February Wrap Up and March TBR

I had a pretty amazing reading month. Also, silly me, last month I figured that I wasn't going to be finishing anymore books that month so I did my wrap up early. Well, I was stupid and I actually finished two more books before the end of the month, so the first two books on this list are actually from January.

1. Lucca by Sarah Brianne

I gave this book 5 stars. I love this series and this book was the book that I've been waiting for since the beginning. I loved every second of it.

2. Midnight by L. J. Smith

I gave this book 4 stars. I think this is the last book in this series that I'm going to read. I've just heard too much controversy over the rest of the series being taken away from L. J. Smith that i don't want to support it. She must have worked really hard on this world and the characters and to just have it taken away breaks my heart. I really enjoyed this book by the way.

3. Stealing Candy by Stewart Lewis

I gave this book 3 stars. It was actually pretty good. It could have been a four, but I was just so confused by the ending. It was just too inconclusive for me.

4. The Well of Ascension by Brandon Sanderson

I gave this book 5 stars. Holy shit. If you haven't read Mistborn yet, then you have to because it's so good!

5. Torn by Jennifer L. Armentrout

I gave this book 5 stars. Classic Jennifer L. Armentrout. I loved it. That's all you need to know.

6. Like a Memory by Abbi Glines

I gave this book 4 stars. I enjoyed it, but it wasn't as good as I was hoping it to be. It was just over hyped in my head. Reading it was a bit of a letdown tbh.

7. City of Skies by Farah Cook

I gave this book 4 stars. I think it's a really great debuting author first book. I had a good time, I was left intrigued. Give me more.

8. A Dog's Purpose by W. Bruce Cameron

I gave this book 5 stars. I can't even begin to go back over this. Too many tears.

9. Wardrobe Malfunction by Samantha Towle

I gave this book 4 stars. Samantha Towle's voice is just so relatable and so funny. whenever I need a fun cute romance that will make me laugh I just read one of her books. So funny.

10. The Mighty Storm by Samantha Towle

I gave this book 2 stars. Yes, the rare two star from me. I decided to have another go at a Samantha Towle book because she's hilarious, but no amount of humour could save this book for me. There were just some aspects in this book that I just don't respect (SPOILER) like cheating. I hate cheating. The only thing that saved this book from a one star is that I really did enjoy the last quarter or so of the book.

11. The Bone Witch by Rin Chupeco

I gave this book 4 stars. I'm obsessed with the magic system. I love necromancy. It was like this book was written just for me. The next books are where the real action is gonna happen and I'm ready.

12. Ensnared by Rita Stradling

I gave this book 5 stars. Just finished this one, holy shit. I read a lot of really good books this month, I con't say this ones the best, but it's definitely up there with the best of them.


I almost have the whole set. I can't tell if the fact that I didn't have a one star is a good thing or a bad thing. Anyway, onto my March TBR.

1. Ready Player One 

2. Rose Petal Graves

3. Nowhere but Here

4. Shadow's Seduction

5. House of Hades

Okay that's going to be it, I try not to set too much of a TBR, because I always add in other books. So I prefer to just choose a select few that I hope I will get to.

Anyway, what are you guys planning to read this month?

Ensnared Review (Spoiler Free)

Ensnared
by Rita Stradling

Release Date: December 18th, 2017

Synopsis:

Alainn’s father is not a bad man. He’s a genius and an inventor. When he’s hired to create the robot Rose, Alainn knows taking the money is a mistake. 

Rose acts like a human. She looks exactly like Alainn. But, something in her comes out wrong.

To save her father from a five year prison sentence, Alainn takes Rose’s place. She says goodbye to the sun and goes to live in a tower no human is allowed to enter. She becomes the prisoner of a man no human is allowed to see. 

Believing that a life of servitude lies ahead, Alainn finds a very different fate awaits her in the company of the strange, scarred recluse.

