January Wrap Up (2017)

Hey guys, this is Abi here,
And this month went by so fast!
I posted a review here and there, a book haul and a tag-
And BAM! It's the end of the month!
So today I am doing my January Wrap Up (2017)!
Enjoy!

January Wrap Up (2017)

So this month I read a total of 7 books. This is a lot more than I thought I would (I thought I'd read 4/5, to be honest), so this was an amazing reading month for me!

Here are the books I read this month!

1. Desolation (Demon Road #2), by Derek Landy

2. American Monsters (Demon Road #3), by Derek Landy

3. Frostblood (Frostblood #1), by Elly Blake

4. Everything Everything, by Nicola Yoon

5. Baby Doll, by Hollie Overton

6. Passenger (Passenger #1), by Alexandra Bracken

7. Wayfarer (Passenger #2), by Alexandra Bracken

So those are the books that I read in the month of January (2017)! If I keep going like this, I'll be finished by August!- No really, I worked it out! (Let's hope I finish by them, because the I'll get to read a lot more books!)

So that was my January Wrap Up (2017)! I'm sorry it was short, but it literally was just a list of the books I read this month....

If you want to find out more about any of the books I have on this list (with the exception of Wayfarer, because I haven't posted a review for that yet), then look for the reviews on my page: Post Pandemonium (2017)!

So, I will see you all on Wednesday, when I will be posting my February TBR (2017)! A sum up of this post: I will be reading all the books that I really am not too excited to read, but I want to read them too much to chuck them!

But they still look interesting, so go check it out!

I hope you all have a wonderful day, and if you have any thoughts, let me know in the comments!

Byeeee!

-Abi xxxxx

Passenger (Passenger #1), by Alexandra Bracken

Hey guys, this is Abi here,
And I wasn't going to do a review today, I was going to do a writing update, because NaNoWriMo was almost two months ago, so I wanted to update you all with all my writing stuff! (I am still working on my book, by the way).
But since I finished the sequel to this book mere moments ago, I thought it would be appropriate to do a review for Passenger, by Alexandra Bracken!

Passenger (Passenger #1), by Alexandra Bracken

Title: Passenger

Author: Alexandra Bracken

Genre: Fantasy

Release date: 5th January, 2016

Pages: 486

Blurb: " 'You cannot fathom the distance

I would travel for you...'

NEW YORK CITY, PRESENT DAY

In one night, Etta Spencer is wrenched from everything she knows

and loves. Thrown into an unfamiliar world, she can be certain of

only one thing: she has travelled not just miles, but years from home.

THE ATLANTIC, 1776

Captain Nicholas Carter is tasked with delivering Etta to the

dangerous Ironwood family. They are searching for something- a

stolen object they believe only she can reclaim. But Nicholas is

drawn to his mysterious passenger, and the closer he gets to her,

the further he is from freedom.

THE EDGES OF THE WORLD

Together, Etta and Nicholas embark on a perilous journey

across centuries and continents, piercing together clues left behind

by a desperate thief. But as Etta plays deeper into the Ironwoods'

game, treacherous faces threaten to separate her not only from

Nicholas, but from her path home- for ever."

My Thoughts

I'm not quite sure what to make of this book. I wasn't completely in love with the idea of time-travelling pirates from the start, but the hype was so big for this book on Booktube, that I couldn't help but pick it up.

This was actually my second attempt at reading this book. Last time I got about 70 odd pages into it, and I just couldn't get back into it, no matter how much I tried.

I don't really know what it is about deadlines. I just get it into my head that if I don't finish this book by that deadline, then the world will either 1) descend into chaos, or 2) be destroyed in a massive explosion.

Because I finished it in less than one week.  

This book was alright. I'm not going to say it was WOW, OMG AMAZING, because it wasn't. But for the most part, it was a pretty decent book.

This story follows Etta, a classical violin player that is a few weeks away from her biggest performance to date- cant remember what so I'll just tell you that.

But anyway, she is constantly pushed by her mother, who has been cautiously distant from her only daughter for as long as she can remember. Our story starts the night of a slightly smaller performance, but nevertheless an important one.

Then something happens and she is swept back in time, to where she meets TIME TRAVELLING PIRATES.

And a whole bunch of craziness that is this story happens.

To be honest, this book is decent, up to about the half-way point. And then, the whole thing just got a lot... denser. The relationships either got stronger, characters fell in love, or started to despise each-other with an intensity that near enough scared me, and the plot got a lot more interesting and deadly.

Basically, Nicholas and Etta have a number of days to search for an device that could potentially change all their lives for the better (it's too complicated to explain without giving away massive spoilers, so I'm not going to do that)- in the hope that she can help her mother (who is currently kidnapped somewhere). But you follow Nicholas and Etta as they journey through time and space, as they encounter so many different places and times in history. And those places that they visited, it really sparked an interest in me about the places they were visiting, and left me eager to see where they were going next, the places they went were so well described.

