Tuesday 16 August 2016

Top Ten Tuesday #12

Top Ten Tuesday #12

Top Ten Books Set In An Apocalyptic / Dystopian World 

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and The Bookish and consists of them picking a topic each week for us bloggers to list our Top Ten.

The theme for this week is your top ten books set in a X setting and for this I've chosen the old classic apocalyptic / dystopian setting as I've been getting back into these books recently and decided to go back through my favourites!

1. Ashes by Ilsa J. Bick
From seeing many posts from me you all know that I just love this zombie apocalypse series. A very underated but amazing trilogy and one that I would definitely recommend for this theme!

2. Noughts & Crosses by Malorie Blackman
This novel and this series is another amazing dystopian novel that will just take your breathe away. I loved these so much and again would recommend to everyone.

3. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
I believe everyone has already read or watched the movies for this series and again this was my first dystopian series I had ever read so it will hold a place in my heart as my love for this genre grows.


Ashes (Ashes Trilogy, #1)Noughts & Crosses: Book 1The Hunger Games (The Hunger Games, #1)


4. Feed by Mira Grant
I was left breatheless and speechless after I finished the first book in this series. It was one of the few that gave me a book hangover and I've been so heartbroken to pick up the rest of the books in the series but I will definitely because this is a very unique take on a zombie apocalypse involving bloggers, blogging and politics.

5. Parasite by Mira Grant
Another fascinating dystopian / science fiction novel by Mira Grant. She is just amazing at writing this horrific novels. Again I've only read the first novel of this series but I will be catching p on it soon!

6. Partials by Dan Wells
Again another post-apocalyptic series that is very, very good. Again I have just read the first book, but I do have the other two in the series on my shelves just waiting to pick them up any day now!

Feed (Newsflesh Trilogy, #1)Parasite (Parasitology, #1)Partials (Partials, #1)

7. The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey
An amazingly constructed series right here. I've read the first two books and have loved them and I immediately got The Last Star on its release date but I'm so afraid to read it to finish this series. I know it will be brilliant though.

8. Legend by Marie Lu
Marie Lu is just an amazing author and her Legend series is proof of that. This dystopian series is anything but cliche, it is an amazingly unique and full of unexpected twists and turns that I would have never expected in a YA novel, Of course, again like all of these books I would recommend this to everyone.

9. Gone by Michael Grant
It was actually a friend of mine that made me read these books and I'm so glad he did. I enjoyed them so much! The whole series was fantastic and a definite recommendation from me. I really enjoy Michael Grant's writing and he is just an amazing person as well!

The 5th Wave (The 5th Wave, #1)Legend (Legend, #1)Gone (Gone, #1)

10. All Our Yesterdays by Cristin Terrill
This standalone novel has got to be the most amazing dystopian / science fiction standalone ever! This book had me on such a roller-coaster of emotions and it was completely unputdownable.

All Our Yesterdays


What theme did you choose and what books would you recommend?

Sunday 14 August 2016

Book Review - Forest of Ruin by Kelley Armstrong

Forest of Ruin (Age of Legends, #3) Forest of Ruin

(Age of Legends #3)

Author: Kelley Armstrong

Genres: Young Adult, Fantasy. 

Published: April 5 2016

Pages: 436 pages (Paperback) (Atom)

Read: June 20 - July 4 2016

Rating: 5 Stars




The empire rests on the edge of a knife, and sisters Ashyn and Moria are the handle and the blade. Desperate to outmaneuver the evil Alvar Kitsune, whose hold on the people grows stronger every day, Emperor Tatsu begs Moria to put aside past grievances and ally with Gavril—at least long enough to make an attempt on Alvar’s life. Meanwhile, reunited with her long-lost grandfather, Ashyn discovers that she is the key to a ritual that could reawaken an ancient dragon and turn the tide of the coming battle in their favor.

But with lies and betrayal lurking around every corner, Ashyn and Moria will have to decide once and for all where their allegiances are. And it may not be where their hearts would lead them....

Book 21/65 - 2016 Goodreads Reading Challenge

And here it is! The concluding book to Kelley Armstrong's Age of Legends series and I couldn't have asked for anything better.

