Month: February 2017

Teaser Tuesday – February 28th, 2017

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly meme currently being hosted by Ambrosia @ The Purple Booker. All are welcome to participate!

Rules:

  • Grab your current read.
  • Open to a random page.
  • Share two ‘teaser’ sentences from somewhere on that page.
  • BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! You don’t want to give too much away so as to not ruin the book for others!
  • Share the title and author so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR lists if they like your teasers.

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Furthermore by Tahereh Mafi

But between you and me, dear reader, I would dare to share my humble opinion that Oliver’s stupidity alone was flimsy reasoning for Alice abandoning her otherwise well-traveled, well-informed partner at such a critical juncture in the story. If Alice had any sense of self-preservation she would’ve waited for a safer moment (or a safer place) to have walked away; but Alice and Oliver had more in common than they realized: The two possessed passionate, rumpled spirits and they were both guilty of crimes committed of childish ignorance.

-page 246

I’ve only read a few chapters so far of this novel. However, I’m really enjoying it so far – it’s so whimsical and cute! I think Mafi’s writing is a perfect for middle grade novels too. This book reminds me so much of Alice in Wonderland or Peter Pan. It just has that classic feel to it that I really enjoy.

Inspired by her childhood love of books like The Secret Garden and The Chronicles of Narnia, bestselling author Tahereh Mafi crafts a spellbinding new world where color is currency, adventure is inevitable, and friendship is found in the most unexpected places.

There are only three things that matter to twelve-year-old Alice Alexis Queensmeadow: Mother, who wouldn’t miss her; magic and color, which seem to elude her; and Father, who always loved her. The day Father disappears from Ferenwood he takes nothing but a ruler with him. But it’s been almost three years since then, and Alice is determined to find him. She loves her father even more than she loves adventure, and she’s about to embark on one to find the other.

But bringing Father home is no small matter. In order to find him she’ll have to travel through the mythical, dangerous land of Furthermore, where down can be up, paper is alive, and left can be both right and very, very wrong. It will take all of Alice’s wits (and every limb she’s got) to find Father and return home to Ferenwood in one piece. On her quest to find Father, Alice must first find herself—and hold fast to the magic of love in the face of loss.

Have you read Furthermore? What are you currently reading? Leave a link to your Teaser Tuesday in the comments below!

Book Review: Caraval (Caraval, #1)

I’m sure that by now, everyone has heard of Stephanie Garber’s Caraval (Caraval, #1). If you haven’t, well, that’s just crazy talk because everyone and I mean EVERYONE has been talking about it. And because everyone is talking about how amazing it is, and it is soooo amazing, I’m really going to focus on the not-so-amazing parts. Does that sound good to you? If it doesn’t…sorry?

Whatever you’ve heard about Caraval, it doesn’t compare to the reality. It’s more than just a game or a performance. It’s the closest you’ll ever find to magic in this world . . .

Welcome, welcome to Caraval―Stephanie Garber’s sweeping tale of two sisters who escape their ruthless father when they enter the dangerous intrigue of a legendary game.

Scarlett has never left the tiny island where she and her beloved sister, Tella, live with their powerful, and cruel, father. Now Scarlett’s father has arranged a marriage for her, and Scarlett thinks her dreams of seeing Caraval, the far-away, once-a-year performance where the audience participates in the show, are over.

But this year, Scarlett’s long-dreamt of invitation finally arrives. With the help of a mysterious sailor, Tella whisks Scarlett away to the show. Only, as soon as they arrive, Tella is kidnapped by Caraval’s mastermind organizer, Legend. It turns out that this season’s Caraval revolves around Tella, and whoever finds her first is the winner.

Scarlett has been told that everything that happens during Caraval is only an elaborate performance. But she nevertheless becomes enmeshed in a game of love, heartbreak, and magic with the other players in the game. And whether Caraval is real or not, she must find Tella before the five nights of the game are over, a dangerous domino effect of consequences is set off, and her sister disappears forever.

Honestly, I could go on and on about how amazing the plot was and how completely engrossed I was by this novel. I mean, I did read it in 24 hours. But all I’m going to say is that this book completely pulls you in and doesn’t let you go until the very last page. The hype is real, y’all. However, I did have a few issues with this book even though I enjoyed it so much that they did not affect my overall rating of it.

