Queen of Shadows by Sarah J. Maas Book Review

General Info

Queen of Shadows by Sarah J. Maas

Published September 2015 by Bloomsbury USA Childrens

(SPOILERS)

648 Pages

Hardcover - Goodreads

Plot Summary

The queen has returned.
Everyone Celaena Sardothien loves has been taken from her. But she’s at last returned to the empire—for vengeance, to rescue her once-glorious kingdom, and to confront the shadows of her past…
She has embraced her identity as Aelin Galathynius, Queen of Terrasen. But before she can reclaim her throne, she must fight.
She will fight for her cousin, a warrior prepared to die for her. She will fight for her friend, a young man trapped in an unspeakable prison. And she will fight for her people, enslaved to a brutal king and awaiting their lost queen’s triumphant return.
The fourth volume in the New York Times bestselling series continues Celaena’s epic journey and builds to a passionate, agonizing crescendo that might just shatter her world.

My Personal Favorites

I absolutely loved this fourth installment in the series. It took me about a month to get through this book because it's extremely huge. So let's just get right into all of the good stuff. The story starts off with Dorian's POV now that he has been possessed by the Valg Prince. My heart couldn't take it.

Dorian is my baby and I hated seeing him like that. Next thing I would like to talk about is the whole rescue sequence to get Aedion back. It was amazing how Aelin acted like a dancer and the whole black roses were actuallysmoke bombs. It was so epic and when Aelin and Aedion finally reunited my heart dropped. Then when Aelin almost killed Dorian, I was just sitting there like if you kill Dorian off I'm not reading the next book. I was glad when Nesryn swooped in and saved the day. Now let' talk about

Rowan. Yes ROWAN IS BACK. This ship has sailed and it won't sink......HOPEFULLY. Rowan is the sweetest guy ever and when Aelin put on that golden dress, he was basically drooling all over the place. I love them together. I basically loved everything in this book.

My Personal Dislikes

Even though I loved everything about this book, I did have a couple minor problems. First off, I didn't like that ever since Celaena became Aelin, her whole personality changed and it wasn't for the better. She suddenly turned mean. I also didn't like that Sarah basically tried to make everyone hate Chaol. I loved Chaol since the beginning but I hated that this book depicted him to be the bad guy. This made it pretty obvious that the Chaolaena ship has finally sunk and it sucks because I was Team Chaol for like ever. 

Rating

4.9/5 Stars

My Final Thoughts

This book was really good and I can't wait to read the next one. I will be having a theories post coming soon because I want to put them out there so I can be first. Anyways see you in the next post.

~Naya J.

August Wrap Up

This month I read 5 books and three graphic novels which is a lot since I did fall into a reading slump towards the middle of the month. Overall I read some pretty good books that I am excited to share with you so let's just get right into it.
1) We Were Liars by E. Lockhart - 5/5 Stars
This was my very first read of the month and it was soooooooo good. It definitely threw me when the plot twist came because I totally didn't expect it.
2) Me and Earl and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews - 4/5 Stars
I laughed so hard during this one and I liked it way more than I thought I would. I gave this book 4 stars instead of 5 stars because I felt no connection with any of the characters.
3) Every Last Word by Tamera Ireland Stone - 5/5 Stars
This is definitely one of my new favorite books of all time. I loved the poetry aspect of the book and the characters.
4) Ruin and Rising by Leigh Bardugo - 5/5 Stars
Favorite read of the month hands down! I can't wait for Six of Crows coming out this month.
5) The Rent Collector by Cameron Wright - 4/5 Stars
For a book assigned for summer reading, this was pretty good.
6) The Amulet Series (Books 1-3) - I really didn't like this that much.

Reviews
1) We Were Liars by E. Lockhart - http://mylittleinfinityofbookss.blogspot.com/2015/08/we-were-liars-by-e-lockhart-book-review.html
2) Me and Earl and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews - http://mylittleinfinityofbookss.blogspot.com/2015/08/me-and-earl-and-dying-girl-by-jesse.html
3) Every Last Word by Tamera Ireland Stone - http://mylittleinfinityofbookss.blogspot.com/2015/08/every-last-word-by-tamera-ireland-stone.html
4) Ruin and Rising by Leigh Bardugo - http://mylittleinfinityofbookss.blogspot.com/2015/08/ruin-and-rising-by-leigh-bardugo-review.html
5) The Amulet Series (Books 1-3) - http://mylittleinfinityofbookss.blogspot.com/2015/08/the-amulet-series-books-1-3-review.html

Ruin and Rising by Leigh Bardugo Review

General Info

Ruin and Rising by Leigh Bardugo

Published June 2014 By Henry Holt & Co.

