Goodreads Monday

Goodreads Monday is a weekly meme hosted here. To participate, choose a random book from your TBR and show it off! Don’t forget to link back here and feel free to add your links to the comments so that others can see what you picked.

Hey everyone! I hope you had a great weekend! It finally snowed, but I can’t go out with my son in it like I wanted to because he’s ill -.- Talk about timing!

Anyway, this weeks pick for me is a relatively new release that I snagged whilst out shopping for Nikolaus gifts!

Renegades by Marissa Meyer

Published: November 7th 2017 by Feiwel and Friends

Amazon: Renegades (International Edition)

Secret Identities. Extraordinary Powers. She wants vengeance. He wants justice.

The Renegades are a syndicate of prodigies—humans with extraordinary abilities—who emerged from the ruins of a crumbled society and established peace and order where chaos reigned. As champions of justice, they remain a symbol of hope and courage to everyone…except the villains they once overthrew.

Nova has a reason to hate the Renegades, and she is on a mission for vengeance. As she gets closer to her target, she meets Adrian, a Renegade boy who believes in justice—and in Nova. But Nova’s allegiance is to a villain who has the power to end them both.

Find me here: 

Instagram/Twitter/Goodreads/Litsy @ Lauren’s Page Turners

Heartless by Marissa Meyer

Heartless by Marissa Meyer

Published: November 8th 2016 by Feiwel and Friends

Book Depository

Catherine may be one of the most desired girls in Wonderland and a favorite of the unmarried King, but her interests lie elsewhere. A talented baker, she wants to open a shop and create delectable pastries. But for her mother, such a goal is unthinkable for a woman who could be a queen.

At a royal ball where Cath is expected to receive the King’s marriage proposal, she meets handsome and mysterious Jest. For the first time, she feels the pull of true attraction. At the risk of offending the King and infuriating her parents, she and Jest enter into a secret courtship.

Cath is determined to choose her own destiny. But in a land thriving with magic, madness, and monsters, fate has other plans.

After reading the Lunar Chronicles (bar Winter which is still sat on my shelf waiting for me), I couldn’t even wait to get my hands on this book! I really enjoyed this book and I really wish it was a series rather than a standalone!

I think my favourite part of this book was the subtlety that it used. It started off really light and fluffy (the first sentence was about baking lemon tarts… can you get a better first sentence?!? I think not) and it slowly and gradually got darker. It wasn’t obvious at first that it was getting darker more like it took a while and it really showed Catherine and what she went through and why she ended up the way she did. It was really refreshing. I did have to go and watch some Gordon Ramsay during the really fluffy parts just to find some semblance of balance, though. No great shakes.

I really like Catherine’s characterisation. She was extremely relatable in the sense that she was one of us. Sure, she was high born, but she was normal in that she had her own friends and dreams and her parents didn’t approve etc. It made the reader relate to her on a whole new level and I loved it. I also really enjoyed the way that she began to change throughout the book as things started happening. The way that she developed when the pressure became too much for her and how she ultimately ended up after everything that had happened.

What I also really enjoyed about this book was the way in which the author kept elements of Alice in Wonderland there, but she changed them ever so slightly in order to make them her own. Cheshire was there, but the way he came into existence was different – or the mad hatter, but the way in which he went mad was also different. It was a nice change to see the elements there, but to also witness the way in which the author made them her own.

I would have liked to have seen more of the Hatter and the rest of the tea party company before the ending, however. Whilst we did meet him and Catherine had a short discussion with him later in the book, I wanted more from him. I did absolutely love his story, though!

All in all, I really enjoyed this book and I wish it was a series! I cannot wait to see what Meyer has in store for us next! I gave this book 4/5 stars.

Top Ten Tuesday

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by the Broke and Bookish

Hey guys!! It is time for another TTT and this week I am being resourceful for once and I am writing this on a Monday evening whilst my son is in bed!! I tend to write these posts with my son making a grab for my laptop! 😀 I call this progress ;-). This weeks topic is Books that I have read based on other reviewers recommendations/reviews. I have picked up quite a few books because I have read reviews and Just think that I have to read it! So, these are my top ten, and in no particular order:

10.  The Girl with All the Gifts by M. R. Carey. I read this pretty recently, but I think I would never have picked it up if I hadn’tve read it if I didn’t read Cait’s review first. If you don’t know who Cait is, then clearly you live under a rock! Her reviews are always amazing, whether good or bad, and I absolutely lover her! Check out Paper Fury!

