Desirae Clark's Blog, page 6

2018 Was Not My Reading Year

I’ve read approximately 9 books this year, which was a massive downfall compared to the 60 books I’ve finished the year before. It’s no secret that 2018 hasn’t been exactly easy for me but I’m trying to make the best of it. 

Things in life have been all over the place and I’ve said so multiple times across my social medias. Due to the chaos, I wasn’t much on my blog, my bookstagram or my other social medias. My Wattpad has been on hiatus most of the year, especially after I finished writing Entangled. 

In truth, I had lost the desire to read because I had lost the will to do anything. I was hit by a wave of depression and even when I had time to do things, I didn’t have the energy to. My writing took a backseat and living from day to day had become a priority for me. 

Another thing that massively influenced my way of living was the fact that my taste in books drastically changed. I started by reading Young Adult books with cliche bad boys and different twists to them and ended with Fantasy, New Adult and books about witches. 

Having read so many books of the same genre started to become boring and everything I was reading started to become predictable and worn out. I was craving something new, but nothing was ever good enough. In truth, I changed so much in a year that my newly acquired taste was something I was still trying to explore.

Maybe it’s time for me to read things more mature such as Outlander or A Discovery of Witches. That’s the genre I’ve been craving recently, but at the same time, I still want something lighter and easier to read. 

I also had a job for most of the year which limited my reading time so I focused my attention to things like writing, creating, music or watching TV shows. Perhaps not the smartest idea, the latter one, but it occupied my mind and helped me forget things for a while. 

I am trying to find a new job that I’ll hopefully enjoy and will give me motivation, rather than slow me down. 

For 2019, I hope to focus on writing new books, edit Entangled and read at least 30 published books and 30 Wattpad books. I also want to be more active on my Bookstagram. Gods know I’ve been neglecting it.

My year hasn’t been that great but hopefully yours has been better. How many books have you managed to read?

Best of luck,

Arden Hall

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The Story Behind My Wattpad Success

Hello there.

I’m Arden Hall, previously known as Desirae Clark, author of My Bad Boy Neighbor and Player’s Game among other books. I’ve decided to write this post because it’s been highly requested and also because I wanted to celebrate the success one of my books had achieved recently. Entangled reached 3 million reads which is crazy and I still cannot fathom how dedicated my readers are.

So, to start this off, I have to say I’ve had more luck than most people who write on Wattpad. I reached online fame faster than most of my friends and it’s oftentimes less deserved. The quality of their books is far better than mine was in the beginning.

I was first introduced to Wattpad in 2012. I was a fanfiction writer on fanfiction.net where you can still find my work under a different username and a different name (yet you won’t know it’s me because I give no indication that is my account). Back then, I had received so much success, with my work being highly read by other readers and updates were requested more often than they are now that I write on Wattpad.

I was trying to find new people to follow and new works to read when I stumbled upon a writer whose name I don’t recall. She had linked her Wattpad profile in her bio, urging her readers to connect with her there as well.

I checked it out but quickly realized I wasn’t a fan of its layout and didn’t understand how Wattpad worked. Not only that, I hadn’t been that motivated to start writing my own books. Despite creating an account, I quickly abandoned it and forgot about it completely.

Two years later, I transferred schools and had to repeat my first year of high school. I was highly unmotivated and craved to have my voice heard. I somehow came upon Wattpad again and this time had enough time, energy and a better understanding of how it worked. It had recently been updated as well, making it easier for me to start a project that took less than 3 months to complete.

Here’s how it all went down.

I first started off as a reader on Wattpad. I read books that caught my attention and quickly developed a taste for books that involved cliche factors like bad boys and good girls. I was only 15 back then and didn’t have a realistic outlook on life. These stories filled my dreams and gave me hope that maybe my life will become as interesting one day.

Once I realized what I wanted to write and what story I wanted to tell, I couldn’t help myself and immediately dove into storytelling. I had a general idea of the plot, the hook and I knew exactly how it would end. The book I’m talking about is My Bad Boy Neighbor.

