July Wrap Up & August TBR (2016)

Hey guys, this is Abi here,
And since this is the last post I can do, of course I am going to be doing a wrap up!

But first there is a matter that I must speak to you about!
And no, it isn't the fact that Harry Potter & the Cursed Child is out! (I already have a copy!!!!!)
But it is about my posts.
I'm just letting you all know in advance that I am going on holiday tomorrow and that this is the last post I am going to be doing until Monday 8th August. (I'm coming back on the Monday, but I will definitely be doing that post. It might be a bit late, like 2am on Tuesday (UK time) but I won't sleep until I get it done!)
But don't worry, I will be doing a post every day until I catch up on the amount of posts I missed, so expect a lot of posts!
Also, that is why I am doing my August TBR today as well.

So that's that, let get on with the post!

July Wrap Up & August TBR (2016)

July Wrap Up (2016)

So these are the books that I read in the month of July. They are nowhere what I was hoping to accomplish in terms of reading this month, but I did find the time to do some writing this month as well, so it's not a total loss. So anyway, here are the books that I read:

1. Life and Death, by Stephenie Meyer

2. Twilight, by Stephenie Meyer

3. New Moon, by Stephenie Meyer

4. Eclipse, by Stephenie Meyer

5. Breaking Dawn, by Stephenie Meyer

6. Red Queen, by Victoria Aveyard 

7. Before I Die, by Jenny Downham 

8. Glass Sword, by Victoria Aveyard 

9. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, by J K Rowling

10. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, by J K Rowling 

11. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, by J K Rowling 

So altogether, not a complete loss, as I did get to read 11 books (even if 9/11 of them were re-reads). 

But on to my August TBR (which isn't going to be full of re-reads, thank god). 

So here is the TBR!

August TBR (2016)

TBR Jar Challenge (I decided to just do one this month so I can catch up on all of the ones that I currently haven't completed yet). 

TBR Jar Challenge: Read a series finale: Seven Minutes In Heaven, by Sara Shephard 

Okay, I've been saying for what seems like the longest time that if I didn't pick this challenge in the next couple of months that I would just buy this and use The Last Star instead because I've been reading this series like a book a month for 4 months and I read Cross My Heart and Hope To Die like two or three months ago, so I just wanted to finish this series and be done with it. But then I picked it! And the world is okay again! (I don't know why I said that)            I have already ordered it, and it should arrive from the 4-8th August, so I should be able to squeeze it in at some point in this month. I also find that if I'm on the verge of a reading slump I know I can go to this series and It'll get me back into the reading mood, and because I'm reading a bunch of new books, it seems like the perfect fit. 

I am really looking forward to seeing how Sara wraps everything up to be honest because it's all so crazy at the moment in this series! But I guess I'll find out soon enough! 

Other Books 

1. On the Other Side, by Carrie Hope Fletcher

Okaaay... what can I say about this book? I've talked a lot about it, so I'm not sure what else I can say about it. But if you haven't seen the posts in which I include this book, (Introducing... On the Other Side and July Book Haul) I'm gonna tell you about the plot. This book is about an 82 year old woman who when she has to pass through to Heaven finds that she can't because her soul is too heavy. So to pass through to Heaven she has to unburden herself of the three secrets she has kept over a 50 year span. Oh, and she is now 27. (I totally just copies and pasted that text from another post I did). 

2. Chasing the Stars, by Malorie Blackman 

Malorie Blackman! And sci-fi! Together! Is there anything better? No seriously, it's been literally a whole year since I've read a new Malorie Blackman, and I'm really interested to see how she copes with a sci-fi book, particularly the world building. I'm not worried about the characters, her characters are always first-class. 

3. Since You've Been Gone, by Morgan Matson 

Again, don't know what I can say about this book because I've mentioned it so often, but I think it's the one I'm most likely to read out of all of the books in this list. I've only really heard positive things about this, and I reckon I'll really relate to the characters, particularly Emily. I feel really bad not to have read a Morgan Matson book yet, but hopefully this'll be the first one many. 

4. Six of Crows, by Leigh Bardugo 

I was meant to read this last month, but due to lack of time I wasn't able to. But I am really hoping to read this book and complete the reading challenge that is tied to it (read a popular YA book). Also, Crooked Kingdom comes out in less than a month, so I need to get on this. It's about a bunch of criminals that each have their own unique set of skills that are given a proposition. Complete a number of impossible tasks and they get a life-changing amount of money. They also can't kill each-other in the process.  