9.  Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas – Way back when I first started out, I followed a blog called Rainy Tree Reader, and a lot of the books that she read and reviewed were books that I ended up picking up purely because I loved her review style. Sadly, Danica doesn’t write anymore, which I find sad, but I like to go back to her site every now and then.

8.  The Lost Knight by Candy Atkins. I Actually first heard of this book thanks to Olivia at Heir of Glitter. I added it onto my TBR thanks to her review and I snagged a review copy from Xpresso Tours recently and I LOVED it! I am so stoked for book 2!

7.  Falling Kingdoms by Morgan Rhodes. I didn’t pick this book up based on one particular reviewer, more like I saw so many amazing reviews that I decided to finally buy a copy! I still need to read the rest of this series, but the first book was amazing!

6.  The Selection by Kiera Cass. Again, I loved the raving review from Danica at Rainy Tree Reader and added it to my TBR pretty much right away. I absolutely loved this series and I cannot wait to see more from this author.

5.  Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi. To be honest, I don’t even remember who I saw this from! I remember seeing a raving review and the cover is obviously to die for, so I went ahead and read it! One of my all time favourite series! 😀

4.  Forbidden by Tabitha Suzuma. I have a lot to the Danica for. I wish she still wrote! This is one of my ALL TIME favourite stand alones!

3.  Cinder by Marissa Meyer – Again, this book I picked up based on the multiple raving reviews I read! I still need to read Winter, though. Casually kicking myself right about now!

2.  Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor – Again, a whole bunch of raving reviews! I cannot wait for this authors next book!

1.  The Dragonlance Chronicles by Magaret Weis and Tracy Hickman – My dad owns these books and he recommended them to me ages ago, when I was still in school. I gobbled them all up!! The chronicles and the Dragonlance Legends are are amazing and I recommend them to absolutely everybody! Start with the Chronicles and go onto the Legends afterward! 😀

Thats it from me! So thank you to all you amazing people for recommending and reading and being generally awesome 🙂

What books did you pick up from other people? Feel free to leave links and comments and I will check them all out! 

Find me here:

Instagram/Twitter/Goodreads

The Mid Year Book Freak Out Tag

Hey guys! So, I was tagged by Beth @ Reading Every Night for this tag – so thanks for that! So, I guess without further ado, let’s start!

Best Book you’ve Read So Far in 2016:

 Unnatural Deeds by Cyn Balog

 A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas

Ok, I couldn’t pick one, so it’s a tie! I loved Unnatural Deeds by Cyn Balog (which is being released later this year), and ACOMAF… well, I don’t think there is any explanation necessary!

Best sequel you have read so far in 2016:

 ACOMAF

Yes, this book again! But it truly was beautiful!!

New release you haven’t read yet but want to:

 Shiny Broken Pieces by Sona Charaipotra and Dhonielle Clayton.

Ok, so, technically this only came out today, but I still need this book in my life!

Most anticipated release for the second half of the year:

 Empire of Storms by Sarah J. Maas.

I know, Maas again! But seriously, I love this series and I cannot wait to find out what happens next!

Biggest Disappointment:

 Never Never: Part Three by Colleen Hoover and Tarryn Fisher

Ok, this series had an amazing strong start and I was loving everything about it! However, the ending and the explanation given were weak and it ruined everything for me!

Biggest Surprise:

 Only Ever Yours by Louise O’Neill

I was surprised at how things went down in this book! I was not expecting to feel the emotions I did and so strongly! I think everyone who has read this book will agree, there are literally no words to describe how you feel when reading this book and how you feel when you finish this book! I finished it and I was gob smacked it took me forever to actually write a review because I no idea how to formulate what I was feeling into words! It is that good! If you haven’t read this book… then why the heck not?!?

Favourite New Author (Debut or New to you):

 This is Betsy Schow! She was a new to me author when I read her book Spelled and I loved it! I was snorting and earning weird looks from my dad, but it was all so worth it! i look forward to more of her writing! She is currently writing the sequel (I Believe) to Spelled and I cannot wait!!

