November 2015

November 2015 Book Haul / Wrap Up

My, my, my, November is over!! It's December tomorrow! Where the hell did the year go? Here's what my bookish November looked like...

November 2015 Book Haul

I went on a book buying ban this month because Christmas is next month and I'm hoping to get some books for it so I only got 1 book this month.

• The Rose Society by Marie Lu

The Rose Society!! Ahhhhh!! I have been waiting so long for this book after finishing The Young Elites and I cannot wait to just dive into this one.

November 2015 Wrap Up

I read a total of 6 books this month and I caught up on my reviews so I am absolutely delighted!

What Was Read:

• The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa (4 Stars)
• Illuminae by Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff (5 Stars)
• The Next Together by Lauren James (3 Stars)
• The Boy In The Smoke by Maureen Johnson (4 Stars)
• Talent by Lynn B. Goodwin (4 Stars)
• Monsters by Ilsa J. Bick (5 Stars)

Defeating My TBR Progress!!

My TBR is down to 79! Woop, Woop!! Next month shall be a game changer though so we'll have to see how that goes :P

Other News:

Currently Reading:

The book I'm primarily currently reading Empire of Night by Kelley Armstrong.

But I have started a few other books and they are:
- Dreams of Gods and Monsters by Laini Taylor
- Talon by Julie Kagawa
- Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder
- A Clash of Kings by George R. R. Martin
- A Thousand Pieces of You by Claudia Gray
- The Accident Season by Moira Fowley Doyle
- The Sin Eater's Daughter by Melinda Salisbury


Book Reviews this month: 
I have caught up!!! 

- The Dead House by Dawn Kurtagich
- The Wolf Wilder by Katherine Rundell
- Asking For It by Louise O' Neill
- Unbecoming by Jenny Downham

And lastly, memes, I only did a few this month, but I'll be back on track for December:
Top Ten Tuesday #23
Wishlist Wednesday #10
Wishlist Wednesday #11
Best of the Bunch -
November 2015 - Illuminae by Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff

For this week I'm going to be doing a little feature of mine called Listing Them Out:
Listing Them Out #1

And finally I posted a Hunger Games themed tag. Check it out below!!
Districts of Panem Tag

And that is it for my wrap up and book haul!!

How was your November??

Best of the Bunch #6 - November 2015

Best of the Bunch #6 - November 2015

Best of the Bunch is a monthly meme hosted over at A Cocoon of Books. What it is is that you give the Best of the Bunch award to one book which you have read in that month.

I read 6 books this month and only two I rated 5 Stars:
- Illuminae by Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff
- Monsters by Ilsa J. Bick

Both of these books were really amazing in different ways, One was ending a series while the other was beginning one but I must choose only one book and the one I will choose because it stood out that tiny bit more is....

Illuminae by Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff

This morning, Kady thought breaking up with Ezra was the hardest thing she’d have to do.

This afternoon, her planet was invaded.

The year is 2575, and two rival megacorporations are at war over a planet that’s little more than an ice-covered speck at the edge of the universe. Too bad nobody thought to warn the people living on it. With enemy fire raining down on them, Kady and Ezra—who are barely even talking to each other—are forced to fight their way onto an evacuating fleet, with an enemy warship in hot pursuit.

But their problems are just getting started. A deadly plague has broken out and is mutating, with terrifying results; the fleet's AI, which should be protecting them, may actually be their enemy; and nobody in charge will say what’s really going on. As Kady hacks into a tangled web of data to find the truth, it's clear only one person can help her bring it all to light: the ex-boyfriend she swore she'd never speak to again.

Told through a fascinating dossier of hacked documents—including emails, schematics, military files, IMs, medical reports, interviews, and more—Illuminae is the first book in a heart-stopping, high-octane trilogy about lives interrupted, the price of truth, and the courage of everyday heroes.

What an amazing book! Seriously! This book was so addictive, beautifully written and the layout of this book was just stunning. It is definitely a book that I will be recommending for a very, very, very long time. Go check it out guys! If you want to know more of my thoughts on this book, check out my review here! 

What was your Best of The Bunch for the month of November?? :)

Listing Them Out #1

Listing Them Out #1

5 Books I Must Read Before The End Of 2015

This is a new feature that I just decided to do for this week. What it entails is that I have a different topic for each day that I'm going to list out. There are going to be 5 books / series / things mentioned on each list.

