Desirae Clark's Blog, page 8

Review: Asylum by Madeleine Roux

„For sixteen-year-old Dan Crawford, the New Hampshire College Prep program is the chance of a lifetime. Except that when Dan arrives, he finds that the usual summer housing has been closed, forcing students to stay in the crumbling Brookline Dorm – formerly a psychiatric hospital.

As Dan and his new friends Abby and Jordan start exploring Brookline’s twisty halls and hidden basement, they uncover disturbing secrets about what really went on here … secrets that link Dan and his friends to the asylum’s dark past. Because it turn out Brookline was no ordinary psych ward. And there are some secrets that refuse to stay buried.”

This book was a bit different from my usual reads, but still very entertaining. I liked the photographs which made the book more alluring. The structure of the text was good. It made you feel like you are a fast reader because you were sailing through the book with an ease. Format of the book was perfect – easy to hold, small enough to take with you anywhere and different, exciting to the touch.

The book sucked me in with the first chapter. Story began in the first chapter. Sometimes there are so called fill-in chapters to keep the story going, but I didn’t feel like this book had those chapters. With every chapter the book sucked me in deeper.

My favorite character was probably Abby. She had many so called mood swings, but she was still very cool and poised. She was braver than she seemed. I like a strong female character that is not depending on boys, but can get herself out of trouble if she needs to.

Characters at times didn’t feel real to me, but I still liked them well enough to continue. Characters didn’t really develop through the story, but I have high hopes they will through the next books.

Story kept me guessing through the whole book. I had to stop reading a couple of time to form a new theory in my head before continuing. From the very beginning I thought that I had the ending figured out, but it still managed to elude me and caught me by surprise. Story was good. Plot twists were more than satisfying.

My favorite parts of the book had to be the ones that happened in the old wing. I liked the mystery and kept on guessing what they are going to find, what secret they will uncover next. Scary scenes were written quite well for my taste.

The book didn’t make me laugh nor cry. It did, however, make me caught my breath for a sentence or two, before realizing what was going on.

Story had it’s claws deep inside me and I had no will to fight it. I kept on reading even though it was late. I kept saying one more chapter before I finally convinced myself that I will continue the book first thing in the morning, which I did. And I finished it in a heartbeat.

The ending was awesome. I don’t mind if an ending is a cliffhanger, when I have a sequel laying around. But sadly this was not the case here, so I was very frustrated.

At times I was angry at Dan, because he didn’t share his life story with Jordan or Abby … but hey, there are still two more books for him to do so.

I found the theme very interesting and compelling. I love watching horror movies and always wanted to read a horror book. Of course I was not as scared as I am when I watch the movies, but not because I wouldn’t like the story, but because there were no special effects and loud music. A contemporary story happening in an old, remodeled Asylum … I was so excited to start reading it!

I saw a lot of people didn’t like the story. Some didn’t even finish it. I think that is because before they started reading it, they created a little image (expectations) in their head of what the story will be and what will happen, and obviously when things didn’t happen that way and they got frustrated.

Yes, the story wasn’t very scary, but it was still good. They started reading it expecting to get scared as hell, but that didn’t happen. Books are not movies.

Honestly, I don’t know for sure why they didn’t like the book. I just know that I am not sorry for reading it and will be picking up the sequel in the near future.

If you decide to read this book, don’t have high expectations to begin with or don’t have any expectations at all. Let yourself be surprised by the book and it’s story. Read every book with low expectations or none at all and you won’t be disappointed (as much).

I heard a lot of people comparing this book to Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs, but honestly besides the picture, I don’t see any other similarities.

My Rating: 4.5/5

Review by Anya Blackhart-Clark

Check out the book here.

Review: Empire of Storms by Sarah J. Maas

SPOILER FREE (mostly, because I’m not quite sure what counts as a spoiler for some people, so I won’t say it is COMPLETELY spoiler free)

The long path to the throne has only just begun for Aelin Galathynius. Loyalties have been broken and bought, friends have been lost and gained, and those who possess magic find themselves at odds with those who don’t.

As the kingdoms of Erilea fracture around her, enemies must become allies if Aelin is to keep those she loves from falling to the dark forces poised to claim her world. With war looming on all horizons, the only chance for salvation lies in a desperate quest that may mark the end of everything Aelin holds dear.

