The One Memory of Flora Banks Review

The One Memory of Flora Banks
by Emily Barr

Release Date: January 12th, 2017

Spoilers

Synopsis:

Seventeen-year-old Flora Banks has no short-term memory. Her mind resets itself several times a day, and has since the age of ten, when the tumor that was removed from Flora's brain took with it her ability to make new memories. That is, until she kisses Drake, her best friend's boyfriend, the night before he leaves town. Miraculously, this one memory breaks through Flora's fractured mind, and sticks. Flora is convinced that Drake is responsible for restoring her memory and making her whole again. So when an encouraging email from Drake suggests she meet him on the other side of the world, Flora knows with certainty that this is the first step toward reclaiming her life. 

With little more than the words "be brave" inked into her skin, and written reminders of who she is and why her memory is so limited, Flora sets off on an impossible journey to Svalbard, Norway, the land of the midnight sun, determined to find Drake. But from the moment she arrives in the arctic, nothing is quite as it seems, and Flora must "be brave" if she is ever to learn the truth about herself, and to make it safely home.

My Thoughts:

***I received a copy through NetGalley***

I gave this book 5 stars. It was, mind blowing to say the least. I think it was written incredibly well. It told the story of a girl who just anted to live. It was adventurous, and fulfilling.

I have a love-hate relationship with Paige. She was just terrible to Flora at first. I mean, Flora was drugged up and had really bad amnesia, she kissed Paige's ex boyfriend, not even her boyfriend, and Paige just got so mad about that. She decided that just because her feelings were hurt she was going to leave her best friend pretty much helpless and alone. She backed out of the agreement, without even telling Flora's parents, she told her amnesic friend who wouldn't remember she said that. She called maybe once or twice to make sure she wasn't dead yet, but she didn't take care of Flora when she needed it. Flora didn't even eat for several days because she forgot to. Then she went off to the North Pole because of a boy, and Paige ran into her and didn't even stop her! I was just so mad about all of this.

What redeemed her a bit to me was when at the end she helped Flora by switching out the tranquilizers with sugar pills so that Flora could be herself. She turned it around and decided she needed to help her best friend.

Drake is a whole other story, he was probably the opposite of Paige. We had this pretty image of him. He was going to save her, and sweep her off her feet. He would love her even though she couldn't function all that well. he turned out to be a raging douchebag. He tried to make Flora think that he had never kissed her on that beach and that she was just a deluded stalker. I mean, she was a bit deluded because she wrote emails from him to her, but him kissing her in the beginning was what started it all. 

I loved how the author did that, she flipped stereotypes on their heads. The boy wasn't there to save the girl, it was what we thought he was there for, but he was really there to show us that we didn't really need him, in fact he made things a bit worse. Well, I guess the adventure was actually really good for Flora, but everything else was awful.

I was so sad about Jacob. He seemed to be the one person Flora had that would always be there for her. It was just so sad that he had to die. he had faced death before and won, but he had to lose it again at such a young age. Jacob was a good brother, I really wish we could have seen more of him, but I understand why we didn't. My favourite part actually included him. Or I guess, my favourite line included him. I just loved how he described himself as a "Grumpy, gay seventeen year old" I don't know why I enjoyed that as much as I did, and I don't know why the author included that, I'm just really glad that she did.

Her mother is a bit psycho. I know she means well, but she is smothering Flora. Keeping her on antidepressants and tranquilizers, also keeping that neurosurgeon away from her event hough he could help her. Flora's mother needs to get some help. Her father is a great guy though, I like him.

I loved the style of the writing. It felt like it was truly written by someone in that situation. I just can't get over it. I wish that there was maybe a follow up book or something. I want to know what happens to Flora! Anyway, I think this book is a must read for everyone. 

I don't have any quotes for this one because I got an arc of this despite only reading it on it's release date. 

The Glittering Court Review

The Glittering Court 

by Richelle Mead

Release Date: April 5th, 2016

Spoilers

Synopsis:

Big and sweeping, spanning from the refined palaces of Osfrid to the gold dust and untamed forests of Adoria, The Glittering Court tells the story of Adelaide, an Osfridian countess who poses as her servant to escape an arranged marriage and start a new life in Adoria, the New World. But to do that, she must join the Glittering Court.