First off, Scarlett…. Y’all, I hate to say this but I just didn’t like her at all as a character. It was admirable how much she loved her sister and would do anything for her. But I think that’s the only quality that I liked about her unfortunately. Throughout the whole book, all she does is whine and talk about how scared she is. She also kind of just makes some of the silliest choices earlier on that I did not agree with. Overall, she wasn’t really my type of heroine. I much preferred Tella (who I’m thinking will be the MC in the sequel! *squeals happily*). Also, I might be in love with the mysterious and mad Legend. Seriously, I need more of him IMMEDIATELY.

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I also had a bit of trouble with the world-building. The carnival part was fine, but it was the overall world within it was set that had me a little confused at times. I feel like stuff was mentioned but it never developed into an actual explanation. I think that Garber should really expand upon all of the politics and world within which the story is set. I think there was something interesting aspects to it that she mentioned but never fully fleshed out, especially in regards to the Scarlett and Tella’s father, and his political position.

However, even with the issues that I did have in regards to the story, it never affected just how much I was so thoroughly entrenched in this story. I couldn’t bring myself to put it down or try and take my time with it – I had to know what would happen next! There were so many twists and turns that I never saw coming and it all just added to the dark and manipulative atmosphere of the Carnival. This is one of those books where despite some of its flaws, I can’t give it anything lower than 5 stars. I know, I know.. I’m such a pushover.

Final Verdict: 5/5 Stars

Have you read Caraval? What are your thoughts on it? Did you have some issues with it as well? Did they affect your ability to enjoy the overall story?

The Try A Chapter Tag

I saw this tag being done by Anette @ Anette Reads and just thought it was the perfect way to decide which book to finish off the end of February with.

This tag was created by BookParadise on Youtube.

RULES:

  • Pick 5 (or more) books from your tbr
  • Read the first chapter of all of them (including the prologue if there is one)
  • Tell your readers if you’re sold on the book and what you thought of the first chapter.
  • Are you going to finish the book this month?

I chose 5 different books that I’ve been wanting to read for a while now. I also tried to make sure that they were all fairly different in terms of genre, plot, etc. so that they wouldn’t mix together as I was trying to read through them all. And without further ado, here are my choices…

  1. The Shadow Queen (Ravenspire, #1) by C.J. Redwine
  2. Love, Lies, and Spies by Cindy Anstey
  3. Furthermore by Tahereh Mafi
  4. We Are Still Tornadoes by Michael Kun & Susan Mullen
  5. Armada by Ernest Cline

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Option #1: This one was 15 pages long, including the prequel. We are basically introduced to the main character, Lorelai, who is basically in hiding from the queen, her wicked stepmother. This is a retelling of Snow White, so I’m sure you all know where this is going. But this story has Lorelai full of magical abilities that she is trying to build up to one day be able to defeat the queen. She’s currently in hiding with the old captain of palace guard and her younger brother, the prince.

I thought this one was light and funny, with some really interesting characters. Lorelai was alright but I was more entertained by her brother. He had me cracking up with all of his hilarious comments. I feel like this will be a fairly quick read too. I’m intrigued to see where the story will go and how closely it will stick to the original story.

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Option #2: The first chapter for this book was 17 pages long. We are first introduced to Juliana who is actually hanging off the edge of a cliff out over the ocean. She’s in a bit of a predicament but is luckily rescued by two gentlemen that happen to walk by at the right moment. They never give any information about themselves and quickly send Juliana on her way home.

Okay, this one had my giggling out loud at Juliana’s thoughts and comments. She’s a very spunky and strange girl, especially considering this to be set in Regency England. I loved how quick her interactions with the two men were. This one makes me think of Pride and Prejudice but with a modern twist, if that makes sense.

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Option #3: Furthormore was the shortest first chapter being only 8 pages, including the prequel. This chapter was really only used to introduce us to the main character, Alice, who is completely devoid of color. This is especially strange, because her world is magically full of color and very vivd colors at that.

I’ve always loved Mafi’s writing style, but I think she really hit her stride with this book. It’s so whimsical and really vividly paints a picture of the world within the story is set in. I actually felt like this one has the whimsical and classical writing that is reminiscent of Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland series. Seriously.

