Evaluating my TBR Jar Challenge (September)

Hey guys, this is Abi here,
I know I usually do one of these posts at the start of the month, every three months, (which means that this post should be posted at the start of October). But since I want to do a yearly wrap up thing at the end of December, I figured it would be fine if I did one now. So everyone, here is my September Evaluation of my TBR Jar Challenge!

Evaluating my TBR Jar Challenge (September)

So I'm going to be doing the structure that I did last time, which was:

1.Challenges I haven't chosen, and planned books

2. What I have chosen and completed, and those books that I have read for them

3. Challenges that I currently have to complete 

1. Challenges I Haven't Chosen, and Planned Books

1.Read a book with 500+ pages: House Rules, by Jodi Picoult

2.Read a new-to-you author: Flawed (Flawed #1), by Cecelia Ahern

3.Read a non fiction book: Don't currently have one, but might read a book on running, writing, or child-care (those are my main interests). 

2. What I Have Chosen and Completed, and Those Books That I Have Read For Them

1. Read a grphic novel: Tomb Raider and the Merlin Stone

2. Read a book that was made into a film: The Book Thief, by Marcus Zusak

3. Read a book that is guaranteed to bring you joy: I'll Give You The Sun, by Jandy Nelson

4. Read a book published in the last three years: The Girl With All The Gifts, by M R Carey 

5. Read a book that you own and haven't read yet: More Than This, by Patrick Ness

6. Read a book that has magic: Miss Peregrine's Home For Peculiar Children, by Ransom Riggs

7. Read a book that someone else picks: Ready Player One, by Ernest Cline

8. Re-read a favourite book: Fangirl, by Rainbow Rowell 

9. Read a book published in 2016: On the Other Side, by Carrie Hope Fletcher (YouTuber ItsWayPastMyBedtime)

10. Read a popular YA book: Six of Crows (Six of Crows #1), by Leigh Bardugo 

11. Read a sequel: Glass Sword (Red Queen #2), by Victoria Aveyard

12. Read a finale: Seven Minutes in Heaven (The Lying Game #6), by Sara Shephard

13. Read a Fairytale Retelling: The Fairytale Retelling series, by Jackson Pearce

3. Challenges That I Currently Have To Complete 

None, at the moment!

(I'll get another one at the start of October). 

So that is my evaluation of my TBR Jar Challenge for September! I will see you all on Friday, when I will be posting my September Wrap Up! So have a lovely day, and I will see you all then.

Byeeee!

-Abi xxxxx

Completed Series List (Update)

Hey guys, this is Abi here,
And since I've tried to read more series' this year, and I haven't done an update on my previous post (check that out on Post Pandemonium) in 9 months, so I thought it was time for an update!
So here's my Completed Series List (Update)!

Completed Series List (Update)

So here are the series that I have completed!

1. Harry Potter and the... series, by J K Rowling

2. Hunger Games trilogy, by Suzanne Collins

3. Divergent trilogy, by Veronica Roth 

4. Noughts and Crosses series, by Malorie Blackman

5. Slated trilogy, by Teri Terry

6. Series of Unfortunate Events, by Lemony Snicket

7. Twilight series, by Stephenie Meyer

8. Demonata series, by Darren Shan

9.Power of Five, by Anthony Horowitz

10. Skulduggery Pleasant series, by Derek Landy 

11. The Lunar Chronicles, by Marissa Meyer

12. The Medusa Girls, by Tera-Lynn Childs

13. The Mortal Instruments series, by Cassandra Clare
14. Fairytale Retellings series, by Jackson Pearce
15. The Lying Game series, by Sara Shephard
16. Vampire Beach series, by Alex Duval

So those are the series that I have read so far! There are still a bunch that I need to read (like the Infernal Devices and the Shatter Me trilogy) but I hope to get to those soon! 

So I will see you all on Wednesday, and I hope you have a wonderful day! 

Byeeee!

-Abi xxxx

5 Things I Like To See In A Book

Hey guys, this is Abi here,
And it occurred to me that I hadn't done a list in a while, and then, after that, what could I do?
And suddenly, I thought, why not do a list on what I like to look out for in a book?
So ladies and gentleman, here is 5 Things I Look Out For In A Book!

5 Things I Like To See In A Book

So there are a number of things I like to see in a book, as well as some that I don't. But today I will be telling you about those things that I do like to see, and then I'll explain them!

1. A Story-line With Some Meat In It

Books are published because publishers think that readers will find them interesting. And regardless of whether the book is a contemporary or a fantasy or a murder mystery, the story-line should have the reader's full attention. It should have a clear goal to solve or to accomplish, along with subplots to back it up. Without a decent plot, you don't have a story. End of. (This is just my opinion, by the way).

2. Authentic & Believable Characters

Now, it's no secret that I like good characters. (And if you're new, now you know). Characters are a big part of the book, and if you don't relate to the characters, then it's very hard to enjoy the book. The characters should feel like real people that you think you'd like to know, particularly in a contemporary book (I mean, the same should apply to characters in a fantasy novel, for example, but it's slightly less important because there's factors like world building in those types of books). So if you don't believe in the characters and their journeys, then what's the point of the book? 

3. Just The Right Amount Of Description

Now this is just my preference, it's fine if you guys feel differently, but I like having just the right amount of description. This changes depending on the genre, for example, if I'm reading a Sci-fi or a historical fiction book as opposed to a contemporary or a romance, I'm expecting a bit more description, because the world is different to the one you and I live in today. But I don't want endless pages of description. Saying that, I don't like too little description, otherwise I'm just left thinking "So that's it? Where's the rest of it?" Comment down below if you guys feel the same!