[This novel contains adult situations and is only suitable for readers who are 18+]

My Thoughts:

***I received an ARC through Netgalley***

I gave this book 5 stars.. I had such a great time reading this. I absolutely loved the characters int his book. 

Characters were probably my favourite part of the book. We didn't have any freakishly annoying main characters and I loved that. Although, I found one of the characters close to Alainn to be very useless and I didn't particularly like him all that much. I felt such a deep connection with the characters and the plot was just so exciting. I think this story has done the classic fairy tale justice.

I love Beauty and the Beast retellings. Honestly, my hopes for this book really weren't that high, I don't particularly like books about robots, but this book has completely changed my mind. I absolutely loved it.  I already want to read it again. I can't wait to read other books by this author.

Speaking of how i usually don't like robot books. I didn't just put up with the robots in this book, I loved them. They were just as vital to the story as any of the other human characters. This book gave them more animated features. It was great.

This book was written in third person. Usually I don't have much to say about the point of view, but here I thought it really fit. For the most part it stuck with Alainn, but then when it occasionally went to other characters I didn't really mind. I also didn't have to worry about the voices getting muddled if it were first person with several different characters points of views.

I would definitely recommend this book to everyone. Just read it. It's a quick read and it'll hook you.

City of Skies Review (Spoiler Free)

City of Skies
by Farah Cook

Release Date: March 3rd, 2017

Synopsis:

THE SHADΦWISLANDS SAGA 

ONE GIRL. A DEADLY QUEST. AN EPIC JOURNEY. 

In the post-apocalyptic dystopian nation known as Triangle of Peace, Nora Hunt, a Norse descendant, has just embarked on the deadly quest to discover the ancient Viking mystery of the hidden Shadowislands. At sixteen years old, the skilled young warrior joins an elite band of sword-wielding treasure hunters—the Jarl Raiders. They will fight the dangerous battle for the Shadowislands against the competing Rognvald Dynasty, a group of Dark Raiders led by the mysterious Frederick Dahl. When Nora learns the Viking gods blessed her with special powers, the stakes are higher than ever to claim the heavenly kingdom and crown. But can she overcome her romantic feelings for Frederick, who seems to both threaten and protect her? Or will she fall in love with the charming boy who just happens to be her worst enemy, jeopardizing her claim to the historic Viking legend? 

Follow Nora Hunt’s action-packed adventure as she fights deadly beasts that guard the ancient myth of the Shadowislands in this epic fantasy saga, throbbing with battles between Viking clans.

My Thoughts: 

I gave this book 4 stars. Once I got into it I couldn't seem to put it down, I just wanted to keep going. There were some parts in the beginning that had me a bit iffy, but as I got further in, that was a nonissue. 

One of the characters was very polarizing and I found it a bit distracting. I'm also very curious as to why he wears fake tan. That topic was sort of touched upon during the book, but I'm still left with questions. I really shouldn't have been caught on that one detail for so long.

 Other than that I thought this book was refreshing. It was like a weird mix of our world and something completely different. I'm pretty sure it was meant to be dystopian, and it was, but it felt like a fantasy or sci-fi novel. It was a dystopian that felt like a fantasy. 

The writing style was formal, but still seemed like a teen was speaking. Sort of like if an English major was writing about her adventures in the real world and wanted to be thorough. I can't say that I didn't like it or appreciate it.

Overall, I found the story and the writing very addicting and I can't wait to see where the author goes with the series. I hope to be getting to those once the author writes them.

The Bone Witch Review Spoiler Free

The Bone Witch
by Rin Chupeco

Release Date: March 7th, 2017

Synopsis:

In the captivating start to a new, darkly lyrical fantasy series for readers of Leigh Bardugo and Sabaa Tahir, Tea can raise the dead, but resurrection comes at a price...

Let me be clear: I never intended to raise my brother from his grave, though he may claim otherwise. If there's anything I've learned from him in the years since, it's that the dead hide truths as well as the living.