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Option #4: As this book isn’t written in chapters, but is instead written in a series of letters back and forth between the two protagonists, I read about 10 pages. We are introduced to Scott and Cath who are best friends that have grown up next door to each other. Now Cath has gone off to college at Wake Forest and Scott has stayed at home to work at his father’s clothing store. This book is set during 1982 as well, so they’re only source on contact is by writing letters back and forth.

This one is so cute. I loved the fun and silly relationship between these two characters. Scott’s letters would leave me cracking up with all of his jokes. I also enjoyed reading about how much Cath couldn’t stand her roommate, so funny. I like that this will also be a really quick read due to the fact that it’s formatted in letter form. It also includes an 80’s playlist curated by the author’s to listen to, which is pretty cool.

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Option #5: This one was a little longer, coming in at 13 pages long. This starts off with the main character, Zach, sitting in class and as he is staring out the window, he notices a UFO flying around outside. However, no one else has noticed this at all because they’re too busy watching the class jerk, picking on a shy kid. Apparently Zach has anger-management issues and has previously gotten into a fight with this bully before. Well, he comes to the rescue of the shy kid and then before things escalate too far, he runs out of the classroom and drives home.

I thought this was a really interesting first chapter. I loved how we got to see so many different sides to Zach in such a short period of time. I also loved that just like Cline’s previous novel, Ready Player One, we are given so many pop culture and nerdy references. However, this one doesn’t really focus just on the 80’s but rather from all over. Zach’s two best friends are actually overheard discussing which fictional weapon is better, Thor’s hammer, Mjolnir, or Frodo’s sword, Sting.

And Winner Is…

Option #4 – We Are Still Tornadoes by Michael Kun and Susan Mullen

I don’t read many contemporaries and this was one that I actually found myself caring about what happens next. I also like the letter format and how this could be a really quick read, maybe even quick enough to finish within 24 hours. I think it’ll be good to mix up from my normal fantasy and science fiction books. Hopefully it continues to be good! I did enjoy all of the books I started so much, that I’ve added them all to my March TBR though. 🙂

Have you read any of the books on my list? What did you think of them? Would you like to do the tag to help choose your next read? If so, then I tag you!!

 

Hype or Like Friday – February 24th, 2017

Just another Hype or Like Friday! This meme and Goodreads group were created by myself, Jill @ Rant and Rave Books, and Britt @ Geronimo Reads. To join our group and find out more information about what it’s all about, please go to our Goodreads page HERE.

The February BOTM is Truthwitch (The Witchlands, #1) by Susan Dennard.

RULES:

  • Answer the weekly discussion topic.
  • Optional: Discuss your chosen hyped book of the week.
  • Optional: Talk about your progress on the BOTM.

TOPIC OF THE WEEK: BOTM Review!

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I’m so glad that we chose this book for our February BOTM. I’ve actually owned Susan Dennard’s Truthwitch (The Witchlands, #1) since it was first released. Unfortuantely, I had heard so many negative reviews on it that I was completely turned off from wanting to read it. I really, really regret that decision.

In a continent on the edge of war, two witches hold its fate in their hands.

Young witches Safiya and Iseult have a habit of finding trouble. After clashing with a powerful Guildmaster and his ruthless Bloodwitch bodyguard, the friends are forced to flee their home.

Safi must avoid capture at all costs as she’s a rare Truthwitch, able to discern truth from lies. Many would kill for her magic, so Safi must keep it hidden – lest she be used in the struggle between empires. And Iseult’s true powers are hidden even from herself.

In a chance encounter at Court, Safi meets Prince Merik and makes him a reluctant ally. However, his help may not slow down the Bloodwitch now hot on the girls’ heels. All Safi and Iseult want is their freedom, but danger lies ahead. With war coming, treaties breaking and a magical contagion sweeping the land, the friends will have to fight emperors and mercenaries alike. For some will stop at nothing to get their hands on a Truthwitch.

I remember so many different people saying how boring this book was and how there was nothing really happening for the most part. Now, I get that we all have different opinions and observations about the stories that we read… But to those people, WHAT BOOK WERE YOU READING?! The pacing was so on point in this novel. There was action from the very first page and it never stops from there. I found myself so engrossed in the story and plotline that I struggled to make myself put this book down every night. I didn’t want the story to end!