Aelin’s journey from assassin to queen has entranced millions across the globe, and this fifth installment will leave fans breathless. Will Aelin succeed in keeping her world from splintering, or will it all come crashing down?

In my opinion, every new book from Throne of Glass series so far was better than the last. Before you start reading Empire of Storms, you must read The Assassin’s Blade. It is crucial to the story.

My favorite character this time wasn’t Celaena (from now on Aelin), but surprisingly it was Manon. Despite all of Aelin’s swagger and skill, I think she was a bit soft. Manon on the other hand was full of disdain for everything and everyone. Yes, she was a bit softer than in Queen of Shadows, but there was still something in her scenes that made me want to wish the chapter would never end. Her transformation into the  Crochan Queen and her transformation in behaviour toward our favorite characters was priceless. She was still mean, but she didn’t exactly mean it. She just had a reputation to uphold. Does that make sense?

Sarah J. Maas’ characters have an amazing development. You can see their struggle, feel their sorrow and cheer for their survival. I don’t know why, but I have a feeling that at the end, Sarah will turn into George R. R. Martin and left us all weeping in the corner. Let’s hope that won’t happen, but still …

Aelin is not only Queen of Terrassen, Queen Who Was Promised, but she is also The Queen of deceit. Her secrets are so well guarded that not even her closest companions have a clue they even exist. Of course, her secrets are sooner or later – in this case later – revealed and they make for one hell of a plot twist which will make you gasp with excitement and probably fill your eyes with a couple of tears. Just remember how she managed to plan everything with Arobynn’s fortune without us suspecting anything.

I admire Sarah for connecting ALL books in this one. When you read some of the previous books, there were scenes that I didn’t deem important. Oh, boy, was I wrong. Everything is important. Everything matters. You’ll see what I’m talking about.

Also, I like Sarah’s type of writing and the way she describes the scenes. It makes me feel like I’m there. I remember my sister (Desirae) once saying to me when I was writing, that I have to show, not tell a reader about a scene. That’s how Sarah writes her scenes. She shows, not tells. If you are a writer, you know that this is harder than it sounds.

The book sparked all kinds of emotions in me. Some scenes I was laughing, and other I was crying. Isn’t it amazing how one book can make you feel all those emotions – joy, sadness, anger, fear, … – I call that a masterpiece.

As usual, this is the type of story that grips you from page one and makes you keep turning the pages, until there is none left. I feel sorry for us lot, who have to wait a whole year for her next book. I still have hope that we will survive, even though it will be hard. Especially after the ending like that… I’m sure you feel me.

I would love to write more about the story and it’s characters, but I don’t want to spoil anything for anyone. I am, however, more than happy to talk about the book, so feel free to leave a comment.

I don’t mind a cliffhanger ending, actually I think I like endings like that. But what I don’t like is when a book ends with a cliffhanger and I have to wait for so long before that issue can be resolved.

I know I kept praising Empire of Storms. I tried writing objective review, but what is a point in writing a review if I write it like a robot. Instead, I wrote it from a point of view of a reader and a fangirl. I love Throne of Glass series. It is one of my favorite series ever and it is a MUST HAVE book on a bookshelf. I love Sarah J. Maas and she is one of the authors whose book I buy without even checking what it is about.

I can’t help but compare this series a little to George R. R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire series. Both series are very well thought through, both have a lot of cunning and scheming, both have war, love, friendship and more than I could possibly write without making this review too long. Let me know if you think those series could be compared.

All in all, the book was great… Even more than great, it was a true masterpiece. I have no problem understanding why it was one of the most expecting books this year.

My Rating: 5/5

Post written by Anya Blackhart-Clark

CHECK OUT THE BOOK HERE

Review: An Abundance of Katherines by John Green

“19 Katherines and counting …

When it comes to relationships, Colin Singleton’s type is girls named Katherine. And when it comes to girls named Katherine, Colin is always getting dumped. Nineteen times, to be exact.

On a road trip miles from home, this anagram-happy, washed-up child prodigy has ten thousand dollars in his pocket, a blood-thirsty feral hog on his trail, and an overweight Judge Judy-loving best friend riding shotgun – but no Katherines. Colin is on a mission to prove The Theorem of Underlying Katherine Predictability, which he hopes will predict the future of any relationship, avenge Dumpees everywhere, and finally win him the girl.”