(SPOILERS)

422 Pages

Hardcover - Goodreads

Plot Summary

The capital has fallen.

The Darkling rules Ravka from his shadow throne.

Now the nation's fate rests with a broken Sun Summoner, a disgraced tracker, and the shattered remnants of a once-great magical army.

Deep in an ancient network of tunnels and caverns, a weakened Alina must submit to the dubious protection of the Apparat and the zealots who worship her as a Saint. Yet her plans lie elsewhere, with the hunt for the elusive firebird and the hope that an outlaw prince still survives.

Alina will have to forge new alliances and put aside old rivalries as she and Mal race to find the last of Morozova's amplifiers. But as she begins to unravel the Darkling's secrets, she reveals a past that will forever alter her understanding of the bond they share and the power she wields. The firebird is the one thing that stands between Ravka and destruction—and claiming it could cost Alina the very future she’s fighting for.

My Personal Favorites

This book is an epic conclusion to one of my all time favorite series. So the story begins with Alina and her crew underground basically being held captive by the Apparat. Alina is getting weaker and weaker by the second and her power is basically gone since she isn't in reach of the sun. She is also separated from Mal and the rest of her friends but not for long. They come up with a plan and it goes right. They quickly leave and now have to search for the firebird, but instead have a slight setback. While settling in the middle of the forest they are attacked by a militia. But our favorite guy Nikolai comes to the rescue. I love Nikolai so much btw. Anyway I'm going to stop telling the whole story and just state the main plot points. The attack at the Spinning Wheel took a detrimental toll on the good side. We lost Sergei, Banghra, Adrik's arm, and Nikolai is turned into a monster. This is one of my favorite scenes from the trilogy. It was so action packed. 

In this book the Darkling showed us that he needed someone like him and it broke my heart to see him die at the end. He was just too powerful and burdened with a life that would last for an eternity. I actually really enjoyed the way Alina could visit the Darkling without actually being there. We also saw him break after Banghra died and I am glad that Alina had a proper burial for him even though he was the bad guy. Honestly the Darkling is my favorite antagonist up to date.

In this book we definitely get to know Genya, David, Nadia, Tamar, Tolya, Zoya, Adrik, and our newest additions Misha and Harshaw. At first I didn't really think twice about these characters but I definitely grew to love them in this last book. I can't even choose a favorite because they are all just that great.

When we found out that Mal was the third amplifier, I knew that we were going to have to kill him. But before that we got the Mal and Alina sex scene and I really enjoyed it, It wasn't too graphic but it wasn't kid friendly either. I cried so hard when Alina stabbed him during the big battle at the end because I could have sworn that he was gone for good. But I am glad that he isn't.

People say they don't  like the ending but I think that it was a great ending for this series. I was kind of sad that Alina lost her power and didn't get the destiny she deserved but she lived a happy life with Mal and Misha. Nikolai is alive so that's a plus too. Honestly I was Team Nikolai since book two so I was a little disappointed when Alina ended up marrying Mal but at least Nikolai will be in Six of Crows.

There are a lot more favorites but this post is way too long.

My Personal Dislikes

The only thing that I can say is that I missed the Darkling a lot in this book.

Rating

5/ 5 Stars

My Final Thoughts

I love this trilogy so much and it is bittersweet to see it end. I can't wait to read more from Leigh Bardugo in the future so I'll definitely be buying Six of Crows next month.

See you in the next post.

~Naya J.

Me and Earl and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews Review

General Info

Me and Earl and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews

Published March 2012 by Amulet Books

(SPOILERS)

295 Pages

Paperback - Goodreads

Plot Summary

Greg Gaines is the last master of high school espionage, able to disappear at will into any social environment. He has only one friend, Earl, and together they spend their time making movies, their own incomprehensible versions of Coppola and Herzog cult classics.

