Wolf By Wolf – Wonderfilled Reads

The Sims Book Tag

Big thanks to Heather @ The Sassy Book Geek for tagging me to do this all the way back in February! Y’all go check out her awesome blog!

The Original Sims – The best author debut.

Revenge and the Wild by Michelle Modesto

I will never stop talking about how much fun this book was. I am so obsessed with it, that I tweeted at Michelle as soon as I finished it to find out if she was ever going to return to this awesome world… Spoiler Alert – She said she’s considering it!

The Grim Reaper – Saddest character death.

The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah

I don’t want to talk about it.

Sims Getting Stuck – A character that just got in the way.

The Grisha Trilogy by Leigh Bardugo

If you read my reviews on this series, you will know just how much I hate Mal as a character. I literally prayed for his death in each book. If I ever meet Bardugo in person, I plan to tell her how much I want to punch him in the throat. HE IS SO USELESS!

Simlish – A book with amazing writing.

Wolf By Wolf (Wolf By Wolf, #1) by Ryan Graudin

I love Graudin’s writing. It’s not overly flowery, but she’s able to give her words so much emotion. Her writing in this duology can cut you to the core by its simplicity and I loved that. It was perfect for this story.

Expansion Packs – A series where the books keep on getting better.

Throne of Glass Series by Sarah J. Maas

I know it’s such a cliche but I don’t care! This series does get better with each book!

Sim Romance – The worst case of insta-love.

Three Dark Crowns (Three Dark Crowns, #1) by Kendare Blake

If you read this book then you know exactly what I’m talking about. I mean, it doesn’t get any more insta-love than that, am I right?

Cheats – A book that was entirely unrealistic.

I’ll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson

Instead of choosing an obvious fantasy or sci-fi novel, I had to go with this contemporary story. Y’all, none of this story would’ve happened if they had just talked to each other. Sooooooooo many contemporary novels rely on the miscommunication trope for their conflict and it makes me want to bash my head into the wall. Maybe I just don’t have a problem with laying out all of my shit in the open, but this just wouldn’t ever happen. If you’ve got a problem, especially with a family member, then you take care of it.

Needs Fulfillment – A character who made all the wrong decisions.

A Court of Mist and Fury (A Court of Thorns and Roses, #2) by Sarah J. Maas

I’ll be honest that I didn’t care for Tamlin, even in the first book, but have been #TeamRhysand since he first showed up. However, that’s because Tamlin is kind of an idiot. Every decision he makes is literally the worst choice. I think he has suffers from some kind of complex but I need to brush up on my psychology a bit before I can identify a diagnosis for him.

Error Code 12 – A series that started off great but went downhill from there.

The Young Elites Trilogy by Marie Lu

I read the first book in this series and became obsessed. I even thought the second book was just as good! However, that finale was total crap. I don’t know if Lu was just trying to rush through and finish this series to move on to something else or what, but that finale was AWFUL. I feel like 1/3 of the story was missing from it, like it started and then went straight to the ending. The only good thing out of this book was the epilogue. Seriously.

The Sims Vortex – A book/series that completely engrossed you.

The Illuminae Files Trilogy by Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff

This series is everything. The end.

I tag anyone who wants to do this! 🙂

A Gryffindor Reading List

Here’s to you, brave and daring Gryffindors!

1. Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling

Oh, come on! You know that this series is a given for our Gryffindors!

2. Wolf by Wolf Duology by Ryan Graudin

Yael is one badass chick who isn’t afraid to risk her life in order to take down the most terrible man in the world, Adolf Hitler. Remind you of a famous Gryffindor perhaps?

3. Uprooted by Naomi Novik

A young girl brave enough to work for a mysterious sorcerer and then willing to brave a dangerous forest in order to save her home? Yup, Agnieszka is a Gryffindor.

4. The Illuminae Files Series by Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff

I think all Gryffindors can appreciate and admire the extreme bravery it takes to try and save multiple ships full of refugees from an insane AI, a termination squad, and some crazy man-eating alien snakes.

5. The Gold Seer Trilogy by Rae Carson

It takes a lot of heart and courage to brave a trek across the United States from Georgia to California during the California Gold Rush. It takes even more when you’re a teenage girl doing it alone.

6. The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah

Vianne and Isabelle are two of the bravest women that I’ve ever read about. I think all Gryffindors would gladly accept them in their House.

7. The Red Rising Trilogy by Pierce Brown

I think we can all agree that every single thing that Darrow has to go through in order to destroy the Golds, takes a hell of a lot of bravery. He’s also pretty damn chivalrous too, with just a hint of pride (especially when he gives his speeches!). Kind of the perfect Gryffindor combo, wouldn’t you say?

8. The Valiant by Lesley Livingston

I think just being a gladiator in general takes a lot of balls. I also think that a Gryffindor would pretty much say, bring it on.

9. Throne of Glass Series by Sarah J. Maas

This series is really all about strong women. I think all Gryffindors would be salivating at the chance to go on an adventure with Aelin and her gang.

10. Not if I See You First by Eric Lindstrom

There are all kinds of bravery, but I think Parker’s is a special kind. Her independence and strength is inspiring to see. And can you imagine watching her interactions with the Weasley twins in the Gryffindor common room? I need it!