4. Plot Twists!

Plot twists. Nothing lifts my eyebrows up to my hairline like a good plot twist, especially if it takes me by surprise. I just love them. Also, from a writer's  point of view, they're fairly easy to come up with! (You can't go wrong with a character turning traitor in some way, especially when everything is so close to being accomplished, hahaha *evil laugh*).

5. Writing that just flows... 

And finally, I like to see a book where the writing just pulls you in, and you don't have to struggle with staying interested in the way the whole story comes together. The writing might be smooth and poetic, or blunt and honest, but if you don't like the way it reads, then it's gonna be a whole lot harder to start raking through the pages than if you enjoy the writing. 

So those are the 5 Things I Like To See In A Book! I hope you enjoyed it, especially as this list was sort of different to the other ones I've done previously.

So that is all I have for you guys today, and I will see you all tomorrow. 

I hope you all have a lovely day, and I will see you soon!

Byeeee!

-Abi xxxxx

September Book Haul (2016)

Hey guys, this is Abi here,
And it occured to me today that this time next week it will be the last day of September (strange), and I still haven't done a book haul!
So take a seat, because I bought like 12 books this month.
So here's my September Book Haul!

September Book Haul (2016) 

So I'm going to start with the books I bought for my birthday (my family get me vouchers because they don't know what books I read. It woks for everyone). And then I'll get on to the books that I bought during the rest of the month. 

So I bought these books for my birthday:

1. Nerve, by Jeanne Ryan 

Okay, this book probably didn't come as much of a surprise, since I've already posted a review for this book. So I'm not going to be posting much of what this book  is about. Also, the film for this book is out now, so even less reason! So go check out one of those (preferably the review, because I wrote it, but if the film is anything like the book, it'll be amazing). Or better yet, read the book! (It's addictive and fast paced). 

2. The Infinite Sea, by Rick Yansey 

This book was a kind of filler, really. I had the first and third books in the trilogy, so it was nice to have this book, just so I can marathon this series later. (Probably next month.) I'm actually quite looking forward to reading this (especially as it's tiny, so it doesn't look like it'll be much of a time commitment, which I do like. 

3. American Monsters, by Derek Landy

Do I need a reason for this?

4. The Call, by Peadar O Guilin

Okay, this may seem like a bit of an odd choice, but this book is big on YouTube at the moment. And I mean BIG. Booksplotion (PolandbananasBOOKS, Katytastic and Jessethereader) are doing this book for their monthly liveshow. And though it starts at like midnight where I live (UK) I'm determined to 1) Finish it before the thirtieth, and 2) Stay up so I can watch it. I wish it could have been done next month because so far there's something creepy about this book that I can only associate with Halloween, but I'm not being picky because I'm thoroughly enjoying this book at the moment. 

5. Songs About A Girl, by Chris Russell 

This book just looks interesting. The protagonist is a shy girl that likes to hide behind her camera, and she gets asked to cover a new and unique band. It screams music and relatability and I'm thoroughly looking forward to reading this book. Those are my reasons for buying this book. 

6. The Wolf Wilder, by Katherine Rundell 

Okay, this was a book that Waterstones highlighted this month, and it looks fairly interesting. This is a children's book, but I've learnt that children books can hold a lot more content then you'd have previously have thought. So I recommend you guys pick it up. 

So those are the books that I bought for my birthday! Here are the books that I bought the rest of the month. (I'm just going to be listing these, without the description, unless I actuallly have some thoughts on them.)

A Series of Unfortunate Events books, by Lemony Snicket

1. The Wide Window

2. The Austere Academy

3. The Ersatz Elevator

4. The Vile Village

I now have 9/13! I only need the 4th book (The Miserable Mill), and Number 9, 10 & 11. (The Carnivorous Carnival, The Slippery Slope & The Grim Grotto), so I'm getting there with the collection!

Other Books 

(There's only one though). 

Vortex (Tempest #2), by Julie Cross

I got Vortex! In a charity shop, no less. By the way, the cover is just as bright as it appears to be in the picture. So, it blinds you when you see it. I'm way too excited to read this book, (more than I should be.) And I have no idea why. This is the second book in the Tempest trilogy, and it's about a boy who can time travel. When Jackson sees his girlfriend almost die, he panicks and leaps further back in time than he's ever been. And he can't get back. So this trilogy is him trying to get back to Holly, and believe me when I say "A LOT OF CRAZY SHIT COMES UP IN THIS BOOK." At least this was what happened in the first book. Now do you see why I'm so excited to read this book? (Even though second books in trilogies tend to be worse than the first, but I'm being positive. Trying to be positive. Not succeeding.)

So that was my September Book Haul (2016)! I hope you enjoyed it, and I am really looking forward to reading all these books! 

That is all I have for you today, so I will see you all on Sunday!

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

Byeeeee!

-Abi xxxxx

Books 31-40

Hey guys, this is Abi here,
And I finished my Goodreads Reading Challenge! Again! (I raised the challenge from 30 to 40).
So here are books 31-40 books that I read this year!