Until Greg’s mother forces him to rekindle his childhood friendship with Rachel.

Rachel has been diagnosed with leukemia—-cue extreme adolescent awkwardness—-but a parental mandate has been issued and must be obeyed. When Rachel stops treatment, Greg and Earl decide the thing to do is to make a film for her, which turns into the Worst Film Ever Made and becomes a turning point in each of their lives.

And all at once Greg must abandon invisibility and stand in the spotlight.

My Personal Favorites

Surprisingly, I actually enjoyed this book thoroughly. It was hilarious and had me laughing all the way through.  My favorite character was Earl because he didn't care what people thought about him while Greg's life basically depended on it. This book isn't my absolute favorite but it was still pretty dang good.
My Personal Dislikes
Alright so let's get started. I know that I just said that I enjoyed this book but I still had some problems with it. So to start it off, I didn't feel connected to ANY of the characters. Like when Rachel died, I felt no remorse. It didn't make me feel sad or any types of emotions towards her. I also felt like the use of profanity was a little too much. Last thing is that all of characters felt static to me. They didn't change over the course of the story like I thought they would.
Rating
4/5 Stars
My Final Thoughts
Although this book was enjoyable, I still had problems with it. Anyways see you in the next post.
~Naya J.

 

We Were Liars by E. Lockhart Book Review

General Info

We Were Liars by E. Lockhart

Published May 2014 by Delacorte Press

(NO SPOILERS)

227 Pages

Hardcover - Goodreads

Plot Summary

A beautiful and distinguished family.
A private island.
A brilliant, damaged girl; a passionate, political boy.
A group of four friends—the Liars—whose friendship turns destructive.
A revolution. An accident. A secret.
Lies upon lies.
True love.
The truth.

My Personal Favorites

The plot summary is quite vague but that is really all you need to know. This book grabs you from the beginning because you're constantly trying to figure out what happened to our main character Cadence and when you find out you're going to need some tissues. Yes, this book indeed made me cry. I really enjoyed this book and I am glad to call it one of my new time favorites.

My Personal Dislikes

I don't have anything to say in this section because I loved this book so much!

My Rating

5/5 Stars

My Final Thoughts

Everyone just read this and give it a chance. And please don't spoil yourself, you'll regret it. I know that this review is short but it's Booktubeathon week and i have to get back to reading. See you later.

~Naya J.



The Kiss of Deception by Mary E. Pearson Review

General Info

The Kiss of Deception by Mary E. Pearson

Published July 2014 by Henry Holt

(SPOILERS)

492 Pages

Hardcover - Goodreads

Plot Summary

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.  

~ Summary from Goodreads

My Personal Favorites

I had very high expectations for this book since everyone loves it so much but sadly this book fell flat for me. But lets talk about the things I actually liked. I really liked the boys especially Kaden. He was just so mysterious and I already knew he was the assassin. I liked the world but the second half of the book was way better than the first half.

My Personal Dislikes

I found the plot twist quite predictable. I could easily tell who the assassin and the prince really were. This part annoyed me because I thought the plot twist would spin my head around but in actuality the plot twist fell flat for me. The first half of the book bored me and now I have super low expectations for book 2.
Rating
3/5 Stars
My Final Thoughts
As I said before, I went into the story with high expectations and I honestly think that it affected my reading experience. I liked the story so I will continue the series but I hope that it gets better. Anyways see you in the next post.
~Naya J.

 

July Wrap Up

Last month I only read 4 books which isn't a lot but I hope to read way more this month.

1) Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo - 5/5 Stars

This was definitely my favorite read of the month!

 2) Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo - 4/ 5 Stars

I really liked this one but it didn't blow my mind like the first one.

3) None of the Above by I.W. Gregorio - 5/5 Stars

Everyone needs to read this!

4) The Kiss of Deception by Mary E. Pearson - 3/ 5 Stars

I really expected it to be better since most people like it so much but I didn't like it a lot. It was good but it didn't amaze me.