So let's begin with Day 1 - 5 Books I Must Read Before The End of 2015

And 2015 is nearing its end seen and all tomorrow is the first day of December, ekkkkk. I have nearly all my Christmas shopping done so all is good! And here we go:

1. Dreams of Gods and Monsters by Laini Taylor

I scoured the country high and low for this book, especially in the edition I wanted it in. Luckily I found it not too long after its release date but I still haven't read it yet which is an absolute shame because I just adored both Daughter of Smoke and Bone and Days of Blood and Starlight so I'm going to end this year right with the end of the Daughter of Smoke and Bone trilogy.

2. Soulmates by Holly Bourne

I met Holly Bourne in October actually (that post is still being written up) and I just loved her and how she spoke about her books that I decide to get them all while I was there so I really want to read one of her books before the end of the year is up and I decided to go with Soulmates!

3. Empire of Night by Kelley Armstrong

Another book I bought close to its release date this year and still haven't picked it up but I am definitely going to be reading this before the year is out. I'm already half way through this book so yay! 

4. The Rose Society by Marie Lu

After reading The Young Elites I just cannot wait to read this book so this one is definitely a definite read before the end of 2015!

5. Allegiant by Veronica Roth
I'm hoping to finish this series as well before 2015 ends. I just need to see what all the controversy is about..

Districts of Panem Tag

Districts of Panem Tag

I  know this post is going up late but to celebrate the release and my seeing of The Hunger Games Mockingjay Part 2 I have decided to do this Districts of Panem Tag! I saw the movie last Sunday (Nov 22) with a friend and I absolutely loved it! I loved the way that they finished this last movie with the same theme that they started with and that is that they kept the movie so much like the books. Of course they added the humour. I don't know about you, but I burst out laughing at Snow when he corrected Coin's grammar during her speech. Plucked, Coin, plucked! And of course I nearly cried! I got teary but those tear never fell! I kept it within. And I jumped out of my seat! Those mutts, my God... I just loved this movie and I absolutely can't believe that this journey has come to and end. Sadness, everyone :(

And without any further delay, here is the tag!

Districts of Panem Tag:

District 1 - Luxury: Pick a book with lots of opulence.
There are quite a few books like this, where only part of the world is extremely rich and the rest extremely poor and the book I'm going to go with is The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. Of course this book had to be mentioned and I have never read such extravagance as in the Capitol.

District 2 - Masonry / Weaponry: Pick a book with a great war or conflict.
I can't decide.... I can't decide... I'm leaving this one open! :P

District 3 - Technology: Pick a book with a technological twist.
Definitely, definitely, definitely has to be Illuminae by Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff. Like that twist with AIDAN, Did not see that coming! 

District 4 - Fishing: Pick a water-based book.
I don't really read water-based books, mermaids and the lot don't really appeal to me that much so I'm going to have to go with The Infinite Sea by Rick Yancey. It has a sea in the title and the cover has water on it.

District 5 - Electricity: Pick a powerful book.
A powerful book that I have to choose is Asking For It by Louise O' Neill, just for topic alone, Then add in the writing style, characters and amazing message and it goes beyond powerful!

District 6 - Transportation: Pick a book that takes place in many locations.
The book that I'm going to pick for this is A Thousand Pieces Of You by Claudia Gray. I'm only just starting this book but I believe it takes place in many different places in the case of dimensions!!

District 7 - Lumber: Pick a book that involves manual labour.
The book that I'm going to choose which involves manual labour is The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan. They run their own little village making their own food and all that so that requires manual labour.

District 8 - Textiles: Pick a book with amazing clothes.
The Luxe by Anna Godbersen because it is a historic fictional novel revolving around a high end girl with lots of parties and fancy dresses.

District 9 - Grain: Pick a book where food is hard to come by.
Ashes by Ilsa J. Bick. The world is just after going to hell with crazy kid zombies so ain't no one going to make no food when it all runs out and out main character is stranded out in the woods anyway in winter.

District 10 - Livestock: Pick a book with an animal in it.
The Wolf Wilder by Katherine Rundell. It has wolves in it.

District 11 - Agriculture: Pick a book where a character comes to a gritty, harsh reality.
Again I'm going to go with Ashes / Shadows / Monsters by Ilsa J. Bick. The main character in this book comes to a pretty gritty, harsh reality.

District 12 - Mining: Pick a dark and sinister book.
For this I'm going with The Dead House by Dawn Kurtagich.


And that is it!! The end of a Hunger Games era! 

P.S What I have seen so much lately is Funko POP! figures and there are such nice Hunger Games ones. I think I just may have to join this latest craze! These are the ones that I am just adoring!