Books 31-40 

I'm only going to be listing these, but I will do a general paeragraph that tie in all the books in this list, so with further ado, here is the list:

31. All of the Above, by James Dawson

32. Life and Death, by Stephenie Meyer

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

34. On the Other Side, by Carrie Hope Fletcher

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

36. Chasing the Stars, by Malorie Blackman

37. Seven Minutes in Heaven (The Lying Game #6), by Sara Shephard

38. Six of Crows (Six of Crows #1), by Leigh Bardugo

39. Bloodlust & Initiation (Vampire Beach #1), by Alex Duval 

40. Fathomless (Fairytale Retellings #3), by Jackson Pearce

So I didn't love all of these books, (and when I saw on Goodreads how long it took me to read them, I was shocked), but some of them I enjoyed a lot. Some of these I read in a day (All of the Above, Life and Death, Since You've Been Gone, and Bloodlust & Initiation), so I totally recommend those. I did enjoy aspects of the other ones, even if I didn't finish them in the fastest time, so pick those up too!

So that is my post for today guys (well yesterday, I suppose).

I hope you don't feel like I've skimped out on the post for today, especially as it is incredibly late. But I promise, I will do an incredibly long one tomorrow! (I promise. Really.)

So I will see you all tomorrow, and I'm thinking that I'll do another writing post, since the last one was fairly popular! (And also, I'm in that story writing tone of mind again at the moment!) 

So I will see you all tomorrow. 

And... byeee!

-Abi xxxxx

Nerve, by Jeanne Ryan

Hey guys, this is Abi here,
And I'm just gonna go right ahead and introduce this post because I don't really have an introduction.
Here's my review of Nerve, by Jeanne Ryan!

Nerve, by Jeanne Ryan 

Title: Nerve

Author: Jeanne Ryan 

Genre: Thriller, I think 

Release date: 11th August, 2016

Pages: 294

Blurb: "ARE YOU PLAYING THE GAME, 

OR IS THE GAME PLAYING YOU?

Vee doesn't know if she has the guts to play NERVE, 

an online game of high-stakes dare. But whoever's

behind the game knows exactly what she wants,

enticing her with list-worthy prizes and a 

super hot partner. 

With Ian on her team, it's easy to agree to

another dare. And another. And another. 

At first it's thrilling, as the manipulative audience, or

'Watchers', cheer them on to riskier challenges. But

things quickly get out of hand. 

Will Vee and Ian risk their lives for the Grand Prize 

dare? Or will they lose NERVE?"

My Thoughts

When I saw this book in Waterstones, I didn't think that much about it. I mean yes, it did say "Now a major motion picture", but I just kind of thought, meh. 

But then I saw the trailer. And I could not get the book out of my head. 

Plus the fact that it had been ages since I had read a decent high-intensity book that I actually enjoyed. 

So I picked it up. 

Here's what I thought of it:

This book was as addictive as Nerve was in the book. It didn't go into too muchdetail with the characters, which even though I usually wish there was more details on the characters, this time it worked. 

Because the story was primarily about plot. And the plot had me on tenterhooks. It got to the point where I didn't want to stop reading and go back to work (and I work in Waterstones, so that's kind of hard). What kept the plot interesting was the new dares that kept coming up when Vee completed them again and again. 

Another thing I liked was that Vee didn't change. Throughout the entire book, she didn't turn into this immortal person who could take on anything, no matter the cost. She stayed true to her character, and every time she got a new dare, she thought out the pros and cons, and made a decision rationally. 

Also, she constantly felt guilty of the people that she hurt whilst completing these dares (they were so intense and just plain brutal at some parts).(It wan't good that she hurt people for the Grand prize, but it was good that she kept her humanity). 

This book was immensely fast paced. It was like one thing after another, dare, plot twist, intensity, and craziness. Oh! And then the stakes get pulled up, so there's more intensity. And so on. 

Also, loyalties got tested. Friendships got threatened, because of these dares. That's right! These dares got personal, which again, raised the intensity!

So as you can probably tell, I did really love this book, because I read it in the right frame of mind. If I hadn't read this when I was in the right frame of mind, I know for a fact that I would have liked it as much. 

And lastly, it is no time commitment.

So that is my review for Nerve, by Jeanne Ryan! I hope you enjoyed the review, and I will see you all on Wednesday!

Byeeeee!

-Abi xxxxx

Face-off #4: Mare (Red Queen series) vs Valkyrie (Skulduggery Pleasant series)

Hey guys, this is Abi here,
And I wasn't sure what to do today, so I tried searching for what I could do.
So I saw that I hadn't done a face-off in a while.
And so, I introduce: Face-off 4: Mare vs Valkyrie!

Face-off #4: Mare (Red Queen) vs Valkyrie (Skulduggery Pleasant)

              

These two are some very interesting characters, and this would be evident if they were to be in a 

face-off. 

They both have magical abilities (which is one of the reasons that I put them together), but as to who would have the upper hand with that, I need to work out. Let's see. Well, Mare has the power to create lightning (I say create because silvers can generally manipulate the power that is already in the air, but Mare can create , which means that she is more powerful than the other silvers), but Valkyrie has a talent for several different practises. But she goes with Elemental for the majority, so we'll go with that. 

Now, at the start of the book, Mare's power is a reflex really. She didn't know that she had this power, so it's unpredictable. On the other hand, you see Valkyrie progress from the first book, when is nothing but a curious twelve year old. 

Saying that, Mare is older when she discovers her power, so she is able to control it a lot sooner than Valkyrie. 

No, I think Valkyrie takes this one. There's just something to be said about mastering a power for years than just being able to control it.