 

Links to my Reviews

Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo - http://mylittleinfinityofbookss.blogspot.com/2015/07/shadow-and-bone-by-leigh-bardugo-review.html

Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo - http://mylittleinfinityofbookss.blogspot.com/2015/07/siege-and-storm-by-leigh-bardugo-review.html

None of the Above by I.W. Gregorio - http://mylittleinfinityofbookss.blogspot.com/2015/07/none-of-above-by-iw-gregorio-review.html

The Kiss of Deception by Mary E. Pearson - http://mylittleinfinityofbookss.blogspot.com/2015/08/the-kiss-of-deception-by-mary-e-pearson.html

 

None of the Above by I.W. Gregorio Review

General Info

None of the Above by I.W. Gregorio

Published April 2015 by Blazer + Bray

(NO SPOILERS)

352 Pages

Hardcover - Goodreads

Plot Summary

What if everything you knew about yourself changed in an instant?

When Kristin Lattimer is voted homecoming queen, it seems like another piece of her ideal life has fallen into place. She's a champion hurdler with a full scholarship to college and she's madly in love with her boyfriend. In fact, she's decided that she's ready to take things to the next level with him.

But Kristin's first time isn't the perfect moment she's planned—something is very wrong. A visit to the doctor reveals the truth: Kristin is intersex, which means that though she outwardly looks like a girl, she has male chromosomes, not to mention boy "parts."

Dealing with her body is difficult enough, but when her diagnosis is leaked to the whole school, Kristin's entire identity is thrown into question. As her world unravels, can she come to terms with her new self?

My Personal Favorites

I had my eye on this book before it even came out mainly because it was about intersex. I never heard of that term before so I wanted to learn more about it. Before I started this book, I did research on the topic just to get a better understanding of it and I think this enhanced my reading experience. The book explains the topic well so you don't have to do this but it helped me a lot. This story was very sad and nearly made me cry😢. I can't believe that people can be so inconsiderate and rude when it comes to things that they don't understand. One thing that I really enjoyed was Kristin's character growing to accept herself throughout the novel. I also liked the father daughter relationship.

My Personal Dislikes

I just wished that it was longer but all good things must come to an end.

Rating

5/5 Stars

My Final Thoughts

Everyone must read this book because it was amazing and it's definitely in my top 15 books of 2015! I hope you love it as much as I do.

See you in the next post.

- Naya J.

 

Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo Review

General Info

Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo

Published June 2013 by Henry Colt & Co.

(SPOILERS)

435 Pages

Hardcover - Goodreads

Plot Summary

After escaping from the Darkling, Alina has to figure out how to make a normal life for her and Mal in an unfamiliar land while being haunted by the lives she took on the Fold. But it turns out that she can't continue to outrun her power and destiny for long because the Darkling has emerged from the Shadow Fold with a new power and he is looking for her. With the help of a notorious privateer, Alina returns to the country she abandoned, determined to fight the forces gathering against Ravka. But as her power grows, Alina Sinks deeper into the Darkling's forbidden game of magic. During this she slips farther and farther away from Mal. In the end she has a decision to make: she will have to choose between her country, her power, and the love she always thought would guide her, or risk losing everything to the oncoming storm.

My Personal Favorites

This book had a lot of things that I loved about it. The betrayal was real though like " I WAS ROOTING FOR YOU! WE WERE ALL ROOTING FOR YOU! HOW DARE YOU!" If you got that joke then you are AWESOME! In the first book I was shipping the Darkling and Alina but he is just crazy. So now I am team Mal. I really like the new shadow creatures the Darkling has but they are freaking scary as ever. I also liked that Stormhond was actually Prince Nikolai, he is the funniest character ever! I enjoyed Alina leading the second army but that battle at the end almost had me in tears. I couldn't believe that Marie died and the way that Sergei was just carrying her body. But my favorite part of the book was the plot twist with Genya. I couldn't believe that the Darkling basically had her face mangled with. That was such a surprise to me because she is supposed to be outright beautiful and the Darkling just took her beauty away from her. I admit that I did cry a little. I don't know why this series makes me cry in every single book.

My Personal Dislikes

I really liked this book but I didn't love it like the first one. The reason why is because it was kind of anticlimactic in a way because I expected so much more to happen.

Rating

4.5/5 stars

My Final Thoughts

I am excited to read the last book and I cannot wait to get around to it. This trilogy is so good that it might become one of my new favorites. See you in the next post.