5. Hate List, by Jennifer Brown 

This really is just a book that is sitting on my TBR pile, and I want to read it before it becomes too big of a problem. This is going to be a month where I focus on all the books that I've been wanting to read for a long time, books that I have left for my remaining TBR challenges, and books that aren't tied to categories, and this book fits the bill for two out of three of those categories. Really interested to find out the way the story goes for this one, because I haven't read a book with this type of story-line before. 

6. Passenger, by Alexandra Bracken 

Yet another book that I've wanted to read for ages. 

So that is my July Wrap Up and my August TBR! There are a bunch of new and exciting books that I cannot wait to read on this list, and I also can't wait to share my thoughts on each and every one of them, because I will be reviewing all seven of them! 

So I will see you all on the 8th/9th August, and have a wonderful day!

Byeeee!

-Abi xxxxx

5 Books I Can't Wait To Be Released (Update)

Hey guys, this is Abi here,
And I can't wait for this month to be over!
(Not because of what I'm doing, which is a wedding and a holiday, but because I went August to get here so I can read some new books and start doing reviews again!)
But August isn't far away, so today I will be listing an update on books that I cannot wait to be released!

5 Books I Can't Wait To Be Released (Update)

1. Crooked Kingdom (Six of Crows #2), by Leigh Bardugo 

Okay, I know I haven't even read Six of Crows yet, but I'm pretty sure I'm going to love that (hopefully) so I'm going to be including this book on the list, just because. I don't really know anything about it, because the blurb might include spoilers from the first book, except for the fact that it is the concluding book in the trilogy. 

Release date: 22nd September, 2016






2. American Monsters, by Derek Landy 

Again, I need to read Desolation before this comes out, but I love Derek Landy's books, and me reading the concluding book to the Demon Road trilogy (this book) is about as likely as the sun coming up tomorrow. Again, don't know much about the plot for this one because I haven't read Desolation so it might include spoilers, but I know that I cannot wait to see how this trilogy ends. 

Release date: 25th August, 2016 (So just under a month)

3. Heartless, by Marissa Meyer

I read the Lunar Chronicles at the end of last year, and I am super excited to read what looks like her next book because she does fairytales really well (this looks like a Fairytale because it is set in Wonderland).                              Release date: 8th November, 2016  

4. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets Illustrated Version, by J K Rowling 

I can't believe it took me this long to remember this one! (Especially since I'm re-reading the Harry Potter series right now) But I can't wait to get this since I already have Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone.      Release date: 4th October, 2016

5. Replica, by Lauren Oliver

Now this book seems really interesting. It jumps from two perspectives, and the way you read it is up to you because there are two half's, for each of the characters. (You can read it chapter by chapter, switching between the POV's, or you can read one whole perspective, and then switch to the other). That by itself makes it interesting. But the plot itself isn't like anything I've read before.  

So that is my update on books that I can't wait to be released! If you have any thoughts on any of the books I mentioned, or any others that you are are looking forward to being released, let me know in the comments, because they make my day! 

So I will be posting my July Wrap Up and my August TBR on Sunday (this is just a one-time-thing because I am getting on a plane on Monday and won't be able to post).

So have a lovely day, and I will see you all on Sunday!

Byeeee!

-Abi xxxxx

A Trip To the Cinema Book Tag

Hey guys, this is Abi here,
And today I am doing a book tag!
Even though I've already done one this month, I just felt like I wanted to do one!
But this is no ordinary book tag! Because I created it!
I mean, the last time I created a book tag was on Christmas Day, over 7 months ago! (The Running Tag, go check it out).

So with that I give you: A Trip To the Cinema Book Tag!

A Trip To the Cinema Book Tag

1. Ice blast: Name a book that explodes at the start but gradually turns into slush. 

Throne of Glass. It was interesting at the start, but I just felt like it couldn't hold it all together. The ending was okay, but the more I got into it the more I lost interest. 

2. Premier: Name a book you bought as soon as it was released

There are a number of books I could write about for this category, but in the end I decided to go for Red Queen because it was the first book in the series, and I was a fan from the start. Also most books I buy as soon as they are released, often it's the second or third book in the series, and that just feels wrong to put it in this category (Hunger Games/ Twilight/ Divergent). 

