Hello everyone!

I hope you all had a very merry Christmas if you celebrate it! If you don't celebrate Christmas, I hope whatever holiday you celebrate was great as well. Christmas at my house was nice and relaxing with my parents, brother, cat, and dog. I also constantly feel like I'm bursting because my mom made pie and stuffind and we baked cookies <3

This year, my parents got me a bunch of books that I have been dying to read, so I thought I would share them with you. They are all really popular, so I bet most of you have read them. Let me know down below what you thought of them!



Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

When the Gone Girl movie came out way back in 2014, I fell in love with it. Not so much with the actions in the story, but more with how Gillian Flynn weaved the whole tale together so seamlessly. It was so fun to be led on this wild chase to find the kidnapper of this man's wife and watch all the things that lead up to the end and then see what we had been missing all this time because no one expected it to be that person. I cannot wait to get into this book, especially since it'll be a little scary - at least the movie was - and I have been craving that in a book for some strange reason.

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

I have heard way too many amazing things about this book, and I have seen people with like 15 editions of it because they loved it so much, but I always thought what's so great about a circus? Then I saw a commercial for The Greatest Showman and thought that's probably what this book is about - so then I was sold.

Flamecaster by Cinda WIlliams Chima

I mentioned this book in one of my Instagram vlogs, and how I feel like it's going to remind me of Throne of Glass - even if it's just because of the cover - but I am so in love with that series that the slightest resemblance to it made me want it. Even if it's not anything like Throne of Glass, I feel like I'll still really enjoy it because it sounds amazing.

Falling Kingdoms by Morgan Rhodes

I have neglected buying this book for so long - and every time I went in to buy it, they didn't have the first book - that I think I really just needed someone to buy it for me. I love the plot and I've only heard great things about this series, but for some reason I always picked up other books instead.

Empire of Storms by Sarah J. Maas

I don't think I realized how hugs this book was. It is actually massive. Since there are 7 books and they're only getting more massive, I think it is becoming a new Harry Potter. I really hope this series turns into a movie series - can you imagine how amazing those movies would be? I know we're getting a tv show, and that is amazing and I am so happy for Sarah J. Maas, but I need a movie.

Flame in the Mist by Renee Ahdieh

I recently read The Wrath and the Dawn by Renee Ahdieh, and I fell in love with it, so of course I needed this book, and I am so glad my parents got it for me. I'm not entirely sure what it is about because I read the synopsis a very long time ago, but I know that it has to be amazing because do you not see the ninja stars on the cover?

Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

I really don't read that much contemporary, but I adored Eleanor and Park, and I have also been craving some gushy romance and quirky cuteness, so this book was perfect. I also really want to read Carry On, and I really wanted to read this book first. I also wanted to have this book on hand during the school year so that when I am super stressed I can flip it open and read some cuteness.

An Enchantment of Ravens by Maragret Rogerson

This book is so new, I cannot believe my parents got it. I was told there are faeries in it and I LOVE FAERIES. Sarah J. Maas is the faerie queen, and she has opened the love for faeries in my heart, and I cannot wait to see how this author handles the world and her faeries.

Thank you for reading!

Taylor

 

Title: A Torch Against the Night

Author: Sabaa Tahir

Publisher: Razorbill

Release Date: August 30, 2016

Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars

 

 

 

 

 

~ Goodreads Synopsis ~

Elias and Laia are running for their lives. After the events of the Fourth Trial, Martial soldiers hunt the two fugitives as they flee the city of Serra and undertake a perilous journey through the heart of the Empire.

Laia is determined to break into Kauf—the Empire’s most secure and dangerous prison—to save her brother, who is the key to the Scholars’ survival. And Elias is determined to help Laia succeed, even if it means giving up his last chance at freedom.

But dark forces, human and otherworldly, work against Laia and Elias. The pair must fight every step of the way to outsmart their enemies: the bloodthirsty Emperor Marcus, the merciless Commandant, the sadistic Warden of Kauf, and, most heartbreaking of all, Helene—Elias’s former friend and the Empire’s newest Blood Shrike.

Bound to Marcus’s will, Helene faces a torturous mission of her own—one that might destroy her: find the traitor Elias Veturius and the Scholar slave who helped him escape…and kill them both.

~ ~ ~ ~

     I read An Ember in the Ashes earlier this year, and I loved it. It became one of my all-time favorite books then, and I was not at all disappointed by the sequel. The third book is also coming out May 22, 2018, and it is going to be called "A Reaper at the Gates." I am so excited to get my hands on the book because I know, without a doubt, I will not be disappointed. (If I am, feel free to reference this post.)

Elias, Laia, and Helene have all grown so incredibly much. They have faced death and loss, and they are all trying to figure out who they are and what they really stand for. I was tossed on being able to like Helene because she is just a little annoying, like there are other ways she could have gone about the situation and save both her family and Elias, but it added the suspense of her character, so I didn't mind too much. Tahir's character development skills are so strong, and her ability to make them so complex is greatly appreciated.

