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Book Review: Rebel Of The Sands by Alwyn Hamilton
Title: Rebel Of The Sands
Author: Alwyn Hamilton
Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult, Romance, Magic
Series: Rebel Of The Sands #1
Publisher: Viking Books for Young Readers
Format: E-book
Source: Bought
Publication Date: March 8th, 2016
Synopsis:
She’s more gunpowder than girl—and the fate of the desert lies in her hands.
Mortals rule the desert nation of Miraji, but mystical beasts still roam the wild and barren wastes, and rumor has it that somewhere, djinni still practice their magic. But there’s nothing mystical or magical about Dustwalk, the dead-end town that Amani can’t wait to escape from.
Destined to wind up “wed or dead,” Amani’s counting on her sharpshooting skills to get her out of Dustwalk. When she meets Jin, a mysterious and devastatingly handsome foreigner, in a shooting contest, she figures he’s the perfect escape route. But in all her years spent dreaming of leaving home, she never imagined she’d gallop away on a mythical horse, fleeing the murderous Sultan’s army, with a fugitive who’s wanted for treason. And she’d never have predicted she’d fall in love with him… or that he’d help her unlock the powerful truth of who she really is.
This book has everything! Desert, magic, rebellion, romance, guns, tattooed guys and headstrong heroines!
PLOT
This book was the perfect mix of western and Arabian. The writing is apt for a book set in the Middle East. Because I expect the language to be really rich when a book is set in the Middle East. And Hamilton gave me what I was looking for. The world was beautifully described and there was so much to discover.I loved the travelling and every other place I got to see. The overall plot was interesting and kept me hooked. However, I was a little surprised and disappointed that the Rebel Prince didn’t play a huge role in the book. I am looking forward to seeing more of him in the sequel.
Pace
The book was a fast read and every chapter always ended in a way that made me want to read more. What is it with authors not letting us sleep? And obviously, I barely got any sleep that night. The writing was engaging and hooked me in from the get-go. However, in the beginning, it did feel a little slow but the pace increased very quickly.
Character
I loved both the MC’s Amani and Jin. As good as they were as a team, they were equally good as individuals. The characters were very well fleshed out and I instantly fell in love with them both. The romance, though! Gosh, it was such a slow burn. But it’s written really well, in my opinion. Jin and Amani were so adorable! There was so much banter, wit, snarky comments and a lot of heat between these two! I couldn’t get enough of them! I am officially a shipping them ❤ I did from the very start of the book! There were scenes, where I just couldn’t handle their cuteness 😀
The side characters were also very interesting. Even though there were quite a few of them, I connected with a few of instantly. I really want to know more about them in the next book.
For a debut novel, this was very very good!
Do I recommend it? Yes, please!
Plot: 4.3/5
Characters: 4.8/5
Pace: 4.5/5
Overall Rating: 4.7/5
Have you read the book?
What rating did you give it?
Let me know in the comments below!
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Most Likely To Book Tag
Calliope @ Calliope The Book Goddess tagged me to do the Most Likely To Book Tag! You guy should go check her blog out!
Here are the rules:
Basically, you write down 18 character names on pieces of paper and choose three at a time. Each round will have three options, and you sort the characters into who would be “most likely to” do each thing.
ROUND 1
Who’s most likely to…
1. Have kids first
2. Cry at a movie
3. Get arrested
Characters I picked: Eleanor from Eleanor and Park, Hermione from Harry Potter and Maxon from The Selection.
I think Maxon would have kids first, don’t ask why I just have a feeling. Eleanor will cry at a movie and our dear Hermione will get arrested! Unless, of course, Hermione apparates away.
ROUND 2
Who’s most likely to…
1. Become a crazy cat lady/man
2. Become a multi-millionaire
3. Start knitting as a hobby
Characters: Jamie from A Walk To Remember, Cia from The Testing Series and Katniss from The Hunger Games.
Katniss would become a crazy cat lady, who will throw her cats at you if you annoy her. Cia will become a multi-millionaire and Jamie will start knitting.