3. Adverts: Name a book you wish would hurry up and get here already!

It was way harder to think of a book than I thought it would be to be honest, but I finally remembered Carve the Mark. (It really shouldn't have taken me this long to remember this book). 

4. Sneaking the cheap sweets into the cinema: Name a book you didn't think it worth it to pay the amount you did. 

Okay, first, I want to explain the question. When I'm going to the cinema I buy sweets and drinks from Tesccos down the road (the sweets and drinks are ridiculously over-priced in the actual cinema. With the exception of the ice-blast)

Now I picked Miss Peregrine's Home For Peculiar Children because I just generally found it kind of boring. The link to the full (spoiler-free) review is on my Post Pandemonium... page. 

5. Watching a guilty pleasure: Name a book from a new genre (that you hadn't tried before) that you enjoyed

This category isn't necessarily for this specific book. It really was just historical fiction in general. (it really wasn't about Book Thief, it was the fact that I didn't think I'd enjoy historical fiction, but it surprised me that I actually did). 

So... this was kind of a random tag, but there isn't really a book tag like it, so that's a good thing I guess! 

Also I apologise that it was so short. 

Have a lovely what's left of the day, and I will see you all on Friday. 

Byeeeee!

-Abi xxxxxx

July Book Haul (2016)

Hey guys, this is Abi here,
And I doubt I'm going to be buying anymore books this month (never say never), so I thought that today would be an excellent time to do my July Book Haul!

July Book Haul (2016)

1. The Perks of Being A Wallflower, by Stephen Chbosky 

I found this for 50p in Tesco, where all the proceeds go to charity, and I  figured, why not? It's a great book that I can pick up whenever I feel like, because it isn't a big time commitment. 

2. On the Other Side, by Carrie Hope Fletcher

You guys already know about this because I did a post introducing it a few days ago. You (if you've been  here a while and have seen my Holiday TBR post) should know that it is the first book that I will be reading in the month of August, because I am leaving on the 1st. This book is about is an 82 year old woman who when she has to pass through to Heaven finds that she can't because her soul is too heavy. So to pass through to Heaven she has to unburden herself of the three secrets she has kept over a 50 year span. Oh, and she is now 27. 

3. Since You've Been Gone, by Morgan Matson 

I had to buy this at some time this month, because I've wanted to take this on holiday for god knows how long, and I actually can't wait to read this. (It's actually a contender against "On the Other Side" for my favourite from this list- I can't choose between them). This book is about Emily, a girl who is left a list of things that she has to do to bring her best friend Sloane back (she thinks) who went missing two weeks previously. The list includes things Emily would never do, not even with her best friend (kiss a stranger, go skinny dipping, dance until dawn), but will it bring Sloane back?

4. Hate List, by Jennifer Brown

Now I thought this was something different than what it actually was. I mean, I know that this was about two students that wrote a hate list, but what I thought what was going to happen was that the list was going to be found, and that the book was set straight after that. Instead (I had no idea of this) one of the students that wrote the list goes into the school with a gun, and a bunch of craziness. happens. Then, a year later, the other student that came up with the list (who feels incredibly guilty) goes back to that school. This book takes place that one year later. It's seems very different to what I originally it would be about, but I'm still really looking forward to reading it. (Next month, hopefully)

5. The Girl on the Train, by Paula Hawkins

Again (same as last month) I only bought this this morning, but I got it for 95p at Air Ambulance. You can get books at surprising good condition at Charity Shops, so don't overlook them! Also, I bought this because a film is coming out for this book and it looks really interesting. This is a book that I'm going to read without researching at all, because I wanna to give that a try. 

Okay, so that is my book haul for the month of July! It may have only been 5 books, but I'm actually trying to budget myself in how many books I buy from each month (pretty unsuccessfully, I have to admit), but I'm getting there. 

I hope you all have wonderful days, and I will see you all tomorrow!

Byeeeee!

-Abi xxxxx

Books That You Should Read Because of the Writing

Hey guys, this is Abi here,

And I was searching the web this morning for inspiration on what I could post today, and it suddenly came to me that I hadn't done a list about writing, so I figured, "Why not?" And so today I'm going to be listing books that you should read just because the writing is that good!

So here's the list!

Books That You Should Read Because of the Writing 

1. Cinder, by Marissa Meyer 

This book surprised me how easy it was to get into it, and before I read this book, I didn't realise how much I was putting into getting into series. And that was because the writing was so easy to get into, to the point that I was sucked in to this story from the first page. 