The ending is so intense. I was actually glued to this book - I took it everywhere even when I knew I wouldn't read it. When I got to the last part of the book, titled Unmade, I had to take a break because it was just getting too intense. Some of you probably saw my Instagram story where I was freaking out after I finished it. I did a whole rant *with spoilers,* and some of it should be saved under "book feels" on my profile. Sabaa Tahir is the official master of plot twists. She managed about 500 plot twists the last 100 pages, and they were all done so well and were even created in the first book and came to the surface at the end. I wasn't expecting literally anything that was thrown my way, but I am also pretty oblivious, so maybe it's just me.

About the star-crossed lovers... I love it, because usually in these kinds of series there's either insta-love, or they just end up together by the end of the first book. I also hate it because I just want them to be happy and I just can't deal with their suffering. They have experienced so much pain, they just deserve it.

I also just love the setting and diversity of this series. It takes place in the deserts, and I believe, a place similar to the middle East as Sabaa Tahir is Pakistani, and it is seen in the descriptions of the people and the culture. It was nice to explore out of the typical fantastical lands and experience a different setting.

If you feel iffy about starting or continuing this series, I can guarantee you will not be disappointed. I have only heard great things about this series. Please tell me down below if you've read this series and how you feel about it!

Thanks for reading!

Taylor

Hello everyone!

When I'm reading, I love looking at the style of the author and their voice. That's probably the writer in me looking for ways to improve myself, and the reason why I'm so slow. But when I'm doing this, I look quotes that I really, really like, or ones that are just so impactful, and I jot them down in my handy dandy polka dot notebook. Today, I am going to share with you some of my favorites that I have found and written down.

Throne of Glass

"There was a darkness in his eyes that felt cold and foreign, like the gaps between the stars."

"You could rattle the stars... You could do anything, if you only dared."

“Libraries were full of ideas—perhaps the most dangerous and powerful of all weapons.” 

"I can survive well enough on my own— if given the proper reading material.” 

The Fault in our Stars

"I'm in love with you, and I know that love is just a shout into the void, and that oblivion is inevitable, and that we're all doomed and that there will come a day when all our labor has been returned to dust, and I know the Sun will swallow the only Earth we'll ever have, and I am in love with you."

"My thoughts are stars I can't fathom into constellations."

Harry Potter

"Do not pity the dead... pity the living, and above all, those who live without love."

"Happiness can be found, even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light."

"You're just as sane as I am."

"Don't let the muggles get you down."

Divergent

"Becoming fearless isn't the point. That's impossible. It's learning how to control your fear, and how to be free from it."

"We are not the same. But we are, somehow, one."

Eleanor and Park

"Eleanor was right. She never looked nice. She looked like art, and art wasn't supposed to look nice; it was supposed to make you feel something."

Hunger Games

"The Sun persists in rising, so I make myself stand."

"It takes ten times as long to put yourself back together as it does to fall apart."

“What I need is the dandelion in the spring. The bright yellow that means rebirth instead of destruction. The promise that life can go on, no matter how bad our losses. That it can be good again.” 

Cinder

"Even in the future, the story begins with once upon a time."

“I don’t see that her being cyborg is relevant.” 

Shadow and Bone

"You will find I have far more practice with eternity."

“This was his soul made flesh, the truth of him laid bare in the blazing sun, shorn of mystery and shadow. This was the truth behind the handsome face and the miraculous powers, the truth that was the dead and empty space between the stars, a wasteland peopled by frightened monsters.” 

Illuminae

"Nothing ceases to exist. Energy does not perish, it merely changes forms. The ones you love, the ones you lose, they still exist as long as the cosmos does."

"When the light that kissed the back of her eyes was first birthed, her ancestors were not yet born. How many human lives have ended in the time it took that light to reach her?"

An Ember in the Ashes

“Life is made of so many moments that mean nothing. Then one day, a single moment comes along to define every second that comes after. Such moments are tests of courage, of strength.”

“All the beauty of the stars means nothing when life here on earth is so ugly.” 

“So long as you fight the darkness, you stand in the light.”

"You are a torch against the night - if you dare to let yourself burn."

 

What are some of your favorite quotes from books? Let me know down below!

Thanks for reading!

Taylor

 

 

Hello everyone, and Merry Christmas!

I decided to make my own tag for this blogmas because I couldn't really find anything else to do for this week. This tag is pretty much creating a Christmas party and the different stereotypes of Christmas parties. I invite everyone to do this tag, but I also have some people tagged down below that I want you to check out.

This will also be my last blogmas post before Christmas! It's so close, I can't believe it! Christmas really snuck up on me this year, but I'm still crazy excited. I have been listening to Christmas music nearly non-stop for the past couple weeks, and I cannot stop singing them in my head. What does everyone have planned for the holidays?