Gryffindors, what did you think about your list? Do you agree with my choices? What books would you add to your list?

Hype or Like Friday – December 2nd, 2016

Woohoo, it’s Hype or Like Friday again! 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 December BOTM is A Thousand Pieces of You (Firebird, #1) by Claudia Gray.

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: Pleasant Surprise – What books did you read in 2016 that you weren’t expecting much from but ending up completely loving?

2016 Pleasant Surprises

The Heart of Betrayal (The Remnant Chronicles, #2) by Mary E. Pearson – I was really surprised that I enjoyed this book so much, as the first one, The Kiss of Deception, kicked off my insanely long reading and blog slump this summer. Luckily, the sequel was sooo much better! Full review can be found HERE.
Half Bad (Half Bad Trilogy, #1) by Sally Green – I wasn’t really sure if I was going to enjoy this series, so I decided to grab a copy from the library rather than buy it. It turned out to be so good! It was a very unique spin on the subject of witches, with a bit of dark twist that I thoroughly enjoyed. I didn’t write a review for the first book in the series, but you can read my reviews for book 2 HERE and book 3 HERE.
Don’t Tell, Don’t Tell, Don’t Tell by Liane Shaw – I adored this book. I’m so glad that I found and requested it from NetGalley because I would have never heard of it otherwise. READ THIS BOOK. Seriously, I want all of y’all to read it! If you’re looking for a book full of diversity – this one fits the bill. My full review can be read HERE.
My Lady Jane by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, & Jodi Meadows – I was just looking for a little lighthearted read when I picked this book up. I’d heard that it was fun, but I was not expecting it to be soooo much fun. The story was kooky, silly, and just downright cute. If you’re looking for a little pick-me-up this holiday season, then Edward, Jane, and Dudley are just the ticket! Full review HERE.
Walk on Earth a Stranger (The Gold Seer Trilogy, #1) by Rae Carson – When I first grabbed this book from the library, I was just expecting it to be a nice little historical fiction (I kind of love them). But seriously, I ended up loving this book. It started off a tad slow but grew into a really fun read. And the sequel was even more exciting! Y’all just need to read it and love it with me. Review can be read HERE.
Not If I See You First by Eric Lindstrom – I don’t read a whole lot of contemporary, as I’m sure my followers have come to notice. But luckily, this book came in one of my Uppercase boxes and I’m so glad that it did. If you like a sarcastic, sometimes unlikeable protagonist with major snark – then you will love our blind (literally) leader, Parker. It’s also a really quick read if you’re looking for an easy book during a read-a-thon or challenge. Full review HERE.
Wolf by Wolf (Wolf by Wolf, #1) by Ryan Graudin – This is a more recent read, or actually buddy read, that completely took me by surprise. I didn’t really know much about this book beforehand but I actually had it pegged more as a fantasy type alternate history. Okay, I actually might have thought that Yael was a werewolf… Don’t judge! But needless to say, this book turned out to be something completely different and I found myself thoroughly enjoying it, and not the boring novel that I was expecting. My full review for it can be found HERE.
Ink and Bone (The Great Library, #1) by Rachel Caine – You know, I don’t know I was surprised that by how good this series is. I mean, it’s a book about books – how could I not love it? Well I don’t really have an answer for that. I just know that this book far exceeded my expectations, and maybe that’s because it’s not a very popular book. But it should be. Full review is HERE.
Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Saenz – When Britt recommended this book, I thought it would be alright. But this book was such a beautiful book. I loved it and the characters were so lovely. Another contemporary to add to my growing list! I laughed, I cried, and I enjoyed every bit of it. You can read my full review HERE.
Throne of Glass (Throne of Glass, #1) by Sarah J. Maas – Alright, alright.. I really kind of expected this book to be wayyyy overhyped and nothing special. But I’ll be damned if I haven’t become super attached to this series and the characters that fill it. It’s become my guilty pleasure and I’ve loved every second of it. So yes, I have become Throne of Glass Trash and I ain’t ashamed! You can read my reviews of this series HERE, HERE, and Queen of Shadows review should be up in the next few days.

All in all, I think it’s been a good year for surprisingly good reads.

What books were pleasant surprises for you this year? Did you read any of the ones on my list? What did you think of them? Leave a link to your Hype or Like Friday post in the comments below!

Book Review: Wolf by Wolf (Wolf by Wolf, #1)

This book had been sitting on my shelf for forever, just waiting for me to finally pick it up. I kept pushing it aside as I was afraid it might be a little boring and push me into a reading slump. Luckily, one of my blogging besties, Britt @ Geronimo Reads had not read it as well so we decided to make it a buddy read. My first ever! I’m so glad that we chose Wolf by Wolf (Wolf by Wolf, #1) by Ryan Graudin as it turned out to be a pleasant surprise.

Code Name Verity meets Inglourious Basterds in this fast-paced novel from the author of The Walled City.

The year is 1956, and the Axis powers of the Third Reich and Imperial Japan rule the world. To commemorate their Great Victory over Britain and Russia, Hitler and Emperor Hirohito host the Axis Tour: an annual motorcycle race across their conjoined continents. The victor is awarded an audience with the highly reclusive Adolf Hitler at the Victor’s ball.