2. Before I Die, by Jenny Downham 

If you've been following this blog for a while, then you should have predicted this book, because I literally mention it in every single list I can. The description is so beautiful and delicate, I end up crying every time I read it, because just the way the story goes, especially at the end, and the writing is what pushes me over the edge. I don't really know how to explain it. The writing is incredibly innocent, but with truth that makes what she's describing feel real. Jenny definitely isn't one to shy away from what she wants to make you feel, and she shows that with her writing. Despite the depressing subjects in this book, the entire story is written incredibly hopeful, and this book will help you to see the simply beautiful things around you, and make you thankful about what you have around you. 

3. All the Bright Places , by Jennifer Niven 

This book is fairly similar to Jenny Downham's work to the point that the themes in this book stick with you long after you finish the last page. It is also one that is written with hope intertwined with the characters. But what I love most about the writing is that it shows you that there are things going on behind the scenes, that you aren't fully aware of, but it gives you the impression of maybe something else going on under what is written in the book. This book also doesn't shy away from the difficult subjects, such as suicide, grief, mental health, and a bunch of other themes, and the bluntness that those themes are discussed is what makes this book so hard-hitting. Totally recommend this. 

4.  Silence, by Natasha Preston 

This book also has some very serious issues underneath the surface (I seem to read a lot of these for some reason), but it's written differently compared to the two above this one. This one is actually really hard to explain if you haven't read it. Okay, got it now (a half hour later). Yes, this book does have some difficult subjects in it. But Natasha chooses not to go into too much detail about those subjects until the end, and that makes the story that much more shocking. What she focuses on is the relationship between Oakley and Cole. She's  really good at writing about positive things (i.e. the relationship). Now I'm just talking gibberish. Okay, the writing is what completes this book for me because it just adds extra to the story. How? I don't know. Just read it, and you'll see what I mean. 

5. Fangirl, by Rainbow Rowell 

We all know Fangirl, right? Right? Well the writing is what makes it so relatable. 

6. Skulduggery Pleasant, by Derek Landy 

Okay, this is one of the few books that I can start reading, and before I know it, I've read 87 pages. You just get sucked straight into the story, even more so than Cinder. That's no small feat. Derek's incredibly witty dialogue and unique description keeps you entranced from start to finish, particularly in this book. I mean, you get that with all of them, but especially in this one (don't know why, really).

So those are the books that you should read just because of the writing! You should read them for other reasons, but mainly because each and every for each and every one of them, the writing is incredible. 

Have a wonderful day, and I will see you all on Sunday! Byeeee!

-Abi xxxxx

Glass Sword (Red Queen #2), by Victoria Aveyard

Hey guys, this is Abi here,
And I finally finished Glass Sword like five minutes ago!
So let's get on with the review!

Glass Sword (Red Queen #2), by Victoria Aveyard 

Title: Glass Sword 

Author: Victoria Aveyard 

Genre: Fantasy 

Release date: 9th February, 2016

Pages: 440 

Blurb: If there's one thing Mare Barrow knows, 

it's that she's different. 

Mar's blood is red, but her unique Silver ability-the power to control lightning-has turned her into a weapon that the Silver court will do anything to control. 

As Mare escapes the clutches of Maven, the prince- and friend- who betrayed her, she discovered something shocking: she is not the only one of her kind. 

Pursued by Maven, now a vindictive king, Mare sets out to find and recruit other Red-and-Silver fighters. 

But Mare is treading a deadly path, at risk of becoming exactly the kind of monster she is trying to defeat. Will she shatter under the weight of the lives that are the cost of rebellion? Or have treachery and betrayal hardened her forever?

My Thoughts

I'm not quite sure what to make of this book. Yes, things happened that I wasn't expecting. Yes, there was a good combination of description and dialogue. Yes, I quite liked the characters. If all those things are true, why didn't I read this in double quick time?

Because that is what normally happens when a book is that good. 

In terms of how I liked it, it was much the same as when I read Red Queen for the first time. Maybe the thing for this series is that I'll always enjoy it more the second time around. Because for Red Queen I noticed more the second time around. 

Okay, back to Glass Sword.  

The plot was pretty much exactly what it said on the blurb which I really liked. With some books, it gives a blurb, but it doesn't give you the whole big picture. With this blurb, it gives you the basis of the book. 