~Naya J. 

 

 

Young Adult Stereotypes Part 2!!

As you can see from the title, I am doing a second part for my Young Adult Stereotypes post. This is my most popular post on my blog so I wanted to do a second part since I do have more stereotypes to share. So let's hurry up and get into it.

1) Main Characters Do the NASTY In the Last Book In the Series
- This is so predictable because it happens in almost every book series. Throughout the series, the main characters have a TON of sexual tension between each other. This happens in countless last books like City of Heavenly Fire, Clockwork Princess, and I'm sure that it is going to happen in Ruin and Rising. I like those books, but it was incredibly predictable. But some books don't fall into this book trope like the Throne of Glass series and Daughter of Smoke and Bone series.
2) The Main Character Discovers That He/ She Has A Power That Can Save the World
- In almost every fantasy series, the main character discovers that they have a power that can save their people, land, or the whole world. I don't hate this one, but it is pretty annoying. Can you at least give me a weak main character that is defeated in the end? That actually leads me into my next point.
3) The Main Character ALWAYS Wins In the End
- I know this sounds mean but sometimes I want to see the character fail their mission/ quest and lose for once.
4) The Female Protagonist In the Story Has No Sexual Experience
- I don't know why authors want to make every female protagonist a virgin. Tell me why like please tell me why.
5) Guys Are Head Over Heels For the Main Character
- In almost every book the female protagonist has everyone trying to get with her. Like everyone!

Alright so that is it for this post and I hope you enjoyed it. I am also thinking of doing a SEX IN YA discussion in the future. Maybe this month or next month, I don't know. Anyways, see you in the next post.
                                                                                                                                      ~Naya J.

JULY TBR

Last month I read a whopping 7 books, which was amazing. And not to mention all of the books I read, I thoroughly enjoyed. But this month I lowered my TBR because I don't want to put too much pressure on myself as a reader. These books do not count to my BOOKTUBEATHON TBR, but I will be doing a separate post to explain that so let's just get started. I have a TBR jar and I picked two which came out to say start a new series and read a book someone else picked out for you. I chose Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo for start a new series and my sisters want me to read None of the Above by I.W. Gregorio and The Kiss of Deception by Mary E. Pearson. I am so excited to read these books and hopefully I like them all.

 

P.S. I am approaching my Goodreads reading goal of 35 books fast and I'm thinking if I should raise the bar higher. I don't know, tell me what you guys think about it.

 

QOTP: What are you reading this month and are you participating in Booktubeathon?

Between the Lines by Jodi Picoult and Samantha Van Leer Review



General Info

Between the Lines by Jodi Picoult and Samantha Van Leer

Published June 2012 by Simon Pulse Simon Schuster

(NO SPOILERS)

353 Pages

Hardcover - Goodreads

Plot Summary

15 year old Delilah loves to read but one day in her school library she comes across a children's fairytale Between the Lines and becomes obsessed. After rereading it over and over again, she discovers that one of the pictures have changed. And then the main character, Oliver starts talking to her. It turns out that he wants to get out of the book. Together Delilah and Oliver attempt to get him out of the book while falling in love with each other at the same time.

My Personal Favorites

I absolutely loved this book. It had a great storyline that I never read before and I loved the characters. I liked the whole idea of what happens once a book is closed. It was kind of like how kids thought that their toys would move while they were asleep or not there. And the pictures and color font were amazing. I thought that added a great touch to the story. If you're looking for a book that would have you laughing your heart out, this is definitely the book for you.

My Personal Dislikes

The only thing that I had problem with was the ending. It wasn't a major problem but I thought it was a little unrealistic. I looked pass this because the book for me was just for entertainment.

My Rating

4.8/5 stars

My Final Thoughts

Overall this book was a fun light read that I can see myself rereading in the future. Oh how I wish that Simon Lewis(aka Robert Sheehan version) would talk to me through the pages of The Mortal Instruments. I would do anything to get him out. If you plan on reading the companion novel Off the Page, I do recommend that you read this one first because I am currently reading it and Oliver just seems outright dumb without knowing his back story.

See you in the next post.

~Naya J.