Valkyrie 1-0. 

In terms of physically fighting, Mare grew up pick-pocketing, which means that she has experience in running away. I guess what that boils down to is that she isn't a slouch in fighting for a long period of time. 

But Valkyrie aint no slouch either. Definitely not. Especially when you spend your day pretend fighting with team-mates who have been doing what they do for the past 80 years. She also fights bad guys herself, and you get kind of ripped doing that- apparently. 

I'm gonna go with Mare on this one. She spent the majority of her life stealing from people to survive, so something tells me she could probably keep going past the point of exhaustion if it came down to it. 

1-1. 

This is where it gets difficult. The decision. I think what it boils down to who is the most powerful of the two. On one hand, there's Valkyrie, who's been learning and growing increasingly more powerful over the course of 9 books, and then there's Mare, who suddenly has this massive power that is even more powerful than the norm. There's also the matter of who would be able to fight for longer. 

And whilst I've been typing this, I've made my decision. 

Mare wins. 

There's just no doubt. It would be close, because Valkyrie is plenty powerful. But Mare would just take it to the death. (If you've read Glass Sword, you know what I mean; she literally becomes ruthless). 

Sorry Valkyrie. 

So that is my Mare vs Valkyrie face-off! I hope you enjoyed it, I will see you tomorrow, when I will (hopefully) be posting my review of Nerve! 

I hope you all have a lovely day, no matter of how much of it is left, and I will see you all tomorrow!

Byeeee!

-Abi xxxxxx

Cold Spell (Fairytale Retellings #4), by Jackson Pearce

Hey guys, this is Abi here,
And since I didn't do the review of Cold Spell on Wednesday, I am going to do it today!
So here's the review, I guess.

Cold Spell (Fairytale Retellings #4), by Jackson Pearce

Title: Cold Spell

Author: Jackson Pearce

Genre: Fairytale retelling, romance, and a fair bit of action

Release date: 5th November, 2013

Pages: 340

Blurb: "GINNY AND KAI ARE IN LOVE.

OR SO GINNY THOUGHT. 

A mysterious girl with beauty as flawless as ice 

enchants Kai. When he is swept away by this 

intoxicating snow maiden, Ginny must cast aside

her fears and pursue him. In the face of mortal

danger, will Ginny and Kai's love hold strong, 

or slowly melt away."

My Thoughts

I have to say out of all of the books in the series, this is by far my favourite one. Not so much the main character and her love interest (though I liked the rest of them quite a lot), but because the plot genuinely surprised me, right from the start, all the way through to the end.

This book was the retelling of the Snow Queen, one of those fairytales that some people don't really know that much about (me included). But what I liked about Cold Spell is that they still kept the vital points in the story, except the character became more relatable, (so it didn't seem unrealistic). Though, there are werewolves and a Snow Queen (who may or may not be evil), so the plot may be a bit of a stretch, but it's a book, so if you can't stretch character's lives in a book, where else can you?

One thing that I liked about this book, was the fact that the characters pulled you along, their journeys, and the side characters played a pretty vital part throughout the entire book as well. This is important because they all learn off one another, and this is reflected in all of them at one point. 

The story also pulls you in from the first page, and it is interesting for the rest of the story. 

Now onto the perspectives. This one mostly centred around Ginny, because she is the protagonist, but there were a couple of chapters where the perspective was Mora (the Snow Queen) just so we could see like, what she was doing. This didn't really change much of the plot, but it was very interesting to see inside the mind of the Snow Queen. 

Also, WE MEET ANOTHER REYNOLDS! That's six. Lucas Reynolds is an amazing character. Now, every one of the Reynolds family that we meet seems to have some sort of power, or amazing skill (hunting, or shooting guns), and Lucas is no exception. He is smart and caring (and good at making surprising and convenient appearances), but first and foremost, he is a tracker. 

Another thing I LOVED about this book was the description. Even at the point that I was reading this, (which was on a day that was 27 degrees) it still made me feel like it was the middle of winter, with the description. The description was delicate and poetic and beautiful at times, but at the same time it really captured the harshness of the wind and the cold in the middle of winter, which I did really enjoy. 

The character development was very subtle, but it's something that I want to talk about. You saw Ginny change the most, (though that was more subtle than the changes that the other protagonists made in their journeys) but that was the most noticeable change. She went from planning her life with Kai, moving to the city with him because he's got into this prestigious music school and not really having a life herself, she kinda just shares his, (the relationship that they have is very close) to actually becoming her own person at the end, and I liked this. (Particularly because she wasn't really that much of a memorable character at the start. But she is at the end.) 

So, for the last book in the series, I think it wrapped up everything nicely. I wished the story had ended differently (like I hoped that some previous characters could have made an entrance, like some of the Reynolds family, because they were mentioned), but I was happy with the ending. 

So overall, I got what I wanted from this book, which was some good characters, and a whirlwind story, with twists and turns. I highly recommend this series to anyone who thinks they might enjoy it. 

So that was my review on Cold Spell, by Jackson Pearce! I hope you enjoyed it, and I will see you all on Sunday! 

Byeeee!

Abi xxxxx 

Birthday Book Tag!

Hey guys, this is Abi here,
And I wasn't sure whether to do a book tag, or try to finish Cold Spell (this morning I had 140 pages left), and I've finished Cold Spell, but since it's my birthday today, I figured I'd combine my birthday and a book tag (yes, the birthday book tag is a thing, and also, you only have your birthday one day a year, so why not?) So here's the book tag!
P.S.: Sorry for the not so smooth intro.

