Thursday, March 31, 2016

March Wrap Up 2016

   This month was practically a lead up to Spring Break, and the weekend before hand. Spring Break where my sister, friends and I went to San Fransisco and Monterey for a school trip, like I've
mentioned a few times before. With all the lead up, stress, and hype, I actually didn't get much
reading done. Not to mention, the no reading done at all on my trip.... So I'm a bit behind on everything... again.
   To be honest with you guys, I was behind on all things blog related because I just wasn't feeling it this month. I would feel it here and there, but never enough to keep up with everything. Already as April approaches I'm starting to feel it again, but I don't know how long that will last for. I guess we'll see as we go.
   Let's talk about my trip! We started off by heading to the airport for 4am,  then spending our first 2 hour flight well but eventually learning that everything was being delayed in Toronto. So the first thing that happened was that we were stuck in an airplane for an hour, IN Ottawa then we were stuck in the Toronto Airport for roughly 5 hours because our original San Francisco flight was canceled. You could say that that day was a bust. 
   The next day was great though, we visited the Intel Museum in Silicon Valley. That turned out to be
a blast. The trip went on to visiting Alcatraz, walking across the Gold Gate Bridge, "seeing" the Full House house, Monterey Bay Aquarium ( A day after Margaret Stohl visited according to her Instagram, that didn't stop me from looking for her every turn I made aha), seeing the curviest road in the world, etc. Having my friends and sister there only made the trip better.
   Fun fact, if you're visiting San Francisco with your family or friends then you will get bruises. There were so many Beetles, when I say many, I mean MANY. You would spot one and two seconds later another would pop up in your field of vision. We saw just as many Mini Coopers, and PT Cruisers. 
   Unfortunately our tour group (EF Tours) did NOT know how to pick restaurants to eat at, when we were visiting Fisherman's Wharf we went to Applebees, when we could literally see so many different unique food stalls with so many different forms of sea food. Our tour group was not happy, this struggle went on to face us throughout the whole trip. 
   If you could look past the poor points in the trip, then I would definitely say it was an success and that I would visit again. Just not with that tour group! 
   If you'd like to see more pictures from my trip, then check out my Instagram here. Otherwise that's it for this month! What were you guys up too? Let me know!
   Now for the bookish stats!
   

Books Read:




Book Haul:

   A big thank you McNally Robinson, Dunburn Publishing, and Harper Collins Canada for some of the lovely books listed above. And a big thank you to my sister for finally replacing the copy of Cinder that she lost!

Books Reviewed:




April Books I'm Excited For:



   That's this month, I'll be heading to a few bookish events in April so expect a few posts from those!



Wednesday, March 23, 2016

Hiatus: Spring Break/ Vacation

   Hi Everyone!

   So recently I've been slugging behind on posts, reviews and everything blog related. For that I'm sorry, I just haven't really felt the blogging vibe lately, reading on the other hand is a different story. 

   On Thursday, (March 24th), I'll be starting my Spring Break early and will be joining students from my school on a trip to San Francisco. So I'll be taking a hiatus from blogging (Even though I'm already sort of on one.), I should be able to check social media in the evening if any of you need to get a hold of me. I will return from my trip roughly on the 2nd of April. Hopefully this break will help get my vibe back! 

   So until then!




Friday, March 11, 2016

Book Review: Burning Glass by Kathryn Purdie

Release Date: March 1st, 2016
Read: March 2nd-9th, 2016
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Series: Burning Glass, #1
Format: ARC, 512 pages
Source: Traded



Description from GoodReads:


   Sonya was born with the rare gift to feel what those around her feel—both physically and emotionally—a gift she’s kept hidden from the empire for seventeen long years. After a reckless mistake wipes out all the other girls with similar abilities, Sonya is hauled off to the palace and forced to serve the emperor as his sovereign Auraseer.

   Tasked with sensing the intentions of would-be assassins, Sonya is under constant pressure to protect the emperor. But Sonya’s power is untamed and reckless, and she can’t always decipher when other people’s impulses end and her own begin. In a palace full of warring emotions and looming darkness, Sonya fears that the biggest danger to the empire may be herself.