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And oh my, those characters… Do you love sass? Stubbornness? Maybe even a little trouble? Then Safi will be you new favorite heroine. She is always running into trouble, causing it really, and is constantly throwing out the wittiest comebacks ever. Seriously, the sass game is strong with this one and I LOVE IT. Where Safi is wild and uninhibited, Iseult is cautious, quiet, and always takes the time to plan her strategy. She reminds me of an old soul really. I just loved how different the two girls are but how strong their friendship is. The entire plot actually revolves around their friendship and I so appreciated Dennard giving us a story with a wonderful female friendship. As for our male leads, Merik is just a delight. He’s as sassy as Safi and their interactions throughout the book would leave my giggling out loud. Seriously, their snarky comments gave me life. As for Aeduan, he’s the dark and brooding one with some not-so-good intentions involving our leading ladies. However, his POV was definitely one of my favorites.

I think my only issues with this book was that it was a tad bit confusing in the beginning. There are so many types of witches but they weren’t described very well, so a lot of the time when they were mentioned, you just had read it and move on. There wasn’t enough information to describe how the witches hierarchy worked, what they all did, or even why some people had magic and others did not. I also felt the overall world-building was a little on the weaker side. I felt not enough attention was given to explain the history of the world or why there was so much animosity amongst the different countries. I think that more will be explain as the series progresses, I just wish we had been given a bit more information in this first book.

Overall, this book was wonderful and exciting. There were a few misses here and there, but nothing that detracted from how enjoyable I found this book. This was definitely a LIKE from me!!!

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Have you read Truthwitch? What did you think of it? Leave a link to your Hype or Like Friday post in the comments below!

WWW Wednesday – February 22nd, 2017

Welcome to WWW Wednesday which is currently being hosted by Sam @ Taking On A World of Words. It’s really just a place to do little update on what all you’ve been reading lately. Anyone is welcome to join, just leave a link to your post in the comments and be sure to give the appropriate credit to Sam!

The Three W’s are:

  • What are you currently reading?
  • What did you recently finish reading?
  • What do you think you’ll read next?

What are you currently reading?

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So the first book for me was enjoyable but I didn’t find it as amazing as everyone claimed it to be. I think the hype might’ve gotten to me a bit. However, this book is soooooo good. It’s been action from the very first page and I’m having to force myself to put it down and go to sleep. OBSESSED.

Elias and Laia are running for their lives. After the events of the Fourth Trial, Martial soldiers hunt the two fugitives as they flee the city of Serra and undertake a perilous journey through the heart of the Empire.

Laia is determined to break into Kauf—the Empire’s most secure and dangerous prison—to save her brother, who is the key to the Scholars’ survival. And Elias is determined to help Laia succeed, even if it means giving up his last chance at freedom.

But dark forces, human and otherworldly, work against Laia and Elias. The pair must fight every step of the way to outsmart their enemies: the bloodthirsty Emperor Marcus, the merciless Commandant, the sadistic Warden of Kauf, and, most heartbreaking of all, Helene—Elias’s former friend and the Empire’s newest Blood Shrike.

Bound to Marcus’s will, Helene faces a torturous mission of her own—one that might destroy her: find the traitor Elias Veturius and the Scholar slave who helped him escape…and kill them both.

What did you recently finish reading?

  • Truthwitch (The Witchlands, #1) by Susan Dennard – I am so, so, soooo glad that we chose this book for the Hype or Like Friday BOTM as I loved it! Yeah, I was a little confused in the beginning and would have liked a little bit more background information on the world, but I didn’t have time to focus on that as I was so engrossed in all of the action and storyline.
  • Windwitch (The Witchlands, #2) by Susan Dennard – Welp, this one wasn’t the greatest of sequels but I like how it ended. I think that the third book will be a return to form. Also, how gorgeous are the covers of this series?!
  • RoseBlood by A.G. Howard – I almost didn’t include this one as I ended up DNFing after about 150 pages. I didn’t like the characters, I didn’t know what the heck was going on, and I was just plain bored. Not a good combination.

What do you think you’ll read next?

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I do know that I will be starting Cruel Beauty by Rosamund Hodge next, but I will also be doing the Try A Chapter Tag. In this tag, you read the first chapter of 5 different books on your TBR and then read the book with the first chapter that you enjoyed the most. It sounds like a fun way to help my indecisiveness!

Graceling meets Beauty and the Beast in this sweeping fantasy about one girl’s journey to fulfill her destiny and the monster who gets in her way-by stealing her heart.