 

 

Young Adult Stereotypes

So I admit that I LOVE LOVE the Young Adult category when it comes to books but over the past two years, I came to a realization that most books have similar elements. Like a lot of similar elements. It's almost like reading the same thing over and over again. I am not losing an interest in YA, I'm just making an observation. So to back this up, I'm going to tell you most of the stereotypes I've encountered in YA literature.
1. The Main Character Is Almost ALWAYS A Female.
-This annoys the crap out of me. I am a girl so sometimes I want to experience being in the mind of a  male. Come on authors give me some more male protagonists!
2. Girl Hates the Love Interest For the First Half Of the Book.
-  Okay I get that the author doesn't want to make the romance insta-love but does the boy and girl
   have to hate each other every single time. This happens in The Infernal Devices trilogy by  
   Cassandra Clare, The Lux series by Jennifer L. Armentrout, and many more. I love both of those
   series but it's kind of getting old. But I'll still read books like that because I really love the
    tension.
3. In a Love Triangle, The Girl Never Picks the Friend.
- This is with almost all love triangle when the choices are the main character's friend and
     someone they just met, they always pick the new guy. This happened in Twilight and The Mortal
     Instruments, but I'm sure that it happened many more times in literature. JUST PICK THE
     FRIEND ESPECIALLY IF IT WAS SIMON LEWIS!
This was my YA Stereotypes. I hope you enjoyed it because I might do a part since there are so many more that I didn't put in this post. Anyways see you later, I'm assuming in the next post :)
                                                                                                                         ~Naya J. 

Days of Blood and Starlight by Laini Taylor

General Info

Days of Blood and Starlight by Laini Taylor

Published November 2012 by Little, Brown for Young Readers

(SPOILERS)

513 Pages

Hardcover - Goodreads

Plot Summary

Art student and monster's apprentice Karou finally has the answers she has always sought. She knows who she is—and what she is. But with this knowledge comes another truth she would give anything to undo: She loved the enemy and he betrayed her, and a world suffered for it. While Karou and her allies build a monstrous army in a land of dust and starlight, Akiva wages a different sort of battle: a battle for redemption. For hope. But can any hope be salvaged from the ashes of their broken dream?

*This summary is provided by Goodreads*

My Personal Favorites
This book was such a step up from the first book. I liked almost everything but my favorite element of the book was definitely Zuzana's and Mik's relationship. They are just super hilarious. I loved the part when Zuzana tells Karou that she became a woman- if you know what I mean:). I also liked the whole humans interacting with the chimaera. But when Thiago tried to rape Karou, I was near to tears. Like no, she has to preserve herself for one man and that man is Akiva.

My Personal Dislikes

Honestly the only thing that I didn't like about this second installment is the slow start. Like it took forever to get juicy. But besides that this book was great.

My Rating

4.4/5

My Final Thoughts

After reading the first book back in April, I wasn't amazed. But this book was so close to doing that. I am super excited to read the next book now. I am actually going to pick it up right now. BYEEEE!!!

See you in the next post.

~Naya J.

 

An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir Review

General Info

An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir

Published April 2015 by Razorbill

(SPOILERS)

446 Pages

Hardcover - Goodreads

Plot Summary

Laia is a slave. Elias is a soldier. They both have one thing in common: they want to be free. In a world inspired by ancient Rome, Laia lives with her grandparents and her older brother. The Empire is powerful and as Scholars, Laia and her family wouldn't dare challenge them. But after her brother is arrested for treason, Laia goes to the Resistance for help. In exchange for helping her brother, she must go undercover as a slave to spy within the Empire's greatest military academy, Blackcliff. While there Laia meets Elias, the school's finest soldier and surprisingly the most unwilling. When they realize that their destinies connect in a special way, they will change the fate of the Empire forever.

My Personal Favorites

Oh my god! This book was amazing! It is definitely going down as one of my top 15 books of this year. So let's get down to the nitty gritty. I really liked Elias, like I love him. He is just so caring, strong, and a great leader. I also liked Helene. She was just the definition of badass. There were some qualities I didn't like about her like how she was so loyal to the Empire but it is pretty understandable. Laia was also a great character and I totally ship her with Elias. #Elaia will happen you guys and they will be endgame. The antagonist is cool too because Marcus seems hard to conquer and now that he is Emperor it is going to be even more difficult. There are too many things that I absolutely loved in this book and I can't possibly list them all but I cannot forget about the escape at the end. That was SOOOOO crazy and props to Laia for being the hero in that scene.