Newest Fictional Crush:

 Rhysand from ACOMAF.

Ummm… hello!! Rhys! Do I seriously need to explain this amazing specimen of a character???

Newest Favourite Character:

 Lada from And I Darken by Kierstin White

Well, she scares me and she is not a character that I would want to cross… but, she isn’t your everyday, wishy washy damsel in distress turned amazing hero. She was strong and stubborn and strong willed from the very beginning and I feel like she is a step above every other strong female character that I love because of this fact. She has never needed saving and I love the about her!

Book that made you cry:

 If He Had Been With Me by Laura Nowlin.

Quite a few books have made me cry recently, but I think this book hit me the strongest! There you sit, watching these two characters fall in love and it is cutesy and feels full and bam! That ending… Box of tissues needed if you are going to brave this book! The worst thing is, you know from the very beginning what is going to happen, but that does not stop you hoping that it doesn’t!

Book that made you happy:

 Wrecked by Maria Padian

So, if you clicked the link, you’re probably thinking that I some kind of really weird psycho for thinking that this kind of book could ever make me happy… BUT… the outcome made me happy! I was rooting and I rooted right! Again, this book is being released later this year!

Favourite book to film adaptation:

Technically, tv show… but they are so epic!! I haven’t actually read all of the GoT books, but I am getting there! I love this show!

Favourite post you have done this year:

I don’t actually have a favourite post that I have done this year, but I did like sharing random facts about myself in TTT this week!

Most beautiful book you’ve bought this year:

 Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi.

I bought a physical copy of this book not too long ago with this cover and it still makes me drool every time I clap eyes on it!

What book do you need to read by the end of the year:

 Winter by Marissa Meyer

There are so many books, but I would have to say the ultimate goal is this one! I have had it on my nightstand for ages now, but for some reason I keep procrastinating!

My tags:

Jamie @ Watch Game Read

Jesse @ Books at Dawn

Olivia @ Heir of Glitter

Kat @ Kat Impossible

Marie @ Drizzle and Hurricane Books

and you! If you want to do this tag feel free! Link me up so that I can see your answers!

Top Ten Tuesday

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by the Broke and Bookish

Hey guys! This weeks theme for TTT is top ten most anticipated releases for the second half of 2016. Can you actually believe we are halfway through June already?!? Where is this year going?? Without further ado, and in nor particular order:

10.  Heartless by Marissa Meyer. Despite the fact that I still need to read Winter (I know, I am so behind!) I absolutely love the Lunar Chronicles!! So, I obviously cannot wait to see what this author is going to do with Alice in Wonderland! Publication Date: 8th November 2016.

9.  Empire of Storms by Sarah J. Maas. I am currently reading Queen of Shadows and, whilst I am not that far into it, I am still loving it! Sarah J. Maas is an automatic buy for me! Besides, who can resist a cover like that??? Publication Date: 6th September 2016

8.  One was Lost by Natalie D. Richards. I have never actually read a book by this author, although I have at least one more on my TBR! This book likes the perfect mystery thriller to keep me turning the pages at night! Publication Date: 4th October 2016

7.  Furthermore by Tahereh Mafi. I adored the Shatter Me series by this author and I have been waiting for something new from her ever since!! I literally cannot wait to get my hands on this book! Plus, the cover is gorgeous! Publication Date: 30th August 2016

6.  Last Stand by Rachel E. Carter. This book sadly has no cover yet and also no definitive release date. I do, however, love this series and I cannot wait to see what Carter does with our characters in this final instalment! Publication Date: 2016 (May be a hit or miss…)

5.  A Torch Against the Night by Sabaa Tahir. Whilst I was a tad bit disappointed with An Ember in the Ashes, I am still intrigued to see what comes next for our characters!! Publication Date: 30th August 2016

4.  Winning by Lara Deloza. I saw a review of this by Khanh (The Grinch) on Goodreads and for anyone who has ever seen one of her reviews, she is difficult to please. She seemed to enjoy this book, though, plus it looks like such  fun read! Publication Date: 28th June 2016

