Feature and Follow (19)

Here's this weeks question:

 

How do you write your reviews?

Ok, so this might sound strange, but I normally verbally talk about the book aloud as if I'm giving a presentation or making a youtube video (although I'm all alone in my room). I always feel like I'm able to get my main thoughts and feelings out that way, versus just sitting down at a computer to start typing. When I do that, I normally freeze and get writers block and don't know where to start. Whereas talking about the book aloud to myself the thoughts just flow haha.

As for the actual review, I guess I try and start off with a small summary of  my own. Then I usually talk about what I liked and disliked about the book, sometimes branching off into various categories like characters, world building, pace, plot etc. But to be honest I don't have a particular formula to my reviews, I just go with it...it may not be the most professional way of blogging. But as long as I'm having fun, I'm happy with it :)

Feature & Follow is a blog hop hosted by Parajunkee and Alison Can Read. The purpose is to meet new people and gain more followers in the book blogging community.

Review- The Sin Eater's Daughter (Melinda Salisbury)

Synopsis

I am the perfect weapon.
I kill with a single touch.

Twylla is blessed. The Gods have chosen her to marry a prince, and rule the kingdom. But the favour of the Gods has it's price. A deadly poison infuses her skin. Those who anger the queen must die under Twylla's fatal touch.

Only Lief, an outspoken new guard, can see past Twylla's chilling role to the girls she truly is.Yet in a court as dangerous and the queen's, some truths should not be told...                                    - Goodreads.com

My Review 

Twylla is the embodiment of the goddess Daunen, whose role is to bring hope to the city of Lormere but to also pass punishment on those who have been sentenced, with her poisonous touch. But mysteries and schemes unfold to reveal the real reason why Twylla was chosen to fill the role of Daunen, and her part in the Queens plan for Lormere.

"...I take my place behind the condemned, standing between them. I reach out, resting the palm of each hand on the back of each men's necks... Moments after I've touched them they are slumped against the top of the table blood streaming from their noses and pooling on the already-stained wood.  "

- Melinda Salisbury (The Sin Eater's Daughter)

The first half of this book was disappointing. Part of me feels like the first 150 pages were almost wasted. There was some background that got explored and some character ground work was laid but ultimately nothing really happened….The last half however was a brilliant and masterful story of treason, love, greed, conspiracy and revelation, which pretty much made up for the slow starting pace. When I look back though, the slow pace actually hid what would later become important, things that seemed completely normal or unobtrusive at the time which played a major part in the final revelation. I think that in itself is masterful writing, because it didn't give clues away easily and they just seemed to blend into the story unnoticed until you later thought back on them.

As for the characters, the Queens character was by far the most developed. She could give Cercei Lannister a run for her money. Evil, twisted and greedy. She is determined to keep her followers in line and charges anyone who commits an offence against her, no matter how little it is. Twylla was hard to like at times, she seemed far too naïve, and never fought back against the Queen (although I can see why, cause the Queen Is cray cray.) I felt she was a little to damsel in distress most of the time, but by the end she had come into her own.

"...The whole realm knew the queen's punishments were unusually cruel, but to see them, smell them, hear them as they ripped the man apart was too much.  "

- Melinda Salisbury (The Sin Eater's Daughter)

There are hints of a love triangle, but not in the typical sense. The love triangle actually reminded me a little of Throne of Glass, as one was the prince and the other Twylla’s guard. Twylla is torn between the two not because she loves them both, but one because of feelings and the other as a sense of duty to her role as Daunen and also her city.

There were definitely some interesting aspects incorporated into the book, the folklore surrounding the downfall of another city and the prince who was cursed there. The sin eating was cited a few times although didn’t play a major role in the overall story, which considering the title I thought it would. The role of Daunen and the religion/Gods surrounding Lormere were also interesting an added to the world building.

I actually really like the ending, I’ve seen some people say it’s confusing, and I guess it’s kind of left up to interpretation. I feel like everything was wrapped up nicely though with only a few trivial questions left unanswered. It could easily be a standalone, although there is the potential for it to become a trilogy (which I think it is?).

Overall, not a fantastic read due to the drawn out beginning, but if you can hang in there, the end picks up and will hold your attention. 

Things I loved about the book:

• The incorporated folklore and religion were all very different.
• The last half was great. While not necessarily action packed, there were a lot of conspiracies and treachery which kept me guessing.