Without further ado, here is my Christmas Party Book Tag!

First, who's invited to your party?

Obviously, I have all the characters from Harry Potter. Then Chaol, because I feel like he'd be really fun when not worrying about Celaena and Dorian. I would also invite Percy Jackson, Annabeth, and Grover because they would be the life of the party, and the kids from Miss Peregrine's so they can party. Finally, Will Herondale.

 

The Best Decorations in Town

A book that has a really great setting

I could easily choose Harry Potter or the ACOTAR series, but I think I'm going to go with The Looking Glass Wars because it takes place in a more modern Wonderland and it was so beautiful and different from other fictional lands.

 

Rocking Around the Christmas Tree

A book that has a lot of music in it *bonus points if it's Christmas music*

I think Eleanor and Park is the only book I have read that has music in it. I really liked how music was a major part of the book and told part of the story.

 

The Obsessive Host

The character that freaks out over the little things

Hamlet because literally every small thing that is done makes him flip. But for real, I think America from the Selection and the main guy from Beautiful Creatures really looked into every little last detail. AND we cannot forget Bella from Twilight.

 

The Ugly Sweater Couple

That couple that's annoyingly cute

All the couples from Firebolt. All of them were annoying, and not really that cute. And this couple I think they is SUPER cute - Patch and Nora from Hush, Hush.

 

Who's Eating All of Santa's Cookies

A character known for how much he or she eats

Hands down, Ron Weasley. And Grover. Those are the main two characters that come to mind when I think of characters that could eat their weight in Christmas dinner.

 

Who is Kissing Under the Mistletoe

The book couple you really wish would just get together already

I'm going with Chaol and Celaena for this one.  was so bummed when their relationship fell apart, and I really just wanted them to be together, even though I adore her with Rowan. I'm so conflicted on this one.

 

~ I Tag ~

Jmonicap (booktube)

The Calico Books

Literary Me

Bookish Bits

 

Let me know if you do this tag because I would love to read your answers!

Thank you for reading and have a happy holiday!

Taylor

 



Title: Firebolt

Author: Adrienne Woods

Publisher: Fire Quill Publishing

Format: eBook - NetGalley

Release Date: September 19th, 2014

Rating: 1.5 out of 5 Stars

 

~ Goodreads Synopsis ~

Dragons. Right. Teenage girls don’t believe in fairy tales, and sixteen-year old Elena Watkins was no different.
Until the night a fairy tale killed her father.
Now Elena’s in a new world, and a new school. The cutest guy around may be an evil dragon, a Prince wants Elena’s heart, and a long dead sorcerer may be waking up to kill her. Oh. And the only way Elena’s going to graduate is on the back of a dragon of her own.
Teenage girls don’t believe in fairy tales. Now it’s time for Elena to believe – in herself.

~ ~ ~ ~

     Hey everyone!

Today I am bringing you a review of a book I am excited to talk about - but not for good reasons.

Firebolt is the first book I am reading from NetGalley, so I would like to thank them as well as the publishers for the chance to read this. However, it was so incredibly problematic that it made the story almost unbearable. When I say problematic, I do not mean grammar issues or anything of the sort, but I mean that this book is filled with such harmful tropes that I cannot stand it.

In the beginning I really liked the book, it was alright and I was so interested. The plot sounded great, and it was about dragons and a boarding school in a parallel land, like that is awesome. The execution of this story was just not what it should have been. I feel bad for talking about a book this way because not all books are for everyone and I understand the time and trouble it takes to create a book, but I will explain.

Once our main character, Elena, learns of dragons and Paegeia, she is brought to a school there to learn how to be the dragonian she was born to be. When she arrives, she is so ridiculously boy-crazy, along with all the other girls who have lived there their whole lives. I get it in the first couple chapters - they're gorgeous dragon boys that she has never seen before - but after so long it was just wayyy too much. It was like every time a boy breathed around her she was thinking "Crap, he's so hot" *an actual quote from the book.* I began to highlight all the sentences that really blew my gasket, so I shall share some with you:

"I just didn't like my flat ass. I wanted it to be plumper."

Do I even need to explain what is wrong with this quote? Elena was trying on dresses and thought this of herself. For young girls reading this book, this is just enforcing body images. Authors are supposed to make lessons for readers, not projections of harmful expectations.

"Some even threatened her about what they'd do if she claimed George."

The author never failed to pit girls against each other in this book, either. Every time one the three main girls even looked at one of the boys, the girls would threatened the three and glare at them. Don't even get me started on Arianna.

     "Hot flushes washed over my body as I struggled to keep my eyes off of him. I wondered how I'd ended up with a guy like him."

And we're back with the low self-esteem trope that is far too common in YA and again, does not send a good image to young readers. And we're also back with the boy-crazed main character.

     "an urge to start painting again developed inside my gut. I used to be good at it..."