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It was really important to me that I stayed true to myself and wrote some of my experiences into the book. I wanted my voice to be heard.

And that’s how it started.

During my time on Wattpad, I compared myself to other authors. And by that, I mean that I compared what they did to help promote their books or reach more people.

I realized they had these 4 things:

a beautiful cover and maybe even a theme
great grammar in books
consistent updates
good hashtags

These three things are still the key to success on Wattpad. Most people think that it’s important to promote yourself on other people’s profiles or asking people to read your books. It’s not.

What’s also important is that you’re engaging with your readers, you’re kind and try to find friends who will keep you motivated. It’s better to write when you have other people to encourage you and share your passion.

You can join clubs on Wattpad and grow your audience by making more friends, you can enter your book to win a Watty Award (Wattpad’s official awards which help promote promising writers ontheir road to success) and you can tag your book for a chance to get it Featured.

There’s another thing to keep in mind if you’re from the US. You can enter contests and maybe even get your work promoted by Wattpad.

What I did was simply sit down, try to update as much as I could and waited patiently for the reads to pile up. Somehow, I won a Watty Award and got a publishing deal.

A lot of people also ask me if I earn money by writing on Wattpad. The answer is no. I would love to earn money by writing but the only ones who earn money, to my knowledge, are those who are taking part in Wattpad’s programs such as Wattpad Stars or Wattpad Futures.

I’m not a part of any of those programs despite the fact that it’s my dream to be a Wattpad Star. Maybe one day.

If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask me in the comments and I’ll either reply or make another blog post about it.

If you have any suggestions on what you want me to write next, leave a comment and I’ll see what I can do.

Have a pleasant Sunday,

Arden

 

Contact me: 

Email: theardenhall@gmail.com

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Why Wintergirls Should Be On Your Reading List – A Book Review

Hello fellow readers!

This review might be messy and all over the place – but bear with me on this one.

I haven’t written a review in well over two years now (if you could even call them reviews). It’s because I never knew how much to say or how much to leave out. It’s all a big mystery to me. But here I am, making an effort.

To start things off, I want to tell you about the book that inspired this review.

Wintergirls was written by Laurie Halse Anderson, a writer so brilliant that made me fall in love with it immediately.

She used her words to express even the most difficult emotions yet did it in a manner that would make sense even to those who haven’t struggled with them. She shed a light on a really difficult topic not a lot of people have guts to speak about – anorexia.

Before I say anything else, here’s the Goodreads description:

Lia and Cassie are best friends, wintergirls frozen in matchstick bodies, competitors in a deadly contest to see who can be the skinniest. But what comes after size zero and size double-zero? When Cassie succumbs to the demons within, Lia feels she is being haunted by her friend’s restless spirit.

The story starts with Cassie’s death and Lia finding out about it. We are pulled right into the world where nothing and everything makes sense. Where emotions are bland and vibrant at the same time. Where time stops and runs yet all we can do is sit and observe. Suspended and helpless as Lia’s struggles become overwhelming.

With the death of her best friend, the recovery Lia started to make – after being admitted twice and then moving to her father’s house – slowly starts to disappear. The tragic news pushes her overboard and she starts to relapse. Because Lia has a secret that nobody knows about and is slowly eating her alive.

She hides the truth and hides her actions, trying to push everybody away because she feels so much and it hurts. She doesn’t want to face the fact Cassie’s gone and Lia was the only one who could’ve helped her. Who could’ve saved her. If only she picked up the damn phone.

The guilt and despair, her family’s actions and also their negligence tear her apart day by day.

The only thing everybody but her seems to be aware of is: She has a choice. To live and face the pain. Or to die and cause pain.

Why is this a book most people – if not everybody – should have on their reading list?

I have many reasons that I can’t quite put in words. I mean, I’ll try my best but you’ll know what I mean when you finish it.

Wintergirls shows the cold, hard truth about eating disorders. They’re not fabulous and they’re most certainly not pretty. Eating disorders are painful, messy and have oftentimes something to do with mental health or family relationships.

If you have or are recovering from anorexia, I advise you to reconsider reading this book or read it with caution.