An Abundance of Katherines had my full attention from the start. The story took some time to begin but because of the fast paced writing I didn’t even notice until the very end when you go through it in your mind. The whole book was well thought, intriguing and nicely written. I liked the structure of paragraphs – the perfect length to make it seem like your sailing through the book.

My favorite character was probably Lindsey Lee Wells. Even though she stated that she isn’t real, but is full of crap, she seemed the most real to me. She was never her true self, but took over different personality traits depending on the company she was with. Lindsey was a kind girl who was afraid to show her kindness because she was worried it would make her unpopular again.

I could identify with her character because she wasn’t whining all the time and when the time came, she stood up for herself even if it meant leaving the world she knew and loved behind. Don’t all of us want to be popular in high school? Wouldn’t we be willing to do just about anything to be one of the cool kids? Well, so did Lindsey. No matter who she became when she was with them, she still managed to remember her true self thanks to Colin and Hassan.

Colin was probably the only character that didn’t feel truly real to me. I had a problem identifying with him (probably because I’m no prodigy, but still) and it was difficult to care about him. I didn’t like his self-centered personality and his pathetic moping about Katherines. However, he did manage to win me over at the end and made me cheer for him. Even his anagramming grew on to me. I can’t help but think that this was John Green’s plan all along – for me to dislike him, just so I can get to like him and notice his character development.

Story itself wasn’t quite as interesting as its characters. It didn’t keep me guessing and I didn’t even really care about the town secret. But that didn’t really bother me, because as I said before, it was nicely constructed with interesting characters to lead me through.

The book made me laugh more than once, especially near the end. Story had it’s grip on me and made me turn the pages until I reached the end. I didn’t like the ending, although it was quite satisfying if not fulfilling. I will not lie, I would like to read what happened after.

I am not a big fan of math. Scratch that. I am not a fan of math.

The book was filled with graphs and calculations. At first it bothered me, because I thought I will have to concentrate really hard to get through it. Luckily, I was wrong. Colin did all the work and kept the calculations and explanations away from the story.

The thing that caught my attention were notes at the bottom of the book. At first I started reading them reluctantly because I thought it was math explanation or something like that, but I soon realized it was more than that. And funnier as well. Notes consisted Colin’s thoughts and interesting if maybe a little random real life facts. Notes helped us understand Colin and his way of thinking. It helped us understand how Colin decided which facts weren’t safe to say out loud.

After reading this book, you realize that things are never as simple as it seems or as you want them to be. The story contains a nice lesson. Even the Author’s note was unique and funny.

All in all, I really liked An Abundance of Katherines.

I would recommend this book to everyone who loves John Green.

Funny, young adult, contemprorary and road trip lovers, go read it!

My rating: 3.5/5

SPOILERS AHEAD!

A couple of sentences that caught my attention and made me think.

“… one of his general policies in life was never to do anything standing up that could just as easily be done lying down.”

I like this policy. From now on I will try to follow it as much as I can.

“Prodigies can very quickly learn what other people have already figured out; geniuses discover that which no one has ever previously discovered. Prodigies learn, geniuses do.”

I never understood the difference between prodigies and geniuses but when you put it like that, it seems quite simple.

“What is the point of being alive if you don’t at least try something remarkable?”

I almost put down my book and went out doing something more “productive”, but soon abandoned the thought and returned to reading.

“You can love someone so much, he thought. But you can never love people as much as you can miss them.”

You never know what you have until it’s gone.

“The reading quieted his brain a little.”

Yes, the reading does quiet your brain but only about your real life problems. Instead of thinking about your problems, you start solving his problems. But what’s the point in that if he doesn’t listen to your advice. Damn it, Colin, could you listen to me just once?

“… there’s some people in this world who you can just love and love no matter what.”

Unconditional love…

A couple more (spoilery) thoughts on the book.

Yes, Colin’s love life was pathetic, but so is dating the girl when you are only 2 years old or even counting that as your first girlfriend.

Road trip was a great idea and reminded me of John Green’s other book Paper Towns.

I have to admit that I haven’t expected that Katherine The Great was Katherine (The End) XIX.