Things I didn't like about the book:

• The drawn out start, that almost made me want to DNF this book.

My rating: 3/5

Challenges Contributed To

 

Bout of Books 13.0 Wrap-Up

The Bout of Books read-a-thon is organized by Amanda @ On a Book Bender and Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal. It is a week long read-a-thon that begins 12:01am Monday, May 11th and runs through Sunday, May 17th in whatever time zone you are in. Bout of Books is low-pressure. There are challenges, giveaways, and a grand prize, but all of these are completely optional. For all Bout of Books 13 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. - From the Bout of Books team

Wrap-up

So my goals at the start of the week were to finish he book I was currently reading; The Sin Eater's Daughter, read the first two volumes of 'Ouran High-school Host Club' and to start a new book. I also wanted to participate in some challenges which I managed to do, which were a lot of fun. So all up I completed all my goals for the week including starting a new book, which was To All The Boys I've Loved Before, which I'm currently 197 pages into.

Finished

 

Currently Reading

  Did you Participate in Bout Of Books? Did you complete your goals, leave your link and I will check it out :)

Movie Monday (6)

Movie Monday  can be found here @ Mindful Musings. It’s where  two of my favorite things come together: books...and movies! We've got everything from ideal castings for your favorite book to movie recommendations based on the books you've read and liked. 

So this weeks Book Casting is..

The Avery Shaw Experiment

by Kelly Oram

My Cast

Avery Shaw's heart is broken when her best friend Aiden decides that the two spend too much time together and should start making other friends and spend time with other people.  As a way of coping she decides to use her new found heartbreak as a science experiment; the ultimate conclusion, can a broken heart mend through the 7 stages of grief. Avery is a pretty (but kind of plain) nerdy brunette.

But Grayson Kennedy thinks she is anything but plain. The senior high school football jock, and also older brother of Avery's former best friend Aiden sees Avery as so much more than she see's herself. He decides to take on his own experiment to help Avery get over his idiot of a little brother, by introducing her to the 'cool' kids and helping her to live a little. However along the way his protective 'big brother' feelings develop into more. 

 If you've read the book, Who would you cast as these characters? I’d love to hear your thoughts (and see your pictures) Or link back with your own Movie Monday post with a book of your choosing.

Feature and Follow (18)

Here's this weeks question:

 

How do you organize your books? Either at home on your bookshelf or on your reading device, or bookish platform eg.Goodreads?

I'm ashamed to say my physical shelves are currently in disarray. I have more books than shelf space so unfortunately some of them are double stacked. However, usually I would group them by series and also size (I hate it when the books aren't level with each other). I also try to have them in genres if possible.

My reading device is a bit of a shambles, they're mainly sorted in alphabetical order with different tabs for completed, currently reading and TBR books. As for Goodreads, I am a grouper. I have groups for the books I'm most anticipating, the top books on my TBR list, series I need to finish and so on and so forth. That's probably my most organised platform haha

Feature & Follow is a blog hop hosted by Parajunkee and Alison Can Read. The purpose is to meet new people and gain more followers in the book blogging community.

What's Next? (4)

What's Next? Is a cute little weekly feature hosted by IceyBooks, where you can get readers to help you decide what you should read next from your TBR.

Readers can rank the books, or just give their opinion on which was their favorite. If you want to join in head over to IceyBooks and link up your post :)

So I intend on participating in this feature monthly (rather than weekly) and posting 3-5 books at the start of the month which I'm interested in reading next. Instead of posting a synopsis, I'm  going to post the first sentence of each book as a teaser, and see which ones you guys vote for. You can also click the book which links back to the Goodreads synopsis. 

This Month

"The way I figure it, everyone get's a miracle.Like, I will probably never be struck by lightening, or win a Nobel prize, or become a dictator of a small nation in the Pacific Islands, or contract terminal ear cancer, or spontaneously combust."

- John Green (Paper Towns)

"I have three simple wishes. They're really not too much to ask.
The first is to attend the winter formal dressed as Marie Antoinette. "

- Stephanie Perkins (Lola and The Boy Next Door)

"Eleven Years, Two Months, Seven Days.
The last time I had physical contact with a blood relative."