For me, it took quite a few months and I struggled with it at first. It was hard mainly because I could relate to the main character in so many ways and I felt what she was feeling. It didn’t trigger me – because I am recovering from an eating disorder and sometimes still struggle – but it did make it hard to read. Because the truth is hard to hear and even harder to acknowledge.

The thing about Wintergirls is that Laurie Halse Anderson did not glorify the struggles. Lia knew what was happening to her. She knew how her disorder affected her body but she also felt the way she did and couldn’t help herself – didn’t really know how to.

And that’s why I love this book so much. As hard as it was for me to read it, it was also helpful. It made me really, truly realize that to recover, you have to work on yourself and your mental health. You have to want to live. You have to be present in your life and be happy for the little things.

Wintergirls made me want to live my life.

Not many books can have that effect. But when they do, you have to appreciate them for it.

The story grips you like a ghost of your dead best friend, the plot thickens like a good book and your emotions run deep.

“What’s going to happen to this girl?”

You might wonder that throughout the entire book. You might want to give Lia a big hug and just hold her – because you can feel what she’s feeling. That is how good this book is written. You can feel everything and you just want to help. Do something. It’s not too late until it is.

As you already figured out, I can’t really say why people should read it, but I know they should. It’s a feeling you get when you finish a good book and want to share it with someone else.

Written by Desirae Clark

If you’re still uncertain, this is the review I want you to read that will change your mind:

Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson

Add to Goodreads

CHECK OUT THE BOOK HERE.


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Buying Books vs Going to the Library

Non-committed readers (that’s what I’m going to call the people who are going to the library, at least in my country) are always looking at me like I’m the craziest person who has ever lived when I tell them I prefer to buy books than going to the library.

Questions that usually follow are along the lines of don’t you like used books or do you read those books only once or do you re-read them and wouldn’t it be better to spend all that money on stuff you might actually need, etc.

Now let me give you my actual reasons for buying books, besides them looking damn good on my shelves and making me feel better every time I glance at them.

I don’t go to the library, because I like taking my sweet time reading a book. Sometimes I’d read it in a day, sometimes in a week and other times I’d need a whole month. If I’d go to the library, I’d feel pressured to finish in a deadline they gave me to return a book. Don’t get me wrong, I have nothing against that deadline otherwise people would probably keep borrowed books at home indefinitely. It just isn’t my cup of tea.

Second reason is that I prefer to read books in the language they were written, which is usually English, but our library mostly has books that have been translated into Slovenian language. The books they do have in English are hundred years old and not interesting to me at all.

Third reason is that even if I would read books in Slovenian, which sometimes I do, some books don’t even get translated. For example, I never would have read Throne of Glass or any other book by Sarah J. Maas or Jennifer L. Armentrout. Now that I think about it, I don’t think even Rick Riordan’s books are translated into Slovenian. So now you see how much I would miss out on if I’d go to the library. They don’t have those books there in English or in Slovenian language. Even if I would wait for them to be translated, it would take ages and I would miss on so many good books in the meantime. Besides, I am reading faster in English than I do in Slovenian, which is interesting considering that Slovenian is my first language.

When I was a kid, I was going to the library. I’ve been there every day, most of the day. I’ve read most of the books on my level and then there weren’t any books for me to read, at least the ones that I liked. After that I stopped going to the library and stopped reading all together, until I bought my first book in 2012 – The Hunger Games series. Same goes for THG series, when I started reading it, books weren’t translated yet, and they were unable to obtain in a library.

If I haven’t bought those books that day, I probably would never start reading again. I’d be a completely different person. Books are a part of me and I don’t regret it one bit for buying so many of them.

To answer another question that I get from non-committed readers, yes, I do re-read books. Sometimes not even whole books but only scenes I liked. A lot of times I open a book I’ve read on impulse and end up re-reading it completely. Some books have been read only once, while others are barely keeping its pages together for being used so much.