As it turns out, Colin had to get out of his home, out of his safe zone to learn about life and himself. He was blaming him for being washed-up child prodigy and was so obsessed with doing something with his life that he forgot to live. Being in Gutshot teached him more than any book could. Life is the greatest teacher of all.

He got into a fight (real fight, with actual punching and kicking), learned to shoot, drank booze, slept in stranger’s house and got over his heartbreak.

Hassan is the funny best friend character. He has a problems of his own, but we don’t get a lot of insight thanks to Colin’s self-centered personality. You can, however, put the pieces together, when Hassan delivers his big speech after he and Colin got into a fight.

Everyone wanted to matter. Some way or another. Even though Lindsey didn’t want to leave Gutshot, she still wanted to be known outside of it. She had different reasons for that as Colin, but wish remained the same – to matter.

Book review by Anya Blackhart-Clark

Check out the book here.

Another Wattpad Milestone

Hello, everybody.

My name is Desirae and I am one of the owners of this blog. A while ago (I think a year or so), I had posted an article about my journey on this website called Wattpad. I had opened up about all my ups and downs I had faced as a writer (more like a teenage girl) and how much writing meant to me.

I had mentioned some pretty big milestones like reaching 1,000 followers on Wattpad, 1 million reads, getting #1 in Teen Fiction and so on.

When I read this in the future, I want to make another note about how far I came just to inspire me a bit more and to just see where I was. You see, now I have:

54,900+ followers,
My Badboy Neighbour has over 18M reads
My Badgirl Roommate reached 5M
Playing Against the Player has almost 4M
Playing Against the Sister reached 1.3M a while ago
On 29th July 2015, MBBN was #1 in Teen Fiction
On 24th November 2015, it won a Watty 2015 Award
I was a Wattpad ambassador
On 7th September 2016, it was #1 again

And as I’m mentioning all these huge and surreal milestones, I have to add yet another one.

You see, on November 27 2016, My Badboy Neighbour is getting published!

And out of everything I have achieved, I still can’t believe I am going to be a published author!

So this was kind of an announcement because I just wanted to share my happiness and excitement with you – whoever is reading this and following me.

I want to thank you for being there – being a part of my life and supporting me. You, the people from all over the world, have been outstanding and your love has motivated me on even the darkest days. I’ve never been so humbled and so emotional just thinking about anything than I am when I think of you and all the opportunities you have given me.

My readers, you’re the best. You are not only my friends but you have become my family. Some of you have been following me from day one and for that, I am grateful.

Each and every one of you is unique and each and every one of you is special. And I will always hold you deep in my heart for you have made my dreams come true and you’ve made me happier and happier with every passing day.

Anyway for those who do not know yet, this is what My Badboy Neighbour is about:

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

GOOD GIRL, Astrid Bailey was a seventeen-year-old who never got into trouble and was suffering from anxiety which made her more than happy to be hidden behind her brother’s success.

BAD BOY, Kai Asher liked to make inappropriate sexual innuendos and broke hearts of many girls. He was intense, rough, sexy and definitely something. He also just moved 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.

With endless of fights, drama, trips to the bookstore, arguments about Oreos and heartbreak, Astrid was on her way to lose her sanity. Or what was left of it anyway.

Here’s the trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=89FFVQ3VrI0&feature=youtu.be

Here’s the full series trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sflCHY0fVpc

And you can find the book here:

https://www.wattpad.com/story/24741255-my-badboy-neighbour-wattys-2015-winner

Post written by Desirae Clark

Wrap Up – October 2016

I’m ashamed to admit that I’ve only read 1 book this month. In my defense, the school just started and I got swarmed with adjusting to new schedule etc. I know that is not good enough excuse, so I can only promise that I’m going to do better. In fact, I already have a plan in motion. That before mentioned plan will also include some changes about blog and the way blog posts are written. Hopefully it will turn things for the better.

Also, stay tuned on update regarding a new reading challenge that starts this month – blog post coming soon!

Now back to the only book I’ve managed to read this month.

Sentinel by Jennifer L. Armentrout

It’s a beautiful day for a war.

As the mortal world slowly slips into chaos of the godly kind, Alexandria Andros must overcome a stunning defeat that has left her shaken and in doubt of their ability to end this war once and for all.