Book Review - The Next Together by Lauren James

The Next Together

(The Next Together #1)

Author: Lauren James

Genres: Young Adult, Romance, Time Travel, Historical Fiction. 

Published: September 3 2015

Pages: 356 pages (Paperback) (Walker)

Read: November 2015

Rating: 3 Stars

How many times can you lose the person you love? 

Katherine and Matthew are destined to be born again and again, century after century. Each time, their presence changes history for the better, and each time, they fall hopelessly in love, only to be tragically separated. 

Spanning the Crimean War, the Siege of Carlisle and the near-future of 2019 and 2039 they find themselves sacrificing their lives to save the world. But why do they keep coming back? What else must they achieve before they can be left to live and love in peace? 

Maybe the next together will be different...

A powerful and epic debut novel for teenagers about time-travel, fate and the timelessness of first love. The Next Together is told through a mixture of regular prose, diary entries, letters, "original" historical documents, news reports and internet articles.

Book 49/60 - 2015 Goodreads Reading Challenge

The Next Together was a debut of 2015 that I was extremely looking forward to. The concept was interesting, the cover was stunning (definitely one of the best covers of this year!) and I was just really excited to read it. 

But unfortunately when I did start to read this book, it all went down hill and even though I really wanted to love this book, I simply just found it ok.

The Next Together started off with a bang! After all it starts off with a murder for crying out loud and then falls to the main timeline of futuristic Katherine and Matthew from the year 2039. 

It was the different time zones that brought me to this book in the first place. I wanted to see how this story would be told and it was with this feature that I hit my first bug. The different times, I felt, didn't seem to have any order to them whatsoever. We start jumping from different time zones and just continue to jump over and over again. I felt like we were just told the stories from each time with no overlapping or entwining of the stories at least not till the very end.

Another aspect of this that I found to be a tad bit too unrealistic was the fact the Katherine and Matthew kept their exact full names and personality in each time. They were all also relations of each other... Somehow for me that just didn't work. 

I really enjoyed reading about both of these characters though and I loved all the different times especially the more historical ones. So it wasn't for me the story or the characters that really let me down, it was how the story was told. 

There were also little snippets of diaries and notes and such mixed in with the prose of this novel. But after reading the likes of The Dead House and Illuminae, these snippets just didn't seem to work here in this novel either. 

And finally there was that big reveal as to why they kept being reincarnated which was a big let down. I was left just thinking 'seriously, this is why you two have kept being reincarnated and then you go and screw it up anyway...' I really felt annoyed at this fact and it was just a step too far for my liking of this book to go. 

Another step too far was those little sentences in the middle of the story, 

'First contact established in time-landscape 1854', 

like what exactly are these? They just made me so confused because obviously there must be someone running the show here but why and who? These were answers that were just not answered and another frustration I had with this book.

I am so sorry for the ramblings of this review because there is seriously no coherence behind this at all but overall I gave this book 3 stars because I thought it was just ok. I liked the characters and the timelines but I thought the story was executed quite poorly and just wasn't to my liking. There is a sequel coming out next year to The Next Together called The Last Beginning. I am sure that I will not be picking this up because I'm just going to leave this book here with the ending that I got (which does work as a standalone, in my opinion).

Book Review - Illuminae by Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff

Illuminae

(The Illuminae Files #1)

Author: Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff

Genres: Young Adult, Science Fiction. 

Published: October 22 2015

Pages: 608 pages (Paperback) (Rock The Boat Publishing)

Read: November 2015

Rating: 5 Stars

This morning, Kady thought breaking up with Ezra was the hardest thing she’d have to do.

This afternoon, her planet was invaded.

The year is 2575, and two rival megacorporations are at war over a planet that’s little more than an ice-covered speck at the edge of the universe. Too bad nobody thought to warn the people living on it. With enemy fire raining down on them, Kady and Ezra—who are barely even talking to each other—are forced to fight their way onto an evacuating fleet, with an enemy warship in hot pursuit.

But their problems are just getting started. A deadly plague has broken out and is mutating, with terrifying results; the fleet's AI, which should be protecting them, may actually be their enemy; and nobody in charge will say what’s really going on. As Kady hacks into a tangled web of data to find the truth, it's clear only one person can help her bring it all to light: the ex-boyfriend she swore she'd never speak to again.

Told through a fascinating dossier of hacked documents—including emails, schematics, military files, IMs, medical reports, interviews, and more—Illuminae is the first book in a heart-stopping, high-octane trilogy about lives interrupted, the price of truth, and the courage of everyday heroes.