   As she struggles to wrangle her abilities, Sonya seeks refuge in her tenuous alliances with the charming-yet-volatile Emperor Valko and his idealistic younger brother, Anton, the crown prince. But when threats of revolution pit the two brothers against each other, Sonya must choose which brother to trust—and which to betray


Review:


   I was darkness personified.
   I had heard a few things from bloggers before going into Burning Glass, excitement, etc. But when my friend received the ARC, she told me to stay away from it. Well she wasn't wrong.
   Going into Burning Glass I immediately felt a similarity to Poison Study by Maria V. Synder, this feeling stuck with me throughout the whole book. Then eventually I started to feel another similarity, this time to Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas. When I got to that point all I was was bored and annoyed for everything being so similar to the two.
   Along with being annoyed about the similarities, I was also so aggravated when it came to Sonya and the King. Being abusive, annoying and manipulative, I just could not handle Valko. I hope in most cases it was Sonya feeling his "affections" for her that lead her to him, because otherwise I just don't understand what Purdie was thinking.
   Because I could not see Burning Glass as anything other than knock offs of Poison Study and Throne of Glass, I could not enjoy anything from the novel. Saying that, I do not see myself reading anything else from this series, in the future.


Rating:


Favourite Quotes:


"I'm not a mirror. And I don't break like glass."


Recommend to People Who Enjoy:


Young Adult, Fantasy, High Fantasy, War, Magic, Powers



Tuesday, March 8, 2016

Book Review: Stars Above by Marissa Meyer

Release Date: February 2nd, 2016
Read: March 1st-2nd, 2016
Publisher: Feiwel and Friends
Series: The Lunar Chronicles, #0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, 1.1,  1.5, 3.1, 4.5
Format: Hardcover, 369 pages
Source: Gift




Description from GoodReads:


   The enchantment continues....

   The universe of the Lunar Chronicles holds stories—and secrets—that are wondrous, vicious, and romantic. How did Cinder first arrive in New Beijing? How did the brooding soldier Wolf transform from young man to killer? When did Princess Winter and the palace guard Jacin realize their destinies?

   With nine stories—five of which have never before been published—and an exclusive never-before-seen excerpt from Marissa Meyer’s upcoming novel, Heartless, about the Queen of Hearts from Alice in Wonderland, Stars Above is essential for fans of the bestselling and beloved Lunar Chronicles.

   The Little Android: A retelling of Hans Christian Andersen’s “The Little Mermaid,” set in the world of The Lunar Chronicles.

   Glitches: In this prequel to Cinder, we see the results of the plague play out, and the emotional toll it takes on Cinder. Something that may, or may not, be a glitch….

   The Queen’s Army: In this prequel to Scarlet, we’re introduced to the army Queen Levana is building, and one soldier in particular who will do anything to keep from becoming the monster they want him to be.

   Carswell’s Guide to Being Lucky: Thirteen-year-old Carswell Thorne has big plans involving a Rampion spaceship and a no-return trip out of Los Angeles.

   The Keeper: A prequel to the Lunar Chronicles, showing a young Scarlet and how Princess Selene came into the care of Michelle Benoit.

   After Sunshine Passes By: In this prequel to Cress, we see how a nine-year-old Cress ended up alone on a satellite, spying on Earth for Luna.

   The Princess and the Guard: In this prequel to Winter, we see a game called The Princess

   The Mechanic: In this prequel to Cinder, we see Kai and Cinder’s first meeting from Kai’s perspective.

   Something Old, Something New: In this epilogue to Winter, friends gather for the wedding of the century... 

Review:


   Sweet Crescent Moon, up in the sky...
   I was what I believe, halfway through Winter when I'd heard of the bind up for all the Lunar Chronicles novellas. At first mention, I hadn't really thought anything of it. I had already read two of the novellas, and usually I'm not a novella fan. But when Something Old, Something New was mentioned, holy crow, I needed it. Where I adored the epilogue to Winter, Something Old, Something New was just the little extra piece that my heart needed.
   After finishing all the novellas, even rereading the ones I had already read before, I can honestly say that they were perfect for anyone whose hearts hadn't completely let go of the Lunar Chronicles world yet. From learning the backstories of some of our favourite characters, to seeing old scenes from a new set of eyes. There was a little something for everyone.
   I had two favourites when reading Star Above, those two were The Little Android and Something Old, Something New. With the Little Android we got something completely new, we got a new story, and new characters, it was a refreshing twist to the original series and wonderful to read.
   With Something Old, and Something New I just couldn't contain my excitement when reading it. Starting off 2 years after the epilogue in Winter occurred, we got to see what had happened to all of our favourite characters and what they were up too. Then as you guessed from it's title, we got to experience a wedding and oh boy did I have fun guessing whose it was. Being just as wonderful as The Little Android, Something Old, and Something New was the perfect treat for all fans of the series.
   Where I usually don't enjoy Novellas, Stars Above hit just the spot with the perfect length enriching little short stories. Stars Above is must read for all Lunar Chronicles fans.

Rating:



Favourite Quote:


"Seeing my princess's smile when she is returned safely home is all the reward that I need." - Jacin, The Princess and the Guard.

Recommend to People Who Enjoy:


Young Adult, Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Romance, Retellings,  Space, Princess's, Star Wars



Sunday, March 6, 2016

Book Review: Me Before You by Jojo Moyes

Release Date: July 30th, 2013
Read: February 28th -
Publisher: Penguin Books
Series: Me Before You, #1
Format: Paperback, 369 pages
Source: Gift




Description from GoodReads:


   Louisa Clark is an ordinary girl living an exceedingly ordinary life—steady boyfriend, close family—who has never been farther afield than their tiny village. She takes a badly needed job working for ex-Master of the Universe Will Traynor, who is wheelchair-bound after an accident. Will has always lived a huge life—big deals, extreme sports, worldwide travel—and now he’s pretty sure he cannot live the way he is.

   Will is acerbic, moody, bossy—but Lou refuses to treat him with kid gloves, and soon his happiness means more to her than she expected. When she learns that Will has shocking plans of his own, she sets out to show him that life is still worth living.

   A love story for this generation, Me Before You brings to life two people who couldn’t have less in common—a heartbreakingly romantic novel that asks, What do you do when making the person you love happy also means breaking your own heart?


Review:


Contains Minor Spoilers:

   Why am I not enough for you?
   Me Before You first grabbed my attention when it's movie trailer was first released. I was so overwhelmed with emotion, I just knew that the book would make me feel that way and possibly more. So off I went asking for a copy for my birthday, after receiving a copy I wasted no time at all in starting it.
   I always hate when people say "Don't judge a book by it's movie.", it's usually always correct, especially in this case. By just watching the trailer, I had assumed a bunch of things when going into the book. Most of which turned out wrong.
   Me Before You is not primarily a romance, sure it's sort of there, but it's definitely not focused around it. Me Before You is a book of trying to convince Will to live, to show that life can still be like the way it was before the accident. With this being my first read with a quadriplegic, or really my first experience in general with one, I did not know what to expect, but it wasn't what I got.
   From where Will started off, to where he ended up, I understood why he didn't have the motivation  anymore. To live a life of travel, adventure, and excitement then suddenly not being able to do those or really anything anymore, it was be devastating. If I were put in a similar situation, I would hope that my parents would respect my wishes.
   To be completely honest, I did not find anything romantic in the novel at all, it was all so bland for me. We were given a bland relationship between Louisa and her first boyfriend, then we were given the relationship that was Will and Louisa. But really, in same ways that could be only considered one sided because of the way Will treated it. Then there was the way Louisa viewed it, just because you made someone fall in life with you, that doesn't mean you're going to change their perspective of their life.
   Where the novel was bland, the movie trailer depicts that the film will probably be taking a different route when it comes to the story, which will probably be for the best. I'll definitely be seeing it in the near future, reading the novel's sequel on the other hand, that won't be happening.


Rating:


Favourite Quote:


"Some mistakes just have greater consequences than others."


Recommend to People Who Enjoy:


Adult, Fiction, Contemporary, Romance, Chick Lit, Books with People with Disabilities 




Friday, March 4, 2016

Book Review: The Last Time We Say Goodbye by Cynthia Hand

Release Date: February 10th, 2015
Read: February 25th-26th, 2016
Publisher: Harper Teen
Series: N/A
Format: Hardcover, 386 pages
Source: Won in Giveaway



Description from GoodReads:


   There's death all around us.
   We just don't pay attention.
   Until we do.