And with all the obstacles between Alex and her happily-ever-after with the swoonworthy Aiden St. Delphi, they must now trust a deadly foe as they travel deep into the Underworld to release one of the most dangerous gods of all time.

In the stunning, action-packed climax to the bestselling Covenant series, Alex must face a terrible choice: the destruction of everything and everyone she holds dear… or the end of herself.

My Rating: 5/5

Post written by Anya Blackhart-Clark

Wrap Up – September 2016

I have read 2 books, both part of the Covenant series by Jennifer L. Armentrout and 2 novellas from the same series.

1. Deity by Jennifer L. Armentrout

History is on repeat, and things didn’t go so well the last time.

Alexandria isn’t sure she’s going to make it to her eighteenth birthday–to her Awakening. A long-forgotten, fanatical order is out to kill her, and if the Council ever discovers what she did in the Catskills, she’s a goner… and so is Aiden.

If that’s not freaky enough, whenever Alex and Seth spend time “training”–which really is just Seth’s code word for some up-close and personal one-on-one time–she ends up with another mark of the Apollyon, which brings her one step closer to Awakening ahead of schedule. Awesome.

But as her birthday draws near, her entire world shatters with a startling revelation and she’s caught between love and Fate. One will do anything to protect her. One has been lying to her since the beginning. Once the gods have revealed themselves, unleashing their wrath, lives will be irrevocably changed… and destroyed.

Those left standing will discover if love is truly greater than Fate…

My Rating: 5/5

2. Apollyon by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Fate isn’t something to mess with… and now, neither is Alex.

Alex has always feared two things: losing herself in the Awakening and being placed on the Elixir. But love has always been stronger than Fate, and Aiden St. Delphi is willing to make war on the gods—and Alex herself—to bring her back.

The gods have killed thousands and could destroy entire cities in their quest to stop Seth from taking Alex’s power and becoming the all-powerful God Killer. But breaking Alex’s connection to Seth isn’t the only problem. There are a few pesky little loopholes in the whole “an Apollyon can’t be killed” theory, and the only person who might know how to stop the destruction has been dead for centuries.

Finding their way past the barriers that guard the Underworld, searching for one soul among countless millions, and then somehow returning will be hard enough. Alex might be able to keep Seth from becoming the God Killer… or she might become the God Killer herself.

My Rating: 5/5

3. Elixir by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Aiden St. Delphi will do anything to save Alex. Even if it means doing the one thing he will never forgive himself for. Even if it means making war against the gods.

My Rating: 5/5

4. One and Only by Jennifer L. Armentrout

A Deacon and Luke story from the Covenant series.

My Rating: 5/5

Written by Anya Blackhart-Clark

Book Haul – September 2016

Millennium series by Stieg Larsson

The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo

Mikael Blomkvist, a once-respected financial journalist, watches his professional life rapidly crumble around him. Prospects appear bleak until an unexpected (and unsettling) offer to resurrect his name is extended by an old-school titan of Swedish industry. The catch—and there’s always a catch—is that Blomkvist must first spend a year researching a mysterious disappearance that has remained unsolved for nearly four decades. With few other options, he accepts and enlists the help of investigator Lisbeth Salander, a misunderstood genius with a cache of authority issues. Little is as it seems in Larsson’s novel, but there is at least one constant: you really don’t want to mess with the girl with the dragon tattoo.

The Girl Who Played With Fire

Mikael Blomkvist, crusading journalist and publisher of the magazine Millennium, has decided to run a story that will expose an extensive sex trafficking operation between Eastern Europe and Sweden, implicating well-known and highly placed members of Swedish society, business, and government.

But he has no idea just how explosive the story will be until, on the eve of publication, the two investigating reporters are murdered. And even more shocking for Blomkvist: the fingerprints found on the murder weapon belong to Lisbeth Salander—the troubled, wise-beyond-her-years genius hacker who came to his aid in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, and who now becomes the focus and fierce heart of The Girl Who Played with Fire.

As Blomkvist, alone in his belief in Salander’s innocence, plunges into an investigation of the slayings, Salander herself is drawn into a murderous hunt in which she is the prey, and which compels her to revisit her dark past in an effort to settle with it once and for all.

The Girl Who Kicked The Hornets’ Nest

The stunning third and final novel in Stieg Larsson’s internationally best-selling trilogy.