Book 48/60 - 2015 Goodreads Reading Challenge

What can I truly say about Illuminae? This book was one of my top anticipated releases for 2015 and I am proud to say that this book lived up to the unbelievably high amount of hype that surrounded it. I just fell in love....

Illuminae is a science fiction novel set in, for the most part, outer space. It is written as a dossier of documents revolving around a terrorist attack on Kerenza and what evolves from this is unbelievably addictive. 

I can just tell you now that I was hooked from the very first page. This book was just a constant go, go, go! There was literally not a single dull moment. I don't want to go into spoilers here so just believe me when I say a lot of shit went down, a lot of conspiracies, hiding, running, fighting. There was just so much going on.

The layout of this book I found absolutely fascinating! I loved the way it was written as a dossier which included video footage, interviews, emails, online chat forums, personal diaries and of course the mind of a robotic computer (that had to be one of my most favourite parts of this book). It was just so extremely well written and unique.

The characters were also amazing in this book. There were so many that I just fell in love with, that I just became addicted to. Kady, Ezra, AIDAN, even the side characters held their own... One thing that I find with a book that has such a fierce, addicting plot line is usually they lack in character quality but that was not the case with Illuminae. Oh god, no. You should have seen my tears, joy, betrayal, happiness, anger as I read this book. With all the twists and turns in this novel I was hooked from start to finish and was on such an emotional rollercoaster that it took so long to steady myself again. 

The only downside I have for this book is, why in damn hell did I read it so soon after it's release, like seriously I have to wait so damn long for the next book! Grrr... 

I have an idea of what will be happening in the next book and I just really hope that it lives up to its predecessor that was Illuminae. I have this awful fear that it won't and perhaps that Illuminae should have been left as a standalone but I am utterly excited beyond all reason for book two in The Illuminae Files because I absolutely loved what came out of the duo of Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff.  I haven't read anything from these authors before, so I cannot comment on their singular writing styles.

Oh yes! Something that cannot go without a mention here is that awesome cover. This book was raved about at BEA when hardcover arcs were released and I just gawped and instantly added it to my wishlist. Then it was released keeping the hardcover arc style, which was great. I bought this book in paperback though and I just love it so much too!! That beautiful orange colour and the fading writing *sigh* Literally, all that is on my mind is what will the second book's title and cover will be like?? This will be something I will be keeping a careful eye out for. 

Down to end now, who would I recommend this book for? Everyone. Of course, all the sci-fi lovers you must give this book a try but even for a beginner reader of sci-fi, read this! It will open you up to a completely unique and fascinating journey that you will in no way forget. After all, 'Am I not merciful?' 

Book Review - The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa

The Immortal Rules

(Blood Of Eden #1)

Author: Julie Kagawa

Genres: Young Adult, Dystopia, Fantasy, Vampire. 

Published: March 26 2013

Pages: 433 pages (Paperback) (Harlequin Teen)

Read: November 2015

Rating: 4 Stars

To survive in a ruined world, she must embrace the darkness…

Allison Sekemoto survives in the Fringe, the outermost circle of a walled-in city. By day, she and her crew scavenge for food. By night, any one of them could be eaten. Some days, all that drives Allie is her hatred of them—the vampires who keep humans as blood cattle. Until the night Allie herself dies and becomes one of the monsters.

Forced to flee her city, Allie must pass for human as she joins a ragged group of pilgrims seeking a legend—a place that might have a cure for the disease that killed off most of civilization and created the rabids, the bloodthirsty creatures who threaten human and vampire alike. And soon Allie will have to decide what and who is worth dying for…again.

Book 47/60 - 2015 Goodreads Reading Challenge

It has been a long time since I've read a vampire novel (not counting the books where the vampires are side characters), but the ones I have picked up since Twilight have all left me with a bad feeling and a DNF'd book. I needed my vampire fix and therefore I picked up this novel, The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa.  

The beginning of this novel was intense. It was action packed, addictive and survival gritty as survival novels go and I was hooked, undoubtly certain that I would be rating this book 5 stars completely. The same can be said for the ending of this book. Those last pages were just as gripping as the start. But it was the middle of this novel that really let me down. 

It was like the story and the feel of the story completely changed for that large chunk of the middle of this book. There wasn't half as enough action, tension, surviving and it just fell flat for me and tragically I have to say that at times I did become bored with this book. In saying that though I kept reading this novel because I wanted to know what would happen and I was enjoying myself enough to keep going. 