Just so I won’t get any angry comments or something, I would like to further define the term non-committed readers. For me, those are the people who open a book or two once a year, usually during summer vacations. If I’d be like that, I wouldn’t buy books as well and I’d be considering it a waste of time and money, but since I am not like that and try to read at least 5 books a month, well … I think you can see the difference yourself.

Another thing, I don’t mind if a book is used. I go into bookstores that sell used books all the time, so I don’t have any kind of complex of having to be the first person to open a copy of a certain book. I just really don’t like to be pressured to finish it in a predetermined amount of time.

Finishing sentence about the dilemma in the title would go something like this:

Buying books is a definite must for me, at least when reading in my own free time is concerned. But when I have to read something for school, or need some special book to help me write an essay or a project, then I am going to go to the library. No way, I’d be reading those books more than once, so I wouldn’t even consider buying them.

What about you? Are you a library person or a book hoarder?

Post by Anya Blackhart-Clark

If you have any suggestions on blog posts or any questions at all, let me know. You can contact me on Instagram (anyablackhartclark) or send me an e-mail (anyablackhartclark@gmail.com).

Audiobooks – Yes or No?

As a traditional person, as far as books are concerned, I was always highly against audiobooks. I believed that in order to read a book you have to take some time, sit down, pick up your favorite paperback or hardback (no kindle, no whatever has a screen nonsense) and read.

Before you stop reading this post, I feel obligated to tell you that I was indeed very wrong. (That’s something you won’t get me to admit often.)

As my life got busy – school, 2-3 jobs with different and highly consuming schedule, maintaining friendships by hanging out with friends and going out, spending time with family, etc. – I found myself reading less and less. Whatever spare time I had I was too tired to open a book so I put on a TV show or a movie instead.

You have to understand the difference between how the TV show/movies and books made me feel. When I finished a season of a show or watched a movie, I felt as if I’ve wasted a lot of hours of my life. But when I finished a book, I felt strangely productive. It made me feel good about myself, made me feel like I achieved something just by finishing it, by sticking with it.

I can only imagine how amazing I’ll feel once I finish writing my own book. If it will feel at least half as amazing as I do when I finish and/or post a chapter on Wattpad… Considering what an impact a finished book could have on me, on my life, on my mental health… I guess we’ll have to see. Hopefully, #NaNoWriMo will take me halfway there. (Add me as a writing buddy @Ancchy)

To return back to topic at hand, because life happened I didn’t get to read as many books as I’d like. Still though I found myself having lots of time, especially when I was walking to and from work/school or driving home once a month (a bit less than 2 hour drive), but I spent all that time listening to music instead. Don’t get me wrong, I love music, I don’t think there goes a day by when you don’t see me walking around with headphones in my ear, music blasting through them. But that too made me feel incomplete. I tend to drift off in my mind when I listen to music, and that was why I felt like I had too much spare time on my hands that I needed to fill in some way.

The thing you have to understand about me is that I not only have to but need to multitask. I have to feel productive, I have to feel like I am doing something with my life even in those spare minutes. It’s just the way I am.

That was why I reconsidered listening to audiobooks. It can’t be that difficult, right? I mean, I did listen to recorded stories when I was a kid…

My main concern about audiobooks was language. English isn’t my first language and that was why I felt self-conscious, especially about talking in it. It wasn’t that I wouldn’t understood what would be said, it was more like that I was afraid I would miss something that would be important to the book, to the story. That was why I first started listening to the books I’ve already read. It made me feel better knowing that it wouldn’t matter if I’d missed some important detail because I already knew the story.

I listened through quite a lot of re-reads. Then I got tired of it and finally decided that I’m ready to make the next step – to listen to something new.

The new problem that made me doubt myself was fear from not being present. I was afraid that I would put on an audiobook, listen for a minute or two and then my mind would drift off to some other things. Yes, it did happen. But I managed to fix that problem as well. Because my mind is obsessed with multitasking, I just needed to occupy it a bit more. That was why I decided to listen to audiobooks at 1.5/1.75/2 speed. It made reader’s breathing and silence almost unnoticeable thus not allowing my mind to steer off. I was fully present throughout the whole story and didn’t miss a thing.