Lisbeth Salander – the heart of Larsson’s two previous novels – lies in critical condition, a bullet wound to her head, in the intensive care unit of a Swedish city hospital. She’s fighting for her life in more ways than one: if and when she recovers, she’ll be taken back to Stockholm to stand trial for three murders. With the help of her friend, journalist Mikael Blomkvist, she will not only have to prove her innocence, but also identify and denounce those in authority who have allowed the vulnerable, like herself, to suffer abuse and violence. And, on her own, she will plot revenge – against the man who tried to kill her, and the corrupt government institutions that very nearly destroyed her life.

Once upon a time, she was a victim. Now Salander is fighting back.

REASON FOR BUYING:

These books were on discount on Book Depository and because my sister and I have some kind of a system about who gets some books, this time she owed me and decided to buy these three beauties. To be honest, she got a really good bargain.

The New Hunger by Isaac Marion

The end of the world didn’t happen overnight.

After years of societal breakdowns, wars and quakes and rising tides, humanity was already near the edge. Then came a final blow no one could have expected: all the world’s corpses rising up to make more.

Born into this bleak and bloody landscape, twelve-year-old Julie struggles to hold on to hope as she and her parents drive across the wastelands of America, a nightmarish road trip in search of a new home.

Hungry, lost, and scared, sixteen-year-old Nora finds herself her brother’s sole guardian after her parents abandon them in the not-quite-empty ruins of Seattle.

And in the darkness of a forest, a dead man opens his eyes. Who is he? What is he? With no clues beyond a red tie and the letter “R,” he must unravel the grim mystery of his existence—right after he learns how to think, how to walk, and how to satisfy the monster howling in his belly. The New Hunger is a glimpse of the past and a path to an astonishing future…

REASON FOR BUYING:

I’ve been waiting for this book since Warm Bodies movie came out. After I’ve watched the movie, I’ve read the book and then I was left waiting for this one. I haven’t started it yet, but it looks promising.

Empire of Storms by Sarah J. Maas

The long path to the throne has only just begun for Aelin Galathynius. Loyalties have been broken and bought, friends have been lost and gained, and those who possess magic find themselves at odds with those who don’t.

As the kingdoms of Erilea fracture around her, enemies must become allies if Aelin is to keep those she loves from falling to the dark forces poised to claim her world. With war looming on all horizons, the only chance for salvation lies in a desperate quest that may mark the end of everything Aelin holds dear.

Aelin’s journey from assassin to queen has entranced millions across the globe, and this fifth installment will leave fans breathless. Will Aelin succeed in keeping her world from splintering, or will it all come crashing down?

REASON FOR BUYING:

I don’t think this one needs any explaining. My favorite assassin is back!

Frostfire by Amanda Hocking

Bryn Aven is an outcast among the Kanin, the most powerful of the troll tribes.

Set apart by her heritage and her past, Bryn is a tracker who’s determined to become a respected part of her world. She has just one goal: become a member of the elite King’s Guard to protect the royal family. She’s not going to let anything stand in her way, not even a forbidden romance with her boss Ridley Dresden.

But all her plans for the future are put on hold when Konstantin– a fallen hero she once loved – begins kidnapping changelings. Bryn is sent in to help stop him, but will she lose her heart in the process?

REASON FOR BUYING:

Desirae was reading her books on Wattpad for a while now. We already have a couple of her other books, and this one was a great bargain to get. Desirae can’t wait to read it.

The Murder Complex by Lindsay Cummings

An action-packed, blood-soaked, futuristic debut thriller set in a world where the murder rate is higher than the birthrate. For fans of Moira Young’s Dust Lands series, La Femme Nikita, and the movie Hanna.

Meadow Woodson, a fifteen-year-old girl who has been trained by her father to fight, to kill, and to survive in any situation, lives with her family on a houseboat in Florida. The state is controlled by The Murder Complex, an organization that tracks the population with precision.

The plot starts to thicken when Meadow meets Zephyr James, who is—although he doesn’t know it—one of the MC’s programmed assassins. Is their meeting a coincidence? Destiny? Or part of a terrifying strategy? And will Zephyr keep Meadow from discovering the haunting truth about her family?