When Tea accidentally resurrects her brother from the dead, she learns she is different from the other witches in her family. Her gift for necromancy means that she's a bone witch, a title that makes her feared and ostracized by her community. But Tea finds solace and guidance with an older, wiser bone witch, who takes Tea and her brother to another land for training.

In her new home, Tea puts all her energy into becoming an asha-one who can wield elemental magic. But dark forces are approaching quickly, and in the face of danger, Tea will have to overcome her obstacles...and make a powerful choice.

Memoirs of a Geisha meets The Name of the Wind in this brilliant new fantasy series by Rin Chupeco!

My Thoughts:

I gave this book 4 stars. It was a bit slow in the beginning, for me at least, but it led me into the story and I can see that it is going to bet to the really good stuff in later books. Also, I just have to mention that the cover is absolutely gorgeous and I will be getting a hard copy of this as soon as I can.

The world was just so unique. I fell in love with the magic system and the land, but especially the magic. It was just so intriguing I couldn't get enough of it.

One of my favourite aspects was the heart glass. I want a heart glass. That would just be so cool!

I always find necromancy an interesting topic in a book. No matter what happens, some dead people are coming back to life, so it should be interesting.

It wasn't the best book ever, but it was really a good start to the story.

Overall, I think the author did a great job and I can't wait to see where she goes with the series. Consider me intrigued.

Top 5 Books to Get Out of a Slump

I decided not to do these in any particular order. They all have their different uses, so there really is no point in trying to rank them.

1. Harry Potter

When in doubt, go back to your roots. Harry Potter is what first got me into reading, it stands as my all time favourite book series, therefore it would only be logical for me to read it if I'm having a heard time getting through other things.

2. Any Jandy Nelson Book

Okay, so there are only two, but they are both excellent. I had a great time reading both of them, they took almost no effort to get through.

3. Gallagher Girls Series

Back to the old simple days. It's innocent and fun, what more could you need?

4. The Hunger Games

It's action packed. You can't go wrong, you will remain entertained. Gotta cover all the bases here.

5. The School for Good and Evil

It's fun and innocent, while still sending a good message. I'm pretty sure the first time I read it, it got me out of a slump just when it started.

What books help you guys get out of slumps?

A Dog's Purpose Spoiler Free Review

A Dog's Purpose
by W. Bruce Cameron

Synopsis:

This is the remarkable story of one endearing dog's search for his purpose over the course of several lives. More than just another charming dog story, this touches on the universal quest for an answer to life's most basic question: Why are we here? 

Surprised to find himself reborn as a rambunctious golden haired puppy after a tragically short life as a stray mutt, Bailey's search for his new life's meaning leads him into the loving arms of 8 year old Ethan. During their countless adventures Bailey joyously discovers how to be a good dog. But this life as a beloved family pet is not the end of Bailey's journey. Reborn as a puppy yet again, Bailey wonders, will he ever find his purpose? 

Heartwarming, insightful, and often laugh out loud funny, this book is not only the emotional and hilarious story of a dog's many lives, but also a dog's eye commentary on human relationships and the unbreakable bonds between man and man's best friend. This story teaches us that love never dies, that our true friends are always with us, and that every creature on earth is born with a purpose.

My Thoughts:

I gave this book 5 stars. It's only February and I can already tell that this is going to be one of my favourite books of the year, maybe even my number one favourite. While reading this book I realized that I was not emotionally stable enough to read it. If you are a dog lover, read it. If you are not a dog lover, still read it.

I think this book replaces The Green Mile for the book that made me cry the most. I cried during most of the book. Every time there was a new reincarnation of this dog I started crying again. Near the end of the book, during the last few pages I was sobbing so hard that it took me about ten minutes to read 4 pages.

Usually when I'm reading a book my problem is that I don't care enough about the characters, but my problem during this book is that the dog was such a good boy/girl. Too good for me. I cared too much. 