- Katie McGarry (Crash Into You)

From the first lines of each book (or based on if you enjoyed them) which book should I read next?

Bout of Books- Challenge #3

The Bout of Books read-a-thon is organized by Amanda @ On a Book Bender and Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal. It is a week long read-a-thon that begins 12:01am Monday, May 11th and runs through Sunday, May 17th in whatever time zone you are in. Bout of Books is low-pressure. There are challenges, giveaways, and a grand prize, but all of these are completely optional. For all Bout of Books 13 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. - From the Bout of Books team

Challenge #3

Challenge #3 is hosted by Kristina Horner (go check out her blog) and is to write a haiku about whatever book your reading at the moment. So here it goes...

Sin Eaters Daughter.
A touch, of poison and death
Goddess Embodied.

So that was my haiku, based on some of the themes from the book "The Sin Eaters Daughter" (if you hadn't alreasy guessed) hope you enjoyed, and if you've participated in this challenge, leave your link. I would love to check it out :)

Bout of Books- Challenge #1

The Bout of Books read-a-thon is organized by Amanda @ On a Book Bender and Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal. It is a week long read-a-thon that begins 12:01am Monday, May 11th and runs through Sunday, May 17th in whatever time zone you are in. Bout of Books is low-pressure. There are challenges, giveaways, and a grand prize, but all of these are completely optional. For all Bout of Books 13 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. - From the Bout of Books team

Challenge #1

Challenge #1 is a bookish survey hosted by Writing My Own Fairytale, so if your keen to join in head over there for the instructions and to show some love. 

1. How do you organize your shelves?

My shelves are currently not very organised, but I tend to do it via genre and size if possible. I've also always been a fan of the rainbow shelf, but have never been daring wnough to try it myself.

2. What is one of your favorite book that’s not in one of your favorite genres?The Raging Quiet. It's YA historical fiction, which isn't one of my favorite genres, maybe because there isn't really a lot of YA historical fic. out there. But this has been one of my all time favorites since I read it probably 10 years ago.

3. What is the last 5 star book you read?

Saga Volume 4 by Brian K. Vaughn. If your into graphic novels I highly suggest it!

4. What book are you most excited to read during the read-a-thon?

My TBR is pretty short for this TBR, but I'm pretty excited about the Manga's. I've been watching the Anime version of 'Ouran Highschool Host Club', which is adorable, ridiculous and hilarious all at once. I'm also looking forward to Black Ice, since it seems to be quite different from Becca Fitzpatricks previous works.

5. What book do you recommend the most?

Stolen: A Letter to My Captor. It's not for everyone, but it gives me chills and it's one of the few books that I can still remember clearly and I remember it being on my mind weeks after finishing it.

 Are you Participating in Bout Of Books? Leave a link to your Challenge #1 Post?

Bout of Books 13.0 Read-a-thon

The Bout of Books read-a-thon is organized by Amanda @ On a Book Bender and Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal. It is a week long read-a-thon that begins 12:01am Monday, May 11th and runs through Sunday, May 17th in whatever time zone you are in. Bout of Books is low-pressure. There are challenges, giveaways, and a grand prize, but all of these are completely optional. For all Bout of Books 13 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. - From the Bout of Books team

Sadly I realized today that I haven't participated in a Bout of Books Read-a-thon since 7.0 which was in 2013 :( Time really does fly, and I hadn't originally planned on participating in this one since I'm not exactly time rich this week. But I thought what the heck and decided to give it a go and see what I could manage :)

Books to Read

 

 Are you Participating in Bout Of Books? What books do you plan on reading for the challenge?

Movie Monday (5)

Movie Monday can be originally found @ Mindful Musings. It’s where  two of my favorite things come together: books...and movies! We've got everything from ideal castings for your favorite book to movie, recommendations based on the books you've read and liked or just movie and TV reviews. 

So this weeks Book Casting is..

Because of Low

by Abbie Glines

My Cast

Willow Foster, or more familiarly referred to as Low is a petite red haired uni student. She's grown up with pretty much nothing, and with her close friend Cage York as the only one she can rely on. I imagine her to have a slightly carefree rebel look about her. She's not overly concerned with her appearance and has a fancy for t-shirts from old Rock concerts. She's the girl from the wrong side of the tracks, trying to make something more for herself, and who imagines that the wealthy and handsome Marcus Hardy would never notice her.