To show you an example how many spare minutes of walking and driving I actually have, I’m going to tell you how many books I’ve finished in October only by listening to audiobooks. The number is 9. How many books I’ve read old school style? 1.

I’m sure you can imagine how great that number makes me feel. To finish that many books in a month while leading an active social life… Not bad, I’d say.

There is also another important reason why I managed to read so many – I’ve deleted all TV shows and movies from my computer. That was mainly because of what I learned at #Wattcon2017 and it made me rethink my life, my life’s decisions etc. But that is another story, maybe another blog post. (If you want me to write about my Wattcon experience message me on Wattpad @Ancchy or on Instagram @anyablackhartclark).

To conclude this post in one sentence, audiobooks are a definite yes and a must in our busy lifestyle.

Post by Anya Blackhart-Clark

Books I’ve Read On My 2 Week Summer Vacation

Every year my family goes to Croatia for Summer holidays. This year my sister and I went quite a bit overboard with book packing. I won’t even try to list all the books we’ve took with us because it would take at least three moderately long posts.

Instead, I decided to list the books I did manage to read, and the books my sister has read during our time off.

But before I start, let me explain how we pick which book to read next and why we don’t finish the series while on vacation and how come we pick so many different genres to read one after another.

It’s become our tradition to randomly select the book we read next. Kind of like Tributes in The Hunger Games were selected. We put down the name of every book/series we have with us and then we continue to draw. When we finish the book that was chosen, we simply draw the next one and so on. Usually, we don’t continue the series right after we finish the book, but it does happen occasionally, especially if the book ended with an unbearable cliffhanger.

I managed to read 7 books, which I would count as quite an accomplishment. Especially, with the hyperactive company of people I was hanging out there.

THE SHADOWHUNTER’S CODEX by Cassandra Clare and Joshua Lewis

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In short, TSC is basically a study book about Shadowhunter’s world.

Short review

A must read for real Shadowhunters!

It was quite educational and made me think at length about TMI and TID. Will definitely have to re-read the rest of the books sometime soon!

Much more interesting than for example Fantastic Beasts novella.

Rating: 5/5

CURSED by Jennifer L. Armentrout



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Dying sucks

…and high school senior Ember McWilliams knows firsthand.

After a fatal car accident, her gifted little sister brought her back. Now anything Ember touches dies. And that, well, really blows.

Ember operates on a no-touch policy with all living things–including boys. When Hayden Cromwell shows up, quoting Oscar Wilde and claiming her curse is a gift, she thinks he’s a crazed cutie. But when he tells her he can help control it, she’s more than interested. There’s just one catch: Ember has to trust Hayden’s adopted father, a man she’s sure has sinister reasons for collecting children whose abilities even weird her out. However, she’s willing to do anything to hold her sister’s hand again. And hell, she’d also like to be able to kiss Hayden. Who wouldn’t?

But when Ember learns the accident that turned her into a freak may not’ve been an accident at all, she’s not sure who to trust. Someone wanted her dead, and the closer she gets to the truth, the closer she is to losing not only her heart, but her life.

For real this time.

Short review

When it comes to JLA you really can’t trust us because we are both die hard fans of hers and she is our BUY WITHOUT A SECOND THOUGHT/NO NEED TO KNOW THE SYNOPSIS kind of author. So it’s no real surprise that the review is even more subjective than usual.

This book was really awesome. It reminded me once again why JLA is by far one of my favorite authors. It’s an in-one-sitting kind of read. Go check it out!

Rating: 5/5

SOUNDLESS by Richelle Mead
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In a village without sound…

For as long as Fei can remember, no one in her village has been able to hear. Rocky terrain and frequent avalanches make it impossible to leave the village, so Fei and her people are at the mercy of a zipline that carries food up the treacherous cliffs from Beiguo, a mysterious faraway kingdom.

When villagers begin to lose their sight, deliveries from the zipline shrink. Many go hungry. Fei and all the people she loves are plunged into crisis, with nothing to look forward to but darkness and starvation.

One girl hears a call to action…

Until one night, Fei is awoken by a searing noise. Sound becomes her weapon.