Based on the classic fairy tale Beauty and the Beast, Cruel Beauty is a dazzling love story about our deepest desires and their power to change our destiny.

Since birth, Nyx has been betrothed to the evil ruler of her kingdom-all because of a foolish bargain struck by her father. And since birth, she has been in training to kill him.

With no choice but to fulfill her duty, Nyx resents her family for never trying to save her and hates herself for wanting to escape her fate. Still, on her seventeenth birthday, Nyx abandons everything she’s ever known to marry the all-powerful, immortal Ignifex. Her plan? Seduce him, destroy his enchanted castle, and break the nine-hundred-year-old curse he put on her people.

But Ignifex is not at all what Nyx expected. The strangely charming lord beguiles her, and his castle—a shifting maze of magical rooms—enthralls her.

As Nyx searches for a way to free her homeland by uncovering Ignifex’s secrets, she finds herself unwillingly drawn to him. Even if she could bring herself to love her sworn enemy, how can she refuse her duty to kill him? With time running out, Nyx must decide what is more important: the future of her kingdom, or the man she was never supposed to love.

What are you currently reading? Which books are up next on your TBR? Have you finished any good books this week? Have you read any of the books on my list? Leave a link to your WWW Wednesday post in the comments below!

Teaser Tuesday – February 21st, 2017

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly meme currently being hosted by Ambrosia @ The Purple Booker. All are welcome to participate!

Rules:

  • Grab your current read.
  • Open to a random page.
  • Share two ‘teaser’ sentences from somewhere on that page.
  • BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! You don’t want to give too much away so as to not ruin the book for others!
  • Share the title and author so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR lists if they like your teasers.

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A Torch Against the Night (An Ember in the Ashes, #2) by Sabaa Tahir

“Don’t lock yourself away from those who care about you because you think you’ll hurt them or — they’ll hurt you. What point is there in being human if you don’t let yourself feel anything?”

-page 294

So I am just loving this book so far. There are so many twists and turns, and it’s been non-stop action since page 1. Not bad so far.. for a sequel!

Elias and Laia are running for their lives. After the events of the Fourth Trial, Martial soldiers hunt the two fugitives as they flee the city of Serra and undertake a perilous journey through the heart of the Empire.

Laia is determined to break into Kauf—the Empire’s most secure and dangerous prison—to save her brother, who is the key to the Scholars’ survival. And Elias is determined to help Laia succeed, even if it means giving up his last chance at freedom.

But dark forces, human and otherworldly, work against Laia and Elias. The pair must fight every step of the way to outsmart their enemies: the bloodthirsty Emperor Marcus, the merciless Commandant, the sadistic Warden of Kauf, and, most heartbreaking of all, Helene—Elias’s former friend and the Empire’s newest Blood Shrike.

Bound to Marcus’s will, Helene faces a torturous mission of her own—one that might destroy her: find the traitor Elias Veturius and the Scholar slave who helped him escape…and kill them both.

Have you read A Torch Against the Night? What did you think of it? What are you currently reading? Leave a link to your Teaser Tuesday post in the comments below!

The Goodreads Book Tag

Big thanks to Meredith @ All Bout Them Books and Stuff for tagging me to do this one! I mean, who else thinks Goodreads is there most favorite website?!

What was the last book you marked as ‘read’?

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I read this one over the weekend, after falling in love with Truthwitch. However, I was a little disappointed with this sequel. I had really high hopes for Windwitch, but it just did not live up to them at all. I felt like there were way too many POVs and honestly, this book was pretty forgettable. Luckily, the ending gives me hope that the next book will be a return to form.

What are you currently reading?

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Y’all, I never thought I’d say this about an A.G. Howard novel, but I’m reallyyyy considering DNFing this one for now and maybe trying it again some other time. I don’t know if I’m just not in the mood for this type of story or what, but RoseBlood just isn’t working for me. It’s fairly boring and I don’t really care for any of the characters. I hope I’m not going into a reading slump!

What was the last book you marked as TBR?

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Daughter of the Burning City by Amanda Foody. I saw this going around on Twitter a lot recently and was intrigued. But when they released the cover the other day, I was immediately like, TAKE MY MONEY!!!

What book do you plan to read next?

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I will finally, finallyyyy, be starting this book next. I’ve only had it since it first came out but have been pushing it aside because, (controversial opinion time!), I really don’t care for Helene and apparently she’s been added as a POV. Kill me now…

Do you use the star rating system?