Action-packed, blood-soaked, and chilling, this is a dark and compelling debut novel by Lindsay Cummings.

REASON FOR BUYING:

Another long time love of Desirae’s. We are both huge fans of Lindsay’s, but sadly haven’t read her book yet. We are working on fixing that.

Written by Anya Blackhart-Clark.

Let us know in the comments which book is your favorite from this month’s book haul.

Top 5 Wednesday: Books You Want to See as TV Shows

1. Covenant series by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Who wouldn’t want to see Alex, Aiden and Seth on small screens?

This series has a sassy female character, overprotective hot guy and a badass Apollyon.

I would love to see their awesome fight scenes and I love Greek Mythology so that’s a plus as well.

2. Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead

I would love it if they gave this book series another chance. The movie was a flop because it was rushed. I’m positive a TV show would do much better.

And after that, they would have to make a spin-off based on Bloodlines series.

3. Percy Jackson by Rick Riordan

Like many demigods, I would also want to get an adaptation that follows the books. I don’t understand why would they stray so far from the storyline. These books were a success, follow their story.

I would also want to see many spin-offs.

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

Those books are quite fresh in the book world, but they are very much recognised and with a good reason. Its unique story and many plot twists would grip a viewer until the very end of the season.

5. Lux series by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Hot aliens? Yes, please! Just imagine how many gorgeous actors would be in this show. Also, who wouldn’t want to see a main character that happens to be a book blogger on TV screens.

 

Honorable mention: Throne of Glass series by Sarah J. Maas

This series gets an honorable mention because it is in the process of becoming a TV show.

Looking forward to see who will be cast as my favorite assassin ever.

Order books here:

– Covenant by Jennifer L. Armentrout

– Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead

– Bloodlines by Richelle Mead

– Percy Jackson by Rick Riordan

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

– Lux by Jennifer L. Armentrout

– Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

Post written by Anya Blackhart-Clark

Wrap Up – August 2016

Somehow I have managed to read only 2 books in August. I will try to do better in September.

1. A COURT OF THORNS AND ROSES by Sarah J. Maas

She stole a life. Now she must pay with her heart.

When nineteen-year-old huntress Feyre kills a wolf in the woods, a beast-like creature arrives to demand retribution. Dragged to a treacherous magical land she knows about only from legends, Feyre discovers that her captor is not an animal, but Tamlin—one of the lethal, immortal faeries who once ruled their world.

As she dwells on his estate, her feelings for Tamlin transform from icy hostility into a fiery passion that burns through every lie and warning she’s been told about the beautiful, dangerous world of the Fae. But an ancient, wicked shadow over the faerie lands is growing, and Feyre must find a way to stop it . . . or doom Tamlin—and his world—forever.

My Rating: 5/5

2. A COURT OF MIST AND FURY by Sarah J. Maas

Feyre survived Amarantha’s clutches to return to the Spring Court—but at a steep cost. Though she now has the powers of the High Fae, her heart remains human, and it can’t forget the terrible deeds she performed to save Tamlin’s people.

Nor has Feyre forgotten her bargain with Rhysand, High Lord of the feared Night Court. As Feyre navigates its dark web of politics, passion, and dazzling power, a greater evil looms—and she might be key to stopping it. But only if she can harness her harrowing gifts, heal her fractured soul, and decide how she wishes to shape her future—and the future of a world cleaved in two.

With more than a million copies sold of her beloved Throne of Glass series, Sarah J. Maas’s masterful storytelling brings this second book in her seductive and action-packed series to new heights.

My Rating: 5/5

Order the books here:

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

– A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas

Written by Anya Blackhart-Clark

Book Haul – August 2016

This month we’ve bought 6 books.

DEMIGODS AND MAGICIANS: Three Stories from the World of Percy Jackson and the Kane Chronicles by Rick Riordan

Join Percy Jackson, Annabeth Chase and Carter and Sadie Kane as they do battle with an ancient Egyptian magician determined to become a god.

Against impossible odds, the four demigods and magicians team up to prevent the apocalypse.

Contains the short stories The Son of Sobek, The Staff of Serapis and The Crown of Ptolemy, together in one volume for the first time.

Plus, read an exciting extract from The Sword of Summer, the first book in Rick Riordan’s latest series Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard.

