to a bit of a slow start, but here we are at the halfway point and I've finished two whole books, so that's something.

I started off finishing The Alloy of Law by Brandon Sanderson. I had about 150 pages left to go in that by the time Monday rolled around, so I was able to finish that thankfully. Then Tuesday I was able to start The Ask and the Answer, which was nice and all, but only about 130 pages got read in that. Wednesday was by far my most successful reading day with me finishing The Ask and the Answer, which was 389 pages.

This brings my total page count up to 669 pages! I'd say that's a pretty good accomplishment, considering my lack of reading at the beginning.

I suppose today I'll start Monsters of Men. Hurray for finishing series, which is the whole point of this month's theme I think. If I can at least do that, I'll consider this read-a-thon a success.

Books Completed:
The Alloy of Law by Brandon Sanderson
The Ask and the Answer by Patrick Ness

Currently Reading:
Monsters of Men by Patrick Ness

Four days left to go! High hopes.

Now back to reading!

#AYEARATHON - Finish/Catch-Up on a Series

For those of you know aren't aware, #AYEARATHON was created by a group of booktubers who decided it would be cool to have a read-a-thon every month centering around a specific theme. I participated in the theme for February, which was Harry Potter, and it gave me a cool chance to re-read one of my favorite series. This month, I decided to participate again for the theme of Finishing/Catching-Up on a Series!

There aren't  any rules and you don't even have to stick to the theme. It's just a fun way to get the book community reading together and discussing, which I whole heartedly support. If you want more information you can go HERE to the Goodreads group and join in!

I thought this was a really good theme for this month considering I recently purchased the final two books in the Chaos Walking Trilogy by Patrick Ness. I read The Knife of Never Letting Go last year and wasn't completely blown away by it, however I did enjoy it enough to want to continue with the series so this week shall be the week that happens.

If I somehow manage to finish both of them, I might go on to read Spirit Bound by Richelle Mead, which is the fifth book in the Vampire Academy series. I've been in the middle of that series for longer than I can remember so, it's about time I finish it up. 

I'm really excited at the prospect of finishing so many books this month and catching up with some series that I probably wouldn't have the drive to read otherwise. 

The #AYEARATHON starts TODAY and ends Sunday the 11th, so get to reading everyone! It's going to be a great week!

Book Review: The Blood Cloth Syndicate (A Relics Novel) by Joseph Racconti

Title: The Blood Cloth Syndicate
Author: Joseph Racconti
Published: April 11, 2014
Pages: 344
Genre: Suspense/Action/Adventure

I was not expecting that.

I have been reading a lot of fantasy here lately mixed in with some YA and some historical fiction and while those stories are great, I wanted a break. Something different.

I've read a decent amount of thrillers and when I was offered a chance to review this one, I took it. Timing seemed perfect. I was just in the mood for this kind of book.

I didn't have many expectations going in. I was hoping for a good story, something that could hold me over while I was trying to decide what to pick up next...

I was not expecting to be totally engrossed in the story. I was not expecting to have my heart racing, fearing for the character's lives. Simply put, I was not expecting this at all.

The story starts out with a flashback of sorts which really sets up the entirety of the novel. You have a character being summoned by Queen Elizabeth, who is then asked to protect.... it. Very vague. You learn a few key points such as the French involvement and IT'S obviously something they don't want the French to have... Basically it just throws you in and you HAVE to keep reading to put the pieces together, because it's just so intriguing not to.

You then go on to meet the main characters. There are quite a few of them, so it does take a while to really get the story rolling, but the in between is so action packed, it doesn't drag. The main idea is you have a group of normal guys just living their lives, until they find out that their ancestors were wrapped up in some crazy shizz and now it's their turn. I don't want to give too much of the plot away because half the fun of this book is reading and figuring out everything for yourself. I will say that keeping the characters straight did get a little confusing. There are quite a few and their names range from Paul and Pete, to John, Jimmy, and Joe. The more you read, the more these characters really become their own, so this was only a problem for a short while.

This story was very fast paced and action packed. It's the kind of story that keeps you wanting more and on edge until it's resolved, which I really enjoyed. Also, you have an author who isn't afraid to kill off his characters so take that as you will.

It also has a resolution. As I was getting closer to the end, I found myself getting nervous because there didn't seem like enough pages for what I thought needed to happen. I ended up pleasantly surprised (as seems to be the theme for this book) in how everything wrapped up and was left with a very satisfied feeling.

Racconti is a natural. He had a great idea and executed it very well. His writing flowed, his characters were more than just words on the page, and the entertainment value was definitely there. I can't wait to see what else this author has up his sleeve.