Birthday Book Tag

1. Count your birthday along your bookshelf and then subtract your birth month. What book does it land on?

Fractured, by Teri Terry. This is the second book in the Slated trilogy, and it is one on my favourites. Go pick that trilogy up now. Please, because it's amazing. 

2. If you could spend your birthday with any fictional character who would it be and why?

Oooooh, I don't know. Maybe Cath, from Fangirl, so I could ask her how she got to writing Carry On Simon, since I like to write too. Also, I'd like to get a Gingerbread Mocha. 

3. Find a book that takes place in the season you were born in.

I don't know any books that are set in autumn, and also, most books take place over more than one season. So the first book that comes to mind when I think of leaves and things changing, (not just the weather) is The Girl With All The Gifts, by M R Carey. 

It isn't just because the cover is yellow either. Also, Halloween is considered autumn. And I'm not giving any more hints... 

4. Find a book that is the colour of your birth stone. 

Well, my birth stone is a sapphire, so I'm going with Lone Wolf, by Jodi Picoult.  

5. Is there a series with the same number of books as your age? If so what is it?

|I couldn't find one, and I sincerely hope that means that a series with 19 book doesn't exist. The closest I've seen is 13, (the Series of Unfortunate Events), but any longer than that, just... no. If anybody knows of a book series that consists of 19 books, let me know in the comments, but it is pretty unlikely that I'll pick it up. But let me know!

6. Pick a book set in a time period, world or country you would like to have been born in. 

Well, I always wished I could have been at a legal age in the 80s, to experience all the iconic music thst was released, so I guess I'd have liked to be born in the swingin' sixties. I haven't read any books that take place in the 60s, but from what I hear, Bliss, (by Lauren Myracle, who wrote one section of Let It Snow) is set in the 60s. I might give that book a try... 

So that is the birthday book tag! I'm not going to be tagging anyone for this, because everyone has a birthday, so there shouldn't be a reason why nobody does it!

My review of Cold Spell will be up on friday, I hope you all have a beautiful day, and I will see you all on friday!

Byeeeeee!

-Abi xxxxxxx

Fathomless (Fairytale Retellings #3), by Jackson Pearce

Hey guys, this is Abi here,
And this morning, I finished Fathomless! (After ten days!)
So here's the review!

Fathomless (Fairytale Retellings #3), by Jackson Pearce

Title: Fathomless

Author: Jackson Pearce

Genre: Fairytle retelling, romance, and a bit of action

Release date: 2012

Pages: 293

Blurb: "THE OCEAN KEEPS
HER SECRETS

Celia is a harbourer of memories- she can see into the past. 

Knowing what has already been always seemed so insignificant 

to Celia- until she meets Lo.

Lo's memory is drowning in the vastness of the ocean. She is 

transforming into a nymph, an ocean girl, a mermaid- terms too 

pretty for the soul-less monster she knows she's becoming. 

When handsome Jude falls into the ocean Celia and Lo

rescue him. But soon they find themselves competing. 

Celia for Jude's love, Lo for so much more. 

There's only one way for Lo to earn back her humanity. 

Persuade a mortal to love her... and steal his soul."

My Thoughts

I've sat in front of this laptop for well over a half hour now and I have no idea what to say about this book. It was a retelling of The Little Mermaid, which I haven't read a lot of (or at all), so I don't have a lot to compare it to. One thing I will say about it was that in some aspects it was similar to Sisters Red, in others to Sweetly, and in a couple of aspects it was nothing like the other two, and I will go into more detail later.

But first, let me get the things that I didn't like out the way so I can bring the review back to a positive point at the end. (Especially as there aren't that many negative points.)

One thing I didn't particularly like was how slow it took to get the plot going, and for the characters to meet. Granted, it didn't take that long for the characters to meet, but it took a while for the characters to become invested in each-other, which was something I would have liked to see more at the start. 

Okay, now on to the good things. 

This book had a lot more tension than the other two. There was a bit of tension in Sisters Red, but not nearly as much as in Fathomless. The tension was actually consistent because this scenario was sort of a race against time as Lo tries to get Jude to fall in love with her, so she can steal his soul and be human again, but at the same time Celia is also competing. So this was sort of an ongoing thing throughout the entire book, which I liked, because it gave the book a bit of an edge. 

So on to the relationships. Like I said previously, Celia and Lo are competing for Jude, but what makes that a lot more interesting is that 1) they're friends (more like sisters towards the end), and 2) they don't know that they're competing for him until approximately 90 pages towards the end. This meant that the ending was a whole lot more fast-paced than the rest of the book, which more than made up for the rest of the book. 

Also, this book jumped from two perspectives, like in Sisters Red. This was a good thing, because it meant we got to see the whole situation, which was more than each character did! Celia and Lo were the protagonists for this one, and with the plot, I thought this was a good decision! 

One similarity that was in every single one of them was the sibling thing. I'm officially going to be referring to this series as the sibling series (if Cold Spell is the same, that is) because the siblings are such a vital thing to this series that it's incredibly refreshing to see. The siblingcy isn't such a vital part in Fathomless as it is in the other two, but we do get to meet the three girl triplets that make up three/ten of the Reynolds family, all of which have powers. (One can see the future, one can see the present, which is essentially mind reading, and Celia, the protagonist, can see the past.) Also, we have now met five of the ten siblings in the Reynolds family. 