Now I decided to make this spoiler free because I honestly think that it's better to go into this without knowing much besides the synopsis. Honestly, you will be so emotionally invested int his book and the story that any problems it may have had just don't bother you. I don't think I noticed any problems in it, so basically it's the perfect book.

I have to say that the long term Ethan plot line was definitely my favourite. Ethan was his boy. Ethan was the one Bailey always wanted to get back to. I'm getting really emotional right now just thinking about it and I need to stop right now so that I don't start sobbing or get into huge spoilers of the book.

Quotes:

“Dogs have important jobs, like barking when the doorbell rings, but cats have no function in a house whatsoever.” 

“I guess I had never bothered to consider that there might such a thing as a boy, but now that I had found one, I thought it was just about the most wonderful concept in the world. He smelled of mud and sugar and an animal I'd never scented before, and a faint meaty odor clung to his fingers, so I licked them.” 

“As I sat in the sun on the wooden dock that jutted out into the pond, I knew this to be true: my name was Buddy, and I was a good dog.” 

“Humans were capable of so many amazing things, but too often they just sat making words, not doing anything.” 

(Looking for quotes made me start crying again)

Aspects of a Favourite Book

I already posted this on Books Amino, but I figured this was actually something I would want to post on here, so here I am.

All my favourite books pretty much have most of these in common.

Humor

Who doesn't like to laugh? I don't know, and if I ever meet one I will keep my distance. Honestly, humorous can save a book. I could hate every other aspect, but I can't completely hate a book if it's funny.

Tears

Tears mean that the book really reached me on an emotional level. I can't ignore that. Whether the tears are happy or sad, I love a book that can make me cry.

Characters

You have to like at least some of the characters in a book or you won't connect to the story. You won't relate to it. So I think characters are the backbone of a good book.

Plot

A good plot is the head attached to the backbone. Without a good plot the story would be meaningless and useless. You need a good plot to keep you engaged.

Friendship

Friends make the whole journey worth while. I may like to spend a lot of time alone, but I don't like being lonely, so it's good to still have people there for you.

Love

Whether it's family love, friend love, or romantic love, I need it in a book. I don't like reading books that lack some sort of strong bond. I have a hard time engaging with a story if there isn't any sort of loving relationship in it.

Feminism

I love it when a book is empowering. Strong female characters, smart, bold, fun, classy, sometimes not so classy, but strong anyway. Books that don't hate on anyone. Unless that someone is the antagonist then proceed. I don't like hate, I like mutual respect between people.

Writing Style

Each authors voice is different. I like hearing those different voices. I like it even more when I can pick up a book at random and know right away who's writing it is. One that stands out to me most is Maggie Stiefvater. She just has a way with words and I don't know how she does it.

Left Me Thinking

The ending just left me mind blown. I keep thinking about the book for days, even weeks after I finish it. I wonder where all the characters would be at this time, what they might be doing. Did they resolve that little thing that we never found out about in the book? Are they going to be okay? Are they happy?

What are some of your favourite aspects of books?

The Well of Ascension Review

The Well of Ascension 
by Brandon Sanderson

Release Date: August 21st, 2007

Spoilers

Synopsis:

#1 New York Times bestselling author Brandon Sanderson's epic Mistborn Trilogy continues with The Well of Ascension.

They did the impossible, deposing the godlike being whose brutal rule had lasted a thousand years. Now Vin, the street urchin who has grown into the most powerful Mistborn in the land, and Elend Venture, the idealistic young nobleman who loves her, must build a healthy new society in the ashes of an empire.

They have barely begun when three separate armies attack. As the siege tightens, an ancient legend seems to offer a glimmer of hope. But even if it really exists, no one knows where to find the Well of Ascension or what manner of power it bestows.

It may just be that killing the Lord Ruler was the easy part. Surviving the aftermath of his fall is going to be the real challenge.

My Thoughts:

I gave this book 5 stars. It was such an amazing sequel. Honestly, I didn't think it was going to live up to the first book, but it more than did. There were so many twists and turns I didn't expect and I just had a great time reading it.