If you like suspenseful, action packed thrillers I definitely recommend picking this up. You won't be disappointed.

Overall rating:

Waiting on Wednesday: The Queen of the Tearling by Erika Johansen

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine, where you pick a book that is coming out soon that you want to read.

This lovely book has recently been brought to my attention by a BookTuber in THIS video. She's quite good at explaining why you should be interested in this book, but I'll try to summarize as best I can. 

Firstly, I'm all over any new fantasy series, so even without all of the extra hooplah surrounding it, it still sounds amazing. 

Kelsea Glynn is the sole heir to the throne of Tearling but has been raised in secret by foster parents after her mother - Queen Elyssa, as vain as she was stupid - was murdered for ruining her kingdom. For 18 years, the Tearling has been ruled by Kelsea's uncle in the role of Regent however he is but the debauched puppet of the Red Queen, the sorceress-tyrant of neighbouring realm of Mortmesme. On Kelsea's 19th birthday, the tattered remnants of her mother's guard - each pledged to defend the queen to the death - arrive to bring this most un-regal young woman out of hiding...

And so begins her journey back to her kingdom's heart, to claim the throne, earn the loyalty of her people, overturn her mother's legacy and redeem the Tearling from the forces of corruption and dark magic that are threatening to destroy it. But Kelsea's story is not just about her learning the true nature of her inheritance - it's about a heroine who must learn to acknowledge and live with the realities of coming of age in all its insecurities and attractions, alongside the ethical dilemmas of ruling justly and fairly while simply trying to stay alive... 

The author, Erika Johansen was offered a seven figure sum and a three book deal by HarperCollins for this series. Did I mention she's a debut author? Not to mention Warner Brothers has already bought the movie rights for it. If that wasn't hype enough for you, David Heyman is said to be producing the film (think Harry Potter films) and *drumroll* Emma Watson is set to star (AND executive produce. Seriously, is there nothing this girl can't do?)

Some big names are getting on board with this, and the book hasn't even been released. You'll have to wait until July for that. Just like me.

There is a lot of controversy surrounding the hype. People are speculating that this is just another Rowling pseudonym, as that's the only way to explain such a large publishing deal.

I've also seen some problems people have been having with how the book is being marketed. The Female version of George R.R. Martin's "Game of Thrones. I'm not quite sure what they're getting at with this one, seeing as how my femininity had nothing to do with my enjoyment of Game of Thrones, but that's another issue for another day.

All in all, I'm pumped to get my hands on this, I just hope it's half as good as the hype.

Book Review: Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas

**WARNING: This is the second book in a series. Review may contain spoilers from book 1.**

Title: Crown of Midnight
Author: Sarah J. Maas
Published: August 27th 2013 by Bloomsbury USA Childrens
Pages: 420
Genre: YA Fantasy

I finally got around to picking this up and I was definitely not disappointed. Celaena Sardothien continues to be one of my favorite characters in YA Fantasy and this book reiterated that fact 10 fold. Seriously. If you're looking for a kick-butt female protagonist, look no further. Celaena is your girl. Not only is she strong, independent, and powerful, but she's also relatable.

Yes.

Celaena Sardothien. Deadly assassin is relatable.

She is selfish. She is vain. She is very big-headed. She likes cake! She is flawed and it's in those flaws that her character really comes together. Too often you see characters that can do no wrong. You see a lot of selflessness, especially in female protagonists, but you rarely see young women portraying the stubborn, narcissistic,  snarky rolls and I really love that Celaena is not afraid to do that. To be herself.

*rant rant rant*

Moving on.

From the throne of glass rules a king with a fist of iron and a soul black as pitch. Assassin Celaena Sardothien won a brutal contest to become his Champion. Yet Celaena is far from loyal to the crown. She hides her secret vigilantly; she knows that the man she serves is bent on evil.

Keeping up the deadly charade becomes increasingly difficult when Celaena realizes she is not the only one seeking justice. As she tries to untangle the mysteries buried deep within the glass castle, her closest relationships suffer. It seems no one is above questioning her allegiances—not the Crown Prince Dorian; not Chaol, the Captain of the Guard; not even her best friend, Nehemia, a foreign princess with a rebel heart.

Then one terrible night, the secrets they have all been keeping lead to an unspeakable tragedy. As Celaena's world shatters, she will be forced to give up the very thing most precious to her and decide once and for all where her true loyalties lie...and whom she is ultimately willing to fight for.

---

You end Throne of Glass realizing that Celaena is more important than she herself even realizes, but you're still not quite sure what that entails. In fact, the only person who really seems to be in the know about anything is Nehemia, whose interesting story line could probably be a series in it's self if we're being completely honest here. 