My enjoyment had a lot to do with our main character, Allison, as I wanted to see what would happen with her as she progressed on her journey. The setting of this novel was another factor in my enjoyment. I wanted to see more of the world because I just loved the worldbuilding in this novel. It was extremely well done. Because I kept going with this novel, I did get to see a lot more and well it has left me with the feeling of I still want to see more. 

So even though, in places, this book left me underwhelmed and bored, I enjoyed it immensely in those other places that I will be continuing on with this series when I can get my hands on the next book and hopefully I will like the second book in this series, The Eternity Cure, even more than I liked this one, Here's hoping anyway.

Mini Reviews #3

Mini Reviews #3

The books which I shall be giving a little mini review on today are:

- Entangled by Cat Clarke

- The Boy In The Smoke (Shades of London #0.5) by Maureen Johnson

Entangled by Cat Clarke

Genres: Young Adult, Contemporary.

Published: January 6 2011

Pages: 372 pages (Paperback)(Quercus)

Read: October 2015

Rating: 3 Stars

Book 46/60 - 2015 Goodreads Reading Challenge

This book was a reread for me. Unfortunately the second time round I didn't enjoy this book as much as the first time. I rated this book first 4 Stars but am now changing it to 3. A major problem with this book was that for me I didn't like the main character. Besides this I loved the concept behind this book, It was just the main character and her actions that literally drove me up the wall. I do like Cat Clarke's writing style though and I have her latest book The Lost And The Found sitting on my shelf here at home that I am sure to be diving into soon.

The Boy In The Smoke by Maureen Johnson

(Shades of London #1)

Genres: Young Adult, Paranormal, Ghosts.

Published: February 24 2014

Pages: 86 pages (Paperback)(Hot Key Books)

Read: November 2015

Rating: 4 Stars

Book 50/60 - 2015 Goodreads Reading Challenge

I loved this little novella. I loved reading about our main character Stephen and to see how he became who he was and what his family situation had been like when he was growing up. I also loved the ghost aspect in this story and this little novella even left me so heartbroken for such a short book, but because of this novella, I really can't wait to start and read the Shades of London series!

Book Review - Unbecoming by Jenny Downham

Unbecoming

Author: Jenny Downham

Genres: Young Adult, Contemporary, Fiction. 

Published: September 3 2015

Pages: 437 pages (Paperback) (David Flicking Books)

Read: October 2015

Rating: 5 Stars

Three women - three secrets - one heart-stopping story.Katie, seventeen, in love with someone whose identity she can't reveal.Her mother Caroline, uptight, worn out and about to find the past catching up with her.Katie's grandmother, Mary, back with the family after years of mysterious absence and 'capable of anything', despite suffering from Alzheimers.As Katie cares for an elderly woman who brings daily chaos to her life, she finds herself drawn to her. Rules get broken as allegiances shift. Is Mary contagious? Is 'badness' genetic?In confronting the past, Katie is forced to seize the present. As Mary slowly unravels and family secrets are revealed, Katie learns to live and finally dares to love.Funny, sad, honest and wise, Unbecoming is a celebration of life, and learning to honour your own stories.

Book 45/60 - 2015 Goodreads Reading Challenge

Unbecoming is one of those books that are just so beautiful they leave you speechless and want to talk non-stop all at the same time. But what do I say that will do this book justice, that is the question. 

Unbecoming is a book about a teenage girl, Katie and the way her life has changed for the worse all because of something that she did. But then along comes her grandmother who she never even knew was alive and suddenly Katie's eyes open up and a heartwrenching, moving story unfolds from there on involving three generations of women, Katie, her mother Caroline and her grandmother Mary.

This story was just so touching as we piece together the lives of each of the three women and how their lives interweave as the story comes to an end. 

Out of all the characters,  my favourite had to be Mary. I literally fell in love with this woman and her story. But I also loved Katie too and the relationship she had with Mary. Caroline grew on me aswell as did many of the characters that I had bad feelings about at the start.

I am still sitting here at a loss of words. How can I describe how beautiful this book was, how moving, without spoiling anything in the novel. It is really a difficult thing to do so all I'm going to say is, this book was amazing. 

If you liked the novel 'I'll Give You The Sun' by Jandy Nelson then 'Unbecoming' by Jenny Downham is just the novel for you. Pick it up, seriously, you will not regret it and besides that beautiful cover is just calling to you!

Book Review - Asking For It by Louise O' Neill

Asking For It

Author: Louise O' Neill

Genres: Young Adult, Contemporary, Feminism, Mental Health. 