Ever since finishing the second book Empire of Night I had been anticipating the release of Forest of Ruin. So naturally when it did come out I did my ever best to find this book so that I could read it as soon as possible. Unfortunately traipsing around my local stores brought no luck so I did have to order it online and then wait for its delivery but I soon did have it in my hands and a buddy read ready to go with a friend that I had read the whole series with.

So in Forest of Ruin we did pick up where we left off and I won't say anything more than that for fear of spoilers but my, my, my, was I kept on the edge of my seat throughout the whole of this book? There were twists, turns, events that I would have never thought would have happened and they happened and I was left breathless, in tears, caught in a whirlwind of emotions from betrayal to euphoria to utter devastation. There were plot twists and aspects of legends and stories added to this novel that made it the ever more action packed than it was previous. There were epic battles and times where your heart was in your mouth for fear of characters survival and it was all such a rush.

This concluding novel was everything that I was looking for and more. I am disappointed that the story has come to an end but that was inevitable and I am completely happy with how everything wrapped up in the end.

So if you did enjoy the previous two books or even the first novel and haven't yet continued with the series, the question you must ask yourself is why the hell not? And if you haven't picked up or touched this series yet you should really consider it as you will not regret it especially if you are already a Kelley Armstrong fan or if you are a fan of the dark and gory type of stories, of the stories that you can't predict or that will keep you on the edges of your seats. This is the series for you.

I honestly can not wait to see what else Kelley Armstrong has in store for her new releases especially for her YA audience because I for one will be sure to pick them up.

Friday 12 August 2016

Friday Reads #4

Friday Reads #4 (August 12 2016)

Here we are for another Friday reads! I'm going to try to make this more of a regular thing now. The book I'm currently reading now is Dreams of Gods and Monsters by Laini Taylor and I'm absolutely loving it! I really can't wait to see what happens but I still don't want the series to end, so I'm taking this slowly...

Dreams of Gods and Monsters (Daughter of Smoke and Bone, #3)


#ReadThemAllThon TBR

#ReadThemAllThon TBR


ReadThemAllThon

I just found out about this readathon on Youtube and instantly had to go check it out because I seriously need reading motivation and this readathon just sounds completely epic!

It is being run on the blog Read at Midnight and to have a look at the post click here!

But anyway this readathon takes place over a span of three weeks! And starts this Sunday August 14. There are also 8 challenges to complete and here is my TBR for them!

ReadThemAllThon-Badge01-Boulder
The book I choose for this is Am I Normal Yet? by Holly Bourne. First book in The Spinster Club Series.

ReadThemAllThon-Badge02-Cascader
For this I'm picking Heir of Fire by Sarah J. Maas because I heard some things ok and I don't know if they're true or not but I will more than likely cry in this book....

ReadThemAllThon-Badge03-Thunder
A book that I've seen get a lot of hype recently especially with the last book out or coming soon depending where you're living is Did I Mention I Love You? by Estelle Maskame.

ReadThemAllThon-Badge04-Rainbow
For this I'm picking If I Was Your Girl by Meredith Russo

ReadThemAllThon-Badge05-Soul
This one is going to be Dash and Lily's Book of Dares because I've heard this is just an epic romance novel.

ReadThemAllThon-Badge06-Marsh
For this I'm picking The Graces by Laure Eve. This doesn't release until September 1 so hopefully I'll receive the book that day and get it finished then before the end! If not, I'll be changing this book.

ReadThemAllThon-Badge07-Flame
The only book I have with red on it that I haven't read yet is What's A Girl Gotta Do? by Holly Bourne so that is what I choose.

ReadThemAllThon-Badge08-Earth
For this I'm picking Fragments by Dan Wells!


So here is my full TBR:

  1. Am I Normal Yet? by Holly Bourne
  2. Heir of Fire by Sarah J. Maas
  3. Did I Mention I Love You? by Estelle Maskame
  4. If I Was Your Girl by Meredith Russo
  5. Dash and Lily's Book of Dares by David Leviathan & Rachel Cohn
  6. The Graces by Laure Eve
  7. What's A Girl Gotta Do? by Holly Bourne
  8. Fragments by Dan Wells

And finally the part everyone has probably been waiting on.....
The Pokemon I choose is......