But Marcus Hardy definitely takes notice of her. Marcus has your typical boyish good looks, fair haired with ripply abs. But he's much more than his exterior and he feels a connection with Low and the underlying need to protect her. But will she ever let him in, or has she been hurt too many times before?

 If you've read the book, Who would you cast as these characters? I’d love to hear your thoughts (and see your pictures) Or link back with your own Movie Monday post with a book of your choosing.


Images found at:
 Low-https://www.pinterest.com/pin/325314773060237920/
Marcus: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/331014641334818397/
Disclaimer: None of the images used are my own and were gathered from pinterst or other similar websites.

Review- The Avery Shaw Experiment (Kelly Oram)

Synopsis

When Avery Shaw’s heart is shattered by her life-long best friend, she chooses to deal with it the only way she knows how—scientifically. 

The state science fair is coming up and Avery decides to use her broken heart as the topic of her experiment. She’s going to find the cure. By forcing herself to experience the seven stages of grief through a series of social tests, she believes she will be able to get over Aiden Kennedy and make herself ready to love again. But she can’t do this experiment alone, and her partner (ex partner!) is the one who broke her heart.

Avery finds the solution to her troubles in the form of Aiden’s older brother Grayson. The gorgeous womanizer is about to be kicked off the school basketball team for failing physics. He’s in need of a good tutor and some serious extra credit. But when Avery recruits the lovable Grayson to be her “objective outside observer,” she gets a whole lot more than she bargained for, because Grayson has a theory of his own: Avery doesn’t need to grieve. She needs to live. And if there’s one thing Grayson Kennedy is good at, it’s living life to the fullest.                                         - Goodreads.com

My Review 

Avery Shaw is a science nerd. Her most recent experiment, to rid herself of a broken heart by going through the 7 stages of grief. Her lab partner, the hunky older brother of her former best friend and the boy who broke her heart. 

Avery’s world falls apart when her best friend since birth Aiden, who she has grown up doing EVERYTHING with, decides that he wants to spend time apart and with other people. Shocked and heartbroken, since Avery is convinced their friendship would develop into more, she decides the best way to get over him is to document it scientifically through the 7 stages of grief. Enter Aiden’s older brother, Grayson. A notorious player and womanizer who takes Avery under his wing and makes it his mission to help her get over his geeky little brother. But things start to get interesting when Grayson finds himself falling for the adorably naïve and nerdy Avery.

'"I think I need a little space for a while."
For just a brief moment, time stopped...like a heart that had skipped a beat. When it started back up, my life had been forever altered'

- Kelly Oram (The Avery Shaw Experiment)

This book is much more than I expected. Yes its light, yes it’s fluffy, yes the main male protagonist makes me swoony. But this book has heart as well and actually has a story more complex than boy meets girl and falls into insta-love.  

Throughout the book Avery is convinced she’s meant to be with Aiden despite the fact she’s heartbroken and he no longer wants to spend time with her. She looks to Grayson as like an older brother who has always kind of been around and loves to annoy her. Then when Avery is left in the lurch for her science fair project Grayson steps up to help out, while Avery in return helps raise his Physics from a failing grade. But along the way of their mutually beneficial relationship, something magical happens, and Grayson starts to see Avery as more than his little brothers best friend. Although, whether Avery will return those feelings is a mystery.

Of course, as Avery travels through those stages, particularly Anger and Depression stuff gets real and without a doubt you know that once Aiden realises he’s made a big mistake there’s going to be a showdown between the siblings.

Grayson is an easily likeable character. At the start he is played out to be his sweaty, horny jock who’s a big flirt. But after seeing Avery so distraught over his brother his sweet and protective instincts for her emerge and he is constantly looking out for her. The moment he sees her as more than just his little brothers best friend is utterly adorable.

"I was scared for her, which was kind of a new feeling for me because I never really pay that much attention to anyone. Aves was just so destroyed after New Years that I couldn't help myself. I was either stepping up my role of overprotective big brother, or I'd developed an impossible crush. "

- Kelly Oram (The Avery Shaw Experiment)

Avery is also not your typical main protagonist. She’s smart, into science and suffers from anxiety. She manages to go through all 7 stages of the grief process with hilarity and realistic emotions that any teenager/ young adult can relate to. 