So, new book, new characters. I have to say, that I actually really liked Zane. Zane was pretty crazy, or so I thought, but he was "my type". I really wanted him to stay away from my ship though, he spent almost the entire book trying to break them up and that pissed me off. What I liked about his character was that it felt like Brandon was trying to sort of poke fun at average stereotypical YA romances. There is a guy who is really broody and angsty who the main character is supposed to "save" as Zane kept repeating throughout the book. Now I don't know if the author actually meant it this way, I'm not your English teacher, I'm not trying to interpret things that aren't actually there. I am really interested to know who "God" was. Cause just as Zane was dying "God" told him that he wasn't actually crazy, so who is he? 

I also came to love Oreseur, or should I say OneSoon. The whole plot point with him was not what I was expecting at all. He grew on me as a character, but when it was revealed who he truly was, I have to say I was completely shocked. He was the second Kandra that was hidden in there midst. He was the one who had been spying on them so well. I love it when things happen that I don't expect.

I feel like I should wait to talk about this, but it's at the forefront of my mind right now and I need to get it out. So I read the last page before the Epilogue, first. I thought I had spoiled so much and i had just ruined the entire surprise for myself, but then when I finally got there, I realized I hadn't even scratched the surface of spoilers. I'm itching to get to the next book so that i can find out what they accidentally released from the Well of Ascension, was it "God" who was talking to Zane? What's going on here? Also, what's going to happen with Elend and him being a Mistborn. What are they going to do?

Speaking of Vin and Elend, I was a bit upset for about the first half of the book because they honestly felt like they were drifting apart, and then Zane came in with his idea for him and Vin to leave together and I was done. I was terrified that she was actually going to do it. Thankfully she didn't. But what happened next just made the whole suffering the first half so much better. Her and Elend finally got married. 

I was feeling so petty when Penrod got voted in. I was honestly so mad that I had to put the book down and do something else until I calmed down. I actually wrote down my feelings after this and I wrote down "I hope Penrod has a pen stuck up his rod" because I thought that he was actually going to get around to giving the city to Straff. When I am angry I am honestly so petty. Even with fictional characters.

I feel like the characters have just come so far in this book. Vin has just totally blossomed. She started in book one, but in this book, she was so insecure about everything from who she was to whether or not she was worthy of Elend. She just figured most of it out and I was really happy for her.

Then there was that whole thing with Sazed and Tindwyl. Things were going so well and they were just so cute witht heir nerd love! Sitting around studying all the time trying to figure the whole Well of Ascension and Hero of Ages thing out. Tindwyl may not have been my favourite character, but I was definitely sad that she had to die. She was so good for Sazed and after the life she's lived she deserved to be happy for once.

I need to get to the next book, probably not this month since I think I need a contemporary break, but soon.

Quotes:

“Elend: I kind of lost track of time…Breeze: For two hours?Elend: There were books involved.” 

“It was amazing how many books one could fit into a room, assuming one didn't want to move around very much.” 

“You know,” OreSeur muttered quietly, obviously counting on her tin to let Vin hear him, “it seems that these meetings would be more productive if someone forgot to invite those two.”Vin smiled. “They’re not that bad,” she whispered.OreSeur raised an eyebrow.“Okay,” Vin said. “They do distract us a little bit.”“I could always eat on of them, if you wish,” OreSeur said. “That might speed things up.”Vin paused.OreSeur, however had a strange little smile on his lips. “Kandra humor, Mistress. I apologize. We can be a bit grim.”Vin smiled. “They probably wouldn’t taste very good anyway. Ham’s far too stringy, and you don’t want to know the kinds of things that Breeze spends his time eating….”“I’m not sure,” OreSeur said. “One is, after all, named ‘Ham.’ As for the other…” He nodded to the cup of wine in Breeze’s hand. “He does seem quite fond of marinating himself.”