ROUND 3
Who’s most likely to…
1. Be a closet nerd
2. Become an actor/actress
3. Fall down the stairs
Characters: Ronnie from The Last Song, Hazel from The Fault In Out Stars and Peeta from The Hunger Games.
Hmm… this is a tough one. But I think Ronnie will be a closet nerd, Hazel will be an actress and Peeta will fall down the stairs. :p
ROUND 4
Who’s most likely to…
1. Collect that many books they have a personal library
2. Win the Hunger Games
3. Be Tumblr famous
Characters: America from The Selection, Edwards from Twilight and Queen Lavana from The Lunar Chronicles.
Edward will have a personal library since you know he has a lot of time to collect said books. Lavana will DEFINITELY win the Hunger Games and America will be Tumblr famous because she will have everything she needs to be Tumblr famous.
ROUND 5
Who’s most likely to...
1. Go through a goth phase
2. Have a one night stand
3. Go to comic con
Characters: Finnick from The Hunger Games, Landon from A Walk To Remember and Snape fromHarry Potter
Goth phase? Snape is almost already as goth as goth gets! Landon will go to comic con and Finnick will have a one night stand
ROUND 6
Who’s most likely to…
1. Get married
2. Have a cool mug collection
3. Be a night owl (stays awake most of the night)
Characters: Ron from Harry Potter, Harry from Harry Potter and Bella from Twilight.
Bella will be a night owl, since she cant really sleep anymore! Ron will have a cool AF mug collection and Harry will / is already married!
I tag everyone!
This tag was too much for me to choose just a few, so anyone who is interested in doing this, go ahead. Let me know if you do it though, so I can see who was put where ❤
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Book Review: My Lady Jane by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, and Jodi Meadows
Title: My Lady Jane
Author: Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, and Jodi Meadows
Genre: Historical Fiction, Fantasy, Young Adult
Series: Stand Alone
Publisher: Harper Teens
Format: Kindle
Source: Bought
Publication Date: June 7th, 2016
Synopsis:
The comical, fantastical, romantical, (not) entirely true story of Lady Jane Grey. In My Lady Jane, coauthors Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, and Jodi Meadows have created a one-of-a-kind fantasy in the tradition of The Princess Bride, featuring a reluctant king, an even more reluctant queen, a noble steed, and only a passing resemblance to actual history—because sometimes history needs a little help.
At sixteen, Lady Jane Grey is about to be married off to a stranger and caught up in a conspiracy to rob her cousin, King Edward, of his throne. But those trifling problems aren’t for Jane to worry about. Jane gets to be Queen of England.
“Dedication:
For everyone who knows there was enough room for Leonardo DiCaprio on that door.
And for England. We’re really sorry for what we’re about to do to your history.”
― Cynthia Hand
I wasn’t planning to read this book initially and I am so glad I did! This book is so hilarious and super fast to read.
PLOT
The story is loosely based on Jane Grey and King Edward Tudor VI. What the synopsis doesn’t mention is the magic in this book! This historical fiction has shapeshifters. They are called Eðians (pronounced as eth-y-uns) and they shapeshift into animals that coincide with an individual’s characteristics. They are also generally oppressed by those who can’t shapeshift. What I loved about this book is how beautifully the authors took real historical elements and integrated them into their magical world.
Pace
The pace was a little out of it sometimes yet it didn’t deter me from reading. What I didn’t like in the beginning but loved by the end was how the authors broke the fifth wall and often spoke directly to me.
Characters
I absolutely loved all the characters in this book! Don’t expect to make deep connections with the characters because that is not what the book is meant for. Instead be ready to find the characters charming, funny, and adorable. I especially loved Jane – she is bookish, smart and a strong willed girl. The book also covers female empowerment and I loved that too.
Overall, I was surprised I loved this book so much. This is something you should read when you want a good laugh. This is a perfect summer book – light and enjoyable.
Do I recommend this book? Hell yeah!
Plot : 4/5
Pace: 3.5/5
Characters: 4.5/5
Overall: 5/5
Have you read the book?