VULPIX
Vulpix artwork by Ken Sugimori

I literally cannot wait to start this read-a-thon! It is going to be so much fun!!


Thursday 11 August 2016

Mid-Year Book Freak Out Tag!!

Mid-Year Book Freak Out Tag!!

Here is a tag that has been going around where basically you freak out about the books you've already read this year!! It was firstly created by a booktuber, I'm not sure who, but I do know that the co-creator is ReadLikeWildFire! I am doing this because well, it will damn help a lot when it comes to the end of year tag :P

Here we go :P

*Note - So far in 2016 I have read 22 books,
Fourteen 5 Star Rating,
Five 4 Star Rating,
Three 3 Star Rating*

1. Best Book You've Read So Far in 2016?
This is such a hard question. I didn't answer it last but I'll try this year!
By genre!
Science Fiction - Winter by Marissa Meyer
Fantasy - Lady Midnight by Cassandra Clare
Historical Fiction - Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys
Realistic Fiction - The Unexpected Everything by Morgan Matson
Contemporary - Drowning Instinct by Ilsa J. Bick
Adult - Me Before You by Jojo Moyes
Middle Grade - Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone

2. Best Sequel You've Read So Far in 2016?
The best sequel that I've read so far this year was Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas

3. New Release You Haven't Read Yet, But Want To?
There are so many awesome releases that came out this year and it is so difficult to just decide on one but I really, really want to read is The Smell of Other People's Houses by Bonnie-Sue Hitchcock. This book just sounds so interesting and it released all the way back in February and I'm still here waiting to read it....

4. Most Anticipated Release For Second Half of 2016?
Again this question is like the last and there is a lot of answers I could give but I'll only go with one and the first book that comes to mind is Gemina by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff.

5. Biggest Disappointment?
My biggest disappointment this year would have to be You by Caroline Kepnes. From the raving reviews I heard about this book I thought that it was going to be amazing, but I really disliked it. I gae this book 3 stars but the more I think about it the less I want to give it. It has actually started to make my blood boil....  

6. Biggest Surprise?
Hmm, a book doesn't just spring to mind for this one but I'm going to go with Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. This year was the first time that I read this book and I read it in one day! That is a feat in itself for me but I just couldn't believe how much I enjoyed reading this book and how much I loved it! Of course I knew I'd love it.

7. Favourite New Author?
So far this year I've only read about three new to me authors and I've only read one work each by them but to pick a favourite I would have to go with Jojo Moyes. I read Me Before You and loved it and I have After You sitting on my shelf just waiting to be read next. 

8. Newest Fictional Crush?
Bloody hell! Many of my fictional crushes for this year were carried over from last year but there are a few new ones - Clark from The Unexpected Everything, Florian from Salt to the Sea and Mark Blackthorn from Lady Midnight.

9. Newest Favourite Character?
Ah characters, they all just make me want to add them to my favourites but I'm definitely going with Louisa Clark from Me Before You, Joana & Emilia from Salt to the Sea, Winter from Winter, Caddy & Rosie from Beautiful Broken Things and many many more.

10. Book That Made You Cry?
The Unexpected Everything by Morgan Matson

11. Book That Made You Happy?
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone by J. K. Rowling

12. Most Beautiful Book You've Bought So Far This Year?
Too complicated! Are we talking beautiful as in writing beautiful or stunning covers? If we're going with stunning covers it is Uprooted by Naomi Novik. I just love the paperback cover for this book!
Uprooted

13. What Books Do You Need To Read By The End of The Year?
Woah, woah, woah... There is a long list!.

  1. A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas
  2. Heir of Fire by Sarah J. Maas
  3. The Last Star by Rick Yancey
  4. The Midnight Star by Marie Lu
  5. Gemina by Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff
  6. Nevernight by Jay Kristoff
  7. An Ember In The Ashes by Sabaa Tahir
  8. The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater
  9. The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
  10. Uprooted by Naomi Novik

14. Favourite Book Community Member (Blogger, Booktuber, Bookstagrammer)
This is another impossible question! I love you all!!