One thing Alexandra Bracken definitely got right was the feeling that you were actually in the time period that Nicholas and Etta were in. One specific time when I remember thinking this is when they visited London during WWII. That part definitely felt real to me.

What she also did well was the feeling of classes on the ship where Nicholas and Etta meet. I liked that aspect, that they weren't allowed to talk, because of different classes, but they talked anyway. It was downplayed after a while, but I still liked that aspect one the ship too.

As for the characters, they were okay, I mean I didn't hate any of them, I just didn't connect to any of them the way I thought I would. I loved the romance between Nicholas and Etta, but I didn't particularly relate to them individually.

I did get invested in the bad guys to be honest, though. They were the characters that you just love to hate, so my favourite parts were when there was a confrontation between them both, you didn't know what way was up, when all the mains got put against each-other.

Which leads me to the plot. It was deadly. It had me reading the pages as fast as I could, wanting more, and yet still hoping I could read it faster so I could know what the heck was happening. If I had to say one thing about this book, it would be that the plot saved this story. If that's harsh, sorry, but that's what I think.

Next, the writing. The writing style was just so detailed, it felt like I was actually there with them, it was that descriptive and amazing.

Now, the ending. The ending, oh my god! It made me actually glad that I waited until the second book was released before I read this, because it meant I could continue the duology straightaway! It was all like BAM, BAM BAM! Craziness was happening all over the place. And the best thing about the ending was that it didn't seem rushed at all.

The ending was the best part, in my opinion.

So overall, this book was actually decent, as hesitant as I'd been to read it at first, I'm glad I did eventually take the time to read it (because these books are 400-500 pages long). But I do recommend them to people who like time-travelling, or pirates. Or both!

Because this book is worth the time- trust me!

One last thing- if you're currently reading this book, or just about to start it, and are considering putting this book down, just bear in mind, that from approximately half-way, it gets a lot better. Trust me!

So that was my review of Passenger, by Alexandra Bracken! I hope you enjoyed it, and my review for Wayfarer, the second and last book in the duology will be up soon!

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

And if you have any thoughts, let me know in the comments below!

Byeeee!

-Abi xxxxxx

Baby Doll, by Hollie Overton

Hey guys, this is Abi here,
And I have to admit, doing a book haul (for the first time in 3 months, might I add) was a nice break from the mountain of reviews I need to do.
But today I'm back to reviews, because I have still got 2 to do (including this one). But I love reviews, so it's not that bad!
Enough talk, now for the review!

Baby Doll, by Hollie Overton

Title: Baby Doll

Author: Hollie Overton

Genre: Thriller

Release date: 29th December, 2016

Pages: 384

Blurb: "You've been held captive in one room.

You've been mentally and physically abused

every day since you were sixteen years old.

Then, one night, you realise your captor has left the

door to your cell unlocked.

For the first time in eight years you're free.

This is what happens next..."

My Thoughts

This book was a spur on the moment buy. I was in Asda, and it was a buy two for said price (it was a deal). I'd heard about this book on Booktube, and I'd never thought about picking it up. But it had got fantastic reviews, and so I bought it.

And before I knew it, I'd finished it by the following morning.

Just 12 hours later.

That's how good it was.

This book was electric from start to finish. The story starts when Lily escapes after being held hostage for eight years, and as the book progresses, we learn just how much Lily's disappearance has affected every member of the family (the story jumps from her twin sister Abby, and her mother) as well as her captor Rick's perspective. And I'm glad that this was a multiple perspective book, because it wouldn't have had as nearly impact otherwise, especially in Rick's case.

Because that's something else I wanted to talk about. In some aspects, you actually feel sorry for him. NOT BECAUSE OF WHAT HE'S DONE, let me explain. Rick actually has no idea that he's done anything wrong. What makes it worse is that capturing Lily was a calculated act. He actually planned this. He thinks he's given Lily a happy home, and was genuinely shocked when she escaped and called the police, which made his perspective that much more interesting to read about.

Abby was a really interesting character too. She was the most affected by Lily's disappearance, as you would imagine she would be, as her twin sister. They had a really close bond when they were younger, and so she had nothing left after her disappearance. So after eight years, she's kind of hardened. She's got this deep anger that she doesn't seem to be able to control, which made her unpredictable at times. She is also still searching for her sister, because even after eight years, she doesn't believe that she is dead, as everyone else does at this point. There's also the layer that she is pregnant with her sister's old boyfriend's baby. (But I'll let you read about that, because I don't want to give away too much).