In terms of the writing, there was more description then there was in Red Queen, which is to be expected because Mare is experiencing new places as she tries to find the new-bloods. And the good thing is that it didn't get any more or less descriptive, like you weren't drowning in description, trying to keep up with it all. There was the perfect amount of description for how quickly things were happening. 

Which brings me to the pacing. The pacing of this book was FAST. I'm not just saying that. Different things were happening every second. It was all I could do to keep reading. One person used their ability, and then another got shot, and it all just got crazy. 

Now, the characters. There were some crazy ass characters in this one. One in particular creeped me the hell out, and if you've read the book you should know which one I'm talking about. 

In terms of the different abilities the new characters had, some of them were quite cool, and others were just epic. I'm not going to tell you what they are because I don't want to spoil you all, but it's worth picking this book up just for the powers. 

But I suggest reading Red Queen fist though, as it is the second book in the series. 

So that is my review on Glass Sword! I hope you all enjoyed it, I will see you on Friday, and at this point I don't really have any ideas as to what I'm going to be doing. 

Oh! Also, since there's only 11 days left until the month, I have made the consecutive decision to leave reading Six of Crows until next month. So that means I'm just going to be re-reading Harry Potter, because I do really want to finish them before Harry Potter and the Cursed Child comes out. (I'm going to my local Waterstones for the midnight release!)

Have a wonderful day, and I will see you all on Friday!

Bye!

-Abi xxxxx

Series'/ Trilogies I Need To Read/ Finish

Hey guys, this is Abi here,

And I know I did a post like this at the beginning of the year called "10 Series/Trilogies I Can't Believe I Haven't Read Yet", but the minute I posted that I thought of a bunch of different trilogies/series that I needed to finish. Also, as time went on I kind of lost interest in some of these series/ trilogies.

So I thought it was time I changed some of them, because I have read a couple, and I have other series that I'm halfway through finishing.

So I guess this post is slightly more different than the last one, but no so much that I won't class this in a different category.

Also, sorry if that was a bit wordy.
So here's the post!

Series'/Trilogies I Need To Read/Finish 

By the way, these are just going to be series'/trilogies that have been completed. Just letting you know. 

First what I'm going to do is list the ones that I've gotten halfway through, or read one book in a trilogy/series just so I can get those out the way.

Part 1: Series/Trilogies/Duologies that I need to finish 

1. The 5th Wave trilogy, by Rick Yansey 

Okay, just take a moment to see how beautiful these covers are. Just...wow. Is the moment up? Good.
Now, back to the books. Even though I have only read the first one, I do own "The Last Star", and also "The Infinite Sea" is in my local library pretty much all the time so it would be incredibly easy just to finish the trilogy by the end of the year. In fact, I'm going to put "The Last Star" as my Read a finale book for my TBR Jar Challenge of 2016. And also these books are so tiny, it would literally take me about a week to read this entire trilogy. So why shouldn't I?


2. Tempest trilogy, by Julie Cross

Okay, again, I've only read the first one, and the review is up on Page Pandemonium, (as is the review of The 5th Wave) but I did really enjoy Tempest, because it was my first time-traveller book... and it turned out way better than I thought it was. Saying that, I did think it was just a standalone... but I'll still read the rest of them because Tempest was just that good.
Okay, these covers are gorgeous too. Especially Timestorm.


3. If I Stay duology, by Gayle Forman

Okay, I wasn't going to read the second one because I like the way If I Stay ended (plus Where She Went didn't really interest me) but I may as well think about attempting the last one because If I Stay is one of my favourites. 

4. Fairytale Retellings, by Jackson Pearce 

Okay, I've read half of this series, and at this point, is my favourite fairytale series. I absolutely can't wait to finish this series because the first two were that amazing. My only thing that irritates me is that THEY CHANGED THE COVERS HALFWAY THROUGH THE SERIES. I mean, they're still nice, but I think the first two portray more of what the book is about than the last two. Saying that, I could be completely wrong because I haven't read them, but why change the series halfway through?

But the first two are so easy reading that it's literally no time commitment whatsoever, so I recommend them.

5. The Lying Game series, by Sara Shephard

Okay, I've been reading this series over about 5/6 months now, like reading a book a month, and I've reviewed every single one of them (and I loved them all). I only have 1 of these books left, and I can't wait to read it. Also, if I don't get "Read a series finale" next month for my TBR Jar Challenge, then I'm just going to buy it and read it anyway and just use "The Last Star" for that category (I mentioned it at the top of the post). 

