Year 2017!

Hey guys, this is Abi here,
And since 3 out of the last 5 posts I've done have been reviews, I thought I'd give you guys a break and talk about what I plan to post next year: 2017!
I know this is a little early as it isn't anywhere near the end of 2016 yet, but I wanted to post about it anyway.
So everybody, this is my Year 2017 post! (I hope you enjoy it :D ).

Year 2017!

Reading Goals

So, 2017 is going to be the year that I focus on finish all the series and trilogies that I started this year. I did manage to finish a couple this year, but I still have a ton left to finish. These series and trilogies include:

1. The 5th Wave trilogy, by Rick Yansey

2. Demon Road trilogy, by Derek Landy (this one will most likely first, as Demon Road is what I am reading next, and Derek Landy is releasing another book in March, I think, so I want to catch up on his work before that).

3. The Raven Boys series, by Maggie Stiefvater- everybody has been raving about this series, especially as the final book in the series came out a couple months ago. I also recently obtained Dream Thieves, the second book in the series, so it's a good reason to read the series in 2017.

4. The Infernal Devices, by Cassandra Clare- I currently have 2/3 of the books for this popular trilogy at the moment, and I will definitely be getting the third book in the trilogy at some point during the year.

5. The Flawed duology, by Cecelia Ahern- I read this book less than a month ago, and I can't wait to read the concluding book, which is released at the end of March!

Other than finishing some series and trilogies, I would like to re-read some of my favourite series: The Slated trilogy, Mind Games, all by Teri Terry; I'll Give You The Sun, by Jandy Nelson; and the much mentioned Skulduggery Pleasant series! :D

Writing Goals

As for the writing side, my main goal is to final my first draft! I would also love to start my second draft, but the first draft is the main goal.

So those are my goals for 2017! I hope you enjoyed it!

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

Byeeee!

-Abi xxxxx

Prodigy (Legend #2), by Marie Lu

Hey guys, this is Abi here,
And... today I am posting my review for the middle book for the genius Legend trilogy, by Marie Lu: Prodigy!
Enjoy!

Prodigy (Legend #2), by Marie Lu

Title: Prodigy

Author: Marie Lu

Genre: Sci-fi, fantasy, dystopian, romance.

Release date: 29th January, 2013

Pages: 354

Blurb: " MISSING

JUNE IPARIS

AGENT, LOS ANGELES CITY PATROL,

15, FEMALE, 5 FT 4 IN.

350,000 REPLUBLIC NOTES REWARD

IF SEEN, REPORT

IMMEDIATELY TO YOUR

LOCAL OFFICIAL

That's what the Republic wants their people to think.

That I'm 'missing'.

What they don't say is they want me dead.

I helped Day, the country's most notorious criminal,

escape his execution, aided the rebel patriots in a

staged uprising and turned my back on the republic,

But I won't turn my back on Day..."

My Thoughts

I have kind of mixed thoughts on this one. It felt kind of like a filler book, the book that starts off with the smaller velocity of the first book, and just builds and builds and builds until- the plot consumes you.

It goes from one point, twists something, turns the entire plot on it's head, and forms the foundation for the final book in the trilogy.

If I thought this trilogy started off predictable, that ended at that book. Because it was like a rollercoaster, to be honest.

Marie Lu packs one hell of a punch, I'll say that much. It went from strength to strength, then there was a development in the plot because a character found out some information, then bullets and chaos, and then, when all hope seemed lost, BAM! Ending....

And then something heart-breaking that shapes the last book.

This book gripped me and didn't let go.

As for the characters, they were the same characters as they were in Legend, only more developed, which tied into the plot really nicely. There were a couple of new characters, one of which changed the entire story massively, and the impact that this character had on the rest of them, shaped how the story continued from the moment they were introduced. They caused quite a stir with some of the characters as well, which was good to see.

Also, (extra plot point) the events that took place in this book were sharp. Talking knife on cheek sharp. There were casualties left and right, suspicions and loyalties up and down, and rebellion all around.