REASON FOR BUYING:

Honestly, Rick Riordan is our must-buy author. We have most of his books and every time we see a book of his that we do not have, we buy it immediately. Same thing happened here.

DEITY by Jennifer L. Armentrout

History is on repeat, and things didn’t go so well the last time.

Alexandria isn’t sure she’s going to make it to her eighteenth birthday–to her Awakening. A long-forgotten, fanatical order is out to kill her, and if the Council ever discovers what she did in the Catskills, she’s a goner… and so is Aiden.

If that’s not freaky enough, whenever Alex and Seth spend time “training”–which really is just Seth’s code word for some up-close and personal one-on-one time–she ends up with another mark of the Apollyon, which brings her one step closer to Awakening ahead of schedule. Awesome.

But as her birthday draws near, her entire world shatters with a startling revelation and she’s caught between love and Fate. One will do anything to protect her. One has been lying to her since the beginning. Once the gods have revealed themselves, unleashing their wrath, lives will be irrevocably changed… and destroyed.

Those left standing will discover if love is truly greater than Fate…

REASON FOR BUYING:

This summer I’ve read Half-Blood and Pure. If you’ve read these books, you know that buying the rest of the series was a no brainer. Especially, because I have to know what happens next. I have to know NOW.

APOLLYON by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Fate isn’t something to mess with… and now, neither is Alex.

Alex has always feared two things: losing herself in the Awakening and being placed on the Elixir. But love has always been stronger than Fate, and Aiden St. Delphi is willing to make war on the gods—and Alex herself—to bring her back.

The gods have killed thousands and could destroy entire cities in their quest to stop Seth from taking Alex’s power and becoming the all-powerful God Killer. But breaking Alex’s connection to Seth isn’t the only problem. There are a few pesky little loopholes in the whole “an Apollyon can’t be killed” theory, and the only person who might know how to stop the destruction has been dead for centuries.

Finding their way past the barriers that guard the Underworld, searching for one soul among countless millions, and then somehow returning will be hard enough. Alex might be able to keep Seth from becoming the God Killer… or she might become the God Killer herself.

REASON FOR BUYING:

Same as Deity.

SENTINEL by Jennifer L. Armentrout
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It’s a beautiful day for a war.

As the mortal world slowly slips into chaos of the godly kind, Alexandria Andros must overcome a stunning defeat that has left her shaken and in doubt of their ability to end this war once and for all.

And with all the obstacles between Alex and her happily-ever-after with the swoonworthy Aiden St. Delphi, they must now trust a deadly foe as they travel deep into the Underworld to release one of the most dangerous gods of all time.

In the stunning, action-packed climax to the bestselling Covenant series, Alex must face a terrible choice: the destruction of everything and everyone she holds dear… or the end of herself.

REASON FOR BUYING:

Same as Deity.

THE SURGEON by Tess Gerritsen

IN BOSTON, THERE’S A KILLER ON THE LOOSE…

A killer who targets lone women, who breaks into their apartments and performs terrifying ritualistic acts of torture on them before finishing them off. His surgical skills lead police to suspect he is a physician – a physician who, instead of saving lives, takes them.

But as homicide detective Thomas Moore and his partner Jane Rizzoli begin their investigation, they make a startling discovery. Closely linked to these killings is Catherine Cordell, a beautiful doctor with a mysterious past. Two years ago she was subjected to a horrifying rape and shot her attacker dead.

Now the man she believes she killed seems to be stalking her once again, and this time he knows exactly where to find her…

REASON FOR BUYING:

I love Tess Geritsen and have read a couple of her books before. I had to buy this book because it had a 70% discount.

KEEPING THE DEAD by Tess Gerritsen

HE HIDES, HE KILLS, HE KEEPS . . .

Forensic Pathologist Maura Isles is asked to attend an intriguing examination. An ancient mummy has been found in a museum basement, prompting great media excitement. But with horror she realises that it’s not as ancient as they thought…A very modern bullet is showing up on the scan.

Detective Jane Rizzoli is called to investigate and soon discovers a second – and then a third – mummified body. Who is this killer and why does he preserve his victims so meticulously?

And who will be the next to join his monstrous collection?

REASON FOR BUYING:

Same as The Surgeon.

Written by Anya Blackhart-Clark.