She sets out to uncover what’s happened to her and to fight the dangers threatening her village. A handsome miner with a revolutionary spirit accompanies Fei on her quest, bringing with him new risks and the possibility of romance. They embark on a majestic journey from the peak of their jagged mountain village to the valley of Beiguo, where a startling truth will change their lives forever…

And unlocks a power that will save her people.

Short review

Since Vampire Academy and Bloodlines I’ve been a huge fan of Mead’s. I had high expectations for this book, but since it was a standalone and a short one at that, I should have known better. Don’t get me wrong, it wasn’t my favorite but it was an easy and quite enjoyable read. Also, it was a bit different from what I’m used to, which is also a plus.

Rating: 3/5

TEXTROVERT by Lindsey Summers
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Can you fall in ♥ with someone you’ve never met?

Summer is nearly over and Keeley is about to start her senior year when disaster strikes: she picks up the wrong cell phone by mistake.

Why Book Hangovers Are a Pain In The Ass

Hello fellow bloggers!

Desirae here. Long time no see, huh? How’s life, you ask?

Well, let me answer that for you. My life is absolutely boring. Stressful and exhausting, but boring nonetheless. For the past four months, I’ve been on book deprivation. For some unknown reason, I fell into a book slump I can’t seem to get out of. No book blurb has caught my attention enough for me to pick up and start reading. Not yet, anyway.

So I find myself here, writing to you, describing the pain of being away from fictional universes and stories that are (and always will be) beyond better from the reality. I desperately need an escape!

I want to dive into a world that will sweep me off my feet and find my passion for reading once more. I know I want to do it, I just can’t seem to start. Do you have any suggestions as to what books I should read? I prefer Fantasy, Young Adult fiction books but I also love something summer-ish (such as Second Chance Summer by Morgan Matson). I enjoy reading apocalyptic books as well (I liked The 5th Wave – wish I could say the same for the second book, loved The Rain by Virginia Bergin).

So yeah, leave your suggestions in the comments

February TBR

On average I read 5 books per month so I am going to be listing 5 books as well.

In case you would rather watch a TBR YouTube video, you can click HERE.

1. REBELLION (The 100, #4) by Kass Morgan

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Centuries after nuclear war destroyed our planet, humanity struggles to rebuild. It’s been a month since the dropships landed and the Colonists joined the Hundred on the ground. The teens, once branded juvenile delinquents, are now leaders among their people.

The Colonists and the Earthborns are celebrating their first holiday together when, to everyone’s horror, they’re attacked by a group of strangers whose unusual battle cries fill the air. The newcomers kill scores of people, seize prisoners, and pillage crucial supplies. When hotheaded Bellamy and his analytical girlfriend Clarke discover that Wells, Octavia and Glass have been captured, they vow to get them back at all costs. But as they go after their new enemies, Bellamy and Clarke find themselves increasingly at odds, unable to agree on a plan to save their friends.

Meanwhile, Wells, Octavia, and Glass are being slowly brainwashed by their captors, religious fanatics with one goal: to grow their ranks and “heal” the war-ravaged planet… by eliminating everyone else on it.

But centuries of radiation exposure have taken their toll, forcing the cult to take drastic steps to survive. And unless the rescue party arrives soon, the teen captives will face a fate more terrifying than anything they could imagine. In this thrilling fourth installment, the hundred fight to protect the people they love on the dangerous planet they always dreamed of calling home.

I’ve actually finished this book 2 days ago and absolutely loved it.

2. WARBREAKER (Warbreaker, #1) by Brandon Sanderson

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This is the story of two sisters, who happen to be princesses. Theirs is a world in which those who die in glory return as gods to live confined to a pantheon in Hallandren’s capital city. A world transformed by a power based on an essence known as breath. Using magic is arduous as breath can only be collected one unit at a time.

This book was loaned to me by a friend who couldn’t stop talking about it. I have a policy to read loaned books first, because I like to return them as soon as possible.

I am 45 pages in and so far it looks promising.