Did you like it?
Let me know in the comment below!
You know I love talking to you guys ❤
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Book Review: The School for Good and Evil by Soman Chainani
Title: The School for Good and Evil
Author: Soman Chainani
Genre: Fantasy, Middle Grade, Young Adult, Fairytale
Series: The School for Good and Evil #1
Publisher: HarperCollins
Format: Physical Copy
Source: Bought
Publication Date: May 14th, 2013
Synopsis:
The first kidnappings happened two hundred years before. Some years it was two boys taken, some years two girls, sometimes one of each. But if at first, the choices seemed random, soon the pattern became clear. One was always beautiful and good, the child every parent wanted as their own. The other was homely and odd, an outcast from birth. An opposing pair plucked from youth and spirited away.
“In the forest of primeval
A school for Good and Evil
Twin towers like two heads
One for the pure
And one for the wicked
Try to escape you’ll always fail,
The only way out is
Through a fairytale.”
My Review:
This book was perfect! I couldn’t put it down at all. It has everything from fairytale to friendship. It even makes you think twice about your favorite fairy tales! Oh! and it also makes you laugh at the idiocracy of everything.
PLOT
The plot was really interesting and fast paced through most of the book. When I say interesting, I mean REALLY interesting. You see, in the School Of Good, you will find princesses who can’t stop thinking about their beauty and princes who think only about their macho-ness and their princesses.Apart from that, these students will be learning this like Animal Communication, Chivalry, Beautification and various other such topics.
In the School Of Evil, on the other hand, you will find children of the ‘bad guys’ who are ugly and love the negativity of everything. These students would be learning Uglification, Henchmen Training, Curses and Death Traps and the likes. Oh and a wart on your face makes you fearsome!
This book made me laugh out loud at times because of how true these seem in the fairytales we have read! At the same time, it made me realise how society at large is sending out all kinds of wrong messages to children these days.
PACE
The pace was perfect! I finished this book in a day and never once felt like putting it down. The pace stays kinda consistent throughout, but if it does slow down it won’t make the book boring.
CHARACTERS
There are many characters in this book that I love so very much but I will only talk about these two:
Sophie
Holy Moly! She has one of the BEST character developments I have seen in a while. She is evil yes, I didn’t particularly like her throughout the book, but gosh her development was done with such perfection ❤
Throughout the book, my adoration for the development and utter hatred for the character just kept increasing! She was so unbearably, horribly annoying! Yet, I felt very sorry for her. She did what she did simply because she was misguided. Did that make her a bearable character? NO! But I understood where she was coming from.
Agatha
I freaking LOVED her! Her dry wit and humor were such a treat to read! She was snarky, sarcastic and hated everything girly. She liked a lot of dark things but she was more “Good” that anyone else in that book! Unlike the rest, she wasn’t shallow or snobby. Which was beautiful to read. Her character development was also done beautifully but was overshadowed by Sophie’s.
Overall, this book will make you laugh, cry, piss you off and make you think!
Do I recommend it? Hell yeah!
Plot: 4/5
Characters: 4.5/5
Pace: 4.5/5
Overall Rating: 4.5/5
About The Author
He is a writer, film director, and a die-hard tennis player!
The School For Good and Evil debuted on the New York Times Bestseller List, has been translated into 26 languages across six continents, and will soon be a major motion picture from Universal Studios.
Have you read the book?
What did you think about it?
Do you like the cover? I loved it!
Let me know in the comments below! 😀
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Top Ten Tuesday: Ten Bookish Facts About Me
Top Ten Tuesday meme that was originally created by The Broke and the Bookish. This week’s topic:
Ten Bookish Facts About Me
I am a day late, forgive me. I have been so busy! But I love this topic so much I didn’t want to pass up on it. So here goes..