There was Lily's perspective as well. She's just trying to make sense of everything: how her family has changed, how they were affected, what happened between her sister and her old boyfriend, what has happened in the last eight years while she was captured, trying to get Rick charged, and also trying to tell Sky what happened to her, because she thinks of Rick as her dad.

But overall what I liked about the characters was that Lily's disappearance affected them all in different ways. Her sister became harder and more outwardly angry- it seemed to be a constant part of her; her mum, who we also got to see the perspective of, become more withdrawn and cautious, and Lily was just confused and trying to make senses of all the changes. The fact that they were also different makes the story really well rounded, and that's more or less what it was.

One thing I did really like about this book was that everything was consistent. The characters didn't change much throughout the book, and although that isn't normally a good thing, this time it was. Because that meant their actions made the book that much more shocking. What I mean is, since the characters didn't change much, you didn't expect them to do what they did. That was what kept the book exciting- if you read it, you'll know what I mean when I say that.

But overall, this book was amazing. It packs such a punch in just 380 odd pages, it will blow you away. This book has love, loss, shock, horror and a whole lot of twists: especially at the end. Totally recommend. I rated this a solid four stars.

Okay! So that was my review for Baby Doll, by Hollie Overton! I hope you enjoyed it, and I will see you all on Friday!

Byeeee!

-Abi xxxxxx 

January Book Haul (2017)

Hey guys, this is Abi here,

And originally I was going to do a review of Baby Doll- a book about the aftermath of having been taken for 8 years, but I wanted a break from reviews.
Then it came down to, what should I post about?
And it occurred to me that I hadn't done a book haul since October, so it was about time I post one!
So everyone, here is my January Book Haul (2017)!

January Book Haul (2017)

So over the past three months, I have bought a total of 7 books. Some of these I have already read and reviewed, and others I haven't. Here are the books on the list!

1. Harvesting of Heart, by Jodi Picoult

I only got this the other day, so I don't know much about it, but I know it involves a lot about a girl who's mother abandoned her as a child. This was years ago, but I'm assuming the memories about her past and her mum is going to be a big part of this, and that is what I'm excited for.

2. Blue Bloods (Blue Bloods #1), by Melissa de la Cruz

This was a book that I read in secondary school and, naturally, I still remember most of the details. Not much happens in this book, but there are like six in this series, so it's a nice start. It has mystery, discovery (a certain circle of people, when they turn 15/16 grow into themselves and become vampires) and a bit of murder. 302 pages, but a strangely addicting read. I do recommend this to anyone who likes any of those things I just mentioned. (Mystery, murder and an addicting read).

3. Paper Towns, by John Green

I've already read and reviewed this book so this one shouldn't come as much of a surprise- you can check out my review on Page Pandemonium (2016)! I did quite enjoy this, because of the quirky characters and the fun-loving premise :) . You guys probably know what this book is about because there was a film released at some point last year.

4. The Dream Thieves (The Raven Boys #2), by Maggie Steifvater

5. The Raven King (The Dream Thieves #4), by Maggie Steifvater

I found the Dream Thieves in a charity shop somewhere, but since I had already read and reviewed the first one in the series, I decided to get the second, in case I ever felt the urge to continue on the series.

I also got The Raven King because I thought I might as well marathon the series. As for the third book in the series, Blue Lily Lily Blue, that book is in my local library. I'll get book three in the series at some point, but for now, three out of four is good. Because these covers are beautiful!

6. Baby Doll, by Hollie Overton

This is the book I was going to review today. This book is about a girl that has been held captive for 8 years, locked away from the world, unable to leave, but then her captor leaves the door unlocked. This book is about the aftermath of the kidnap. It jumps from character to character, which gives you the whole picture. I started it late evening, and finished it the following morning. That's how good it was.

7. The One Memory of Flora Banks, by Emily Barr

I got this one the same time as Baby Doll (which was just over a week ago), so I haven't read this yet. But I've seen this advertised on the internet, and it does look really intriguing. I'm genuinely looking forward to reading this. It's about a girl who has amnesia. She can't remember anything that's happened, whether it be from last week or last year. But then something happens, and the next day she remembers it. That's as much as I know, but it looks like it'll be a quick and easy (and interesting) read.

8. Wayfarer (Passenger #2), by Alexandra Bracken

I actually almost forgot to add this to my haul! I bought this the day after I finished Passenger- it's the last book in the Passenger duology, and I am currently reading this now. I hope to finish this by the end of the month, and my review will follow soon after. I am also looking forward to seeing how this duology ends!

So that is my January Book Haul (2017)! I hope you enjoyed it, and if you have any thoughts about any of the books in this list, let me know in the comments!

I hope you all have a wonderful day and I will see you on Wednesday, when I will be posting my review of Baby Doll- I have a lot of thoughts on it!