Which brings me to the feeling of rebellion. A big part of this book is the rebellion, and the whole thing would have failed had the rebellion not felt real enough. (The rebellion was a constant threat, because any move that any character of power could do would throw them back into war with the colonies). But the feeling that the world would descend into chaos with the war between the colonies, and the Republic, fortunately, did work really well.

As for the writing, it remained the same as before,  (that's a good thing), and I have no complaints whatsoever.

So what can I say about Prodigy? For a second book in the trilogy, it definitely packed a punch. It was a link from the first book, that ended in a whirlwind of events, to what was certain to be an amazing finale. It was sharp; the way the events hit you was like a knife to the cheek. In short, I really enjoyed it.

So that was my review of the second book in the Legend trilogy: Prodigy! I hope you enjoyed it, and I will see you all soon.

Byeeee!

-Abi xxxxx

Festive Christmas Book Tag

Hey guys, this is Abi here,
And it's been so long since I've done a tag, so I thought it would be fun to do one!
And since Christmas is just round the corner (it almost doesn't feel like Christmas is a week on Sunday :) ) it felt fitting to do the Festive Christmas Book Tag!
I did not get tagged for this tag, but when have I let that reason stop me from doing a tag?
So here's the book tag!

Festive Christmas Book Tag

1. A fictional family you would like to spend Christmas dinner with.

Of course the Weasley family went through my mind first. But that's not the family I'm choosing. The family I am choosing is (drumroll please) *drumroll* the Baudelaire family! (The whole family, you know, before the parents kicked the bucket). But it would just be so cool to spend Christmas day with this family because they are all caring and intelligent and quirky, and I just feel like I would be welcomed as part of this incredible family.

And let's be honest, they would be interesting as heck to talk to.

2. A bookish item you would like to receive as a gift.

A bookish mug, with a quote, or an inspirational sentence, anything! I just want a mug that marks me as a reader (and I'm proud!)

3. A fictional character you think would make the perfect Christmas elf?

Okay, I haven't mentioned this character in a while, but I just think this character would make the perfect house elf!

Fletcher Renn! He would just be the perfect Christmas elf, because he'd be just so excited and giddy and... cute, because he is the cutest and most innocent character in existent.

He'd just be so excited to be experiencing being a Christmas elf (though he'd play it off- this is just one of the reasons that I love this character...)

READ SKULDUGGERY PLEASANT.

:D

4. Match a book to it's perfect Christmas song.

I feel like this song has been done so much, but I cannot think of another song, so I am going with... All I Want For Christmas Is You, and...

Songs About A Girl, because even though it does have more than just romance in this book, a large part of the plot is centred around the romance.

5. Bah Humbag- a book or fictional character you've been disappointed in and should be put on the Naughty list.

Snow Like Ashes, by Sara Raasch.

I don't know what it was about this book (might have been the cover), but it took me 10 days to finish this. To be honest, I know I should have loved it, because of the world building, and the action, but it just didn't seem to click with me. Was kind of disappointed by this one.

6. A book or fictional character you think deserves more love and appreciation and deserves to be put on the Nice list.

MIND GAMES, BY TERI TERRY

This sci-fi book is one of my favourites (possibly my very favourite as Teri Terry is my favourite author and this is my favourite book by her), and it is just perfect! The world building, the pacing, the characters, the writing. I just love this book so much!

7. Red, green and gold: a book cover that has a wonderfully Christmas feel to it.

Even though this book is set during Christmas, it does have an awesome Christmas feel to it. Might be either the snowflake, or the silver, both things that I associate with Christmas. This cover is just so adorable.

8. A book or series you love so much that you want everyone to find it under their Christmas  tree this year so they can read and love it too.

The Skulduggery Pleasant series! One of my favourite series'! It may be middle-grade, but it is packed to the teeth with kick-ass characters, explosive plotlines, and dynamic writing! Here are some of the covers that I love (because the covers are magnificent)

  

And these are just a couple of the books in this series! (There are 9 books in the series, and two spin-offs).

So that was the Festive Christmas Book Tag! I tag:

• Savannah at The Book Prophet
• Lisa at Read. Breathe. Relax
• The YA Bookworm Blogger

So that was the Festive Christmas Book Tag! I hope you enjoyed it, and I will see you all soon!

Goodbye!

-Abi xxxxx