So Celaena is doing the kings bidding, and being pretty reckless while she's at it, until she's sentenced to kill one of her old childhood friends, and that's where the story really takes off. There are so many twists and turns you practically get whiplash.

Did I even mention the political intrigue? Holy guacamole, there's political intrigue galore. (Which was nice, because that's something I really enjoy.)

There are new characters introduced, my favorite probably being Mort, a sarcastic... well I won't ruin the surprise, but he definitely adds some comic relief, along with offering (and I use that world very loosely) help now and again.

You also can't forget the budding love triangle which nudges the story along in all of the right ways. This is not primarily a love triangle. There is SO MUCH going on in the story, the romance takes a back seat, however it's prominent enough to where if that's something you really look for in stories, you'll still get your fill.

All I really have to say about that is: #TeamChaol.

All in all, Sarah J. Maas is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors and this series is one of the best YA Fantasy series I've read in a while. If you enjoy AWESOME female protagonists, unique fantasy settings, well done love triangles, or just YA in general, you should pick up this series. Seriously. It's fantastic.

Overall rating:

Find this book on: Goodreads | Barnes and Noble | Amazon

Book Review: The Bronze Horseman by Paulina Simons

Title: The Bronze Horseman
Author: Paulina Simons
Published: September 2009 by William Morrow (first published    July 17th 2000) 
Pages: 810
Genre: Historical Fiction, Romance

I am generally not a romance reader. I find them unrealistic and usually over the top. To me, romance novels try to hard, and it's usually not particularly my thing.

I decided to pick up The Bronze Horseman anyway. It is a fairly hyped book in the BookTube community and like many books I own, I just wanted to see what the hype was all about. It has a crazy high rating on Goodreads and after reading so many heartbreaking fantasy novels, I thought I would give myself a break and read this. A nice love story.

No.

Although I went into this without any expectations, I don't think anything could have prepared me for what I was about to read.

The golden skies, the translucent twilight, the white nights, all hold the promise of youth, of love, of eternal renewal. The war has not yet touched this city of fallen grandeur, or the lives of two sisters, Tatiana and Dasha Metanova, who share a single room in a cramped apartment with their brother and parents. Their world is turned upside down when Hitler's armies attack Russia and begin their unstoppable blitz to Leningrad.

Yet there is light in the darkness. Tatiana meets Alexander, a brave young officer in the Red Army. Strong and self-confident, yet guarding a mysterious and troubled past, he is drawn to Tatiana--and she to him. Starvation, desperation, and fear soon grip their city during the terrible winter of the merciless German siege. Tatiana and Alexander's impossible love threatens to tear the Metanova family apart and expose the dangerous secret Alexander so carefully protects--a secret as devastating as the war itself--as the lovers are swept up in the brutal tides that will change the world and their lives forever.

---

I also don't have much experience reading historical fiction, and this story makes me want to read more. The story starts off on the very first day of war in Leningrad, where 16 year old Tatiana Metanova can't fathom anything other than her safe and uneventful lifestyle. To her, the declaration of war means excitement and possible evacuation. It's something to look forward to, plus, the start of the war is the day she meets Alexander Belov. They quickly become swept up in each other and the siege that is over taking the city. 

I loved how the main characters' relationship developed. They didn't start out mushy and romanic. They started out with an instant attraction that slowly built into something more. It was believable and magical and it felt real. 

Beyond that, there were relationships thoroughly developed between Tatiana and her family. You get to see exactly where she falls into place and the roll she plays in her family. She has a unique relationship with each character that is well developed which I found very refreshing compared to other romances where the only development happens between love interests. 

Times are hard and you get to follow a young teenage girl face the most fatal siege in a devastating war and you get to watch her conquer and fail. You see heartbreak and you see love and that barely scratches the surface to what you should expect from this book. 

As I said earlier, I'm not a big romance reader, but if more of them were like this, maybe I would be. 

Overall, this book was a solid:

Although I really enjoyed this book, and the setting and the characters, there were a few issues I had with the main character's relationship that prevented me from giving it the full five foxes. Don't let that sway you away from this read though, I still highly recommend this if you're like romance, WWII historical fiction, or being super attached to your characters. 

Bout of Books 10!

The Bout of Books read-a-thon is organized by Amanda @ On a Book Bender and Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal. It is a week long read-a-thon that begins 12:01am Monday, May 12th and runs through Sunday, May 18th in whatever time zone you are in. Bout of Books is low-pressure, and the only reading competition is between you and your usual number of books read in a week. There are challenges, giveaways, and a grand prize, but all of these are completely optional. For all Bout of Books 10 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. - From the Bout of Books team

Bout of Books is such a fun read-a-thon! I've participated sporadically in the past year every time one of these came up, but I've never been too active when it comes to participation. I've always just read what I could and let that be that. I want to try and be a more active participant this year. Maybe using the Twitter hashtag or participating in some of the challenges. The sense of community for this is great and super friendly. Everyone that loves books comes together to read and discuss and it's always such a fun time.