3.  Shiny Broken Pieces by Sona Charapoitra and Dhonielle Clayton. I was addicted to Tiny Pretty Things and couldn’t put the book down! I literally cannot wait for this book because I need to carry on my addiction! Publication Date: 12th July 2016

2.  Nice Girls Endure by Chris Struyk – Bonn. This book tackles a really difficult subject and I am interested to see what the author has done with it. I have never seen this author before, so there is a first time for everything! Publication Date: 1st August 2016

1.  Of Fire and Stars by Audrey Coulthurst. I think this book is pretty self explanatory because I do not know a single blogger or reader who doesn’t want to read this book! Publication Date: 22nd November 2016

So, thats it! I cannot wait for all of these books! #Problemsofabooknerd! What books are you guys all anticipating? Are you waiting for the same books, or are there others you are waiting for? Feel free to let me know and leave links!

Top Ten Tuesday

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by the Broke and Bookish.

Hey guys!! Hope you all had a great christmas and got everything that you all wanted and had fun rocking around the tree! 🙂 This weeks TTT is top ten most anticipated releases for the first half of 2016 – but I will probably just go for the whole of 2016! So, in no particular order:

10.  The Crown by Kiera Cass. This really is the last instalment in the Selection set and I just cannot wait!

9.  This is Where it Ends by Marieke Nijkamp I literally cannot wait to read this book!! I love books with themes like this and I just … need it!

8.  Glass Sword by Victoria Aveyard. I think as an official member of the Scarlet Guard, it is my duty to pine for this book… which I was doing even before I became a member!

7.  Heartless by Marissa Meyer This is not the official cover, but good enough for the point – if this book is anywhere near as good as the Lunar Chronicles, then we are in for a treat!

6.  Lady Renegades by Rachel Hawkins. For anyone who read my reviews of the first two, I was less than impressed. Having said that, I am willing to give this series a chance to get the finale right!

5.  Endure by Sara B. Larson. I adore this series and I literally cannot wait for this instalment!

4.  Furthermore by Tahereh Mafi. Again, I adore Mafi’s writing, so I cannot wait to see what she in store for us next!

3.  The May Queen Murders by Sarah Jude. I know nothing about this author – but the premise looks promising! 🙂

2.  Shiny Broken Pieces by Sona Charaiporta and Dhonielle Clayton. I LOVED Tiny Pretty Things!!! So, it is obvious that I need this book!

1. Hoax by C. L. Stone. This doesn’t have any form of cover whatsoever and also no premise! It is, however, the 5th in the Scarab Beetle series and I can’t wait!

Thats it!! What are you guys waiting on? Feel free to leave links and answers below!

Top Ten Tuesday

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by the Broke and Bookish.

Hey guys! This weeks TTT is top ten christmas wishlist. There are so many books that I want, it is pretty hard to narrow down this list! Some of them are physical copies of books that I have already read, whilst others are new books that I want.

10.  What We Saw by Aaron Hartzler I loved this book! I really want a physical copy of this book just so I can stroke it and sleep with it under my pillow…

9.  The Programme by Suzanne Young. This is a book that I have heard a lot about, but have never had the chance read it yet – I cannot wait to get my hands on this book!

8.  Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard. I enjoyed this book a lot more than I thought I would and I would love to have my own physical copy of it!

7.  Cinder by Marissa Meyer. I actually own (and am currently reading) a copy of Winter, so I need to complete this set of physical copies of my shelf by buying the first three in the series!

6.  The Young Elites by Marie Lu. I have been anxious to read this book for a long while!

5.  Tiny Pretty Things by Sona Charaipotra and Dhonielle Clayton. Who would not want to own a physical copy of this book???

4.  The Academy Series by C. L. Stone. I actually own all of the Academy books as an E – Copy – whether that be The Scarab Beetle series or the Ghost Bird – What I would love is to own physical copies!

3.  A Song of Ice and Fire series. Because life isn’t complete without ASOIAF.

2.  Black Ice by Becca Fitzpatrick. I have had this on my TBR for quite some time now – I really want to be able to take it off of the list!

1.  Splintered by A. G. Howard. Physical copies of this series to encourage the madness in me! 😉

This is it! This is my christmas wishlist (If I ever had one!). What do you guys want from santa this year? Feel free to leave links and comments below!