My Personal Dislikes

There wasn't really anything I disliked about this book. It was just #FANTASTIC and #EMBERLICIOUS!

My Rating

5/5 stars

My Final Thoughts

I am so glad that there will be a sequel because I need one. This being Sabaa Tahir's debut novel, it was awesome and I cannot wait to read more by her as an author. What did you guys think about this book? Comment down below. See you guys in the next post.

~Naya J.

 

P.S. I Still Love You by Jenny Han Review

General Info

P.S. I Still Love You by Jenny Han

Published May 2015 by Simon & Schuster for Young Readers

Second Installment in the To All the Boys I've Loved Before series

(SPOILERS!)

337 Pages

Hardcover - Goodreads

Plot Summary

In the long awaited sequel for To All the Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han, Lara Jean and Peter Kavinsky are going strong as a real couple after being fake for so long. But then the hot tub video from the ski trip is leaked. And then John Ambrose McClaren, Lara Jean's past crush comes into the picture. Who will Lara Jean choose: Peter or John? This book will have you flipping the pages so fast and leave you wanting another installment in the series.

My Personal Favorites

I literally loved this book so much. It was definitely a satisfying sequel for one of my favorite contemporary reads. So since I liked a ton of stuff I'm just going to list my favorite moments down below.

1) I loved the whole Assassin game and how Lara Jean took it so seriously.

2) The treehouse scene where Peter and Lara Jean talk about SEX. It had me rolling because it was so hilarious. My favorite scene in the whole entire book.

3) When Kitty got Peter to take her to school after Lara Jean and him broke up. I was just like "Wow. Your little sister stole your hot boyfriend.

4) I really liked the part when John and Lara Jean plays in the snow and the Frozen reference was just so perf.

5) The party at the old folks home

6) When John and Lara Jean shared their first kiss

8) I am Team Peter so when they ended up together at the end, I just screamed. Hashtag Team Peter for life!

My Personal Dislikes

To be honest, the only thing that I disliked was the ending. I really wanted to see Peter and Lara Jean after they got back together because it just ended so abruptly.

Rating

5/5 Stars

My Final Thoughts

I really enjoyed this book. It wasn't better than the first book but I still loved it. I really hope there is another book because I am in desperate need of one. Please Jenny Han, make it happen. I am begging you! I hope you guys liked this review and I might do one for the To All the Boys I've Loved Before.

See you guys in the next post.

~Naya J. 

 

 

Fantasy Recommendations

 

My favorite genre is definitely fantasy. It is what I mainly read on

a regular basis. Fantasy takes me to another world, so today I decided to list

 my top five fantasy books/series.I did this for contemporary books so let's 

just get started. This list is from my least favorite to my most favorite

 fantasy book.

 

1) The Raven Cycle (quartet) by Maggie Stiefvater - This series is so unique

and it has a great premise. It is a little hard to get into but after book

one, you are fully invested in the story.

 

2) The Infernal Devices (trilogy) by Cassandra Clare- I love this so much.

It has the best love triangle ever and you guys WILL HERONDALE!!

 

3) The Throne of Glass series by Sarah J. Maas- Sarah J. Maas is a great

writer and this series is just BOMB! Celaena Sardothien is just so kickass and

amazing. #TeamChaol

 

4) A Court of Thorns and Roses (trilogy) by Sarah J. Maas- Let me just say

Tamlin or Rhysand?

 

5) The Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare- This is my all time

favorite series. It was the one that actually got me into reading.

You need to definitely read this one and a show is in the making.

 

I hope you enjoyed these recommendations. If you have any fantasy

books that you would like to recommend me, comment them down below.

QOTP: What is your favorite fantasy book?

See you in the next post.

~Naya J.