Byeeee!

-Abi xxxxx

Everything Everything, by Nicola Yoon

Hey guys, this is Abi here,
And you guys must be sick of reviews by now, because I do have another review to do!
This book has had nothing but fantastic reviews on Booktube, and I am happy to report that I loved it!
Here is my full review for Everything Everything, by Nicola Yoon!

Everything Everything, by Nicola Yoon

Title: Everything Everything

Author: Nicola Yoon

Genre: Contemporary romance

Release date: 1st September, 2015

Pages: 306

Blurb: " LIVE LIFE IN A BUBBLE?

OR RISK EVERYTHING FOR LOVE?

Maddy is allergic to the world.

She hasn't left the house in seventeen years.

Olly is the boy next door.

He's determined to find a way to reach her.

Everything Everything is about

the crazy risks we take for love."

My Thoughts

What can I say about this book? It was funny, and romantic, and so goddamn amazing. It sure held a chock-a-block of stuff in it. But one word I would use to describe this book, if I only had one word is: Beautiful.

Because this book truly showed us what love actually is. That it doesn't have to be perfect, and that in the face of love, we face obstacles, but we overcome them, for that other person.

I loved this book. I think I've said that enough, but at the same time, I want to keep saying it, because I did love it.

I loved it because, this plot, from the outside, makes the characters seem kind of generic. Well, the blurb makes it seem like it's all about a romance, and the story turns out to be about a romance, yes, but that's not all it turns out to be about.

What I also liked about this book was that the issues that were introduced at the beginning, never fell by the wayside at any point throughout the book. Different issues came into play, but it all folds into this massive plot story that connects into this beautiful and funny story.

Another thing that I liked was the blurb. It was vague, but it was blunt and intense. It said 'this is fact. Believe it.' And it made the book sound simple, yet interesting.

Now, the characters. I liked that they were completely different, but they were realistic. Maddy was strong, stronger than she was led to be by her mother, and she was hopeful, still able to remain positive even after being trapped in the same house for seventeen years. I think I'd have gone mad had I gone through that. There was Olly, boundless, free-er than air, and he was exactly what Maddy needed. Funny and smart, too smart, I think (sometimes) but that was just part of his charm. He was... a protector, for Maddy at least. And then there was Maddy's mum. The woman who had lost both her husband and her son in a horrific car accident when Maddy was just five months old. She thinks her main role is to keep Maddy, her only remaining family member safe.

Throughout this book, we get to see Maddy grow from this, oh well I'm never leaving this room attitude, to her discovering the world for herself through her little window. And Olly is such a big part of that. He tries to protect her, but in a very different way to her mum. He challenges her, in his adorably caring and loyal way, supporting her each step. And inevitably, they fall in love with each-other.

The conflict between Olly and her mother added an interesting side to this book, let me tell you. Because her mum isn't as blind as Maddy thinks she is to the chemistry that Olly and Maddy share.

But the love that Olly and Maddy share is so pure, but also so heart-warming and cute, that you almost start to love the relationship between them, as well as the characters themselves for finally taking that amazing and wonderful step.

There was also Maddy's nurse Carla, who is the only person that sees Maddy aside from her mum. She is more than a nurse to Maddy, more like a friend. And because you see how close the two of them are from the start of the book, you don't blame her, when she lets Maddy see Olly, perhaps more than she should. She was also a big part of Maddy's journey throughout the book, and her character was caring and considerate, and she was the random voice of reason in the back of Maddy's head. I loved her characters purely for that reason.

Now, the plot. The emotions that I felt when I was reading this story went like this. Despair, yet still hopeful; then curious, as new characters were introduced, finding out more about them; more hope; then horror and excitement (read the book, and you'll know what part I'm talking about: there's a confrontation, that's a clue); happiness, more happiness, then dread (a lot bigger than before because Maddy...) then a whole lot of SHOCK.

This story is a rollercoaster. It goes from completely innocent, to shock horror, hurt in about the space of a chapter. I loved and hated every second of it, because it hurt the characters I'd come to love so completely.

All in the space of 306 pages.

So overall, I don't know how Nicola Yoon does it. She captures the innocent, the awkwardness, the funny times, passionate times, and the shock and horror when something happens. And she creates the attachment to the characters so quickly, yet it doesn't read like it was rushed at all.

Masterpiece.

So do I recommend it? Of course. Anyone who thinks they will like any inkling or subject in this book, I urge you to pick it up. I promise, you will not forget it.

So that was my review of Everything Everything, by Nicola Yoon! I hope you enjoyed it, and I will see you all on Monday!

If you liked this review, or have any comments on this book, let me know in the comments!

Byeeee!