I sure do.

Are you doing a 2017 Reading Challenge?

Yes, this year I have once again decided to set my goal at 100 books. I really think I can do it in 2017, I’m feeling good about it! Now watch me crash and burn thanks to a major reading slump a la summer 2016. Yuck!

Do you have a wishlist?

I do on BookOutlet, just because it’s easier to keep up with the books that I want rather than having to search every single time I go to place an order… EFFICIENCY!

What book do you plan to buy next?

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Because, obviously! I was going to put Lillian Boxfish Takes A Walk since it’s the next selection for the book club I’m a member of, but I honestly don’t think that’s a book that I actually want to spend my money on so I’ll just borrow it from the library.

Do you have any favorite quotes? Share a few.

“He thinks he’ll be remembered as the villain in the story. But I forgot to tell him that the villain is usually the person who locks up the maiden and throws away the key. He was the one who let me out.” – Sarah J. Maas, A Court of Mist and Fury

“Love. It was the beginning and end of everything, the foundation and the ceiling and the air in between.” – Kristin Hannah, The Nightingale

“And I wonder, in my last moments, if the planet does not mind that we wound her surface or pillage her bounty, because she knows we silly warm things are not even a breath in her cosmic life. We have grown and spread, and will rage and die. And when all that remains of us is our steel monuments and plastic idols, her winds will whisper, her sands will shift, and she will spin on and on, forgetting about the bold, hairless apes who thought they deserved immortality.” – Pierce Brown, Morning Star

“Of course it is happening inside your head, Harry, but why on earth should that mean that it is not real?” – J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

Who are your favorite authors?

All-Time Favorites: Pierce Brown, Jane Austen, J.K. Rowling, Diana Gabaldon, and Tahereh Mafi

New Favorites: Sarah J. Maas, Rae Carson, Holly Black, Erin Bowman, and Michelle Modesto

Have you joined any groups?

Oh yeah, way too many actually… Hype or Like Friday, Underrated Book Club, For Love of a Book, Stress Free Reading Challenges, Ultimate PopSugar Reading Challenge, Tome Topple Readathon, Perusetopia Book Club, Nothing But Reading Challenges, The Owlcrate Book Club, Oprah’s Book Club, Keep It Diverse, Read with Tessa, Bookstagram, and Blogger Lift

I hardly ever post to any of them, except on my own groups – Hype or Like Friday and Underrated Book Club.

Tagged:

And anyone else who wants to do it!

 

Hype or Like Friday – February 17th, 2017

Just another Hype or Like Friday! This meme and Goodreads group were created by myself, Jill @ Rant and Rave Books, and Britt @ Geronimo Reads. To join our group and find out more information about what it’s all about, please go to our Goodreads page HERE.

The February BOTM is Truthwitch (The Witchlands, #1) by Susan Dennard.

RULES:

  • Answer the weekly discussion topic.
  • Optional: Discuss your chosen hyped book of the week.
  • Optional: Talk about your progress on the BOTM.

TOPIC OF THE WEEK: Favorite Fictional Friendships – Which fictional friends do you love and would totally want to be besties with?

1. Iseult & Safi from The Witchlands Series by Susan Dennard

Granted, I just now meeting them as I only started this book a couple of days ago (and finished last night!), but I really just adore them. It’s not often you get to see such strong female friendships portrayed in YA novels and I think this one might just be the best there is.

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2. Blair and Serena from Gossip Girl

Okay, so those have had their ups and downs but we all knew that those two were destined to become besties again. They’ve done some pretty messed up schemes to help each other out when the other one needed help and I think in the end that’s all that mattered. Who wouldn’t want to have those two always on their side, no matter what?

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3. Harry, Ron, and Hermione from Harry Potter

Because, obviously.

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4. The Night Court Crew from A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas

Come on, this group of friends gives me life. There’s tons of love, honesty, and a whole lot of sass. I just love them all so much and want them all to be happy and live happily ever after. But I swear, if Mor and Azriel don’t get together before this series ends, I WILL BURN THIS DAMN HOUSE DOWN. Obviously I feel very strongly about this…

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5. Dill, Lydia, and Travis from The Serpent King by Jeff Zentner

I loved this trio so much. They were all so different but still were so close. I also appreciated how real they were – they argue, fight, get annoyed, laugh, cry, all of it. I don’t think anything is more true than showing all facets of a friendship, even the not-so-good stuff.