 

 

 

All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven Review

 
General Info

All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven

Published January 2015 by Knopf

388 Pages

Hardcover - Goodreads

Plot Summary

This book follows our two main characters Theodore Finch and Violet Markey. Theodore Finch is fascinated with death and contemplates ways that he could kill himself. But with each attempt, something happens that holds him back from doing it. Violet Markey is anxious for the future and thinks that if she leaves her small Indiana town, she can escape the grief of her sister's recent death. When they both meet on the ledge of the bell tower at school, it is pretty unclear on who saved the other. And when they are paired to do a school project to find the 'natural wonders' of their state, they both make important discoveries about themselves. But as Violet’s world grows, Finch’s begins to shrink.

My Personal Favorites

Finch is the best character I have read in a while. He is relatable and so real. He wasn't the perfect boy who everyone falls in love with, he was actually the outcast. And I loved how he was a funny, nice guy but in reality he was hurting inside. It showed me that you don't really know what people are dealing with behind the smile on their face. My favorite element of the book is the romance between Violet and Finch. It made it seem like everything was okay, when clearly one of duo was going far downhill. This was the first book I read that revolved around the main topic of suicide and it opened my eyes on how severe that subject could be.

My Personal Dislikes

Initially I was in love with this book but then something happened towards the end that was kind of predictable. If you read it, then you might know what I am talking about. I also thought that it could have been prevented but no one took the situation seriously. Finch's family didn't even help him with his problem and it frustrated me because they just acted like the it didn't exist. Other than that the book was great.

Rating

4/5 stars

Final Thoughts

Overall this book was pretty good and I enjoyed it a lot. I did have minor problems with it, but I still recommend everyone to read it so you can get your own perspective on the book. Just try it out because you might like it way better than me. I also forgot to say that I love you Finch!

*This is probably how my reviews will look from now on and I hope you guys like it. See you in the next post.

~Naya J.

 

A Court of Thorns and Roses Review

A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas Review

Star Rating: 5 stars

Genre: New Adult Fantasy

Page Count: 416 pages


This book revolves around main character nineteen year old Feyre who basically takes care of her crippled father and two older sisters. One day while hunting in the woods, she kills a wolf like fairy but it comes with a consequence. She has to live in the fairy realm with her captor Tamlin. Will she get back to her family? Will she escape alive? Are you team Rhysand or Tamlin?

SPOILERS!!!

 

 

     Oh my goodness, this book was so swoon-worthy and steamy and I just loved it! I can not wait for the second installment because the love triangle is killing me. I am so conflicted with who to choose: Tamlin or Rhysand? I can't choose because I love them both but if one is chosen, my heart will break for the other. Tamlin is just so nice and sweet, and Rhysand is a hot bad boy who is very enticing. Besides the love triangle, Feyre is a fairy now. How crazy? During that scene, I was literally imagining the Breaking Dawn scene when Bella turned into a vampire.

 

 

     This book was just amazing and I loved every piece of it. I liked it way better than Throne of Glass and I loved that too. Sarah J. Maas is just a great author. She is becoming one of my favorites. Just read it. Read it now. Now!

 

QOTP: Are you team Rhysand or Tamlin?

 

See you in the next post.

 

 

                                                                                                                                      ~Naya J.

 



Reading Slumps

     Have you been reading lately? Are you stuck on this one page and you just can't get past it? Are you picking up multiple books and none of them are grabbing your attention? You are probably in a reading slump. Cue the scary movie music. I think that I might be in a reading slump. I haven't read in a week or so which is pretty terrible for me. Right now I am currently reading Days of Blood and Starlight by Laini Taylor and I am not enjoying it. At the moment, I am on page 22 and I have been on that page for eternity. (Not literally, but it still feels like it.)

    

     I used to set a specific time for me to read each day but I have been a little busy playing the Sims 3. If you play this game then you know how addicting it can be at times. I am also wasting my time by watching way too many YouTube videos. Like seriously, YouTube is ruining my life. So as you can see the internet, electronics, and my pure laziness are delaying me from doing what I love to do which is reading. You might ask "How are you going to dig yourself out of your reading slump?". I actually don't know yet, but for now I am just going to at least try to push through my current read. If I don't succeed on that then I will probably pick up another book.

     Anyways, goodbye for now and see you in the next post.

QOTD: What do you do to dig yourself out of the EVIL reading slump?


                                                                                                                              ~Naya J.