-Abi xxxxxx

Frostblood (Frostblood Saga #1), by Elly Blake

Hey guys, this is Abi here,
And I am full of reviews this month! This is my second one in a row, and my *after checking this month's posts* fifth review this month! (Including Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them) out of seven!
But I still need to post this review, because I've still got a ton more than I need to do as well (three, including this one). So if you aren't a fan of reviews, this is my warning, this week is going to be full of reviews, so just a head's up.
That's enough babbling, let's get on with my review of Frostblood (Frostblood #1), by Elly Blake!

Frostblood (Frostblood Saga #1), by Elly Blake

Title: Frostblood

Author: Elly Blake

Genre: Fantasy

Release date: 12th January

Pages: 304

Blurb: "YOU ARE A

FIREBLOOD

You can turn your enemies

to ashes and burn

villages to the ground

Hunted to near extinction

by Frostblood warriors,

you live in constant

fear of discovery

But your heart burns

for revenge..."

My Thoughts

So leading up to reading this, I admit that I was kind of hesitant, because the last couple books like this (Snow like Ashes, cough cough) I didn't particularly like. So I wasn't really looking forward to reading it. But, after considering it for a while, I figured that I needed to get through my TBR.

And so I picked it up.

To my immense surprise, I absolutely loved it.

I was thrown right into this world, and everything in it.

Most of that was the writing- it was infectious, and I was sucked right into the story from the get go.

Nothing about the book really stood out (that's a good thing). Why, you ask? Because it all had the right amount of everything. It was more of a plot driven book, so the characters didn't really have much background, but what they did do was learn. Ruby, the protagonist, this short-tempered inferno that the story was centred around, attempted to control her inferno, because at the beginning, it raged out of control, constantly threatening to overwhelm the entire town and bring an end to all their lives. In terms of character development, that was all we got, but that was enough for this heavily infested, plot driven story.

That was all we needed.

Now, the plot. The plot structure kind of fluctuated a lot. Which surprisingly, I liked. Because you got a lot of information all at once, and even though that was kind of chaotic, I liked knowing what was up and what was actually going on, to be honest. Yeah, that might make it kind of boring for you guys, but I thought it made a nice change not to be totally confused.  

The plot had a lot of action in it. And when there was action and fighting, YOU KNEW ABOUT IT. It was so clear, not confusing at all during these scenes. And it wasn't just fighting either, they used their fire and frost as well. But these fights were so epic and amazing, it's worth reading it just for those scenes to be honest.

The story starts when Ruby's town is overrun and killed, including Ruby's mother because Ruby has been found to be a fireblood. In this story, Frostbloods are the rulers, and Firebloods are being captured and or killed, if found. Ruby is carted off to the prison of the King, where she is left, so her power can slowly weaken and die, taking her with it.

But, she escapes! (Big shocker, right? Nope!) 

And from then, the goal is to other-throw the king, but to do that she will have to master her power, the powerful inferno that she can't control.

(It's a lot better than I'm making it sound, trust me!)

How good the writing was really surprised me. Because even though nothing much was happening, it still felt like something was actually going on. That's how good the writing is.

The best part of the writing was the world building. There was more description than what I usually like, but the writing was so intricate and detailed, yet not so detailed that I couldn't follow the description. It also made it super easy to picture what Elly Blake was describing when it came to description.

This writing was just amazing. Just amazing.

So overall... how can I sum up this book?

I felt satisfied with it. I was reading it, reading it, and before I knew it, I was done! It was the end of the book.

 I need the sequel now, so I can see what happens.

Though to be honest, I was happy with the ending.

But I still want to see what happens.

Just so you know, I totally and completely recommend this book to anyone who wants an infested, fast and plot-driven story where things happen that leave you shocked! Trust me.

The writing and the world building and the plot leave you infested in it all.

And there is romance and team-work there as well. The characters are also good, even though they weren't mentioned much in this review.

But just go and read the book, so we can talk about it!

And if you have any thoughts about this review, or the book itself, comment down below!

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

Byeeeee!

-Abi xxxxxx

American Monsters (Demon Road #3), by Derek Landy

Hey guys, this is Abi here,
And since I've read yet another book, I feel like I need to do a review, because I'm now three reviews behind!
I was going to do a Writing Update today, but I kind of need to do this review!
So here's my review for the final book in the Demon Road trilogy, American Monsters, by Derek Landy!

American Monsters (Demon Road #3), by Derek Landy

Title: American Monsters

Author: Derek Landy

Genre: Supernatural, Action

Release date: 25th August, 2016 

Pages: 362

Blurb: "Bigger, meaner, stronger, Amber

closes in on her murderous parents

as they make one last desperate

play for power. Her own last hopes

of salvation, however, rest beyond,

vengeance, beyond the abominable

killers- living and dead- that she

and Milo will have to face.