Ok, this one is random, and it's not a trope, but, this is the one and only time, I believe, that Elena's painting is referenced in this book and it made me a little confused.

     "Which made him blush with a super cute smile."

Show, don't tell please. Another common thing in this book.

     "He wasn't oriental, as I imagined he would be..."

His name was Cheng. And, as if the book isn't already diverse, the author had to point out the fact that the book was not diverse.

     "his upper lip curling up. it made him look extra hot, and I could hear a couple of girls nearby sighing."

Please tell me why every single girl in Paegeia is annoyingly boy-crazed, while the guys are relatively unphased by the girls and actually do well in everything.

     "You're just a girl who knows nothing. You'll never understand."

This book was written by a girl, right? I understand that the sexist theme is powerful, but only when the girls actually do something to show they are strong and not held down by misogyny. Here, Elena does absolutely nothing, and it was her own boyfriend that said this to her.

     Ok, so I'm done with the quotes, but those are the ones that bothered me the most from Firebolt. In all, I have to say I was very disappointed. I actually skimmed through the last few pages just because I was so uninterested by that point, and those are supposed to be the most exciting pages.

The tropes of this book entirely ruined the story for me, and I really wanted to like it. The characters were also super one-dimensional, and just symbolized all the "classic" characters of a teenage drama. And, can we not forget Elena's cringy catchphrase (the worst I have ever read), "for the love of blueberries." What blueberries?!

For me, a two-star rating was a little generous. If I weren't reading this for a review on NetGalley, I would not have finished it.

Let me know what you thought of the book if you read it, or just rant with me in the comments about books  with similar tropes.

Thank you for reading!

Taylor

Hey everyone!

I know I just did a different Harry Potter Tag, this one, but I am back with another one because 1) it is the most Harry Potter time of year, and 2) I love Harry Potter so get off my case. I love you guys.

I was tagged by Bound to Writing for this post, and you can click on the link to visit her Tag page. I hope you guys will all give her a look, and hopefully a follow, because she's a great book blogger.

Without further ado, here is the Harry Potter Tag:

What house are you in?

I am a very proud Ravenclaw! I took the test in middle school and got Slytherin, but that's because I wanted to be a Slytherin because it was during my whole huge Draco crush... don't ask lol. And then in my sophomore year of high school, I believe I took it, and then I got Gryffindor, but I had then wanted Gryffindor as well because of my Fred obsession that still has yet to wear off. Finally, I took it for real last year and got Ravenclaw, and I am very happy with it as I feel it sums me up pretty well. You can check out my house sorting reaction here.

What is your patronus?

My patronus is a dolphin. I was surprised for this, but I'm not sure why. She's pretty cute, but I was expecting something small like a bunny or something. I really like her though. (Her name is Celia)

What is your wand?

My wand is ebony, 10 inches in length with a phoenix feather core and surprisingly swishy flexibility. Ebony is said to be fore those "with the courage to be themselves." The phoenix core is also the rarest, and those who wield it "show the most initiative, sometimes acting of their own accord."

What would be your boggart?

I'm with Ron on the spiders. I also think a werewolf would definitely appear because I avoided watching the ending of the Prisoner of Azkaban so many times because the werewolves of the wizarding world scare the crap out of me even to this day.

What position would you play in Quidditch?

I feel like I'd be a beater because in lacrosse I always tried to hit people and you can't do that in the girls' game. Also, that is Fred and George's positon.

Would you be pure-blood, half-blood, or muggle-born?

I feel like I'd be a muggle-born as neither of my parents are super into Harry potter, or maybe a half-blood... I don't know.

What job would you want after graduation at Hogwarts?

I'd probably want to own a book shop to be completely honest, and be an author of fantasy stories taking place in the wizarding world - that is my dream career.

Which of the Deathly Hallows would you choose?

100% the invisibility cloak. I am not trying to get killed or bring back the dead for them to die again. I would probably use it to avoid people I know while grocery shopping to be honest.

Favorite and least favorite books?

My favorite book is either the first or fourth ones. In the first one, we get to know Hogwarts and meet everyone, but the fourth is the one I am always attracted to. I don't think I have a least favorite because I have always really enjoyed all of them.

Favorite and least favorite film?

My favorite film has always been the Goblet of Fire because it's not too dark so I could watch it before I went to bed  (like every night so it skips over the Yule Ball scene, sadly) and it also has so much cool action and new wizards. My least favorite... I can't really say I have one. I have always though of the Prisoner of Azkaban as my least favorite because the werewolf scene terrified me, but I actually really like the rest of the movie.

Favorite character?

Hermione Granger, of course. She is my idol and everything I aspire to be in life... including a wizard.

Least/Most hated character?

Umbridge. She is everything I despise. She is cruel, tries to be so sweet and innocent when she's just awful, and has no real explanation to her behavior because I am sure she came from a wealthy family and a happy life. I just have such a fiery hatred for her. I hate her more than Voldemort, and that is really just sad on her part.