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So what are some of your favorite fictional friends? Leave a link to your Hype or Like Friday post in the comments below!

The Candy Book Tag

I haven’t done a tag in a while so I thought today would be a good day for that. Big thanks to Emily @ Rose Read for tagging me to do this one!

The Questions

Apples – Ah. Healthy food. It is deep, meaningful, and probably won a lot of awards, but, umm, it really isn’t your thing.

I’m going with some authors for this one, rather than just a book… Mark Twain, Cormac McCarthy, and Haruki Murakami

Milk Chocolate – This is a book you’d recommend to absolutely EVERYONE.

Anne of Green Gables, because it’s my absolute favorite book and is just one of those happy reads that will make your day so much better.

Black Jellybeans – Why do these exist?

Basically any series that just keeps on continuing because the author knows it’ll keep making them money, or because they actually don’t have an ending. Just why?! Oh and cover changes mid-series. I HATE THAT.

Chocolate Kisses – Awww, this novel had the best romance.

Carry On by Rainbow Rowell. There was something so funny and real about Simon and Baz’s relationship. I just love those two little cupcakes!

Gummy Spiders – Eek! You made sure to check under your bed every night for a week after reading this scary one.

I don’t really read horror novels but there were a few jumpy parts in How to Hang a Witch by Adriana Mather that made me get goosebumps.

Jumbo Lollipop – This took you forever to get through, but hey! You did it!

Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand. Yup, I actually read this entire book when I was a freshman in high school and it took me a month. It was definitely an interesting read.

Cotton Candy – Admit it, you loved this when you were younger (you probably still do). Think children’s or MG fiction.

Would it be too obvious to say Harry Potter? It would? Fine… I’ll go with Goosebumps by R.L. Stine. Come on, those were awesome!

I’m not going to tag anyone individually, so if you want to do this one then I tag you! Have fun, y’all! 🙂

#Underrated Book Club

Hi everyone! For those of you who don’t follow myself or Britt @ Geronimo Reads on Twitter (but you totally should because we’re so cool!), I wanted to take the time to announce that we have started a new monthly book club, #Underrated Book Club!

This book club will focus on hidden gems, underrated, indie, or books that might have just fallen below everyone’s radar. As a book blogger, we easily fall into the hyped books that everyone is talking about. However, there are tons of great books that maybe don’t receive that kind of publicity or recognition. That’s why Britt and I decided to start this book club.

Each month, our members will vote on a poll to decide which underrated book we are going to read. The book club will run from the 15th-15th, with a Twitter chat, #URBookChat, and discussion about the book on the 16th. We decided it’d be nice to give our members two separate monthly TBRs to choose from, as we all know how insane TBRs can be! There may even be giveaways included after the discussion… YAY!

If you would like to join us, you can follow us on Twitter or we are also currently setting up a Goodreads group that you can join HERE. We hope you will all join us on this fun adventure!

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The February-March BOTM is Starflight (Starflight, #1) by Melissa Landers. The sequel was just released this month, so we thought this would be the perfect opportunity to pick up this fun read! The ebook is currently available for only $1.99 so it’s the perfect time to grab a copy!

Life in the outer realm is a lawless, dirty, hard existence, and Solara Brooks is hungry for it. Just out of the orphanage, she needs a fresh start in a place where nobody cares about the engine grease beneath her fingernails or the felony tattoos across her knuckles. She’s so desperate to reach the realm that she’s willing to indenture herself to Doran Spaulding, the rich and popular quarterback who made her life miserable all through high school, in exchange for passage aboard the spaceliner Zenith.

When a twist of fate lands them instead on the Banshee, a vessel of dubious repute, Doran learns he’s been framed on Earth for conspiracy. As he pursues a set of mysterious coordinates rumored to hold the key to clearing his name, he and Solara must get past their enmity to work together and evade those out for their arrest. Life on the Banshee may be tumultuous, but as Solara and Doran are forced to question everything they once believed about their world—and each other—the ship becomes home, and the eccentric crew family. But what Solara and Doran discover on the mysterious Planet X has the power to not only alter their lives, but the existence of everyone in the universe…

Are you joining us at Underrated Book Club? Have you read Starflight? What did you think of it?