I'll be doing a goals post when it gets a little closer to the start date, so that shall be exciting. Until then, if you're interested in participating you should check out the Official Bout of Books blog or go ahead and sign up!

I can't wait to start reading with everyone! 

Fox Faces!

I've noticed that a lot of book bloggers take the star system and make it their own. I've seen cups of tea, mustaches, ice creams... all of which seem more creative than stars (although stars are great too!). I wanted something that encompassed me and was unique to my blog and my style thus the fox face was born.

So what do they mean?

Everyone has their own ideas about what makes a book 5 stars, or 4 or 3 etc. I am no exception so here I am to give you a quick guide about what each fox face means to me.

The book is fantastic! It has all the elements I look for in a story, which includes awesome character development, great storyline, and oomph. (Or it made me cry. I love when books make me feel things.) Five fox faces make for a super enjoyable read. Definitely recommended.

This book was really enjoyable. The only thing missing is the extra oomph. Still highly recommended!

This was a solid book. There were a few minor issues such as the plot dragging in places or the characters weren't as developed as my tastes would like. Still a good read that you should check out if the mood strikes.

This book is only OKAY. Nothing spectacular, but not unreadable. Two fox faces are reserved for books with very little character development, a plot that only slightly holds attention, and/or doesn't seem to MOVE. Not particularly recommended.

The Lone Fox is reserved for books that just didn't do it for me. You know those books that you have to question yourself every page or so as to why you're STILL reading (and not in the good way)? That is this book in a nutshell. I guess it's better than not finishing it at all, but only barely. Would not recommend.

I didn't even bother finishing it.

There are also half fox faces or quarters or eights. Really it's whatever I feel like the book deserves and sometimes the full face just doesn't cover it.

I hope that I gave you some idea to how I rate books. This is subject to change, but I think it's a pretty good rough estimate.

Book Review: Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor

Title: Daughter of Smoke and Bone
Author: Laini Taylor
Published: September 27, 2011 by Little Brown Books for Young    Readers
Pages: 418
Genre: YA Fantasy


This has been on my TBR list for quite some time, but I never actively sought it out.

This was a mistake.

This story was weird and fantastical and interesting. There were times when I couldn't put this book down and when I did, I found myself wondering back to Prague, wondering what would come next in the lives of the characters.

Around the world, black handprints are appearing on doorways, scorched there by winged strangers who have crept through a slit in the sky.

In a dark and dusty shop, a devil’s supply of human teeth grown dangerously low.

And in the tangled lanes of Prague, a young art student is about to be caught up in a brutal otherwordly war.

Meet Karou. She fills her sketchbooks with monsters that may or may not be real, she’s prone to disappearing on mysterious "errands", she speaks many languages - not all of them human - and her bright blue hair actually grows out of her head that color. Who is she? That is the question that haunts her, and she’s about to find out.

When beautiful, haunted Akiva fixes fiery eyes on her in an alley in Marrakesh, the result is blood and starlight, secrets unveiled, and a star-crossed love whose roots drink deep of a violent past. But will Karou live to regret learning the truth about herself?

---

This is a story that is hard to describe without giving away too much plot. Everything about it is so intricately woven and beautifully put together. It's almost frustrating at times having to wait to find out all the information compiled here, but it's done so in a way that keeps you hungry for the next chapter. Next thing you know it will be 2am and you will be sitting there stunned at the wealth of information laid out in front of you. 

It's different, which was what drew me to this in the first place. I picked up this book, not REALLY knowing what I was getting myself into. The synopsis is put together in such a way where you don't fully understand the gravity of the story until you're already sucked in and I'm glad. 

You get introduced to a new race of people (species?) not normally seen in literature and that is the chimera. Imagine oddly spiced together bits of different animals/sometimes humans to form a whole being. These people are Karou's family. The only insight we get into her childhood to try and piece together who she really is. Also you have Brimstone, who you find out very early on is in charge of the whole... well, you don't really know what. He's important none the less, who for some reason needs Karou to run errands all over the world collecting teeth. What for? You'll have to read to find out. 

We get introduced to her as a student attending an art university in Prague. She has blue hair, a crazy sketchbook, and a knack for alluding the truth by simply telling it. 