Favorite Hogwarts teacher?

I have no idea, honestly. I think maybe Hagrid because his class was so cool. I would love to meet all the fantastic beasts of the wizarding world. He's also super lovable and sweet, so definitely him.

Least favorite teacher at Hogwarts?

Umbridge, for the above explanation.

Do you have an unpopular opinion about the series?

Besides my unhealthy obsession for it... probably not. I do like Hermione and Ron together, because I know a lot of people wanted it to be her and Harry. I feel like Hermione and Ron fits so well, and their personalities contrast perfectly.

 

Thank you for reading!

Taylor

Hello everyone and HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

This post is my second installment in my blogmas! If you didn't read the last post, it was the Christmas Song Book Tag, that you can read here. I am getting more and more into the Christmas mood, and it has come to the point where Christmas music is pretty much all I listen to. I hope you guys are becoming just as merry as I am, and feel free to do the posts I do to bring some cheer to your blog. Let me know if you do, so I can read it!

Today I will bringing you some of the books I want most for Christmas! I want to read so many books, and I am really happy with anything at all, but if I had to choose, then these would be the books I would probably get for myself. Let me know the books you want, whether you celebrate Christmas or not :)

I love paperback books, so these are all paperback copies of the books. I really wanted to include A Court of Wings and Ruin, but that doesn't come out on paperback until May *sad face.*

Empire of Storms by Sarah J. Maas

     It has been so long since I have been able to read a TOG book, and I miss it so much. I miss Celaena , and omg I miss Chaol.

The Raven Boys by Maggie Steifvater

I have been looking to start this series for forever, so I hope I can finally get a chance to get into this series.

 

 

 

Flamecaster by Cinda WIlliams China

The first time I ever heard of this book was when I spotted it in Barnes and Noble - I would have gotten it, too, but I chose Cruel Beauty, and loved it so I'm not even sorry.

Falling Kingdoms by Morgan Rhodes

Yet another series I have been meaning to start, but chose a different series to buy instead of this one. I bought The Novice even though I had this one in my hand.

 

 

 

The Final Empire (Mistborn book 1) by Brandon Sanderson

This book dominates booktube and I really want to know what all the hype is about. Also, this cover is gorgeous - it's white and blue, which is everything I love in a cover.

Uprooted by Naomi Novik

This is also another gorgeous cover. I first heard of this book, I believe, by A Clockwork Reader, or maybe PeruseProject, and since then I have been dying to read it.

 

 

A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab



I think I'm the last person in the world to read this book.

The Rose and the Dagger by  Renne Ahdieh

The Wrath and the Dawn now owns part of my soul, so I need this one. It's like books are my horcruxes.

An Enchantment of Ravens by Margaret Rogerson

This book was the PeruseATopia book club book of the month a couple months ago, and they both loved it, so I cannot wait to see why!

 

 

 

Ruin and Rising by Leigh Bardugo

Shadow and Bone is a series loved by sooo many people, and I really want to get into it, but this is the last book... hopefully this one makes me full-blown Grisha.

Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

Yet another series I have been dying to read. I have little to no idea what this is about because every description I have heard is escaping me, but that's one reason why I'm so intrigued.

 

 

Thank you for reading, and Merry Blogmas!

Taylor

Hey everyone!

If you have been following me for a while, you know very well that I don't read much contemporary YA. However, this book seemed very different from most of the contemporary novels out there. It tells the story of a plane-crash survivor that loses her memory, and to me, that sounds excitedly different and so intriguing. I love the authors, like Rebekah Crane, that put a twist on your usual romances and add different aspects to the story. Crane also mentions snarky, flirty banter, which I adore. <3

Rebekah Crane's Twitter: @RebekahCrane

Her Website: rebekahcrane.com

There isn't much there for the Goodreads synopsis, and you can get a better description in Crane's interview, but I will still put it below:

~ Goodreads Synopsis ~

Set in Southwest Ireland and features a girl who is the lone survivor of a plane crash. She wakes up with amnesia in Ireland with no memory of her life. It's cute and heartfelt and, of course, funny. 

~ ~ ~ ~

     Because this book caught my interest, I had to ask Crane some questions to get to know the book a little more and to show you guys. Her responses are so endearing, and she was so nice to answer me:

How would you sum up the story?

For Clementine Haas, finding herself is more than a nice idea. Ever since she woke up in an Irish hospital only to discover she’s the lone survivor of a plane crash and suffering from complete amnesia, self-discovery has become her mission.
With the Irish press bearing down on her, and a father she may not even recognize on his way from America to take her home, Clementine assumes a new identity and enlists an Irish stranger, Kieran O’Connell, to help her escape her forgotten life…and start a new one.
In the sleepy town of Waterville, Ireland, Clementine discovers there’s an upside to a life that’s fallen apart. But as her lies grow, so does her affection for Kieran, and the truth about her identity becomes harder to reveal, forcing Clementine to decide: Can she leave her past behind for a new love she’ll never forget?