For Amber's future lies in her

family's past, in the brother and

sister she never knew, and the

horrors beyond imagining that

befell them..."

My Thoughts

This was the third and final book in the Demon Road trilogy, and even though it was a good 100 pages less than Desolation, it was just long enough to tie up all the loose ends that Desolation left us with.

And tie it up it did! This book was explosive- not kidding- from the start, all the way to the last chapter.

Now, a big part of this book is about the past histories of Amber's cannibalistic parents, and Amber's siblings, that had been devoured before her. And they may seem disconnected from the rest of the story, but it turns out to be a lot of a bigger part than what it originally seemed, so look out for that.

As for her actual parents, they bobbed up every now and then. They weren't, for the most part, the centre of attention, except for the fact that Amber constantly struggles with where her loyalties lie (I know, right?! Loyalties to her parents? What the hell is happening?) Just read this trilogy, and you will understand.

But they were a big part of the ending, which was good, because they really were what started this trilogy in the first place. And I am glad to report that it really was EPIC and FANTASTIC and SO FAST PACED it was hard to keep up with. (But just fast faced enough, so my eyes were sprinting down the page, it was all so fast paced.)

Another part of this book was about loyalties. Like what side will she choose? And that popped up a bunch of times in this book. There was the time when Amber had to choose between her compassionate human side and her ice-cold distant and powerful should-I-just-rip-them-to-shreds demon side that has showed up many a time throughout this trilogy, and getting increasingly bloody, I might add.

We also got another deadline in this book. A time limit. Just like the first book. Except this time, it's to save the person that Amber loves. If not, she'll die. And if you read my Desolation review, it's a character that was introduced in that book (from the Scooby Doo group, not the older guys).

On to the characters. We only got introduced to two characters, one completely normal, the other completely creepy and shady, the whole she-bang. (We share the same name... completely unrelated... I hope...)

But there wasn't much room for new characters to be honest, because the characters already in the story is absolutely incredible, and sassy and smart... and just so god-damn cool! There was Amber, horns and everything; Milo, Kelly (the one Amber is saving), and Amber's crazy and psychotic parents! All these amazing characters!

They were all in this web-plot of a story where, people fought, died, and then epically got away in the split second, when all seemed lost.

Like in most action stories. Doesn't make the book any less amazing though, because Landy is known for making awesome getaways, though a character nearly always dies.

Still awesome though.

Now, the ending! This ending! Throughout the trilogy, especially in this one, there has been a raise in intensity, leading up to what is seemingly a massive and destructive and life-changing ending. And let me tell you, it absolutely delivered. It had Amber's parents, and Amber's crew, sounding off in this one epic fight. Amber's crew (her and Milo) are risking it all by coming to meet her parents. (She is supposed to be handing over something all powerful to save her girlfriend's life.) (And if you don't get it, read it, because this trilogy is amazing!) But this ending promised to set an end to the trilogy, and I loved it!

But overall, this book promised to be the absolute perfect ending to an already explosive trilogy and it totally delivered! I feel totally and completely good about how it ended, and even though all the characters I loved didn't make it through to the end, it was still a really good read and I totally recommend this trilogy if you want an action packed supernatural trilogy, or if you like Skulduggery Pleasant!

So that was my review of American Monsters, the last book in the Demon Road trilogy! I hope you enjoyed it, and if you want to read this book, or have any thoughts on it, please comment down below!

I hope you have an amazing day, and I will see you all on Wednesday, when I will be reviewing Frostblood, which was also amazing (I'm getting through a lot of good books this month)!

Byeeeee!

-Abi xxxxx

  

Mystery Blogger Award

Hey guys, this is Abi here,
And today I am doing the Mystery Blogger Award!
I'm going to count this as a tag, so check it out on the tag list down below (on Post Pandemonium (2017))
I did get tagged for this twice, so I will make this post extra long and do both versions of questions, because tags are really fun!

Rules:

• Put the award logo/image on your blog.
• List the rules.
• Thank whoever nominated you and provide a link to their blog!
• Mention the creator of the award and provide a link to their blog as well.
• Tell your readers 3 things about yourself.
• You have to nominate 10-20 people.
• Notify each of your nominees by commenting on their blog.
• Ask your nominees any 5 questions of your choice; with one weird or funny question (specify).
• Share your link to your best post(s).

Who nominated me?

So two people nominated me, so I will be doing both versions of questions.

So thank-you Emmi, from A Book Blog (here's the link to her blog: https://abookblogsite.wordpress.com/)

And thank-you to Elena, from The Book Portal (here's the link to her blog: http://elenaoftheuniverse.blogspot.co.uk/).

Thank-you so much to the both of you, and I look forward to answering your questions!