Soon, Brimstone is needing her to run a lot more errands than usual and while meeting with a client in Morocco, she locks eyes a being whose beauty is nothing short of angelic. He also tries to kill her.

Soon, their stories become intertwined and through him, the mysterious events of Karou's past start coming to light. It's frustrating and beautiful and like no YA Fantasy I've ever read before. 

Daughter of Smoke and Bone is truly unique, becoming a world all it's own. 

Overall, this book was excellent. It had it's slow moments, but still remained captivating. I did feel a bit separated from the characters at times, and while that was a little off-putting at times, I appreciated it for adding to the overall air of mystery. 

After all is said and done, I give this book 3.7ish stars. I highly recommend if you want something a little different and something intoxicating. I can't wait to see where this series goes. 

Find this book on: Goodreads | Barnes & Noble | Amazon

Review: The Final Empire (Mistborn #1) by Brandon Sanderson

Title: The Final Empire
Author: Brandon Sanderson
Published: October 1st 2009 by Gollancz (first published July 17th 2006
Pages: 647 Pages
Genre: Fantasy

I am a lover of fantasy who has surprisingly read very few books in the  adult fantasy world.  I found myself scouring the interwebs looking for new series to start because I was in for of a fantasy hangover after reading The Wise Man's Fear. I looked at all the lists of recommended fantasy and asked for recommendations from fellow bloggers/vloggers and eventually stumbled upon Regan over at PeruseProject holding up the most gorgeous book I had ever seen. I'll be the first to admit that I am a cover snob to the highest degree, so as soon as I saw these, I knew I had to pick up a copy for my collection. The fact that the story sounded completely amazing was just an added bonus. 

               And boy, is this story addicting. 

Once, a hero rose to save the world. He failed.

For a thousand years since, the world has been a wasteland of ash and mist ruled by the immortal emperor known as the Lord Ruler. Every revolt has failed miserably.

Yet somehow, hope survives. Hope that dares to dream of ending the empire and defeating the Lord Ruler. A new kind of uprising is being planned—one that depends on the cunning of a brilliant criminal mastermind and the determination of an unlikely heroine: a teenage street urchin named Vin.

Once, a hero rose to save the world and failed. This time, can a young heroine succeed?

---

A world where the hero failed to save the day? A kick-butt female protagonist? Ash falling from the sky? Yes please. If only I knew what I was getting myself into. 

The story starts off, gripping you from the very first line. Their is an air of mystery surrounding this series which gives it an element that I love. The more questions answered, the more pop up and Brandon Sanderson has a way of answering them all in due time (even if it is two books later). 

This is especially true for the magic system introduced. Allomancy centers around metals. Allomancers burn ingested metals, giving them certain powers based on the metals ingested. Pewter, for instance, gives you strength and stamina, allowing you to run for long periods of time or by giving you an edge in a fight. There are eight basic allomantic metals, each allowing a different "power" so to speak. During the time of the Lord Ruler, Allomancers are fairly rare and most Allomancers are Mistings, meaning they can only burn one metal. Rarer still are Mistborn, who can burn all eight. You either get one, or you get them all. 

Allomancy is a thing of the elite. Only those of noble birth, those who had ancestors who supported the Lord Ruler 1000 years ago have Allomancy, at least, that's the way it's supposed to be. The noble and the skaa servants aren't supposed to have children for that very reason. It's no big surprise that accidents happen, however. People slip through the cracks, which is what happened to Vin, our main protagonist. 

A street urchin who must conform to other's wishes. Her abusive brother, violent crew leaders, all of whom like to exploit Vin's "luck" as she likes to call it. Her ability to calm the nerves of people around her, making the more docile. 

Eventually Vin get's pick up by a man named Kelsier (who has a bit of a reputation of his own) with plans to try and overthrow the Lord Ruler and essentially save the Final Empire from his tyrannical reign.

It's a pretty gripping plot if I do say so myself, but the characters are really what give life to the story. Kelsier is by far my favorite, but this book is packed to the brim with some of the best side character's imaginable. Their dialogue is witty, humorous, and seamless. Their actions are very deliberate and well thought out. Sanderson has a way of making his characters very well rounded and often times, they seem like real people. 

Also, for people who like to have a conclusion to their stories, this book will not disappoint. The ending is wrapped up quite nicely. For better or for worse...that's up to you. Don't let that stop you from picking up the rest of the series though. Having almost finished the trilogy, I can say that if you enjoyed this book, it only gets better.

Overall, I'd say if you're a fan of unique magic systems, action packed fantasy, and unforgettable characters, you should definitely give this book a go. You won't be disappointed. 

My rating is (obviously):

Find this book on: Goodreads | Barnes & Noble | Amazon