Both a school and a business venture, the Glittering Court is designed to transform impoverished girls into upper-class ladies who appear destined for powerful and wealthy marriages in the New World. Adelaide naturally excels in her training, and even makes a few friends: the fiery former laundress Tamsin and the beautiful Sirminican refugee Mira. She manages to keep her true identity hidden from all but one: the intriguing Cedric Thorn, son of the wealthy proprietor of the Glittering Court.

When Adelaide discovers that Cedric is hiding a dangerous secret of his own, together they hatch a scheme to make the best of Adelaide’s deception. Complications soon arise—first as they cross the treacherous seas from Osfrid to Adoria, and then when Adelaide catches the attention of a powerful governor.

But no complication will prove quite as daunting as the potent attraction simmering between Adelaide and Cedric. An attraction that, if acted on, would scandalize the Glittering Court and make them both outcasts in wild, vastly uncharted lands…

My Thoughts:

I gave this book 4 stars. It still wasn't as good as the Vampire Academy or Bloodlines, but it was definitely a step up from Soundless.

I loved the premise of the book. A girl looking to get away from her life, so she goes off to a sort of Glam school to become a proper lady, even though she already is. I just love the secrecy of it all, her pretending to be someone else. It was endlessly entertaining.

I really liked the main character, she was really sassy. The scene where she told Clara off was one of my favourite parts of the book. She would not let anyone tell who to be, should would not conform to societies expectations. She may have put on a show, but that was not who she truly was, and she understood that.

I loved Tamsin and Mira. Honestly, I am so excited to read their stories because they both sound so interesting. Mira is all secretive and mysterious with this whole hidden agenda. It will be interesting to see what she has been doing behind the scenes. The anticipation is killing me.

Tamsin is very hotheaded, but secretly has a heart of gold. She's doing everything she can to get married to a very rich man so that she can take care of her family. She doesn't want them to have to work like slaves for the rest of their lives. I respect her so much.

What drove me insane throughout most of the book, was that I couldn't figure out what the protagonists real name was, I know she went by Adelaide for the majority of the time. She didn't want to be called her original name anymore, I know it seems insignificant, but I had a burning urge to just know. So when it was finally revealed, it was a bit underwhelming. Elizabeth, I should have figured that out considering it was a pretty common classic name. 

Cedric and Adelaide were just so cute together. They had their secret little romance together, then they had their secret wedding. Then they did the deed and were all romantic about it. It sucks that Warren and Viola had to ruin the whole thing. Honestly, what a bunch of little assholes they were.

Viola was pretty nasty, she tried to blackmail Adelaide into marrying her son just because she wanted noble blood in her line, which is absolutely ridiculous. And then she spurred Warren on too. Warren was worse though. He tried to rape the main character, then he tried to kill her and Cedric, and then he tried to blame everything that went down on them. Because he's a dumbs who got everything coming to him. I was so happy when he was finally taken down and was sent back to the mother country to be punished.

Quotes:

“Do you think my being someone else's wife will change anything? Don't you know that I'd lie with you in the groves, under the light of the moon? That I'd defy the laws of gods and men for you?” 

“Bad things are always going to happen,” my father had told me in his last year. “There’s no way to avoid that. Our control comes in how we face them. Do we let them crush us, making us despondent? Do we face them unflinchingly and endure the pain? Do we outsmart them?” 

“Mister Thorn, something tells me you could sell salvation to a priest.” 

“For a moment, all I could think of was my cousin Peter. He was twice my age—and married. By the rules of decent, he would be the one to inherit the Rothford title if I died without children. Whenever he was in town, he'd stop by and ask how I was feeling” 

Top 10 Book Boyfriends of 2016

I swear this is my last Top 10 list about 2016. The last. Enjoy.

10. Julian Blackthorn

“We are bound together, Emma, bound together—I breathe when you breathe, I bleed when you bleed, I’m yours and you’re mine, you’ve always been mine, and I have always, always belonged to you!” 

“She soared above the ground, and he kept her tethered to the earth. Without him she would be lost among the clouds.” 

“How long have you been drawing me?”

He sighted. A moment later his hand came to rest in her hair. His fingers twined in the strands. “My whole life.” 

“Why all these paintings of you? Because I'm an artist, Emma. These pictures are my heart. And if my heart was a canvas, every square inch of it would be painted over with you.” 