Published: September 3 2015

Pages: 352 pages (Paperback) (Quercus Publishing UK)

Read: October 2015

Rating: 5 Stars

TRIGGER WARNING - RAPE

It's the beginning of the summer in a small town in Ireland. Emma O'Donovan is eighteen years old, beautiful, happy, confident. One night, there's a party. Everyone is there. All eyes are on Emma. The next morning, she wakes on the front porch of her house. She can't remember what happened, she doesn't know how she got there. She doesn't know why she's in pain. But everyone else does. Photographs taken at the party show, in explicit detail, what happened to Emma that night. But sometimes people don't want to believe what is right in front of them, especially when the truth concerns the town's heroes...

Book 44/60 - 2015 Goodreads Reading Challenge

This is one of those books that you just find it so hard to find the right words to say. But I will try my best here.

Asking For It was gripping, moving, devastating and just too much for my heart to handle.

I started this book, groaning to the fact that Emma was one of 'those girls'. We all know what I'm talking about here. She was beautiful, popular, smart and under it all she a condescending, two-faced bitch (excuse me for my language) but it's true. The whole start of this book was seeing Emma for who she was, which was far from pretty. Even the relationships she had, with family and friends were far from ideal and ones that most people would do anything to get out of. Emma O' Donovan was not a character to be liked. 

And then everything changes. Emma is practically gang raped at a party and everyone has seen the pictures. Emma becomes a social outcast for something that wasn't her fault. She becomes hated for something she didn't do. She becomes nothing for blaming the star boys of the town and it is sickening. 

For the rest of this heartwrenching book we see what Emma becomes, we see what happens afterwards. And it is devastating. 

Asking For It is unique and real in the way that everything doesn't close up nicely. There's no nice ribbon to wrap up this book at the end. There's no hope, not really. There is just surviving. That is all. In my opinion, the ending of this book was perfect because it was so real and raw. 

Asking For It doesn't soften the topic of rape but brings it into the light with such a raw and powerful novel. And this was needed. It was needed a long time ago and finally it is here. This is a book that is needed in the education system, it's needed in schools and colleges and well it's needed everywhere really and it is a book that everyone should read, young, old, boys and girls.

And most importantly it sends the message that no matter what way a person acts, dresses or anything, they are not asking for it! No one is asking to be raped. 

Wishlist Wednesday #11

Wishlist Wednesday #11

Wishlist Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted over at Pen to Paper. This meme is where you showcase one book that is on your wishlist and that you can't wait to get off your wishlist and into your hands.

On my Wishlist Wednesday today is....

Steelheart by Brandon Sanderson

Ten years ago, Calamity came. It was a burst in the sky that gave ordinary men and women extraordinary powers. The awed public started calling them Epics. But Epics are no friend of man. With incredible gifts came the desire to rule. And to rule man you must crush his wills.

Nobody fights the Epics...nobody but the Reckoners. A shadowy group of ordinary humans, they spend their lives studying Epics, finding their weaknesses, and then assassinating them.

And David wants in. He wants Steelheart - the Epic who is said to be invincible. The Epic who killed David's father. For years, like the Reckoners, David's been studying, and planning - and he has something they need. Not an object, but an experience.

He's seen Steelheart bleed. And he wants revenge.

Sticking with the Brandon Sanderson theme, I also added a second series of his onto my wishlist and that is the Reckoners series which starts with Steelheart. I was so intrigued with the premise of this book that I just added it straight away even though its probably the least one I've heard of from Brandon Sanderson in my little book community. But one that I definitely want to read. 

Have you read this book?? 
Is it on your wishlist??

What have you got on your wishlist??

Book Review - The Wolf Wilder by Katherine Rundell

The Wolf Wilder

Author: Katherine Rundell

Genres: Middle Grade, Historical Fiction, Fantasy, Adventure.  

Published: September 9 2015

Pages: 319 pages (Paperback) (Bloomsbury Children's)

Read: October 2015

Rating: 4 Stars

Feodora and her mother live in the snowbound woods of Russia, in a house full of food and fireplaces. Ten minutes away, in a ruined chapel, lives a pack of wolves. Feodora's mother is a wolf wilder, and Feo is a wolf wilder in training. A wolf wilder is the opposite of an animal tamer: it is a person who teaches tamed animals to fend for themselves, and to fight and to run, and to be wary of humans.

When the murderous hostility of the Russian Army threatens her very existence, Feo is left with no option but to go on the run. What follows is a story of revolution and adventure, about standing up for the things you love and fighting back. And, of course, wolves.