3. NORTHANGER ABBEY by Jane Austen

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The story’s heroine is Catherine Morland, an innocent seventeen-year-old woman from a country parsonage. While spending a few weeks in Bath with a family friend, Catherine meets and falls in love with Henry Tilney, who invites her to visit his family estate, Northanger Abbey. Once there, Catherine, a great reader of Gothic thrillers, lets the shadowy atmosphere of the old mansion fill her mind with terrible suspicions. What is the mystery surrounding the death of Henry’s mother? Is the family concealing a terrible secret within the elegant rooms of the Abbey? Can she trust Henry, or is he part of an evil conspiracy? Catherine finds dreadful portents in the most prosaic events, until Henry persuades her to see the peril in confusing life with art.

I am reading this for my Gilmore Girls Reading Challenge.

4. EMMA by Jane Austen

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Beautiful, clever, rich – and single – Emma Woodhouse is perfectly content with her life and sees no need for either love or marriage. Nothing, however, delights her more than interfering in the romantic lives of others. But when she ignores the warnings of her good friend Mr. Knightley and attempts to arrange a suitable match for her protegee Harriet Smith, her carefully laid plans soon unravel and have consequences that she never expected. With its imperfect but charming heroine and its witty and subtle exploration of relationships, Emma is often seen as Jane Austen’s most flawless work.

Another book from Gilmore Girls Reading Challenge because I haven’t read any last month.

5. THE FEVER CODE (The Maze Runner, #0.6) by James Dashner

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Once there was a world’s end.

The forests burned, the lakes and rivers dried up, and the oceans swelled.

Then came a plague, and fever spread across the globe. Families died, violence reigned, and man killed man.

Next came WICKED, who were looking for an answer. And then they found the perfect boy.

The boy’s name was Thomas, and Thomas built a maze.

Now there are secrets.

There are lies.

And there are loyalties history could never have foreseen.

This is the story of that boy, Thomas, and how he built a maze that only he could tear down.

All will be revealed.

I am really excited about this one. Time to see how it all began!

Do you like my list? Have you read any of these books? Which books are you reading this month?

Post written by Anya Blackhart-Clark

Wrap Up – January 2017

It wasn’t the best but still a solid beginning of the year as far as it concerns reading. I’ve read 5 books this month. However, sadly I hadn’t managed to read a book from Gilmore Girls Reading Challenge but I will try to read one more this month. Fingers crossed! How much books have you read?

1. KITTY HAWK AND THE CURSE OF THE YUKON GOLD (Kitty Hawk Flying Detective Agency, #1) by Iain Reading

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Kitty Hawk and the Curse of the Yukon Gold is the thrilling first installment in a new series of adventure mystery stories that are one part travel, one part history and five parts adventure. This first book of the Kitty Hawk Flying Detective Agency Series introduces Kitty Hawk, an intrepid teenage pilot with her own De Havilland Beaver seaplane and a nose for mystery and intrigue. A cross between Amelia Earhart, Nancy Drew and Pippi Longstocking, Kitty is a quirky young heroine with boundless curiosity and a knack for getting herself into all kinds of precarious situations.

After leaving her home in the western Canadian fishing village of Tofino to spend the summer in Alaska studying humpback whales Kitty finds herself caught up in an unforgettable adventure involving stolen gold, devious criminals, ghostly shipwrecks, and bone-chilling curses. Kitty’s adventure begins with the lingering mystery of a sunken ship called the Clara Nevada and as the plot continues to unfold this spirited story will have armchair explorers and amateur detectives alike anxiously following every twist and turn as they are swept along through the history of the Klondike Gold Rush to a suspenseful final climatic chase across the rugged terrain of Canada’s Yukon, the harsh land made famous in the stories and poems of such writers as Jack London, Robert Service and Pierre Berton. It is a riveting tale that brings to glorious life the landscape and history of Alaska’s inside passage and Canada’s Yukon, as Kitty is caught up in an epic mystery set against the backdrop of the scenery of the Klondike Gold Rush.