9. Ezra Mason

“since i will not send this, i also feel it is my duty to inform you that almost six months on I think I still love you and that makes me sad becaue love shouldn’t feel this way. is like getting kicked in the stomach every time i think of you and it makes me want to roll my face across this keyboardbiu;///ubEWdcfhugiov’byhi;.//////-=‘-0i9juh8ygtfdcsaazs34defg7uefg7u8hi9o0p8hi9o0p-[[09ju8dcsaazs34d9o0p-[[09.” 

“Interviewer: So. Tell me about your mother.

Ezra: You're taping this, right?

Interviewer: Audio only. Camera is faulty.

Ezra: Okay, well for the benefit of the sight-impaired, I am now raising my… oh, dear… yes, it's my MIDDLE finger at Mr. Postgrad here.

Interviewer: Mr. Mason...

Ezra: Now I'm wiggling it.

Interviewer: Terminating interview at 13:58 on 03/19/75.

Ezra: Look at it wiggl-

-audio ends-” 

“You deserve every star in the galaxy laid out at your feet and a thousand diamonds in your hair. You deserve someone who'll run with you as far and as fast as you want to. Holding your hand, not holding you back.

You deserve more than I could ever give you, Kady.

But I'll give you everything I can if you still want me to.” 

8. Ryodon

“One day, kid, you'll be willing to mortgage your fucking soul for somebody.” 

“I'm not going anywhere until you're safe," Christian says to me, real quiet. 

"Isn't that quaint. The chivalrous Unseelie prince with the dick of death," Ryodan mocks.” 

“Ryodan says softly, “Holy strawberries, Dani, we’re in a jam.”

I look at him like he’s sprouted two heads. Holy strawberries? In a jam? Even Barrons looks stumped.

He continues, “But don’t worry. Holy priceless collection of Etruscan snoods—you really butchered that one, by the way—I’ve got it in the bag. How about this one: holy borrowing bibliophile, let’s book.” 

7. Gideon De Villier

Then almost at once comes Diamond alone,

Whose sign of the lion as Leo is known.

“He took a hairpin out of my untidy hair (by now my complicated arrangement of ringlets must have looked as if a couple of birds had been nesting there); he took a strand of it and wound it around his finger. With his other hand he began stroking my face, and then he bent down and kissed me again, this time very cautiously. I closed my eyes - and the same thing happened as before: my brain suffered that delicious break in transmission.” 

“You have a mother?" Only when I said it did I realize what a silly question it was! For heaven's sake! 

Gideon raised one eyebrow. "What did you expect?" he asked, amused. "You thought I was an android put together by Uncle Falk and Mr. George?”

"We should collect our things," Gideon finally said. And you should do something urgent with your hair; It seems as if some idiot had started to stir in them with both hands and then I would have thrown you on a sofa ... Whoever is waiting for us will know that two and two are four ... Oh, by God, do not look at me like that.

-How?

"As if you could not move."

"I can not," I said seriously. I'm a pudding. You have transformed me into a pudding. "

6. Seth

“You know what? Lets go." I shot Aiden a defiant look. "Come on Seth. Let's go continue our lovers' quarrel."

"Yes my love, that sounds fantastic. Don't forget to grab a dagger so you can poke my eyeballs out.” 

“How in the fuck is that even possible? Was Hades sleeping on the job o something?"

"Yes, Seth, he took a nap and Perses snuck in the back door and let them out. Then they skipped through the Vale of Mourning, stopped to have a pic-a-nic and then decided to leave the Underworld all slow-like, and all the while Hades was chillin' and doing nothing."

That sounded probable.” 

“Really?” she said dryly, eyeing me with a smirk. “You’re going to fight with the awesomeness of your six-pack as a weapon?”

I arched a brow. “Yeah, you know, I was going to test out the whole abs of steel theory thing. The gun attached to my thigh and the daggers in my hands are just props. Mainly for show. Don’t want to take away from the gloriousness that is my body, though.” 

“There’s something I need to know, okay?”

I lifted my chin, grinning slight. “Yes, you’re a sexy beast.”

“I know that already,” he said dryly. “But that’s not what I’m asking.” 

5. Kieran Masters

“I’m afraid for him because every day he has to fight the person he is, to be the person he wants to be.” 

“As you wish,” I answered and grinned when she flinched with surprise.”