What inspired you to write The Upside of Falling Down?

Interestingly enough, the general story line was brainstormed during an author visit I did a few years ago at a local high school in Denver. I always ask the students to throw out book ideas and someone said, “Why not a book about the lone survivor of a plane crash?” We took the idea and ran with it.

Also, setting a novel in Ireland was a goal of mine. In my early twenties, I lived in County Kerry, Ireland (the novel’s setting). It’s such a beautiful and lush backdrop for a romance. I couldn’t resist writing Kieran and Clementine’s love story in one of the most romanticized countries on Earth.

Which character was your favorite to write and why?

This is such a hard question! I truly enjoyed writing them all. The flirty banter between Kieran and Clementine and their chemistry was fun to create. That said, I’ve always enjoyed writing snarky characters and Siobhan and Clive fit that bill. Their friendship is laced with loving sarcasm, a combination I adore writing.

     This is exactly what I have been looking for in a contemporary YA novel - something unique! I love the amnesia concept and her running from her old life to start fresh. The story is one that I have never read before, or anything close, and I am super excited to see how this plays out. I am also in love with the idea of Kiernan and Clementine because it has been so long since I read something cute and this sounds like exactly what I have needed and didn't know I needed. Also, the name Kiernan is beautiful and Clementine is so different. The fact that this story is taking place in Ireland as well is a turn on because I have never read anything set in Ireland and it is one of my favorite countries (though I have never left the Untied States).

Let me know what you think of The Upside of Falling Down, and whether or not you plan to read it.

Thank you for reading!

Taylor

 

Title: Cruel Beauty

Author: Rosamund Hodge

Publisher: Balzer and Bray

Format: paperback

Release Date: January 28th, 2014

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

 

~ Goodreads Synopsis ~

Based on the classic fairy tale Beauty and the Beast, Cruel Beauty is a dazzling love story about our deepest desires and their power to change our destiny.

Since birth, Nyx has been betrothed to the evil ruler of her kingdom-all because of a foolish bargain struck by her father. And since birth, she has been in training to kill him.

With no choice but to fulfill her duty, Nyx resents her family for never trying to save her and hates herself for wanting to escape her fate. Still, on her seventeenth birthday, Nyx abandons everything she's ever known to marry the all-powerful, immortal Ignifex. Her plan? Seduce him, destroy his enchanted castle, and break the nine-hundred-year-old curse he put on her people.

But Ignifex is not at all what Nyx expected. The strangely charming lord beguiles her, and his castle—a shifting maze of magical rooms—enthralls her.

As Nyx searches for a way to free her homeland by uncovering Ignifex's secrets, she finds herself unwillingly drawn to him. Even if she could bring herself to love her sworn enemy, how can she refuse her duty to kill him? With time running out, Nyx must decide what is more important: the future of her kingdom, or the man she was never supposed to love.

~ ~ ~ ~

     This book took me entirely by surprise - I almost didn't even get it. I haven't really heard anyone talk about it and on Goodreads it has a 3.7 rating. At first I was even a little iffy while reading it, but somewhere after chapter like eight, I reached the point of no return and I feel whole-heartedly in love with this novel.

Cruel Beauty is a re-telling of Beauty and the Beast, which is very done very loosely. Nyx is taken into Ignifex's home, and the whole Stockholm syndrome thing is there, but Ignifex is a demon trapped in his way of life because of the "people" that control him. I LOVE Beauty and the Beast, so naturally that is why I decided to read this. The theme is done very well, and I appreciate the avoidance on insta-love although it is hard for me to see why Nyx all of a sudden is head over heels for Ignifex. Yeah, he's described as being gorgeous and charming, but he's a demon that she has spent her entire life training to kill. Other than what I just explained, Nyx and Ignifex's relationship is the most beautiful thing. They remind me a lot of Rhysand and Ferye if that is any indication. I love them so much, and they may be one of my favorite book couples ever.

As for character development, it may be some of the best I have seen in a while, which may be because I am reading a lot of series lately so they develop more slowly. I thought Nyx was a great character because she starts out so distanced and callous, but you can see when she gets to the castle, she begins to settle into herself and forget more of her problems which makes her less cold and stony. For Ignifex, I loved his character from beginning to end. He was crafted so well - every aspect of him was so great for a lovable demon man. I loved his snarky flirting; that was probably my favorite part of the book.

I don't want to include any spoilers, so I am only going to briefly talk about Shade. I just really thought about his character a lot while reading this - probably because I was trying to imagine a shadow on a wall coming to life and interacting with Nyx, but he was super complex and there was a lot of meaning to him. And if you read the book and remember the ending, I love how his character and Ignifex's are relative to each other, it was such an interesting concept.