Top Ten Tuesday

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by the Broke and Bookish.

Hey guys! This weeks TTT is a Thanksgiving Freebie! So, the only thing I seem to actually know about Thanksgiving is what I see in the movies – Family and enough food to last a few months! Anyway, away from American holidays, I am going to do top ten series I am thankful for! There are so many series that I just LOVE and I am not sure what I would do if they didn’t exist. Of course, I also have to narrow it down! In no particular order:

10.  Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi. I adore this series!! Especially because this is the first book in which I fell in love with the seemingly evil character instead of the character that we are supposed to love!

9.  Introductions by C. L. Stone. The Ghost Bird series is something that I am addicted to. I get withdrawal symptoms whilst having to wait for the next instalment.

8.  A Song of Ice and Fire by George R. R. Martin. This is a given – anything that is great on the big screen and in print is worth a spot on this list!

7.  The Selection by Kiera Cass. A dystopian version of The Bachelor – what’s not to love?

6.  Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor. “Once upon a time, an angel and a devil fell in love. It did not end well.”

5.  The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer. I was late to jump onto this bandwagon – but better late than never!

4.  Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas. I actually really need to catch up with this series, but I love what I have read of it!

3.  The Stolen Empire by Sherry D. Ficklin. Historical fiction… I adored this series from the very beginning and I cannot wait to read the last instalment.

2.  Defy by Sara B. Larson. A strong female lead and a lot of action – anyone who doesn’t love this series lives clearly under a rock. Again, I cannot wait for the last instalment!

1.  Splintered by A. G. Howard. For the madness in all of us!

So, this is it (here I am). What did you guys do? Feel free to leave comments and links below.

 

Cinder by Marissa Meyer

Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth’s fate hinges on one girl.

Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She’s a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world’s future. (Goodreads)

Okay, so I read this a few weeks ago and I just never got around to actually reviewing it! I am fairly behind in my reviewing which I plan to change now! Starting with this book. This was one of those books that I didn’t really go into with open arms because I was pretty sure that I wouldn’t like it. When I eventually got out of it on the other side, I was converted.

This book took me a while to actually get into and I found myself actually putting it down to go and do something else. I think I got into the book about half way through and then I was itching to get back to it. I was worried, going into this book, that the essence of what Cinderella is (being my favourite Disney of my childhood) would be ruined – plus the hype monster! However, the important points to Cinderella and what made the story that it was remained, even if there was a major twist going on.

I think what took me so long to get into this book was the onslaught of information. We are suddenly being thrown into this world that is significantly smaller than ours, with android and cyborgs and who knows what else running around. Then there is the Letumosis, a deadly disease, and the idea that there are things (namely Lunars) living on the moon. Yeah, headache! When I actually got used to all of the crazy things going on, I felt like I could finally understand what was happening and enjoy the book itself.

The easy banter between Kai and Cinder was probably my favourite part of the book. They drew out the easy smiles and laughs from me and I genuinely believed that they had a good relationship going on. Of course there were moments where I wanted to shake one and slap the other, but in which book does that not happen??

What I am not sure I understand, even after having read all three instalments, is why the Lunars have that weird glamour thing going on? Was it a result of some form of genetic mutation, was it science? Why doesn’t it work on cameras, mirrors and the like? I understand the concept of not being able to trick them, but surely with that amount of technology they would have found a way by now to trick them??

I mostly enjoyed this book, despite the fact that it took me ages to actually get into. I went and read Scarlet straight afterward! I gave this book 3/5 stars.

Stacking the Shelves

Stacking the Shelves is hosted by Tynga’s reviews.

This post is coming a little late in the day because it is the first time today where I have had a chance to write it! I have two additions this week – one of which was a spontaneous addition earlier on after a shopping trip with my mother in law and husband

 Cinder by Marissa Meyer. Move aside, Ke$ha, I’m yelling’ CINDER! It is about time that I got a copy of this. I guess I shall soon find out if the hype was worth it!

 Grey by E. L. James. As I was food shopping with my husband and mother in law, I came across this in the shop – in English!!! I decided to snap it up as soon as I saw it before I never saw it in my beautiful language again! 🙂

That’s it, folks! What did you guys add? Feel free to leave links and comments in the section below!