“You were born among monsters,” she lifted my face when I hid in her shoulder, “but you were not meant to walk with them.”

“I lowered myself to one knee and looked her in her eyes. “You chased away the monsters and became my reason—my forever. I’m yours, Lake Monroe. Will you marry me today?”

4. Rowan Whitethorn

“Gods, he was brilliant. Cunning and wicked and brilliant.

Even when he beat the hell out of her. Every. Damn. Day.” 

“Thirty minutes later, Rowan was still staring up at the ceiling, teeth gritted as he calmed the roaring in

his veins that was steadily shredding through his self-control.

That gods-damned nightgown.

Shit.

He was in such deep, unending shit.” 

“She realized that Rowan saw each of those thoughts and more as he reached into his tunic and pulled out a dagger. Her dagger. He extended it to her, it's long blade gleaming as if he'd been secretly polishing and caring for it these months.

And when she grasped the dagger, it's weight lighter than she remembered, Rowan looked into her eyes, into her very core of her, and said, 'Fireheart'.” 

3. Percy Jackson

(I think the Percy Jackson fan art is the best fan art out there)

“We're staying together," he promised. "You're not getting away from me. Never again.”

“Hades raised an eyebrow. When he sat forward in his throne, shadowy faces appeared in the folds of his black robes, faces of torment, as if the garment was stitched of trapped souls from the Fields of Punishment, trying to get out. The ADHD part of me wondered, off-task, whether the rest of his clothes were made the same way. What horrible things would you have to do in your life to get woven into Hades' underwear?” 

“Why can't you place a blessing like that on us?" I asked.

"It only works on wild animals."

"So it would only affect Percy," Annabeth reasoned.

"Hey!" I protested.” 

2. Oren Tenning

“So this is my Pathetic Loser’s confession: I am Oren Tenning, and I have fallen. Hard.” 

“Hey, honey!” I called brightly. “You’re home early. And here I didn’t even get to put a bow on the gift I have for you.”

Scotini glanced from Noel to me and then sent Caroline a scandalized glance. “Oh my God. Your brother’s gay?”

Really? I turned to her too, and with the same tone, I said, “Oh my God. Is he fucking stupid?”

“She arched and moaned out her need. “Oh God, Oren”.

I wanted to tell her I loved it when she said my name like that. But I just sighed. “I know, right? I’m really good at this.” 

1. Rhysand

“And I wondered if love was too weak a word for what he felt, what he’d done for me. For what I felt for him.” 

“But Rhys … Rhys would never have not seen what was happening to me; would never have been so misguided and arrogant and self-absorbed. He’d known what Ianthe was from the moment he met her. And he’d understood what it was like to be a prisoner, and helpless, and to struggle—every day—with the horrors of both.” 

“There you are. I've been looking for you. 

His first words to me— not a lie at all, not a threat to keep those faeries away.

Thank you for finding her for me.” 

Bonus, My Platonic Soul Mate:

“I am being perfectly fucking civil.”

“To think you could have been dreaming the cure for cancer," Blue said. 

"Look, Sargent," Ronan retorted, "I was gonna dream you some eye cream last night since clearly modern medicine's doing jack shit for you, but I nearly had my ass handed to me by a death snake from the fourth circle of dream hell, so you're welcome."

Blue was appropriately touched. "Ah, thanks, man."

"No problem, bro.” 

“Ronan didn't need physics. He could intimidate even a piece of plywood into doing what he wanted.” 

“Adam's response was buried in the sound of the first-story door falling open. Noah slouched in. In a wounded tone, he said, "He threw me out the window!"

Ronan's voice sang out from behind his closed door: "You're already dead!” 

Who were some of your book boyfriends or book girlfriends this year? 

This is Where it Ends Review

This is Where it Ends
by Marieke Nijkamp

Release Date: January 5th, 2016

Spoilers

Synopsis:

10:00 a.m. The principal of Opportunity High School finishes her speech, welcoming the entire student body to a new semester and encouraging them to excel and achieve.

10:02 a.m. The students get up to leave the auditorium for their next class.

10:03 a.m. The auditorium doors won't open.

10:05 a.m. Someone starts shooting.

Told from four different perspectives over the span of fifty-four harrowing minutes, terror reigns as one student’s calculated revenge turns into the ultimate game of survival.