So overall, this book was a bit slow to start with, but the characters weren't awful, I didn't hate them, but they didn't really stand out as much as they did in the previous books in the series. 

It did have some very good points though, like the ongoing tension throughout the entire book. I also liked the friendship between  and the relationships, and the perspectives, which I have to admit, were quite unique. I mean, who gets to be in the mind of someone who can see the past of people, and a mermaid that has to drown someone before she can be human again! Depressing, I know, but still, unique! Also, we got to meet more of the Reynolds family! 

So that is my review of Fathomless, by Jackson Pearce! This one was a long one, but at least I'm getting more detailed in what I liked about each book I read! I will see you all on Wednesday, which is my birthday! (Yay!) 

At this point I have no idea what I'm gonna be posting, but I'll probably let you all know on Twitter when I have some ideas. (My @ thing is @TheWorldIsBooks , so go check it out!)

I will see you all on  Wednesday, I hope you all have a lovely day, and...  byeeeee!

Byeeeeee!

-Abi xxxxxx

Sweetly (Fairytale Retelling #2), by Jackson Pearce

Hey guys, this is Abi here,
And as promised, today I will be doing my review of Sweetly, the second book in the fairy-tale retelling series.
Sorry it's a little later in the day, but here's the review.

Sweetly (Fairytale Retelling #2), by Jackson Pearce 

Title: Sweetly

Author: Jackson Pearce

Genre: Retelling, romance, and a bit of action 

Release date: 2011 

Pages: 310

Blurb: "Deep in the dark forest there's a 

wicked witch, who lives in a house

made of chocolate and liqourice. 

It was just a dare between three siblings- 

a deadly game that only two survived. 

Twelve years later, in a town far away, Ansel

and Gretchen finally find sweet love and sanctuary. 

But this sleepy town carries a bittersweet secret

that forces Ansel and Gretchen to return to the dark 

forest and confront their childhood terrors..."

My Thoughts

This book is one of the few books that I love more and more every time I read them. I find that I'm noticing more, and with that comes more enjoyment of the story. This book is so good, it's actually overtaken Sisters Red as my favourite (even though I've only read these two- I have about 125 pages left of Fathomless, but I hope to finish that tomorrow, so I can review it for you guys!) 

To be honest, I don't know quite what it is that makes me love this book so much. I mean, I have aspects of what I particularly liked, but that's as far as it goes. Actually, I think what it is is that nothing felt rushed. There was a layer of mystery in this book that is hard to do, particularly when it's rushed. But the whole book flowed in a way that I rarely see in these types of books, and I really liked that. 

Another thing I liked was the description. For the majority of this book Ansel and Gretchen (the protagonist) are residing with Sophia (I'll get to her in a minute) in a chocolateir, and I swear, Jackson Pearce makes those chocolates sounds so delicious that by the time you've finished the book (like one day later) you'll have gained half a stone. 

Now, on to Sophia. This character is very complex, and she is a vital part to the mystery surrounding the plot. If you ever read this book, beware of this character, because she is more than she appears.(She isn't as bad as I make out, far from it, but she is a most complex character.)

Another thing, this book isn't that different from Sisters Red, because there are still fenris and werewolf hunting, but it isn't the central focus in this book, and although I liked that aspect in Sisters Red, the fact that the plot became all the more complex in this one gives the reader a bit of an insight in how the whole series may come together towards the end, which is another thing I liked. (Sorry for the immensely long sentence, and sorry if it didn't make sense, but that's the only way I can explain things.)

Now, Gretchen. Our protagonist changed a great deal throughout this book. She went from being shy and curious with low self esteem, to being confident and sure of herself. This has to do with a certain young man named Samuel Reynolds. He is tough and closed off at the start, but towards the end he and Gretchen become a team, having each other's back, and falling for each-other at the same time. It's a nice thing to see, being in love with the person that is your friend first, and it's nice to see Jackson Pearce include it (it was also in Sisters Red.)

Also, another thing that appeared again (that was evident in Sisters Red as well) is that close sibling bond between Ansel and Gretchen. They had each-other's backs from the get go, when they got kicked out of their stepmother's house, and that bond continued all the way through to that crazy (yet great) ending. 

So overall I loved this book, I loved everything about it, and I sincerelly hope you all try it, especially if you want something not too time consuming, and complex, with amazing characters. Seriously!

So that is my review for Sweetly! I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed reviewing it, (I enjoyed reviewing it very much!) So I will see you all tomorrow, when I will (hopefully) be reviewing the next book in the series, Fathomless!

Also, you may have heard, but I REACHED 10,000 VIEWS! I really couldn't have done it without you guys, and I love you all! 

So I will see you all tomorrow, byeeeee!

-Abi xxxxxx

5 Things To Know When Writing A Book

Hey guys, this is Abi here,
And since I seem to be nothing but writing in my spare time, I thought it was time to tell you some of the writing tips I've picked up along the way.
So here are some things to know when writing a book! (I'm currently only in development at the moment, so I can't tell you much, but here's what I have learnt.)

5 Things To Know When Writing A Book

1. You do need an outline. 

An outline is a vital bit of development building up to writing the actual book. It's basically the plot line, scene by scene, but like the overview. (So what the scene adds to the story, bullet points of what happens in the story, who's  in the scene, even some dialogue if you have any specific lines that you may want to remember.) But without an outline, you'll go off in a direction that you just thought of on the spot. And that is not good! (You'll never get the book done if you keep wandering off the plot!)