   The last time Lex was happy, it was before. When she had a family that was whole. A boyfriend she loved. Friends who didn't look at her like she might break down at any moment.

   Now she's just the girl whose brother killed himself. And it feels like that's all she'll ever be.

   As Lex starts to put her life back together, she tries to block out what happened the night Tyler died. But there's a secret she hasn't told anyone-a text Tyler sent, that could have changed everything.

   Lex's brother is gone. But Lex is about to discover that a ghost doesn't have to be real to keep you from moving on.


Review:


   The people we love are truly never gone.
  Summer of 2014 I binge read the Unearthly Trilogy by Cynthia Hand, loving it immensely I shoved it into my sister's face for her to love as well. (She did, because why wouldn't she?) I obsessed over the series for the rest of that summer, and that continued until that fall when I first heard about The Last Time We Say Goodbye. Even though it was supposed to be a contemporary, I still knew that I had to have it. 18 months later, 12 months after it's original release I was finally able to get my hands on a copy. 
   With serious topics, you get exactly what you expect, a serious book. Which is exactly what The Last Time We Say Goodbye was. This book was written beautifully, every little detail, Hand captures the aura perfectly. Depending on if you read the author's note before actually reading the book or if you've read it after finishing the book, you'd notice that Hand actually talks to us about how she lost a brother in a similar way that our main character, Lex, lost her brother. When reading the novel I continuously found myself flabbergasted at how earnest Hand was with the topic, how deep she went with it in her writing, but after reading her note I now know that it was because of her connection to the topic, it's personal. Although she also noted that her families story and Lex's were not the same in most cases, it still interesting to see the connection she had to the story. 
   When it comes to character development, Lex certainly went through a lot throughout the book. Going from a depressed state and not wanting to continue moving on, to coming to terms with what her life is now. I loved to have been on the journey with her, the self doubt, the self growth, Cynthia Hand took us down every step and we got to see that spark ignite in Lex which was her truly living. 
   I got so much more than what I expected when reading The Last Time We Say Goodbye, except the tears, I definitely expected those. Pulling your heart in every direction, The Last Time We Say Goodbye is the perfect book if your heart is in the need of a good cry.


Rating:



Favourite Quote:


I would cross out everything and start again.

We must learn to deal with the facts.

I can't cry anymore. I think that part of myself is broken



Recommend to People Who Enjoy:

Young Adult, Contemporary, Realistic Fiction, Death, Mental Illness, Suicide 



Wednesday, March 2, 2016

Waiting on Wednesday:(55)

The Great Hunt

Wendy Higgins
The Great Hunt, #1
HarperTeen
Expected: March 8th, 2016


Description from GoodReads


   Kill the beast. Win the girl.

   A strange beast stirs fear in the kingdom of Lochlanach, terrorizing towns with its brutality and hunger. In an act of desperation, a proclamation is sent to all of Eurona—kill the creature and win the ultimate prize: the daughter of King Lochson’s hand in marriage.

   Princess Aerity understands her duty to the kingdom though it pains her to imagine marrying a stranger. It would be foolish to set her sights on any particular man in the great hunt, but when a brooding local hunter, Paxton Seabolt, catches her attention, there’s no denying the unspoken lure between them…or his mysterious resentment.

   Paxton is not keen on marriage. Nor does he care much for spoiled royals and their arcane laws. He’s determined to keep his focus on the task at hand—ridding the kingdom of the beast and protecting his family—yet Princess Aerity continues to challenge his notions with her unpredictability and charm. But as past secrets collide with present desires, dire choices threaten everything Paxton holds dear.


Why I Want to Read It:


   I fell in love with Wendy Higgin's first series quite some time ago, and even if it wasn't a retelling I would have rushed to the store on release day to get it anyway! But as you all know, it is a retelling, and I am quite a sucker for retellings;)

   I know The Great Hunt releases next week, but boy it feels like it's been forever since it was first announced and I can not wait to read it finally!

   That's my Waiting on Wednesday this week! Will you be picking up The Great Hunt? What are you waiting on this week?