Book 43/60 - 2015 Goodreads Reading Challenge

The Wolf Wilder is a middle grade novel. It had your very young protagonist,  your not complicated, straight forward plot and your simple writing. As a whole novel it was simple and I enjoyed it for that. Don't laugh at me here but while I was reading this book, it was like I was a young kid again. I was reading this book through the eyes of a child and I enjoyed it immensely. 

As an animal lover, I was intrigued by the promise of wolves in this book. I would have liked to have seen more on the wolf side though as the plot is essentially set around a different topic and the wolves are just there, but not, if you get what I mean. I would have loved to see more of the wilding process, maybe a glimpse from start to finish or even just to see some wolves who were wild again but alas, that was not the case. In fairness though, we get to see a great relationship of five wolves in this story and I fell in love with them quickly. Another downside of the wolves in this story was that they weren't behaving quite realistically, but this I believe is how the author wanted to write the wolves for the story after all it is fiction and a fantasy.

But looking past those minor details I really fell in love with the wolf characters in this book, so much so that it made me cry and on finishing this book left that slight aching in my chest, a bittersweet feeling you could call it. I also really enjoyed the human characters too. Feo was a great character for a middle grade book. She was strong, headstrong, stubborn, kind and naive all rolled into one. Everything that made for a good story. As were all the other kids shown in this book. 

Of course as I said the story was quite simple. It had your obvious bad and good guys and a band of kids that group together to defy the adults and not need them for action. It had a single problem to solve and that was it. It was a great middle grade story and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I'll be sure to be reading this to my little brother too. 

One big part I forgot to mention was the illustrations. My, my! They were gorgeous! Absolutely gorgeous! And they added such greatness and entertainment to the story aswell. Below are some of my favourite illustrations from this book. 

Overall I really enjoyed this middle grade book. I though more could have been expanded in this book, wolf wise, but I loved the characters, the wolves and the simplicity behind this book. The cover and the illustrations in this book are just perfect as well. 

Wishlist Wednesday #10

Wishlist Wednesday #10

Wishlist Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted over at Pen to Paper. This meme is where you showcase one book that is on your wishlist and that you can't wait to get off your wishlist and into your hands.

On my Wishlist Wednesday today is....

The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson

In a world where ash falls from the sky, and mist dominates the night, an evil cloaks the land and stifles all life. The future of the empire rests on the shoulders of a troublemaker and his young apprentice. Together, can they fill the world with colour once more?

In Brandon Sanderson's intriguing tale of love, loss, despair and hope, a new kind of magic enters the stage - Allomancy, a magic of the metals.

This is another extremely hyped book in the book world and after questioning on whether to follow this hype or not I've decided to add this book to my wishlist! I want to see what the hype is about and whether I'll fall head over heels for this book and this author like everyone else :P Plus look at those covers!! And they all match!

Have you read this book?? 
Is it on your wishlist??

What have you got on your wishlist??

Top Ten Tuesday #23

Top Ten Tuesday #23

Top Ten Debut Authors Who Have Me Looking Forward To Their Sophomore Novel.

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and The Bookish and consists of them picking a topic each week for us bloggers to list our Top Ten.

These are debuts books by debut authors that I just loved and cannot wait for their next novel to release!

1. Leslye Walton
I loved Leslye Walton's The Strange And Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender and cannot wait to hear about her next book and of course read it!

2. Dawn Kurtagich
I devoured Dawn's debut, The Dead House and have just heard about her next novel, The Creeper Man which releases July 2016!


3. Stephanie Tromly
I fell in love with Trouble Is A Friend Of Mine and I really can't wait for the sequel!! 

4. Cristin Terrill
Cristin Terill is the author of All Our Yesterdays which I absolutely loved and I cannot wait for the next novel she writes. There's been nothing said at the minute but I'll hope.


And that's it! All the other authors I've read have already released Sophomore novels and completed series so yup :P
What was on you Top Ten Tuesday?

October 2015

October 2015 Book Haul / Wrap Up

October was just a great month in general, what with all the spookiness, great book releases and of course I went to my first ever book convention! Yay! So let me tell you all about my October!

October 2015 Book Haul

This month I bought quite a few books but as well as that I received some free books from the DeptCon1 YA Convention too!