And let's not forget the creator of this tag: Okoto Engima (here is the link to her blog too!: https://okotoenigma.wordpress.com/)

3 Things About Me

1. I haven't worn a skirt for YEARS. I'll wear a dress if it's nice, but never a skirt.

2. I've lived in the same house for 15 years.

3. I hate how much stuff I have to carry for college. I have spindly little arms, and it doesn't help at all.

Questions from Enni

1. If you could be any book character, who would you be?

That's a hard one, there's so many good characters! Maybe Luna from Harry Potter! We are kind of similar, because we are both Ravenclaw, and we both go off on a tangion, and completely off topic. But we are both wise, and quirky, so I think I'll pick Luna.

2. What book are you planning on buying next?

I'm considering picking up Wayfarer, by Alexandra Bracken, so I just marathon the duology before the Booksplotion live show on the 4th February, so probably Wayfarer. Failing that, probably The Chemist, by Stephanie Meyer. It's a thriller that sounds super interesting, plus it's half price in Waterstones at the moment, so it's plaguing my thoughts more than it should.

3. What is your favourite reading spot?

The bus. I get most of my reading in the week done on the bus on the way to college, but I'll read on any bus, because the moving vehicle doesn't really bother me. Crazy, huh?

4. What character would you choose to be your boyfriend?

I don't know. It changes with my mood to be honest. But right now I'm leaning towards Adam, from Before I Die, (by Jenny Downham). He's... just the perfect person. Daring, and courageous, yet sensitive and genuine. He's not the realest character, the situation he's in, but through Tessa (the main character of Before I Die) he learns to love and learns that there's more than what he knows.

5. What is the most times you've read one book?

I really don't know. Once I read a book a certain amount (I stop counting after like 10) I stop counting the amount of times I've read a book. I've never finished a book and started it again straight away, but there's a small circle of books that I pick up, if I'm in a reading slump, or I just feel like reading them.

6. RANDOM: Do you think that superheroes should wear a cloak?

Nope. Cloaks get caught on things. I decided this from Edna, from the Incredibles. (DID YOU GUYS KNOW THEY'RE MAKING AN INCREDIBLES 2 FILM?!!!!!!)

Questions from Elena

1. What is your favourite book(s)?

That's a difficult one, but I have to say Mind Games, by Teri Terry. It was just the best book I've read so far. But if you ask at the end of the year, I might say something else. Who knows? But right now, it's Mind Games, by Teri Terry.

2. If you remember, what was the very first book you have ever read?

I don't actually remember, but it has to have been one of the Beatrix Potter books that I got the day I was born. Those would have been one of the first I presume.

3. Random: Do you like chocolate?

I love chocolate. I have a very bad chocolate habit. Not just chocolate. Profiteroles, eclairs, chocolate sauce, hot chocolate, chocolate cake, or just plain chocolate. Don't care which type, whether it be white, dark, or milk. Just love chocolate.

4. Books or movies?

Is that even a question? Books. ALWAYS BOOKS.

5. Fiction or non-fiction?

Fiction. I'd like to read more non-fiction in the future, but for the moment, fiction.

My Best Post

Hmmm... Probably my review for Songs About A Girl (Songs About A Girl #1), by Chris Russell. It isn't my longest review by a long shot, but I think I really accurately shared my thoughts and feelings on that review, because that book was at the top of my Favourite Books of 2016 list!

(Both are on Post Pandemonium 2016, so go and check them out!)

Nominees

Two Chicks On Books (http://www.twochicksonbooks.com/)

Dark Faerie Tales (http://darkfaerietales.com/)

Alexis Tucker at These Splendid Sentences (http://thesesplendidsentences.blogspot.co.uk/)

Books, Dreams, Life (https://staceyschneller06.wordpress.com/)

Artemis Book Hunters (https://artemisbookhuntersblog.wordpress.com/)

The Book Swag (https://thebookswag.wordpress.com/)

Zelle at Fragile Myths (https://fragilemyths.com/)

Jade at Drink Coffee and Read Books (https://drinkcoffeeandreadbooks.wordpress.com/)

Kimberly at Nelms Tree Books (http://nelmstreebooks.blogspot.co.uk/)

Amy at A Magical World of Words (https://amagicalworldofwords.blogspot.co.uk/)

My Questions

1. If you could meet one character, who would it be and why?

2. What book is currently at the top of the pile to read next?

3. Which book would you want to make into a film?

4. Which character do you love to hate?

5. And which character do you actually hate?

Random!: What's your absolute favourite Disney film? Ever?

So that is the Mystery Blogger Award! I hope you enjoyed it, and I just want to say that I love you guys, you're the ones that keep me blogging, something I love to do! And I couldn't do it without your support!

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

Byeeee!