My Thoughts:

I gave this book 5 stars. It was devastating and haunting. There were so many feelings attributed to this book.

So this is not going to be a long review because this wasn't a particularly long book. I just got this book today, and just sat down and read it through, with exception of one pause because food. I have been meaning to read this book since around the time it came out, so about a year, and I've only just gotten to it. I regret waiting this long.

This book was fast paced. Honestly, it isn't exactly hard to make a story like this fast paced because of what it's about, but it was done so well. It was impossible not to be drawn right into the story.

The most devastating part of the story was when those characters that you were rooting for got shot down like flies. These parts just made me cry like a baby. These characters grew on me, I began to love them like they were my own friends and family, and just like that they were taken away.

It absolutely broke my heart when it was revealed that Tyler had shot Autumn in the knee. All Autumn ever wanted to do was to dance. Dancing was her escape and her one true love, and right before he killed himself, he killed her dreams.

Tomas was a very personal death because we got to see into his mind, what he was thinking and feeling. Also, the one part that had me sort of chuckling was because of him. He was literally in the auditorium with a guy with a gun, trying to smuggle people out to safety, and he was thinking about winning that girl he had a crush on. He was literally thinking that when he asked her out she would now know who he is. Why are you thinking about that? You could get shot? You did get shot? Tomas you have a one track mind!

Personally, the most heartbreaking death to me was Matt. He was so young and innocent. We could see into his sister Claire's mind and all she cared about was keeping him safe, she wanted to save him, and she couldn't. He died because the stupid swat team left him behind when they could have saved him!!!!! Honestly, also the most useless death! He could have lived! That swat member used his efforts to get Autumn out of the school, and she didn't even leave. She went to confront her brother, so this Swat member could have extended the effort to get this poor kid out of there and save his life. Stupid swat member saved 0 lives.

I don't think it was ever explicitly said what the bad thing that Tyler did to her was, but I think most of us have a pretty good idea. I'm not going to say it though, because I'm not actually sure and I find it to be a very sensitive topic and makes me really sad to think about. Also, I don't want to seem like an idiot if I'm completely wrong and have the internet yell at me.

I definitely would give this book a read if you haven't. It's not very long and will make you feel things.

Quotes:

“We're more than our mistakes. We're more than what people expect of us.”

“And I know the auditorium may be big enough to hold a thousand students, but it's too small to hide just one.” 

“Dad always told me there are more stories in the universe than stars in the sky. And in every story, there's the light of hope. That's why the seniors sent lanterns up to the sky-to make sure the darkness is never absolute.” 

Top 10 Books of 2016

There were so many good books this year! It was so hard to choose. I'll have some honourable mentions in the end though.

10. Empire of Storms by Sarah J. Maas

I will read anything Sarah J. Maas. This book was amazing and I had such a good time reading it, except some parts which I will probably never talk about ever.

9. The Bourbon Thief by Tiffany Reisz

I got it because of the cover, but I stayed for the content. Read it!!!!!

8. All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr

Unforgettable.

7. Three Dark Crowns by Kendare Blake

This book has everything, a great setting, interesting plot, lovable characters, hated antagonists, and possibly a good romance. I'm still a bit on the fence about this one. Nonetheless, fantastic book.

6. The Invasion of the Tearling by Erika Johansen 

I don't even know where to start with this one. Just read it for yourself and understand.

5. Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson

It was such a good book, plus the book was really floppy so I could just place it open on a table or desk and it would sit open perfectly.

4. The School for Good and Evil by Soman Chainani

I had an amazing time reading this, I pretty much just devoured it in one day. Worth a read.

3. A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness

This book beat out Me Before You for how much I cried for a book this year. I haven't cried that hard for a book or movie since I read the Green Mile. It's beautiful.

2. Lady Midnight by Cassandra Clare

How could this possibly not make the list? I loved this book.

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

I'm not going to drone on about this one because I've already sung it's praises, and honestly there is nothing new for me to say about it.

Honorable Mentions:

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
Wilder by Lena North
Sapphire Blue by Kerstin Gier
Legend by Marie Lu
Captive Prince Trilogy by C. S. Pacat
The Raven King by Maggie Stiefvater
Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy by Cassandra Clare
Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo
Falling Kingdoms by Morgan Rhodes
Up in Flames by Abbi Glines
Me Before You by Jojo Moyes