2. Just keep going, don't quit. 

It doesn't matter how uninspired you may feel at the moment, you don't just quit. Because eventually, you'll think of something, and the words will just come into your brain, and on to the page. You just have to be patient. 

3. Give yourself permission to write crap.

Ever heard the expression "Practise makes perfect."? There's truth to it. The more you write, the better you'll get, and the less time It'll take you to reach your goal. (For example, write 1,000 words, or finish the chapter you've been working on.)

Following on from number 3... 

4. You should set yourself goals. 

Set yourself goals. Surveys shows that if you set yourself challenging, yet manageable goals, you'll get those done, and you'll be able to set yourself a bigger goal the next day... until you finish the book!

5. Other people who aren't writing books will not understand... at all. 

When you're writing a book, you get obsessive. And other people, they don't understand. They treat you like your crazy (and if they saw your search history they'd have evidence), because you like creating characters and worlds that don't exist for a hobby. And they'll try and distract with "fun days out" when the whole time you'll be thinking "I'd really rather be writing right now". So be nice to them. Because they don't understand. 

So those are my 5 Things To Know When Writing A Book! I hope you enjoyed this post, because it was slightly different, and I hope you enjoyed the break of the review-a-thon that I've seemed to do since the start of the month! So I will see you on Sunday, when I will definitely be posting my review of Sweetly! (Look out for that because I don't know what time that will be up.)

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

Byeeeee!

-Abi xxxxxx

Sisters Red (Fairytale Retellings #1), by Jackson Pearce

Hey guys, this is Abi here,
And since I've already finished Sister's Red (and Sweetly) then I thought I'd do a review of Sister's Red!
So here's my review!

Sisters Red (Fairytale Retellings #1), by Jackson Pearce

Title: Sisters Red

Author: Jackson Pearce

Genre: Action, fairytale retelling, with a fair bit of romance

Release date: 7th June, 2010

Pages: 344

Blurb: "Love and fear collide

in a twilight world

Countless teenage girls have been brutally murdered... 

and Scarlett and Rosie March know how they died- 

torn apart by werewolves. For Scarlett, the memories of a similar 

attack have left not just emotional scars, but physical ones. 

The sisters fight side by side to save others from the same fate. 

When the mysterious and brooding Silas arrives he inadvertently 

causes a series of events that could endanger them all. 

As passion grows between Rosie and Silas, Scarlett uncovers 

some shocking secrets that could tear the Sisters apart-

one way or another..."

My Thoughts

If you've been watching my blog for a while then it's no secret that I love this series (Sisters Red especially), just because it's a very dark retelling of Little Red Riding Hood, where their swinging hatches and knives. What's not to like? Not to mention that the characters are completely relatable, if not in what their hobby is (fighting werewolves), but in their personalities. Also, the fact that you switch from Scarlett's and Rosie's perspectives, you get to see the whole picture, and it's done incredibly well. 

One thing I particularly like about this book is that its only loosely based on the fairytale. Like there were some similarities, but it was also quite different to the fairytale we all know so well. 

Actually pretty much the only thing that was similar to the fairytale was Rosie's character, and even she brought the classic fairytale into the modern world.  

Now, the characters. The story focuses on three characters called Scarlett and Rosie, who are sisters, and Silas, Scarlett's hunting partner. After a vicious attack at the start of the book, which leaves Scarlett without an eye, the book moves forward five years to when Rosie is sixteen, Scarlett is eighteen, and Silas is twenty-one, but the effects of that attack are still in play. What I liked about this was that each character reacted differently. (Scarlett has a one track mind about hunting, and it completes her. She does it because it's the right thing to do, but also because she wants to protect Rosie from what happened to her. Silas hunts because it's what he's always done, but he wants something more, and Rosie hunts because it's what Scarlett asks of her, and she owes her life to her, and also because she feels it's her responsibility.) 

And finally, the first time I read this, the plot had me on the edge of my seat, from start to finish, particularly on the second half.

So overall, it was fast-paced, the characters were incredibly easy to relate to, and it had me excited to read Sweetly, the second book in the series. Which means that I totally recommend this book to anyone who will listen! So go and read it! I promise, you won't regret it. 

So that was my review of Sisters Red! I hope you enjoyed, and please pick up the book! 

So I will see you all on Friday, when I will most likely be reviewing Sweetly, the second book in the series. So, byeeeeee!

-Abi xxxxxx

Bloodlust & Initiation (Vampire Beach #1 and #2), by Alex Duval (Part 2)

Hey guys, this is Abi here,
And I said I'd be doing my part 2 of Bloodlust and Initiation, so here it is!

Bloodlust & Initiation (Vampire Beach #1 and #2), by Alex Duval (Part 2)

Title: Bloodlust & Initiation 

Author: Alex Duval 

Genre: Supernatural, action, with a bit of romance sprinkled in. 

Release date: 1st January, 2006

Pages: 215

Blurb: THE A-LIST BITES. Jason Freeman is getting the hang of DeVere Heights. Then life from his flyover past pays an unexpected visit in the form of his old friend Tyler. Jason's surprised-- but psyched to see a familiar face. Having his friend around turns out to be a downer-- especially when Jason realises that Tyler is running from some sort of crisis. But Tyler isn't in on DeVere Heights little secret. Now instead of escaping his problem, he's about to put himself in mortal danger. Literally."