-Abi xxxxxxx

Desolation (Demon Road #2), by Derek Landy

Hey guys, this is Abi here,
And I feel like since I've already finished this trilogy, I should review the second book in the series.
So here is my review for Desolation, the second book in the Demon Road trilogy!

Desolation (Demon Road #2), by Derek Landy

Title: Desolation

Author: Derek Landy

Genre: Supernatural, action, comedy

Release date: April, 2016

Pages: 460

Blurb: " Reeling from their bloody

encounter in New York City at the

end of Demon Road, Amber and

Milo flee north. On their trail are

the Hounds of Hell- five demonic

bikers who will stop at nothing

to drag their quarries back to

their unholy master.

Amber and Milo's only hope lies

within Desolation Hill- a small

town with a big secret; a town

with a darkness to it, where

evil seeps through the very

floorboards. Until, on one night

every year, it spills over onto the

streets and all hell breaks loose."

AND THAT NIGHT

IS COMING..."

My Thoughts

On the whole, I really enjoyed this book.  It was a lot more mysterious than the first one, where they were off on a mad pursuit away from Amber's demonic parents, but in this one, they stayed in the same place, which was Desolation Hill- a place where evil demons are unable to breach- and it definitely gave the whole story a lot more mystery, which is thrown straight at you, even from the blurb (above) as you can see.

It did have less humour than what was normal for Landy, though there was still some humour in it. That was one thing that there was less of, but with the amount of mystery there was, there was always going to be less of something else. The good thing was that the humour didn't disappear completely, and that was good, because a Derek Landy isn't complete without a little bit of that dry sarcasm that I've came to love.

This book was probably the most unique book that I have read by Derek Landy to date, because it was a lot more adult than the others I have previously read (so the Skulduggery Pleasant series and Demon Road) because it had a lot more adult content, shall we say.

That brings me to something else I really liked: this book is a LGBTQ story. I also liked that it was treated with a humour, and that it wasn't laughing at the characters, but rather with them. It also doesn't distract the reader from the main story, it's merely a subplot. And it's so refreshing in this Demon infested world.

Another thing. All the little bits of dialogue, the LGBTQ parts, and the different perspectives (that added a lot more than you would have thought at the start, considering who they were) didn't distract from the main storyline, which was Desolation Hill, and what the hell The Narrow Man, and this dreaded Hell Night was supposed to be.

Which brings me to plot. I'm not going to divulge too much about the plot, as it is the second book in a trilogy, and I want you all to read this, so we can all talk about it, but the book's plot centres around Desolation Hill, the legend of Narrow Man (he was a person that parents made up to scare their children into behaving), and this night that happens once a year, but nobody speaks about for the rest of the year. To the people living in Desolation Hill, it's the equivalent of a sweet high, with a can of the best energy drink. It happens once a year, and Amber and Milo are trying to figure out what the hell it is.

Now, the characters. We got introduced to some very cool characters in this book, as well as learning a bit more about our already existing characters. (Especially Milo, which is always a good thing because he is such an interesting character).

We met a couple of older characters that remind me a lot of Derek Landy himself to be honest (I haven't met him, but from his tweets on twitter), These characters are nuts. Pure bloody nuts. They are witty, stuck in the past (they used to be on a famous tv show). One of them still thinks he's in that show, not literally, but he's always trying to be the hero and take risks. They both have a massive sense of humour that is also unlike Derek's (dry and sarcastic), and they've got like a comedy act going it seems. They show that no matter how much you age, you're sense of humour will always remain intact.

Other than those two, a group of Demon hunting kids get introduced as well. They are sort of like the Sccoby Doo gang, because there are four kids (around Amber's age) and one dog, and this group, along with the two older guys, and Amber and Milo, team up to sort the whole mess up. I liked the team aspect of this book a lot.

Now, the writing. I honestly don't know how Derek Landy does it, to be honest. He releases these books every six months, and yet, none of these books, this one in particular, have no inkling of feeling rushed, or underwritten at all. Desolation was creepy as heck, and it was the writing that made it that way. It was also fast paced when it needed to be (I swear to god, I was on the edge of my seat, from start to finish, I went from page 130 to 460 in two days, that's how gripping it was).

So overall, I loved this book (no surprise there, I've been advertising this trilogy for god knows how long). Loved the new characters, loved the mystery of Desolation Hill, loved the action, and I can't wait for... something to do with American Monsters (can't say I'm looking forward to reading it, because I've already read it!)

And I hope you all read this, because it is amazing!

So that is my review of Desolation (Demon Road #2), by Derek Landy! I hope you enjoyed it and let me know what you thought in the comments!

I will see you all on Wednesday, when I will be doing the Mystery Blogger Award! (To all the people that nominated me (2), this tag is coming! I promise!

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

Byeeeee!

-Abi xxxxxxx