Things I loved about the book:

• Despite being cutesy and a little corny at times. it was highly addictive and the characters were hilarious.
• The human and realistic characters that were easy to relate to.
• The whole boy falls in love with his little brothers best friend thing just totally gets me every time.

Things I didn't like about the book:

• The cover looks kind of childish, and really didn't sell me on the book to begin with, but all the great reviews encouraged me to give it a go.

My rating: 4/5

Top Ten Tuesday (20)

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by the amazing Broke And The Bookish.

Top Books I Will Probably Never Read

So these books are pretty low on my TBR, I may read them some day but for one reason or another their not my highest priority. I've also included a few series which I will probably not continue with.

 

So these first ones are all series that I will probably never continue reading (They're all so pretty though!). I read Of Poseidon a little while ago and wasn’t a huge fan. It was Ok, and at the time of finishing I was keen to continue on with the rest in the series. But as time has passed I’ve discovered so many more other books I would rather read.  Fallen and Halo both fall into similar categories. I will almost definitely not be reading the rest of both series. I really was not a fan of the either books. Plus I prefer my angels a little bit more rugged, like Raffe in Angelfall (Yum!).

I would like to read Les Miserables  at some point in my life, but the reality of it is that the sheer volume of this book brings on anxiety. It’s just not one that I think I’m going to be reading any time soon, if ever. 

As for Room, I have seen this book multiple times and every time I see it at a store I always pick it up and read the cover. I’m really torn because a part of me really wants to read this, but at the same time I just don’t think I could put myself through that emotional exhaustion. 

I’ve heard mixed things about the House of Night series. I feel like the number of books in this series is a bit too much of an investment for me. Plus I’m kind of over the whole vampire hype, this might have been one I read in high-school. But it’s probably not for me anymore.

I feel I have mentioned a few times that I’m a big wuss when it comes to scary things. I respect Stehen King as a writer, but there is no way I will be reading one of his horror novels anytime soon.

 

What books will you probably never read? or if there's a book on this list you really enjoyed let me know :)

April Wrap-Up

April was a busy month for me. I graduated last month with a Diploma in Veterinary Nursing so I can officially put those little symbols next to my name Yay! I managed to read 4 books which is kind of become my default amount for a month. This month I'm hoping to boost it up to 5 but we'll see. Blogging wise April was a little sporadic, hopefully I'll be a bit more regular with my posts this month.

Finished

  

All the books I picked up were really good. Confess buy Colleen Hoover was my 5 star read of the month (Review to come soon). All the others though very different from each other were 4 stars. Avery Shaw, was a great light and funny read to finish the month off with. The Merciless was intense and completely different from what I was expecting...in a good way.(My full review can be found here). Anatomy of a Misfit was a great book to start the month with but also broke my heart with that ending.

Up Next In May

I've been in a super contemporary mood lately, and my choices for May reflect this. I'm keen to continue on with the Sea Breeze Novels, with the second in the series Because of Low. I like that these novels are companion books, and feature different protagonists in each one, but still providing some insight into previous characters lives. Plus they make for great light reads. I've been meaning to read To all The Boys I've Loved Before for a long time (pretty much since it was released), and now with the release of the second book in the series there's no reason not to. Unmaking Hunter Kennedy, was suggested to me after reading The Avery Shaw Project (which I adored) as it has a similar theme and feel to it. 

   

Other Favourites

Music wise I am loving Ray Lamontagne's album 'Gossip in the Grain'. His music is quite hard to describe but it's reminiscent of old school blues and soul singers like Otis Redding. If you're keen try one of his more upbeat songs 'You are the Best Thing.' A great album if your in a soulful mood.

I am also enjoying the 3rd season of Breaking Bad at the moment. I took a little break from it but I'm getting back into it. I can't say it's as good as the first 2 seasons, but it's still enjoyable. I also joined Netflix last month, so I feel a lot more telly time is in my future. 

GTA V is my game of choice for April and May. I've only clocked about 30% of it so far. But I really like the ability to switch between the characters, and how the characters lives all contribute to plot advancement and intertwine. The graphics are superb, and it's a great way to relieve pent up stress after a crap day at work...nothing like hijacking a car and driving like a maniac to get some rage out of my system . 

What books did You read in the Month of March?  Which was your favorite?