- I didn’t start reading big fat novels till I was 15. And it started with Harry Potter! I remember all those years back being in Landmark with my mom and convincing her to buy me the first three books in the series. And yet…
- I haven’t finished the entire Harry Potter series. I stopped reading after the 5th I haven’t watched the movies either past the 4th one. Because…
- I don’t like watching a movie BEFORE I read the book. There will hardly ever be a movie I watch before I read the book. I believe reading the book makes the story so much better because there is so much detail that movies usually skip.
- I don’t know how many books I have read so far. I wish I did though, I really wish I knew how many books I have read in all these years. I have a Goodreads account but for the longest time, didn’t really bother updating it.
- I ONLY buy physical books once I have read them on my Kindle. I love physical copies, but there are so many books I want to read and so little money. Which is why I prefer buying the Kindle version before I buy the paperback.
- I DO NOT like hardcover. I know a lot of readers love hardcovers, but I prefer either the Kindle version or paperback. Simply because a hardcover is heavy and my arm goes numb faster! No other reason, really.
- I either binge read or don’t read at all. I know, it’s the binge reading that shoves me over to a reading slump but what can I say? I can’t stop reading once I start. I swear I have finished two trilogies and 3 books from another series in just a week’s time. That is a lot of books: p
- I have ‘Always’ tattooed across my ribs. Because that is my favorite quote from all the series I have read! So much is conveyed with just that one word! I wish to love my SO the same way Snape loved Lilly ❤
- I usually read before bed. That basically means I am reading till the wee hours of the morning. Since I started working, the only time I have to read is before and in bed. Maybe that’s why I have turned into a night owl this past year.
- I ALWAYS smell my books. The moment I have them in my hands, I can’t stop grinning and smelling the pages.
What do we have in common?
And what are some of bookish facts about you?
Talk to me, you know I love it!
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May Wrap Up + Book Haul
May was a bad month for me personally speaking! Blogging last week was tough, if you guys noticed I wasn’t around much. I am also drowned in work and get so tired at the end of the day, writing for the blog becomes difficult. Though, I have read a lot of books.
I am hoping that June is much better. So I am hoping to get some more posts up and work some ideas I have for the blog. Without further ado, let’s get into it!
Books Read
Book Haul
ARC’s
Bought
Giveaway Win
I won this book from Armchair BEA
Phew! Those are a lot of books! And all I read were four book! :p
Harry Potter is mine!!! Yaay! I have been saving up for the book set since ages!
Personal
I am starting Uni again in the month of August and I have made up my mind to enjoy as much as I can with my friends and family. With that in mind, I went to Lonavala for a trip with a few friends to celebrate a birthday! I don’t have a lot of pictures since I was so busy enjoying myself. Next time, I promise I will!
We stayed for 3 days in this huge farmhouse with lots of food, games and dancing! It was a lot of fun.
How many books did you buy/get in May?
Have you read any of them above?
Let me know in the comments below. 😀
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Book Review: The Big Interview by Libby Kirsch
28 Blog Post Ideas For Book Bloggers
Blogging is a lot of fun, but it can get repetitive. I know, I struggle with coming up with interesting blog topics that are not book reviews. Therefore, to help other bloggers who are/might struggle I have listed out 28 blog post ideas.
1. Open Letter (to a character, an author, the blogging community etc)
2. Participate in tags
3. Blogger Interviews
4. Memes
5. List reasons why you love reading
6. Author Interviews
7. Create infographics
8. Start discussion posts
9. List different things you learned from a book
10. Create how-to posts (both specific step-to-step and generic posts)
11. Create a beginner’s guide to something
12. Round up your favorite blogs or websites
13. Make a list of something (like this one)
14. Have someone write a guest post for your blog
15. Write about things you wished you had done differently
16. Write a letter to your future self
17. Make a post full of GIFs
18. Product Review
19. Share quotes
20. Collaborate with other bloggers
21. Get Personal
22. Run a contest on your blog
23. Write about how to use Twitter and Facebook, but apply it to people in your niche.
24. Showcase the best comments that you receive
25. Write out your guest post guidelines
26. Make a list of good authors/bloggers to follow on Twitter
27. Compile a list of frequently asked questions
28. List random facts about you
Are there other ideas I should add to the list?