My Thoughts

Initiation was an alright book. It did have some moments that did progress the overall story along, but those moments were few and far between. Being honest, I feel like they could have been squeezed those moments into the other books, and just left Initiation. 

Saying that, it wasn't as awful as I make out. The characters are the same easy-going, relaxed characters that make it easy to keep reading. 

The mystery was also a little different this time. (It was surrounding Jason's old friend, Tyler, and the secrets that he's hiding.) 

The action scenes were different this time too. Less actual fighting, more fast paced scenes, particularly towards the end. There was some tension in those scenes too, which I liked as well. 

So that is my review on Initiation! Sorry it was insanely short, but this was one book I didn't really have that many thoughts on. So I will see you all on Wednesday, when I will be reviewing Sister's Red, by Jackson Pearce! I will see you all on Wednesday!

 Byeeee!

-Abi xxxxx

Bloodlust and Initiation (Vampire Beach #1 & #2), by Alex Duval (Part 1)

Hey guys, this is Abi here,
And I have a load of reviews, so I'm gonna get going and do the first one.
Everyone, this is my review of Bloodlust, the first book in the vampire beach series!

Bloodlust and Initiation (Vampire Beach #1 and #2), by Alex Duval (Part 1)

Title: Bloodlust and Initiation 

Author: Alex Duval 

Genre: Supernatural, action and romance 

Release date: 1st January, 2006

Pages: 233

Blurb: "Sienna's dark hair was glossier than he'd ever seen it, her skin was clear and creamy, almost luminous, and her lips glowed a deep rose red that he didn't think came from lipstick. She was stunning, spectacular, impossibly beautiful! Jason realised he was staring. 

"What is it?" he asked. "Sienna, you can tell me anything." And then Sienna smiled, slowly revealing a pair of very white, very sharp, and very real fangs. 

Jason has just moved to Malibu- home to rich kids and fabulous parties. He's flattered to be included- and very flattered to by the interest of the stunning Sienna. But Sienna and her friend hide a dark secret... and Jason is risking his life by falling for her."

My Thoughts

Bloodlust is a good starter book to the series. It ticks all the boxes. It introduces Jason, our protagonist, and his development is enough, but it isn't just about him. It's also about some of the other characters, and his relationship with them. Also, the plot is interesting enough that it stands out around the others. (At this point it has to stand out, because, let's face it, vampire books have been done to death.) 

Also, there's a good mix of mystery, character development, and fight scenes. (Jason's a fairly tough guy, and a swimmer, so he can take a punch or two, despite fighting vampires with superhuman strength. No, seriously. Bit unrealistic, but this is a book about vampires after all.) 

There's also a bit of romance thrown in there too.

Seriously, though, this book has a bit of everything you'd want in this type of book. They're quite small, so they're not a time commitment, despite the fact that there is 6 of them. The characters are fairly well done, I just wish they were a bit more three dimensional, they are pretty much your regular popular good looking teenagers living in Malibu (I guess, I've never been to Malibu, I live in the rainy UK), but other than that, there really isn't anything to complain about. 

So that is my review on Bloodlust! I hope you enjoyed it, and I will see you tomorrow, when I will be doing my review of Bloodlust & Initiation Part 2! 

Byeeee!

-Abi xxxxx

September TBR (2016)

Hey guys, this is Abi here,
And it's time for my September TBR, because somehow September's rolled around.
Why is the year moving so quickly?
Before we know it it'll be 2017?!
But anyway, here's the September TBR!

September TBR (2016)

September TBR Jar Challenge:

1. Read a book based on a fairytale: Fairytale Retellings, by Jackson Pearce

I didn't just want to dedicate one book to this category, so I took the opportunity to finish a series I've wanted to finish since like 2013. I've already finished Sister's Red, so that review will be up soon, as well as the Bloodlust & Initiation reviews. I love this series so much, and I can't wait to review them!

Other Books:

Some of the books on this list are being carried on from last month, because I didn't read everything I wanted to last month. There are some new books on here though. Enjoy :) 

1. Passenger, by Alexandra Bracken 

I've already started this, but I haven't got far (maybe 25 pages). I'm hoping to sneak this book in while I'm waiting for Cold Spell to come in, and at the rate that I'm reading these fairytale retellings, that is turning out more and more likely. But, it does mean that I'll have more time to focus on this book (and hopefully finish it before the month is out).

2. The Girl on the Train, by Paula Hawkins

Now, I'm kind of hesitant to read this book because it's gotten some mixed reviews. But (and I know this is an awful reason) I'ts becoming a film so it's good enough for me! Also, this book is kind of different from what I tend to read that it'll be nice to read something different for a change! 

3. The Uncommoners The Crooked Sixpence, by Jennifer Bell 

Okay, I got this book from a friend and I am really excited to read it because just from the cover it looks completely different to anything I've ever read. Also, it seems dark and interesting and quirky, which reminds me of Series of Unfortunate Events. (Also the fact that it's middle grade). This is the first book in a fantasy series, and I hope to continue with the series as they get released. 

4. Hate List, by Jennifer Brown 

This is another book that I've carried on from last month because I didn't get to read it in August. But the fact that I didn't get to it last month doesn't mean that I'm anyway less excited to read it, compared to last month!

So those are the books that I will be reading in the month of September! I will be putting up reviews for every single one of them, so look out for those reviews! 

I hope you all have a wonderful day, and I will see you all on Sunday!

Byeeee!

-Abi xxxxx