Part 2: Series/Trilogies I need to read

1. Shatter Me trilogy, by Tahereh Mafi 

Again, these covers are gorgeous, and it did impact my interest in this trilogy. But also, I love the sound of the plot. A girl who's touch is lethal? Who wouldn't be interested in that?           And also, I'm getting the original covers, regardless of how long it takes me to get them because they'd just look gorgeous on my bookshelf. 

2. The Infernal Devices trilogy, by Cassandra Clare

This trilogy is basically replacing the Mortal Instruments from my old post about this because you can't read one without the other, And also, most people seem to think that this trilogy is better, as much as I hate to admit it. Also, it's set in England, so what's not to like?

3. The Darkest Minds trilogy, by Alexandra Bracken 

I don't real know what to say about this trilogy except for the fact that out of all of the trilogies in this category it is the one that I have wanted to read the longest. It was I think in 2012 that I heard about this trilogy. So, I hope to read it pretty soon. 

So that is all I have for you guys today! I hope you enjoyed this post, and I hope to have finished Glass Sword by Wednesday! *Knock on wood*. 

I will see you all then! Byeeee!

-Abi xxxxx

Just... Updates.

Hey guys, this is Abi here,
And I know you were all expecting me to be posting Glass Sword and nobody is more ashamed than I am at myself because I HAVEN'T FINISHED IT!
So today is just some rambling, explaining what I'm doing.
It is relevant to Glass Sword, honestly!

Just... Updates.

Okay, so I seem to have gone straight into a reading slump. And it doesn't matter what I do, I can't bring myself to read.

I seem to be writing more actually, (about a super secret thing that I am not at liberty to discuss at the moment, though you can probably guess what it is) Like my family actually can't get the laptop out of my room because it has been plastered to my side.

But back to reading. I cannot seem to read Glass Sword, because I just don't have the motivation.
What I'm getting to really about this rambling (sorry for that) is that I'm going to be putting Glass Sword to the side for the moment and re-read one of my favourites to get back into reading.

This really is quite a gamble, particularly as I have quite a large TBR for the month, and I still have 9 books left to read before the end, but since Harry Potter is 7/9 of that TBR I remain optimistic that I still will be able to read them all, assuming I don't get stuck on this one.

Saying that, I finished the book I selected in a matter of hours the first time I read it. Yes, the first time. This book is beautiful and heart-wrenching, so it kind of contradicts itself. That book is Before I Die, by Jenny Downham, and she is one of my favourite authors, even though I haven't read all of her books.
But this book is beautiful, and it is one of the most qualified contender to get me out of my reading slump because if I go into a reading slump the one thing there is no that question that I have to do this: I re-read one of my favourite books. And Before I Die is one of my favourite books of all time.

So that is all that I have for you guys today! Again, sorry that it wasn't the Glass Sword review...yeah...

Bye!

No seriously, I am sorry, but I hope you enjoyed this instead because it is a bit different than my usual posts!
Concerning Before I Die, I'm still debating on whether I'm going to be reviewing it or not, but it's probably likely. That's about as concrete an answer as I can give right now, but I'll say for definite whether I will be (or not) in tomorrow's post.

So with that, I bid you all goodbye!

Bye!

-Abi xxxxx

Introducing... On the Other Side, by Carrie Hope Fletcher

Hey guys, this is Abi here,
And I had no idea what I was going to post if it wasn't the Glass Sword review, and guess what? I didn't finish Glass Sword! (Shocker there!)
So, I literally had no ideas. I know, another shock.
And then I remembered that I had recently obtained a book I had been waiting for for almost half a year (I'm not kidding with this, I pre-ordered it at the beginning of February)
Since you've probably already seen the title then you know what book I'm talking about, so with that, I start the post!



Introducing... On the Other Side, by Carrie Hope Fletcher

Okay so on my last introduction (Never Always Sometimes, by Adi Alsaid, which I have posted both an introduction and a review for. Hehe, shameless advertising there) I put that I usually do introductions for books that I have just bought and am more excited to read than normal and plan to read asap, but that one I'd had for a while and wanted to read soon. Now this case is kind of the same, like in the way that I got it yesterday, but I won't be reading it until the start on next month. Which seems pretty long because I've been patiently waiting since February.                                                                          But, I guess I could wait a few more weeks... 

Okay, so I guess I should tell you something about the plot. Here it is!