The plot, from beginning to end, was crazy interesting. it was such an emotional rollercoaster from witnessing Nyx's life and her constant heartbreak in the beginning, to the ending that rips your soul to shreds. I wish there was a sequel so I could see more of the world because there is a lot of strange facets to it that I would like to learn more about like the paper sky and floating garden.

Also, I just want to say that the ending of this book may or may not make you cry until you can't breathe - take that as a warning. I cry a lot, but I don't think I cried so hard reading a book in a long time until I read this. I thought it was very well done, and though I believe it's a standalone, it made me want so much more of Ignifex and Nyx - I was so not ready to give them up.

I would highly recommend this book to any reader - it has a lot for anyone. There's a lot of action and adventure, there's even some suspense, and it's a little spooky, plus there's obviously a great romance.

Hello everybody, and HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

For my version of blogmas (as decided like two minutes before making this post on the 4th), I am planning to put out a new Christmassy blog post every Wednesday of December. I am so excited! Christmas is my favorite holiday of all because everything about it is just cozy and happy - fireplaces, soft lights, tree smells, and sweaters.

I hope everyone has had a great December so far, and is getting into the Christmas spirit! If you don't celebrate Christmas, I hope you are having a great winter and whatever winter holiday you celebrate!

So, without further ado, let's get started with my first blogmas post as seen on A Grand Adventure:

1. “You’re a Mean One Mr. Grinch”: Name a villainous character you couldn’t help but love.

The Darkling from Shadow and Bone. I am so sorry, but in the first book he stole my heart and I can't get over him. He is an awful person in every single way and the plot twist at the end of the first book really broke my heart... like shattered it.

2. “All I Want for Christmas is You”: Which book do you most hope to see under your Christmas tree?

I have a whole lot of series I need to be finishing, but I'm actually hoping the most for two books that are first books of different series (RIP my TBR). I am mostly looking forward to Falling Kingdoms by Morgan Rhodes and Mistborn book 1 by Brandon Sanderson. I have heard about these two books so much on booktube, and I am hoping to start them soon.

3. “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer”: Name a character that overcomes major obstacles and learns to believe in themselves.

I feel like this is pretty much all YA characters, so this is hard. I feel like Mare does this in Red Queen maybe the best because she turns from being super innocent-tiny-little-girl to a baddie who isn't afraid of anything and tries to save everyone she loves, and she works for what she believes in. I also apologize for my sudden use of the word baddie - it's my way of saying they're awesome without saying awesome or cursing.

4. “Santa Claus is Coming to Town”: a) Which character do you think would be on the top of the naughty list?
b) Which character do you think would be at the top of the nice list?

On the top of the naughty list, we definitely have Umbridge because she's the foulest form of human being. On the top of the nice list is most definitely Percy Jackson because have you ever met such a pure demigod?

5. “Frosty the Snowman”: Which book just melts your heart.

Cruel Beauty melted my heart for days and days, and I have read a whole other book and started another one since reading it and it still makes my chest get all melty.

6. “Feliz Navidad”: Choose a book that takes place in a country other than your own.

Most books I read are definitely not in my country because I read a lot of fantasy, so I'll choose the coolest land, which has to be Prythian. The Night Court sounds so cool, and I really wish more happened in the town and the world than in castles, but Feyre was practically under house arrest most of the time she's been in Prythian so I can't blame her.

7. “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year”: Which holiday themed book do you use to spread the Christmas joy?

Harry Potter x 1000. Ok, it isn't holiday-themed at all, but it's the only book I have read that has Christmas in it, I believe, and I love it, so I have to fit in somewhere.

8. “Sleigh Ride”: Which fictional character would you choose to spend the holidays with (doesn’t have to be a love interest!)

I almost put down a character from my WIP before I realized it's not a real book, yet. I would have to choose Chaol because he's so sweet, and he's my favorite character from TOG.

9. “Baby it’s Cold Outside”: Which book that you didn’t like would you sacrifice to a fire to warm yourself up in the cold?

Firebolt by Adrienne Woods. I have a review of the book going up soon so you can see why, but my hatred for the tropes in this book burns o well that it could keep me warm.

10. “Do you hear what I hear”: Which book do you think everyone should read?

I feel like the Novice isn't talked about as much as it should be, so I choose that book. It has a lot of Harry Potter-eske feelings without being a rip off of the series. There's demon summoning and a boarding school setting - perfect, right?

 

For this post, I tag:

rosiefrecklereads

The Calico Books

City of Books (Booktube)

Books In Character

In Case of Bookishness

Reading with Jessica

Make sure you check out their blogs, and youtube channel, and watch for their tags!

Thank you for reading!

Taylor

Hey everyone!

I saw this tag done by ABookUtopia and PeruseProject on booktube and thought it was super interesting! Some of these characters are recommended by you guys when I asked for characters on my twitter (@taylorisreading - shameless self-promo). What I did was I cut up pieces of paper with character names on them and then randomly picked out two characters at a time. Let me know if you guys do it because it was really fun and I'd love to read your posts. Hope you all enjoy these ripped or shipped bookish couples!