Kitty Hawk and the Curse of the Yukon Gold is a perfect book to fire the imagination of readers of all ages. Filled with fascinating and highly Google-able locations and history this book will inspire anyone to learn and experience more for themselves as Kitty prepares for her next adventure – flying around the world!

We’ve been sent this book in exchange for an honest review, which I’ve written HERE.

My Rating: 3.5/5

2. THE BLUE MOON NARTHEX (Karmanic Sovereign Legion, #1) by N. J. Donner

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The balance of good and evil has been left in the hands of a thirteen year old…

Since the beginning of time, Karmanic matter worked silently and unassisted keeping good and evil in balance, until growing greed in the world meant Karma couldn’t keep up. As World War I rages, the secret Karmanic Sovereign Legion works behind the scenes to help Karma.

A suspicious train accident and an odd stone-shaped object that belonged to his father thrust Cole McCarthy and two schoolmates into the middle of this battle to keep dark forces in check.

With only the powerful stone, a letter, and grandfatherly Norm to guide them, the trio must unravel clues and tap into unknown strengths to discover who Cole’s father really was and keep themselves and those they love safe.

We’ve been sent this book in exchange for an honest review, which I’ve written HERE.

THE BLUE MOON NARTHEX COMES OUT ON FEBRUARY 7TH!

My Rating: 3.5/5

3. MY BAD BOY NEIGHBOR (Good Girl, #1) by Desirae Clark

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There was a good girl, there was a bad boy and there was a bet.

GOOD GIRL, Astrid Bailey was a sixteen year old who never got into trouble and was happy to be hidden behind her brother’s (school’s Golden Boy’s) success.

BAD BOY, Kai Asher liked to make inappropriate sexual innuendos, messed with law and broke girls’ hearts. He was intense, rough, sexy and definitely something. He also just moved in next door.

THE BET was made between the jocks so that one particular player had to try to win over the most hard to get girl.

The bad boy turned out to be not so bad, the good girl turned out to be not so strong and the bet made it possible for their worlds to literally collide when they got into a car accident.

With endless of fights, drama and heartbreak, Astrid was torn between her former crush and her new love.

Disclaimer: I can’t be objective because my sister wrote this book and I am so damn proud, but I will do my best.

This book is incredibly witty and has the most relatable main character I’ve encountered in a while. The book is written intelligently and it’s funny. Story is mostly light but it also touches a couple of dark subjects (grief, anxiety, etc.). I loved the ending and am really looking forward to reading the sequel.

Grab this book, you won’t be sorry!

My Rating: 5/5

4. BEFORE I FALL by Lauren Oliver

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For popular high school senior Samantha Kingston, February 12—”Cupid Day”—should be one big party, a day of valentines and roses and the privileges that come with being at the top of the social pyramid. And it is…until she dies in a terrible accident that night.

However, she still wakes up the next morning. In fact, Sam lives the last day of her life seven times, until she realizes that by making even the slightest changes, she may hold more power than she ever imagined.

I can’t believe it’s over. That can’t be it… Damn…

Even though it left me heartbroken, the ending was perfect.

One of the best stories I’ve read!

My Rating: 5/5

5. THE ALCHEMIST by Paulo Coelho

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Paulo Coelho’s enchanting novel has inspired a devoted following around the world. This story, dazzling in its powerful simplicity and inspiring wisdom, is about an Andalusian shepherd boy named Santiago who travels from his homeland in Spain to the Egyptian desert in search of a treasure buried in the Pyramids. Along the way he meets a Gypsy woman, a man who calls himself king, and an alchemist, all of whom point Santiago in the direction of his quest. No one knows what the treasure is, or if Santiago will be able to surmount the obstacles along the way. But what starts out as a journey to find worldly goods turns into a discovery of the treasure found within. Lush, evocative, and deeply humane, the story of Santiago is an eternal testament to the transforming power of our dreams and the importance of listening to our hearts.

This book definitely needs to be read more than once.

Simple yet great story. We all have much to learn.

My Rating: 5/5

Post written by Anya Blackhart-Clark

Quote of the Day #3

An angel in the house they say will guard your family night and day.