What is your favorite kind of posts apart from book reviews?
Let me know in the comments below!
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Book Review: The Selection by Kiera Cass
I have decided to change the way I review. I like how this format gives me more room to talk about the book. I will try my best to leave the reviews spoiler-less. If there are spoilers, I will make sure to mention that.
Title: The Selection
Author: Kiera Cass
Genre: Fantasy, Young-adult fiction
Series: Book 1 in a series
Publisher: Harper Collins
Publication Date: April 24, 2012
Synopsis:
For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape the life laid out for them since birth. To be swept up in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. To live in a palace and compete for the heart of gorgeous Prince Maxon.
But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her. Leaving her home to enter a fierce competition for a crown she doesn’t want. Living in a palace that is constantly threatened by violent rebel attacks.
Then America meets Prince Maxon. Gradually, she starts to question all the plans she’s made for herself—and realizes that the life she’s always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined.
How did I get this book: Bought
Format: Kindle Edition
My Review:
I know I am far too late to when it comes to this book or series for that matter. I read mixed reviews about it when I first came into the market. Yet, it never made me want to read it. With the recent release of The Crown, I was intrigued enough to read the series. Thank god I did, I didn’t know what I was missing out on!
Plot
The plot was really addictive. I finished the book in a day and a half! I kept looking for a place to stop but that never happened. Every chapter left me wanting more. Everything from America’s life before The Selection, to her life in the palace, her relationship with Prince Maxon, the other girls, her state of mind with both men in her life (Prince Maxon and Aspen); everything led to my need to know more.
I did see a lot of similarities with The Hunger Games.
- America choosing to be a part of The Selection for the people she loves, just like Katniss.
- Two men fighting for her love similar to Gale and Peeta.
- A group of girls fighting for a guy without all the bloodshed of course.
- Even the maids reminded me of the makeup and hair crew Katniss had.
I still loved the plot though because I realize a lot of books are similar. Ideas are bound to overlap at some point.
Pace
The book started off a little slow but the excitement and the pace increased as America started competing in The Selection. The slow pace, in the beginning, wasn’t off-putting and I really loved all the background that was explained in the first few chapters. The reason for why she didn’t want to be a part of The Selection was something I could relate to. Not because I became a Princess or anything (I wish I was, though) but because I understand the uncertainty and fear of leaving a loved one behind ( with me leaving the love of my life behind and all).
Characters
America Singer
Initially, I found the name America Singer really strange but grew to love it over time. Her character was well written and I fell in love with her as the book progressed. There were times I wanted to shake her because he annoyed me so much. But I realized she is a teenager and she was thrown into a world she never wanted to be a part of. Her confusion and indecisiveness were something I grew to understand.
Prince Maxon
This guy is my new boyfriend! I fell in love with him immediately. My love for him has nothing to do with him being a prince or being handsome but because he just so imperfectly perfect! His awkwardness was so refreshing and His elegance was so down to earth! This character was written beautifully, the mix of awkwardness and elegance was so lovely to read. The friendship between him and America and the way they slowly fell in love with each other was so different from what I usually read.
Aspen
Well, what do I say about this guy? He was an equally well-written character. The love he has for America and the way he kisses her are what I want for myself. What I didn’t like, yet still understand is how he pushed America into The Selection but didn’t like when she did start falling for Maxon. Even with that element, I am so glad the author didn’t push the same old “love triangle”. My patience for love triangles is wearing thin.
Overall, this is one of those ‘feel-good’ books.
Do I recommend it? Hell yeah!
Plot: 4/5
Characters: 3.5/5
Pace: 3.5/5
Overall Rating: 4/5
About The Author
Kiera Cass graduated from Radford University with a B.S. in History. She grew up in South Carolina and lives with her husband and two kids in Christiansburg, Virginia. She is also a #1 New York Times bestseller.
Just like me, she loves office supplies and desserts!
Have you read the book?
What are your thoughts?
Do you like this new review style?
Let me know in the comments below!
I love talking to you guys 😀
Fervently Curious 