• Asking For It by Louise O' Neill
• Unbecoming by Jenny Downham
• The Accident Season by Moira Fowley Doyle
• The Lost And The Found by Cat Clarke
• Vendetta by Catherine Doyle
• Am I Normal Yet? by Holly Bourne
• The Manifesto On How To Be Interesting by Holly Bourne
• Soulmates by Holly Bourne
• Not If I See You First by Eric Lindstrom
• Thirteen by Tom Hoyle
• Hour Of The Bees by Lindsay Eagar
• Flawed by Cecelia Ahern
• Miss Peregrine's Home For Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs
• Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff
• Six Of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

Asking For It. Asking For It is Louise O' Neill's new YA book. I got this because I was going to be meeting Louise O' Neill at DeptCon1.

Unbecoming. This is Jenny Downham's new release and I got this because well it had a fabulous cover, fabulous storyline and because I was going to be meeting Jandy Nelson at DeptCon1 too.

The Accident Season. I got this spooky book for Halloween time but I haven't gotten around to reading it yet. Moira Fowley Doyle was also at DeptCon1!

The Lost And The Found. This is a release by Cat Clarke with a very, very interesting premise that I just had to pick it up. I love the cover too and Cat Clarke was at DeptCon1 too.

Vendetta. A first book in a series by Catherine Doyle. I was really intrigued by the Romeo and Juliet and mafia aspect of this book, so I picked it up!. Catherine Doyle was also at DeptCon1!

Am I Normal Yet?. A first book in The Normal Series by Holly Bourne. I have just been very interested in contemporary / reaistic fiction that have a darker side lately whether it deals with violence, abuse or illness. Holly Bourne was also at DeptCon1.

The Manifesto On How To Be Interesting. I heard Holly Bourne talk on her panel and just had to pick up all her books then and there.

Soulmates. Holly Bourne's debut. I picked this up after hearing her speak on her panel!.




Not If I See You First. This book is an arc and is set to release next year. I got this free in the DeptCon1 goodie bag.

Thirteen. I also got this book free in the DeptCon1 goodie bag.

Hour Of The Bees. Another arc which I got in the DeptCon1 goodie bag. I believe this releases in March 2016 and is a middle grade novel.

Flawed. This came as a manuscript in my DeptCon1 goodie bag. Yay!! And this is Cecilia Ahern's first YA novel.

Miss Peregrine's Home For Peculiar Children. This book was just sitting there pretty in the bookshop and I just had to pick it up after all the good things I'd been hearing.

Illuminae. One of my most anticipated reads of 2015! Just had to get this. And it wasn't even on the shelves when I went in... I asked and they had it in the back to be put out the following day but I still got one.

Six Of Crows. Do I need to explain my reasoning for getting this book... I think not.

October 2015 Wrap Up

I read so many good books in October!

What Was Read:

• The Tailor by Leigh Bardugo (5 Stars)
• The Dead House by Dawn Kurtagich (5 Stars)
• The Witch of Duva by Leigh Bardugo (4 Stars)
• The Wolf Wilder by Katherine Rundell (4 Stars)
• Asking For It by Louise O' Neill (5 Stars)
• Unbecoming by Jenny Downham (5 Stars)
• Entangled by Cat Clarke (3 Stars)

(Reviews should be posted soon)

Defeating My TBR Progress!!

So ya, I went through my shelves again and even though I got a ton of new books this month, my TBR is at 97 books! I'm below 100!!! :D Never did I ever think that I would see this day.

Other News:

Currently Reading:

I've been in this state of starting all these new books and not finishing any so here's what I have shelved as currently reading at the moment.

1. The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa
2. The Sin Eater's Daughter by Melinda Salisbury
3. A Clash of Kings by George R. R. Martin
4. Talon by Julie Kagawa
5. Rumours by Anna Godbersen
6. Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder
7. Monsters by Ilsa J. Bick
8. The Boy In The Smoke by Maureen Johnson
9. The Accident Season by Moira Fowley Doyle
10. The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan

Book Reviews this month: 
I have been catching up on my reviews. Thankfully! Still have a bit to go, but less than what was there anyway.. 

- Shadows by Ilsa J. Bick

- Cress by Marissa Meyer

- One by Sarah Crossan

- The Infinite by Lori M. Lee

- The Rest Of Us Just Live Here by Patrick Ness

- Divine Intervention by Edward Davies
- Trouble Is A Friend Of Mine by Stephanie Tromly

I was at my first ever YA book Convention!!:
- DeptCon1 (expect this post soon!!)

And lastly, memes, I only did one this month:
Best of the Bunch -
October 2015 - The Dead House by Dawn Kurtagich

And that is it for my wrap up and book haul!!

How was your spooky October??