Yael, who escaped from a death camp, has one goal: Win the race and kill Hitler. A survivor of painful human experimentation, Yael has the power to skinshift and must complete her mission by impersonating last year’s only female victor, Adele Wolfe. This deception becomes more difficult when Felix, Adele twin’s brother, and Luka, her former love interest, enter the race and watch Yael’s every move. But as Yael begins to get closer to the other competitors, can she bring herself to be as ruthless as she needs to be to avoid discovery and complete her mission?

The Good

Storyline – This book was incredibly unique. I’ll be honest, I didn’t really know a whole lot about the plot when I first picked it up, and it turned out to be so good! It was fun, interesting, heartbreaking, and completely unlike anything I had ever read. I loved how Graudin was able to rewrite history and make it so real and believable.
Writing – I really enjoyed Graudin’s writing. It was nothing fancy or lyrical, but it flowed so well. I loved how she described everything, especially when talking about Yael’s emotional turmoil. It was simple but very profound.
Side Characters – I really enjoyed all of the minor characters in this story. They each had their own distinctive personality and voice. I also loved how each of them were able to affect Yael in so many different ways through each interaction. Her character development was completely determined by these interactions and it showed. I loved that Graudin was able to show you how and why Yael was changing throughout the book, making it gradual and believable. And can we all give a little three cheers for sexy Luka?! I’m not gonna lie, I needed to be cooled down a bit every time he was mentioned wearing that old worn out leather jacket… 😉

The Bad

Yael – Yael is cool because she’s a badass independent girl, who has had to go through one of the most traumatic experiences ever. However, that girl has zero personality. I read through this whole book and learned about her entire life story, but by the end, I felt like I didn’t know her at all. There was no connection there, nothing that made me want to be her friend. I like my characters to have some life to them, to have a personality that’s either good or bad. But with Yael, there was nothing. It was almost to the point where I was kind of hoping she would die and so the sequel would follow another one of the characters instead. Maybe all of that will change in Blood for Blood and the real Yael will emerge, or may it won’t and I’ll still have the serious urge to smack some life into her. I guess only time will tell…

Overall, this was such a pleasant surprise. I enjoyed it all for the most part and was dying when it ended on that cliffhanger! I actually bought Blood for Blood this past weekend so I could read it during the upcoming holidays. I definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical fiction or is looking for a unique story with a twist. Read it, and then fall in love with Luka and his leather jacket!

Final Verdict: 4/5 Stars

Have you read Wolf by Wolf? What did you think about this book? Have you read the sequel, Blood for Blood?

WWW Wednesday – November 23rd, 2016

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?

The Dark Crowns (Three Dark Crowns, #1) by Kendare Blake
Queen of Shadows (Throne of Glass, #4) by Sarah J. Maas

I’m still currently making my way through Three Dark Crowns but I hope to finish it by tomorrow. The action is still pretty lacking at this point, but I am seeing a gradual build finally so I’m hoping that means I’m getting close! I wanna see some murder! Preferably Joseph’s, but I’ll take what I can get at this point.

I actually have yet to read any actual pages in Queen of Shadows, as I’m trying to finish up the other book first. I know that once I start, it’ll be incredibly hard to put down to read something else. My Tome Topple Read-A-Thon is slowly going down the drain. I’ll be lucky if I can finish even two books at the rate I’m going. For all of you younglings out there, never become an adult and get a real job because it totally cuts into your reading time.

What did you recently finish reading?

The Diabolic by S.J Kincaid – full review HERE
Wolf by Wolf (Wolf by Wolf, #1) by Ryan Graudin – full review to come

I really enjoyed The Diabolic. It was a fun and brutal read, with lots of murder and mayhem. However, there were lots of similarities to the Red Rising series that kept me from rating it higher. I mean, it’s tough to live up to one of my all time favorite books so it’s not really a big deal. I still highly recommend it to everyone!

I buddy read Wolf by Wolf with my one of my blogging partners in crime, Britt @ Geronimo Reads (go check out her awesome blog!). We both really enjoyed it, though we did have some issues with the main character, Yael. I do plan on reading the sequel and I hope that some of those issues are addressed. I wasn’t really sure if I was going to like this book when I first bought it, but I was pleasantly surprised. Yay for my first buddy read!

What do you think you’ll read next?

Empire of Storms (Throne of Glass, #5) by Sarah J. Maas
Moon Chosen (Tales of a New World, #1) by Sarah J. Maas

Once I finish Three Dark Crowns I will officially be able to dive into my Tome Topple TBR all the way. I plan to finish up the ToG series and then start on the new release P.C Cast novel. If that name sounds familiar, it’s because she wrote the House of Night vampire series. I used to love those books when I was in high school so I’m interested in seeing how her new book turns out. You can read all about my Tome Topple Read-A-Thon TBR here.

Have you read any of the books from my WWW Wednesday list? What are you currently reading? Are you participating in the Tome Topple Read-A-Thon too? Leave a link to your WWW Wednesday post in the comments below!