Evie Snow is 82 years old and the book starts with her dying in her sleep (I know, blunt!), but before she can go through the gate to her own personal heaven, she finds that she is 27 again and she can't get through because her soul is too heavy. For Evie to pass through that gate, she needs to make her soul lighter. That means unburdening herself of the three secrets that she has kept for fifty years, so she must find a way to tell someone before it's too late. 

Okay, so that is all I know about this book, but it's enough to be excited about it. It's meant to be a really easy, really cute read, which is why I'm looking forward to reading it so much. 

So that was my introduction to On the Other Side! I hope you enjoyed the post, I will definitely be posting my Glass Sword on Sunday/ Monday, and I will see you then! Byeeeee!

-Abi xxxxx

Face-off: Kyla Davis vs Scarlet

Hey guys, this is Abi here,
And I thought it was about time for another face-off!
So here it is!

Face-off: Kyla Davis (The "Slated" trilogy, by Teri Terry) vs Scarlet (Sisters Red, by Jackson Pearce)

 

Okay, I don't know how much of you guys know these characters, but they are both phenomenal characters and two of my favourites, and to be honest, I reckon they'd be pretty evenly matched in a face-off. 

Well, neither has any magical ability, so it wouldn't be easy to get the upper hand. It would merely be based on who can go on for longer physically. 

I mean, Scarlet hunts fenris pretty much every day, so she can keep up with them. That's no small feat. But on the other hand, Kyla is a runner, she literally spends all her time running to keep her Levo up (a device that stops her acting out in anger).

In terms of weapons, Scarlet's weapon is a hatchet, and she's been using that for years, since she was 11 (she's 17 now), so she's pretty lethal with a hatchet. However, Kyla was part of the rebellion that is trying to overthrow the Government, so she was in that for... I think it was for four years, and there she learnt like a lot of skills like knife throwing, self defence, things like that, so that's pretty even. 

As you can see they are incredibly close in this, so it's actually quite hard. Ermmm... I'm gonna have to go with Kyla. They are incredibly close, but Kyla all the way. 

Do you guys agree? Let me know in the comments!

So that is all that I have for you guys today! I will see you all on Friday, and at this point it's a 50/50 chance that I will be posting my Glass Sword review! The other half... I have no idea. 

So I will see you all soon! Byeeee!

-Abi xxxxx

The Summer Reader Book Tag

Hey guys, this is Abi here,
And no surprises to anyone that I am doing a book tag today, because I said I would most likely be doing one today!
So here is The Summer Book Tag because... it's summer!
Though it does look like it gonna read, plus it's not really hot enough to be considered summer...
Also I didn't get tagged...
But who cares because I'm doing this tag anyway!
So here's The Summer Reader Book Tag!

The Summer Reader Book Tag 

1. Lemonade: Pick a book that started off bitter, but got bitter. 

After much consideration, I decided to use More Than This, by Patrick Ness for this category, because at one point (the start of the book) I had considered giving up on this book, but then it totally changed and I got sucked in. 

2. Golden sun: Pick a book that made you smile beyond compare. 

Pretty much any contemporary really, but specifically I'll Give You The Sun, by Jandy Nelson, because it's just so beautiful and just, hopeful. I read this back in March, and I still feel joy whenever I think of it. 

3. Tropical flowers: Pick a book set in a foreign country. 

I really don't have many options for this because for some reason I'm drawn to books that are set in the UK and the USA (though come to think of it, USA could be considered a foreign country), but I'm going to pick The Book Thief, by Markus Zusak, which is set in Germany. 

4. Tree shade: Pick a book in which a mysterious or shady character was first introduced. 

I totally saw Sebastian coming. 

5. Beach sand: Pick a book that was was grainy, and the plot barely developed. 

Okay, I hate choosing this, because I feel like everyone is going to be yelling at me, but the book that I'm choosing has to be Miss Peregrine's Home For Peculiar Children, by Ransom Riggs. 

6. Green grass: Pick a character(s) that were full of life, making you smile. 

Milo, from Demon Road, hands down. He just doesn't let the fact that they're on the run from Demons get him down, and that is a hard thing to do. 

7. Watermelon: Pick a book that had some juicy secrets. 

Just all the "The Lying Game" books, by Sara Shephard. (From the five that I've read. Out of six.) All the secrets are incredibly juicy in this series. Totally recommend this. Oh, by the way, if you didn't like the Pretty Little Liars series please don't be put off, because I think, this series is so much better. 