1.  Chaol (Throne of Glass) and the Darkling (Shadow and Bone)

If it were the Darkling in the first book and the Chaol of Queen of Shadows, I could possibly see this. Like the Darkling was good, but still a little evil, and Chaol was so frustrating in that time. I feel like the Darkling would have been annoyed by Chaol, so I rip it.

2.  Cinder (Lunar Chronicles) and Kady (Illuminae)

Ok, have you heard of a better duo? Like they're both super baddies and are independent and aren't afraid of a little violence. I love this. I totally ship it. Their skills would work so well together, especially in bringing down the AI in Illuminae.

3.  Shahrzad (The Wrath and the Dawn) and Ignifex (Cruel Beauty)

This could be so beautiful. I love them both with the people they're paired with in their respective novels, so of course I cannot support the splitting of two amazing couples. If they happened to find each other, and were single, I would totally ship it. I feel like their personalities would mesh so well, like Shahrzad's cunningness and Ignifex's Ignifexness would work well together. Especially because Shahrzad is a lot like Nyx.

4.  Tamlin (A Court of Thorns and Roses) and Maven Calore (Red Queen)

These two people are just so awful they're almost perfect for each other, as in friends or a relationship. I actually ship this because I just hate them both so much and they both push me to the extent of my anger without self-destructing that they would make for great partners. I definitely ship it.

5.  Jackaby (Jackaby lol) and Scarlet (Scarlet lol)

Eh. I think I rip this. They don't really stand out as two people I would think must meet each other. They are just so different in what they do and their missions, I can't see it ever happening.

6.  Rowan (Throne of Glass) and Mal (Shadow and Bone)

This, however, would be great. They are so similar. They are both super protective, tough Rowan is obviously far more protective, and they would be so understanding of each other. I feel this time that Rowan would be a little annoyed by Mal because he's a little human boy, but I think it would work.

7.  Sirius (Harry Potter) and Nyx (Cruel Beauty)

Can anyone not see this couple?? They would look so good together. The age difference would be a little concerning, but they would be the most attractive couple. Maybe if Sirius were a few years younger. I also feel like Nyx is a little too dark in her heart for Sirius because he is so pure, but if the relationship is anything like Nyx and Ignifex's, which I think it would be, it would be beautiful. I entirely ship this anyway.

8.  Percy (Percy Jackson) and Alina (Shadow and Bone)

Not really. Maybe in friendship, but still not really. Alina is way too serious for Percy; Percy is so funny and cute and just way too good for Alina. I found Alina a little dull too, so it just wouldn't work. I rip it.

9.  UMBRIDGE AND VOLDEMORT

Ok, yes. Again, I hate them so much that they work. I hate Umbridge even more though because she's just... Umbridge. Maybe Voldemort would find her insufferable, but I could see it. Though Bellatrix and Voldemort is still a thing to me.

10.  AI (Illuminae) and Tris (Divergent)

I have no idea why I put the AI in here because it's just something strange to rip or ship with another character, but the personalities of the AI and Tris work. They are both stony, but grow to be compassionate, especially for one person. I could ship it.

11.  Ron (Harry Potter) and Fletcher (The Novice)

I see this as a friendship, entirely. Their personalities would mix so well, kind of like a Harry and Ron situation, but Fletcher is so much more like Ron than is Harry. I would adore this friendship. I feel like Ron's amazement with Feltcher's demon summoning would be so cute and great. Ship.

12.  Celaena Sardothien (Throne of Glass) and Four (Divergent)

Halfway yes, and halfway no. Like, they're both baddies and are so trained, but I also think Celaena is too intense for Four because he is so chill. I don't know about this one...

13.  Katniss Everdeen (Hunger Games) and Chaol (Throne of Glass)

No. I like Chaol way too much to do this to him. Katniss is like a more tame version of Celaena, and Chaol is so freaking sweet in most of the books. I couldn't put him through more heartbreak. And the way Katniss handled her love life in the series was so frustrating to me, like she never showed any kind of affection, so it never felt like she actually cared for either of them.

14.  Rhysand (A Court of Thorns and Roses) and Hermione (Harry Potter)

I WOULD LOVE THIS. Two of my most favorite characters ever. Yes, 1000%. Because Hermione liked Krum, I feel like she's into a bad-boy type (except for Ron) and would love Rhysand. Only if she isn't kidnapped like he does to Feyre, she would never love him if he did that.

15.  Voldemort (Harry Potter) and Bilbo Baggins (The Hobbit)

Lol, aw poor Bilbo. I feel like he would be terrified out of his mind. He would probably cry. Unless it turned out to be one of those weird fanfiction things where they fall in love, I could actually see that. But, I think I'm going to rip it.

 

Thank you for reading!

Taylor