8. Sun hat: Pick a book that had a vast, big universe/setting. 

I'm going to go with Mind Games, by Teri Terry because that book is set in a virtual world (basically the internet), and the internet is incredibly vast!

9. BBQ: Pick a book in which a character was portrayed as a hunk. 

I'm gonna go with Jace for this one. I hate to use a series' twice in one tag, but I seriously can't think of anyone else. 

10. Summer fun: Pass the tag on. 

Everyone! If people want to do this tag then who am I to stop them? Nobody tagged me and I still did it!

So that was The Summer Reader Book Tag! I hope you all enjoyed it! I will see you on Wednesday, and if I haven't finished Glass Sword by then I will most likely be doing a face-off! So I will see you guys then. 

Byeeee!

-Abi xxxxxx

Red Queen (Red Queen #1), by Victoria Aveyard (Re-read)

Hey guys, this is Abi here,
And I deliberately didn't post anything this morning because I wanted to post this review today, because I haven't posted a review since last month, and it's already a third of the way through the month!

(Wow, where is this month going?!)

Anyway, here's my review of Red Queen (Red Queen #1), by Victoria Aveyard!

Red Queen (Red Queen #1), by Victoria Aveyard (Re-read)

Title: Red Queen 

Author: Victoria Aveyard 

Genre: Kind of hard to place it in a genre because truthfully there's bit of everything. 

Release date: 10th February, 2015
Pages: 383
Blurb:

 "This is a world divided by blood- red or silver. 

Reds are commoners, ruled by a Silver elite in possession of God-like superpowers. And to Mare Barrow, a seventeen-year-old Red girl from poverty-stricken Stilts, it seems like nothing will ever change. 

That is, until a twist of fate brings her before the Silver court. Here, surrounded by the people she hates the most, Mare discovers that despite her red blood, she possessed a deadly ability of her own. 

Fearful of Mare's potential, the King hides her in plain view: betrothed to his youngest son. Trapped, Mare decides to use her new position to bring down the regime- from the inside. 

But this is a game of betrayal and lies, and Mare has entered a dangerous dance- Reds against Silvers, prince against prince, and Mare against her own heart... "

My Thoughts

My feelings about this book before I started it were iffy, because last time I read this, I remember liking it, but not being completely in love with it. But I guess this is one of those books where you enjoy it more the second time round, because (surprisingly) I found myself remembering more (I mean, that might have been because I'd already read it, but I seriously don't think it was) and being able to separate which characters did what, and how Mare's relationship (the protagonist) was affected by that, which is... good. 

So. This book. What can I say about this book...

It was great. Like again, not completely in love with it (yes, still), but I did really like it, and definitely more than I did when I read it for the first time, so approximately a year ago. The writing makes it really easy to get into, because it's description enough, but the balance between the dialogue and the description was actually really good. Also, it was incredibly clear, so you could still keep track of everything that was happening, even in the action scenes. 

Okay, the characters. The characters were a very big part of the book, which I really liked. I liked Mare, because she wasn't just a scared character who was finding out what was going on in a world she didn't understand. She was fairly spunky, and it really seemed like she was fearless because even though you could tell that she was scared, she acknowledged that, and she faced it head on, because  that is who she is. I did also like the other characters, like a lot too. For your own benefit though, I'm not really going to say any more about them because it will kind of ruin the plot, because the characters are severally intertwined with the plot. 

But the plot! OMG, the plot! The blurb says "But this is a game of betrayal and lies", and damn right it was! There was nothing but betrayal and lies, that was the foundation of the book, because you really get the feel that you cannot trust anyone, which I really liked. There were also a bunch of death too, but it really wasn't depressing at all, which is a really hard thing to do, because death is depressing. Oh, and the plot twists, you just don't expect, they just come out of nowhere! 

So, if you guys can't tell, I did really enjoy this book. Okay, maybe that's a bit of an understatement. I loved this book, and if you are on the fence about whether you want to read this, I employ you to. Especially as Glass Sword is also out, and you can read them one after the other, as I am going to do! 

So that is my review on Red Queen! If you have any thoughts on Red Queen, feel free to comment below, because your comments make my day! I will see you all tomorrow, when I will most likely be doing a book tag of some sort because it's been like a month since I did one! So, bye, and I will see you all tomorrow!

Again, bye!

-Abi xxxxxx